Fender 60's Reissue Stratocaster

Fender 60's Strat w/ 3 tone sunburst alder body, thin frets, nice c shape neck, ping vintage style tuners and ping strat bridge.

I bought it because of the individual pickup routing and because it is the poor man's US 62 reissue.

I found the guitar in stock condition to be a great player and set up pretty well. It sounded classic, the pickups were rich and do not need replacing for standard strat sounds. It had a smooth sound on the neck and middle pickups.

I found the action to be set up great and the finish is superb. I have always wanted a classic 3 tone sunburst alder body guitar. I got that for a great price. No flaws, great sound.

This guitar is great the way it is stock. I played it for about 2 months that way and I then I went ahead with some changes for strictly cosmetic reasons and sound changes. I did add Schaller strap locks. I always do.

Fender is a huge company. I am sure guitar to guitar, sales rep to sales rep, store to store everyone has a different opinion. I have never had a problem with one of their products. I'll go in the middle on this one.

This is a great strat for someone who wants features and not status. If you really want to make a change for looks, get a Fender 62 reissue tortoise shell pickguard, a pickguard shielding plate and a set of texas special pickups. It sounds awesome and looks even more classic. I think it's a great guitar, I may buy another one just so my friends can jam with me.

mine is a 60's reissue japanese stratocaster. basswood body, c-shaped maple neck, rosewood fretboard.

well, it's certainly not the best sounding guitar but since i'm a blues guitarist and it's mostly all about the player, it does the job quite well. i usually use a blues driver (i like the whole thing with going from overdriven to crunh to clean with just the volume knob on my guitar) and a booster tube screamer ts-5 modified into ts-808(can't find the real thing here). a rich neck sound and a bright mid to bridge. additional sustain would make it perfect for me though.

nice action, almost perfect intonation.

this is my main guitar aside from my 1969 gibson sg deluxe and greco guitar. i think this will be my last stratocaster.

i've been playing for around 13 years. i don't buy hardware that has'nt been tried and tested. i worked in a music store here in manila so i have a good idea of which is hot or not.

I believe this to be an '02 model Classic '60s Stratocaster, 3-tone sunburst w/ C-shaped maple neck and rosewood fretboard, vintage-style tuners and hi-gloss clear finish on the back of the neck. The rosewood fretboard is a very dark with nice grain. I believe the body to be Alder (at least according to Fender's specs) and has some really beautiful wood grain. The pick-ups are Fender's "Vintage Staggered" (passive). The Classic '60s Strats come stock from the factory with triple-ply Mint Green pickguards and aged plastic accessories (i.e. p'up covers, knobs, etc.) which really stand out against the 3-tone sunburst finish and rosewood fretboard, it looks kewl as all get-out...real vintagey and almost soulful. It also came with a *deluxe* Fender gig-bag (nice bag, actually).

This guitar really nails the sound that I have in mind when I think of an old Strat (hum and all). It does a great job at laying down some blues licks and can get GOOD & RAUNCHY with a little overdrive yet still retains chord definition with even heaping amounts of distortion.

This thing really sings through my Hot Rod Deluxe; also, the clean tones are just crisp, clear, and bell-like with a fat, warm, roundness sound to it. IMHO, it just doesn't get better than a good Strat played through a Fender Hot Rod series amplifier (and maybe a TS9 to add a little more sustain and bite to the drive channel).

My other Strat has been hot-rodded with a DiMarzio PAF Pro full-size humbucker in the bridge and Texas Specials in the neck and middle positions, but the DiMarzio can, at times, have too much bottom end and muddiness for some old-school roadhouse grit. Not this Classic '60s. It can be quite punchy, enough to cut through the mix yet doesn't sound too high and brittle which kinda surprised me because I was actually expecting it to sound harsh, shrill, and thin through distortion, but this hasn't been the case at all. Because of these expectations I had, I was planning on swapping out the stock p'ups with a set of Custom Shop '69s, but now I'm not so sure. The stock p'ups are really growing on me, they've got a nice warm, fat sound when under distortion which is actually the most important area of tone for me.

I do all my own set-up and re-wiring on my guitars and I have to say that I wasn't too impressed with the factory set-up on this guitar. Who knows, it may have been the store's set-up, but at any rate it wasn't anything to write home about. I'll give some big kudos to the sales guy that I usually deal with when I go to this particular store. When I called to let him know that I was enroute to pick it up, he went over the guitar real good and adjusted the truss rod and wiped down the fretboard with some lemon-oil. It felt great when I showed up to get it.

As for fit and finish, it was just perfect. I went over this guitar several times prior to buying it and I just could not find anything wrong with it, whatsoever. It's really kind of surprising when you hold one of these Classic '60s next to a MIM Standard Strat. The difference in fit/finish, grade of woodscomponents, and sound is just not even in the same universe. Kinda hard to believe that their both made in the same Mexico plant. I'd rate this guitar a 10 if I hadn't had to adjust the string saddles myself, but other than that one thing this is just one magnificent guitar. Personally, I only expected this kind attention and grade of woods to come on more expensive guitars.

I just picked this guitar up so I can't really comment, however, I've played Strats for years now and I've never had any problems with any of them, workmanship or materials. They seem to be real workhorses.

No expeience here.

Overall, I am quite ecstatic with this guitar, so much so that when I look at it I have to pick it up and start playing, and it sounds so damned good. Even unplugged the tone just resonates through the body and sounds awesome. I can't express how nice it is, really...and I'm particular as hell with my stuff. There aren't too many guitars that I would even give a "10-rating" in only one category, but this one is just that good. Hell, I wouldn't even have given my Les Paul Classic a "10" when I first got it, but that speaks for Gibson's QA/QC here in recent years. At any rate, I think Fender hit a grand-slam with these Classic '60 Strats. It's almost mind-boggling how they make and market such an outstanding guitar for waaaay under a thousand dollars. Try one...and enjoy!!!!

If you put this guitar on the right settings its amazing. It has a rich and full sound. It makes a great harmony

This is one of the most reliable K mart brands I have ever strummed in my life. Im not I guitar smasher though so I wouldn't know if your able to play baseball with it.

I have been playing since 1995. I own a Vox amp, and I use a Marshall Shredmaster. I also enjoy playing my Martin in my off tour time. If someone were to steal my guitar I would commit sicide. Just kidding, but thats how close my guitar and I are. I love its cool sounds and how its not overly noisy so you can play with friends. I bought this guitar off my second uncle Paul McCartney.

MIM 2003 Lake Placid Blue Strat. Finish is beautiful. At first I thought the aged pickguard looked tacky, but it's grown on me. Rosewood fingerboard. Frets aren't completely sanded down across the neck, but it'll do for now. Plays beautifully. Precise Fender twang from the bridge p-ups. Clean neck tone (through an HRD 112 tweed Limited Edition if you're wondering). I can't get enough of this baby.

Clean Fender sound through a HRD 112. Just what I'm going for. Newer Clapton blues sound on the neck. Albert King type feel on the bridge. Amazing. Not much hum compared to most single coils. No effects, just a Boss RC-20 looper and the Drive/More Drive footswitch on the HRD. Sounds just like I wanted/expected.

Factory setup was fine. I'm not much a stickler for what it's setup like. As long as it has strings and it's in tune, I'll play it. I opened up the back panel to tighten the trem down however (I rarely use the trem and I got it clamped down since I use .013s) and the inside was rather dirty. Lots of white residue (I have no idea what it is, but I didn't clean it out in case it was supposed to be there). The screw holes weren't finished or sanded so it looked kind of workmanlike, but you don't expact a Stradivarius for $500.

Built like a tank. That's all you need to know. I'd absolutely gig without a backup. If a string breaks, I'll fix it and keep going.

No interaction with Fender yet.

I've been playing for 5 years, but mostly acoustic. This is my first real electric and it nails the sounds I'm going for. I'm not big into pedals yet, but I see using the HRD tweed Limited Edition, a Sparkle Drive, and my two hands to get all the sounds I want out of this puppy. This will absolutely be one of the 2 or 3 guitars I use and gig with for the rest of my life.

2001-2 Mexican made 60's re-issue sunburst 100% stock alder body, 5 position switch, staggered pol pu's heavy gloss finish on neck, you know, a strat. They more or less got it right. decal dates the guitar to 1960. Nicely matches everyones concept of a vintage strat. Easily as nice as the u.s. made 62 ri's i've played. tone pots actually work unlike most strats. Thankfully, no "features" or improvements except the 5 way switch which is historically incorrect but oh well.

This sounds like what you think a vintage strat sounds like, not actually what a vintage strat would sound like in your house through your amp etc. Which is good because vintage guitars are usually high maintainance white elephants. I play through Fender tube combos or a crate half stack depending on the job. Has that high thin bright strat thing down pat. does a nice 70's punk tone when distorted. It can get chunky enough that i use it to backup my Les Paul when I play heavy music. Be willing to play with the knobs.

For the money its the best appointed strat on the market. I despise satin finishes on guitar necks and the thick vintage style gloss on this had a lot to do with the purchase. The sunburst versions have an alder boy which makes it well worth the extra cash as my experience with basswood Fenders has been negative. I got mine from a good store so I have no idea what the factory set up was like but thats usually the waekest link. the quality is as good as my old American Standard and better than the cbs era strats i've had.

very well built. withstands live playing nicely. not quite as heavy as some other strats i've had but the finish is such a plus. The electronics are much improved over the MIM standard and I would use it exclusively if necessary. This guitar proves what Fender is capable of when they wanna. ONe complaint, the chrome parts are

I've stopped buying new Fender products on principle. enough said.

I have a (very battered) '59 strat and I sold a '62 supro martinique reso-glass (ala the white stripes) to buy this because reliability and consistantcy have to be worth something. This is pprobably the best mid point between price and quality in the current lineup.

1990 made in Japan
21 frets
5 way switch with standard strat layout
3 single coils
unknown replacement vintage upgrade pickups
Basswood body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard
sonic blue which has faded nicely into seafoam green
typically great Strat vibrato
Kluson knock-off tuners

Sounds like a Strat...These Japanese reissues are the bomb for Strat values...Collectors are hoarding them, but they can still be found in small shops and pawn shops for a steal. Replace the Japanese pickups with some decent vintage style pickups and you've got the classic thick glassy Strat tone. Given an 8 only because of the stock pickups.

The Japanese quality is legendary. It's my opinion that Fender stopped importing these because they are SUPERIOR to their USA made stuff. This guitar is solid, tight and correct. The C neck feels like a genuine '60's neck and the guitar is nice and light, unlike most USA reissues which are an overpriced joke. The finish is not as cool as an old nitro job, but what the hell.

This guitar is solid and reliable.

N/A

I own many vintage guitars and this is a great jam night guitar that I dnot have to worry about that looks cool and sounds great.

This is going to be a review of two 60's reissues. One is a 1985 or 1986 japanese strat and the other is a recent mexican model. I bought both guitars used and each model cost me $350. The japanese model is made from basswood and the mexican model is poplar. The finish on the neck of the japanese is softer and can be buffed off rather easily to give one that classic old guitar feel. The mexican model has a finish on it that is so difficult to remove, if at all. I don't know what fender uses but if I ever wanted to be mummified I'd by a couple cans of this stuff. Generally, I sand the backs of the necks with a green pan cleaner to remove the gummy finish. If you do this properly the neck will become so smooth, much like a old guitar; just don't sand down to the bare wood, you need to leave a protective coat on the neck. This thin layer helps to prevent warping and keeps the oils of the skin from absorbing into the exposed wood. Both models have the same features but the mexican's body is thicker than the japanese model. Both models are little on the heavy side but interestingly enough most of the recent mexican models that I played and liked were the heavier ones. When I bought these guitars both models had different pickups in them than stock. I ended up with '62 model kinmans in the jap model and the mexican has gold lace sensors. Both models have rosewood necks. I like the standard models and with the right set up these guitars have all the features need.

Both guitars sound good to me but that wasn't always the case. The jap reissue took a lot of work until it was really a happening guitar. I had to have the nut replaced and the frets, along with that I changed the pickups from seymor duncan alnico 2's to kinmans. I also bought a callaham bridge assembly which really is possibly the best thing you could ever do to improve the sound.
To me strats sound the best when you set the necks straight and slightly float the bridge. I usually have the bridge floating so I can pull up on the bar and the low E can be raised a half step. When I set the screws for the bridge I raise the inner screws off the plate entirely about 1/32nd. With the bar pulled so the bridge is flat against the body I set the outside screws so the just touch the plate. This takes a little bit of trial and error but when it is set right the resonance of the guitar will dramatically increase. I think that the mexican model has a little more spank to it and the jap model is mellower. It also seems that the mexican model has a greater change in sound when playing from the bridge area to the neck. Without all the modifications I would rate these guitars a 5 but with the changes it could be a 10.

This is where Fender takes a beating. Essentially this model should be sold as a kit because the set up is a load of crap. Fender is only really interested in what sells guitars not what makes them sound great. Sure the paint job was good on the mexican model and the neck seems alright, but what I'm talking about are things that set people like Tom Anderson, Suhr, Tyler and Grosh apart are the details that fender totally overlooks. I'm sorry but fender sucks in this area, even their custom shop stuff is a joke when it comes to this catagory. Basically, I had to press all the tuning ferrules back into place, and super glue one of them. I don't think it's going to hold it looks like the hole was made slightly too large. I'll probably have to fill it some how, maybe a layer of tape. The back of the neck had stickers on it and a little shim. How is a guitar supposed to sound good when the guitar neck is not properly seated? I peeled off the sticker and removed the shim. I also sanded the raised areas where the screws came through to help give the guitar a better face to face seat. Just about every guitar I see at the stores has a crappy set up, most off them are not even close to being useable. Fender could at least have something to shoot for as far as consistancy goes. The surgical tubing for the pickups is too short and so when you adjust the pickups farther down they loose tension and just bounce around moving up and down. I had to remove the pickguard and cut longer pieces for all the pickups. The difference in the new tubing is about a 1/16th of an inch not much but at least the pickups can be adjusted. I'm sorry but unless you plan to spend money or have the ability to fix these things yourself buy a different brand of guitar. Check out any G&L they kill Fender as far as set up from the guitars.

They are reliable but at this time the mexican model seems to have some tuning stability problems. I think the nut is piching the string and will have to be touched up. Generally, where they save money is on the hardware the trem blocks are made from pot metal(cheaper) and the pots and pickups are of lower quality than should be used. The hardware will not last and I would recommend to any sreious player the Callaham replacement bridge for a start. They have other stuff but start here.

Why would I bother I can do most everything myself and if I can't I know people who can.

Overall with all the changes I did to the jap model and the couple I may do with the mexican model I like these guitars a lot. Out of the box neither of these guitars is very good in relation to real instruments ie..Suhr, Tyler etc... I guess I don't mind taking something with potential and fixing it up. I was able to buy both of these guitars fairly cheaply and with a little bit of time and effort make something good of it. I like the pickups in both guitars and am happy with the difference in sound between them. I would not pay for one new because to me at that price the G&L guitars are far superior. If you find one used and can do the modifications and or repairs I would recommend either style of guitar. If you have any questions feel free to ask and I'll see if I can help you.

50th Anniversary Japanese model, 21 vintage frets, alder with maple neck, rosewood fretboard. Standard S/S/S pickup and controls, came stock with Texas Specials. The neck is really thick, and feels great. It's a reissue and has all the features of the originals...

I was looking for a traditional Strat sound, and this is it. I replaced the stock TexSpecial at the bridge with a Fralin SP43...This is a little thicker and fatter...makes the guitar perfect.

I bought it used--previous owner had it set up very different from what I wanted...however, it was easy for me to set the guitar up just like I want because all of the parts were in excellent shape. I replaced the bridge saddles with Graph Tech.

Because it is 6 or 7 years old, and has held up so well, it deserves a 10.

Excellent!

This is a 60's re-issue made in Japan Strat. I believe it was made in the late 80's. Standard vintage Strat features. You know them. I believe it has U.S. made pickups. Finish is a creamy white...could be yellowed a bit by 13 or 14 years on the planet.

The sound of this sweetheart is like smooth running water. When a Strat is right, it's right. And nothing else sounds like a great Strat. I've got a number of guitars. The Pauls sound very similar to other Humbucker axes, and the Teles sound somewhat like other single-coil guitars (not P90's though). But only a Strat is a Strat. And still, a it's probably the most eclectic guitar on the block.

The guitar was purchased used, so I have no factory setup info. But I understand that MIJ guitars are set up quite well from the factory. The pickups are matched very well to one another in sound and output. Fit amd finish of the guitar overall (paint, nut, neckset, tuner placement, etc..) is all flawless. This axe looks like somebody hand-made it. It's as good or better than any Strat I've ever owned. (Many, many! Pre CBS's to Custom Shop's).

I've had 60's Strats, and played 50's Strats. This design holds up well. There are always problems with bolt-on necks, such as string/fingerboard alignment. Keep those neck screws torqued, and you don't have problems.

Fender has been OK with support since the late 80's. Then again, a Strat is kind of like an old Jaguar XKE. Super simple design. Made to be worked on. Made to be adjusted. If you can't work on 'em yourself, you probably shouldn't own one. (Get a Les Paul. All glued together and stable as a concrete block. And Gibson support is great!)

I've been playing for 44 years (since I was 5). Pro for 35. I own many guitars (PRS, Gibson, Fender, Harmony, etc...) and many amps (Matchless, Naylor, Fender, Airline, etc...) I would certainly replace this one if lost. These MIJ Strats are the very best from Fender. I got a new MIJ Squire in '83, the first in the MIJ series. I've been sold ever since. After living through the garbage Fenders of the late 70's and early 80's, this Squire blew me away. Fender Japan raised the bar again with the 50's and 60's issues a few years later. Prices are skyrocketing lately. The secret is out, darnit! Ebay is generating 5 hundred and up now for these. A Vegas dealer told me he's getting up to 9 for blue and pink models in Exc Cond. When will it stop? These are still a great value at 5 to 6 hundred, but a grand is off the hook. Get 'em now!! This 10 value rating will probably drop to 6 in less than a year.