Profile Stratocaster Copy

This guitar is a strat copy, matt black all over except for red lettering on the headstock logo, red dot fret markers and a black pickguard with a red pinstripe. Very '80's looking, and that is probably when it was made. It has three ceramic single coil pickups and a five-position selector. The pickups are louder and more midrangey than normal strat single coils, which makes it good for rock. There is a typical strat whammy bar bridge; not sure what material the block is made of. The neck is a four-bolt style, with a fairly wide fretboard for a strat, 21 frets. Decent adjustable sealed tuners.

The fretboard, under that black stain, looks to me like rosewood, judging from the grain.

The controls differ from those of a strat in that there is only one volume and one tone control. In the place of the strat's third knob is the output jack in the pickguard; there is no angled jack routed into the body. Also unlike the strat, there is only one string tree (also black) in the headstock. This suits me as it makes the middle strings more accessible for behind-the-nut string bending.

I don't know what kind of wood is in the body, but I can make out that it is typcal three-part construction.

I bought the guitar used, with a rectangular plywood case. It came with a plastic nut (black of course), which I have replaced with a graphite one after a botched attempt to file the grooves left it with a buzz.

It's a simple, bare bones guitar, but what is there is worth having.

This guitar sounds good acoustically, with a richer bass tone than most strats I have played. The sustain is good, especially after tightening the springs on the whammy block so it fits snug against the guitar body. The pickups suited me while I played in a rock band, but now I am playing country and they are a bit too hot and midrangey so I am thinking of replacing them. I am using it through an Acoustic tube amp, and the overall sound is good. There is the usual single coil hum, but that is to be expected.

The construction appears to be good, in typical Japanese fashion. Fit and finish, wiring, materials all good. It's a keeper. Not high end components or features, but well-made.

I've done a lot of playing with this guitar and it has held up well. The bridge is corroding, which does not affect the sound but takes away aesthetically. The paint finish is holding up well. the strap buttons have to be retightened periodically. I have and would again use it on a gig without a backup; the most vulnerable aspects of this kind of guitar -- the wiring, pickups, etc. -- are very well constructed and quite reliable. It's a roadworthy, professional quality instrument.

Company is long gone, but most shops can fix it as it takes standard parts. I found a new whammy bar arm (which was missing) with no problem.

I have been playing electrics for thirty years, and have owned various models by Gibson, Gretsch, Fender, Ibanez and other companies and have found that copies (I own more than one) can provide good value for money if they are well made with good components and are well cared for. This guitar is a keeper, though it is now my backup (until I try the new pickups). This guitar is nice looking with a warm acoustic sound, is solidly built and -- this is important as a gigging musician -- I am not afraid to take it out of the case in a gig situation. If lost or stolen I would consider buying another one of this model, or one like it. I would certainly be interested in buying this brand again.

Good copy of a 50-60's stratocaster, 2 color sunburst with well contoured body,don't know the wood, probably alder(it's not that light), rosewood fingerboard a bit worn and some wear on the first 6-7 frets. Well finished maple neck with 2 pieces headstock , "profile" engraved on it and good quality tuners.
Tremolo bridge looks a bit cheap and it's probably chrome zinc.
I don't know the years of manufacture ( seems old, at least 15-20 years), but it has got made in japan engraved on the neck back plate.
It has a 3 single coils(I think ceramic) and a 3-way selector, one volume and two tones control.

I plugged the guitar straight away when I got back home after I bought it, I use a Hughes and Kettner edition blue 60r and the profile even with old rusted strings , and even if hadn't been payed for a long time, had a great sound! very bright but warm at the same time, very happy with the combination of the 3 pickups and the wood of thr guitar, very balanced and that's is synonimous of quality! only shame is the 3-way selector, but I'm gonna change to a 5-way ,and then is gonna be strat heaven!!

I bought the guitar used so the setup was not perfect but didn't take long to make the guitar playing right, the finish is realyy good, much better than the stratocaster copies of nowadays!! old japanese quality everywhere!! even if my sample is old you can see the effort , just look under the pickguard and looks like an old original strat, very meticoulos wiring and quality pots and switch!
probably the only drawback is the bridge, looks a bit cheap compared to the rest and I think isn't even made of steel, but does it's job!

The guitar looks very robust, I'll probably fix the worn frets and the it'll be like new!
you can depend on it for sure considering the quality of the guitar!

this was a very old company so..

Ok, I bought this guitar based on the reviews of harmony central and I have to say that most of them were true!!
I played other stratocaster copies, Haven't tried the tokai or fernandes(but hey, have you seen the price of those now? not on the cheap side..) but for the price I think the profile copies are the best, great japanese quality , very balanced sound and feeling like an old strat!!
If you find one buy it!!