Fender Japan Export Stratocasters continued
Please read intro first here Fender Japan Export
Throughout the late 80s and much of the 90s the reissues which then became the collectables were appearing
in the Frontlines. These are covered elsewhere on my site start here:
The collectables
Fender Japan Hot Rod Reissues
Appearing in the 1990 Frontline are 2 guitars described as Hot Rod Reissues. There is a 50s model 25-1002 and a
60s model 25-1000. They have DiMarzio Humbucker in the bridge and are said to have
Deluxe Floyd Rose Double Locking Trem. I suspect this isn't right. There is a designation change in the 1991 pricelist
and frontline to 125-1000 and 125-1002 again showing Floyd Rose Deluxe Double Locking trem. This is likely to be change of trem
unit and there are sources suggesting that the early models had a Kahler Trem, which I think is likely to be right.
These models are available up until 1993.
Specs 25-1002 125-1002
Body Basswood
Neck Maple 4 bolt Matte Finish Deluxe shape neck plate
Fretboard Maple 22 Jumbo Frets 12" radius with String bar
Headstock Small Spag logo
Tuners Vintage Style
Pickups 2 Alnico single coils and 1 DiMarzio Humbucker
Controls White 1 Volume 1 tone (neck) 1 TBX for bridge and middle with push pull coil split 5 way switch
Nut Locking
Hardware Chrome
Bridge see above
Pickguard White 11 hole
Colours 3 Colour Sunburst, Olympic White, Black, Candy Apple Red and Sonic Blue
Crimson Fotoflame and Blue Fotoflame added later
Specs 25-1000 125-1000
Body Basswood
Neck Maple 4 bolt Matte Finish Deluxe shape neck plate
Fretboard Rosewood 22 Jumbo Frets 12" radius with
Headstock Small Spag logo
Tuners Vintage Style
Pickups 2 Alnico single coils and 1 DiMarzio Humbucker
Controls White 1 Volume 1 tone (neck) 1 TBX for bridge and middle with push pull coil split 5 way switch
Nut Locking
Hardware Chrome
Bridge see above
Pickguard White 11 hole
Colours 3 Colour Sunburst, Olympic White, Black, Candy Apple Red and Sonic Blue
Crimson Fotoflame and Blue Fotoflame added later
From John C again
I can confirm that the first of the HRR models had Kahler Steeler tremolos on them and were marketed as such. But the HRRs
came out only a short while (I think half a year but my memory is hazy on the timing) before Fender took over the distribution of
Floyd Rose products (after Kramer went bankrupt); once FMIC took over distribution of Floyd Rose products the HRRs switched to the
Floyd Rose tremolo
All the above will look similar on both models
The above are all 50s
and the 60s model
HM Stratocasters 2nd series
First appeared in the 1991 price list and the 1992 Frontline there are 4 models.
125-1102 and 125-1100 are HSS models with Maple and Rosewood boards respectively.
125-1202 and 125-1200 are HSH models with Maple and Rosewood boards respectively.
Now sporting Floyd Rose trem units and quite a variety of colours. Fender says the body is slightly smaller and more contoured
| 125-1102 and 1100 | 125-1202 and 1200 | |
| Body | Basswood | Basswood |
| Neck | Maple wide flat oval shape satin finish Deluxe style neckplate | Maple wide flat oval shape satin finish deluxe style neckplate |
| Fretboard | Maple or Rosewood 24 Jumbo Frets 17" radius | Maple or Rosewood 24 Jumbo Frets 17" radius |
| Headstock | Slightly smaller with CBS logo strat in capital letters painted black | Tilt design slightly smaller with Highly stylised Fender logo strat in capitals painted black |
| Pickups | 2 Alnico single coil 1 DiMarzio Humbucker | 1 Alnico Single Coil 2 DiMarzio Humbuckers |
| Controls | Black F Stamped 1 Volume 1 TBX Coil tap for HB 5 way | Black F stamped 1 Volume 1 TBX Coil Taps for HBs 5 way |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose Original | Floyd Rose Pro |
| Nut | locking with string bar | Locking with string bar |
| Hardware | Black | Black |
| Pickguard | None | Black 8 holes |
| Tuners | Black Gotoh Sealed diecast | Black Gotoh sealed diecast |
| Colours | Black, Midnight Blue, Chrome Red, Brite White, Blackstone, Bluestone or Redstone | Black, Midnight Blue, Chrome Red, Brite White, Blackstone, Bluestone or Redstone |
The 1100 the 1102 will look the same except for the board
The 1202
Floyd Rose Standard Fotoflame 125-5000
This model which for some reason is part of the Squier series appeared around the end of 1992 and continued to mid 1996.
It is what it says a fairly standard HSS Strat with a different finish. There were two other guitars in the series but
they were made in Mexico and had ordinary finishes.
Specs
Body Basswood Fotoflame finish
Neck Maple 4 bolt plain neck plate
Fretboard Rosewood 21 Jumbo Frets 12" radius
Headstock Plain Gold spag logo Floyd Rose Squier series written on has string bar
Tuners Standard cheap see pictures
Pickups 2 single coil ceramic and 1 Humbucker
Controls White 1 Volume 1 Tone 5 way
Nut 42mm Locking
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Floyd Rose II double locking trem
Pickguard 3 ply white 11 hole
Colours Antique Fotoflame, Crimson Fotoflame or Blue Fotoflame
Stratocaster Pink Paisley 27-9102 and Blue Flower 27-9302
There were a couple of releases of these one in 2002 (CIJ) and one in 2008 (MIJ). Oddly they appear in the specs list of the
2003 Frontline as part of the classic series but not in the main catalogue, nor can I see them in the main part of any relevant Frontline.
They are not like the domestic models which are ST72s with definite 70s features. The earlier export reissue/collectable versions
are also definite 70s style so exactly where these came from is a mystery.
These are often advertised for sale as rare models but although they weren't made for long you do see quite a few about.
Specs exceot for the finish these are the same guitar.
Body Basswood Polyurethane finish
Neck Maple 4 bolt plain neck plate polyester finish
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage Frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Plain Gold spag logo 1 string tree see picture
Tuners Fender Gotoh Vintage style
Pickups 3 white covered vintage style Alnico V single coil
Controls White 1 Volume 2 Tone 5 way
Nut 42mm
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Vintage style sync trem
Pickguard Matching 8 hole
The Aerodynes
The Aerodynes started to appear in the catalogues and continued to do so on and off until the present day (2023)
They are covered extensively on the site start here
Aerodyne Guitars
The Antigua Strat 25-7002
This is a reissue of the CBS Strat hence has features of the period 1977-1979. In the UK we describe this as a Marmite finish
meaning you love it or hate it there are very few neutrals.
This was made in 2003 and again although made for a fairly short time you see quite a few about. I can't see this is any catalogues.
Body Basswood Polyurethane finish
Neck Maple 3 bolt C shape neck plate F stamped with Fender Japan on Microtilt
Fretboard Maple 21 Medium Jumbo Frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Large 70s style with Bullet Truss rod adjust Black CBS logo 2 Butterfly string trees
Tuners Vintage F stamped
Pickups 3 black covered single coils Alnico
Controls Black 1 Volume 1 Tone 5 way
Nut 42mm
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Vintage style sync trem
Pickguard Matching 11 hole
58 Strat FSR 25-1503
For a brief period in 2013 there was an export equivalent of the ST58 details of the ST 58 are here
The ST58
Stratocaster Flip Flop HSS 26-1198
Another one that I can't find in catalogues but there are a few out there. The original Flip flop was of course a
Mexican Guitar and was SSS. The flip flop refers to it looking blue then looking green. Other than the finish
this FSR from 2014 is fairly ordinary.
Body Alder
Neck Maple oval 4 bolt plain deluxe shape neck plate Matching colour
Fretboard Coloured Maple 22 Medium Jumbo Frets 9.84" radius
Headstock Matching Gold spag logo 1 butterfly string tree
Tuners Gotoh SD91 Magnum Lock Tuners
Pickups 2 white ceramic single coils and a white dragster ceramic humbucker
Controls White 1 Volume 2 Tone 5 way
Nut 41mm
Hardware Nickel Chrome
Bridge Vintage style sync trem
Pickguard 3 ply parchment 11 hole
Made by Dyna Gakki
We have now reached the point where the Fender Japan Joint venture ceases trading but production of Japanese
Fenders continues. Now though these are models Fender USA commissions to be made in various Japanese factories.
We have JD serial numbers made by Dyna Gakki JT serial numbers made by Terada and JFF serial numbers reputed
to be Fujigen, though I have never been able to find proof of Fujigen.
Now Fender are still making some models for the domestic market only although these are less domestic than before
in that they seem to be in many far eastern countries and Australia and New Zealand.
Some models are now being exported to the west and featuring on Fender's western websites, these are models also for
sale in Japan.
The next page will focus on these. Link Export Strats 2015 onwards