Epic Axes is a musician-driven showroom in Los Angeles. Each guitar is personally selected, inspected, and tested to ensure top performance - only instruments we would play ourselves become part of our collection.

A beautifully worn and completely authentic Fender Japan Strat that has earned every bit of its character over more than three decades. This is not a closet queen, nor is it a factory relic — it's the real thing.

The guitar shows extensive honest wear throughout, including numerous dings, scratches, finish chips, edge wear, buckle rash, and playwear across both the body and neck. Even the headstock carries its own story, with a slightly burned edge that only adds to the instrument's unique personality. The result is a naturally aged look that simply can't be replicated by sandpaper and marketing.

In an era where players spend thousands extra for Custom Shop relic treatments, this Strat offers something far more difficult to find: genuine vintage wear, real patina, and decades of honest use. Every mark reflects a life of being played, loved, and taken to gigs.

The original Fender Japan pickups and electronics remain intact. At some point the ground connection on the volume pot was re-soldered, but the original pot is still present. The guitar functions exactly as it should and delivers the unmistakable sound that made late-'80s Fender Japan instruments so respected among players and collectors alike.

Frets are in very good condition for the age, showing consistent and healthy wear without deep grooves, dead spots, or buzzing. The guitar is currently set up with comfortable low action and plays effortlessly up and down the neck.

The hardware displays natural oxidation, tarnish, and light surface corrosion consistent with its age, creating the kind of authentic vintage patina that many modern relic instruments attempt to imitate. Nothing looks forced or artificial — just decades of honest aging.

At some point in its life, a previous owner relocated the rear strap button slightly lower on the body, leaving one additional screw hole visible.

If you're looking for a pristine museum piece, this probably isn't it. If you're looking for a Strat with soul, mojo, and the kind of character that only time can create, this one delivers in spades. A wonderfully broken-in Japanese Fender that feels like an old friend the moment you pick it up.

No case included.

The following work has been done: full fretboard conditioning with lemon oil, fret polish, pickup height adjustment for balance and clarity, and a fresh set of D’Addario 10-46s installed. String height at the 12th fret on the low E is right at 2.2 mm - set for comfortable playability. 

Body
• Construction: Solid body, bolt-on neck
• Wood: Basswood (typical for ST72-50R models)
• Finish: Vintage White (heavily aged to a deep buttery yellow), Gloss Polyester
• Pickguard: 3-Ply White
• Weight: Approx. 7.3-8.0 lbs / 3.3-3.6 kg
• Contours: Classic Stratocaster Comfort Contours

Neck
• Material: Maple
• Joint: 3-Bolt Bolt-On with Micro-Tilt Adjustment
• Profile: Late-'70s Style "C"
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Radius: 7.25" (184 mm)
• Frets: 21 Vintage-Style Frets
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Nut: Synthetic Bone
• Nut Width: Approx. 1.65" (42 mm)
• Headstock: Large CBS-Style Headstock
• Neck Finish: Gloss Polyester

Hardware
• Bridge: Vintage-Style 6-Screw Synchronized Tremolo
• Tremolo Arm: Fender Stratocaster Tremolo Arm
• Tuners: Fender Japan "F" Style Tuners
• Neck Plate: Vintage-Style 3-Bolt "F" Neck Plate with Micro-Tilt
• Strap Buttons: Fender Standard
• Hardware Finish: Chrome (naturally aged with oxidation and patina)

Electronics
• Pickups: Original Fender Japan Vintage-Style Single-Coils (Neck, Middle & Bridge)
• Controls:
  • Master Volume
  • Tone 1 (Neck)
  • Tone 2 (Middle)
• Switching: 5-Way Blade Switch
• Output Jack: 1/4" Mono
• Configuration: SSS

Other
• Model: Fender Japan ST72-50R Stratocaster
• Year: 1989-1990
• Made in: Japan (FujiGen)
• Serial Number: I035196
• Modifications: Rear strap button was relocated slightly lower at some point, leaving one extra screw hole. Ground connection on the original volume pot was professionally re-soldered. Otherwise original pickups and electronics.
• Condition: Vintage player's condition with extensive natural wear throughout. Numerous finish chips, scratches, buckle rash, edge wear, neck wear, and authentic aging accumulated over more than three decades. Hardware shows natural oxidation and patina. Frets remain in good condition with even wear, no deep grooves, no dead spots, and excellent playability. Professionally set up with low action and a straight neck.
• Case: No Case Included.