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. Text us to book a visit.

Fender Stratocaster STR-75M, Made in Japan 1984–1987 - Black Burst

A seriously cool and relatively uncommon Fender Japan STR-75M from the golden era of mid-’80s Japanese production. Serial number E843540 dates this one to the 1984-1987 period, when Fender Japan was producing some of its most interesting takes on the Stratocaster - and the STR series pushed the classic formula straight into Super Strat territory.

The first thing that grabs you is the finish. This deep Black Burst has an almost smoked, transparent quality through the center, letting the figuring of the body show through beneath the dark edges. Paired with the black pickguard and gold hardware, it gives the guitar a killer high-end Super Strat look that feels surprisingly current - the kind of dark figured finish you see today on boutique instruments from Suhr and other modern builders.

The factory HSS configuration gives it plenty of versatility: original Fender Hotrod singles and coils in the neck and middle positions with the original bridge Fender Dragster humbucker for extra output, punch and thickness when you need it. Everything works exactly as it should, and the electronics remain original.

One of the standout features is the original gold Fender EX-TREM locking tremolo system - Fender Japan’s licensed Floyd Rose-style design from this era. Together with the gold hardware, 22-fret maple neck and HSS layout, it makes this a very distinctive piece of ’80s Fender Japan history rather than just another vintage Strat.

Condition is very good for a guitar approaching 40 years old. There are several scratches and small signs of normal use throughout, along with one finish chip near the front strap button that was previously touched up in black to make it less noticeable - please see the photos for detail. Overall, the guitar presents beautifully and still feels remarkably clean in hand for its age.

The frets are in excellent condition, showing only even, normal wear with no deep grooves or problematic spots and plenty of life remaining. Polished and shining. It plays smoothly across the neck with no dead spots.

A fantastic example of the more adventurous side of ’80s Fender Japan: vintage MIJ build quality, original electronics, HSS versatility, locking tremolo, gold hardware, and a finish that looks just as relevant today as it did during the peak Super Strat era. Definitely not your everyday Fender Japan Strat.

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: Poplar
• Finish: Black Burst, gloss
• Pickguard: Black Stratocaster-style pickguard
• Weight: 3.84 kg / 8.47 lbs
• Contours: Classic Stratocaster double-cutaway body with forearm and belly contours

Neck

• Material: Maple
• Joint: Bolt-on
• Profile: Oval C-shaped
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Radius: 7.25" (184 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Fret Condition: Excellent, even wear with no deep grooves or dead spots; plenty of life remaining
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Nut Width: 42 mm / 1.65"
• Neck Finish: Gloss

Hardware

• Bridge: Original Fender EX-TREM locking tremolo, licensed by Floyd Rose
• Saddles: Gold and black
• Tuners: Original Fender Japan gold tuners
• Tremolo Arm: Gold
• Strap Buttons: Gold
• Hardware Finish: Gold with natural age-related patina

Electronics

• Pickups: Original Fender Japan pickups - 2 Hot Rod single-coils and 1 Fender Dragster humbucker
• Configuration: HSS
• Controls: Master Volume, 2 Tone controls
• Switching: 5-way blade switch
• Output Jack: 1/4" mono
• Electronics: Original and fully functional

Other

• Model: Fender Stratocaster STR-75M
• Serial Number: E843540
• Serial Series: E-series
• Year: circa 1984-1987
• Made in: Japan (MIJ)
• Color: Black Burst
• Condition: Very good vintage condition with normal age-related scratches and signs of use. One finish chip near the front strap button has been previously touched up in black; see photos for detail
• Case: No case included