Better Guitar

player opinions

Name: Ryd
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $600
Performance
Outstanding, the playability is awesome. No wonder some people from Fender agree that Japanese Strats can come close to custom made US Fender’s! 70’s Japanese Model ST 72-58 and ST 71 Ishibashi Music Rulez!
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Vintage and pure rock. I changed the pickup to SH 1 Hotrails and it became a beast.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Crafted In Japan. Need I say more?
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Eric Pogue
Band: Chip Nasty
Model Year: 1984
Price Paid: $600 Canadian
Performance
First, I’m a south paw and it’s the left handed version. When I bought the guitar it came all White with the Rosewood neck and stock pickups. Within a year I gutted it, put a Gibson Dirty Finger Humbucker in it and painted Lime green with a Black Bumble Bee racing stripe and black pick guard. This guitar has been to hell and back with me almost 20 years now. Plenty of gigs, jams and practices and it plays terrific. The tremolo is awesome and has been through out its life. Love the feel of the Strat but love the tone and raw chunk of a Gibson. It’s the best of both worlds. Before the changes I’d give it a 10 for feel and 6 for sound, after... 10 and 10. Love it, they will have to pry it from my dead hands one day.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
As stated above, I wasn’t happy with the sound but loved the feel. If anyone from Fender or Squier reads this, make a Fat Strat in Left Handed. I shouldn’t have to gut a guitar to get the tone I want.
Sound Quality Rating: 6
Construction
Well made for the parts I used, body, neck, bridge and tuners, the electronics were probably fine for a Strat tone, but I prefer Humbuckers. But that’s a matter of choice.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Terry Fields
Band: -----
Model Year: 1985
Price Paid: $350
Performance
Love the guitar and the tremolo system (system I). Plays well, stays in tune and is just as nice as my Strat Plus ‘92. Only complaint is the difficulty getting parts for the tremolo system and its tendency to strip out in fine tuner holes.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
The guitar sounds amazing. It is a painted Alder wood body and painted maple neck with a very warm tone. I replaced the original two humbuckers with a Seymour Duncan models JB in the bridge and 57 jazz in the neck. Sounds amazing.
Sound Quality Rating: --
Construction
Great finish. Great frets. Stands up very well still after nearly 21 years. It’s time to change the electronics though.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: AMW
Band: -----
Model Year: 198?
Price Paid: £250 in 1991
Performance
The only Strat I’ve ever played that stays in tune. Superb action.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Noisy 5 position switch. Sounds just like any other Strat.
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
Good finish — as well made as any American model. Much better than the Squier models.
Construction Rating: 8

Name: Wayne Deleersnyder
Band: -----
Model Year: 1985
Price Paid: $650 Canadian in 1987
Performance
Excellent Guitar. Plays very smoothly. The tremolo system; known as a System I tremolo, is great with the fine tuners. The string lock is a little tricky for those not use to the guitar. The trick is to thread the strings between the two metal plates, otherwise you snap the strings when you go to lock the strings down. Otherwise, plays awesome, never goes out of tune.
Performance Rating: 9
Sound Quality
Sounds great to me. A little on the bright side.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
The original switch had to go. It was too noisy when switching positions. Other than that, it’s a beautiful instrument. Mine has a sunburst finish and is aging quite nicely. The one thing I did to mine was put on brass knobs from a “Strat.” Not a Stratocaster, but from a Strat. The brass goes quite nicely with the finish. The Japanese makers did a great job.
Construction Rating: 9

Name: D De Wolf
Band: Me
Model Year: 1988
Price Paid: $800
Performance
Superior quality and build , except the pick-ups change them and you have great Strat — 1988-1991 not based on a particular year, but very close to 1957.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
The maple neck model with 2 string trees, just install better pick-ups and keep them fairly low.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Regardless of the frets when you get one, put medium jumbos in but keep them fairly pointy/not too flat on top.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Greg
Band: ----
Model Year: 1985
Price Paid: $499
Performance
This is the most versatile Strat every made. It has a two way tremolo that was only available for a few years. The guitar was priced right and very well constructed. I did replace the sub standard 5 position switch with a USA Strat type and also put Seymour Duncan Classic stack pick ups in all three positions. It plays like a dream. I wouldn’t sell it for any price. I think these first year Japanese made Strats will be the surprise collector of the future.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Since the price was cheap I would recommend changing out the pick ups. They have that familiar buzz from single coils. But some Strat freaks like that. Not me.
Sound Quality Rating: 6
Construction
This guitar is now 17 years old and still looks and plays like new. Even better than new now that it is broke in.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Calvin
Band: Tacoma Blues
Model Year: 1988
Price Paid: $300
Performance
This is the best Strat I have ever played. I heard a lot of good things about the Japanese Strats made in the 80’s... all TRUE!
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Sounds better than my Strat Plus made in the States, better than my Mexican reissue Strat, just plain better than anything.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Looks killer, white with a maple neck — huge neck! Solid, stays in tune. No problems at all!
Construction Rating: 10