1983 Fender "JV" ST57-115 '57 Stratocaster, Mahogany Neck & Koa Body, USA Fullerton Pickups

Circa 1983 Fender Japan “JV” serial ST57-115 ’57 Stratocaster in natural finish, a non-catalog/order model. The “115” suffix denotes factory Fullerton-era USA pickups, plastics, electronics, and trem block.

Manufactured at the FujiGen factory in Japan. Factory CTS pots are dated June, 1982. (I've dated it as '83, as it does not have the "Made in Japan" headstock decal text found on the earliest production runs. CTS pots dated '82 were also used for a few years for the high-spec Fender Japan Strats.)

This is a truly unique collector piece, as it features a one piece mahogany neck with maple skunk stripe, and koa body. It’s probable that this was a prototype or dealer one-off, as there is no other model with these tonewood specifications. Schecter produced some Stratocasters in the early 1980's with Koa bodies, of which inspired Greco to make some Super Real series copies—so this ST57 is a natural successor (as Kanda Shokai owned Greco and shares of Fender Japan).

Fully functional. The guitar has been professionally set up and plays with proper intonation—however, the truss rod is maxed out with an upbow, resulting in high 2.75/2.5mm action at the 12th fret.

Set up with D'Addario 10-46 strings, and plays well up and down the neck with proper intonation (despite the aforementioned high action).

Includes Fender Japan gig bag and original vibrato arm.