Bought a Fender Japan ST54-DMC Black

[KrauserII]

Hi guys,

I bought this guitar a few months ago in Shanghai at the Ishibashi Music Store, and I'm looking for more information about it. The website provides the following information:
https://reverb.com/item/66575527-fender-japan-st54-dmc-black-sn-r089941-03-06but the exact model is not specified. Is there any way to find out the exact model?



Thanks fot the help!

 

[Sigmania]

If you take the neck off it’s probably stamped in the neck pocket.

 

[Sigmania]

Btw, that guitar may well have been made by Tokai. You may already know that.

2004-2006

SN R089941

Tokai "Made In" & "Crafted In" Fenders

There will be clues when you open it up under the pick guard and in the neck pocket.

Take a ton of pictures if you do open it up. Especially of any markings, screw holes, pickup routs, etc.

 

[Sigmania]

And that model name probably means that it is a 1954 V neck with DiMarzio pickups.

 

[Sigmania]

Here is the 2000 catalog

You have a 21 fret version similar in many ways to the ST54-80AM (American pickups version)

The one on the left has active Lace Sensor pickups and an active circuit.

Guessing the bodies on painted models are alder.




American 50s Pickups

The 54 version Stratocaster features American '50s pickups mounted on a light ash body to more faithfully reproduce the vintage sound.

Vintage Premium
AMERICAN 50's

ST54-80AM ¥80.000
BODY: LIGHT WEIGHT ASH
NECK : MAPLE V TYPE,321SCALE
FRETBOARD: MAPLE ONE PIECE, 184R, 21F
PICKUPS: AMERICAN 50s (U.S.A.) X 3
CONTROLS & SWITCH: IVOL 2TONE,5WAY SW
BRIDGE: STEEL BLOCK 58F VINTAGE
COLOR: 2T,BLK


American 50's

 

[KrauserII]

I did it, it says: st54...but It seems othing else. i'd like to know the price market (110, 85 ecc..)

 

[KrauserII]

Here is the 2000 catalog

You have a 21 fret version similar in many ways to the ST54-80AM (American pickups version)

The one on the left has active Lace Sensor pickups and an active circuit.

Guessing the bodies on painted models are alder.




American 50s Pickups

The 54 version Stratocaster features American '50s pickups mounted on a light ash body to more faithfully reproduce the vintage sound.

Vintage Premium
AMERICAN 50's

ST54-80AM ¥80.000
BODY: LIGHT WEIGHT ASH
NECK : MAPLE V TYPE,321SCALE
FRETBOARD: MAPLE ONE PIECE, 184R, 21F
PICKUPS: AMERICAN 50s (U.S.A.) X 3
CONTROLS & SWITCH: IVOL 2TONE,5WAY SW
BRIDGE: STEEL BLOCK 58F VINTAGE
COLOR: 2T,BLK

View attachment 27788
American 50's

Maybe this is it!

 

[Sigmania]

Were there any stamps on the very end of the butt of the neck or in the pickup compartments? That will tell us if it is a Tokai build.

As for the model, in my quick search there were references of the ST54 DMC at different pice levels. Not sure if they are accurate. Mostly in the 70-80,000 yen range.

At that price in 2004-2006 I would assume it has a poly finish and is a 2 or 3 piece body.

I also saw one post re: a version of this that was like 120,000 yen, but no other discussion of it and they may have been off base.

CIJ ST54 120 DiMarzio Collection Strat ??? Any info ?

 

[Sigmania]

Here is one on eBay.

I would want to verify the seller's claims about lacquer.

Fender Japan ST54-DMC/VSP 2TS Stratocaster Vintage Special 2Tone Sunburst, m3014 | eBay

Fender Japan ST54-DMC/VSP 2TS Stratocaster Vintage Special 2Tone Sunburst


Style: Stratocaster
Neck Scale: Long
Neck Joint: Detachable
Pickup: Classical Vintage DCT-1 / Passive
Pickup Configuration: SSS
Pot: CTS
Finish: Top Lacquer
Inlay: (Fretboard)Dot
Weight: 8.60lbs (3.90kg)
Case: Original Gig Case

 

[Sigmania]

Check out this thread on the 120,000 yen version:


Features:

2 pcs (sen??) ash body, centre seamed, nice grain
All Nitro lacquer, 2 Tone sunburst
1 ply parchment pickguard (8 holes)
1 VOL, 2 TONE knobs
5 way switch
Steel trem block (see the pics with the "red covered" magnet)
Maple neck with beautiful grain, tinted, black marks, TR access at rear
Vintage Kluson style tuners
Vintage round string tree
DiMarzio Classical Vintage pups with staggered pole pieces
CTS pots, Vintage cloth covered wires, ceramic cap,
SN S 04**** = 2004 or '94 /95 ???????

Review - Fender Japan - ST54-120 DMC

 

[KrauserII]

I will have a look under the pickguard
By the way, for me the neck is HUGE, not that I cannot play but I feel more at home with a C or D shape.

 

[Sigmania]

Btw, the stamps in the neck are a little odd.

Looks like it says 2TS (2 tone sunburst) on one side, but was painted black.

I wonder if it could actually be sen ash, and then there was a blemish or something and it was painted?

Grain looks like is could be sen.

 

[KrauserII]

Yep, thanks Sigmania for pointing that out. I purchased this guitar specifically because it was listed as having an ash body, and I was curious to try out a V-shaped neck. Can anyone confirm if this guitar does indeed have an ash body?

By the way, I wasn't aware of sem Ash; I just discovered it!

I also have another Crafted in Japan ST57. On Riverb, it was listed as having a basswood body, but when I bought it from the local music store, the description indicated it had an alder body. I'm wondering if someone could clarify this for me, as I'm not an expert when it comes to wood.

This guitar should date back to the late '90s or early 2000s. It has undergone significant modifications, and it's not the easiest guitar to play, but I find mojo in it.

 

[Sigmania]

The black one looks like sen.

The sunburst could be basswood. Very even grain with no obvious annual growth rings with darker sapwood. 3 piece body?