ST70 "Rare Model"

[Sigmania]

So the maple fretboard ST70 is reminiscent of the “1964 Rare Model” where Fender made some maple board Strats.

The rosewood slab was discontinued by Fender in 1962 I believe? Does anyone know of any being made up to 1964?

 

[Sigmania]

I'll try to link all of the ST70s I have seen so far to get an idea of the range.

1981 ST70R. eBay listing

1981 ST70R. Forum member BP Jensen

1981 ST70R. Flikr Myxi2.

1981 ST70R in Metallic Green MG

1981 ST70 FO. Forum member lead guitar_323

1983? 1984? ST70 Goldstar. Owned by forum member Koubayashi.

 

[Sigmania]

Discussion primarily of the above 1981 maple neck ST70 FO.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=10993

Re: the maple laminate fingerboard:

“I’m sure it makes no difference sonically at all, but from a practical point of view if your maple fingerboard wears out you can just replace it. One of Jimi`s strats had the separate maple fingerboard. It’s not a budget feature. Gabe”

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=18291

 

[HAMAMATSU]

8) the "vintage" models are the maple neck series and the "oldie" models are the rosewood fretboard neck series. the upper section is "vintage" and the lower section is "oldie". for the both series, the highest models are alder or sen, 2 piece. the lowest models are alder 3 piece. all the models in between have the 2 piece alder body. there isnt a tortoise-shell pickguard as any option. "vintage" were the 54/58/64(laminated maple) model and "oldie" were 60/64 model. ST70R has the slab rosewood fretboard because its the 60 model. all the other rosewood fretboard models have the round rosewood fretboard because they are the 64 model. (sorry if i made any mistake here!)

 

[Sigmania]

Thank you so much! Amazing.

Are you saying it says that the ST80/100120 are not listed as 1 piece bodies? Is what what the "2P" is?

I see on the ST120 is says 2P or 1P.

ST50 3P.

 

[HAMAMATSU]

Thank you so much! Amazing.

Are you saying it says that the ST80 and ST100 are not listed as 1 piece bodies?

8) if its "alder" then 2 piece but if its "sen" then its 1 piece! on the only the highest model.

 

[Sigmania]

Ahhhh. So alder/painted bodies are 2 piece, (3 pieces on the ST50).

Thank you!

 

[HAMAMATSU]

8) sorry for my mistake. its past midnight here in japan so i m very sleepy! i wish if we can all read the past tokai catalogs well then we solve any question/mystery. almost everything we wanna know are on the catalogs somewhere. hope someday a super translater or something do it.

 

[Sigmania]

So it sounds like the rosewood slab is thought of as a 1960/"oldie", and the maple cap is thought of as a 1964/"vintage"?

 

[Sigmania]

8) sorry for my mistake. its past midnight here in japan so i m very sleepy! i wish if we can all read the past tokai catalogs well then we solve any question/mystery. almost everything we wanna know are on the catalogs somewhere. hope someday a super translater or something do it.

You're awesome! I was surprised that you were awake. That really helps. Many thanks!

 

[HAMAMATSU]

So it sounds like the rosewood slab is thought of as a 1960/"oldie", and the maple cap is thought of as a 1964/"vintage"?

8) yes and this page of the 1982 final catalog explains all about the tokai strats in 1982!

https://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/vol626.jpg

 

[Sigmania]

So it sounds like the rosewood slab is thought of as a 1960/"oldie", and the maple cap is thought of as a 1964/"vintage"?

8) yes and this page of the 1982 final catalog explains all about the tokai strats in 1982!

https://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/vol626.jpg

I've looked at that many times and wondered what is says.... :roll:

 

[Sigmania]

Do you think Traditional=oldie in the translation?

 

[Stringzy]

That new green one is a real beauty, Sigmania! How did you find it? Imported from Japan?

 

[HAMAMATSU]

8) the tokai traditional ST series means both "vintage" and "oldies" i guess. it says so in the explanation there.

 

[Sigmania]

Thanks Hamamatsu. Really appreciate your work. Thank you!

 

[Sigmania]

That new green one is a real beauty, Sigmania! How did you find it? Imported from Japan?

Thanks. Yes. Being shipped from Japan.

Here is the thread on where it came from:

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=25993

 

[guitar hiro]

concerning vintage Fender guitars, Strats included: I will throw you a bone to chew on.
this web site will offer the reader some interesting info :wink:
http://guitarhq.com/fenderc.html
You could do a LOT of digging here 8)

make sure not to miss the 1964 Firemist Gold Strat with the maple cap neck & gold hardware; it's about 2/3rds the way down the page.
This extremely rare Strat, serial # L47091, is also featured on pages 32 & 33 in TGOS by Yasuhiko Iwanade. 8)

 

[Sigmania]

concerning vintage Fender guitars, Strats included: I will throw you a bone to chew on.
this web site will offer the reader some interesting info :wink:
http://guitarhq.com/fenderc.html
You could do a LOT of digging here 8)

make sure not to miss the 1964 Firemist Gold Strat with the maple cap neck & gold hardware; it's about 2/3rds the way down the page.
This extremely rare Strat, serial # L47091, is also featured on pages 32 & 33 in TGOS by Yasuhiko Iwanade. 8)

Wow..........

I guess that right there would be the "1964 Rare Model"!

Thanks for that amazing link!

http://guitarhq.com/fenderc.html

pages 32 & 33 in TGOS by Yasuhiko Iwanade

 

[guitar hiro]

that Firemist Gold Strat with the maple cap neck gives me a woody .... LOL