{"product_id":"1990-fender-japan-order-made-std-57-ko-156-stratocaster-aged-sonic-blue","title":"1990 Fender Japan Order Made STD-57 KO-156 Stratocaster - Aged Sonic Blue","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eA particularly interesting Fender Japan Stratocaster from the early FujiGen era, built through Fender Japan's \u003cstrong\u003eOrder Made\u003c\/strong\u003e program and based on the vintage-style STD-57 platform.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis guitar dates to approximately \u003cstrong\u003e1990\u003c\/strong\u003e and carries matching \u003cstrong\u003eORDER MADE \/ KO-156\u003c\/strong\u003e markings on the neck and body, along with the \u003cstrong\u003eSTD-57\u003c\/strong\u003e designation in the neck pocket. Rather than being a standard catalog ST57, the Order Made markings indicate that this guitar was built to a special specification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most distinctive feature is its \u003cstrong\u003escalloped maple fingerboard\u003c\/strong\u003e. Based on the matching factory Order Made markings, the finished scalloped surfaces and other documented KO-156 examples with the same configuration, the scalloping appears to be part of the guitar's original factory specification. The guitar also has a \u003cstrong\u003ebrass nut\u003c\/strong\u003e, giving the overall build a strong Yngwie-style influence. Fender Japan Order Made guitars from this period are considerably less common than their standard production counterparts. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother fascinating part of this guitar is the finish. It was originally \u003cstrong\u003eSonic Blue\u003c\/strong\u003e, but decades of aging have dramatically yellowed the exposed finish to the creamy yellow color it has today. The original pale blue is still clearly visible in the protected neck pocket, providing a great look at how much the finish has changed over roughly 35 years. I would describe this as \u003cstrong\u003enaturally aged Sonic Blue\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than a yellow finish or intentional relic treatment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeatures include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFender Japan \u003cstrong\u003eOrder Made\u003c\/strong\u003e construction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSTD-57 \/ KO-156 specification\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMade in Japan at FujiGen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately 1990 production\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginally Sonic Blue, heavily and naturally aged\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaple neck and maple fingerboard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFactory-spec scalloped fingerboard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e7.25\" fingerboard radius\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrass nut\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e21 frets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree single-coil pickups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVintage-style synchronized tremolo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVintage-style tuners\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5-way pickup selector\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhite pickguard and aged cream plastics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe guitar has just been \u003cstrong\u003ecleaned, restrung and professionally set up\u003c\/strong\u003e and is playing great.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCosmetically, this one has plenty of genuine age and wear. There are scratches, dings, marks and discoloration throughout, along with substantial oxidation and aging of the hardware. Rather than detracting from it, the wear gives this guitar a fantastic naturally played-in appearance. Nothing here has been artificially relic'd by us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe maple neck has also developed a rich amber color over the years, while the scalloped fingerboard gives the guitar a completely different feel from a standard vintage-style Strat. The frets show some wear but still have plenty of life remaining; I would rate them approximately \u003cstrong\u003e9.2\/10\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne particularly useful clue to the guitar's history is beneath the neck. Both the neck and body carry matching \u003cstrong\u003eKO-156 \/ ORDER MADE\u003c\/strong\u003e markings, supporting that these pieces belong together as part of the original special-order build. The body pocket also retains noticeably blue paint beneath the aged exterior finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an unusual piece of Fender Japan history: a circa-1990 FujiGen \u003cstrong\u003eOrder Made STD-57\u003c\/strong\u003e, factory-spec scalloped maple board, brass nut, and a Sonic Blue finish that has aged almost beyond recognition. It has the look and feel of a guitar that has genuinely lived for more than three decades rather than a modern reproduction of one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCase: Soft\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScale Length: 25.5“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNut Width: 1.656“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFret Wear: 9.2\/10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction at 12F (6th): .07“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction at 12F (1st): .06“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight: 7lbs 4oz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Condition: 7.2\/10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCool Factor: 11 out of 10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUSA Seller, check my feedback to see how I value my customers and see my other listings for more rare Japanese Guitars and other unique gear! I use recycled packaging for reduced environmental impact and ship all items 100% insured against loss or damage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInternal Use (Bin) - Floor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fender","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54285025968492,"sku":"JGC-0244","price":1599.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0991\/9378\/2636\/files\/DSC02736.jpg?v=1788460571","url":"https:\/\/japaneseguitarcompany.com\/products\/1990-fender-japan-order-made-std-57-ko-156-stratocaster-aged-sonic-blue","provider":"Japanese Guitar Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}