SERIES
Standard Series
CODES
ST-38: Standard Series, 1997
ST-38J: Craft Collection, 1998
ST-40J: Craft Collection, 1998
ST-43J: Craft Collection, 1999-2001
ST-43: J-Craft Standard, 2002-2006
ST-50: J-Craft Standard, 2007-2008
ST-STD: J-Craft Standard, 2009-3/2015
Note: These Strats are all the same guitar. Last numbers describes different retail prices over the years.
BODY
Body Material: Basswood (Poplar on ST-38)
Body Finish: Polyester
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Matt
Neck Shape: Oval Type
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple or Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 9.84" (250mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Frets Size: Vintage Style
Nut Width: 42mm
Position Inlays: Black (maple) or White (rosewood) Dots
Truss Rod: Vintage Style; Headstock Adjustment on ST-STD
Skunk Stripe: Only on maple neck models (ST-STD: yes)
Walnut Plug: Only on maple neck models (ST-STD excluded)
Made in Japan Decal (JD Serial Number Guitars Only)
HEADSTOCK
Type: Small
Logo: Whitish Modern
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER"; "MADE IN JAPAN" (JD Serial Number Guitars Excluded)
ELECTRONICS
Pickups: ST-Single (Japan), Single Ceramic Bar
Controls: 5-Way Switch, 1 Volume, 2 Tone
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: S88 Vintage Style, Die Cast Block
Saddles: Vintage Style, Unstamped
Tuning Machines: Gotoh Cast/Sealed MGH-SGE CR
String Tree: Wing
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply White, 11 Hole (Config. Vintage)
Plastics: White
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt
COLORS
MISCELLANEOUS
Serial Number: Back of the neck
COMMENTS
Fender Japan was never consistent and not every guitar that came off the line matched specs of what was in the catalog.
It is important to note that all Standard Stratocasters featured always the "Made in Japan" decal, never "Crafted in Japan", even in the CIJ Era.
Standard Series
CODES
ST-38: Standard Series, 1997
ST-38J: Craft Collection, 1998
ST-40J: Craft Collection, 1998
ST-43J: Craft Collection, 1999-2001
ST-43: J-Craft Standard, 2002-2006
ST-50: J-Craft Standard, 2007-2008
ST-STD: J-Craft Standard, 2009-3/2015
Note: These Strats are all the same guitar. Last numbers describes different retail prices over the years.
BODY
Body Material: Basswood (Poplar on ST-38)
Body Finish: Polyester
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Matt
Neck Shape: Oval Type
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple or Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 9.84" (250mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Frets Size: Vintage Style
Nut Width: 42mm
Position Inlays: Black (maple) or White (rosewood) Dots
Truss Rod: Vintage Style; Headstock Adjustment on ST-STD
Skunk Stripe: Only on maple neck models (ST-STD: yes)
Walnut Plug: Only on maple neck models (ST-STD excluded)
Made in Japan Decal (JD Serial Number Guitars Only)
HEADSTOCK
Type: Small
Logo: Whitish Modern
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER"; "MADE IN JAPAN" (JD Serial Number Guitars Excluded)
ELECTRONICS
Pickups: ST-Single (Japan), Single Ceramic Bar
Controls: 5-Way Switch, 1 Volume, 2 Tone
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: S88 Vintage Style, Die Cast Block
Saddles: Vintage Style, Unstamped
Tuning Machines: Gotoh Cast/Sealed MGH-SGE CR
String Tree: Wing
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply White, 11 Hole (Config. Vintage)
Plastics: White
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt
COLORS
- ST-38: Black, Torino Red, Arctic White
- ST-38J: Black, Vintage White
- ST-40J: Brown Sunburst
- ST-43J: Black, Vintage White, Candy Apple Red, Lake Placid Blue
- ST-43: 3-Tone Sunburst, Black, Candy Apple Red, Lake Placid Blue, Snow White (until 2004, )Vintage White (Since 2005)
- ST-50 and ST-STD: 3-Tone Sunburst, Black, Candy Apple Red, Vintage White
MISCELLANEOUS
Serial Number: Back of the neck
COMMENTS
Fender Japan was never consistent and not every guitar that came off the line matched specs of what was in the catalog.
It is important to note that all Standard Stratocasters featured always the "Made in Japan" decal, never "Crafted in Japan", even in the CIJ Era.
ENG: About Fender Strats made in Japan and The "domestic" Stratocasters
ITA: Le Fender Stratocaster giapponesi e Le Stratocaster "domestic"
ITA: Le Fender Stratocaster giapponesi e Le Stratocaster "domestic"
ST43J, eBay
2014 ST-STD, headstock truss rod adjustment, courtesy of Guitarzilla
ST38, note the radius of the fretboard, courtesy of Reverb
ST-STD, rosewood fretboard with skunk stripe (Reverb)
ST-38J, rosewood fretboard without skunk stripe, Courtesy of Rakuten
