SERIES
Vintage Series
BODY
Body Material: 3-piece Alder or Sen (Rarely, Early Models)
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose
Neck Shape: Oval Type
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25” (184 mm); Few early JV models could have a 9.5" radius
Number of Frets: 21
Nut Width: 42 mm
Position Inlays: Black, Wide Spacing
Truss Rod: Vintage Style
Skunk Stripe: Yes
Walnut Plug
Made in Japan decal since mid 1983
HEADSTOCK
Type: Small
Logo: Spaghetti (Bolder until mid 1983)
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
Other Decals, front: "MADE IN JAPAN", moved to the back of the neck in mid 1983
ELECTRONICS
Pickups: US Vintage Single Coil, Alnico Staggered Poles, with plastic or cloth wires
Controls: Japanese DM-30 3-way Switch; 1 Volume, 2 Tone
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage Style with Steel Block
Saddles: Vintage Style, "FENDER"/"FENDER" same directions
Tuning Machines: Vintage Style
String Tree: Wing
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: 1-Ply White, 8 Hole with "PICK UP MADE IN U.S.A." sticker
Plastics: White
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt; "JV" serial number (until mid 1984)
COLORS
Tobacco Sunburst
Black
Vintage White
Candy Apple Red, since 1983
Fiesta Red, since 1983
Candy Blue, 1983-1984 only
Sonic Blue, 1983-1984 only
Lake Placid Blue, 1983-1984 only
MISCELLANEOUS
Serial Number Position: "JV" serial numbers on the neck plate, other serial numbers used later were moved to the back of the neck very close to where it meets the body.
COMMENTS
Fender Japan was never consistent and not every guitar that came off the line matched specs of what was in the catalog.
Few early JV models could have US X-1 or red bottom pickups.
JV Models usually had a red "B" stamp in the neck pocket.
Vintage Series
BODY
Body Material: 3-piece Alder or Sen (Rarely, Early Models)
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose
Neck Shape: Oval Type
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25” (184 mm); Few early JV models could have a 9.5" radius
Number of Frets: 21
Nut Width: 42 mm
Position Inlays: Black, Wide Spacing
Truss Rod: Vintage Style
Skunk Stripe: Yes
Walnut Plug
Made in Japan decal since mid 1983
HEADSTOCK
Type: Small
Logo: Spaghetti (Bolder until mid 1983)
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
Other Decals, front: "MADE IN JAPAN", moved to the back of the neck in mid 1983
ELECTRONICS
Pickups: US Vintage Single Coil, Alnico Staggered Poles, with plastic or cloth wires
Controls: Japanese DM-30 3-way Switch; 1 Volume, 2 Tone
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage Style with Steel Block
Saddles: Vintage Style, "FENDER"/"FENDER" same directions
Tuning Machines: Vintage Style
String Tree: Wing
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: 1-Ply White, 8 Hole with "PICK UP MADE IN U.S.A." sticker
Plastics: White
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt; "JV" serial number (until mid 1984)
COLORS
Tobacco Sunburst
Black
Vintage White
Candy Apple Red, since 1983
Fiesta Red, since 1983
Candy Blue, 1983-1984 only
Sonic Blue, 1983-1984 only
Lake Placid Blue, 1983-1984 only
MISCELLANEOUS
Serial Number Position: "JV" serial numbers on the neck plate, other serial numbers used later were moved to the back of the neck very close to where it meets the body.
COMMENTS
Fender Japan was never consistent and not every guitar that came off the line matched specs of what was in the catalog.
Few early JV models could have US X-1 or red bottom pickups.
JV Models usually had a red "B" stamp in the neck pocket.
ENG: About Fender Strats made in Japan and The birth of the JV's
ITA: Le Fender Stratocaster giapponesi e La nascita delle "JV"
ITA: Le Fender Stratocaster giapponesi e La nascita delle "JV"
Neck Plate not origianal. Courtesy of Ishibashi.
JV ST57-85, Courtesy of Reverb (Pro Audio Japan)
