SERIES
Current Series
CODES
ST72-55: 1984-1989
ST72-500: 1990-1991
Note: These Strats are all the same guitar. Last numbers describes different retail prices over the years.
BODY
Body Material: Basswood; Sen on (3TS) and (NAT)
Body Finish: Polyester
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Polyester
Neck Shape: Oval Type
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple or Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25” (184 mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Position Inlays: Black (Maple) or Pearloid (Rosewood) Dots
Truss Rod: Bullet
Skunk Stripe: Yes
Made in Japan Decal
HEADSTOCK
Type: Large
Logo: Black CBS
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
ELECTRONICS
Pickups: ST Current, Flat Poles (Japan)
Controls: 5-Way Switch; 1 Volume, 2 Tone
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: Die Cast Block Current
Saddles: Die Cast CBS Style
Tuning Machines: Gotoh Cast Sealed
String Tree: Wing, #2
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black on 3-TS, BLK, NAT; 3-Ply White on OWH, CAR; 11 Hole; Only White since 1987
Plastics: Black on Early Black models with Black Pickguard; Only White since 1987
Neck Plate: 3-Bolt with Micro Tilt, "F", "FENDER JAPAN"
COLORS
3 Tone Sunburst (Sen body)
Black
Olympic White
Candy Apple Red, Until 1988
Natural (Sen body), Since 1986
Yellow White, 1986-1990
MISCELLANEOUS
Serial Number Position: Base of the neck; JV and A Serial Numbers on the neck plate; Early E Serial Numbers on the headstock.
COMMENTS
Replaced by ST72-58 and ST72-53
Left Handed model available
Fender Japan was never consistent and not every guitar that came off the line matched specs of what was in the catalog.
Current Series
CODES
ST72-55: 1984-1989
ST72-500: 1990-1991
Note: These Strats are all the same guitar. Last numbers describes different retail prices over the years.
BODY
Body Material: Basswood; Sen on (3TS) and (NAT)
Body Finish: Polyester
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Polyester
Neck Shape: Oval Type
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple or Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25” (184 mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Position Inlays: Black (Maple) or Pearloid (Rosewood) Dots
Truss Rod: Bullet
Skunk Stripe: Yes
Made in Japan Decal
HEADSTOCK
Type: Large
Logo: Black CBS
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
ELECTRONICS
Pickups: ST Current, Flat Poles (Japan)
Controls: 5-Way Switch; 1 Volume, 2 Tone
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: Die Cast Block Current
Saddles: Die Cast CBS Style
Tuning Machines: Gotoh Cast Sealed
String Tree: Wing, #2
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black on 3-TS, BLK, NAT; 3-Ply White on OWH, CAR; 11 Hole; Only White since 1987
Plastics: Black on Early Black models with Black Pickguard; Only White since 1987
Neck Plate: 3-Bolt with Micro Tilt, "F", "FENDER JAPAN"
COLORS
3 Tone Sunburst (Sen body)
Black
Olympic White
Candy Apple Red, Until 1988
Natural (Sen body), Since 1986
Yellow White, 1986-1990
MISCELLANEOUS
Serial Number Position: Base of the neck; JV and A Serial Numbers on the neck plate; Early E Serial Numbers on the headstock.
COMMENTS
Replaced by ST72-58 and ST72-53
Left Handed model available
Fender Japan was never consistent and not every guitar that came off the line matched specs of what was in the catalog.
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"
JV ST72-55, Courtesy of Top Shelf Instruments
ST72-500, sen body, eBay
ST72-55, E serial number, courtesy of Top Shelf Instruments
