Quite a story with this one … starting in the early 1980s. She’s armed with top-end Fender pickups. Hey, you get an extra neck – and a hard case too. (Note: This guitar is for sale here – after going on eBay and the bidder not paying for the item.)

Going back a few years, I bought a Fernandes ‘Limited Edition’ Stratocaster (1982-85) MIJ Japan, the RST-54 model. Essentially, it was the body and neck. So I added some top-notch vintage-style Fender pickups, brass saddles, etc … to make really good partscaster.

However … the original neck (with its RST-54 stamp)let me down! 

Even with the truss rod completely slack, it wouldn’t deliver any relief. Just arrow straight. She played OK but only higher action. Fine for some people maybe – but I prefer a low/medium action.

So I managed to source a high-spec vintage neck as a replacement which is now fitted and feels great.

You also will get the original neck included (for the history/provenance of the guitar).

Let’s get into the detail …

BODY: This original Fernandes 1982-85 body was previously sunburst. But a load of the finish was missing. So I sanded her back to the wood (I’m pretty sure she’s basswood and typical weight for a Strat).

I’ve finished her as a daphne blue relic. Slight mod to her body under the pickguard to accommodate the lowest pickguard screw.

Having primed her, I sprayed her, then some clear coats. The colour is the closest I can get to daphne blue. She looks similar to ‘Blue’ – the Fernandes Strat played by Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day).

She has lots of deliberate scuffs, nicks and scrapes to replicate real, natural wear over years of heavy action. The result is a old-looking, finish that’s comfortable to hold and looks great. Hard to capture in pics, but I’ve tried my best.

PICKUPS:

She came without pickups but I’ve installed a Fender USA in the neck, while the middle/bridge are cloth-cabled Fender Classic Player or Custom Shop (can’t remember which is which). The outputs are: Neck = 5.9k; Middle = 5.8k; Bridge = 6.1k.  Anyway, the combination is great. Really great range of glassy, chimey and commanding sounds.

ORIGINAL NECK: You get this free with the guitar. Do whatever you want with it, etc. Could be good for slide? As the ’54’ name suggests, this is a copy of the 1954 Fender design with it’s V-shape neck. And it certainly has one. Full in the hand!

She’s a lovely retro amber colour, though very scruffy around the top nut and the tuner holes.

REPLACEMENT NECK: I managed to source a high-spec replacement neck. I bought a load of 1980s guitar parts privately as a job lot – and this gem of a neck was among them. I don’t know the manufacturer or the year, but it’s very high quality, similar to my JV Strat.

C profile with 9.5 radius. Lovely natural relic/wear marks on the fretboard. Had a fret dress so in playing good shape. Quality vintage tuners.

Curiously, the neck has been fitted to a lefty body at some stage, hence the dark/faded wood being on the opposite side in the neck pocket.

She’s set up with 10-46 strings. Low-to-medium action for easy playing. I’ve also set the intonation. Shim in neck pocket to get the optimal action.

OTHER FEATURES: Brass saddles for a touch of class. Big block trem. Aged-style dials/pup covers.

The neckplate is stamped ‘Fernandes’. All nice little touches. The vinyl Japan sticker is a nod to her MIJ roots but this can be peeled off if you wish.

HARD CASE: There are two different hard cases in the photos. The one included with the guitar is shown here (it’s not the Thomman one with the stitching): The hard case is used with plenty of marks – but all in good working order (no key).

IMPORTANT: The finish to the body is thin and waterproof. Keep any corrosives like switch cleaner away from the paint (or cover the body before using anything like this).

This guitar is now sold. Thanks for your interest.