FENDER JV MODIFIED ’50S STRATOCASTER HSS AND JV MODIFIED ’60S CUSTOM TELECASTER
By Chris Gill
DURING THE LATE Seventies, several Japanese guitar factories were making copies of classic American electric guitars that were both better and cheaper than what the biggest companies in the USA were currently offering. This resulted in what is now known as the lawsuit period. Instead of suing the competition, Fender opted not to go to battle with these skillful Japanese builders, recognizing that it could be more advantageous to join forces with them. This led to Fender’s highly acclaimed Japanese-made Vintage reissue models (’57 and ’62 Stratocaster, ’52 Telecaster) introduced in 1982, followed later by the ’62 Custom Telecaster introduced in 1985.
Fender’s Japanese-made guitars played important roles in reviving the company’s reputation during the latter CBS era and by providing manufacturing facilities during the transition from CBS to FMIC (before FMIC’s Corona factory was built). In more recent times, Fender Japan has made products primarily for the domestic Japanese market, with a few special models occasionally released in the US. The new JV Modified series (with JV meaning “Japanese Vintage”) marks a return of Japanese-made Fender guitars to the export market. Currently, four different JV Modified models are available: the ’50s Stratocaster HSS, ’60s Stratocaster, ’50s Telecaster and ’60s Custom Telecaster. We took a look at the ’50s Stratocaster HSS and ’60s Custom Telecaster.
FEATURES “Modified” is the key word of what the new JV Modified series is all about. While all four models have vintage “bones,” their primary appeal lies in the modifications that provide an ideal balance of timeless classic features and upgrades that are essential for modern players. Instead of traditional ash or alder, the bodies are made of light, resonant basswood, with the ’50s Stratocaster HSS having a two-color sunburst finish while the ’60s Custom Telecaster has a dazzling Firemist Gold finish and bound top and back. The necks on both models are maple, with the Strat HSS having a maple fingerboard while the Custom Tele has a slab rosewood fingerboard. Both necks share a thick soft V-shaped neck profile, 9.5-inch radius, 21 medium jumbo frets, 25.5-inch scale length and bone nut.
The ’50s Stratocaster HSS is equipped with a Hot Vintage Alnico humbucker at the bridge and Vintage-Style single-coil Strat pickups at the neck and middle. A five-position blade selector switch provides the usual separate and “in between” pickup settings, and controls c
