This guitar was made in Japan by Van Zandt. There is a bit of information online but these guitars are intended for the Japanese domestic market only. They make some of the finest Fender replicas in a fiercely competitive Japanese market with intense competition from brands like Navigator, Crews etc. Having said that, Van Zandt has a few advantages in the form of US made boutique pickups and incredible finishes.
This guitar has a true Brazilian rosewood / Jacaranda board which is an increasingly rare premium wood these days.
It has a thin nitro finish giving this guitar a very real vintage look and feel as well as a cool matching headstock giving it a distinctive edge. Electronics are all premium grade and of course the Van Zandt pickups sound incredible.
Aside from the premium finish, woods, craftsmanship, and just about premium everything on this guitar, it plays nice and smooth, like picking up a Custom Shop instrument after you’ve been playing entry level guitars all day :)
At Soul Drifter we are huge fans of Japanese made guitars and Van Zandts are some of the best overall, definitely the best at what they do in terms of creating premium vintage-spec strats.
Condition: No major dings or chips, some very mild swirling in the pickguard but nothing that would be visible from a few feet away
Playability: Straight neck, no buzzing, very minor fret wear, action is comfortable, no issues with electronics
Model: Van Zandt STV-70R
Made: Japan
Finish: Fiesta Red, Matching HEadstock
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple with Brazilian Rosewood FIngerboard
Mods: n/a
Pickup: 3 Van Zandt Single Coils
Weight: 3.3 kg
Case: Free Hardshell Case or Gigbag if you prefer (not ESP)
