The Rise of the Neo-Strat

In the early 1980s, the advent of the compact disc (CD) as a new digital medium transformed the world of music. As listeners’ ears became more discerning, guitars too could not escape this wave of change.
Amidst this evolution, the Stratocaster, with its inherently flexible design for modification, drew renewed attention—ushering in what came to be known as the “Neo-Strat” era.

It began modestly, with pickup replacements—most notably the SSH configuration—but soon accelerated dramatically with the arrival of the Floyd Rose tremolo system. Yet, by that point, the modified Stratocaster had already evolved into something else entirely. A new branch had split off from the evolutionary tree of guitar history.

Two guitarists, in particular, had an enormous influence on the development of the Neo-Strat.

The first was the universally acknowledged genius Edward Van Halen, whose innovative modifications essentially paved the way for the Neo-Strat.
He showed the world the value of replacing necks, direct-mounting pickups to the body, and locking the strings for tuning stability.

The second was another virtuoso, Steve Lukather of TOTO, whose influence was felt most strongly in the movement toward high-performance, hi-fidelity instruments.
His use of EMG active pickups, chosen in part for their low noise and studio practicality, reflected his background as a studio musician. Thanks to Lukather, the Neo-Strat came to be recognized not just as a rock guitar, but as a versatile, high-performance instrument embraced by studio and fusion guitarists alike.

For several years, the Neo-Strat reigned supreme—but its decline came just as swiftly as its rise.

Now, to the guitar in question.

This instrument appears in the 1985 catalog, priced at 135,000 yen—a high-end model for a mass-produced guitar. The same catalog lists the EMG-SA pickup assembly at 53,000 yen, so the steep price is understandable.
Although the catalog specifies an alder body, the wood looks more like sen or ash. The tremolo unit is the company’s own HeadCrasher, a more convenient design than the original Floyd Rose, as it does not require cutting the strings.

Weight: 3.98 kg (including strings)
(Updated August 21, 2016)