Fender Japan Extrad Series

 

　In the 1986 Fender Japan catalog titled “TWANG,” the COLLECTORS SERIES category debuted, featuring the PLAYERS, LIMITED EDITION, and this EXTRAD models. The “Extra Traditional Model,” known as the “EXTRAD,” utilized rare woods that surpassed even original vintage materials and was equipped with original USA pickups.

　The lineup included '54, '57, and '62 Stratocaster models (ST54-140, ST57-140, ST62-140) and a '52 Telecaster (TL52-120). These were not merely vintage replicas; they were a collection of luxurious masterpieces born from a bold production system focused on limited, small-batch manufacturing.

　In late 1989, the line was officially established as the "EXTRAD SERIES." Promoted as "carefully selected wood and meticulous lacquer finishes form the foundation of the EXTRAD," the series adopted a semi-custom system allowing customers to specify the body wood and body color. The lineup consists of the following four types and eight models:

 

As shown in the table, prices varied depending on the choice of body wood. Other options, such as pickguard colors, were also available. It is likely that various other variations existed, including shop orders.

Subsequently, the EXTRAD, which appeared in the catalog every year from 1990 to 1994, disappeared from the lineup in 1995, coinciding with the release of the 1994 Custom Edition model ST54-150AS featured in that year’s catalog. Although its production run was brief—lasting only 8 to 9 years—its high specifications and quality, which rivaled those of U.S. models, demonstrated the prowess of Japanese craftsmanship to the world.

Features

The very earliest models from around 1986–87 do not have an “EXTRAD” decal on the back of the head.

Models from around 1988 to 1991 feature an “EXTRAD” decal on the back of the head.

Models from around 1992 onward feature a “Custom Edition” decal.

Next, remove the neck and examine the neck pocket. You will see stamps indicating EXTRAD model types such as STS-54, STS-57, STS-62, and TLS-52, as well as stamps like Ⓢ.

Additionally, early models show traces of a fine brush stroke from the paint application in the neck pocket, while models from around 1989–90 onward have no paint on most of the pocket area.

“STS-57,” “A” stamps

“STS-62,” “A,” and Ⓢ stamps

“TLS-52”, “D”, and Ⓢ stamps

“STS-54,” Ⓝ stamp, custom order model number “KX-151,” color code “T” written in marker, and pocket markings—once these have been confirmed, check the neck end.

The neck end has the manufacturing date written in pencil.
Although “EXTRAD” was released in 1987, production began about a year earlier, and you can also find dates from 1986.

'90 ST54 Custom Order / BLD (#J022199)

A semi-custom model featuring a blonde finish with gold hardware. An “EXTRAD” decal shines on the back of the headstock, and the pocket section is marked “BLD (Blonde) and YWH (Yellow-White) intermediate”!! This is truly an amazing special specification made possible only by a custom order.
*Pickups have been swapped out for Texas Specials.

'89-'90 ST54 Light Ash / T (#J021833)

EXTRAD officially became a series in late 1989. This model features an ash body; while there is a buckle mark on the back of the body, it boasts an outstanding sound! On the back of the headstock, you can see an "EXTRAD" decal; in the pocket area, you can confirm the "STS-54" stamp—proof of its EXTRAD status—as well as the custom order model number "KX-151" and the color code "T" written in marker.

'86-'87 ST57-140 / BLK (#E733378)

Manufactured in early 1987, complete with the original price tag!! With relatively little wear and no replacement parts, this is a true collector’s item. As it is an early EXTRAD model, there is no decal on the back of the head. The pocket area clearly retains the pattern marks from the painting process.

'93-'94 ST62-120 / 3TS (#Q030142)

A late-model EXTRAD from 1993–'94, featuring an alder body with mint green parts as an optional specification. This is a truly luxurious instrument, featuring a rosewood fingerboard!! The back of the headstock bears a "Custom Edition" decal, and the pocket area is stamped with "Ⓢ" and "K-625 ORDER"; there is no paint on this area.

L80s-E90s ST62-120 / 3TS (#E972639)

A standout model featuring a Varitra maple neck!! It has been well-played, giving it a mature, vintage feel. The clear vintage tone produced by the fully dried ash body is exceptional. Highly recommended for players. The back of the headstock features an “EXTRAD” decal.The neck has an E serial number, and the pot date on the assembly is '87, but the body appears to be from the late '80s to the '90s based on the unpainted neck pocket. We suspect this is a unit that was shipped with an early E-serial neck combined with a later-model body from our inventory.

'88 TL52-120 / BLD (#3605)

The neck date is September 8, 1987, and the included warranty card states it was manufactured in 1988. This is a rare early-spec model with no decal on the back of the headstock, featuring a “TLA-52” stamp in the neck pocket. A collector’s item with minimal signs of use!!

The Reason Behind This Project

This is a bit of a personal aside, but I’d like to share a true story that happened about a year ago. It’s about a friend of mine who visited a local music shop to sell his 1987 E-serial ST62-140 (EXTRAD).

My friend brought it in full of confidence, expecting a great appraisal price since it was such a rare and wonderful guitar. However, that dream was quickly shattered, and he was plunged into the depths of despair… Apparently, the store clerk mistook it for a standard model from the VINTAGE SERIES and offered an appraisal price that was far below his expectations.It seems this tragedy was caused by the fact that it was an early model without the decal on the back of the headstock (as described later), and there was no specific model name stamped in the neck pocket.

With a sorrowful expression, that friend brought the ST62-140 EXTRAD model to TCGAKKI. At first glance, I could clearly sense the exceptional quality befitting a top-tier model. However, since this is a model for which detailed reference materials are scarce beyond the catalog, a particularly careful appraisal process is required.By fully utilizing TCGAKKI’s sales data accumulated over many years, we maximized the assessment of the instrument’s true value!! The resulting appraisal amount swept away my friend’s gloomy, grief-stricken expression and transformed it into a smile of complete satisfaction.

My friend’s joyful smile left such a strong impression on me that I resolved to devote myself entirely to collecting rare models like the EXTRAD, JV Serial, and LIMITED EDITION. Over the next year, I made full use of the TCGAKKI network and succeeded in gathering valuable models not only from within Japan but from all over the world. The result was a collection of over 20 instruments—a feat that even surprised me, the person in charge.

Since I’ve gone to the trouble of collecting these precious instruments, I’ve planned this column out of respect for everyone involved in their development and manufacturing—and also to ensure that no one else has to go through the same disappointment as my friend (lol)—hoping it might be of some help.Unfortunately, I found that catalogs and the internet alone weren’t enough to gather all the information I needed, which was frustrating for me personally. I’m a 28-year-old born in 1988—still a greenhorn—but I’ve done my best to compile this information while studying the actual instruments. If you find any errors, have any concerns, or have questions, please feel free to let me know.

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