If someone has tried these, could you please comment on these two Japanese Fender Stratocasters: ST62US ( http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/st62-us.html ) vs Aerodyne Classic Stratocaster ? I can get either of these for almost the same price.

I almost bought an Aerodyne last year.I was just beautiful with what appeared to be a maple top and it played like a dream but for some reason the Jimmie Vaughn that was there spoke a little stronger to me.Having said that though if I were in your shoes right now I'd go for the Aerodyne as it is so well made with such attention to detail,it's almost on par with Custom Shop for fit and finish.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Hi andrius, welcome to the Forum.

Gotta love a Strat with a bound body! On purely cosmetic grounds I'd certainly go for the Aerodyne; and the Japanese version offers some nice finishes that were not in the American catalog. That metallic blue - yum!

I guess what you've got to ask yourself is how you feel about painted headstocks and bodies with no forearm contour. If you're OK with those...

Cheers - C

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What is a forearm contour?

I wonder whether their bridges are the same or different (and how)? Do they both allow for the same amount of action? Which could go lower without the buzz?

Do you have an idea what number of pieces are their bodies made of? Two, three or more?

Also, I read somewhere that basswood is fragile. Do you have an idea how that fragility manifests? I don't want the guitar to break

The forearm contour is that angled section of the front of the guitar on the bass side above the tail where the forearm of your picking hand crosses the edge of the body. It is there for comfort. The Aerodyne Strat doesn't have it, because it is very hard to take body edge binding around the contour. On the other hand, it does have a curve to the front surface of the guitar as compensation.


The ST62 says it has a "diecast block S5D vintage"; the Aerodyne claims a "diecast block S88 AST" and the Aerodyne-M and -M/SSH are spec'd with a "diecast block S5D AST". I have no idea how significant the difference in those blocks might be. Other than that, these Strats all have six-screw bridges with vintage style saddles.


Differences in action come more from the neck than the bridge. The ST62 has a 7.25" radius fingerboard, the Aerodyne a 9.5" one. So in principle the Aerodyne could be set up with slightly lower action - though the difference would not be much. The difference in the feel to your fretting hand of those two necks would likely be more important, though people differ on how big that importance might be.


No idea - and it will most likely vary from one individual guitar to another, as far as those with solid finishes are concerned.


The Aerodyne is currently not produced in the American catalog but seems always in production in Japan. Which is one of the reasons many people seek out Japanese Aerodynes.

Someone else will have to provide you with info about the origin and history of the Aerodyne model.

Good luck - C

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