ShortScale.org

I'm visiting Kyoto for work and dropped in to Miki Gakki in Osaka - nothing interesting in the used section until I saw a Fresher Mercury in the rack for cheap, I figured it must be a made in China reissue since it looked brand new. But nope, to the best of my ability to figure, this is an early-mid 1970s Matsumoku Fresher made in Japan, and very nicely made too, aside from some tuning stability issues I look forward to fixing. It looks literally new out of the box apart from a few slight scratches on the back. Beautiful smoky blue finish not unlike old LPB. And they had discounted it by a third from its used price. What could I do but buy it?
Trainspotter notes - has body contours like a '69, but the body is the same thickness as a Strat etc rather than the standard Mustang bodies.

Wow...what a score!

It looks close to new.

It looks close to new.

Very nice.

The Fender Japan Mustang reissues essentially exist because of stuff like this.

Thanks guys - it needs a little setup work (and some 12s for my heavy hands) but for 19 000 yen it's better-than-Squier for about half the money ... and I love the colour. Japanese stores tend to undervalue the domestic stuff - Fender Mexico is often more expensive than Fender Japan models, for example.

Proper slick stuff, and certainly the gooder side of vintage.

One more:

Looks great. Well done!

Super nice. I would definitely rock a Fresher.

I finally made it to Japan a few weeks ago and got to check out a few shops in Ochanomizu. Unfortunately I was in no position to buy, but there were Mustangs galore. What a wonderful country for short scale enthusiasts! I will be back...

late to the party, but man that's a beautiful guitar. japan has turned the mustang into a god.