The Fernandes Brad Gillis model is the red Strat-style signature guitar of Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis, one of the most popular American guitarists in Japan. It appeared in the 1984 catalog as the ST-155BG and ST-120BG. For the company behind it, see the Fernandes Brand Guide.
Fernandes Brad Gillis Model Quick Facts
- Artist: Brad Gillis, guitarist of Night Ranger
- Based on: Brad’s customized Fender Strat, reportedly measured by Fernandes
- First catalog: 1984 (ST-155BG and ST-120BG)
- Prices: ST-155BG ¥155,000, ST-120BG ¥120,000, ST-80BG ¥80,000 (from 1985)
- Body wood: alder, changed to soft maple by 1989
Prefer to watch? This article is based on my own short video below.
Brad Gillis: One of Japan’s Favorite American Guitarists
Brad Gillis is the guitarist of Night Ranger, the American hard rock band. In Japan he became one of the most popular American players of the 1980s, which made him a natural partner for Fernandes as it pushed into hard rock and heavy metal.
His look was simple and unforgettable: a red Strat. That is the guitar Fernandes set out to recreate.
A US Fernandes ad tells the endorsement story in Brad’s own terms: for a long time he refused to endorse any guitar because he couldn’t find an off-the-rack model with a “real” feel. Then he tried Fernandes, bought his first one while playing with Ozzy Osbourne, and kept playing them. The ad also notes that in the treble position Brad used a P.J. Marx pickup.
1984: Fernandes Recreates Brad’s Red Strat
Fernandes is said to have measured Brad’s own customized Fender Strat to build the signature model. The result first appeared in the 1984 catalog, in two versions that shared the same look but differed where it counts for tone: the pickups.
ST-155BG, ST-120BG and ST-80BG: Which Is Which
| Model | Price | Pickups | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST-155BG | ¥155,000 | Seymour Duncan | The top model, closest to Brad’s own guitar |
| ST-120BG | ¥120,000 | Fernandes | The same look for less |
| ST-80BG | ¥80,000 | — | The most affordable BG, from 1985 |
The decision line is simple: hunt for the ST-155BG if you want the Seymour Duncans and the most complete copy of Brad’s guitar. The ST-120BG gives you the same look with Fernandes pickups, and the ST-80BG arrived in 1985 as the budget entry.
ST-155BG Specs from the Catalog
| Spec | ST-155BG |
|---|---|
| Price | ¥155,000 |
| Tremolo | Floyd Rose type (FRT-3B) |
| Pickups | Seymour Duncan: one humbucker plus two single-coils |
| Look | Red body with a black pickguard; even the pickguard copies Brad’s guitar |
| Hardware | All black |
| Output jack | Side-mounted |
What the catalog says (translated)
“Brad Gillis, the warrior of razor-sharp phrases and tricky whammy work. This ST-155BG is the guitar he loves. Red and black body contrast, a heavy and bright Seymour Duncan humbucker with two warm, tight single-coils, the FRT-3B for bold arm work, all-black hardware and a side jack. It even copies his pickguard. For great value there’s the ST-120BG too. With this, the Brad Gillis sound is yours!”
After the BG: Takeshi Nishiyama’s NT Models
Later, the guitar carried on as the NT model of Takeshi Nishiyama, guitarist of the Japanese rock band HOUND DOG, and over the following years it was updated with new hardware.
The NT models kept the red-and-black look. The ST-80NT (¥80,000) lists a soft maple body, two VS-2 single-coils and a VH-3 humbucker, and an FRT-4B tremolo. The ST-85NT (¥85,000) moves to an FRT-5PRO with a pitch-shift cavity and adds the SB-3000.
By 1989, Fernandes had also changed the body wood from alder to soft maple.
| Year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 1984 | ST-155BG (Seymour Duncan) and ST-120BG (Fernandes pickups) appear |
| 1985 | ST-80BG added |
| Later | The design continues as Takeshi Nishiyama’s NT model |
| Late 1980s | New hardware |
| By 1989 | Body wood changes from alder to soft maple |
Buying a Fernandes Brad Gillis Model Today
- Check the model number: ST-155BG for the Seymour Duncan version, ST-120BG for Fernandes pickups, ST-80BG for the budget model.
- Check the pickups are original: a 155BG with its original Seymour Duncans is the one collectors want.
- Check the year: early guitars have alder bodies; by 1989 the body was soft maple, and the hardware changed in the late 1980s too.
Final Thoughts
The Fernandes Brad Gillis model shows how much an American hard rock player meant to Japanese guitarists in the 1980s. Fernandes copied his red Strat right down to the pickguard, and the design lived on well after the BG name in the NT models.
If you want a piece of 80s Night Ranger history, a 1984–1985 ST-155BG is the one to look for.
FAQ
What is the Fernandes Brad Gillis model?
It is the red Strat-style signature guitar of Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis. Fernandes is said to have measured his customized Fender Strat to build it, and it first appeared in the 1984 catalog.
What is the difference between the ST-155BG and ST-120BG?
The pickups. The ST-155BG has Seymour Duncan pickups, while the ST-120BG uses pickups made by Fernandes.
What is the Fernandes ST-80BG?
A more affordable version of the Brad Gillis model, added to the lineup in 1985.
What body wood does the Fernandes Brad Gillis model use?
Early models used alder. By 1989, Fernandes had changed the body wood to soft maple.
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