Fernandes FST-80 and The Revival RST: Japan’s First Strat Copy and What Came Next

In December 1974, Fernandes released the FST-80, which many consider Japan’s first real attempt at a fifties-style Strat. This article follows it from that first take to the vintage-spec 1980 model and on to The Revival RST of 1981. For the company behind them, see the Fernandes Brand Guide.

Prefer to watch? This article is based on my own short video below.

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1974: The FST-80, Japan’s First Real Fifties-Style Strat

In December 1974, while Fender itself was still in its large-headstock era, Fernandes released the FST-80. Many consider it Japan’s first real attempt at a fifties-style Strat.

Not a Perfect Clone: Fernandes’ Own Take on the Strat

It wasn’t a faithful copy, and it didn’t try to be. The 1974 catalog lists the details:

The body wood listed as “silver heart” is a lesser-known name, and I haven’t been able to confirm exactly what species it refers to. If you know, tell me in the comments on the video.

¥80,000 vs ¥200,000: Making the Dream Possible

At a time when a genuine Strat cost over ¥200,000 in Japan, the FST-80 was ¥80,000. For a lot of players in Japan, that made the dream possible.

After that, Strat copies began spreading across Japan, and brands like Greco became part of the movement around 1976. Looking back, Fernandes saw it early.

1980: The FST-80 Goes Vintage

In 1980, the FST-80 evolved. The model name and the ¥80,000 price stayed, but the specs moved much closer to vintage ideals. The catalog describes it as a ’54-style guitar with a V-shaped neck:

The 1980 catalog is proud of the tuners: the same USA Kluson Deluxe found on a 1954 original, mounted straight onto the FST-80. The L-5001 pickup was developed for this model, voiced through listening tests with professional musicians and Fernandes staff.

1981: The Revival RST

The next step was The Revival series, launched in the 1981 catalog. Its Strat, the RST, went further than the 1980 FST-80: Fernandes studied vintage Fenders down to the saddle material, the tuner construction and even the origin of the alder, which it sourced from Oregon and Washington. Santana reportedly bought five RSTs on a visit to Japan in 1982.

The RST is the guitar that first spread the Fernandes name, and the quality of these Strats helped drive the broader Japan Vintage boom.

The Most Famous RST: Billie Joe Armstrong’s “Blue”

One RST became far more famous than Fernandes could have imagined: “Blue,” the Japanese Strat that Billie Joe Armstrong played through Green Day’s rise. The story is in Billie Joe Armstrong’s Blue.

Buying an FST-80 or RST Today

1. Know which FST-80 it is: a 1974 guitar has the transition logo and a “silver heart” body; a 1980 guitar has an alder body, Kluson Deluxe tuners and L-5001 pickups.
2. Check the tuners: original USA Kluson Deluxe tuners are a good sign on a 1980 model.
3. Choose by goal: a 1974 FST-80 for history, a 1980 FST-80 or an RST for a vintage-style Strat you can play.

For the rest of the company’s story, read the Fernandes guitars history.

Final Thoughts

The FST-80 wasn’t a perfect clone, and that’s what makes it interesting. Fernandes made its own take on the Strat in 1974, priced it so Japanese players could afford one, and then pushed it toward vintage accuracy step by step, all the way to The Revival.

What do you think about this early approach? Let me know in the comments on the video.

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