Japanese Photo flame strat?

My friend has a MIJ photo flame strat. Its got a real good ding in the front. Its got a v 50's type neck vintage frets (which I'm not crazy about).

I looked these up and can't really find much other than it says they are kind of shrink wrapped with the photofame. Made int the 80's to early 90's as a cheap photofame to compete with the PRS etc.

Does anyone own one? He wants to sell it and I may buy it. We don't really know what a fair price would be? I'm not sure I want it other than its MIJ which I don't own one and would like a MIJ to add to my collection.

Just wondering if anyone can give me their opinions on them if you got one or saw one, or know anything about them. Thanks

Take a look on Ebay, I'm sure there's one or two up there now.

I owned one for along time, but sold it to a good friend who loves it more than I did. I loved the color when I first bought it, but never bonded with it. Might have been my playing at the time, but I just never got to be close friends... we were always just acquaintances.

My current crappy strat and I are like long lost buddies... go figure.

It's a good quality guitar and the Floyd Rose is very functional. The finish was nice, and it looked really sharp.

My only real complaint about it was the locking nut was a pain if you had to tweak the tuning a little, say with new strings or something. But that only got in the way every few months or so, unless i let it sit for any length of time and I had to re-tune everything...

If you like it and it plays well, take a look on Ebay and see what they're going for. Like I said, I'm sure a few will sell this week.

Take a look on Ebay, I'm sure there's one or two up there now.

I owned one for along time, but sold it to a good friend who loves it more than I did. I loved the color when I first bought it, but never bonded with it. Might have been my playing at the time, but I just never got to be close friends... we were always just acquaintances.

My current crappy strat and I are like long lost buddies... go figure.

It's a good quality guitar and the Floyd Rose is very functional. The finish was nice, and it looked really sharp.

My only real complaint about it was the locking nut was a pain if you had to tweak the tuning a little, say with new strings or something. But that only got in the way every few months or so, unless i let it sit for any length of time and I had to re-tune everything...

If you like it and it plays well, take a look on Ebay and see what they're going for. Like I said, I'm sure a few will sell this week.


This one doesn't have a Floyd Rose. Its got a 50's reissue type neck, V with vintage frets and standard trem. I haven't seen any on ebay , I've been looking for a week or so. I found one article about them on the net. To be honest it didn't really sound all that great. It may have something to do with the photofame shrinkwrap that I read they use. But it looks really cool and Maybe a pickup swap would help.
Thanks for the input and anyone else that might have one let me know what you think.

If you are after a reasonably priced, but really playable vintage style Strat I'd suggest looking at the MIM Classic series... Personally I'd prefer one of those to a Fotoflame one...

Just my 2 cents...

Cheers!

Dude, there're a couple, ya just gotta search under weird terms, 'cause nobody remembers how to spell photo-flame! LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-FENDER-STRATOCASTER-JAPAN-FOTOFLAME-LOADED-BODY-FR_W0QQitemZ260174023352QQihZ016QQcategoryZ41406QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This one's really pretty: http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-STRAT-STRATOCASTER-FOTO-FLAME-ELECTRIC-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ290172220066QQihZ019QQcategoryZ380 82QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Another red one: http://cgi.ebay.com/1990s-JAPANESE-FENDER-STRATOCASTER-ELECTRIC-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ230119502254QQihZ013QQcategoryZ380 82QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

It seems there's also a newer Indonesian squier version, that I seriously doubt is comparable.

http://www.xhefriguitars.com/page7.html

This website has a ton of info on the Fotoflames.

I have the Fotoflame Tele. Killer guitar. Build quality is 2nd to none. Made in mid 90's. They're every bit as good or better than any MIM Classic or American Std. IMO. The only consistent bad mark is in the MIJ electronics. Change that out and you've got one great guitar.

careful with those...I`ve seen cracks like this one on more than a single guitar, and on the bodies as well. You can see it just above the Hamburglar in this pic...as much as I love all my MIJs, I just can`t dig the Fotoflames.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/shot-glass/hagepin3-img600x450-1176103026img_0.jpg

careful with those...I`ve seen cracks like this one on more than a single guitar, and on the bodies as well. You can see it just above the Hamburglar in this pic...as much as I love all my MIJs, I just can`t dig the Fotoflames.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/shot-glass/hagepin3-img600x450-1176103026img_0.jpg

Is that in the film or the wood? I've never had any problem with mine, but I do baby it. There's hardly a ding on it and I bought it new in '96.

To me, photoflames have always felt like they're encased in plastic, with narry a piece of wood to be felt. I didn't like that feel, so I've always avoided them.

I have a blue foto-flame strat from 94-95'..... it's sweeeeet !!!! I sold it once, but bought it back. I love the big, chunky neck !!!! No Floyd on mine either, just a bunch of vintage vibe !!!!! :grin: I've got pics....but can't post here !! :sad:

Hey guys thanks for all the info. I couldn't find much. Its such an oddball guitar I think I gotta have it lol. The powers of gas.

careful with those...I`ve seen cracks like this one on more than a single guitar, and on the bodies as well. You can see it just above the Hamburglar in this pic...as much as I love all my MIJs, I just can`t dig the Fotoflames.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i198/shot-glass/hagepin3-img600x450-1176103026img_0.jpg

Theres no cracks on this one, just a ding in front unfortuantely where my friend dropped a golfball on it. I forgot to look for the Hamburglar.

Dude, there're a couple, ya just gotta search under weird terms, 'cause nobody remembers how to spell photo-flame! LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-FENDER-STRATOCASTER-JAPAN-FOTOFLAME-LOADED-BODY-FR_W0QQitemZ260174023352QQihZ016QQcategoryZ41406QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This one's really pretty: http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-STRAT-STRATOCASTER-FOTO-FLAME-ELECTRIC-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ290172220066QQihZ019QQcategoryZ380 82QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Another red one: http://cgi.ebay.com/1990s-JAPANESE-FENDER-STRATOCASTER-ELECTRIC-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ230119502254QQihZ013QQcategoryZ380 82QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

It seems there's also a newer Indonesian squier version, that I seriously doubt is comparable.

I like the price the first one went for. What a difference in prices between them. Thanks for finding that auction I have something to go off of now.

Is that in the film or the wood? I've never had any problem with mine, but I do baby it. There's hardly a ding on it and I bought it new in '96.

cracks I`ve seen were in the foto part, not the wood.

I like the price the first one went for. What a difference in prices between them. Thanks for finding that auction I have something to go off of now.

The price on that first one was just a body though.... no neck... According to my wife, that's kinda like me! LOL

The price on that first one was just a body though.... no neck... According to my wife, that's kinda like me! LOL

I have no idea how I missed that it didn't have a neck. LOL on the wife thing. My wife just says I have no spine lol