1989 Valley Arts M Series Standard 2 Vintage SSH Superstrat Blonde w/ Interlock Neck, EMG & Floyd Rose

Up for sale, a 1989 Valley Arts M Series Standard 2 in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Produced in Japan while Valley Arts was still under independent ownership (prior to the company’s sale to Samick in ‘93), this rare M Series "superstrat" features an HSS trio of active EMG pickups, a Floyd Rose tremolo, and Valley Art’s proprietary Interlock heelless neck joint.

Tonewoods include an ash body and a rock maple neck capped by an ebony fingerboard, and this guitar weighs 8lbs 4oz. The active pickups include an EMG 81 humbucker at the bridge and two SAs in the neck and middle positions; the 81 humbucker features ceramic magnets and close aperture coils, designed for optimal note detail, enhanced high end cut, and fluid sustain, engineered so that lead work will slice through even the densest mix with an aggressive snarl. The two SA Alnico V single coils have a classic Strat-style sound that’s bright and sparkling while also being hum-canceling, offering more midrange presence and low end punch than a traditional single coil. This Standard 2 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Rock maple
• Shape: Medium C, measuring .840” 1st fret, .920” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, 22-fret, 12"-16" compound radius, dot inlays
• Frets: Medium jumbo, faint wear beneath the G and B strings on frets 1-2
• Scale Length: 25 1/2”
• Nut: 1.650” (42mm), locking
• Tuners: Gotoh
• Joint: Interlock heelless

Body Specs:

• Wood: Ash
• Pickups: EMG 81 humbucker x1, EMG SA single coil x2 (HIB/HIC stickers on baseplates translate to February/March, 1989)
• Harness: 9V battery, full-size pots date to the 40th week of ‘88
• Controls: Volume, Tone, Five-way pickup selector
• Hardware: Floyd Rose tremolo, dome-top knurled knobs
• Plastics: Three-ply white pickguard, black pickup covers

The gloss Translucent Cream finish shows a small area of subtle buckle wear adjacent to the tremolo cavity, a couple finish chips on the lower bout perimeter, and some additional minor marks and light finish scratches. The gloss on the neck profile is smooth and inviting to the palm has a handful of shallow marks.

A gigbag is included.