Carlo Robelli FUJIGEN Custom Stratocaster 1975 Olympic White Electric Guitar

This is a vintage 1970's Carlo Robelli Electric Guitar in it's original hard case.
It is Made In Japan and is of the Fender stratocaster style and shape in Olympic White color made at the Fujigen factory. I purchased this around 1978 so know it to be an earlier Carlo Robelli version and NOT a Korean model made later in the 1980's. I have always suspected this to be mid-1970s origin since the guitar and case appeared more aged when I first purchased it used? "F" stamped on rear of original bridge saddles - included.
Most all the scratches and dings were already present when purchased and I believe I am the second owner. I modified and improved the guitar over time by first installing a set of active EMG SA-80 pick-ups with their controls and battery, replacement tremolo springs , and replaced the inferior neck saddles with Graph-Tech brand graphite composite saddles that required custom sanding or shaping in order to accommodate the custom thinner width at the tremolo bridge plate. The active electronic EMG pickups, switches and jacks were swapped out of a EMG Fender Startocaster pickup plate onto this guitars original Pick Guard plate and the guitar body was routed-out to accommodate the 9V DC battery and hardware. Since the neck Nut width is slightly less than a standard sized Fender Strat (the Nut width at the head stock Nut is approx 1-5/8" wide) the pickup openings required shaping to accommodate the standard width larger pick-up parts as well as the larger Fender style five position pickup switch. The bridge width is also non-standard (thinner than a Fender by almost 1/4" measuring approx 2-1/4"wide string to outer string at the bridge). The string length is standard for a Stratocaster at 25-1/2" length. The white original volume and tone knobs have also been replaced with a metal volume knob and two black tone control knobs. The EMG factory setup was maintained for the SA-80 pickups and with the Graph-Tech saddles were a great improvement to the tone and playability of this instrument using D'Addario EXL110 strings. The original electronics were inferior and the difference or improvements are major. The battery shuts-off when the cable is removed. The guitar weighs approx 8-1/2 to 9 pounds without the case.

Condition and Setup: The chrome tuner tremolo bridge plate parts are slightly pitted or oxidized and show their age. The few first neck fret wires do show some wear from play and have divots or wear grooves at the string locations - again mostly at the first two frets and do not yet cause buzzing or issues but may may need to be addressed in the future by some fret dressing and maintenance. This neck has never had any fret work or polishing of any kind performed to date. The neck angle could use some adjusting to improve action as has been reported to me by a Luthier who had looked this over for me. He indicated that the neck socket had been sanded and shimmed to properly align the neck not only for angle but for proper centering to correct poor alignment from the factory. He also stated that the angle still required a bit more angle adjustment or "shimming" for more improvement in action. The neck is very straight and this maintains tuning very well even with the floating tremolo setup that I prefer and used and never required truss rod re-adjustment. This is missing the tremolo bar (standard Fender tremolo bars are too small in diameter to fit this bridge) and the rear spring cavity cover and screws. The paint has many marks, scuffs and a few areas of missing finish from chips or abrasions. The rear of the neck is in very good smooth condition with only a few dings or dents that are mostly on the intact and original head stock with Abalone type Carlo Robelli inlaid lettering. The hard case is missing the carrying handle and one of the hinges has loose nails/screws.

I have located the original rear string plate cover and six original string saddles for this guitar including the original rear cover screws.

Feel free to call with any other questions at 516-422-299