The redesigned Japanese signature style of Ken's new Stratocaster was released in 2021 in celebration of the 30th anniversary as the guitarist of L'Arc-en-Ciel. The combination of the original white body, matching head and gold hardware is designed from Ken's image of "gold-piece Japanese pottery".
The elbow cut, which is suppressed to a minimal cut, is painted in gold, and the acrylic pickguard and control panel are in gold, including the pickup, control, and spring cavity. In addition, the guitar uses a combination of "V-Mod II" and "Fat 50s" pickups that are directly attached to a highly rigid body that has a thick neck profiled from his actual guitar.
Body Shape |
Stratocaster® |
Body Material |
Alder |
Body Finish |
Gloss Urethane |
Neck Profile |
Ken "U" Shape |
Fretboard Material |
Maple |
Fretboard Radius |
9.5" (241 mm) |
Scale Length |
25.5" (64.77 cm) |
No. of Frets |
22 Vintage-Style Frets |
Fretboard Inlays |
Black Dot Inlays |
Pickups |
Fat 50's Single-Coil Strat® (Bridge), V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat® (Middle), V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat® (Neck) |
Bridge |
6-Saddle Pure Vintage Synchronized Tremolo |
Strings |
Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges) |
Tuning Machines |
Locking Tuner Gotoh® SG381-07-L6 MG-T GG |
Hardware Finish |
Gold |
Case |
Deluxe Gig Bag |