JooDee Artist Series - JST (Stratocaster)

Artist Series versus Performer Series

When we look at the JooDee JST Artist Series versus the Yamaki YST Perfomer Series, the big differences are the tuners, how the neck attaches to the body, and the truss rod system. JooDee’s Artist Series used a three bolt neck plate with a “bullet” style truss rod nut at the end of the headstock. This design was made popular by Fender starting in 1971. The Artist Series used square shaped tuners with two locating pins also similar to those used by Fender.

The Yamaki Performer Series had a four screw neck plate and their patented E.R.S. (Ephochal Rod System) to adjust the trust rod. Except for the YST-800 (which had non-Japanese tuners) and the YST-450 (which used less expensive Japanese tuners), the YST-500, 550, and 600 used Japanese sealed rotomatics. With the exception of the YST-800 (which used Mighty Mite 1100 pickups), the electronics, tremolo system, and bodies seem to be very similar if not the same to the Artist Series.

Other minor differences, the Performer Series could be had in a matte finish, something that was not available on the Artist Series. The Artist Series had a unique Blonde (BL) and Maple Veneer (NM) color (see below), and conversely, the Performer Series had a color not available on the Artist Series - Tobacco Brown Sunburst (TS). The routing under the pickguard is also different between the two brands, and the pickups are different and have brass plates on the bottom. Also the bridge saddles are different and have “TK” stamped on the bottom (see photos below).

Also to consider, the Yamaki Performer Series (~1978) launched after JooDee Artist Series (~1975). That being said, there is an advertisement of a JooDee JST-800 “Performer” that has the bullet truss rod and Mighty Mite 1100 pickups. That example seems to be a hybrid of the Artist and Performer Series.

The Artist Series and the Performer Series are both good quality copies of a Fender Stratocaster. Which one is better just comes down to your preference of truss rod/neck plate design, hardware, and color/finish.

Colors and Options

The JST was available in Yellow Sunburst (YS), Natural (N), Black (B), White (W), Ivory (I), Natural Maple (NM), and Blonde (BL). The Natural (N) / Natural Maple (NM) seems to be reserved for the JST-60

The Artist Series JST could be had with a maple or Rosewood(/R) fretboard. Unlike the Standard Series which used a 10* tremolo, the Artist Series used a 11* tremolo like the Yamaki Performer Series.

Models

The JST-45 used a “white ash body” and the JST-55 a “white ash single board” body.

Looking at the period materials below, the only thing I can tell that steps you up to a JST-60 is the color - Natural (N) and Natural Maple (NM). Because of the exposed clear finish, maybe the best grain patterns were reserved for the JST-60?

Pricing

In typical Japanese fashion, the models correspond to the price. In period, the JST-45 was ¥45,000, the JST-55 ¥55,000, and the JST-65 ¥65,000.