Guitar Blog for Strat Players | Stratoblogster

Boutique Strat Guitars

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 16:17:00 +0000

Strat-O-Blogster Directory

SRV Signature Strat assortment- includes: Fender Custom Shop SRV #1 (John Cruz), FCS "Lenny", Charlie's "Lipstick Special" by Rene Martinez and "Hamiltone" aka "Main" by Jim Hamilton.
Current listing Item ID#: 200920946071

The STRATosphere Store
Fender factory parts, bodies, necks, new, NOS, pre-owned.

Strat Finder
Dealers and links for hi-end Strats and boutique S-types

(Selected International Fender CS Dealers included)

Pimp Your Strat!
Upgrades, Parts, Mods & DIY Resources

More stuff...

See Latest Posts Below!

Knaggs Guitars Kenai Tier 2 Demo Video

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:55:00 +0000

Not so Stratty, but still a phatty for tone!

Knaggs Kenai Tier 2, Forest Green

Here's a vid from back in February while reviewing this Knaggs Kenai guitar for Guitar Connoisseur, Spring 2013, Mojo Issue #5. This was shot during the Super Bowl, which is poetic as Knaggs Guitars is located in Maryland, and the Ravens won! The faces I make in the video are from severe G.A.S. pain...

Knaggs' SEVERN model is their Stratty offering which we hope to also review sometime. These are really nice, hi-craft guitars, kids!

see earlier Knaggs post

Eric Johnson Tests Fender American Vintage '59 RI Against His Vintage '59???

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:20:00 +0000

WHY?

Why not? Well, to some idealists out here, it probably seems odd for Eric Johnson to represent a different new Strat model than his own signature Strat. And since EJ isn't exactly known as the Billy Mays or Shamwow Vince of guitar gear pimpdom...

What if you had your own signature model?

So check it out... Used to be EJ Signature Strats were Fender's highest price point production Strats (right?). Then they went thru some gyrations when the rosewoods were introduced. Right now (May 2013), the going street max on all new EJ's, both maple & RW is $1899.99.

Whereas, the new American Vintage '59 RI is selling at $2299.00.

Is Fender using EJ to tell us that it's worth spending an additional $400 for another production model that's better than his? How does that work? Remember reading about the long, painstakingly tedious process involved with creating the Fender Artist Series Eric Johnson Strats? Then we change the channel, and here he is selling non-stick cookware.

Gee, I haven't ranted in awhile... have I???

Anyhow, as a public service to supplement the video, here's the test breakdown times for you to scrutinize with greater focus. Just open 2 or more browser tabs and get all geeky with it:

American Vintage '59 Strat

01:32 - Clean

01:53 - Dirty Rhythm to Fuzz

02:10 - Full Solo O/D

Actual Vintage '59- EJ's personal collection

00:35 - Clean

00:49 - Dirty Rhythm to Fuzz

01:00 - Full Solo O/D

Fender Eric Johnson Artist Series - Not tested or mentioned, because we must pretend that it doesn't exist for the purposes of marketing the AV '59 RI. So close your eyes now, and everybody play nice! And remember the white zone is for loading and unloading only.

Ref. Fender.com/news post May 9, 2013

And just know, I'm pimpin' it all... that is, until I get my own signature model. Why not!

Introducing John McGuire Guitars!

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:43:00 +0000

Anyone familiar with the original Valley Arts Guitars(Wiki) line of the 70's-80's will be excited to discover John McGuire Guitars. The video below & Wiki link cover the historical connection.

Deep single cutaway and extreme heel relief for the access of a double cutaway... and 24 frets to prove they mean business! One bolt does it all through JMG's "Tone Socket™" cam interface, providing high neck/body stability and maximum resonance conductivity. Big words, but big tones to back it up!

video

John's debut design, "The Tradition" represents the current stock line, hand crafted for serious players, and available in a variety of bridge, pickup, pickguard and finish options. Pickups by VAULT Pickups* include PAF-style humbuckers, vintage voiced P90's, T-singles and S-singles.

Vince Gill just got one of these, and wants another!

Click all images for close-ups!

Music Machine Guitars of Kennewick, WA is the official pace car-- first dealer for John McGuire Guitars; stocking the opening runs inventory as presented by yours truly in the shaky video above... sorry, I was sober that day.

Note: At the moment these guitars are only listed at their eBay Storefront.

*MMGuitars is also your source for VAULT Pickups. Call or email them thru the contact info at their site. And if you tell 'em Stratoblogster sent ya, I get a ball cap, so help me get a ball cap, ok! And maybe a t-shirt too.

Fender 1959 Vintage Strat - Friday Strat #298

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:18:00 +0000

Collector Alert!!!

Here's a very clean, all original '59 burst with OHSC and all parts, including ash tray, trem and 50's Stratocaster care manual. Not quite museum quality as it has scratches and dings. But there's no buckle rash or finish wear-thru.

Maryland based Island Music Company has an excellent listing description with tons of photos, including dissections revealing pot date code stamps, chicklet cap, pickup backs, cavities, etc.

Features/specs include: 7.25" Brazilian rosewood fretboard on a thin "D" neck profile. Celluloid "mint green" three layer (white/black/white) pickguard with 11 attachment screws. Description also includes a couple esoteric details indicative of a mid-1959 production. So, you'll have to check all that stuff out while the guitar is listed. Nice to see everything so well together!

Friday Strat Archive

Hi-end Strats

Current Listings - Top Sellers - Vintage, Custom Shop & Boutique Lines

Fender 40th Anniversary Purple Tie Dye Aluminum Body Strat

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:46:00 +0000

In 1994, Fender was going crazy with the various 40th Anniversary Strat runs. Included were some aluminum body Strat Plus models, utilizing extra bodies left over from Custom Shop's Harley Davidson 90th Anniversary tribute run in '93, as well as the Ford Mustang Tribute series.

From what I've been able to determine so far, these aluminum Strat Plus runs consisted of Purple Tie Dye, Blue Tie Dye and American Flag graphics.

The above Purple Tie Dye is currently listed by TrueTone Music in Santa Monica, CA. They indicate used, but it could almost be NOS based on its unplayed condition and unopened candy and accessory packs.

Besides the hollow aluminum body, features include LSR nut, 2 point trem and Lace Sensor Gold pickups. No other specs given. My own 40th Strat has a "C" neck, medium frets and 9.5" radius. Original tweed case and candy are included. Not many of these were produced.

Purple Strats

Current Listings

Jazzmaster Semi-Hollow, John Cruz MB, One-Off

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:27:00 +0000

WTF? F-hole, Floyd & EVH Wolfgang HB's!

"Little Pig, Little Pig... Lemme come in!"

As Fender continues to get loose and experimental with the J-types these days, here's a crazy one I recall seeing at NAMM Anaheim 2013. Yeah, it's a J shape alright, but that's the only thing "Jazzmaster" about it. In fact, deciding between a Jazzmaster and Jaguar moniker coulda been a coin toss.

I'm callin' it "Wolfmaster J".

This John Cruz one-off Masterbuild is quite the juggernaut with its 12" radius and big "C" neck profile sporting 6100 frets! Yikes! That's a handful! The figured Koa Thinline body is bound & topped with 5A flamed maple, a pair of EVH Wolfgang humbuckers and a Floyd Rose. Neck is 5A flame maple too. Wolfmaster J. is 8lbs 10oz. of enough huff & puff to blow down the 3rd Little Pig's house. And maybe they'll toss in one of those Fender bar stools...

Listed by Brooklyn based STREETSOUNDS NYC, this is new with all the Custom Shop goodies, COA & case.

Fender Custom Shop

Current listings

Eric Johnson Musikmesse 2013 Interview - "Cool! Good Answer..."

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:43:00 +0000

"What colors is it available in?"

Yep. Another Rebecca.

First of all, kudos to Ax Vault for traveling all the way to Frankfurt and scoring an interview slot with Eric Johnson. Way to go!

So, someday when I get a similar opportunity, I'll make a point to:

A) Prepare some questions ahead of time-- maybe even one or two unique ones... on cue cards even, to give my hand that's not holding the mic, SOMETHING TO DO...

B) Bring TWO microphones. Oh, what the heck.

C) Wear slacks (I usually do anyway. Piece a cake).

Need we go on? The friggin' body language alone had me climbin' the walls! Maybe it's the coffee. Did I grind 1 scoop of beans or SIX this morning? Fortunately, with subsequent views, things lightened up, and I was able to laugh. Finally, I gotta blog about it, y'know. Hey, it's Tuesday! Anything you can do to keep the barrel out of your mouth, right. So, try to watch this more than once, ok. There's a lot going on, and it gets better, sorta... well, funnier at least.

And if you really need an exit strategy, just CLICK HERE.

Eric Johnson Strats

Maple & RW street prices currently same.

Anderson Drop Top Classic Red Maple

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Currently listed by Long Island based Guitar Asylum Store the quilt maple top on this Tom Anderson looks like peach cobbler. The bound body underneath is a trans-red alder, making it a peach-strawberry cobbler I suppose.

Not a big Floyd Rose fan myself, but at least it's recessed-- AND the guitar has large "heavy" frets. Mainly, I wanted you to see that top with its marscapone cheese cake pickguard. Mmmmmh!

Hi-end Strats

Current Listings - Top Sellers - Boutique

Young Guitarist Matthew Curry Getting Better & Better!

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:10:00 +0000

We originally featured Matthew Curry in 2008 when he was all of 12 years old. Here he is in 2013 with some classic soulful chops for sure... though I'm still impressed with his '08 stuff! He was one of our first Young Guitar Wonders who seemed more into Albert Collins than the strong SRV influence we've seen so often.

Nowadays, he's bringin' in many more greats of past and present with a clean, articulate hybrid picking style that is all about Strat tones!

Besides our YGW archive (link above), Matthew and several other young guitar killers are also well represented at the Brotherhood Of The Guitar site, run by legendary music photographer Robert M. Knight.

1995 Fender CS Orange Krush Strat

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:07:00 +0000

An eBay search of "orange Stratocaster" doesn't usually turn up a whole bunch, but this one jumped right out at me! Actually the trans finish pictured looks more red. Maybe since 1995, the color has deepened. Photo quality-wise, the maple looks light, gold hdwr looks gold, pickguard MOP-- and the backdrop is good contrast, so you tell me...

Leastways, this Strat named Orange Krush, is #19 of a 25 piece run by Fender Custom Shop in '95; an era of some legendary builders. NJ based seller, "groovyguitarnj" appears to be a dealer with a fair amt of decent gear listed. This guitar is definitely special. Matching headstock face finishes are popular again-- but in '95, you didn't see this as much.

No specs provided other than what you see, besides the OHSC is included. No ref. to a COA, so ask 'em about that stuff.

Hi-end Strats

CURRENT LISTINGS - Top Sellers - Boutique Lines

Fender's Abigail Ybarra Retires - "Abby Wound" Pickups

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Sat, 04 May 2013 12:43:00 +0000

photo: www.fender-cs.jp

Fender announced this week the retirement of Abigail "Abby" Ybarra after nearly 60 years with the company! According to Fender's May 1, 2013 press release, Abby started at Fender in 1956, and began winding pickups in '58. The term "Abby Wound" has always been associated with Fender's finest pickup offerings, and only available in later years with hi-end Custom Shop models.

Check the above press release link for more about Abby.

On behalf of Stratoblogster and Fender players everywhere, I'd like to thank Abby for her service to guitar tone, and wish her "Happy Trails!"

Abby Wound Pickups

While they last, and before the mark ups!

Fender Custom Shop Cruz Lime Green - Friday Strat #297

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:32:00 +0000

Lime Green Metallic that is!

What better way to greet the month of May, than with a Strat of bright green... This one is bright green indeed! And it's a John Cruz Masterbuild.

Music Gallery Inc, of Highland Park, IL currently lists this one as new (COA date: 12/13/12). I love their listings for the complete & well formatted descriptions, specs rundowns and good photos. And the the feedback is 100% as of this writing.

FAT is what this Strat is all about. Besides eye catching, features include: John Cruz Fat 50's pickups, vintage "C" (fat) neck profile and 6100 frets (fat) in a dark rosewood slab, 7.25" radius fretboard (more fat). Neck is quartersawn.

Includes COA, candy and a 60's brown tolex case, the color of which reminds me of a Wendy's Frosty (still more fat!).

Friday Strat Archive

Hi-end Strats

CURRENT LISTINGS - Top Sellers - Boutique Lines

The Strat In The Attic - Guitar Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:51:00 +0000

Scheduled for June 10, 2013 release, Amazon currently offers a preview and preorder of this crazy new book by "guitar sleuth" Deke Dickerson. Yes, a book! Something you stack in the bathroom, right... Great photos, and even an index, I love when authors & publishers have the courtesy of including an index!

50 stories of rare guitar find adventures are included. On the Amazon product page, just click the cover image for a pdf-like preview to scroll and check out. Looks pretty zany!

The Strat in the Attic: Thrilling Stories of Guitar Archaeology

Fender Limited Custom Deluxe Jazzmaster - 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:58:00 +0000

Fender Custom Shop's 2013 Spring line up includes this Ltd Custom Deluxe Jazzmaster. J-bodies are makin' a comeback, kids! I especially dig the black reverse ones for their Cadzilla kind of look.

At Winter NAMM '13, Fender CS had some serious one-off Jazzmasters. I shot these two J-type Thinline bound bodies:

Folks from the Lazy F Ranch have this to say:

"The Limited Custom Deluxe Jazzmaster® guitar recasts the classic Fender model in a beautiful select okoume body with a flame maple top and Honey Blonde finish, accentuated by a gold anodized aluminum pickguard and gold hardware. It also features an AAA flame maple neck, 9.5”-radius rosewood fingerboard with 6105 frets and mother-of-pearl dot inlays, Adjusto-Matic™ bridge with vintage-style floating tremolo tailpiece, and gold locking tuners."

Fender Custom Shop Dealer Links

Strat-o-Sister Malina Moye Signs with SONY

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:27:00 +0000

photo: www.girlrocknation.com

Great news for our ONLY lefty-upside down Strat-o-Sister Malina Moye! Malina has been workin' hard the past few years. We saw her on an Experience Hendrix Tour gig, playing the National Anthem at NFL games and jammin' with fellow lefty upside downer Eric Gales. Click Here for the press release on her deal with Sony.

www.malinamoye.com

www.youtube.com/user/MalinaMoye

Strat-o-Sisters Directory

Bergen Guitars - Standards From Scratch

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:43:00 +0000

Nowadays, small guitar "custom builders" slapping together licensed aftermarket bodies & necks are a dime a dozen. But there are the exceptions. We discovered a good one recently...

Luthier, Paul Bergeson, founder of Bergen Guitars of Lake Zurich, Illinois, only does Strat & Tele-types. But he does the hell out of them, starting with rough wood and nary a CNC. Beyond the band saw and pin router, all bodies & necks are roughed out & finished by hand. Prime wood is hand selected, and neck edges are rolled old school, similar to the work LsL is doing in SoCal these days as well.

In addition to the double action truss rod, Bergen necks include 2 carbon fiber rods. Standard neck dimensions are 60's "C", 10" radius with 6105's, with other dimensions avail on request. Hardware includes cryogenic Callahan stuff, along with cryo treated CTS & Switchcraft pots/switches, which means he gets all that from Callahan. Pickups are custom recipe from Fralin. Finishes are thin nitro.

The Strat model is simply called "ST", and Tele is "TL". So obviously, Paul Bergeson is one of those no-nonsense builders who just wants to turn out top quality, hand crafted versions of a coupla classic icons.

Current lead times are 8-9 months for custom orders, but also check DK Guitars and Amps for finished standard Bergen configs.

Support those small builders, folks! And check out Bergen Guitars.

Hi-end Strats

CURRENT LISTINGS - Top Sellers - Boutique Lines

Roasted Guitar Necks Gaining Popularity!

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:40:00 +0000

Roasted Maple Neck

(Suhr Classic Trans-Orange Ash @Rocket Music Inc.)

Roasted Curly Flame Maple Neck Blank

(Avail. thru eBay seller: renel5761 - Halifax, NS, Canada)

Besides Ruokangas and Suhr, I've also noticed Ernie Ball/MM, Fender Custom Shop and Grover Jackson/GJ2 jumpin' into the roasted or thermal-treated maple neck fray. Maybe others as well, I haven't researched everyone doing this, just an observation with emphasis from a loyal reader prompt-- Thanks Stone City Tom M.!

You can do your own homework on what this is about. In short, roasting not only gives the maple a nice tan look, but dissipates any residual moisture in the wood, and solidifies any sap-like stuff remaining. This results in a much more stable neck, especially good when stainless steel frets are involved in the equation. Just ask a luthier/tech-type why that is good, ok. Further, this is gonna be even more important as compensated frets also go into wider use. Who's gonna wanna dress those things, much less replace 'em?

Anyway, just more coming from the brave new world of guitar tweaks...

Pimp Your Strat!

Resources, Parts, Mods, etc.

Nash S68-HX, Oly White Nitro

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:21:00 +0000

Hendrix Reverse Set-up, Lollars, 6105's...

Click images for close-ups!

Listed by: Vision Guitar San Jose, CA

This Nash S68-HX is a lefty set-up and strung for righty. You give up some higher fret access, but hey! that doesn't seem to stop Eric Gales, right? Plus, Gales is grabbin' his high strings on top. Are you dizzy yet? Just wait till you see EG playin' behind his head. When I saw that, I made the mistake of thinkin' about the lefty-upside down aspects, and had to step outside to scan the horizon for a couple minutes.

Yeah, so anyway. Ever notice that all the cool lefty players usually play righty guitars. I think actual lefty guitars are only purchased by the well intentioned parents of kids starting lessons who happen to hold forks and pencils in their left hands.

Which brings up the question, is it nerdy for a righty player to play a lefty guitar? Perhaps it is a bit on the "dig me!" side. So let's just say if you do the reverse thing, you probably need to be a badass player to blow past any initial nerd perception factors. A righty beginner would definitely not want to start with a lefty strung righty lest they be run out of town or detained for psych eval. That said, nobody bothered to "correct" Jeff Healey. What if they had, resulting in Jeff deciding guitar wasn't his thing?

Well, have we covered everything? This decision is entirely up to you, Chief!

Vision Guitar also has tons of parts, hardware, electronics and accessories for DIY upgrades. I'm adding them to our Strat Mods & Parts resource page. Check their rank/feedback!

Hi-end Strats

CURRENT LISTINGS - Top Sellers

Art Strat and Guitar Gear by El Daga

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:38:00 +0000

Ahh! The smell of fine Corinthian leather!

Plenty of trim for ya, Jim!

This art Strat project incorporates serious leather, serious trim & serious gold flake into original groovin' turtle stamped Boogie body and neck (serious birdseye!).

Still, it's hard to actually stay serious for too long though...

Gear freak artist, El Daga has a wild variety of crazy guitar & amp projects currently at eBay. Besides what I've aptly named, "Ricardo's Cordoba-caster" here, the Great El Daga has such further kookified retro treatments with Teisco, Silvertone, Stella, Harmony, Danelectro, Kay, Burns and Lyle guitars and amps!

But wait, there's also a P-bass bound with long suede fringe, a custom refin'd Prince guitar, even some PRS & Gibson guinea pigs and last but not least, El Daga is also listing an Oil Sump Pan for an Alfa Romeo model 164. And that's the beauty of eBay, folks!

So grab a bottle of hand sanitizer and go exploring!

El Daga @eBay

Candy Apple Red Strat 1963 All Original

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:21:00 +0000

Currently, there are a couple vintage Candy Apple Red '63 Strats listed at eBay. This one from Maryland based TopTrade is in great shape, and all original with OHSC. A Gruhn appraisal letter is always good to see as well. Just click on it for readable size.

Description includes pot #'s, pickup k-ohm specs and more pics with clear neck butt date stamp "2DEC63B". Nice collectible!

Norman's Rare Guitars also lists a '63 Candy Apple Red Strat right now, as well as some other gems.

Both sellers have serious hi-end vintage gear.

Candy Apple Red Strats

Current listings - Vintage/Custom Shop/Production

Reason to Own a Strat #54...

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:25:00 +0000

The good folks at Guitar Fail posted this pic under the title: "Perfect Intonation"-- but with no additional info...

But some of our savvy Facebook friends are identifying this as an early 60's Gibson TV Jr. double-cut, evidently notorious for neck joint issues. So, I guess as crazy as this photo is in general, there is even added significance for some.

Yikes!

Grosh Retro Classic Mini Black Sparkle - Friday Strat #296

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Grosh Guitars - Current listings

Here's a boutique Strat of the week for ya! This pre-owned Don Grosh Retro Classic model is currently listed by a private seller/orig owner in Minnesota who says it's never been outta the non-smoking, climate controlled studio. Grosh work-sheet included indicates Feb. 2012 birthday. Pics show finish and gold hdwr to be clean and wear-free.

The alder body is finished a mini flake metallic black described as "3 dimensional and 2 feet deep". Other features/specs include: 12" radius "medium large/roundback" neck, 6150 SS frets (big!), Grosh 60's pickups, Gotoh 1088 vintage trem/bridge and OHSC.

Looks like a great deal overall, considering Grosh custom wait times and price points. Do your homework!

And aren't ya glad I didn't run another Fender Relic this week!;))

Friday Strat Archive

Hi-end Strats

CURRENT LISTINGS - Top Sellers - Boutique Lines

Led Zeppelin, Denmark 1969

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:29:00 +0000

I can't believe this video has been at YouTube since 2009, and I haven't caught it! My bad... So this is easily the best quality, best shot Zep footage I've ever seen. Lots of great close-ups of everyone at their best in 1969. Remember Hendrix is still around, so as you watch Jimmy Page doing his own tricks, realize the timeline significance. And that Tele is killer!!!

Watch all this for good views of bow technique, behind nut bends, Wah stuff, etc. Even the Bonzo shots reveal his drum approach incredibly well. The syncopation interplay between Page & Bonham is cool to watch.

Some of the best filmed music performances from this era seem to come from Denmark. Did they have advanced technology?
Another example for ya (Click Here) is Johnny & Edgar Winter performing Frankenstein in Denmark, in 1970, way before the synth pioneering version released on Edgar's 1972 "They Only Come Out at Night" album. I say "way before" because in the 70's Rock music was changing rapidly in leaps and bounds.

If you listen to a cross section of iconic Rock albums from '70 to '75, you'll hear plenty of change.

Anyway, enough history lesson.

Suhr LE Chili Pepper Flame Korina Standard

noreply@blogger.com (Stratoblogster) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:39:00 +0000

This John Suhr Limited Edition Standard is a very striking contrast of color and wood patterns! The Chili Pepper flame top caps a natural korina body with some serious textures of its own. Even the neck is korina; slightly toned down with it's satin finish and a cocoa-cinnamonish Indian rosewood fretboard.

Virginia based Rocket Music Inc lists this one as new with a G&G hardshell form fit case.

Features/specs include: 10-14" radius slim "C" neck with heavy frets, JST V60LP singles and a JST DSH Humbucker, Hipshot locking tuners, Wilk/Gotoh 510 bridge with steel block. A closer look at the top body photo reveals the added dimension of a scrape maple binding that's slightly lighter than the korina body. Yummy touch! Click on those images for the close-ups!

With age, this color scheme will probably call for some relic'd gold hardware as the korina areas become more amber, and that Chili Pepper top takes on some rusty cabernet hues. Yes, I have a friggin' crystal ball, ok.

Besides, they did a gold headstock decal, so...

Rocket has lots more sweet, hi-end inventory worth checking out.

Hi-end Strats

Current listings - Top Dealers - Boutique lines