Hot? Or Not? (Caution: Contains Guitar Porn)

[OldStrummer]

While waiting for my flight home this morning, I found myself in the boarding area browsing the Reverb app, which has a feature called "handpicked" that is something like spinning a carnival wheel. Kind of a "surprise me," if you will.

Before I go any further, I wish to remind gentle readers that I have just contracted to buy a new home. This is definitely going to have an impact on my guitar purchasing for the foreseeable future, so these are just for drool purposes. Is my taste way off, or are these some really cool guitars? All originate from Fender's Custom Shop...

First, a brand-new 2017 Fender Custom Shop Artisan Claro Walnut Stratocaster. Specs and more pictures here.



Next up is a 2008 Custom Shop Eric Clapton 10th Anniversary Limited Crossroads Antigua Stratocaster. I had to post two pictures so the full affect could be shown.



Those who are familiar with my tastes know that I'm not a fan of rosewood necks/fingerboards. However, this next one is not rosedwood, it's a Tamo Ash Stratocaster, African Blackwood Fingerboard, Chocolate Fade Finish.



There's something about wood treatments that I just love. Here's a new 2016 Spalted Maple Artisan Stratocaster with a one-piece medium-roast AAA birdseye maple neck.



I don't usually object to tortoise-shell pickguards, but I think the choice detracts rather than adds to a fine looking piece of wood. This is a 2013 Quilt Maple Top Artisan Stratocaster, Maple Fingerboard, Tigereye



Well, that's it. Was it good for you, too?

[DanTheBluesMan]

I liked the Tamo ash body one, with the African Blackwood fingerboard. I do like rosewood fingerboards, the darker the better. Up until now, the only other dark wood for fingerboards that I liked was ebony. Now I have a new one. Thanks for posting.

congrats on the house. will it have the requisite space for your guitar stuff? I'm getting the idea that was the intention of the search? I'm not totally up on the lingo of real estate. Contracted just means that you've placed an offer and then what?

[OldStrummer]

I liked the Tamo ash body one, with the African Blackwood fingerboard. I do like rosewood fingerboards, the darker the better. Up until now, the only other dark wood for fingerboards that I liked was ebony. Now I have a new one. Thanks for posting.

congrats on the house. will it have the requisite space for your guitar stuff? I'm getting the idea that was the intention of the search? I'm not totally up on the lingo of real estate. Contracted just means that you've placed an offer and then what?

Contracted means the offer was accepted, and the house is under contract. It still has to pass the home inspection (this Thursday) and appraisal, but after that, it's just a lot of paper to sign and dollars to move. But you busted me! Having space for my guitars is probably the single factor driving this decision. That, plus a space to set up a photo studio (because that's another of my passions).

As to the guitars, the first one floats my boat, the Artisan Claro Walnut. But unless it's still around in a year's time, it's only for the dreaming...

[CoyotesGator]

Claro!

Claro!

Claro!

Perfecto!

[chuckocaster]

I like the spalted maple, I think those are absolutely gorgeous! IDK if you're aware of this, but Bird's Eye and Spalted maple come from diseased trees. I think it's freaking hilarious that we pay MORE money for that.

[redisburning]

that Tamo Ash guitar is the business.

speaking of woods that look like Rosewood but aren't, John Suhr (former Fender CS builder) puts Pao Ferro on his "Modern", and these are some sexy future strats:

[DanTheBluesMan]

i finally saw my first Suhr in the flesh the other day at the store where I played that bass and the Hiwatt half stack. It was a tele style single cut with two hums and 3 knobs IIRC. no idea which model, I'm not up to speed on them. it was being traded in while I was there, don't know what the guy was doing he had about 5 guitars and was busy the entire hour or so that I was there with the owner.

[redisburning]

i finally saw my first Suhr in the flesh the other day at the store where I played that bass and the Hiwatt half stack. It was a tele style single cut with two hums and 3 knobs IIRC. no idea which model, I'm not up to speed on them. it was being traded in while I was there, don't know what the guy was doing he had about 5 guitars and was busy the entire hour or so that I was there with the owner.

They are wonderful guitars. After playing one that was a bit too far off spec for me, I put in an order for one of the more strat-like models. My neck and body are probably getting painted this week.

[GregsGuitars]

The Tamoash looks good, would rather have a vintage Antigua if I had to have one in that color ,I have always heard the walnut Strats are heavy.

[OldStrummer]

I liked the Tamo ash body one, with the African Blackwood fingerboard. I do like rosewood fingerboards, the darker the better. Up until now, the only other dark wood for fingerboards that I liked was ebony. Now I have a new one. Thanks for posting.

Since you've indicated your passion for dark necks, I found a Claro Walnut Strat with a birds-eye maple neck with African Blackwood fingerboard.

[OldStrummer]

Speaking of hot (or not) Stratocasters, how about this Figured Rosewood Stratocaster?



While I'm on the subject, ever seen a "bowling ball" Strat? Features an alder body and a flame-roasted maple neck:



Simply elegant is how I would describe this Special 50's Roasted Stratocaster Closet Classic:


My intent in this thread has been to present out-of-the-ordinary Stratocasters. Obviously, I've focused on the ones that appeal to ME (no relics included), which means the wood-grain look. There is one in my future! (My current four Strats include a purple aluminum body, Aztec Gold with gold pg, Olympic White with maple neck (my Eric Clapton model) and Midnight Wine Burst (my Robin Trower model). But the only natural wood look guitar I own is the Diamond Anniversary (60th) Telecaster. Go figure.

[DanTheBluesMan]

I wish people wouldn't photograph dark bodied guitars against a black background. I could barely see see the bowling ball body. No, never seen that. I have seen splatter, swirled and spun paint jobs, though. Visually catching but not necessarily in my wheelhouse.

[OldStrummer]

Here's another one. At first, I thought, "who would be seen playing a guitar that looks like this. But then, oh, wait..."

[ch willie]

Here's another one. At first, I thought, "who would be seen playing a guitar that looks like this. But then, oh, wait..."

His wife probably designed it for him...

[OldStrummer]

His wife probably designed it for him...

It appears the back story is that artist John "Crash" Matos and Eric Clapton collaborated on three customized guitars. Matos is a "graffiti artist" who transitioned into a gallery artist. Clapton met him while doing a project in New York and the idea of "Crash" guitars came into being. "Crash 3" is the third and most notable, and Clapton gigged with them, and then auctioned them off to support his Antigua rehab center. Some info can be found here: http://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-news/303-eric-claptons-fender-stratocaster-crash-3-interview-artist-john-crash-matos

[ch willie]

I actually like that one. I saw him play it in Koln / Cologne around 2000, believe it was the Reptile tour.

[Offshore Angler]

Antigua's are for people who can't find a Splattercaster.

Because... some people will buy anything with a Fender logo on it.

I think that's the fundamental difference between a Fender and Gibson buyer. Gibson buyers will summarily reject anything that doesn't look like a vintage Standard whereas the Fender buyer will sell blood to get the latest incarnation of the same guitar.

Chuck

[jrgtr42]

I like them all, except maybe the Antigua - not a fan of that shade of green.
It's funny, though - I don't know that I like the big figured tops on a Fender Strat (says the guy with a couple AAA Les Pauls and a Schecter with flame top and birds-eye neck) For some reason, they look too much for me - maybe I see the Straet as more of a utilitarian, working man's guitar, versus the LP with is more... upscale isn't the word I'm looking for, but similar.

[OldStrummer]

So, here's one that makes me go, "Aw, heck no!" in so many different ways. For starters, the modifier of this guitar had the nerve to call it "Jimi" (even putting the name on the headstock), despite it having absolutely nothing in common with any Strat pictured in countless photos and videos of its namesake. Reportedly, it's a 2002 Custom Shop that has "cosmetic" surgery applied. I'll just leave it at that.

[redisburning]

I like them all, except maybe the Antigua - not a fan of that shade of green.
It's funny, though - I don't know that I like the big figured tops on a Fender Strat (says the guy with a couple AAA Les Pauls and a Schecter with flame top and birds-eye neck) For some reason, they look too much for me - maybe I see the Straet as more of a utilitarian, working man's guitar, versus the LP with is more... upscale isn't the word I'm looking for, but similar.

I get that that is the perception today but when Strats first came out working men couldn't really afford Gibson or Martin and most couldn't afford Fender either as a guitar from one of them was usually about a full months' paycheck at the median wage.

Today an equivalent guitar, not at inflation adjusted dollars but as a percent of the median income, would be more than 4500 dollars, or the price of a Gibson R8.

[OldStrummer]

Well, hello... As I was surfing the guitar sites (a dangerous practice sometimes, as my wallet will attest), I came across this lovely. No specs on it, other than it's a 1974 Custom Shop, and it's in the U.K. not available for export (just thought I'd throw that in, just in case someone got any ideas). VERY interesting neck...

[OldStrummer]

A few days ago, while watching some sort of promotional video, I glimpsed very briefly a double-neck guitar that looked like the top half was a Strat and the lower half a Tele. It's hard finding something like that, but here's one that says it's a half-n-half:



From the listing: "This Fender Doublecaster was made in the custom shop in 2002. It was custom ordered and the original order form is in the case. Stratocaster, telecaster, gold sparkle, '57 specs, gold anodized guard, gold hardware, stack knob, double whammy on the strat etc.. Master built by Art Esparza."

I don't see the "double whammy," but even without, it's a pretty neat looking guitar. And for $12,500, it should be!

[ch willie]

I'd love to have a double neck--6 and 12--Fender!

I wouldn't turn down a lefty of the one above either. Looks very cool.

[Cogs]

I don't see the "double whammy," but even without, it's a pretty neat looking guitar. And for $12,500, it should be!

Check out the "ears" & holes on the sides of the high & low E strings. That's so you can screw a trem arm on either side: On the high E side for a rightie, & on the low E for a lefty

[OldStrummer]

Check out the "ears" & holes on the sides of the high & low E strings. That's so you can screw a trem arm on either side: On the high E side for a rightie, & on the low E for a lefty

Thank you! I saw the right-handed one but missed completely the left-handed hole. I guess I must have been blinded by the sparkle!

[Cogs]

Yeah, definitely a lot of bling on that one
lol

[DanTheBluesMan]

is it me or is the bridge plate on the strat half slanted?

I like the idea except I would have put the tele on top, or even put an esquire on top, with the single stack knob and put the strat on the bottom so you can keep the three knobs that make it a strat. Although for cutaway reasons, I can see why they did it that way.

wonder how much it weighs?

[AlecInLittleElm]

They are all fantastic! I especially love the ones in the original post.

[refin]

Some great guitars there,thanks for sharing!

[renderit]

I now have a woody! Is that wrong?

[refin]

[OldStrummer]

I debated posting this one. It's the latest FSR: a Malaysian Blackwood Telecaster 90 (twp JP-90 single coil pickups). Everyone carrying them is asking $1,999.

The reason I debated posting one is because some are, IMO, butt-ugly, with a "skunk stripe" down the middle of the body, which ruins the overall look (again, IMO). The smaller the stripe, the better I think one looks.

[Jeffp]

Beautifull strats! Tele too! Especially like the Jimi strat!

[OldStrummer]

Doggone it! This thread had pretty well died, and the Kenny went along and bought a nifty Les Paul from the folks at Wildwood. I like me some Wildwood browsing, and dang if I didn't come across this beauty (well, I find it beautiful). OK, I know it isn't a Strat, but holy moly, if I were rolling in dough...

[OldStrummer]

'Course, now that I've revived this thread, I feel compelled to add the one guitar that's next on my list. Right. Once again, not a Stratocaster...

[OldStrummer]

I'm back to this thread.

When work is slow, I like nothing more than surfing the Web, looking at guitars. I also like sharing what I find, so here's today's collection.
Start with a 2017 Limited Edition American Vintage ‘59 Pine Stratocaster



Might not be everybody's cup of tea. This Primavera Telecaster most definitely wouldn't appeal to the masses.



I couldn't find a full-length photo of this American Select Stratocaster Rosewood Fingerboard 2012 Amber. But it looks like a beauty.



That's it for today!

[DanTheBluesMan]

it's probably just me but a bound neck on a strat just doesn't look right. I don't care if Eric Johnson likes them. It's just wrong. YMMV

[ch willie]

George Harrison’s son Dhani plays a bound neck Strat. It looks good, but it’s not my taste. I’m with you, Dan. There’s something a bit off about it.

[Cogs]

That pine Strat looks pretty killer

[OldStrummer]

So, here's an interesting one: It's a Custom Shop Artisan Spalted Maple Stratocaster. What's interesting to me is the neck is One-Piece Medium-Roast AAA Birdseye Maple, but the fretboard is African Blackwood. Pups are Custom Shop Hand-Wound 60/63s. I wonder how it plays? At almost $4K, it should sound good...