CURMUDGE BUYS A...STRAT???

[paologregorio]

I coated the Gold Hardware on my Mary Kaye with clear nail polish when I bought it, but it chipped or wore off in spots, and the Gold is worn off or extremely dull in those places. I considered replacing all of the Gold hardware with chrome/nickel at one poing, but it's a $300-400 expense, and it's too late now anyway.

[jingle_jangle]

Aitch will be our first house guests in the new house...I think we'll have to coat him in clear nail polish...

[winston]

Congrats on the new Strat, Paul and also congrats on the new house...............enjoy

[manta]

Surf City, here you is!!

T

[jps]

So, next time Shari and I come to SF we gotta see the new spread! Congrats on the new home and a new geetar to hang on more wall space!

[simer4001]

More pics:

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[
Do I golf? Nope. Of course, I've tried it from time to time. But take away the clubs, and it's walking, and I do enough of that.

They do have golf carts ya know!

[kenposurf]

For those of you who believe that I dislike Strats, this will come as a shocker. As a preface, I DON'T dislike them, but I don't agree with Fender's marketing of them, and the dissemination and splitting of the product line into over 70 variations at last count.

I do believe that the Strat is THE seminal Fender, and that its design--done seat of the pants by Leo Fender and Freddy Tavares--is intuitively flawless, both aesthetically and functionally, hence its continued success for some 54 years now. I just tend to mourn those who buy them as if there was no other choice, and the pack mentality that pervades the copycat market, too.

That having been said, I do not lust after overpriced vintage instruments, don't see the charm in fake relics, and find Superstrats generally unappealing. There are two Strats I want to own--for looks AND the sound, which stands on its own, just like the sound of a toaster-equipped Rick in unmistakeable.

Last week, thanks to the intercession of bandmate and good buddy George (who did a quick BIN for me, when this one popped up on a relist), I got kitted out with one of my two remaining wanteds: a 2007 Made in America 50th Anniversary Strat. To my eyes, it's the prettiest Strat around, although the gold plating makes it a bit impractical, I'll admit. It won't get heavy use, though, despite the INCREDIBLE sound. It has a thin wash lacquer paint job in light tan, white guard, and aged pickup covers and knobs. Amber nitro neck, vintage headstock decal, gold hardware. Gorgeous American-made tweed G&G case, plush orange lining and lots of padding, too. It was unused, under-the-bed, with all tags and case candy still in the sealed bag, including a 5-pole switch should updating be desired.

Yesterday I was at my buddy Bob's house, fishing around in his guitar vault. Among his more-than-100 notables (and at least 20 vintage Ricks) including Dave Edmund's 335 and a couple of sets of Entwhistle's stage clothing, is Bob's 1954 Strat--#0012, well-worn, oft-played and a GENUINE relic, whose appeal and aura are both undeniable.

Anyway, pics:

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It joins my metalflake Lime Gold Dick Dale Strat with the '59 pickups. The one remaining one I want is a '54 reissue two-tone burst.

Don't see that Paul mentioned this model is called Mary Kaye..also the DD style Strat body color is chartreause..not lime green..picky picky

[jingle_jangle]

Nope, George, not Lime Green, Lime Gold, which is what Metalflake, Inc. called it back in the day when Dick's first Strat was painted (by the late, great Dean Jeffries, I believe). Nowadays, they call it "Aztec Gold", but it's the same color...Dick might call it "chartreuse", but Metalflake did not. Picky, my a$$.

And George is correct about the Mary Kaye (note spelling) name. Mary Ka 'aihue was one of the Vegas lounge acts, and her Strat was well-promoted and widely-known enough for Fender to issue it as an early special order instrument package. The originals are very pricey.

[jingle_jangle]

More pics:

DSC07971vsm.jpg

[
Do I golf? Nope. Of course, I've tried it from time to time. But take away the clubs, and it's walking, and I do enough of that.

They do have golf carts ya know!

Yeah, then it's called "Jackie Gleason". I remember my first 18 holes. I was standing in front of the cart on the 15th, when my "friend", Brent, tapped the accelerator and hit me hard, seriously bruising my hip and spraining my ankle. That evening, a couple of pitchers of vodka martinis dulled the pain. (This was in '86, before alcohol became a migraine trigger). Yeah, I know, TMI.

[wmthor]

I'm glad I'm not the only one buying new Strats.


'61 NOS Desert Sand.


That's an 01 American Series hanging on the wall.

[kenposurf]

Nope, George, not Lime Green, Lime Gold, which is what Metalflake, Inc. called it back in the day when Dick's first Strat was painted (by the late, great Dean Jeffries, I believe). Nowadays, they call it "Aztec Gold", but it's the same color...Dick might call it "chartreuse", but Metalflake did not. Picky, my a$$.

And George is correct about the Mary Kaye (note spelling) name. Mary Ka 'aihue was one of the Vegas lounge acts, and her Strat was well-promoted and widely-known enough for Fender to issue it as an early special order instrument package. The originals are very pricey.

Fender calls it chartreuse...Dick calls it The Beast

[jwilli]

Thanks! Now I'll be on the lookout for a cool .......Strat.

[rickenbrother]

Congrats on the Strat, Paul! Hey, I have Precision in the harem.

[brianeharmonjr]

Nice snag, Paul. I used to have a lot of Fenders. Now I'm just down to the one below, which is a MIJ J. Mascis signature Jazzmaster in purple metalflake with matching headstock and anodized gold pickguard (killer axe). I've had a ton of strats, and I'll probably have another one before too long. I'd love to get one of those '62 reissues in sherwood green.

[ozover50]

Clear nail polish????? At least let me make a statement, Paul......... candy apple red, please!!