Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

jingle_jangle wrote: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.

jingle_jangle wrote: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.

simer4001 wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:More pics:

DSC07971vsm.jpg

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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!

jingle_jangle wrote: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.