Which Stratocaster For "That Sound"?

[paologregorio]

Oh, that works. Thanks. Is it at 3 for both knobs?

I always use points of the clock positions with Vox amps because there are no numbers. I learned that from someone but I can't remember who.

Glad to hear that you've dialed in the Hank Marvin sound. Now if we could just get Fender to reissue a signature model.....................

[doctorno]

Glad to hear that you've dialed in the Hank Marvin sound. Now if we could just get Fender to reissue a signature model.....................

Get the Burns!

The problem with the clock positions is that if you stand in front of your AC30, the knobs are turned around on the head. So from behind the amp the knob for the amount of reverb is at 10 o´clock (or at 3 on a scale of 0 to 10), the knob for the reverb tone is between 11 and 12 o´clock (or at about 5 on a scale of 0 to 10) and the dwell switch is set to high dwell. That´s the way I like it. But there certainly are other options.

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Glad to hear that you've dialed in the Hank Marvin sound. Now if we could just get Fender to reissue a signature model.....................

Get the Burns!

With 2,000 of them made, there are certainly more of them! (The Burns, that is.)


In 3 different "runs," Fender has made only 140 "Marvin" Strats.
http://mwe3.com/archive/pastfeature/fea ... arvin2.htm

[paologregorio]

Glad to hear that you've dialed in the Hank Marvin sound. Now if we could just get Fender to reissue a signature model.....................

Get the Burns!

With 2,000 of them made, there are certainly more of them! (The Burns, that is.)


In 3 different "runs," Fender has made only 140 "Marvin" Strats.
http://mwe3.com/archive/pastfeature/fea ... arvin2.htm

Yeah, but I don't like Burns anything. I've never been a fan of long pointy horns, so I probably just infuriated both Burns and Danelectro lovers, not to mention that most Burns guitars have a really clunky headstock, to my eye anyway. The Marvin Strat, on the other hand, is a graceful beauty; Fiesta Red, Bird's Eye Maple neck, and the classic `57 Stratocaster style!

As far as the o'clock positions in ref to AC 30 knobs, I usually specify that I'm looking from the back of the amp forward, but you have a point Markus!

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

I'm certainly not infuriated. De gustibus non disputandem.

I was merely pointing out that as far as Signature Models go, finding one with "Fender" on the headstock is likely to be the harder of the two.

[paologregorio]

No doubt. It was just a wish on my part anyway, though I suppose if I had enough $ and even more patience I could order one from the custom shop with the same specs, albeit lacking the signature, which I'd be okay with.

[doctorno]

The looks of the Burns also put me off at first. This changed quickly when I held one in my hands for the first time. The shape of the body might not look good, but it is very ergonomic. What is more the guitar plays and sounds great. The head is ugly, so are the tuners - but they do not get out of tune. Now this instrument is hanging on the wall in my living room and it looks better and better every day. It is the same as with women: it is not always the most beautiful one that has the most loveable character.

[paologregorio]

Interesting.

Here's the U.S. Fender and Burns versions: http://www.penumbra.co.nz/40anniv.html

Did y;all know that the Japanese Fender Hank Marvin Signature model came with a pair of Horn Rimmed glasses? I'm serious: http://freespace.virgin.net/john.blackm ... nature.htm

"The UK's first guitar hero....lead guitar with The Shadows and now a solo performer...every guitar came with a pair of black horn rim glasses. I made that up. Hank's first MIJ signature model emerged in 1992 under the Squier banner at the request of UK & Europe Distributors. I understand it was a run of around 1,500. Later in the decade another Hank Marvin Signature was produced in two runs of 500 and this time under the Fender banner and based on the 50's Reissue and featuring Kluson type vintage tuners, a single-ply pickguard and 'soft v' section maple neck."

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Interesting indeed, Paul.

Although it's not dated, the link I provided with the Hank Marvin interview seems to have been circa 2004, and he spoke of signature model runs of 40 and 50. Your quote seems to imply that some time in the 1990s, Fender put out 1,000 Marvin Strats.

That's a big discrepancy! I wonder which is accurate?

[doctorno]

The Fender signature models of the 1990s were budget instruments made in far east - first there was a very cheap one made by Squier, later there was a Japanese Hank Marvin Strat. I doubt that Hank Marvin meant these guitars, when he spoke of his Fender signature guitar. There have been only a few American made signature Strats for Hank Marvin. According to the link that Paul has provided, these American guitars produced in 1998 were limited to only 40.

The newer Burns Hank Marvin signature guitar is part made in China, while some parts are produced in Italy and the USA. The guitar is finally assembled in Britain. The only downside is the polyester finish - apart from that the production quality of the Burns is excellent - better than that of an American Standard Strat at the same price.

[admin]

Markus: From your perspective, what is the downside to the polyester finish?

[doctorno]

Polyester is just not an appropriate material to finish wood in my opinion. It is used in the far east for budget guitars mainly, because it takes very little time and effort to apply such a finish. While a polyurethan or Desmodur finish takes time to be applied to the guitar in 4 or 5 layers, you can apply a polyester finish in just one step - and this is exactly the way it looks and feels. This is as if you would weld the wood into plastic. A guitar with a polyester finish does not necessarily sound worse than one with a polyurethan, desmodur or nitro lacquer finish, but it certainly has less value and a less attractive appearance.