Composite Electrics "Blade" Guitar

(photo: http://compositeelectrics.com)

Kinda out of the Strat zone, but this is just too cool! Jon at GuitarNoize has the full scoop and a video too, so be sure to go check out his post.

Basically, you're looking at a total graphite composite electric with stainless frets, Duncan premium pups, made in the USA, I could go on... Oh yeah! $799!! That's Seven hundred ninety nine dollars!!! There probably isn't a better "most bang for the buck" guitar out there right now than this one.

5.9 lbs!!!

Y'know I hate to rub salt in old wounds here, but if anyone remembers the Etavonni/Premier Guitar clusterf@*#... First $7K, then $4K. Somebody stop me!

Anyway, major kudos to Ellis Seal, former Lockheed-Martin engineer who decided to start building guitars -- innovative and very affordable guitars too!

I-n-n-o-v-a-t-e is always best spelled forwards!

caguitars.com
compositeelectrics.com

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MusicRadar Needs Help Listing Top Strat Players!

When we last saw our heroes, they had come up with 35 famous Strat players to celebrate the 55th birthday of the Stratocaster.

We responded with, "Why not 55 players? Would that be so difficult? How 'bout 55 for 55!"

An now, a recent post at MusicRadar.com is soliciting more names with "Who Are the Unsung Fender Stratocaster Stars?"

Even with that, the job just isn't getting done. Also, just because the MusicRadar writer(s) can't come up with more than 35, does that make anyone beyond that number "Unsung"?

Horse Hockey! I say!

So along with the help of those who have commented at MR, we're going to finish the job right here. And if your favorite Strat-o-Bro or Strat-o-Sis is missing, I urge you to let us know via the nifty comment link below.

MusicRadar's First 35
(Their order, not mine! I dunno if this was based on some poll or sniffing gasoline...)

Jimi Hendrix
Jeff Beck
John Frusciante
Mark Knopfler
Alex Turner
Kurt Cobain
Nile Rogers
Dave Murray
Curtis Mayfield
George Harrison
Jeff Healey
Billy Corgan
Rory Gallagher
Buddy Holly
Hank Marvin
Stevie Ray Vaughan
John Mayer
Bonnie Raitt
Ritchie Blackmore
Ry Cooder
Robert Cray
Simon Neil
Yngwie Malmsteen
Pete Townshend
Robin Trower
The Edge
Eric Johnson
Albert Hammond Jr.
Buddy Guy
David Byrne
Tommy Bolin
Robbie Robertson
David Gilmour
(#1 -#35) Whew! Gilmour just squeaks in! Pass me that gas can!
----------------------------------------------------
Let's Git r Dun! (Sorry, I hate that cable guy too!)

#36 - Eric Clapton (pretty obscure & unsung, I know...)

Sonny Landreth
Carl Verheyen
Scott Henderson (Suhr axe, but WTF)
Michael Landau (Suhr axe, but WTF)
Chris Duarte
Wayne Krantz *
Frank Zappa
Richard Thompson *
Oz Noy
Phil Brown
Philipe Sayce
Doyle Bramhall Jr.
Poppa Chubby
Hubert Sumlin
Shane Theriot
Lowell George
Tom Morello
Audley Freed
Mary Kaye (Recipient of the very first Artist Series Strat)
Joyce Cooling
Jo Shaw Taylor
Becky Barksdale
Kat Dyson
Zoe McCulloch
Meredith Brooks
Tracy Conover
Ana Popovic

Actually, that's 28, seven more than necessary to hit the 55, but I just can't drive 55. My list is in random order only. The ladies aren't at the bottom due to any consideration of lesser rank or importance. If anyone could put all of 'em in "proper" order of "importance", the internet might cease to exist.

Apologies to the guy who wanted Frank Marino on the list. I dig FM like apple pie a la mode & pork chops, but he's an SG player period.

* These are the two I got from the MR comment thread so far. The rest are from the mind of Stratoblogster. Yes there are many more, so let me have 'em or even better, somebody take our entire 36 plus list over to MusicRadar and help those poor folks!

Later additions:
(keep 'em coming!)

Dick Dale (duh...)
Eric Gales
Doug Rappoport
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Oli Brown
George Marinelli
Waddy Wachtel
Julien Kasper
Ian Moss (Aussie Strat icon)
Dave Brewer
Ryan McGarvey
Devin Townsend
Jimmy Herring
Davey Knowles
Aynsley Lister

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Slider's Pink Nyleze NOS Pickup Wire

Slider just scored a few rolls of this crazy pink #42 wire of 1971 vintage Phelps Dodge DNA. Nyleze is a polynylon; very similar to the polyvinyl we know as Formvar. So far he says it's great to work with and has good sonic qualities. The above pickups are currently called "Coney Islands" for their cotton candy look and may be the first of their kind.

I recently got a set of Slider's Vintage 59's which I really dig. Stay tuned for an upcoming and cheesy as ever Stratoblogster demo video. The Strat is home from the spa and doing very well.

sliderspickups for more about Slider's Vintage Classic Pickups and links.

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Another Rock N' Roll Relic from Billy Rowe

Billy Rowe recently sent us some photos this seriously distressed Lake Placid Blue. You can see more of photos of this one at his SmugMug site-- where photographers can share and sell their photo works.

For more about Rock N' Roll Relics and Billy, Click Here for our previous post.

Ed update: Rock N Roll Relics are built to order. Contact Kelcey at customguitarboutique.com for details on procuring a Billy Rowe relic guitar that best fits your vintage concept.

Tell Kelcey that Stratoblogster sent ya!

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New Catalinbread SFT Pedal Debuts Sept 1, 09

Portland, Oregon based pedal geeks Catalinbread are officially releasing their new SFT pedal in just a couple days. They asked me to tell you about it.

They also have this to say:

"SFT? What could that mean?: Sushi Frappacino Tort? Sigma Fart Truffle? Super Fantastic Turtle? Slippery Finger Treat? Sensational Fork Trick? Sneaky For Trumpets? Special Friend Trade? Smack For Thee?Smog From Toronto? Swarm Frog Trees? Some Fanatical Thing? Siamese Frigate Troop? Swamp Father Tate? Superman Fails Triginometry? Sail For Tuscon? Shrimp For Trout? Smothered Form Triplicates? Smash Fate Technology? Simple Funky Tone? Sword Falling Tutor?

Who knows what it stands for? But it Sounds Fu*ck*ing Tasty..."

These folks must start every morning at the Voodoo Doughnut!

Click the image for details and demo vids!

Stay tuned to these fine Caitlinbread Dealers:

Tone Factor

Axe & You Shall Receive

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Natalie Wells Band - Cincinnati Strat-o-Sister!

(image: www.nataliewells.net)

Special thanks to reader Brian, who got in touch to let us know about Natalie Wells. Voted 2003 Cincinnati Blues Artist of the Year, Natalie had only first picked up the guitar around 2001 according to the write-up in her About page.

I think Brian says it best, "...She's phenomenal, and I'm not saying that she's great for a girl or anything like that... she's just flat out AWESOME- male or female..."

I almost missed this one because Brian emailed me with the subject line, "Check this girl out!" which could be trouble y'know. So anyone suggesting a Strat-o-Sister is recommended to include "Guitar" in the subject text. If Mrs. Stratoblogster hadn't been away at the time, I simply would have deleted Brian's email...

Anyway, Natalie Wells is the real deal! Visit the above link and check out her videos, including a jammin' cover of Trower's "Day of the Eagle". Yeah, this gal gets into some serious material!

BTW folks, you really have to check out our Strat-o-Sister Directory for several of the most current badass guitar playin' women i.e. Chelsea Constable, Carolyn Wonderland, Orianthi and many more. Music sites & blogs out there are STILL featuring top girl guitarist lists with 70's pop chicks. I mean, I still love Joan Jett, Nancy Wilson and Lita Ford, but let's get up to speed here folks!

Lot's of people are still just now discovering Jennifer Batten-- which is a wee bit tardy, doncha think?!

www.myspace.com/nataliewellsband

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Verrilli Spiral Guitar - A Strat for Friday #138

Frank Verrilli is a high end artist-- painter & sculptor, with a variety of works exhibited around the world (ck out the links below). He just happens to also dig guitars, especially Strat & Tele type platforms. The "Spiral Guitar" above is just one example of several builds currently featured & listed at the premier art guitar & boutique builder site Destroy All Guitars.

What really amazes me is that considering Verrilli's other work and resume' can create other perspectives about these guitars we play and blog about. I mean, we guitar players love guitars and agree that they're beautiful, but it's a high kind of compliment to guitar when a fine artist in other mediums embraces the guitar in unique ways. You really must look at Frank Verrilli's sculpture work to get where I'm coming from here.

LINKS:
Destroy All Guitars - Frank Verilli items

Friday Strat Archive

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G&L F-100 With Serious Neck for Adoption!

G&L Guitars for sale

Dave from Guitar Adoptions just got this one in, and wants us to check out the fretboard grain. Click on the neck image for a graphic, provocative & explicit CLOSE UP! Since we need to focus on the neck, I've chosen not to include a Guitar Adoptions girl in this post. So get focused & forget I even mentioned the girl part. It's all about the neck kids!

G&L F-100 Specs:

# BODY WOOD: Mahogany
# BODY FINISH: Old School Sunburst
# NECK WOOD: Hard Rock Maple with Maple fingerboard
# NECK WIDTH / RADIUS: 1 5/8” Width at Nut; 12” Radius (G&L #1B spec)
# FRETWIRE: Medium Jumbo 6100
# TUNERS: G&L/Schaller Non-locking
# NECK FINISH: Satin finish
# PICKUPS: Two custom wound Magnetic Field Design humbuckers
# CONTROLS: 3-Way pickup selector Volume Tone with Push/Pull coil split for both pickups (outer coils activated)
# BRIDGE: G&L Dual Fulcrum
# CASE: Black G&G Deluxe Tolex with black plush lining
# Weight 8.5 lbs.

Guitar Adoptions has lots of hi-end G&L inventory amongst other fine guitar lines. Dave also stocks a good assortment of lefty models and some very clean pre-owned gear. So go browse about and call Dave Schmidt if you have questions. He's the owner and he answers the phone.

Click Here for a directory of other recommended small online dealers where the owners answer the phone and actually know what's going on.

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Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp

Wanna jam & hang out with some rock stars, get tips from the pros, eat, drink, be merry, etc., etc., etc... and all before you die?!!

GuitarEdge.com along with Premier Guitar are promoting a R&R Fantasy Camp giveaway happening in mid November. Entry deadline is Sept. 21, 2009.

Get all the details and register by clicking on the above link or image.

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Favorite Boutique Online Guitar Gear Dealers

I'm trying to promote small independent gear dealers of quality gear. These are all folks I personally know and speak to, as opposed to corporate big box sites. I affiliate for them and recommend them for personal service and great customer support. Check 'em out and add to your favorites if you think so too.

Hi End Guitar Lines:

Guitar Adoptions - Online Dealer for G&L, Michael Tuttle, Flaxwood, Delilah & Giffin. Also amps & a few nice pedals.

Fat Tone Guitars - Online Store for Nash, K-line, Gene Baker, RAM and more. Some small boutique amp lines and tons of pedal lines.

S-types - G&L, Michael Tuttle, Nash & K-Line

T-Types - Delilah, RAM, G&L, Tuttle, Nash & K-Line

Premium Pedal Lines:

Just about every gourmet pedal line out there is available at the following outfits:

TunnelVision Music

Fat Tone Guitars

Parts & Accessories:

Tricked Out Guitar - Good deals on upgrade items i.e. Stellartone ToneStyler controls, Tremol-No, Sperzel tuners, Wilkinson Bridges, high end cable and custom aged hardware for DIY relic projects.

OTHER:

GuitarGearStores.com - This site is my gear directory for small dealers, eBay Stores sellers and eBay "Buy It Now" listings. Also listed are most of the big corporate stores so that you can compare costs or just shop at the big name outfits if you're more comfortable with them.

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EJ White Strat - Neck Grain Fetish Quickie - Strats With Issues #5

I been hipmotized by 'dis grain pattern! Somebody hep me please!!!

eBay Item # 300341204489
Seller - joefreene

Seller sez:

"...The grain pattern of this guitar neck is the smoothest most uniform of all the 'EJ's' I have ever seen... the main reason I purchased it... I am original owner, less than 1 hour play time, no scratch, no marks, no dings ...perfect condition..." (not much more than that in description)

So let's analyze this one. Individual looks at several EJ Strats until a certain neck grain pattern strikes him/her so deeply and profoundly as to compel an expenditure of at least $1700... only to play for one hour and then decide to sell.

Did I leave out anything?

Wonder how many marriages this person will go through...

Strats w/Issues Directory

Fresh EJ Strat Listings

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Art Guitars For Sale "The Disaffected" Series - 8 Custom Shop Pieces

OBEY Clothing Artists Strat & Tele Art

"Art for art's sake, money for God's sake..." 10 cc

This eight piece set is currently listed at eBay with a start up at $114K. Here's the scoop from the seller:

"The DISAFFECTED Guitars: "The Disaffected" is a series of eight Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars. The bodies and cases of these guitars were sent to some of the world's most relevant and respected lowbrow and street artists. The participating artists in the project include Ron English, Shepard Fairy, Evan Hecox, Dave Kinsey, Ryan McGinness, Adrian Nyman, WK Interact and Zephyr. The concept was devised by avid guitar collector Steve Mellgren. In 2000, Steve had partnered up with artist Shepard Fairey to license his artwork for OBEY Clothing. In 2002, Steve asked Shepard if he would paint a guitar body and case for him. The series blossomed from there with Shepard making calls to other artist friends throughout the United States. Steve then initiated the help of the Fender Custom Shop. The guitar bodies and cases were sent to the respective artists to adorn. Once the pieces were painted, they were returned to the Fender Custom Shop where they were given a finished resin clearcoat and assembled. The project itself took well over two years to complete..."

Seller info:

fritz2784 ( 100 Feedback score 100% rated )

Art Guitar Sites:

Destroy All Guitars
Pheoguitars.com
Donahue Guitar Arts
Girl Brand Guitars

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Robben Ford & Sakashta Guitars- Pickups

ed note: In Feb. 2010, Taku Sakashta was tragically murdered.

Steppin' out of the Strat-o-sphere for a moment to comment on Robben Ford and his current fave guitars by Taku Sakashta. Over the years we've seen Ford with a variety of guitars from 335's to Tele's to Strats to LP's and a few points in between i.e. his Fender signature model and more Gene Baker stuff. And although you never know what he'll be playing tomorrow, these days he's performing a lot with the black Sakashta guitar you see in the above July 2009 Portland, Oregon Waterfront Blues Fest performance.

At first, the video quality seems pretty mediocre, but keep listening. That guitar has some serious definition and intonation! BTW, Sakashta also winds his own pickups-- mainly humbuckers, based on the PAF. Robben Ford's chords, voicings and punctuated riffs really showcase what this guitar is about. Ford has remained pretty loyal to Dumble amps which I assume he's using in the video.

RF has a new live release out called Soul on 10. Click Here for a recent podcast promoting Ford's new release, compliments of John at Earbender. This might make some feel old, but Robben's current bass player is Travis Carlton, son of Larry... Holy cow!

One of the best Robben Ford interviews I've seen is from Oct. '07 by Brian D. Holland for Modern Guitars Magazine , which includes a lot about Ford's earlier session work with a bunch of legendary artists.

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Michael Tuttle Classic S Guitars at Guitar Adoptions

Michael Tuttle Dealer

Here's our favorite Guitar Adoptions gal with a Burst Michael Tuttle Classic S series model. An alum of Valley Arts and Don Grosh Guitars, Tuttle now builds guitars with his name on 'em.

Guitar Adoptions just got in an Olympic White '60's model. Here's the specs:

# Nitro Lacquer Finish
# Alder Body
# .840-C Maple Neck
# Brazilian Rosewood fretboard
# Jescar 6105 Nickel Frets
# Amalfitano Vintage Set Pickups (The VS set incorporates a calibrated vintage magnet stagger utilizing Alnico 3 grade magnets to give them that aged, weakened property that is reminiscent of the 1950's Strat pickups. The VS set drips with a vintage tone that only Amalfitano Pickups can produce. They're wound with period correct Formvar Magnetic wire to 5.4K ohms for the Neck Pickup, 5.6K ohms Reverse Wound Reverse Polarity for the Middle Pickup, and 5.7K ohms for the Bridge Pickup)
# Tuttle Custom Paper Oil .05 Cap
# Callaham Bridge
# Staggered Kluson Locking Tuners
# Custom Hardshell Case

Guitar Adoptions is also dealer for G&L, Giffin, Flaxwood, Larrivee & Delilah electric lines, as well as some interesting boutique pedal & amp lines-- and fine acoustic brands.

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Fender Custom Shop Jason Smith Two-Tone Relic... Nasty!

Shell Pink Over Daphne Blue = "Whorriffic"

We've featured these two-tone Jason Smith Masterbuilt "Ultra Skanko-Relics" before. This Shell Pink over Daphne Blue speaks for itself. The headstock ciggy shadow verges upon 4th degree burn status. Probably used Kool non-filters... Anyone remember Kool non-filters? Maybe ya get a pack with the case candy. Better toss in a big hypo of penicillin too!

She's livin' in Birmingham, Alabama.

Seller sez: "...GUITAR IS IN MINT CONDITION, NOT A SCRATCH ON IT. YOU WILL HAVE TO MY WORD SINCE IT IS A RELIC..." (He says that, I sh*it you not! Word for word.)

Meet the Seller:

drfawnmeetsnursewithmustardcaps ( 114 Feedback score)
100% positive (not for STD's!)

Item location: BIRMINGHAM ALA, United StatesShips to: Worldwide

Boutique Strats Directory
current listings

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MusicRadar.com 35 Stratocaster "Stars"...

To observe the 55th birthday of the Strat this year, Musicradar.com is running a two part feature hi-liting 35 Strat players. Dunno why they can't seem to come up with 55, but whatever...

You can review the first 18 at the above link or clicking on the image.

Judging from the first group, there may already have been difficulties deciding. I'm ASSUMING a hierarchy is intended since Hendrix and Jeff Beck are #1 & 2, but things seem to go awry in the order of the remaining 16. Who knows what Part II will bring.

Go over there and see for yourself what kinda deal is goin' down. Anyone registered over there oughta add some suggestions to their comment thread.

I may register myself when the disorientation subsides...

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Rory Gallagher Custom Shop HR - Friday Strat #137

Food & Beverage Suggestion:
Guinness, Jamison & Bushmills
Baked Potato Chaser

"HR" means "Heavy Relic" as you can see, and the Rory Gallagher Strats are about has heavy on the distress factor as they gets. This one is in like new condition, if you can tell... The cert, case and case candy are all present & accounted for, clean, dry, serviceable, flush and grounded as they say in the USAF. Listing details include all specs.

Seller Info:

geetarman74 (168 Feedback score)
100% positive

Item number: 280386227167

Item location: Nicholasville, Kentucky, United States
Ships to: United States

Time left: Aug 23, 2009 19:34:43 PDT

More Friday Strat Features

Fresh Boutique Strat Listings

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Guitar Aficionado Positions Guitar to the "Deluxe Life"

(image: www.guitaraficionado.com)

Yesterday, whilst shuffling through the newsstand section of an invisible Barnes & Noble I got to check out Guitar Aficionado magazine for the first time. A spin on "Cigar Aficionado"--even rhymes, this new quarterly journal is attempting to shift the gears of guitar culture with Aston-Martin ads, 'spensive watches and profiles on popular chefs and wine moguls who also dig guitar. Imagine that-- successful folks from other fields of endeavor who enjoy picking up a guitar. Can that be?! OR, that legendary guitar players have other interesting pursuits. It could happen.

Some of you might think this is weird, no wonder, it's not exactly normal but WTF... ...Hey! It's the 21st Century, whatever it takes to have a good time, let's get on with it... So long as it doesn't cause a murder... So, they're sniffing the corks...

But in spite of where you may think I'm going with this, I actually dig Guitar Aficionado! I'm sitting in that big bookstore cozy chair with a latte, experiencing an elevated look at how guitar culture oughta be. The current issue (#2) has a beautiful feature on Eric Johnson's gear collection as well as a Top Shelf Tequila Shootout. And of course, the good Rev. Billy G pops up to bless things.

Always room for another guitar magazine! Familiar names like Brad Tolinsky, Chris Gill and Alan Di Perna head up and contribute to Guitar Aficionado; real guitar players and journalists willing to step out of the box.

At least now, old schoolers who feel conventional guitar rags cater too much to the shredded, pierced and inked can now experience guitar journalism in this new light of The Good Life-- or as Aficionado calls it "Deluxe Life". Guitar players may also look forward to acceptance in finer circles as this magazine shows the rest of the world that we are more than just geeks, nerds or derelicts as depicted in those FreeCreditReport.com commercials or Dragnet reruns.

Yeah, this magazine isn't for everyone. In fact, some of guitar society are up in arms about the very idea of something so bourgeois & ostentatious. Without getting too philosophical about it all, I just think it's a fun magazine to look through that's very uncluttered, beautifully formatted and interestingly positioned for a change. And no matter where you're bent on this, you will find interesting stuff if you relax for a minute and just be a kid. So don't buy it! Just do the B&N or Borders comfy chair rendezvous with a Guitar Aficionado while wifey is over at Nordstrom-- then wash your hands and take wifey to lunch after.

Or subscribe and save on the newsstand price.

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New Moog E1 Guitar More Affordable Than Original Vo Model

(images: www.moogmusic.com)

ed note 8/28: FAT TONE GUITARS now stocking the Moog E1!

The Moog crew was kind enough to send us a new product announcement.

Moog's newest Model E1 shows that Moog remains serious about attracting the guitar market! A production version of the original Paul Vo model, the E1 is price pointed a couple grand below the Vo at around $3600. No, still not cheap-- but the features, materials, looks and craftsmanship make this a whole lotta guitar for the money! Plus, there are new finish options and now a choice of trem or hardtail.

Looks like they've had enough market success from the debut model to bring production costs down.

Look at it this way. Tribute vintage reissue guitars can go for thousands more, but they don't really make you play like your vintage guitar heroes. The Moog, on the other hand, gives you the tools and functionality to discover your own new territory with a guitar.

This isn't for everyone, but I appreciate how Moog has chosen the ever iconic Stratty profile to help symbolize innovation. I personally still dig the retro guitar thing, but as time marches on it's cool to know that folks like Moog are providing new ways for guitar players to explore.

Get Details on the new Moog E1 at www.moogmusic.com

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ALL Xotic RC Boosters Now Henderson Spec'd!

(image: www.xotic.us)

Xotic's recent limited run of Scott Henderson signature RC Booster pedals sold quickly, BUT DIG THE GOOD NEWS here. ALL current production RC Boosters now have the Scott Henderson upgrade (just not the signature)! Can we live with that? Yes, I believe we can. Click the above image for details, including a video with Scott talking about the RC.

I also recommend wearing the white Super Soft Washed Crew from BIG DOGS , the official Scott Henderson t-shirt that makes you play better, run faster and jump higher! You can't live without one!!!


Xotic Dealers:

Fat Tone Guitars
TunnelVision Music
GuitarGearStores.com (Xotic Dealer/Listings Directory)

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Robert Cray on Letterman Aug. 17, 2009

Trouble and Pain from This Time album.

Here's a video of last night's Robert Cray performance on Dave (hope it stays up...). The tune "Trouble and Pain" is from Cray's newest "This Time" release.

Notice what a big guy Robert Cray is-- he makes his Strat look like a little toy or a game controller. Dig the loose wild vibrato style too. Robert keeps the Albert King thing going with lots of soul, cool rhythms and those great bends!

Other recent stuff:

Robben Ford - Soul on Ten (LIVE)

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Fender Mark Knopfler Artist Signature Stratocaster

Knopfler Strat

Introduced in July 2003, the Mark Knopfler Strat is a current production model in Fender's Artist Series. They have a Nitro finish '57 style Ash Body, a 21 fret '62 C neck profile and Texas Special pickups, and have a current street price of just over $2K.

The above featured pre-owned model is currently listed at eBay by mcdyas a 100% rated seller with a few other interesting listings worth checking i.e. Matchless Amp, EJ Strat, Suhr V60 pickup loaded pickguard, etc. Evidently a hi-end gear hound.

More photos and details are included at the listing via the seller link above.

See our earlier review on the new Knopfler release "Get Lucky".

More Artist Strat listings

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Autographed Guitars Are Big Business on eBay!

Autographed anything is big biz! But just an eBay search for "autographed guitar" yielded 1,188 results!

Many are for fundraising i.e. the above unit listed by United Firefighters of America who currently list several guitars, all with PSA/DNA certification. UFA doesn't indicate whether or not this Steven Tyler edition is Five Star Crash Rated...

The usual autograph merchants, not gear dealers in particular, are typically offering Squiers & Epi's-- as it's the value of the autographs & graphic themes being emphasized.

I did run across a Les Paul autographed Les Paul, a Michael Jackson autographed guitar and even one autographed by Cher ooh! Others are autographed by bands.

The wildest item I found was a Ray Charles autographed braille edition of Playboy Magazine listed by an eBay Store called Rock and Roll Will Never Die!

I don't have a clue how that works... You just have to use your imagination I guess.

"WHATCHU SAY?!!!"

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Hendrix Monterey DIY Home Guitar Relic Kit?

Take it from Fire Marshall Bill, "Creating a legendary finish for your guitar doesn't have to be a long, expensive process. For under $5 you can produce iconic results in just minutes!"

OR... Discover how to do a quality custom refinish job yourself.

Also check these resource directories:

• PIMP YOUR STRAT
• RELIC GUITAR RESOURCES

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10 Unlikely Signature Guitars

"...Most signature instrument collaborations make perfect sense: an artist’s legion of fans clamour for their very own version of the guitar that their hero plays, complete with all the little tweaks and idiosyncrasies that set it apart from a standard production model.

Then occasionally, a signature instrument comes along that makes about as much sense as a chocolate oven glove. Here are 10 of the most perplexing…"

Hot on the heels of AskMen.com's Top 10 Legendary Guitars, today musicradar.com brings us "10 Unlikely Signature Guitars" with the Gibson Kiefer Sutherland KS-336 at #1, and at #10 the Gretch G6136I Bono Irish Falcon.

For all points in between, just click the top link or image.

Interestingly, zero Strats made the list-- and for that we can all breathe easy!

I guess Strats demand real players... or you just play Jack!

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Delaney Guitars "Angel" - Friday Strat #136

Food & Beverage Suggestion:
Linguini w/Clam Sauce
Scampi
Caesar Salad
Limoncello (super ice cold)

Mike Delaney of Atlanta, GA based Delaney Guitars is all about creative finish ideas! You absolutely must take some time to look around the Delaney website. I love the classy nature inspired vibe of the above featured model.

Here's what Mike sez about the "Angel":

"We built this guitar for the great blues artist Tino Gonzales. We have been fans of Tino’s for many years and when he contacted us to build a guitar, we jumped at the chance.

The “Angel” is a variation on a Strat with a swamp ash body tinted with our “Ocean Blue” aniline dye and topped with nitro-cellulose lacquer. We cut a custom birdseye maple pickguard for it and loaded it with Amalfitano SP pickups. The electronics package includes a master volume, master tone, and a blender which gives this guitar amazing tonal versatility. Hardare includes a Hipshot hardtail bridge, a five-way switch, Schaller strap-locks, and chrome knobs.

The neck is birdseye maple with abalone face dots and a Rory Gallagher neck profile (this wasn’t easy because of the three Gallagher necks we measured, none was the same.)

We mounted Hipshot locking tuners on it and Ernie Ball regular Slinky strings.

On the back, we engraved a very subtle pair of angel wings into the body.

We shipped it to Tino in Germany where he now resides and we’re told he’s already recording with it and it will be featured on his new CD. Another “Angel” will be in the works very soon in blood red. Stay tuned!"

Friday Strat Directory

Boutique Strat Listings

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