Nightwatcher Has Your Rock News

Make Nightwatcher's House of Rock blog a regular part of your routine music info diet.

The Nightwatcher is good at keeping us up on what's new with our classic heroes.

It's a one-stop-shop for important rock icon information.

Recent posts cover upcoming releases from the Rory Gallagher archives, Clapton and others. Interesting tidbits include Paul Rogers being asked to join Aerosmith, John Lennon's $15K toilet, Bono hangin' with the Russian president who's a big Deep Purple fan, recently added vintage Rainbow clips on Youtube, the latest on Robert Plant... AND is Ozzie gonna make a Blues album?

That's a lot of ground to cover. And that's just on the current main home page.

Oh yeah, there's also stuff about new bands too, so Nightwatcher covers a spectrum. But it's a classic flavored spectrum. A favorite blog of mine.

Check 'em out!

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Stratoblogster Popular in Spain!

According to web rank info site Alexa.com Spain is ranked 2nd after USA for most visitors to this blog.

Interesting, because the guitar in its current basic form comes from Spain. Other stringed instruments go way back to earlier civilizations, but the six string guitar came about in Spain.

Makes me wonder where my traffic would be coming from if I had a lute blog...

According to Anthony Bourdain, Spain is the best culinary destination in the Western world. I'm all about that! They say Jerry Lewis is very popular in Spain too!



Anyway, I just wanna thank our friends from Spain for stopping by. If I were a bull fighter, the bull would win most of the time. Actually, the bull sorta rules around here, figuratively speaking.

I wanted to see Spain vs Brazil in the World Cup, but well done to Spain for making it and winning!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled guitar blog programming...

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Sonny Landreth's Picking Technique

Today I've been getting into the Sonny Landreth, which is a good way to get through a Monday! Last week's adventures with Shane Theriot's music are keeping me in New Orleans.

This is just one of various amazing clips of Sonny on the Youtube. Though we're also tryin' to figure out his left hand, and how he does that fretting behind the slide stuff, this clip purposely focuses on the picking hand.

Besides the thumbpick, each finger seems to have a specific job. Sonny's right hand is like a Zydeco basketball team with thumb at point guard position setting the pace. Maybe Phil Jackson should show this video at Lakers practices!

Sonny Landreth's last few albums have been real winners! His most recent "From the Reach" features guest spots by Eric Johnson, Robben Ford, Clapton, Knopfler & Vince Gill. Next most recent is a live release called "Grant Street". It's live and kicks butt, enough said. "Levee Town" just before that has awesome songs, with plenty of killer slide along with great horns and some great support by Bonnie Raitt. "South of I-10" is classic with it's iconic "Native Stepson" & "Congo Square" tracks.

Earlier rumors of a Fender Sonny Landreth Artist Series Strat seem to be just rumors for now.

www.sonnylandreth.com

Sonny Landreth Amazon Store




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1978 Tokai Springy Sound Black

ST-80 Vintage First Year Springy







Another Japan based eBay listing, this is an ST-80 Springy Sound, of 1978 vintage-- evidently the first year of the Springy series.

Models of this era were the initial reason Fender had to start setting up shop throughout Asia. Plus, the late 70's wasn't a very good period for Fender quality, which further opened the door for clones like these Tokai's which were based on 50's Strats.

The headstock script is hysterical! Although our photo isn't large enough, here's the scoop from an article at www.tokairegistry.com by Larry Meiners:

"...A most interesting feature of these guitars is their headstock logo decal. Looking from several feet away, the decal appears as though it is an old Fender 'spaghetti' logo. Upon closer inspection, 'Tokai' script is placed where the word 'Fender' would be located on a Stratocaster headstock. Tokai replaced the backward F with a T (without a line through the letter). The words 'S P R I N G Y S O U N D' were used in place of 'S T R A T O C A S T E R' in block letters. An original Stratocaster decal reads 'WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO', the Tokai has 'THIS IS THE EXACT REPLICA OF THE GOOD OLD STRAT.'. Finally, at the knob end of the headstock the decal says, 'Oldies BUT Goldies' which substitutes for 'ORIGINAL Contour Body'. Maybe the guitar wasn't an exact replica, but it has a cool vibe..."

ITEM ID# 170349492476

Seller: The Koiz Guitar eBay Store Seller, 100% pos FB, Ships to USA


CURRENT LISTINGS BELOW:

MIJ Guitar Listings- Search S-types by Tokai, Fernandes, ESP, Bacchus, Fender Japan and others.

Hi-end Strats

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Eric Johnson - Up Close - But When??

REVISED UPDATE: DEC 7, 2010
UPDATE: Amazon indicates Nov. 9, 2010

Available now for preorder:

Still in the oven...

As hard core Eric Johnson fans chew their nails (finger & toenails) in anticipation of the longgggg delayed "Up Close" release, here are some appetizers from the tube of YOU.




1) Uploaded earlier this month from a G3 show in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The uploader claims this tune is from the upcoming EJ album and entitled "Brilliant Room". Who knows for sure? This is all we get kids.




2) Eric Johnson joins Dweezil & the Zappa crew on Nov. 19, 2009 at Austin's Stubbs Outdoor Amphitheater (Stubbs is a BBQ place/sauce-- ya gotta luv that!). Watch as Strat grills SG in grand Vegan-Zen-Austin style. Also notice third guitarist with the Les Paul at far right behind bass player. That guy deserves a gold medal of honor for Maintenance of self-esteem above and beyond the call of duty... "I'm still gettin' paid tonight dammit! Right??"

But seriously folks. The actual big chill for me is drummer Vinnie Coliauta from 05:00 to 05:38. Especially 05:30 - 05:34! If your toes don't curl here, you must be ridin' the short bus. "Ok! This is the part where I need you to drop the Bose Wave Music System into the bathtub with me! Where's that extension cord?!"

EJ! PLEASE HURRY BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT!



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Mollenhauer Guitars SsT KlassiK

Budget Boutique for Working Guitar Players

Lot's of small boutique guitar builders do Fender platform S & T-type models. But Victorville, CA based Mollenhauer Guitars also does some nice looking LP and ES-335 type configs. And although we're not especially crazy about Gibby physiognomy around here, this does say something about Michael Mollenhauer's level of luthier skills.

Pictured above is the Sst KlassiK Black Quilt, available in the higher price pointed "Master Class" version (above) or a lower priced "Touring" version. Both use high quality materials, hardware and electronics. Still, the higher end Master Class remains under $2K; the lower end of the mainstream boutique pricing scale-- similar to a Bill Nash price point or a Fender EJ Rosewood production guitar.

This is one reason I coined the slogan "Budget Boutique for Working Guitar Players". The other reason struck me when looking through Mollenhauer's extensive artist roster-- most of whom I'm not familiar with. But most sure look like workin' musicians. Phil Brown plays one, and I do know he's a badass!

Regular reader Jason turned me on to Mollenhauer just the other day. Go check out their site. If you're looking for a nice S-type for under 2K, get in touch with a few of the many happy Mollenhauer owners.

www.mollenhauerguitars.com

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Peterson StroboClip Clip-On Tuner

New Product! See review link below.

Peterson StroboClip SC-1 Clip-On Strobe Tuner The Peterson StroboClip tuner has the 1/10-cent accuracy of all Peterson strobes and also includes Sweetened Tunings, eastern temperament presets, and alternate temperaments for tuning a wide variety of string and wind instruments. It's Peterson's smallest multi-temperament tuner and features a smooth, real-time display; a drop/capo setting; adjustable key settings; low power consumption; auto sleep and power off modes for battery saving; and patented virtual strobe technology. The Peterson StroboClip instrument tuner also comes with its own carrying case for convenient transport.

(Above "Buy" links to Musician's Friend)

StroboClip Review @GuitarPlayer.com

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1983 Fender Elite Stratocaster

CBS coulda brought in John DeLorean for some stainless steel gull wing pickup covers...

The "Freeflyte" trem was adjustable from the top.

Some of you may remember these. I vaguely remember the push button selector switches. Also notice no trem cavity in back, but still a trem bridge. What?!

But honestly, in '83 I wasn't very interested in Fenders. The Strat Elite represented the last gasps by CBS to attempt something creative. Artisan Guitars of Franklin, TN is listing this one at their eBay Store-- along with several other unbelievable collector grade instruments priced for... uhh... well, the collector. Yeah, that's it.

Here's an interesting historical tidbit excerpt from the listing:

"The late 70's and early 80's were a tumultuous time for the folks at Fender. Quality was on the slip and innovation was not at the forefront. Fender decided to hire a few people to shake up things and try some new things for Fender. The team consisted of Dan Smith, Chip Todd, Charlie Gresset and old hand Freddie Tavares. What they came up with was an ambitious attempt to mix the tradition of Fender with the new technology at the time. In the process they also developed no less than 16 new features that differed from any other Stratocasters that had come before it. Some of the features live on today and are featured in some of the world's most recognized guitars..."

They go on to describe some of those new features as well as provide specs and decent photos.

Some will argue that this was a good Strat. I say it has some *issues.

Item ID# 280496578352

Seller: Artisan Guitars


*Strats With Issues - Archive

Hi-end Strat Listings

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SRV Influences Many Guitar Kids

My way of observing the 20th anniversary of SRV's departure is by referring you to our Young Guitar Wonders directory.

One of the most rewarding features of this blog for me has been discovering so many kids who play guitar very well.

The two things I've found these youngsters have in most in common are:

1) They started at age 3.

2) Their biggest influence is SRV.

I don't know why this is. But I've run into it time and time again. Obviously their parents are exposing them to this kind of music, but they must hear other guitar players too. And as for the magic age of 3... They say Mozart was composing at 3. Who knows?

So check out these new guitar wonders who keep SRV and this music alive in the hearts of everyone. And don't be sad today.

Buddy Guy with Quinn Sullivan:

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My Eric (Gales) Story by Bobby DeVito

Bobby D. reflects on opening for Eric Gales in '91 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

The video is Bobby during that same era. Listen to it as you read the story below.

"When I opened for Eric Gales in 1991, it was his first tour with older brother Eugene playing bass, lead vocals, basically keeping an eye on younger brother.

They had the typical "fat white, late 40s rock n roll road manager guy"...you know the type if you're in the biz. Always talking fast, sweaty, in a hurry.

Road manager did not know that the local radio station had hired us to open. He took ONE LOOK at our backline, which was easily three times as big as the Gales setup... we had three SVT bass rigs, I had two Marshall stacks, and my drummer had a FALICON rack and a huge Simon Phillips kit... and basically said "no freaking way these guys are OPENING!!!"

So, after a few heated phone calls with radio station, management, etc... I just went over to Eric, who was 16 at the time I believe, at least that's what they were telling us, they were playing up the "kid" angle to market the record.

Eric was sitting on a road case, just watching this FRACAS unfold and not saying anything.

I went over to him and asked him to TALK to his manager and let us freaking do our set, we had HUNDREDS of people who were coming that nite, and it was a show we had planned and rehearsed for, it was the damn Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.....not Joe Bob's Sports Pub.

Eric looked at me and said "no problem -- I AINT SCARED"

And we did our set, house sound man was a friend, i slipped him a sweet $100 bill to make sure we got FULL volume and a nice mix, and we did our thing. my album at that time was very Satriani style instrumental hard rock, with two songs that had vocals.

And then, they got up there and proceeded to wipe the stage with us.

Tight groove... three part vocal harmonies. Eugene is a BADASS bass player and lead vocalist. Their DRUMMER was a badass too. And then there was Eric, just SMOKING all nite long.

They just destroyed us.

Saw Eric backstage later, and told him "now i know why you wasn't scared".

Seriously. if you've never been spanked that hard by another player/band, it's an EDUCATIONAL experience...

After that gig, I sold my rack system, my ibanez JEM guitars, and bought a Strat & some pedals. True story.

That gig CHANGED MY LIFE.

It took me OUT of the 80s and brought me into a new era.

I literally went out the next week, sold my JEMs and my rack of effects, and bought a STRAT and some PEDALS."

Check out Eric Gales' new release "RELENTLESS"!

Bobby DeVito is a Florida based working musician, Youtube gear pimp and author. Click Here for more about Bobby D. and his latest book about Rock & Roll guitar adventures.

Also check out Bobby's Buddy Guy story.

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Vai Joins Experience Hendrix Tour in October

Talk about Mr. Flexible Schedule!

This hot off the press! Vai.com/news reports that Steve will be part of the Experience Hendrix Fall tour kicking off in Pittsburg Oct. 26, 2010.

Besides Vai, the tour will include most of the artists from the Summer dates i.e. Eric Johnson, KWS, Ernie Isley, Robert Randolf, Vernon Reid and others you can check out at the above link.

Of course Billy Cox will be there on bass with Chris Layton filling drum duties.





Current Jem Listings @eBay - including rare & signed collectible models.

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81 Tokai Springy Sound Gold - Friday Strat #183

Vintage 1981, Rare V Neck ST-85 w/Nitro Finish

Bent steel saddles

Helluva "T" huh...

We're always keepin' an eye out for Springy Sound action at eBay. Most are listed by Japan based sellers, so you'll just have to get used to it. These are also usually the best looking & condition Tokai SS's.

This vintage gold nitro "E Stamp"* looks very clean, and includes the tweed case. Oh yeah, a "V" neck too! The listing includes plenty of details, specs and good photos including some dissection pics. Seller has lots of other hi-end inventory and good track record.

Seller: HISASHI-JAPAN - eBay Top-rated Seller, ships to USA

*Tokai Background Info.
Including SRV story, complete headstock script & registry site links.

Current Springy Sound Listings

Friday Strat Archive

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Shred This...

"I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks."

John Lee Hooker

Any questions?

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Eric Gales Releases "Relentless"

New Eric Gales Album!

Eric Gales "Relentless" @Amazon.com

Eric is always scaring us in one way or another. The recent release of "Relentless" on Shrapnel Records-- and plans in the works for a tour, are the GOOD kinda scary!

Good kinda sources tell me Eric is currently on the up & up, so Gales fans can relax and connect with the latest at www.facebook.com/EricGalesBand. Be sure to click the "My Band" menu tab for new tunes currently on tap from Relentless.

Eric Gales is like the little devil on my left shoulder opposite Eric Johnson on the right. Ya gotta have 'em both-- so maybe Yin & Yang is more appropriate. Any old schoolers from Mahavishnu to Shawn Lane days know Eric Gales wasn't born yesterday and gets lots of his runs from the same places Eric Johnson gets some of his. So where EJ is addin' the sugar, EG is lacin' in the cayenne.

And he knows how to get Jimi wit' it!

I like 'em both Yin & Yang though, so this is more of a perspective for you than a who's the baddest.

John Lee Hooker once said, I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks.

While Gales is more than capable of "fancy" guitar, it's the MEAN stuff that sets him apart from fancy guitar players who wouldn't wanna follow Eric Gales on stage. And that's just a fact.

So get on board with Eric Gales at the FB link above, and stay tuned here for a possible future interview with Eric himself. It could happen.

More EG links:

http://www.youtube.com/ericgalesmusic

http://www.livestream.com/ericgalesmusic

http://www.myspace/ericgales

www.reverbnation.com/ericgales

Stratoblogster Interviews Eric Gales

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Guitar World News Blips NO MORE??

Update: In fact, ALL DailyRadar.com Blips sites are gone.

GW BLIPS OFF THE RADAR...

On Aug. 23 the GW Blips submission badges disappeared from our post footers. The remaining link takes you to a page displaying the following message:

"Thank you for your interest, but the website you are trying to visit is no longer being supported.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our bloggers, visitors, and advertisers who have supported our sites."

The above message is accompanied by some logos, so we're not lookin' at a server crash, or a 404 Error.

A visit to GW Blips Twitter page indicates they stopped tweeting, and the links there go to the above message also.

The news feeds menu link at Guitarworld.com is also gone.

They must be done with us...

Bloggers and guitar news contributors seeking an alternative replacement should check out the brand new http://guitarzapoppin.com/ . This site is still being developed but will be similar to GW Blips. More tools & options are coming. Users are registering and submitting posts right now.

(From the folks at The Guitar Wall)

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Paintings of Guitar Players

Abstract Guitar by Karen Johnson Wyatt

"Abstract Guitar"

Looks like a Strat to me! But who's that playing?

This 30" x 40" original oil on canvas by Karen Johnson Wyatt is currently listed at eBay. Wyatt does lots of cool musician themed work. The above piece is also featured at www.karenjohnsonwyatt.com

Anyone know who this guitarist is? Stop by our Facebook and let us know what you think!

Item ID# 330383031877

Also check out the work of John Froehlich who specializes in abstract paintings of iconic guitar players.

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Charvel Custom Shop San Dimas Steampunk

Craig Fraser template airbrush accents.

Click image, and click again for CLOSE UP.

Is Steampunk the next trend to follow Relic? Definitely not on the same scale, but steampunk is gaining in popularity! I want a steampunk pedalboard with copper tubing patch cable lines.

This brand new Charvel San Dimas Steampunk comes with a sterling silver etched pickguard, and all other accents airbrushed using official Craig Fraser templates. Fraser is the source of much steampunk graphic design we're seeing around these days.

Other features include quarter sawn maple neck with iron cross inlaid ebony fretboard, jumbo frets, Floyd, EMG-81 pickup and hardshell case. I found out about the airbrushing by calling the seller. Otherwise, complete specs and details are in the listing.

I'm wondering why the EMG active pickup? Maybe it's steam powered. Yeah, that must be it... James Friggin' Watt!

I'm looking forward to some steampunked classic Strat configs.

Seller: Spotlight Music Inc. Fort Collins, CO - Authorized Charvel Dealer

Item ID# 350371244529

More Hi-end Strats

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Shane Theriot's Grease Factor Review

image: www.earrigation.com

Just to let you know how cutting edge I am NOT, Shane Theriot's latest release is "Dirty Power", but instead I wanna talk about "Grease Factor" for three reasons:

1) I haven't heard Dirty Power yet.

2) I just discovered Grease Factor.

3) Grease Factor is kickin' my butt!!!

All good reasons.

Fusion guitar is often starved of rootsy, funk vibes. And although Theriot probably doesn't wanna be called a fusion musician anyway, his chops are up there with Scott Henderson, Robben Ford, Mike Landau, Brett Garsed, etc.

So if you can imagine Henderson in a Zyedco band, with a Strat-- but Robben Ford's signal chain & Dumble amp, and an Octavia tossed in for good measure, that points you in the direction of Shane Theriot. And the rootsy grooves are something I always want to hear more from any of the above mentioned guitarists. So Theriot really nails it for me.

Crazy New Orleans rhythm section work lays the foundation for much of Grease Factor, along with horns & piano. But far from anything traditional, this thing goes outside while you're still groovin'. That's the "grease" in Grease Factor I guess. Anyone returning from an oxygen starved interdimensional journey with Alan Holdsworth might find a plunge into this vat of electric-eclectic crawfish a refreshing albeit pungent welcome back to the earth.

Sometimes you need to just go out and roll around in something-- y'know, like our canine friends. Just make sure you're rollin' in something sophisticated.

And enough killer Strat tones to give you swimmer's nose for a week!

I don't know how to recommend this album any better than that.

Google "Shane Theriot - Grease Factor" for some iLike samples.

www.shanetheriot.com

Strat-o-Brothers' Directory

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Adrianne Simioni, Strat-o-Sister of Brazil

Adrianne Simioni composes and performs music inspired by astronomy. I'm not just sayin' this because of the above video effects either. Her website astronomusic.com is a collaborative project where Adrianne and other star gazing Brazilian musicians are creating musical galactic concepts. Sorta has a Mannheim Steamroller vibe about it.

But before I go getting too Carl Sagan & Stephen Hawking here, I'm just diggin how this lady plays that Shoreline Gold Stratocaster. No better vehicle for space exploration in my book.

If the synth backing tracks aren't exactly your cup of tea, just pay attention to the guitar playing. Adrianne pulls out a number of cool melodic twists & mean licks through the duration of this tune, aptly titled "Gods in the Sky". I'm hearing some Steve Morse melodic, adventurism sensibility with a little Petrucci tossed in for good measure. Also a violinist, Simioni is involved with the project "Orquestra Profana" which explores traditional orchestral music with electronic instruments, considered profane by the purist classical community. So she's into pissing off the high brows. Sweet!

Let's see, she's also studied physics at the university level, and is an MI/GIT alum.

I'm sure she also has Learjet rating and makes a mean omelette.

And you thought Brazilian women spent their entire existence at the beach in thong bikinis...

Thanks to Truth In Shredding blog!

Strat-o-Sisters' Directory

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Guitar Sidekick - Media Device for Guitarists

A Macworld article indicates there are currently over 500 guitar-related iPhone apps.



Every up-to-speed tech geek, guitar player will want this mechanical interface.

You're looking at the Guitar Sidekick, an accessory for mounting your iPhone, Blackberry, Droid or other similar media devices to your guitar. The above article link tells you all about it, but the picture basically says it all.

The Guitar Sidekick is available at:

www.castiv.com

DB Roth Stores @eBay

Pimp Your Strat

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Brett Favre? (Who Reads Stratoblogster Series)

(satire)

"I can relate to the Relic Strat stuff-- those aged and dinged up guitars! They sure play better than a shiny new one..."

The "Eric Clapton" of quarterbacks, born & raised in the Mississippi Delta, has been to the crossroads enough times to know what he really wants. And what he wants is to tour the world playing Blues guitar.

For the past few seasons, legendary NFL star Brett Favre has ducked out of summer training camps to woodshed with his Strat in hopes of eventually pursuing a career as a Blues musician. It's been a long painful road, but at long last Favre is finding himself able to look forward to the kind of life most of us only dream of; crappy hotels, juke joints, club owners who don't pay, bad whiskey, evil women, etc.

"For me football has been a metaphor for the Blues, and I've survived professional sports by conceptualizing my experiences through guitar analogies... Stratoblogster has helped me look ahead and realize my special purpose with guitar. But first, I've got just one more season with the Vikings while I get my chops together and acquire just a bit more gear-- I like old tweed stuff."

Favre is also in final negotiations with Fender on a special FCS Brett Favre Super Relic, to be introduced following the Minnesota Vikings' 2011 Superbowl victory-- which another recent crossroads meeting with a "Mr. Pitchfork" has reportedly guaranteed. Rumors that 10 pieces of the proposed 300 piece run are to feature a "FEDNER" headstock decal are entirely unfounded.


Who Reads Stratoblogster? Archive

Relic Resource Directory

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Suhr Scott Henderson Artist Model Pearl Black

Rare Suhr Guitar Model

A black pearl finish Suhr- Scott Henderson model is even more rare than an actual black pearl. Henderson models standardly come in white, seafoam and "fiesta" orange. So you're lookin' at a custom Suhr finish here folks.

Currently listed at *eBay by Boulder, CO based online consignment dealer guitardesires.com this 2006 model is mostly unplayed, and even has the original factory strings according to the seller.

Just like me, I know you're asking yourself, "who orders a custom color Suhr- Henderson model, doesn't play it for 4 years then puts it on the auction block?" My only answer is that we live on a diverse planet in a diverse galaxy in a strange universe. Do your due diligence and contact the seller via their site link above, or through eBay. Get those questions answered to your satisfaction.

The listing has nice big & clear photos along with tons of details. In addition to all the blackness which includes the tuners, neckplate & headstock face, this SH model has the SSC noise canceling stuff onboard, V60 pickups, jumbo 6100 frets, staggered locking tuners and Scott's wiring spec which you can read all about in the listing. It's loaded-- deluxe form fit case too.

I WANT THIS GUITAR!!! Actually, I'd trade 3 black Gilmours for this-- if I had 'em to trade that is...

Seller: guitardesires

SUHR GUITARS

Top Dealers

More Hi-end Strats

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No Little Girly Man Guitar Gear Collection!!!

Gregor "Greg" Hilden is a guitar player, collector & seller based in Germany. And it appears that Greg may very well own most of the guitars in Germany... the nicest ones at least.

Laurie from Truth In Shredding just turned me on to Hilden's Youtube Channel which includes over 1100 uploaded videos, many of which are gear demos like the '60 Strat clip above.

And ain't that tone fine, now!

Greg also has a website featuring many, many guitars & amps for sale. Lots of classic vintage Fender & Gibson artillery is represented.

It's actually much too much for me to take...

Check it out yourself:

www.youtube.com/user/GregsGuitars

www.gregorhilden.de

Vintage & Hi-end Strat Listings



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Bobby D's Classic 70's Strat - Friday #182

Fat headstock & bullet truss rod

3 bolt fat U neck

Vintage style staggered pole pickups

Last month our friend Bobby DeVito spotted the National Guitar Museum running a contest giveaway for a Fender Classic 70's Stratocaster.

He entered it and won!

The guitar arrived just this week in factory sealed fresh condition. The circumstances surrounding Bobby's windfall are remarkable too, although those of us who've read Bobby's book may not find it all that surprising. Still, our winner- and soon to be a birthday boy- seems the most amazed of all. Recently he's been hangin' out with Brian Stoltz's nearly identical Oly White 7o's era Strat and really wishing for something similar-- only to have it arrive the very same week.

"...I really wished I could have a strat like that one.

And when I got home that nite from Brian's concert, I had an email in my inbox from HP Newquist at the National Guitar Museum, saying that I had WON THE FENDER STRATOCASTER!

I immediately started checking the email out, thinking that it was a scam, or some sort of phishing scheme, or a Nigerian 419 scam. :-)

But it appeared legit, so I emailed Hp Newquist back, and got a reply from him the next day, confirming that I had indeed won their contest, and that the strat was mine..."

So enter those giveaways kids, cuz ya never know when ya might get lucky like Bobby D!

Links alla DeVito:

youtube.com/roccotanto - Gear demos galore!
magnatune.com/artists/lvxnova
myspace.com/therealbobbyd

Friday Strat Archive

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Koliok: Bulgarian Strat-o-Brother

Bulgaria based Koliok is another entry in the current Blue Noize (Guitar Noize blog) Blues contest that I really dig!

This cat has great tone and phrasing, and he's Texas all the way with a lot of Billy Gibbons goin on in the first two minutes, then shifting into SRV mode at about 01:52. He builds it up real nice too! I just can't get over the tone!

Koliok (youtube user name) is the only ID we have, but he has a Youtube channel with lots of cool gear demos and playing.

We're addin' Mr. K here to the brutha's list!

Strat-o-Brother's Directory

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Perspectives on Strats and Teles

T-type-------------------- S-Type

Imagine the left photo is a Tele and the right photo a Strat.

Ok, so now I've insulted all the Tele players (and some women) out there. How about this-- your Tele is like your mom, and your Strat is like the person your mom warns you to be careful about. See, I have a Tele that I love very much, like cookies and milk. Then my Strat and I have a different relationship. Both are important for a balanced and well rounded life.



(photo from one of the zillion diet websites. If you know her, give her our best... and some donuts)

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