And the endless parade of slightly tweaked guitars continues…
Fender recently announced one of the latest instruments to come out of its venerable Custom Shop, the new Stratocaster Pro––a guitar apparently aimed at the pro-level market, and sporting a number of features that according to Fender can be found “on the instruments of famous Fender artists.” (Sweetwater claims the guitar represents “20 years of the Custom Shop’s most requested modifications.”)
Unique features of the Strat Pro are to include a body of select alder, Fender’s popular (and incredibly comfortable) modern “C” shaped neck, a contoured heel for better access to frets in the upper register, 22 MJ frets, and a slightly aged “Closet Classic” nitro finish.
The guitar is also expected to come full loaded with top-shelf parts, including a trio of Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups, Fender’s “Greasebucket” tone circuit (on bridge & neck pups,) Fender/Schaller deluxe staggered locking tuners, a 2-point synchronized tremolo (w/stainless steel saddles and block,) LSR roller nut, and strap locks.
The Stratocaster Pro will ship with a deluxe hard case, and is expected to carry a street price of around $2200.
- Fender Offers Up Custom Shop Vintage Pro 1956 Stratocaster NOS
- Fender Introduces Vintage Pro 1963 Telecaster Custom NOS
- Vintage Guitar Magazine Reviews American Deluxe Stratocaster V-Neck
- Fender Custom Shop Producing 1956 Stratocaster NOS In Sea Foam Sparkle
- Fender’s American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS
- Fender Unveils George Fullerton 50th Anniversary Stratocaster & Pro Jr Combo
- A Truly Versatile Telecaster – Fender’s American Deluxe
- Fender Introduces Stevie Ray Vaughan “Lenny” Tribute Stratocaster
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
This seems like a merging of the American 60′s Strat with American Deluxe hardware…. and a bit of a vintage paint job….. it’s probably worth checking out. I’m pretty convinced that the “feel” of a vintage instrument is much harder to find than a souped up production model. I think the EJ model comes close to that vintage quality in a production guitar (pretty consistently).
April 4th, 2007 at 12:51 am
It’s amazing how many combinations and model configurations continue to be created on the Strat platform. It’s remarkable. No end in sight.
April 14th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
2006 jb strat- really nice factory strat “tune up” job. only problem i find is frets at edge of fingerboard don’t seem flush and smooth- catching and tearing at hand and fingers a bit. is this nomal or due to shrinkage of wood?.