So, anybody got the inside scoop on this? I apparently missed the memo.
Off the top of my head I remember two other official Ritchie Blackmore Stratocasters coming out of Fender in the last decade or so… there was a 1997 MIJ Limited Edition version with set-neck construction, and a lower-cost MIJ production version with a bolt-on neck.
This latest incarnation will feature a bolt-on neck as well, but other than the fact that the 2009 Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster will be built in Mexico (as I understand it,) I’m not really sure if there are any other significant differences.
This guitar is expected to feature an Alder body (poly-finish Olympic White,) Maple U-shaped neck and graduated scalloped Rosewood fretboard (7.25” radius,) 21 vintage-style frets, vintage-style synchronized tremolo, and Fender/Schaller vintage “F” style tuners.
Among other things, the guitar will sport a pair of Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 single-coil Strat pickups (reverse wound/reverse polarity in the bridge position,) a disconnected dummy pickup in the middle, over-sized ’70s headstock, ’70s style decal, Bullet truss-rod adjustment nut, 3-bolt neck plate with Micro-Tilt neck adjustment, and a synthetic bone nut.
I’ve only found a handful of these online, but retail prices seem to be hovering around $1200. A bit steep to be shipping it with a Deluxe Gig Bag, don’t you think?
- Fender Unveils Limited Release ’57 Heavy Relic Stratocaster
- Fender Introduces Billy Corgan Signature Stratocaster
- Fender To Produce American Vintage ’57 Commemorative Stratocaster
- Fender Custom Shop Producing 1956 Stratocaster NOS In Sea Foam Sparkle
- Fender Offers Up Custom Shop Vintage Pro 1956 Stratocaster NOS
- A Closer Look: Fender’s New Highway One Stratocaster
- REVIEW: Fender Highway One Stratocaster (’06 Upgrade)
- New From The Custom Shop: Fender Introduces Stratocaster Pro
January 27th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Aesthetically I dig the Oly white finish with black plastic parts and rosewood fretboard. Really a cool-looking guitar. But exactly why would I want to pay $1200 for a Strat with one non-functioning pickup? Couldn’t I just pop in a switch that allowed me to select the neck/bridge pickup combination among the other “normal” Strat options? What’s next? A Tele with a “dummy” neck pickup that costs more than a stock Esquire?
Or maybe I’ve become a bit jaded…
January 27th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
$1200 ain’t nuthin’ to Fender anymore. Consider the MIM Road Worn stuff is goin’ for $1000, and street on a new EJ Rosewood is $2500.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Someone at Fender must be looking through old issues of Frontline and thought this was a good idea. Seems to me these guitars didn’t break any sales records the first two times around. Third times a charm? Nah. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Fender. Own 10 myself, from a Squier ’51 to a US 57 Strat. This just seems dumb.
February 8th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Not for everyone… in fact, I’m pleasantly surprised they did this! The MIJ 97′s are going up in price on eBay all the time the 3 position switch and dummy pickup are part of what makes this a sig model…. those of you who complain about it are missing the point. Don’t want this mod? Don’t get it! Silly really to even have to say that…
Blackmore rules. I’ve been trolling eBay for 2 years looking for a MIJ, now I have one of these on the way instead! Sweet.
February 10th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Eric, to each his own, and I’m glad you’re digging the guitar, but I stand by what I said before. To pay a premium for a Strat that doesn’t give you the tonal options that made the Strat a great guitar to begin with is…a bit silly. I paid $375 for a MIM Nashville Tele that gives me amazing tones through its 5-way switch. Pay almost 4 times as much for a guitar with a pickup that doesn’t work? Not for me, even if the guitar appreciates in value. While I like to see my collection become more valuable, that’s not why I buy guitars. I buy them to play them, and I don’t want to play a 2-pickup Strat.
When you say, “Don’t want this mod? Don’t get it!”… I say, “don’t worry, I won’t.” But that doesn’t mean that I can’t, or won’t, express my opinion on this guitar.
Guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. But that’s what makes this whole thing such a great pastime. We all love guitars and we love a lot of the same music, yet we have our jumping-off points.
February 24th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
$1200 for a mim Strat,Na!!!!Pay a little more and get yourself a Malmsteen Strat!!!!!!!!!Made in the U.S.A.
February 27th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I think the point of the 2 pick up design is to have the tonal control of a Gibson type set up on a Strat. Remember, before Blackers was playing Strats he was playing a 335 . . . .
And as for the price, you’re paying for the scalloped neck.
March 13th, 2009 at 10:50 am
The MIJ Blackmores are definitely going for big bucks on ebay. Yeah, you could get an American Yngwie for about the same price, but the Blackmore has the awesome gradual scalloped fretboard. That is the reason why I will be buying one, not to mention that these probably will be like the other ones and not available for long. Also, this is a Signature guitar, which means what Ritchie Blackmore plays. That is why it has the switching options that it has.
October 25th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Now there’s a revelation… Ritchie actually does play this guitar, I’ve seen it on stage, but… What he also does is take the neck off the signature and glue it on a Standard American body if he wants a different colored Strat. Maybe he does this with an Olympic white version as well… Just place black pickups inside and a signature neck, and we all assume he’s playing the signature model. This is just a thought, but that he glues this neck on different Standard Americans is a fact especially the sunburst. However, although Mexican made, this guitar is just phenomenal! Tried it, loved it more than an American standard, maybe it’s the pickups or maybe it is just a better instrument but the workforce in Mexico is cheaper than in USA, so that is why it is actually cheaper, but IMHO better. (Not as versatile though)
November 5th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I don’t know where anyone is purchasing a Malmsteen American strat for “a little more” than this Blackmore model. As of just yesterday. the USA Malmsteen’s are going for over $2000.
The main feature on this sig guitar is obviously the progressively scalloped fretboard, which I’ve never seen done like this before on a factory guitar, espcecially one for only $1200. Complaining over a missing $50 pickup and a 3-way switch over 5-way is nit-picking especially since these factors have very little to do with the price (probably saved Fender $20). Besides, if the middle pickup was there, then it wouldn’t be a Ritchie Blackmore signature model would it and maybe that’s why the guitar is $1200 and not $1250…ever think about that? Frankly, I like a lot of players never used the middle pickup anyway and screwed it all the way down to get it the hell out of the way.
IMO factory guitar pickups — like factory car radios — are the last thing I worry about anyway whether it’s USA, MIJ, or made on Mars, as it’s the cheapest and easiest thing to change and most often is. As much as some might like the Fender OEM pickups, there’s always an after market one that sounds much better. So unless your simply a collector and don’t want to molest the original electronics, why gripe? I’d be more concerned if the guitar comes in a gig bag versus a hard case.
November 15th, 2009 at 6:59 am
guys i need to ask you something bothering me, the tone on a mia fender is much better tham an mim because the body is a 1 peace or 2 peaces of wood and the mim is 3 peaces glued all together, but is it the same case with the richie blackmoore fender strat mim? because the electronics are easy to change, the neck is the same as the mia but the body, here’s the tough part.
what i search in a guitar is the body and neck, the others or upgradable. thank you
November 15th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I bought one a couple of months ago and its a dream. The neck is unbelieveable. Most don’t remember but alot of the original 70′s strats were crap – Fender almost went of business – in the end they had to build everything in Japan to save the company. What u get here is a fantastic 70′s strat with beautiful neck – darkish tone due to the seymore duncans – so it doesn’t like much distortion – on the other if u know your Blackmore – he hardly has any (plays with a cleanish sound). Its stays in tune nicely due to the graphite nut. I’m thinking of buying another one and replacing the neck with a all maple one – that way I’ll have two.. my tech is gonna have to scallop it of course..
November 15th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
i am going to buy one, do you encourage me morerob? i am afraid the wood quality will not have the tone of a true fender strat.
December 10th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
i bought it :)
December 11th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Sweet :)
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:26 am
i upgraded the pic ups to dimarzios area 61 vintage pic ups ” sounds beautifully” but the action is not low.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:02 am
I have the Blackmore Strat from 1997 (MIJ).
I think I paid $799 (new) for it at the time. It’s awesome..I’d be curious to see the differences (if any) between the MIJ and MIM.
The craftsmanship of the MIJ is excellent.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:13 am
Worst guitar ever! Bought one brand new when thy first arrived to Denmark 2009, lot’s of problem with tuning, fretwork, hum etc. Shop gave me another one brand new – same problems. My friend bought one – same problems. The guitar is best when hanging on the wall. We both returned the Blackmore signature guitar. Be aware that fret radius is 7.25″! Unbelievable that Mr. Blackmore put his name on this Mexican mistake.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:48 am
The Blackmore sig stratocaster is a great guitar. I’m talking of the Japan made one. For the Mexico one I don’t know. If you play Blackmore (Deep Purple) stuff there’s no better guitar. If you play “bottleneck” (slide) style like Blackmore you find the 7.25 radius comfortable!
June 14th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
I actually went to buy an american special strat but spied this one and fell for it hook line and sinker. What a fantastic neck, if you don’t like the dummy pickup it’s an easy and cheap upgrade. Buy this guitar for the neck and awesome sound and playability. It is a jem of a guitar for a very reasonable price. Buy it, play it and love it.
July 20th, 2010 at 9:14 am
i have been a guitarist in a deep purple cover band called machine head in adelaide sth aust for the past 22 years and purchasd a r.blackmore strat,i own about 15 strats and i must say that when i use the R.B.strat its like ritchie tapping me om the shoulder and saying,MOVE ASIDE ILL TAKE OVER,but there aint no ritchie there.its like a second skin for me.