Comments on: Fender Reproduces The Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster… Again?

By: John Mullen

John Mullen — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:42:55 +0000

I have a ’97 MIJ Blackmore model with the bolt-on neck. The tremolo arm snapped off a few years back (could be drilled out and replaced). Anyone got any thoughts on what it’s worth?

By: peter rachwal

peter rachwal — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:14:11 +0000

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.

By: Dominic

Dominic — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:56:37 +0000

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.

By: Edie

Edie — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:48:53 +0000

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!

By: FP

FP — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:13:28 +0000

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.

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:02:09 +0000

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.

By: issamrocks

issamrocks — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:26:20 +0000

i upgraded the pic ups to dimarzios area 61 vintage pic ups ” sounds beautifully” but the action is not low.

By: Cary

Cary — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:59:04 +0000

Sweet :)

By: issamrocks

issamrocks — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:11:13 +0000

i bought it :)

By: issamrocks

issamrocks — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:33:52 +0000

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.

By: morerob

morerob — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:38:28 +0000

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..

By: issamrocks

issamrocks — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:59:06 +0000

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

By: 6stringtheory

6stringtheory — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:15:21 +0000

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.

By: Stargazer

Stargazer — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:56:49 +0000

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)

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:50:12 +0000

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.