YEAR: 2016

S/N: US18102518

ABOUT THE GUITAR:
As the body was designed for Asian-import components, the project started off by routing the bridge cavity to accommodate the larger Fender USA “big block” tremolo bridge assembly. The controls cavity was also routed to fit the correct location and depth of proper Fender USA-spec electronics. The body was then given several coats of “aged clear” nitrocellulose lacquer to give the appearance of darkening and aging.

As the key component of any build is the neck, a new/unfinished Fender American Performer Stratocaster neck was selected. The neck was then finished in a 1970’s style vintage amber nitro lacquer tone, and the frets were leveled and polished to a mirror shine. It was finished off with Fender USA vintage-style tuners, string trees, and a bone nut.

We selected a Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickup set, paired with all USA-spec components – Oak Grigsby 5-way switch, CTS 250k pots, Sprague Orange Drop tone caps, Switchcraft output jack, and a Wainwright Custom Guitars SuperBadass Treble Bleed circuit.

All of the remaining miscellaneous hardware items used were all Fender USA components – from the Fender “F” neck plate to the output jack plate down to the pickguard screws.

Every great guitar needs a great case. This project was topped off with a new Fender Deluxe Tweed case with red poodle interior, which was then given a custom aged/reliced lacquered tweed finish.

THE BACKSTORY:
"I won this guitar at Texas State Fair “ring toss” during the Stephen Arnold Music annual mandatory company Texas State Fair day in 2016.  It was an inexpensive guitar in terms of component quality - made less for playing, and more for showing. The goal of this project was to change that and turn it into a true player."

I engaged the services of luthier and custom builder, John Wainwright, in Little Elm Texas. The general design direction for this build was to target a 1970's vintage Strat. Literally every component was replaced down to the last screw, and this project was treated as a new scratch-build around the original State Fair body."