| Let me begin by saying, as a kid of 11 years of age, I | | | | genuine Fender/Gotoh Vintage Style Tuning Machines. |
| was trained for four years in classical guitar by one of | | | | There are 3 knobs as most Strats do. However these |
| the best. His name was George Yeatman and he was | | | | are not the regular strat controls. That's right, the top |
| a disciple of Aaron Shearer (The father of modern | | | | one is the same as all Strats and that is a volume |
| classical guitar training). I took highly disciplined classical | | | | control. Although the 2 other tone controls are |
| lessons until the first time I heard Jimi Hendrix in the mid | | | | different, one is a special active 25dB midrange boost |
| 70's. Right then and there I decided to set down my | | | | tone control to give this guitar the extra meat which by |
| 1954 Gibson classical guitar and never touch it again! | | | | the way, is something you might expect from a |
| Although that bit of personal nostalgia is still in my | | | | Humbucker pickup. In addition, the second tone knob |
| possession. | | | | functions as a unique to Fender TBX master tone |
| After many moons of life without the rhythm of a | | | | control, which can smoothly go from bright and glossy |
| guitar strumming, it was about 3 years ago when I | | | | to dark and smoky by rolling off the highs! The name |
| decided to take guitar lessons again with a critically | | | | of the TBX tone control comes from the first two |
| acclaimed guitarist and teacher, Richard Mac. He truly | | | | letters of Treble and Bass. X is the same as the word |
| is a world class player and excellent teacher for | | | | Cut in Fender-speak). |
| playing any genre of music although I am studying the | | | | A conventional tone control only cuts the high end of |
| blues. Presently, I'm playing the electric guitar and in the | | | | your guitar's signal. However, the TBX can either cut |
| whole scheme of things, I probably not as good as | | | | the high end like a regular tone control or it can cut the |
| some people say or even my teach Richard Mac, has | | | | bass to bring out more brightness in your tone. |
| said I am. I enjoy hearing nice things about my playing | | | | It also has a 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup |
| like everyone else, but widespread approval is hard to | | | | Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup Position 3. Middle |
| come by in this day and age. | | | | Pickup Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup Position 5. |
| The story about how I came upon my first | | | | Neck Pickup |
| Stratocaster began when my guitar teacher Richard | | | | Claptons personal choice for pickups were Vintage |
| came across a Black Eric Clapton Artist Series Strat | | | | Noiseless Pickups (Neck, Middle, Bridge) and I like them |
| at a pawn shop for a really good price, and for some | | | | too! Fender delivers single coil tone without the hum! |
| strange reason, he appeared unusually interested | | | | You get cutting edge technology without sacrificing |
| about this particular guitar. Actually I have never seen | | | | that great Fender sound. Special beveled edge Alnico |
| Richard move that fast again (except for his fingers), I | | | | 5 magnets and enamel-coated magnet wire produce |
| knew what was going to happen. He bought the guitar. | | | | the brilliant clarity, definition and harmonic attributes of a |
| Surprise! | | | | vintage Strat with a Noiseless package. Each Vintage |
| So that is how I came across this great Fender | | | | Noiseless Strat pickup comes with 3 pots |
| Stratocaster guitar. | | | | (potentiometers), a capacitor and resistor to enhance |
| My resistance was low and I had to buy a new | | | | your Noiseless experience. (also sold separately as a |
| Fender Eric Clapton Custom Artist Series Stratocaster | | | | set of 3, or as each.) |
| for myself. I immediately got on the internet and went | | | | It has a blocked original vintage synchronized tremolo |
| to the website and bought it from Musicians Friend, | | | | bridge, so you can't use a whammy bar, and thats |
| which was a great experience. That was my first | | | | really kinda cool because using a whammy bar always |
| online guitar purchase and I'll never waste gas and time | | | | throws the guitar out of tune. Clapton did not use a |
| again fighting traffic to buy a guitar from a music store. | | | | whammy bar, and by blocking it's action one gets |
| Most local music stores are small and they rarely have | | | | more stable and accurate sound. |
| what you want anyway! I took advantage of the | | | | Going from gig to gig is a safe bet, is has a luxurious |
| Musician's Friend free shipping, the no interest for one | | | | tweed guitar case that has a secret compartment built |
| year M.F. credit card and the 45 day satisfaction | | | | into it for whatever you may need to stash away for |
| guarantee. It doesn't get any easier or better than that | | | | a rainy day. I generally use a Fender Ultra Electric |
| when you are looking to buy a guitar. | | | | Guitar Gig Bag |
| I'll start with the first thing that struck me, when | | | | When it comes to playability nothing comes close to a |
| choosing this beautiful axe. It has the perfect soft V | | | | Fender Strat in terms of being able to play any type of |
| shaped solid maple neck that feels like someone made | | | | music and sound absolutely great. Eric Clapton is a |
| it especially for me, and the V shape is a narrow neck | | | | bonified living Guitar God and when he designed this |
| and a bit deeper than the stock neck which makes it a | | | | guitar he took his time and used his favorite |
| dream to play. It has 22 Vintage Style Frets and a | | | | components which turned out to be a real score for |
| perfect 9.5" Radius (241mm). I can play my weird Jimi | | | | himself . |
| Hendrix chords much easier and better on this guitar | | | | Once this guitar was manufactured through Fender it |
| and by the way I use really light weight DR brand Pure | | | | became one of the standards that virtually all electric |
| Blues Strings. These strings last a really long time, have | | | | guitars are measured by. It seems that every time I |
| pure tone and are easy to bend. | | | | get near it I am compelled to play it. Or else I'm |
| Fender has several different neck shapes and that is | | | | passionately waiting to get home and play it. |
| particularly cool of Fender to try to make a guitar neck | | | | The sweet sounds this guitar makes are unreal. It |
| size that will fit for every shape of hand. For example, | | | | doesn't matter if you play clean or with distortion every |
| Stevie Ray Vaughn (who had huge hands) had a | | | | note is right on the money and every tone is pure and |
| special shaped neck called a Boat Neck while rocker, | | | | clean. The neck is super slick so you can shred if that |
| Eddie Van Halen, used the Wolfgang shaped neck. | | | | is your groove or you can play high energy string |
| Without a doubt, there is a Strat neck available that | | | | bending blues or even do some Travis Picking as well, |
| can fit your hand. Jimi Hendrix used anything he had at | | | | if that rocks your boat. This is a highly versatile guitar |
| the time, but he was a VoodooChild and had outer | | | | capable of making your sound, genuinely and truly, your |
| space guitar playing ability with perfect freaky and big, | | | | unique sound! |
| long fingers . He was left handed player and he played | | | | I know love is blind, and I look forward playing this guitar |
| a right handed guitar upside down. | | | | all the time. I am definitely an enthusiast for all things |
| The guitars body is Alder-wood and that is a relatively | | | | Strat. On an emotional note, this one is my baby and |
| light weight wood and has great tonal qualities. It is a | | | | it's the prettiest axe in the world. This guitar is not what |
| mystery to me, but this guitar has a great feeling of | | | | I d would call a cheap guitar, although if you compare it |
| balance to it as well. It is Fender color is Olympic White | | | | to what a top notch Gibson costs, this guitar is a |
| and it's a polyurethane paint which means it is durable | | | | fantastic deal. Strats sound and play better than a |
| and will last a long time. In fact I have played this guitar | | | | Gibson, which of course is my personal opinion. Fender |
| every day for a few hours a day or more and in over | | | | made electric guitars what they are today. |
| two and a half years, there is not a single wear mark | | | | Note: Don't make a mistake. Buy a primo guitar stand. I |
| on the fret side of the neck. | | | | had a cheap one break on me once. |
| Personally, I like white guitars although I recommend | | | | Try the Hercules Single Guitar Stand with Folding |
| getting the color you like. The head of the guitar or top | | | | Yoke. |
| of the neck where you would tune your guitar has | | | | |