Peter Frampton's Red Strat

[Diminished Triad]

Frampton stated during an interview he used a strat over his Les Paul and other guitars because for songs like "Show Me The Way" he needed a very clean sound that the strat gave him. For most others he used his famous black triple humbucker Les Paul.

Many people viewed Frampton using this red strat during Frampton's appearance on The Midnight Special http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLgeTtYwQ7o

Some have described the color as "fiesta red" (most actually) and others think it might have just been an older red strat (ie bright red). One account claims it's a rare '62 Fender strat.......but looking at the head stock there does not appear to be a "Fender" label. For a long time Frampton's been an artist associated with G&L so while it's not clear from the guitar label in the video, maybe he was using a Leo Fender strat but from G&L instead of Fender?

Does anyone know the true identity (make, model and real color) of Frampton's strat back in the day? I know he uses a G&L (ASAT Classic) today but I am interested in the strat he used back in '75-'76 to create the very clean sound used on Show Me The Way and played by Frampton on a few live shows. He uses his Les Paul (returned to him just a few years ago) more than anything........but hope one of you might know the actual make/model/color (what type of "red"?) played by Frampton in the 70's.

Thanks!

 

[LReese]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

AFAIK, There was Fiesta, Dakota and later Candy Apple. Could be a refin.. Has a little bit of an orangish color that reminds me of Fiesta, but a little more red than I remember Fiesta.

Dakota is a darker more 'red' red.

 

[erksin]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

If it's not a Fender, the only other real options for proper Strat bodies and necks were Mighty Mite or Boogie Bodies parts guitars back then (like EVH used to build his iconic Strats). It's not a G&L, I know that much.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

If it's not a Fender, the only other real options for proper Strat bodies and necks were Mighty Mite or Boogie Bodies parts guitars back then (like EVH used to build his iconic Strats). It's not a G&L, I know that much.

What type/shade of red do you think he was using? I wonder why he would not just use a Fender strat in the mid 70's?
Trying to select an identical Warmoth color and the shades just don't match up real close to the red he was using. Fiesta red seems way too light.

 

[erksin]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

Who knows? Hard to tell under stage lighting. It looks a lot closer to Fiesta than Dakota.

 

[LReese]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

I'd see if I could get some paint mixed up based on the video - Fender used auto paint (usually GM? colors). Get someone local to paint it if you can't yourself.

My guess is its a Fender -just refinished... Lots of them fell to that fate in the old daze.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

I'd see if I could get some paint mixed up based on the video - Fender used auto paint (usually GM? colors). Get someone local to paint it if you can't yourself.

My guess is its a Fender -just refinished... Lots of them fell to that fate in the old daze.

A metalic paint? Saw a snap shot where it appears darker red but pretty clear in the video it has some other mix lightening it a little. Vintage pickups you think?

 

[LReese]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

Not sure about the pickups. Who knows - Seymour could have rewound them.

Looks like a red with a slightly orangey tint.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

Not sure about the pickups. Who knows - Seymour could have rewound them.

Looks like a red with a slightly orangey tint.

You think Frampton used similar to APS II and/or SSL1 as his single coils?

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Peter Frampton's Red Strat

You think Frampton used similar to APS II and/or SSL1 as his single coils?

After repeated comparisons and different Frampton shots/views of his mysterious red strat I find the Warmoth selection of "Candy Red" to be the closest. It's not dead on but more of the Frampton red than Dakota or Cinder or Fiesta, etc. I'll let you know how it comes out!

Still working on tone now and trying to decide among SSL1's and APSII's and still thinking about an SSL5 (tapped) in the bridge position.

Thanks again for the advice and recommendations!