Re: ULTIMATE FORUM GUITAR: Fender Stratocasters - Prelims
Here is mine, "Excalibur":
Nothing special, and certainly not unique.
BUT, it was signed by Greg Koch, who, as some of you know is a bit of a guitar hero for me. His ability to blend styles and work in subtle "quotes" from a genre into another style (e.g. a Led Zeppelin riff in a chicken pickin' song) is just too cool to me. Plus, he's fun to be around and is a master of many styles.
The guitar is signed "Feast!" because my name is Hunter, and of course, when I met him, he asked me if I hunt --- I of course said "yes, I do" and we talked about bird-hunting a little bit, and before we parted ways, he told me to "go forth and feast on game, great Hunter!" in true Greg Koch style.
Right when Road Worns came out and were a big deal in the guitar world, I was talking to Greg about how some people loved
the feel of the new Road Worns, but hated
the look of them.
I told him I was one of those people, and that I had bought a Road Worn 60's Strat neck off a guy on TGP (who had some crazy rosewood neck he loved and was putting on his new Road Worn body) and put it on my trusty American Standard body --- so I got
the feel of the Road Worn neck, but retained
the look of a normal Strat.
He thought that was the best damned idea he had heard, and told me that while he wouldn't exactly be sharing the story at clinics (since, as a Fender clinician, his job is to demonstrate and sell guitars), he thought it was clever and gave me props.
This guitar as given to me by my father in 1996, a symbolic olive branch from my father who always wanted me to be an athlete like him.
With this guitar, he finally came 'round the bend and started supporting my artistic side. It was the turning point in our relationship.
Anyways, here's a 1996 American Standard Stratocaster with a Road Worn 60s neck (the original neck is 1 piece maple - I still have it, but I have played it so much that the frets are undressable and need to be replaced) and Seymour Duncan SSL-1 pickups. It
may have played a John Mayer riff or two.
-Hunter
