Meet BoB!
The 2001 birthday guitar was a brand new Fender American Standard Stratocaster (on the right)...
Oh BOY!
This was the original axe in which I installed the first production model "Chromacaster" (c)
switch.
I called the rotary mod the "Chromacaster"
(c) because it can get all the colors... Of course!
When I installed the Chromie, I kept the new Fender Delta-tone "no-load" tone control that was on the bridge pup for the master tone - and boy, does this guitar stay sparkly.
1/2003: I loaded a custom flamey-maple pickguard (shown, left) with a Rio Grande "Dual Calibrated" set (and of course, another Chromacaster). IMHO, instant improvement over the stock Fender Delta-Tone pups. Big classic neck tone, chimey-charm out of the middle pup, and the bridge pup is a MONSTER!
I now call this axe "BoB" - short for "Blonde On Blonde." I switched the plastic stuff over to cream, I think it's a nicer match with the maple than the stock "parchment" white.
6/2005: I swapped out the middle Halfbreed pup for another Vintage Tallboy, and then moved that Halfbreed to the bridge, replacing the Muy Grande. So, neck to bridge, it's now Tallboy, Tallboy, Halfbreed. This is a slightly less agressive setup, but so far I like it better WITHOUT that killer bridge pup - plus, it LOOKS a bit more stock with the Halfbreed in the bridge spot. Man, that Muy Grade was so hot it almost sounded active in this guitar!
Click on the picture for "The Story of Obie"...
Click on the picture for The "Black Magic" Strat...
Click on the picture for my MIM Fender "Squier Series" - not a "far east" import!
And here was one I just had to do: one of John/George's matching Sonic Blue Strats!
I already did George's "Rocky," so this one must be John's... Here's an early "test fit"
And, here's how it wound up... ReRanch Sonic Blue on a three-piece ash body; mint green pickguard, pup covers, knobs and tips; and it now has a Callaham steel sustain block under the stamped-steel-saddles of an MIM Fender bridge. It's loaded with another set of Vintage Vibe Standard-S pickups and a Chromacaster II.
For now, I have it strung up with a set of Fender FLATWOUNDS! Of course, I dropped the low E from the set, moved all the rest of the strings "down" a notch, and added an .010 high E, so the set now goes from an .010 to a .044 - practically rock and roll gauge. OK, call me whimpy fingers!
The Vintage Vibe Standard-S sets I favor have a very nice, well, vintage vibe to them. But, better than vintage, they are constructed with modern shielding and the middle pup is RW/RP - plus, Pete is a heck of a nice guy to deal with. Cool stuff, great tone. THE choice for this axe.