GuitArcher

I found some pictures of my first electric guitar the other day, one that I've mentioned in earlier posts. Behold, the late 80's/early 90's MIK Squier Stratocaster.  Photo is circa 1993 or 1994. Discreet Metallica/Evil Santa.  Also Golden Buds. Yum? Here's what I can remember about it: The intonation was a mile out, but I was too stupid to know how to fix it at the time. It weighed a ton.  I remember removing the guard and finding plywood under the finish. I don't recall it being that white, more yellowed.  Whether that's the flash on the pic (which was the scanned) or a faulty memory is beyond me at this point. The neck and middle pickups were reversed in the wiring. Wouldn't that look better with a white nut? The bridge saddles were stamped "Fender".  The guitar was bought used, so not sure if this was typical or modifications had been done (which explains the wiring) The back of the guitar had a big symbol painted on it. Think a...

For years, I considered myself a rosewood fingerboard guy.  More than an actual preference, it was familiar.  All of the guitar I owned had rosewood fingerboards.  Simple. I think it was more a product of my limited experience with maple than anything else.  But experience with something new quickly makes it familiar. This was the case with my maple boarded Eric Johnson Stratocaster.  Strange became familiar, and I learned to love maple. Travel is a lot like that; things that are foreign become familiar, and the familiar fades to foreign.  Just like travel though, you eventually go home... Fender Eric Johnson Rosewood Stratocaster How many Fender artists have not one, but TWO production signature instruments? Not Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck. They each have a production and custom shop version. Need a hint? Assuming you didn't read the title? Excuse for pic Only one artist has two production signatures - Eric Johnson. A Rosewood Stra...

Last night, I came across an Eric Johnson Rosewood Stratocaster. The worst part?  It's well within driving distance. The "also worst" part?  It's listed at a price that just might get me to move on it, but it got me thinking about what constitutes a rare guitar, vs a rare used guitar buying opportunity.

I re-posted the Contemporary Stratocaster. Despite provenance, I'm not bonding with the guitar - too many similarities to my Eric Johnson Stratocaster make it uninteresting - an HSS setup, the 12" radius (but a much shallower neck), etc.  It's a great guitar, and the "not long for this world" locking setup is actually quite clever and easy to use. But it doesn't help that my wife is no fan, regularly commenting that it "looks dirty".  I suppose the 30 year aging of an off-white doesn't speak to everyone.  God help me in 20 years or so... I might be described as "off white", so I sympathize A couple of days in and I've received an offer that I may not be able to refuse, even though I'm not sure I'm getting value... The offer? An Edwards E-SN-145. Edwards, for those who don't know, is an ESP brand made for "Japan only".  My first experience with the brand came while living in Japan, and wandering ...

It never fails. Every time I spend more than pocket change on a guitar, I say to myself "I'll never change a thing. It was designed this way for a reason, and I shall therefore keep it that way." The Eric Johnson Stratocaster took this credo to a new level.  I mean, Eric Johnson is considered THE tone nut, and the entire guitar was designed by him (apparently).  Heck, you can't even buy these pickups separately, and when they show up on the used market, they fetch ridiculous prices. Here's the thing though - I am not Eric Johnson, and "it" never fails. "Don't hurt me!"