From: msample@cs.ubc.ca (Mike Sample)
Subject: Re: Signature Strats, take two.
Organization: Computer Science, University of B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 92 21:41:10 GMT

In article <92255.212420JAP8@psuvm.psu.edu> <JAP8@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>First of all, thanks to all those who answered about the special strats.
>Unfortunately, no one answered the question of whether there were other strats
>other than the Eric Clapton one.  Any takers?
>                                     Cheers,
>                                     Jean
>
>  **** My .sig is striking for more money. ****


   I bought a Strat Ultra a while back but before I did I got info
on the other Strats available.  The Ultra is an awesome axe - a
pleasure to play.  Anyway, here is some Strat lore.  (maybe someone
should put some of this in the FAQ - it seems to pop up every other
week!)


According to my information there are 6 signature series strats:

1. Yngwie Malmsteen Standard Stratocaster
      body: basswood
      neck: maple (3 bolt on)
      machine heads: Cast/Sealed
      fretboard: maple (scalloped/7.25" radius)
      # of frets: 21
      pickups: neck   - custom single coil
               mid    - custom single coil
               bridge - custom single coil
      controls: master volume,  tone (neck), tone (bridge)
      bridge/tremlo: 70's style
      pickup switching: 5 position blade
      scale length: 25.5"
      Neck width @ nut: 1.625"
     
2. Eric Clapton Stratocaster
      body: alder
      neck: maple (bolt on) special "V" shape
      machine heads: vintage style
      fretboard: maple (9.5" radius)
      # of frets: 22
      pickups: neck   - Fender Lace Gold
               mid    - Fender Lace Gold
               bridge - Fender Lace Gold
      controls: master volume, master TBX, master-mid boost (0-25dB)
      bridge/tremlo: vintage style blocked
      pickup switching: 5 position blade
      scale length: 25.5"
      Neck width @ nut: 1.650"
      (this one apparently needs a 9v battery for the power booster)
        (it is noticably heavier than the others too)

3. Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster
      body: alder
      neck: maple - special 60's shape bolt on
      machine heads: vintage style
      fretboard: maple (scalloped/9.5" radius) (avail in rosewood)
      # of frets: 21
      pickups: neck   - DiMarzio HS-3 stacked single coil
               mid    - American Standard Strat
               bridge - DiMarzio HS-3 stacked single coil
      controls: master volume, TBX neck, TBX bridge and mid
      bridge/tremlo: American Standard
      pickup switching: 5 position blade
      scale length: 25.5"
      Neck width @ nut: 1.65"
     

4. Jeff Beck Stratocaster
      body: alder
      neck: maple (bolt on) special early 50's "Deep" shape
      machine heads: Fender locking (cast/sealed)
      fretboard: Brazilian rosewood (9.5" radius)
      # of frets: 22
      pickups: neck   - Fender Lace Gold
               mid    - Fender Lace Gold
               bridge - dual Fender Lace Gold
      controls: master volume, tone (neck), TBX (bridge & mid)
      bridge/tremlo: Deluxe Strat with special Fender-Wilkinson Roller Nut
      pickup switching: 5 position blade with mini
                        push/push switch for bridge pickup
      scale length: 25.5"
      Neck width @ nut: 1.6875"


5. Robert Cray Stratocaster
      body: alder
      neck: maple (bolt on) special 61 Strat shape
      machine heads: vintage
      fretboard: Brazilian rosewood (9.5" radius)
      # of frets: 21
      pickups: neck   - custom wound vintage Strat style
               mid    - custom wound vintage Strat style
               bridge - custom wound vintage Strat style
      controls: master volume, tone (neck), tone (mid)
      bridge/tremlo: vintage strat - non tremlo
      pickup switching: 5 position blade
      scale length: 25.5"
      Neck width @ nut: 1.65"


6. Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
      body: alder
      neck: maple (4 bolt on) special neck shape
      machine heads: vintage style, gold plated
      fretboard: Brazilian rosewood (12" radius)
      # of frets: 21
      pickups: neck   - "Texas Special" vintage style single coil
               mid    - "Texas Special" vintage style single coil
               bridge - "Texas Special" vintage style single coil
      controls: master volume, tone (neck), tone (mid)
      bridge/tremlo: left-handed vintage style, gold plated
      pickup switching: 5 position blade
      scale length: 25.5"
      Neck width @ nut: 1.685" 
        "SRV" initials on pickguard



Just for comparision here are the specs on the Strat Ultra and the Deluxe
Strat Plus (not in signature series).

U.S. Strat Ultra
      body: alder with highly figured maple top and back
      neck: maple (bolt on)
      machine heads: highly chromed Fender locking keys
      fretboard: ebony with shell inlays (9.5" radius)
      # of frets: 22
      pickups: neck   - Fender Lace Blue
               mid    - Fender Lace Gold
               bridge - dual Fender Lace Red
      controls: master volume, tone (neck), TBX (bridge and mid)
      bridge/tremlo: Deluxe Strat with Fender-Wilkinson Roller Nut
      pickup switching: special 5 position blade and 
                        3 position brige pickup selector
      scale length: 25.5"
      Neck width @ nut: 1.6875"


U.S. Deluxe Strat Plus
      body: alder or poplar with ash veneered top and back
      neck: maple (bolt on)
      machine heads: Fender locking keys
      fretboard: rosewood (9.5" radius)
      # of frets: 22
      pickups: neck   - Fender Lace Blue
               mid    - Fender Lace Silver
               bridge - Fender Lace Red
      controls: master volume, tone (neck), TBX (bridge and mid)
      bridge/tremlo: Deluxe Strat with Fender-Wilkinson Roller Nut
      pickup switching: 5 position blade and 
      scale length: 25.5"
      Neck width @ nut: 1.6875"



I grabbed this info from a wall poster/add I have that has virtually all of 
the guitars/basses that Fender makes.  Oh yeah, I think the going prices
in Vancouver for an new Ultra is about $1500 CDN and a Deluxe Plus is
about $1100 CDN.  I vaguely recall the Eric Clapton being $1400.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Sample  msample@cs.ubc.ca        jam/climb/tele - on !
UBC CS Gradual Student/ASN.1 dude      Vancouver B.C. Canada


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