From: schultz@stpaul.ncr.com (STEVE SCHULTZ)
Subject: Re: Strat Plus  
Summary: Try lots of guitars - pick one you like
Keywords: guitar, have fun,
Organization: Product Marketing
Distribution: USA
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 16:16:36 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.215343.17335@verity.com> dnj@kauai.verity.com (Dave Johansen) writes:

>In article <1993Jan21.165932.159@bmerh85.bnr.ca>, wolski@bmera252.bnr.ca
>(Will Wolski) writes:
>> I have a solid coloured Strat Plus (1989 model) and was wondering if
>anyone out
>> there knows what type of wood is used for the BODY of this model. Please post
>> a reply, I don't have email access.
>> Thanks, Will.   
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----------  
>> Will Wolski wolski@bnr.ca.  (613) 763-2117
>> Bell Northern Research Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
>>  
>> The opinions expressed are my own, that's my story an I'm sticking by it. 
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----------

>I believe that they are either alder or ash depending on the 
>finish, opaque finishes get alder, transparent get ash...
>I could have this backwards...

>This whole wood thing cracks me up.. I have seen the walnut craze,
>the rosewood craze, the mahogany craze and the koa craze...
>It gets down to the point of "grain" craze. Tight grain is good,
>and loose grain is bad, NO, but wait!! now loose grain is good, tight grain
>is bad.... You can get such a range of quality on the same type
>of wood, that it will end up driving you nuts trying to keep up... 
>All of which boils down to: "Get what you like (sounds good to you)
>and forget about what is ever hip this week"..... This isn't
>addressed at Will (see above), it's just an observation from 
>an old dinosaur about all these "distractions" from what is 
>really important, getting to know your instrument and having 
>FUN!!!!...............

>A funny antecdote, I had a piece of Honduras mahogany that I 
>had gotten from my grandfather, it was a solid piece that
>was a couple of feet across and a foot or so thick, and several
>feet long. I had luthier friends of mine that offered me serious
>money for this piece of wood.... The really funny part about this
>was that it was a piece of "junk" wood that was used for drayage
>on a freighter in the 1930's, that they paid my grandfather
>to haul away.... This was a popular opinion at the time, so tell them
>next time down at the store that the flame-top '59 L.P. Standard
>you have your eye on, is made with "junk" wood!!! ;-) ;-) ;-)
>Who knows maybe they'll realize the error in their ways and sell it 
>to you for $150.... or better yet pay you to haul it away...

>Strummin' and grinnin'

>-dnj  
I agree with Dave Johansen about "having fun" with the guitar....worrying 
about the latest tech fads between maple necks, rosewood fingerboards, swamp 
ash, alder bodies, etc. gets in the way of the music some times.  It makes 
good bull session discussion fodder, but find the guitar that feels good to 
you.

I think Mark Knopfler was quoted in a GP interview, "that at some point the 
guitar isn't that important...a musician should be able to make music with 
the instruments available."

Personally, I crack up over people that collect things, guitars or whatever, 
and they have no interest in the items they collect.  They buy these things 
to resell them because they go up in value...?

I love my Strat Plus because it was the first Strat that fit my needs and it 
was my 40th birthday present from my family (I wanted a Fender Jaguar in the 
8th grade but had to settle for the financially responsible used '60 Gibson 
SG Jr. and became hooked on Gibsons for over 20 years).  I also like the 
satin poly finish on the Strat Plus neck...I don't like the strat button on 
the upper bout, but I will have that moved to the neck plate area.

Too much talk here - more than $.02.

Have fun, whether it's an old Harmony, Teisco Del Rey, or a Gretsch White 
Falcon.

Steve Schultz
NCR Network Products Div.
steve.schultz@stpaul.ncr.com

Steve Schultz, Mktg Product Manager
NCR NPD, St.Paul, MN
eMail:  steve.schultz@stpaul.ncr.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar