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So I flipped my recently acquired vintners modified 60s Strat. It sounded fantastic, played really, really well. But it had a pau ferro fretboard that the horrible, despicable snob in me couldn’t come to terms with. Wasn’t a super fan of the 2 pt trem either.

So this showed up on another forum, and I was lucky enough to sell my fender immediately. Two UPS vans passed in the night like cruise ships offering John Mayer in house band covers, and all of a sudden Monday was bearable.

It’s an e series from 85-87. Reasonably tidy (but dirty). The OW has gone fairly yellow. Plays absolutely fantastic. Doesn’t sound anywhere near as good as the vintera, but as we know, tone is in the fingers. My finger tones are gash, so it’s a moot point. But oh man, that beautiful board!

And in an almost unbelievable extra depraved level of cork sniffery, I only like FMIC headstocks without truss access. I know, I’m worse than rose west. But there you have it, I have specific needs. And they’ve been met.

I have sniffed your cork and it smells delightful!

Fantastic.

I thought the pickups on these were supposed to be good? Any thoughts on upgrading?

Scratchplate looks a bit bright?

very nice. I also share your madness with having to have the truss access covered up, even if it makes it more of a pain in the ass to adjust it, just looks so clean.

Congrats, it looks beautiful. I personally like CBS headstocks and trussrod adjustment at the front for convenience

That is a very nice looking beast.
You'd hate my '73

Big head and bullet.

looks like my old Duocaster II

NickS wrote:That is a very nice looking beast.
You'd hate my '73

Big head and bullet.

have we seen this on zoom?

Yes, last Saturday, but I didn't wave it front of the camera.

NickS wrote:Yes, last Saturday, but I didn't wave it front of the camera.

*stands up, makes unzipping motion*

Bacchus wrote:Fantastic.

I thought the pickups on these were supposed to be good? Any thoughts on upgrading?

Scratchplate looks a bit bright?

I think by the time they moved from SQ to the E series, they went to domestic made pickups. These sound a bit muddy, but to be fair the height's not correct on any of them, and I haven't EQ'd anything on my setup. Yeah the 80s plastic plates just don't age. Not sure I'll change it actually, as it's more authentic. I probably will however change the pickup covers. They're custard-tastic. Not sure what colour though to not go too harlequin with the rest of the plastics.

Josh wrote:very nice. I also share your madness with having to have the truss access covered up, even if it makes it more of a pain in the ass to adjust it, just looks so clean.

I find living in the UK, I don't really need to make much of an adjustment anyway. Guess the temp and humidity is reasonably constant.

NickS wrote: That is a very nice looking beast.
You'd hate my '73

Actually, I'm a big fan of the CBS headstock, and I love a bullet truss!

That's a beaut! Especially love the colour scheme with the aged pickup covers. D'ya reckon you'll change/coffee-age the switch tip and knobs to match?

I think my black Strat might be the same run, although the ugly mods (behind-nut locking nut) meant I replaced the neck years ago, so can't check the serial number or even the logo, boo.

gusman2x wrote:So I flipped my recently acquired vintners modified 60s Strat. It sounded fantastic, played really, really well. But it had a pau ferro fretboard that the horrible, despicable snob in me couldn’t come to terms with. Wasn’t a super fan of the 2 pt trem either.

And in an almost unbelievable extra depraved level of cork sniffery, I only like FMIC headstocks without truss access. I know, I’m worse than rose west. But there you have it, I have specific needs. And they’ve been met.

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NickD wrote:

NickS wrote:Yes, last Saturday, but I didn't wave it front of the camera.

*stands up, makes unzipping motion*

Yeah, the point of the meetup is to wave things in front of the camera.


At least that’s how I see it.

The stand-up-and-unzip moment was getting my father's classical guitar out of its bag to jam along with Doog as he was tuned down a half step and I couldn't be arsed to get the Digitech Drop out to use with the (floating bridge, so not going to re-tune in a few seconds) Strat.. then finding the classical 1. only has the top 3 strings at present 2. bridge saddle is cracked and 3. intonates and plays better without a bridge saddle.. I guess basically it's a piece of crud and my father was rooked all those years ago.