ChasingGuitars

Just Another Site for Guitar Lovers

Posts tagged ‘stratocaster’

RD-redstratSince I was a young kid I wanted a red Fender Stratocaster. It all started with Hank Marvin of the Shadows followed by Rick Derringer and Mark Knopfler. I remember seeing Rick Derringer’s album cover for All American Boy and was sold. Somehow the “red one” still alluded me. I ended up with many Strats over the years, but never the red one I craved as a kid. So I decided to build a very nice partscaster with all the features and appointments I dreamed about.

Rick Derringer made quite impression on me with the red Fender Stratocaster. Story is that was it given to him by the legendary Johnny Winter who claimed he liked it, but was not comfortable playing a strat. Shame Rick soon changed axes and you rarely saw him wielding the red Strat anymore.

Hank Marvin and Mark Knopfler have played red Strats their entire careers. Sure they play other guitars, but after many years still are know for those cool red Fender Stratocasters. Both Hank Marvin and Mark Knopfler have had Fender Custom Shop Signature Tributes.

Continue reading…

’60s Sonic Blue Stratocaster Tribute – Father of Rocky!

John Lennon Fender Sonic Blue Stratocaster

John Lennon Fender Sonic Blue Stratocaster

This project is a tribute to the 1960s Fender Sonic Blue Stratocaster just like the Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison bought back in the day. Of course George painted his and created the iconic Rocky Stratocaster. No one is quite sure what happened to the one John had. The Beatles played their Sonic Blue Stratocasters on several albums, but rarely did we see them played live.

Continue reading…

The real George Harrison "Rocky" Stratocaster

The real George Harrison “Rocky” Stratocaster

George Harrison “Rocky” Stratocaster Tribute project is just getting started. Ordering parts and will be getting a custom paint job to pay tribute to one of my biggest guitar heros, George Harrison. This is probably one of the most copied Stratocasters. There are some places were you can order this guitar already painted on a Squier, Fender MIM or American Stratocaster. The Fender Custom Shop has also made a version of this guitar. I even saw a company the sells a vinyl “Rocky” decal that you can apply to your Strat!

Continue reading…

This Stratocaster project has been in the planning for long time and some of the parts were acquired quite awhile ago. I just finally purchased the body from Warmoth. I must have used their custom build website tool a hundred times trying to decide what I wanted. I investigated several other sources as well. Today I was on the Warmoth site checking out the Strat bodies and one popped up in their pre-built showcase bodies that was just what I wanted and at a bit lower price than a custom order.

Chambered Black Korina Strat body by Warmoth

Chambered Black Korina Strat body by Warmoth

Continue reading…

mary_kaye_trioOne of my favorite Fender guitars has always been the Mary Kaye Stratocaster. Mary Kaye was a female guitarist and performer that was quite popular in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Called by some the “First Lady of Rock and Roll.” The Mary Kaye Trio was a very popular Las Vegas lounge act.

Mary Kaye was photographed in a 1956 Fender promotional advertisement featuring a new blonde ash translucent Stratocaster with a maple neck and gold hardware. Since then this guitar became popularly known as “The Mary Kaye Strat.” Funny thing is she never got to keep this guitar as Fender had other ideas for this new model.

Continue reading…