2004-2005 Fender Japan 1970's Stratocaster demo

All of the fun of a new guitar minus the expense and the post-honeymoon period of mere acceptance followed by eventual re-sale: a borrowed guitar!

With the pretence of a setup, fret clean and free re-stringing, I borrow friends' guitars and do demos of them. My friend at work Mert owns this 2004-2005 Crafted in japan Stratocaster in a lovely vintage white finish. It might look like a Hendrix guitar but, guitar nerds take note.
It has a bullet truss rod, 3 screw neck plate and a micro tilt. It's very definitely post Hendrix and would be a good candidate for a 1971 onwards model. They went back to a 4 bolt in the early 1980's with the Fullerton models.

Unlike the models made today in Mexico, this one has a proper rosewood fretboard and a slab board to boot and adjusts the truss rod in the handy neck position. I adjusted the rod in this and the neck has just a bit of relief now. It was a bit ski jumpy before. Not much though.
It also has a 5 way switch and the bridge pickup bypasses the tone controls, so authentic in that regard. The 5 way switch came in during 1977. So this one could be seen as an authentic 1977-1980 model.

I've played a few late 1970's Strats and they aren't that bad but they were all quite heavy. This one isn't heavy at all and the contours seem more like an earlier '70's model or a late '60's.

It's very nice though and I thank Mert for letting me borrow it for a short while.

I'm plugged into a Fender Deluxe Reverb 65 re-issue in channel 1 set at 5 and play the first 2 part bit with the lead part into a Benson Germanium boost. Microphones are SM57 and Rode NT1-A into a Presonus Studio68C and recorded in Studio One with no added EQ or post compression or reverb.
The reverb is from the amp and I use a Tone King Ironman II mini to keep the sound pressure lower.

Visit my website for more demos and stuff https://www.gringopig.com/