eh?

57Deluxe · September 2018

https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/LgJpg/10001/0176062707_gtr_cntbdyright_001_nr.jpg

guitars4you · September 2018

QUE ???????????

57Deluxe · September 2018

new 'Whiteguard' Strat from Fender....

DLM · September 2018

The much-missed Luuuke knocked one of those up in Photoshop years ago on Intermusic.

Panama_Jack666 · September 2018

I like it!

ChuckManual · September 2018

Warmoth Hybrid Strat.

http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/ClassicShowcase.aspx?Body=2&Type=94&Path=Stratocaster,Hybrid

They've been doing them for years.

Alterlifeson · September 2018

Looks like the new Fender whiteguard strat from the Parallel Universe series.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitars/telecaster/fender-american-whiteguard-strat-mn-vbl ;

Image: https://andertons-productimages.imgix.net/259627-1516290605888.png?w=768&h=768&fit=fill&bg=FFFFFF&auto=format&ixlib=imgixjs-3.3.0

It's OK, I think it only looks wrong because we have become used to seeing conventional strats and teles. This could have been the norm in the 50's if Leo decided only 'upgrade' the body of the tele.

OilCityPickups · September 2018

I really like that ... I'd have one!

Whitecat · September 2018

Everyone has already forgotten about the “Pawn Shop” series I see... these seem to be based on some of those wacky ideas except MIA instead of MIJ.

https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/fender-pawn-shop-70s-stratocaster-deluxe-573744

Gagaryn · September 2018

Got the Fender email about this earlier. It says it has "Custom Shop '51 Jazzmaster Nocaster Pickups"

New one on me.

p_jay78 · September 2018

That looks much better than its misshapen sibling...

Image: https://andertons-productimages.imgix.net/259622-1516288985261.png?w=800&h=800&fit=fill&bg=FFFFFF&auto=format&ixlib=imgixjs-3.3.0

WezV · September 2018

have we stepped back a decade?

Henrytwang · September 2018

Looks great! I’d buy one at the right price.

EricTheWeary · September 2018

I really like the look ( says the man with a Pawnshop 51) . Fender have done custom shop versions before and there are a lot of partscaster strateles out there ( such as Wez's).

ICBM · September 2018

Alterlifeson said:

It's OK, I think it only looks wrong because we have become used to seeing conventional strats and teles. This could have been the norm in the 50's if Leo decided only 'upgrade' the body of the tele.

If Leo had decided to upgrade it, it would still have looked much more like the Strat we know - it wouldn't have retained the three-saddle bridge, or the metal control plate, and the pickguard and headstock would have been restyled.

Evidence: '51 P-Bass vs. '57 P-Bass.

I just think it looks like another scraping of the barrel... but I agree it's less bad than the Strat with no top horn.

OilCityPickups · September 2018

ICBM said:

Alterlifeson said:

It's OK, I think it only looks wrong because we have become used to seeing conventional strats and teles. This could have been the norm in the 50's if Leo decided only 'upgrade' the body of the tele.

If Leo had decided to upgrade it, it would still have looked much more like the Strat we know - it wouldn't have retained the three-saddle bridge, or the metal control plate, and the pickguard and headstock would have been restyled.

Evidence: '51 P-Bass vs. '57 P-Bass.

I just think it looks like another scraping of the barrel... but I agree it's less bad than the Strat with no top horn.

I agree in part ... but for those mental cases like me who prefer a three saddle Tele bridge to a six, and the idiot proof Tele control layout ... but who would like a bit more comfort contouring ... I think that ticks a few boxes.
I had a 70s hard tail Strat come in for pickup work a couple of years ago ... it'd been fitted with a Tele neck, and looked the business (aside from weighing as much as a small planet).

Philly_Q · September 2018

WezV said:

have we stepped back a decade?

Good point. These are nothing new, Warmoth have been making them for years, and before that Fender had certainly made a few examples of the Tele with Strat hardware, if not the Strat with Tele hardware.

I like the Tele-shaped Strat, it would balance a bit differently without the extended upper horn, which I think might appeal to me. It looks a bit ropey in sunburst though, draws too much attention to the upper bout.