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Dirt is what the Blackmore and Malmsteen Stratocasters are about. For my tastes, through clean or semi-clean amplification, the Lace Sensors, Duncan Quarter Pound and DiMarzio HS-3 stacked coil pickups lack the glassy edge of a proper Fender single coil pickup.
The scalloping on it is relatively gentle in the little experience I've had with scallops - something else to bear in mind is that the scalloping is more pronounced on the far side of the fretboard (towards the high E) than it is on the near side, which I hadn't realised before - it gets deeper as you move towards the higher strings, if that makes sense.
I think the one I tried is still for sale if you were interested in giving one a go; it's a Japanese one.
https://www.facebook.com/benswanwickguitar
I have the 1997 Japan model. Very well built. Nicely scalloped and you wither like 1/4 pounds or not I guess. Will still stay very clean like a normal strat with the right settings or get dirty if you need it. Pups are not as aggressive as you might think. Put it with a treble booster and it will get violent quickly haha. Heavy touch can make notes sound out of tune so as mentioned above light touch is what it's all about (or get Blackmores fingers off him). I wouldn't say it is ideal guitar for lots of rhythm strumming. Blackmore actually hated playing rhythm so if you listen of most of his backing playing it is unlike what most guitarists do behind a song
Scallop neck will be marmite, you won't know unless you try one. the scallops are entirely different in formation on the Blackmore and YGM, possible you might like one but not the other !!
Scallop does make bends etc easier
Couple of people on here have the Mexico ones I know
In all fairness, it was a relatively short go in a guitar shop. They had that annoying device running that sucks all your ability out if someone is within earshot. I'd like to try one for a week at home ideally. Actually I think I'll just buy a cheap neck and scallop it myself sometime.
Which features is it that you like, OP? The scalloped board is the main reason to get this guitar, I think.
I tried one once in a shop and thought it was a bit shrill, cheap and nasty, but I was in the "boutique" room, and all the other guitars I played that day were things like Custom Shop Strats, which is really not a fair price comparison.
The scalloped board is for players who do a lot of bends and vibrato. Not much point, otherwise. I've been trying to get my mate's dad to sell me his scalloped US Strat for years because it's so much fun to play. He's got huge, powerful builder's hands and can't play it in tune with his rhythm and blues band, so it lives in its case.
Sure, you can play rhythm/chords on a scalloped board, but you'll have to lose the death grip far too many people have.
1. It's a white 70's style Strat with Rosewood fretboard (that's my aesthetic tick list, sorted)
2. The pick up configuration and three way selector (not a massive fan of positions 2 and 4)
3. Killer rock tones
4. I see used ones go for similar prices to their Classic Series 70s counter parts
The things I'm unsure about:
1. Will I like the scalloped board as I'm not shredtastic
2. I like to play surf music, Hendrix and 60's garage rock at times. Will it sound a bit lacking in these areas due to the pickups
Great feedback so far, would love to try one myself to know for sure, but as i'm looking at sold ones I may have to buy from further afield.
Which shop had a Jap one if you don't mind me asking ? They are pretty rare and hard to find here......the Mexican ones are far more numerous
You really need to spend a fair bit of time with a scalloped neck to be sure you are comfortable. Probably more than shop time allows. Within reason I think you can get any kind of strat sound you want....more down to what you will play it through rather than worrying about the 1/4 pounders alone. Most of Blackmores sound and tone was hit as very high volume (my ears can vouch for that) but he would roll the volume right off and have as clean a sounding strat as you could like. But those pups are not what he always played with so videos for tone can be misleading, Gold lace sensors were a fave for while which are a different beast to the 1/4 pounders.
I think you will be more than happy with the pup strat tone, whether you like the neck will be thefar bigger question.
I sold my Fender Blackmore Strat though after only a few weeks as I just couldn’t get on with the 7.25 radius
Even with a good setup the action was just too high and it felt like a fight all the time playing it. The neck profile was lovely though and it’s a well made instrument but is overpriced for a MIM so look for a good secondhand one
I did try several luthiers including two off this forum to see if anyone would re-radius the board but though it could be done nobody wanted to take the job on so i kicked it out the door
https://www.facebook.com/benswanwickguitar
I noticed yesterday that it's particularly difficult to learn melodies by ear - usually I can just play a melody by ear and have learned it in a few seconds but when someone's there I think there's a fear of playing wrong notes
I think if it were me I would buy another Scratchplate to do the mods on, then if you hate the final result, you can easily return it to standard spec.....
I wanted a hardtail Strat, but buyng new I could only get a Robert Cray MIM, which has a hefty price premium over a Standard MIM Strat....I made my own!.....
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/129571/finished-hardtail-stratele-with-fat-neck-build-the-korinacaster#latest
It could just as easily been Olly White with a Strat neck
Cost
Guitarbuild body £100
Allparts/MM neck (cant remember) £80/120
Tuners Wilkinson EZ lock 18.50
Scratchplate £20
Pickups Neck/Middle Iron Gear Pig Irons £50, Bridge Fat 50 £40
Fender HT bridge and ferrules £35
CTS pots £15
Switch £20
Paint Halfords Lacquer x2 £16
Other bits Straplocks/caps/Neck plate and Screws/Scratchplate screws etc about £30
Roughly £500 all done....although I already had a lot of the above parts "in stock"
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.