I just don’t have room for them right now so they are in safe regulated storage in a house.
• 2002 American Strat (last year for Fender colour Sky Blue). Nice guitar, a stock Strat. Sounds like, looks like a Strat. Sold a ‘99 Tele to fund it. Always wanted a ‘Baby Blue’ Strat since I became good enough to play. I think 15 years ago it was Fender 074 Sky Blue. Now ‘Sky Blue factory is non-existent on Fender website. Pretty sure my sales receipt list the factory color. Either way, it’s a beautiful baby blue.
Next, a 1985 LPC ebony with Tim Shaw PAF reissues. Heavy, but the absolute best sounding electric guitar I own. She has been played and isn’t mint, but my favorite.
Final in storage is a 1986 1959 reissue ‘prehistoric’ from the transition phase from Norlin to Juszkiewicz buyout. Basically what’s left in the bins was used until Bill Lawrence circuit board pickups and new wood factory was used in the prehistorics up until the official launch of Hitstori, Custom, and Art opening in 1993.
All stock including the Lifton case, Shaw pickups, hardware, and sales paperwork. Dark Heritage Sunburst finish and Lightest of my LP’s at around 9 lbs.
My player (shortlisted from an Orlando guitar show) is a ‘98 Standard. Never weighed this one but probably 11+ lbs. Gibson Std pickups 490/498 of the time and they are monsters with h the wood weight/resonance. It could almost pass for a semi-hollow body unplugged. She’s the one I put playing mileage on the most to catch up with the others
Stock ‘90s Gibson case with Victoria’s Secret inner satin lining and colours
Fat ‘50s neck which sucks, but playing on this makes playing on the others simple, so this is my goto. This is the one if I ever decide to mod (new pots, caps, pups) that I would. But honestly, nothing I can’t get with a roll of volume or flip of selector switch and playing that is a necessary mod for good performance out of any.
The Strat and Strat style (I have two ‘80s ‘shredders’) ate the easiest guitar to play. The Gibsons just sound so much better IMO.
P.s.- the Orange Tiny Terror combo (discontinued now) is a good basic amp, but overly heavy to carry for what it is. I like it, but use EQ front end to get it where It works. It is heavy as fuck as a tote-around.
I've never been a Gibson guy, feel or sound, but that's a nice looking Strat, and it's from the same general era as my main Strat (a '97). Looks to be the same basic specs, though mine's maple/alder, and I've modded it pretty heavily. QC was still a little hit or miss back then but the American Standards were usually pretty safe, and that's an extremely classy color.
With a 2 point bridge, that's a very easy replacement too - my current poison of choice is the Gotoh 510, which has similar saddles but also a tension-adjustable arm holder allowing you very precise control over how freely the arm can move, as well as locking trem studs for a little more stability and vibrational transfer but mostly just not having to worry about accidently adjusting your bridge height if you've popped the bridge out to adjust something and there's no tension on the guitar. It's like a $120 part, which compared to the price of a modern Strat is pretty small change.
