I've looked. Maybe it's time to start one. My latest array from left to right and almost everyone I have built from parts.

1. American Deluxe neck and body with custom pickup array and blender. 2. Jimmy Vaughn Strat. 3. 1978 American owned by Michael Stanley and greatly improved by Lay's Guitar with compound radius neck job. 4. 2014 American Standard with custom array and blender. 5. 2013 American Standard with custom array and blender but all original. 6. 1993 American Standard all original. 7. American Standard with 70's neck, S1 switch. 8. 1990 I series USA strat.
   

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Last edited: Nov 08, 2019 14:43:23

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Yes! Thank you Ivan and those are as good as it can get! More to come I'm sure. The Strat Appreciation Thread is off to a great start. It's too bad Lorenzo can't contribute also. We have been trying to bring him into the light for a long time!

The Kahuna Kings

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BTW this is me with my favourite guitar, a mid 90s Mexican Stratocaster. I bought it around 2003/2004. I had a Teisco and a very cheap Strat copy before that, both of which I sold eventually. I remember thinking a lot about which first proper guitar I would spend my money on, and of course it had to be a guitar with a connection to surf music. And since there weren't many Jazzmasters and Jaguars available at that time (and for the money at hand for someone, who just started university) I quickly decided for the Stratocaster. So I bought this one on eBay and by a sheer stroke of luck it turned out an incredible instrument for the money. Everybody who borrowed it for a few notes was pleasantly surprised.
It actually took quite a while to get a decent surf tone out of it though, and I sometimes blamed it on the guitar, however at a certain time I realized it was lack of practice, touch sensitivity, patience and attention during playing...

Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!

Let's also keep in mind all the great sixties surf guitarists who kept the Strat in the public eye and an object of desire for teenagers around the world between Buddy Holly and Jimi Hendrix!

Dick Dale
The Chantays - both Bob Spickard and Brian Carmen
The Surfaris - Jim Fuller, lead guitar
The Pyramids - both Skip Mercier (lead guitar) and Willie Glover (rhythm)
Bobby Fuller
Eddie Bertrand - in the Belairs and the seccond half of Eddie & the Showmen
Jim Messina
Paul Johnson
The Crossfires - Al Nichol (lead guitar)
And special mentions to the Shadows and the Atlantics! We can' skip them.

Many phenomenal, exciting guitarists pushing the boundaries of the Strat!

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

Gilette wrote:

My first strat was a 1979 natural body CBS model with black pick guard and knobs. It was so HEAVY and so BAD I can write a book about it. I used it for 5 years and in the end I was done playing guitar. I sold it and felt relieved. Fender made me hate playing the guitar and I hated Fender for it.

I've grown milder over the years but still there's something about the strat that bothers me. I've got a good one now, a Squier, but I prefer to take the Jazzmaster for a few riffs.

Don't let me spoil the party for you though. I see some beautiful guitars there, so go ahead and enjoy playing them. I'm sure not all of them were forged in hell.

I know what you mean about the 79 as a friend has one. Heavy and uninspiring!

I still own my 78 but also owned a 74. The 78 was greatly improved when I had it refretted and did a compound radius on the fretboard. They also added two more neck plate bolts so now it's a 5 bolt and very stable.

The Kahuna Kings

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Last edited: Nov 08, 2019 14:53:18

There is actually a Strat in our family too. I "banished" it to Eagle, Colorado as it makes a most excellent snow shovel........

Just kidding..

ed

Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?

I've never owned more than one Strat at a time. This is my current Strat.

IvanP wrote:

YES! Love it! Thanks, Dave!

Here are my American '60s reissue Strats: 1) 2004 Foam Green Custom Shop NOS '60; 2) 2009 Ice Blue Metallic '62 AVRI; 3) 1997 Shoreline Gold Metallic '62 reissue (with 1984 neck); 4) 2012 Dakota Red '65 AVRI (with 1986 '62 reissue neck); 5) 1988 Black '62 reissue. All are amazing!

Wow, that's a nice color pallete! You have more strats though don't you?

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Last edited: Nov 09, 2019 08:36:52

taijiguy wrote:

I've never owned more than one Strat at a time. This is my current Strat.

Another great centerfold!

The Kahuna Kings

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https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases