Great pics and stories Ed.

I will attest that most of the Stratocasters I pick up and play at shops are not that inspiring. Most of the action is too high. All of my strats have been meticulously worked into optimization. This can take weeks and go on indefinitely. My allen wrenches and screw drivers all sit on top of my 63 Bandmaster. I constantly tweak for action and tone.

There are 30 adjustment points on a modern Stratocaster. 34 if it is a vintage trem. There are 4 more neck screws that can be counted as part of the adjustment when working the neck tilt. Sometimes I will use these when the tilt is close but I don't want to change the microtilt adjustment. I can snug or loosen the neck screws slightly to bring the tilt in just right. The trem posts and intonation are pretty much set once and only occasional spring adjustment for the trem. The idea is that each time I pick up and play one of the strats I might find a little something that might make it play and sound better. I don't follow any guidelines set by Fender. It's all sound and feel for me.

The 78 Michael Stanley strat has never been adjusted since returning from the refret and setup in 2012. It was and remains absolutely perfect and is used as the model for all my other strat setups.

My greatest love of these incredible guitars is the freedom to create a beautiful work of art that that I can take on stage or enjoy playing at home. They sit on stands throughout my mancave and are just incredible to look at for their artistic value. My next project will be a CAR strat that is set up for surf. I will source parts from all over the US and bring then together for the build. This is a very rewarding hobby and then it becomes another fine musicians tool to create more great sound!

The Kahuna Kings

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

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Last edited: Nov 10, 2019 05:13:44

More beautiful instruments Ivan and zunrj5!!!

The Kahuna Kings

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

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

I'm loving this thread, as Strats have been my favorite guitars since I started taking lessons at 13

My current ones:

Benford Standard Plus, Fender Mod Shop Strat, D'Avanzo 1954 model

Mine don't have to say "Fender" on the headstock, in fact I dig trying small builder's versions. I'd like to get one more, and that will be enough for me, but I want to sell one or two of my other guitars first. I'd get another D'Avanzo, but he's not offering that model anymore, so maybe I'll get a Suhr, as I really want to try Suhr's "silent single coil" system. I also wouldn't mind trying a Vigier Expert model, I've had other Vigiers in the past and like his innovativeness.

Deal with reality, or reality will deal with you.

Actually it was a '57 on most songs and a '58 on Goldfinger. But it's amazing never the less and serves as a good reminder for times when one gets the itch to get another guitar.

Dave once wrote this very detailed account of the gear on the two Slacktone albums:
https://surfguitar101.com/news/story/103/

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 us know how that goes over!

Boss_Daddy_Meltdown wrote:

This thread is going to be VERY important evidence that I plan on sharing with the Wife regarding the "need" to get a 3rd Strat. (since some of you guys have 5, 6...12? Strats).

…"See Honey, these other Surf guitarists have multiple Stratocasters. Why can't I?"

Deal with reality, or reality will deal with you.

Last edited: Nov 10, 2019 18:44:27

Truth-be-told, the Wife doesn't give two hoots about how many guitars I buy (I have over 20 gtrs now)...I just only have 2 Strats...that is about to change though.

Can I have everything louder than everything else!

https://thesurfaces1.bandcamp.com/releases

My Strats are not shiny and and my photographic skills suck, but here they are. On the left is a 1994 American standard dark blue. It has a lot scratches chips in the finish. I installed a blend pot which makes this the most versatile and used of all my guitars. On the right is a 1978 American standard that has no modifications. The PUPs on this strat are more mellow then the 98 with much stronger magnets. I like to use this for Jazz or Hank Marvin style playing. The strong magnets require the PUPs to be set very low into the pickgaurd which makes playing by the neck much easier. Great for rautalankaa as well. I like this thread and I LUV my strats !!!

Some of my other favorite modern Strat players:

John Blair - Jon & the Nightriders - the father of modern surf music! (USA)

Ferenc Dobronyi - Frankie & the Pool Boys, Pollo Del Mar (USA)

Martin Cilia - the Atlantics '99-'13, solo (Australia)

Sami Paananen - El Supernaut, the Lunatics (Finland)

Michael Sellers - Langhorns (Sweden)

Truly BRILLIANT guitarists who have recorded some of my very favorite surf music of the past 25 years!!

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

I haven’t posted much here but have been a long-time lurker. I better chime in! My name is Kent and I’m a Stratoholic. Here’s my family:

Back row from left:
2018 NAMM 62 Heavy Relic in Surf Green over Chocolate Burst, AV 65 in Shoreline Gold w/ matching headstock, EJ Rosewood in Lucerne Aqua Firemist, American Professional w/solid rosewood neck in Daphne Blue (put flatwounds on this one), American Professional w/solid rosewood neck in Ocean Turquoise (put Lollar Dirty Blondes in this one), EJ Thinline in 2T Burst, 2018 NAMM Custom Shop 56 Thinline Heavy Relic in Aged Coral Over Chocolate Burst

Front Row:
Hendrix in Olympic White, 50th Anniversary 57 reissue in Mary Kaye, Classic Player 60s in Sonic Blue

Im happy to answer any questions and also open to accusations of me having a SERIOUS problem! LOL.

How many strats do you need to be the equivalent of a crazy cat lady? It won't cost that much to adopt just one more...