My first Fender (and my first decent) electric six-string guitar was a 1983 MIJ Squier Stratocaster--the kind modeled after the early '70s Strats. Black body, black pickguard, maple neck...a gorgeous guitar. (My very first Fender was a 1971 Precision Bass that I acquired when I was 10, which I still have to this day, FWIW.)
I received my Squier Strat on Christmas 1983. Oh, how I loved that guitar. It was with me throughout high school and college. In a lot of ways, it was my very best friend and confidante. It looked great, played great, and sounded great.
A few years ago, a fellow with whom I worked just happened to have an original 1977 Fender Stratocaster neck (maple) laying around his house, a detached leftover from his guitar playing days. He sold it to me for the ridiculously low sum of $50. Aside from some well-worn frets, the neck was in great shape. I took it home just as fast as I could and took the Squier neck off, and slapped that Fender neck on--now, it had
cache...it had legitimacy (or so I thought at the time) 'cause it said "Fender," NOT "Squier."
I hear the echoes of Bruce:
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan
But then SOS got a hold of me...and I am ashamed of it. I guess I got what I deserved.
|
Amen, Brother C. Amen, indeed.
Several years passed, and I had acquired several other Stratocasters and Telecasters. That black Stratocaster, I never really played anymore. It just didn't feel or sound the same after I changed the neck. I eventually sold it to a friend's son two or three years ago for a couple hundred dollars.
Oddly enough, I still have that fabulous-feeling Squier neck (Yes, I'm largely a sentimentalist--I couldn't get rid of the
entire guitar; I had to keep part of her!
), and I keep thinking of finding a nice, simple Strat body for her. I'd love to have her back in the fold. I miss her.
So, in short, I think the whole SOS thing for me changed as I got older. I'd be proud to put that wonderful Squier neck onto a deserving Stratocaster body once again. :D
Joel