New Sonic Blue Incoming!! (pics)

So, that thread about daphne blue Strats the other day had me gassing big time for a blue one of my own... I just came across this baby on eBay and I couldn't resist pulling the trigger... It's a 60's Classic in sonic (not daphne) blue, mint condition, barely played for $599 including shipping. Not the greatest deal in the world but I'm happy... Or at least I hope I will be when it gets here!!

Will probably go with a few upgrades... Callaham bridge, possibly a mint green pickguard, cream pickup covers and knobs - will think about pickups after I've played it for a while... Hee Hee... and I said I wasn't going to buy any more guitars!! Yeah, right!!

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/c21f_3.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/ca38_3.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/d9e1_3.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/d277_3.jpg

So pretty. Sonic blue and rosewood is so killer on a strat. Let us know how she plays.

Your a lucky dog Triple B. Congratulations and I vote for mint. (I always vote for mint)

Dan

Cool that must be an FSR model cause I dont remember sonic blue being a standard 60's Classic MIM color. The 60's Classic Player does come in faded sonic blue but it has a 2 point bridge and this one looks like a 6 screw from the pics.

BBB Id say you have a collectors item and a very limited edition guitar.

Here is what I like to do to the 60's Classics.

Install a Callaham or Fender AV bridge.
Install Fralin Vintage Hots

Once thats done these really do play and sound as good as guitars costing many many x's more.

Sonic blue is probably my favorite strat color. I just wish it came on the 62 reissue strat. mmm nitro.

Let me know how the neck feels on this when you get it. :)

Yes, a sonic blue strat is on my wish list as well. And the thing about that colour is that it looks really cool once it starts getting a bit worn in and scratched a bit. It has some real mojo!

Cool that must be an FSR model cause I dont remember sonic blue being a standard 60's Classic MIM color. The 60's Classic Player does come in faded sonic blue but it has a 2 point bridge and this one looks like a 6 screw from the pics.

BBB Id say you have a collectors item and a very limited edition guitar.

Here is what I like to do to the 60's Classics.

Install a Callaham or Fender AV bridge.
Install Fralin Vintage Hots

Once thats done these really do play and sound as good as guitars costing many many x's more.

Thanks Mark,
Yes - I believe it was a special run of sonic blue ones. I really wasn't looking to buy another guitar to be honest, I just came across the auction last night and clicked 'buy it now' pretty much as soon as I saw it... A case of impulse buying really...

The guy I bought it from originally bought two and had one painted a la Harrison's famous Rocky Strat. Actually looks like he did a decent job (it's on eBay right now if anyone's interested) this one he left stock and barely touched apparently (he emailed me almost immediately to thank me and to say how untouched the guitar is and how much I'm going to like it). Will let you know when it gets here just how untouched it really is. It does look pretty sweet though in those pics.

As far as mods - yes, I was thinking exactly that - Callaham bridge and Fralin VH pickups... I haven't tried any Fralin Strat pickups yet. Was doing some youtube research last night - those Vintage Hot's sound fabulous...

Your a lucky dog Triple B. Congratulations and I vote for mint. (I always vote for mint)

Dan

HEe Hehee... I always vote for mint green too!

Cool. Can't wait for it to get here!!

Cheers!

Some other cool discontinued colors were Shell PInk they made them like that for only 1 year and Burgundy Mist.

Here is a Callaham Strat with the Fralin VH pickups.

To my ears they are the best Strat pickups but there are also lots of other good ones.

c5LkMp0B5mo

Thanks Mark... That's very cool...

Here's a guy with a 60's Classic and VH pickups... (I wish he'd taken his rattling watch off though - really annoying!!) The guitar sounds great though...!!

3e9uEXFfydM

My new Strat arrived today. It's really nice - have only played it for a minute or so - will have more time later. Am very happy with it although it is in fact greener in color than it looks in the pictures. Of course I already bought mint green parts to dress it up and they just don't look right on it at all (My fault for being too eager and not waiting till it got here). It also has a different neck than a 60's Classic - flatter and with bigger frets so again that wasn't quite what I was expecting but is still a pleasure to play. It sounds really very good with the stock bridge and pups... I'll bet it'll really come alive though when I swap them out for the Fralins I bought (used set on eBay) and the Callaham bridge that's on it's way.

Cheers!!

So here's what Fender had to say about this guitar. It's not a 60's Classic after all. It's a discontinued model called the 'Vintage Player 60's Stratocaster'

Specs:

Model Name: Vintage Player ‘60s Stratocaster® (For Yamano/Fender Europe, Base Model is ‘60s Strat)
Model Number: 013-2700-(372)
Series: Classic Series
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple “C” Shape, Vintage Tint,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Rosewood (9.5” Radius/241 mm)
No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.650” (42 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender®/Gotoh® Staggered Vintage Style Tuning Machines
Bridge: American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
Pickups: 3 Texas SpecialTM Single Coils with Staggered Pole Pieces, Alnico Magnets, Aged Covers
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle/Bridge Pickup)
Colors: (372) Lite Sonic Blue
(Polyester Finish)
Strings: Fender Super 250R (.010 to .046) Nickel Plated Steel pn#073-0250-006
Unique Features: Aged Pickup Covers, Knobs and Switch Tip
Source: Mexico
Accessories: Deluxe Fender Gig Bag
U.S. MSRP: $999.99
Specs: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice
INTRODUCED: 6/2001
DISCONTINUED:
DISCONTINUED COLORS:
COMMENTS: Made for Yamano/Fender Europe ONLY. Comes with Certificate.
WRENCH SIZES: .050” Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench, pn# 0018531000

Cool. I like it! A lot!!!!!

I was going to say those frets looked bigger in the picture but thought it might be the angle. Glad you're liking it thus far. I replaced the bridge on mine with an American Vintage Reissue bridge. It's noticibly different if just the fact the American bridge feels better than the import. There is an improvement in ringyness is well.

BBB, I got one of these Vintage Player Strats back a couple of years ago. Mark Davis is/was a big fan of them and sold me on them. You don't see many of them around, but they are some very fine guitars. Mine is a 60's Gold color.

Here's some of the details on the VP from memory:
made in Mexico with American vintage parts
steel vintage saddles
steel block
Custom Shop Texas Special pickups
wired with tone control to bridge pickup
aged plastic parts
medium jumbo frets

Your listing covered the specs.

This is one fine Strat and everyone that plays mine, goes nuts over it. It is a better guitar than my American Series Strat in many respects. Personally, I like the TX Spcl. pickups. Since it has steel block and saddles, I saw no advantage to replacing them. (if you change these out with Callahams, please give a report as to whether it made a difference.)

I think you'll find this guitar to be an exceptional instrument.
http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/523/medium/P1010526.JPG

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/523/medium/P1010526.JPG

Now that's a pretty Strat!!

I am going to try out the Fralins and the Callaham bridge on mine after all. I mean, I can always go back to the stockers if they don't make much difference. I've paid for them - I may as well give them a try. I'm also going to dress it up with the mint green plastic (again, already paid for)... I have a feeling it may look too green then, but again it's a super easy swap to go back...

Here's my CIJ 62 Sonic Blue.......there definitely is a greenish-turquoise tint to the colour. I had a Daphne Blue strat a while back and side by side, the two colours are different enough to notice. I actually prefer the Sonic Blue since it does look good with the turquoise tone to it........

http://theteahaus.netfirms.com/DRebelPix/nfpicturepro/albums/userpics/10001/MIJSonicBlue.jpg

Here's my CIJ 62 Sonic Blue.......there definitely is a greenish-turquoise tint to the colour. I had a Daphne Blue strat a while back and side by side, the two colours are different enough to notice. I actually prefer the Sonic Blue since it does look good with the turquoise tone to it........

Thanks man... They call this color 'Light Sonic Blue' and it's actually really close to the mint green color of the pickguard etc that I bought - much lighter than your one. I've just been swapping out the stock pups with a set of Fralin Vintage Hots that I scored used on eBay and have decided to try the green parts. Actually I think it looks pretty cool... Will post pics later...

:mrgreen:

OK... So.. I just re-strung it and plugged it straight into my SFDR... (same strings - not even a new set!)

:shock:

Lindy Fralin is a God. I mean that. Totally and utterly. Wow.

Suddenly this thing just came alive. The stock pickups were just muddy and totally undefined compared with these. Wow!! What a beautiful sound!!!! Man, I'm a happy BBB now!!!!

I can't wait for my Callaham bridge to show up to see what happens next!!

YIPPEEEEEEE!!!!!

OK... Here she is...

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/Strat-1.jpg

That's not sonic blue. Check the Fender Color Charts http://www.fender.com/resources/colors/

OK... Here she is...

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/Strat-1.jpg

That looks sweet, BBB.

Congrats on the Fralin success.

That's not sonic blue. Check the Fender Color Charts http://www.fender.com/resources/colors/

Read above about my conversation with Fender and other posts about the color. They call it 'Light Sonic Blue' but it is in fact closer to a green color.... It was a special run of this color and is no longer produced.

I slightly more famous guitarist with his sonic blue stratocaster
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-10/59575/JohnFeb65Strat.jpg

slightly more famous guitarist with his sonic blue stratocaster

Slightly...!?

Hee Hee...!

Wait I thought the Texas Specials were pretty good pickups... You found them muddy? I'm not an expert here, just asking...

And the guitar looks very nice, I like the green hue... :)

Wait I thought the Texas Specials were pretty good pickups... You found them muddy? I'm not an expert here, just asking...

And the guitar looks very nice, I like the green hue... :)

They are very good pickups. Just that the Fralins are even better. Quite a lot better actually...

Great looking guitar. Thumbs up from me!

BBB the stock trem in your Vintage Player is the same as the CS Vintage Timne Machines and the USA AV series exact same parts.

The Callaham will make it better but if it was a regular 60's Classic with the zinc block it would have made a bigger differemnce.

The Fralins in these make it into a Strat that sounds as good as any at any price Ive done it many times and they are all winners.

BBB the stock trem in your Vintage Player is the same as the CS Vintage Timne Machines and the USA AV series exact same parts.

The Callaham will make it better but if it was a regular 60's Classic with the zinc block it would have made a bigger differemnce.

The Fralins in these make it into a Strat that sounds as good as any at any price Ive done it many times and they are all winners.

Yes, I know it has the same as the USA AV series - and it's a nice bridge alright. I figure that I've already paid for the Callaham - I may as well try it out. I can always swap it back if it's not working...

I have a Callaham in my '82 Smith Strat and it really is amazing the difference it made to that one... (the stock one was a zinc cheapo thing though)The whole guitar feels different when playing it. It's so much more resonant now... And sounds like a completely different guitar. It's turned an already nice guitar into a really, really nice guitar.

I'm curious to see what (if any) effect it has on this new one... It is kinda cool to do these two mods separately and hear the difference they make one at a time though...

Some other cool discontinued colors were Shell PInk they made them like that for only 1 year and Burgundy Mist.

Here is a Callaham Strat with the Fralin VH pickups.

To my ears they are the best Strat pickups but there are also lots of other good ones.



How does he get such sustain...is that feedback from standing in front of his speakers?

How's she weigh BBB?

How's she weigh BBB?

Pretty light actually. I don't have a proper scale here so I don't know for sure... But it's certainly not a heavy one...

OK... Here she is...

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/Strat-1.jpg


Beautiful; wish I had one like it...

I slightly more famous guitarist with his sonic blue stratocaster

And then Georgie went and painted it 15 different colors:
http://perso.wanadoo.es/sissu/images/strageo.jpg

Looks a lot like my 60s Players Classic.

Looks a lot like my 60s Players Classic.

Yup. Very similar. Except that this is a discontinued model called the Vintage Player, not the Classic Player... Close, but not exactly the same...

So, final upgrade -

I just installed the Callaham bridge and block. Just as I had hoped it did make a difference to the tone, although not a hugely dramatic change, one that's sort of like the icing on the cake for me. It's added some beautiful sparkling, metallic, absolutely classic Stratocaster bell-like highs that weren't quite there before. Some of this could be attributed to new strings I hear you say - although the strings on there before the bridge swap were only a few days old.

Overall I am very, very happy with this guitar. It was a nice guitar just as it was - but now with the Fralin Vintage Hot pickups and the Callaham bridge and block it's a real beauty. Suffice it to say I am a very happy BBB... :mrgreen: