New Sonic Blue Incoming!! (pics)

[BritishBluesBoy]

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!!

[Punch!]

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

[Daddydex]

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

Dan

[Mark Davis]

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.

[Brandon Roy]

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. :)

[Del Pickup]

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!

[BritishBluesBoy]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

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...

Originally Posted by Daddydex

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!

[Mark Davis]

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.

[BritishBluesBoy]

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...!!

[BritishBluesBoy]

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!!

[BritishBluesBoy]

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!!!!!

[FredDairy]

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.

[endzone]

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.

[BritishBluesBoy]

Originally Posted by endzone

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...

[thaus]

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........

[BritishBluesBoy]

Originally Posted by thaus

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...

[BritishBluesBoy]

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



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!!!!!

[BritishBluesBoy]

OK... Here she is...

[tazzboy]

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

[furrfurrfurr]

Originally Posted by BritishBluesBoy

OK... Here she is...

That looks sweet, BBB.

Congrats on the Fralin success.