I got myself a Mexican Fender Strat with a reversed headstock

[Blazer]

The winner of four similar guitars I tried, in the Musicstore in Cologne, it has a lovely neck and a really lively acoustic sound.

However, I'm not really that charmed with the reverse bridge pickup and the rather flimsy looking pickguard.


So I'm going to replace that pickguard with a Black one but I'm still not really sure about adding a Humbucker while I'm at it.

Or

[Cheesehead]

Don't do it! You're going to kill the Jimi vibe! (Check out the angle of the bridge pup.)

[Blazer]

Too late I already fitted the black 3 singles pickguard, and believe me if you felt how weak the single ply guard was you would have done the same thing.

[boris bubbanov]

I love the single ply white on the Oly body finish. Not sure what weakness you're referring to. If ever in doubt, install an aluminum backer from Bill Callaham, just adapt it alightly..

However, this particular FSR doesn't have much Jimi vibe anyway, so I suppose not much is really lost. Those offside tuners with that bargain bridge assembly is a real pain.

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I love the single ply white on the Oly body finish. Not sure what weakness you're referring to. If ever in doubt, install an aluminum backer from Bill Callaham, just adapt it alightly..

When I tried raising the pickups, the pickguard was bending so badly that I feared that I would break right through it, the rubber underneath the pickup heightening screws was so tough that I really had to push hard to even make them go up or down. So I went "**** this, I'm changing it." because I like my guitars to be sturdy, the result is a much more Gilmour look than a Jimi Look and I'm fine with it.

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

However, this particular FSR doesn't have much Jimi vibe anyway, so I suppose not much is really lost. Those offside tuners with that bargain bridge assembly is a real pain.

But in person this set up works really well, the vibrato is smooth and the tuners don't slip at all, it stays in tune perfectly. I selected the rotory vide setting in my Boss GT5 and launched into "Breathe" nailing Gilmour's tone.

I nearly forgot to mention, maybe you can tell from the picture, but it has these big honking Jumbo frets which actually make it really comfortable for me to play, being used to the Jumbo's on my Les Paul and Ibanez Roadstar.

[Cheesehead]

Looks really cool Blazer. I like it!

[Guitarmoog]

However, this particular FSR doesn't have much Jimi vibe anyway, so I suppose not much is really lost. Those offside tuners with that bargain bridge assembly is a real pain.

I must disagree Boris - I have one of these, and the bridge and tuners are identical to the MIM '60s classic. The pickups are also very nice in this, and really get the Jimi vibe, especially that volume rolled back through a fuzz sound.

I like the black pickguard. It looks like it's related to my partscaster ('The Moog-o-caster' that was, in fact, inspired by my MIM reverse special Strat.

[mijstrat72]

I've wondered about the positioning of that bridge pup, and if it sounds extra thin being slanted like that?

I think that guitar has plenty of Jimi vibe, but don't copy anyone, give your own vibe and then vibe on it.

I couldn't get used to the upside down tuners on my conversion guitar, so I swapped it back. But reverse looks cool in my book.

[Post Toastie]

Jimi's Guitar had
-upside down Fender logo
-The tremelo bar hanging from above the Low E (top of the Bridge just like SRV did )

[Hockey Rocker]

This thing is a Funk machine. After I snapped a photo of this guitar I snagged a traditional three ply white guard and backed it with copper foil. That's the only mod. It's an odd duck but I just love it. The headstock is kind'a funny, but I really love the sound, playability and vibe. It's not Hendrix, but it's funky. The Stupid Deal on a silly guitar was really a winner.

[ajgus]

Supposedly that reverse pup does something to the tone, no? How does it differ from a regular Strat bridge pup?

[Cheesehead]

Originally Posted by ajgus

Supposedly that reverse pup does something to the tone, no? How does it differ from a regular Strat bridge pup?

Think Jimi Hendrix for right handers...

[ajgus]

Originally Posted by Cheesehead

Think Jimi Hendrix for right handers...

Ah ha. So it lends itself to a Jimi-ish tone? Is this just on the bridge pickup? Cause when I think Jimi, i think Neck, Mid & Notch positions...not necessarily bridge...

[woody961]

How does it feel with the low E string strung longer to the furthest string post---a tighter/longer low E string per se? Shorter high E string? Notice any differences in feel and fingering?