NGD... (well, *soon* with Black Friday shipping, etc..)

I was that website called Sweetwater and found a beautiful gloss black, brand new 2021, Fender Player Stratocaster... I've demoed them in Guitar Center and can't believe the quality. The one in GC was some strange looking yellowish color, but it played like a dream!

Anyway, check it out. For all you fellow RUSH fans, check out the beginning serial#: MX2112.... LOL!!

 

Thanks, everyone.... I am excited and can't wait for FedEx to deliver my new 2021 Strat!

My old '95 MIM Strat was from the original "Standard" version back then, and had 21 frets, and is still a heck of a guitar (a serious step up from the imported Squier models). It just has major fret wear and intonation/tuning issues. Instead tearing it apart, using it for parts, etc... I am hanging onto it just as it is. I have since retuned it to Open G, and will make it a dedicated slide guitar. I just need to grab my tiny allen wrench and raise the bridge saddles a few tweaks.

 

Thanks.... I just took my '95 Sunburst finish MIM Standard Strat, retuned it into "Open G" (i.e. Keith Richards), and then took the tiny allen wrench to the bridge saddles, and raised them all up a hair. My old Strat will now be a dedicated slide guitar in Open G, since the frets are so worn....

For all you military veterans out there... Yes, that is one of my spare First Class Petty Officer (E-6) collar device chevrons from my career in the US Coast Guard. I stuck on my guitar strap after I retired.

 

Update.... Well, no '21 Player Stratocaster (...yet).

Sweetwater uses FedEx for shipping, and you, me, and everyone, knows that FedEx SUCKS as far as a shipping company goes!

Word to the wise -- if you ever order a new Gretsch or Strat or an amp or whatever from Sweetwater, ZZounds, Musician's Friend, etc... make sure they DON'T use FedEx to ship it to you! It will take days and days and days, regardless if they say "2-day Express"

Latest word is my new Strat will be delivered <expletive> MONDAY, and I'll be at work!!
(W)hiskey (T)ango (F)oxtrot, you know what I mean? I called the main 1-800 number and went off on a customer service rep! I told them I drive a school bus, and only have a brief "window of opportunity" after my morning bus run, and before I have to go back in the afternoon. I will be home from this time to that time. After that, I'm screwed, and you all will return the package on me! Oooooo, my temper got the best of me, and I ripped FedEx a new one!!!

 

Thanks... It's all good.

My older sister is retired from FedEx, and she helped straightened it out for me with some of her "work peeps" who are still there. FedEx has a major, corporate "Hub" in Memphis, with outlying secondary Hubs all throughout the US.

Getting to the point: My '21 Player Strat is still in Indianapolis (plane was "grounded" due to bad weather), and will be here first thing Monday, and delivered when I am home from my school bus in the AM.

Whew...

Edit: My sister DID say that FedEx has seriously changed since she last worked there. They used to be top notch, do anything to get a package delivered on time. Nowadays, it's like they don't give a <expletive> anymore...

 

Just arrived 11/29 @ 12:30pm, just in the nick of time, before I have to get to my school bus! Check it out!! It's amazing!!! I have to let it sit here in my music room, and get back to "room temperature" before I tune it and play it. Stay tuned!!

 

Update and (Part 2 of 2).... Sweetwater is one hell of a company, if I can say that! The below video is me (after I got home late this afternoon, after my school bus runs, fed my dog, etc...) and the new black Fender Player Strat has had a chance to acclimate to room temperature, breathe, etc.. since it's been packed in a massive shipping box all this time, etc...

Anyway, I tuned it up, checked it all over again, and it is absolutely perfect! It is what is known as Eric Clapton's famous Strat called "Blackie", but yet the inexpensive version, made in Mexico.

Below in the YouTube video, I go through a few of the pickup settings on clean, and then get more grittier with a mild gain channel setting. What an amazing guitar! That online guitar company called Sweetwater did me right! Wow....