Well, today I traded my 2017 American Special Strat for a 1989 Fender HM Strat. The guy I traded with drove 100 miles from the coast to make the deal happen. The guitar I traded him was sea foam green with pearloid plastics and painted headstock with matching case. He had a fair price for his guitar, which is all original with OHSC. He also threw in my choice of 5 pedals. I settled on a Mateo brand Delay. But more about the pedal later. The new (old) HM Strat has some battle scars....two dings on the treble side of the side of the guitar and multiple spots on the maple fretboard which I am able to show in the pics. The frets were quite worn. So I did a complete level and recrown. I Cleaned the bridge and did general clean up on the guitar. Everything works on it. It has the TBX tone control on it, and it is a US made (assembled from Japanese parts in Corona). Judging by the look of the neck pocket I would have to say it’s an alder body. The guy even had the bar for the Kahler Spyder bridge.
Bob Odenkirk is a golden god. I was obsessed with Mr. Show and the only reason I started watching Breaking Bad was because of Odenkirk. And was quite happy he got a spin off. He is very talented and really underrated.
Well I double checked my work today and tweaked the string heights by adjusting the screw at the Fulcrum on the treble side as notes were not sustaining past the 17th fret on the high E. I gave the post an 8th of a turn, and that was all she needed. All notes on the guitar now sustain (none of them are choking out) anywhere on the neck. the action is now 4/64 on the High E, B, and G strings. The D and A strings are at 4 and 1/2 64ths. The Low E is at 5 and 1/2 64ths. All measured at the 17th fret. Measuring the strings heights was an after thought. I just adjusted it until it was low enough to play fast, with a light touch, and still be able to bend the strings with ease. I adjusted the height of the pups, and the volume when I strike a chord is even in all positions on the switch. ‘here are more pictures. I wish the previous owner would have not put nail polish on the 2 boo boos on the side of the guitar. It’s a natural light relic due to honest play wear.
Ahhh, man. I loved that Special and matching case!!! Yikes. HNGD because I'm sure you thought it through. Enjoy!
Congrats. Nice looking guitar. And props on Better Call Saul. The last episode I saw was when he gets his license back and says, “Saul good man” at the end. I think I need to ketchup on that series. Is it just the pics or do those fret ends need to be addressed? They look really sharp in the photos. But it’s not the best pic to see them.
