For the Gibson lovers, I'd consider a '54 to '56 Les Paul Gold Top (I think you might be lucky to pick up a '57) or a Custom. If you have $5,000 or $6,000 left, then a good Fender Tweed Bassman or Twin would fit the bill nicely. A catholic choice, I know, but these guitars have consistently been in demand, and I see no change to this in the near or far-off future. A new Strat was developed in 1986, unveiled to key dealers, and introduced to critical raves at the January 1987 NAMM trade show. Details included typical features (three-layer pickguard, one-piece maple neck, etc.), plus a small headstock, 4-bolt neck, a 9 1/2” radius fingerboard with jumbo frets, a TBX tone circuit, a redesigned tremolo with two bearing points instead of six screws, flat-polepiece pickups, a hum-reducing, reverse-polarity pickup in the middle position, a silver transition logo, and a urethane finish. Marshall amps have defined the sound of rock for a generation, boasting such notable users as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, and Jimmy Page. Guitar Resonator Vintage. The electronics consist of split-coil, hum-canceling pickup, and volume & tone controls. Johnson uses a diecast bridge with individual saddles for dialing in your action. The machine heads are modeled after vintage elephant-ear tuners, but have a 20:01 gear ratio. Invented by a California radio repairman, the "Strat" became an instant staple for rock 'n' roll musicians, starting with Holly, and won iconic status when Hendrix vaunted his on stage as he famously performed The Star Spangled Banner at the 1969 Woodstock concert. Following a complete history of this distinctive instrument's development, this book offers extensive portions of interviews with dozens of great guitarists like Dick Dale, Otis Rush, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Buddy Guy and many more. These musicians describe their first experiences with the Stratocaster, why they choose it over other guitars, the individual models they own, and playing techniques that maximize the Strat sound. Guitar Resonator Vintage.
