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Post subject: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:27 am
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This morning I took possession of my BLK1 (as mentioned on the hard case)
Imagine someone with two BLK1 in his car trunk... 4 cases !(one was for another collector)
Back home after some warming I opened the outer soft case of the hard case.
Imagine bringing a newly wed virgin bride to the wedding bed room. Already very exited :D
You open the soft case to discover a white gown protecting the hard case.
Your excitment increases. :D
You loose the lace ribbon, pull down gently the white protection and then you discover the hard case in it's soft, silklike purity .
Your heartbeat increases :D
Then you find the locks, your blood pressure is up and up.
You click on the locks, and slowly you open the case.

Drama!! She's not virgin, by the look she has been abused many, many times by unmanered men
Scars of her previous life show everywhere striped neck, greenish pickguard, dirty knobs, her body..I can't tell it's so terrible; almost no paint left
And on top, one of her previous Masters left his ID on the back of the headstock : John Cruz...
How many has he been treated like that ? 20? 50? 70? 83 ?
Who knows :roll:

Well after been adjusted to the reality I played it unplugged :
A dream, ringing chords, bell like arpeggios.. a perfect neck, medium/light weight, an instant top player
Then I pluuged it into a JMI 15AC amp (a pure clone of the VOX AC15 amp of the late '50s/early '60s) all valve directly through an Audio Evidence cable.
And then ..
A new door to the Fender Stratocaster sound opened.
I own many Strats, old and new but this one (not because it's the last one in ) is, to MHO one of the best sounding Strats I ever had. And I think of each word.
The purity, the definition of each pick up is incredible.
To have a neck pick up with such presence and clarity is stunning.
The middle pick up brings more power, giving up some bass at the same time, but still very clear and defined.
But to me the best is the bridge pick up which delivers a pure, clear, sound with a lot of harmonics on which you can play chords without any harshness.

When I laid it back on the guitar stand, I said to myself: "That's it"

I haven't checked if the pick ups are belevelled or not and which magnet is supposed to be higher than another one.
I simply don't care.
The result is a simply stunning guitar delivered in a +1 case+case, with which you feel at ease instantly.
For me the benchmark of the relicing was the SRV #1, also by John Cruz, but this time it's well beyond with it's 3D relicing.
Hats off to everybody involved in that project. :D

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Last edited by alainlafrance on Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:18 am
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Masterful analysis, Alain! I can't wait for my Cruz Strat to arrive later this year, I know it will be special too!


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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:21 am
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HA!!! Great Alain!!!! Merci!!!


ME


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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:25 am
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Mike Eldred - Fender wrote:
HA!!! Great Alain!!!! Merci!!!


ME

ME
That's what I truly felt this morning when discovering her after the long undressing session :wink:

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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:41 am
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Congratulations Alain, it's a monster of guitar isn't it?
I knew when the project was anounced close to two years ago, you wouldn't be able to resist iher scruffy charms.
I hope it inspires great music and enjoyment.
Hats off!
M.


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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:53 am
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Congratulations! You have a superb guitar there...among many! :D


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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:06 pm
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Alain,

CONGRATS!

you description has confirmed all of the reasons why i ended up with this guitar, although not a huge mayer fan previously - it is, just simply, and incredible guitar!

Mike may not like to hear it, but whenever the thought has crossed my mind about what my next strat should be - i just keep coming back to how/why/when would i ever want to play any other strat than my Blk1?!?


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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:18 pm
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Yup, Mayer seems to feel the same way.

ME


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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:22 pm
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congratz Alain!
very nice review.

I know in a few months, when the value will start to really increase, I will be angry with myself for not having picked one up.

truly what seems to be the queen of all Strats :)

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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:37 pm
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Congrats Alain... I'm glad one of the 83 got to someone who truly appreciates it...

Now.... where are the pictures!


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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:40 pm
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Would expect no less passionate a review from a Frenchman. 8)
Wonder what his wife thinks of his new mistress. :?: :oops:

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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:02 pm
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I should think Alain's wife is accustomed to his many mistresses!

However, he speaks so warmly of the new one that I can imagine her becoming the "Maitresse en titre!" :D


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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:22 pm
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davidos wrote:
Congrats Alain... I'm glad one of the 83 got to someone who truly appreciates it...

Now.... where are the pictures!



This week end :wink:

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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:26 pm
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ZZDoc wrote:
Would expect no less passionate a review from a Frenchman. 8)
Wonder what his wife thinks of his new mistress. :?: :oops:


Doc
Already 65... :roll:

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Post subject: Re: BLK1: MHO
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:31 pm
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Butterscotch wrote:
I should think Alain's wife is accustomed to his many mistresses!

However, he speaks so warmly of the new one that I can imagine her becoming the "Maitresse en titre!" :D

Yes or maybe a first concubine :?: :wink:

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