It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:04 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 1:10 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:20 am
Posts: 2
Hi! Im currently looking for a new Stratocaster but my problem is finding the colour I want. How often does Fender update the colour choices? (My favourite colour is Pewter or Inca Silver)


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 7:02 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:17 am
Posts: 101
The Robert Cray strat still comes in Inca Silver. Don't know of any others. Don't know how often Fender does colour changes.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 8:04 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
The EC signature comes in pewter.

The joy of a Strat is you can swap parts but I can appreciate you wouldn't necessarily want to turn a legitimate model into a Partscaster.

That said, because of the modular nature, having the body refinished isn't an issue and could be undertaken by almost any spray facility if you would be willing to dismantle the guitar first.

The colour of a Strat is, by far, the most unimportant aspect in making music. There are so many other physical attributes which will have far greater impact on the way the guitar feels and plays. I would address these first and if, ultimately, you cant live with the colour of the guitar which sings to you then get the body refinished.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 8:14 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
John Sims wrote:
The colour of a Strat is, by far, the most unimportant aspect in making music. There are so many other physical attributes which will have far greater impact on the way the guitar feels and plays. I would address these first and if, ultimately, you cant live with the colour of the guitar which sings to you then get the body refinished.


+1

The tone and playability should be addressed first. Once that's done, the cosmetics are easy.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 8:50 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
Quote:
having the body refinished isn't an issue
Hmm, don't know about that, John, unless the original finish is nitro. I had my 1993 Plus professionally refinished in nitro some years ago, and it was a right game getting the original poly coat off. I gave them just the body and it still cost over £200. The bulk of the cost was stripping the body. When you consider that I bought that Plus new at £649, £200 was a big price to play - even though it was worth it to me!

No, I'd say OP needs to find a good used one in one of his preferred colours (if no new one exists). Be cheaper in the long run, especially if you're also interested in eventual resale price.

Quote:
The colour of a Strat is, by far, the most unimportant aspect in making music.
Not sure about that either! Yes, it MUST play right, but you can always make the necessary adjustments to accomplish that. But for me, it also HAS to be in a colour I love, otherwise I just don't want to strap it on!

Other opinions are available, of course, and I respect them all!

Cheers - Peter.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 11:46 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Color. :roll:

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 2:20 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
Peter S wrote:
Quote:
having the body refinished isn't an issue
Hmm, don't know about that, John, unless the original finish is nitro. I had my 1993 Plus professionally refinished in nitro some years ago, and it was a right game getting the original poly coat off. I gave them just the body and it still cost over £200. The bulk of the cost was stripping the body...


I wouldn't have considered that a bad price for a complete strip and change to nitro. My thoughts were in respect of changing the colour with a recoat, not the full specification. I think in the case of the latter I might consider chemical stripping.

And I do agree that the guitar does need to be a colour you are comfortable with. You don't want to be strapping on something you would be embarrassed to be seen with. There aren't many colours I feel that way about, pink is the only one that comes to mind off hand.

Similarly, if you are in a tribute band the appropriate colour helps with the image so I guess that is a good reason for wanting a specific colour.

Otherwise, you can't see the colour when your eyes are closed.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 2:24 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
John Sims wrote:
There aren't many colours I feel that way about, pink is the only one that comes to mind off hand.


Lavender sparkle.

:shock:

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:47 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
Retroverbial wrote:
John Sims wrote:
There aren't many colours I feel that way about, pink is the only one that comes to mind off hand.


Lavender sparkle.

:shock:

Arjay


Pink
Lavender sparkle
Competition Orange - had to go Squier to find that so doesn't really count
Sky Burst Metallic - but that's an Elite colour so again wont be coming near my collection any way

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:30 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
I'm secure enough in my masculinity that I wouldn't have a problem going on stage with a pink axe.
However, the current drab camo colors rub me the wrong way. It feels like players should be wearing fatigues. Same with "patriotic" flag colored guitars, for similar reasons.

Personally, I'm not too keen on sunburst either; it was made to be a approximation of well-used violins/violas/cellos/basses, which darken around the edges and get a spray of rosin lightening the middle. So to me, they'll always say "faux". I respect that others love them.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2017 6:41 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:20 am
Posts: 2
Thanks for your replies folks! Looks like a used one is the way to go for me then. Since the color is important for me when buying a guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 9:49 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
arth1 wrote:
However, the current drab camo colors rub me the wrong way. It feels like players should be wearing fatigues. Same with "patriotic" flag colored guitars, for similar reasons.


+1!

Like it or not, professional guitarists who work on stage are presenting an act and that act demands the trappings typical of show business -- glitz, glimmer, and flash. For navel gazers serenading the neighborhood slackers in their dimly-lit garage, a battleship gray or army green guitar might be fine. But under stage lights, such colors have all the appeal of a kitchen appliance or a lawn-maintenance implement.

As for patriotic-themed guitars, leave the politics at home. Nobody out for an evening of drinking, dancing, and (hopefully) hooking up is interested. And with a particularly rowdy audience whose inhibitions may be diminished by alcohol, they might actually incite a less-than-amicable response.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 10:05 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Retroverbial wrote:
As for patriotic-themed guitars, leave the politics at home. Nobody out for an evening of drinking, dancing, and (hopefully) hooking up is interested. And with a particularly rowdy audience whose inhibitions may be diminished by alcohol, they might actually incite a less-than-amicable response.

Indeed. Even though I see the humor, I would not be as brave as this guy:
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:03 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
John Sims wrote:
I wouldn't have considered that a bad price for a complete strip and change to nitro. My thoughts were in respect of changing the colour with a recoat, not the full specification. I think in the case of the latter I might consider chemical stripping.
Oh, it wasn't the price I was worried about, John - I had a quote and happily accepted it - it's the fact that you've got to add that onto the Strat price if you're immediately going to have a common colour professionally refinished in a rarer one. Makes it quite an expensive Strat.

Stripping the poly chemically didn't seem to be an option when I had it done (by Dan MacPherson of Southend-On-Sea). As I understand it, the poly has to be scraped off manually, probably after appliance of a heat gun - a lot more labour intensive than dumping the body in a vat of Nitromors! Obviously I'm trusting that what I was told was the truth, but I see no reason why not!

Agreed just spraying a new colour over the top of the original will be much cheaper, but - even though Fender did it extensively(!) - it's not quite as good as a proper refinish, is it?

Actually, I rather like Shell Pink as long as it's 'dusky' enough, but then I'm a big fan of the 50's colours!

Cheers - Peter.

PS: Shimmilou - As an Englishman, I make no apologies for spelling the language we invented in the way it was taught me! :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Colours
Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:39 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Peter S wrote:
Agreed just spraying a new colour over the top of the original will be much cheaper, but - even though Fender did it extensively(!) - it's not quite as good as a proper refinish, is it?


Care to comment on this guitar's finish......?

Image

Image

The MIM '50s Classic Series body was originally Surf Green. In virtually pristine and unplayed condition, I sent it out for a professional refinish with instructions for it to be lightly scuffed with #2000-grit then the new Taos Turquoise color sprayed directly over the old. No primer coat necessary as the new color was simpatico to the underlying shade. It turned out flawless and is virtually indistinguishable from a factory job. I saved about $140 by not having the original paint stripped.

Upshot? Stripping is unnecessary if the original finish has no visible damage and the new color is sufficiently opaque to cover it in a single coat. Not always a given but it can be done with forethought to the outcome.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: