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Post subject: Robin Trower Signature Strat
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:21 pm
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Hi Gang,

I did'nt want to start a new topic on this subject in case there was already one going somewhere. I tried searching the Forum but could'nt get any results on this one so here goes:

Has anyone had the opportunity to play one of these guitars? If so, can I get some feedback on what everyone/anyone thinks about this particular model?
I'd like to get as much input as possible before I go drop $3500 on one of these.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

-Harley 8)

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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:11 pm
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Anyone?

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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:25 am
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To me, it is simply a 70s specifications Stratocaster with a few minor modifications. Unless you are a Trower fanatic, you'd do infinitely better money wise to buy a 70s RI Stratocaster and modify it as you see fit (if at all).

As always, this is merely my opinion and YMMV.

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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:32 pm
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I agree with Martian in the sense that there are no radical changes like in a Clapton Strat and you could potentially build one yourself- differences include locking tuners, abalone fret markers, custom color and Robin's pickup combination.

But, I must say that after having played it (and I am a huge Trower fan so I'm a little biased) it is an incredible sounding and playing guitar. Keep in mind though that it was designed with heavy, heavy strings and D tuning in mind.


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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:23 pm
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Martian wrote:
... Unless you are a Trower fanatic, you'd do infinitely better money wise to buy a 70s RI Stratocaster and modify it as you see fit (if at all) ...

I definitely agree with the above post. I really do, HOWEVER ... I think there is something to be said for paying the Custom Shop premium. That premium buys you a guitar that was patiently hand built in lieu of the standard assembly line. If you have the coin, the extra money spent is worth it. Besides the hand built aspect, the Trower guitar (or the Gilmour, for that matter) will also hold its value well.

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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:20 pm
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I'm surprised there aren't a couple of Trower Strat owners here ...

oh well.

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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:23 pm
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Thank you Everyone for your feedback, I really do value this since I'm not sure which version of the 70's Strat they actually patterned the production model from.
I know the Replica model which was only offered in a very limited quantitiy (100 to be exact), was patterned after the 1974 model..right down to the Three-bolt neck. This guitar would have had a thin maple neck on it instead of the U shaped neck offered later on.
I was looking for some specifics on these points in particular. As far as the heavy string guage, and all the other amenities, I'm not too fussy about those.
I have two killer Strats now that are both sweet axes, but sound very different, they just feel extremely sweet when they are in my hands, ands it just makes me want to keep playing.
I AM a long-time Trower fan, and I do use heavy guage strings 0.13"-0.56", on one of my guitars, the Surf Green one.
Thank you again, any input is a big help
-Harley 8)

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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:40 pm
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HarleyHexxe wrote:
I AM a long-time Trower fan, and I do use heavy guage strings 0.13"-0.56", on one of my guitars, the Surf Green one.
Thank you again, any input is a big help
-Harley 8)


There are a lot of Trower fans around here.

Unlike some of the Strat Heroes, Robin isn't known for always playing any single Strat. He did play a lot of different '70s ones, it seems.

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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:32 pm
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You're absolutely right Orville,

Over the years, Robin has probably had to part with some of his favorite axes, just to get out of financial troubles from his former manager.
From what I know of Robin, he is very particular about the feel and the tone of his Strats, but never having met the man in person, or having the opportunity to pick his brains a little on the particulars of his guitars, it's a little difficult get a clear picture of what his signature model has turned out to be.
I know that in 1974, Fender had different neck sizes, and it seemed like they were doing a lot of experimentation at that time with various areas of the Stratocaster. If memory serves me correctly, that is the first year the pole pieces on the pick ups were made flat, instead of staggered. I am also of the belief that this would also be the year the Micro-tilt neck adjustment appeared, along with the 3-bolt neckplate.

-Harley 8)

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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:16 pm
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For the Trower fans out there- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0d1HilfLxA

The rig is very simple. His signature Strat, Fulltone effects and JCM900's. This concert (Living Out Of Time) is one of the best recorded Strat sounds ever, in my opinion.

Use the links on the side to check out the rest of the concert!


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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:32 pm
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HarleyHexxe wrote:
I know that in 1974, Fender had different neck sizes, and it seemed like they were doing a lot of experimentation at that time with various areas of the Stratocaster. If memory serves me correctly, that is the first year the pole pieces on the pick ups were made flat, instead of staggered. I am also of the belief that this would also be the year the Micro-tilt neck adjustment appeared, along with the 3-bolt neckplate.


Here's a picture of my 1974 (which I bought used in 1978 and primarily used as a rehearsal guitar over the years):

Image

It's got Graph Tech saddles and it's on its fourth pickguard, but other than that, it's stock. It's got staggered polepieces. The change to flat happened sometime that year.
The Micro-Tilt/3 Bolt/Bullet appeared at the end of 1971. It's neck is fairly thin. I've played some '73s that were more like fence posts, but I haven't played many '74s to tell you that they varied a lot.

It has also had some Trower played on it over the years!

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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:51 pm
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That's a sweet Strat you have there in the pic, thank you for the correction on the 3-bolt neckplate, I might be thinking of a different Fender guitar on that one.
I do remember that the rosewood necks were thinner than the maple ones in general, but there were some very thin maple necks at that time too. I believe that in 1975, Fender settled on the U-shaped maple necks thru 1979.
The early 70's guitars were among my favorites, but it's hard to find any that have'nt been altered beyond the point restoration. This is one of the reasons I was looking at the Trower model Strat.
I may just end up going with a Highway One Strat, and modding it to meet the criteria I'm looking for.
Thanks for sharing the pic though. SWEET!

-Harley 8)

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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:56 pm
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cwpainter wrote:
For the Trower fans out there- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0d1HilfLxA

The rig is very simple. His signature Strat, Fulltone effects and JCM900's. This concert (Living Out Of Time) is one of the best recorded Strat sounds ever, in my opinion.

Use the links on the side to check out the rest of the concert!


Hey cwpainter! Great show! I've seen these before, I just was'nt aware that this was one of the signature models. I agree with you about the sound of this Strat, it is a sweet, classic Strat sound.
Now I'm really curious to try one of these Trower guitars for myself.

-Harley 8)

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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:01 pm
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HarleyHexxe wrote:
cwpainter wrote:
For the Trower fans out there- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0d1HilfLxA

The rig is very simple. His signature Strat, Fulltone effects and JCM900's. This concert (Living Out Of Time) is one of the best recorded Strat sounds ever, in my opinion.

Use the links on the side to check out the rest of the concert!


Hey cwpainter! Great show! I've seen these before, I just was'nt aware that this was one of the signature models. I agree with you about the sound of this Strat, it is a sweet, classic Strat sound.
Now I'm really curious to try one of these Trower guitars for myself.

-Harley 8)


I read a recent article stating that Robin uses the exact same guitars and the ones that you get from the Custom Shop. Here is a little video where he talks about the guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xikzwm2nftg


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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:00 pm
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cwpainter wrote:
HarleyHexxe wrote:
cwpainter wrote:
For the Trower fans out there- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0d1HilfLxA

The rig is very simple. His signature Strat, Fulltone effects and JCM900's. This concert (Living Out Of Time) is one of the best recorded Strat sounds ever, in my opinion.

Use the links on the side to check out the rest of the concert!


Hey cwpainter! Great show! I've seen these before, I just was'nt aware that this was one of the signature models. I agree with you about the sound of this Strat, it is a sweet, classic Strat sound.
Now I'm really curious to try one of these Trower guitars for myself.

-Harley 8)


I read a recent article stating that Robin uses the exact same guitars and the ones that you get from the Custom Shop. Here is a little video where he talks about the guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xikzwm2nftg


Yep...I've seen both parts of that on Youtube. pretty cool That's what got me wondering which neck design he chose for the guitar.

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