+1

However, its probably worth noting that if your goal is to sound like Gilmore (or any other modified strat player), youre task is easier playing a similar guitar.

Ah, blowing up another perfectly good thread, eh Ceri?

Yep!

To get it back on track: it is well known that the spaghetti style headstock decals sound better than others. And tone was compromised badly when Fender Japan moved from "MIJ" to "CIJ". Tut tut.

Cheers - C

To go slightly off track again for a short bit - I know what MIJ means, but what does CIJ mean?

That red guitars "make you play faster".

...We all know what they say about green ones......

Smearing boogers on the windings around the ball end of the strings will help prevent string breakage once the boogers have permeated the windings and dried. While still wet though, boogers will aid in saddle lubrication thereby making for easier string return from bending which of course, enhances tuning stability. A further perk of this practice is that with no extra effort, a genuine 'relic' look for the saddles and surrounding area is only a matter of minutes from initial application to 'rock hard' results.

And if you've read this post this far, ponder that the above practice also gives a whole new dimension to the meanings, "finger picking" and playing a, "boogie".

And best of all for all you ecologically conscious types, only organic products are used for this application.

I SINCERELY hope YMMV.