Hey everyone, New to the forum. This is my modest highway one. In the process of stripping and refinishing it. It was sunburst,beaten up pretty bad from gigs (I like to get my t-bone walker and srv on live) I know this should be in the pic thread but what the heck, anyway ive owned this guitar 3 years. I write,record and play live with her. Play through a peavey classic 30 and fender hrdlx (looking to get a twin!!!!!) This is my only fender, my other guitars are mint....because they dont get played lol. anyway, looking foward to good discussion and alotta G.A.S.
-VC

Your crazy for refinishing. There is nothing more beautiful than a well worn Stratocaster. But hey, the grain looks pretty good, too.

Youve got a nice rory gallagher look going on there, did you put out a cigarette on the headstock by any chance?

_________________
Rated "M" for meaty.

Oi likes that geetaaar.

I think it looks great for the wear. Got any pictures of it from before you stripped it?

_________________
No no and no

Personally I have to disagree with jnasty's comments...I'm of the school that says if it's beat up, go for the refinish. I really don't think there is all that much that's really "beautiful" about something being worn or beat up. It's not like people will go out and key their new cars or break out a tail light just to make it look "used" (let alone pay extra for it!) and I don't think most folks will sit there and -deliberately- put burn marks or coffee stains on their computer keyboards or anything.

Obviously this is a personal choice thing but personally I'm one of those folks that tries to keep his guitars as nice looking as possible. Yea...some of my older guitars certainly do bear the scares of my more reckless youth but typically if a guitar is really -that- beat up, then yea...I say go for a decent refinish!

Welcome to the forum, good luck and I look forward to seeing some pics when she's done!

Peace,
Jim

Looks like someone has played it using the 1st string as a cigarette holder just above the nut.

I did exactly the same with my MIJ strat. Best thing I could have done. The wood just resonated beautifully afterwards - sounded almost acoustic! I dropped some Lindy Fralins in, changed the electrics and it is now my number one! I love it. It was really hard to get the paint and filler off. Took a pot full of nitromors and a blow torch in the end lol. Finished with linseed oil and danish oil.

Mind you I do like the beaten up look. But I just wouldn't buy a *new* strat that was already beaten up - where's the sense in that. Doh.

That's nice looking strat anyway. I wouldn't have strippped it myself as it's a US model and as I said I like aged guitars. They have a history and it shows in every ding. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to seeing and hopefully hearing the finished article. By the way is that a 2 piece or 3 piece body?

Love the new look. As said you've got a Rory look going. Welcome to the forum,,,,,,,,,, Mike

_________________
The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

welcome to the forums.

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I didn't plan on burning the headstock. Probably not the best cig holder but I do use it as one when I'm playing a gig or or jamming. I'm a player not a collector anyways. I got a couple of pics from when I first got it I'll post them. Btw..I did love the sunburst but the OCD in me decided to just strip and refinish (going to leave it natural).

-vc

Welcome to the forum,that guitar has the type of grain that says keep it natural.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

well I couldn't find any "timeline" pictures. I got a few shots of me playing it live when it was still relatively new. It really started wearing in the last year when I took up playing for a living (hired gun, some solo stuff, not currently in "my own" band though) you could check out the pics at myspace.com/vincentcarabba...Ill post pics when the whole guitar is finished

and to BrianUK...I'm pretty sure its a 3 piece.
The stock pups sound pretty good, I think i'm going to stick with them.
You could hear the guitar in action at the link provided above (the recording were not done professionally just live rehersals,gigs and jams. The highway 1 was used on every track except the acoustic one (of course....lol that was on an old jumbo Gretsch)

I do like the worn look of old guitars, but I wouldnt pay extra $$ for it. and I prefer my guitars a solid coor/pattern.
Thanks!
-Vc

That looks like a cool project. Makes me wonder what's underneath my finish. But, I'll do it the hard way. I'll give it about 20 years of playing before I'll find out...

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

Cool guitar. How long did it take to get it like that. I also have a HWY 1 Strat.

RK