I just bought (like minutes ago off Ebay) a Lefty '57 Strat reissue (MIJ) modded to tribute an Eric Johnson.

I'm sending it as a gift to a young US Marine in Afghanistan who misses his guitar almost as much as he misses his wife and young children, who now sleep with his guitar in their bedroom "for safe keeping until daddy returns".

I don't play a Strat and I haven't for years. So, guys and gals, I need some help.

Billed as follows:
Fender Japan 57 Re-Issue Stratocaster - Alder Body With All Original Hardware and Electronics. Candy Apple Red Nitro Finish with One Small Paint chip.



Warmoth Quarter Sawn Solid Maple Neck. With 6105 Stainless Steel Frets and 12" Radius. SRV Asymetrical Neck Profile. Bone Nut.

Fender Eric Johnson style Neck Plate. (Big Woop... right?)



Fender vintage tremolo with full size tremolo block for great tone and sustain.

Fender does not make Lefty Eric Johnson Strats so this is as close as you can get to the real thing!

Guitar was built for ultimate tone and playability.

The guys says it plays like a dream. Course he does... he was trying to sell it.

Okay, maybe it sorta looks like an "Eric Johnson" (in an odd "tribute" kinda way) but it's still a (MIJ) '57 reissue under the pickguard. Right?



(I have no idea how to attach pictures, so if any of you can clue me in... did I do this right?)

There are no guitar techs in "Bumma-blankety-blank" Afghanistan.

I'm going to have to find someone to chew thru this little red heart-breaker before it leaves us for the war zone. It'll be hand-carried to him by another Marine.

What issues am I looking for? How thorough should the set-up be?

Should I be looking for the rest of the tremolo springs? (three show but there are supposed to be five?)

Are there any cool mods that a "'57 Strat wannabe" can't live without that we can have done before it gets handcarried to him?

Anybody got a line on a good hard case that we can afford? My family is eating Mac and cheese for Thanksgiving and Xmas to pay for this. We's poor folks. Seriously.

For the record, I paid just over $300 for the guitar, including shipping and insurance.

(And, it actually hurt. I repeat... we's poor folks. But I remember long cold nights in hard places... looking across the line. We're trying to help a kid who's fighting for his life find some peace on a bitter part of the rock...

So, as much as I'd love to send him a "Gilmour Blackie"... it ain't happening...)

Any suggestions or tips your could offer would be gratefully accepted.

No suggestions of anatomically impossible positions please... I ain't as spry as I used to be.

Thank you, in advance...

_________________
I used to have guitars...
My kids ate them. (sigh!)

Wow! That's a wonderful thing your are doing. I'm sure he will be quite pleased with the quality and looks. It's a beautiful guitar!


Great job!!!

Don't want to spoil the party, but wouldn't an acoustic guitar be much better? Lightweight, no amp needed, no electricity needed, everybody loves the sound, creates a great campfire atmosphere... and I'm sure they have luthiers in Afghanistan. They have instruments like the "rubab", the "sarinda", the "tambur" and others.

Cheers

David

_________________
"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons."

You are very kind and generous, my hat is off to you.

you should get him a roland micro cube to go with it it works on batteries

how much longer will he be over there?
I can throw together a spare parts kit with some essentials and mail it to you. some screws, springs, back plate. a few saddles, and some misc parts. just pm me an address that I can send it to.

_________________

What a wonderful thing to do for someone far away from home.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I've watched this young man play Pink Floyd until tears were streaming down his face, he was so lost in it.

Hence, the Strat.

I want him to be able to go after "those moments of intense love", to balance the "other intensities" in his life. I understand his scars, completely.

We are SO happy that we can do this for this Patriot. It's going to bring him (and his brothers in arms) some comfort.

Thus, while an acoustic might have made better sense, this will soothe his heart far more effectively.

Thanks for your comment.

_________________
I used to have guitars...
My kids ate them. (sigh!)

Hey "SBD";

He's going to be there for at least a year, it looks like. He's in it for the haul...

If you could help out with parts... I'd be eternally grateful.

We are so happy that we can grant him this "exit from his serious life" and we'd be proud if you would be a part of it.

And, I know that he'd be grateful as well.

I'll take a look at a Roland Microcube ASAP.

I'm currently looking for straps and other misc accessories, too. 10 gauge strings (any suggestions?) , picks (medium?), a cheap stand, and a hard case.

When he's not climbing out of a helo coming back from the field, he has a secure place to both protect it and himself. He also has fairly reliable electricity so I can get him a small amp and cables as well.

He won't have access to local luthiers... He's "remote".

I'll start looking for anything else that you suggest.

I'll PM you with my address.

Thanks for your generous offer of help. I appreciate it more than you can know.

_________________
I used to have guitars...
My kids ate them. (sigh!)

Nah, I just feel his pain.

He's out there so we don't have to be. Anything I can do to help him find some peace is gonna happen. No matter if you're for or against the war... We owe them.

_________________
I used to have guitars...
My kids ate them. (sigh!)

Hey RK,

Admit it... you'd do it too...

Can you imagine how much this will mean to him? Talk about changing a life for the better...

I'll eat "Mac and Cheese" until Jesus returns, to do this.

_________________
I used to have guitars...
My kids ate them. (sigh!)

you might try posting on craigslist. someone may have an extra case they may just give you. i actually had one i gave away a few weeks ago and for decent reliable vacuum sealed strings the ernie ball and Daddario strings are fine and are around $4 a set.

http://www.juststrings.com/ebl-2221.html

http://www.juststrings.com/dad-exl140-3d.html

_________________

Back when Fender USA was not making guitars Fender Japan was pulling the load.

The MIM guitars are pretty good too. Hell even Squire is starting to make some sweet guitars.

As a US Army vet of the 1970 era, I have to say that's just awesome to do. The micro amp is a great idea as are a 10 pack of strings and a bag of picks. Throw in a strap, guitar cord or two, and he's ready to have a piece of home at his finger tips. He'll be thrilled.

Wow....just wow.

Hey Breakrite,

This young Marine is doing the hard part. He's hanging his butt out there in the wind, "for Mom and Apple Pie". We've all been there... WE remember... Some of us share this young man's scars...

I'm just scraping everything I can together to give his heartache a chance to heal, between sorties...

I'm still looking for the rest of the kit. A small amp, some strings, a hard case, a stand, etc...

It'll happen...

In fact, I'm honored to be ABLE to do this.

_________________
I used to have guitars...
My kids ate them. (sigh!)

Okay, a few days after the smoke has cleared;

I've found an accomplice in somebizarredude, who has kicked in some "Strat Coolness" to help us get this Guitar "reunited" with it's new owner, a young Marine stationed in Afghanistan.

"SBD" has scrounged some "Strat Staples" in the form of "assorted Fender bits and pieces" that might run amuck in the wastelands of Afghanistan. We tip our hat to him. You Rock, Dude!

We've bought a 2011 Fender Hard Case for the Strat, as well as a Line 6 amp.

(Note: Nov 24th - Line 6 is back-ordered and isn't gonna make it in time... Dang it. Back to the drawing board.)

We're still sourcing "bits and pieces", like straps, strap locks, strings, etc...

Remember, this is being bought by a family well versed in making Mac and cheese palatable night after night. Tight budget. Like rubbing nickels together trying to make quarters.

We did splurge and we bought him a G7th Performance Capo, one of the few I'm told that will fit the profile of this neck. Kinda feel like it shoulda been gold-plated for what we paid for it. I guess buying the good stuff is supposed to hurt a bit...

Comments? Did I screw it up? Oy.

Incidentally, I had no idea that there were guitar stands out there that would eat Nitro finishes... Oy. Who knew?

Can you guys suggest strings for a "Blues and (gasp!) Gilmour" kinda player?

Can you guys and gals think of anything that we've overlooked before this lil red heartbreaker gets sent to the War Zone?

_________________
I used to have guitars...
My kids ate them. (sigh!)