MODEL NUMBER
9215000228
BODY
Body Material: 1-Piece Select Ash
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Flat Sawn Maple
Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: 1954 "U"
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" (184.1 mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Vintage Style
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Position Inlays: Black Dots
Truss Rod: Vintage Style
Skunk Stripe: Yes
Walnut Plug
HEADSTOCK
Type: Small
Logo: Spaghetti
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
Other Decals, back: Dennis Galuszka Master Builder Logo
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '55 Single-Coil Strat
Middle Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '55 Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '55 Single-Coil Strat
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck), Tone 2. (Mid)
Switching: 3-Position Blade
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with Ashtray Bridge Cover
Saddles: Vintage Style, "FENDER"/"PAT.PEND."
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
String Tree: Button
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: Relic 1-Ply Eggshell, 8 Holes
Control Knobs: Short Skirt Style Eggshell
Switch Tip: Eggshell
Tremolo Arm Tip: Eggshell
Pickup covers: Eggshell
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt, Serial
COLORS
Black
MISCELLANEOUS:
Strings: .010-.046
ACCESSORIES
Deluxe Tweed Hardshell Case (Red Interior)
Certificate of Authenticity
COMMENTS
Relic Finish
FENDER SAYS
In 1955, musician Howard Reed Jr. walked into the McCord Music Company of Dallas, Texas and ordered a Stratocaster, with one special caveat—that it be black, instead of the standard 2-Color Sunburst. This request inadvertently made history, resulting in the creation of one of the earliest known black Stratocaster guitars and beginning a custom-color tradition that continues to this day. In 1958 Reed joined famous rockabilly group Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, using his custom Strat onstage as his primary guitar. The sound of this black Stratocaster was heard all over Texas on “The Big D Jamboree”—a radio show on the local CBS affiliate.
Reed wanted to make sure audiences knew who he was, so he used stick-on letters to add his initials to the upper bout of the guitar, an act that seems to be something of a tradition among Texas guitarists. After Reed’s passing in 1981, the guitar was displayed at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from January, 1998 through May, 2013 and now resides in a private collection.
Master Builder Dennis Galuszka reproduced this guitar in exacting detail, as only a Fender Custom Shop Master Builder can; from the nicks and dings it acquired during its stage life to the unique stick-on letters forming his initials. The one-piece select ash body is crafted from wood chosen for its grain and weight, and bears three hand-wound Custom Shop ’55 single-coil Stratocaster pickups. As vintage-accurate as possible, these pickups have the classic sound that made Fender a legend. The plain-grain maple neck has a “1954 U” profile, and the vintage-accurate 7.25”-radius fingerboard bears 21 vintage-style frets.
The other features include 3-way pickup switching, original vintage Strat wiring, single-ply Eggshell pickguard, American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, vintage-style tuning machines with Fender logo, bone nut and round string tree. Includes hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.
9215000228
BODY
Body Material: 1-Piece Select Ash
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Flat Sawn Maple
Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: 1954 "U"
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" (184.1 mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Vintage Style
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Position Inlays: Black Dots
Truss Rod: Vintage Style
Skunk Stripe: Yes
Walnut Plug
HEADSTOCK
Type: Small
Logo: Spaghetti
Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
Other Decals, back: Dennis Galuszka Master Builder Logo
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '55 Single-Coil Strat
Middle Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '55 Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '55 Single-Coil Strat
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck), Tone 2. (Mid)
Switching: 3-Position Blade
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with Ashtray Bridge Cover
Saddles: Vintage Style, "FENDER"/"PAT.PEND."
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
String Tree: Button
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: Relic 1-Ply Eggshell, 8 Holes
Control Knobs: Short Skirt Style Eggshell
Switch Tip: Eggshell
Tremolo Arm Tip: Eggshell
Pickup covers: Eggshell
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt, Serial
COLORS
Black
MISCELLANEOUS:
Strings: .010-.046
ACCESSORIES
Deluxe Tweed Hardshell Case (Red Interior)
Certificate of Authenticity
COMMENTS
Relic Finish
FENDER SAYS
In 1955, musician Howard Reed Jr. walked into the McCord Music Company of Dallas, Texas and ordered a Stratocaster, with one special caveat—that it be black, instead of the standard 2-Color Sunburst. This request inadvertently made history, resulting in the creation of one of the earliest known black Stratocaster guitars and beginning a custom-color tradition that continues to this day. In 1958 Reed joined famous rockabilly group Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, using his custom Strat onstage as his primary guitar. The sound of this black Stratocaster was heard all over Texas on “The Big D Jamboree”—a radio show on the local CBS affiliate.
Reed wanted to make sure audiences knew who he was, so he used stick-on letters to add his initials to the upper bout of the guitar, an act that seems to be something of a tradition among Texas guitarists. After Reed’s passing in 1981, the guitar was displayed at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from January, 1998 through May, 2013 and now resides in a private collection.
Master Builder Dennis Galuszka reproduced this guitar in exacting detail, as only a Fender Custom Shop Master Builder can; from the nicks and dings it acquired during its stage life to the unique stick-on letters forming his initials. The one-piece select ash body is crafted from wood chosen for its grain and weight, and bears three hand-wound Custom Shop ’55 single-coil Stratocaster pickups. As vintage-accurate as possible, these pickups have the classic sound that made Fender a legend. The plain-grain maple neck has a “1954 U” profile, and the vintage-accurate 7.25”-radius fingerboard bears 21 vintage-style frets.
The other features include 3-way pickup switching, original vintage Strat wiring, single-ply Eggshell pickguard, American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, vintage-style tuning machines with Fender logo, bone nut and round string tree. Includes hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.
Courtesy of Wild West Guitars
Courtesy of Wildwood
