Here's a super awesome playing and sounding 1996 Fender Traditional Series Stratocaster that has been tastefully modified with a set of Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials in a unique way.
If you're not familiar with the Traditional Series (96-97) are fantastic modding bases due to their quality full thickness bodies and superb necks. The hardware and electronics, however, left much to be desired.
Here's how the electronics are set up:
- 5-way Blade functions as normal
- Vol Pulled Up flips the phase of the middle pickup
- Tone #1 Flips the phase of the bridge pickup
- Tone #2 Activates bridge when switch is in positions #3, #4, & #5
Are every one of the available extra tones winners? No, not at all. But there are an extra 4-6 that are pretty great and useful in the many situations. (N/B, N/M/B, N/M OoP, N/B OoP)
Here's the upgraded hardware:
- Kluson KLF-3805CL Locking 2-Pin Tuners. These use the same pattern as Fender or Schaller - I simply prefer the oval buttons.
- Fender Vintage Tremolo (PW29 Block) - Used in a lot of FSR and Classic Player Guitars
- GraphTech Black TUSQ XL Nut and String Trees
- The pickguard and trem cover are parchment and still have the plastic film covering.
There are a good handful of blemishes, some more significant than others, around the body that have been clearly pictured. Fantastic player with minimal fretwear and comes with a Fender Padded Gigbag.
