Hello Kitty Electric Guitar

The Stratocaster joined the 2000s as a huge continuing success. It had not only increased to get to be the quintessential Fender tool, but had become an archetypal type around the world because of the start of brand new millennium.

A number of the great artists who’d adopted it in the previous decades continued generate marvelous music with it—players including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, friend man, John Frusciante and various other people. The tool spanned decades and genres as an uncannily versatile and appropriate electric guitar; chosen repeatedly by successive years of new people. It stayed the selection of experienced specialists and eager newcomers alike, its sleek form and pure sound continuously appealing to people every where anyway levels.

The proliferation of Stratocaster models that characterized the 1990s in particular continued unabated in 2000s. Twelve roughly Stratocaster variants had been obtainable in the late 1980s; by 2000 there were over 30 distinct factory-made Stratocaster designs.

Brand new show and brand-new designs were introduced, while older Strat models had been revised and rebranded. In 2000, American Standard show instruments were redesigned with upgraded features and playability because the United states show. The dual-humbucking-pickup-equipped the big apple Stratocaster was renamed the United states dual Fat Strat, as the hot-rodded Roadhouse Stratocaster had been renamed the American Texas Special Stratocaster additionally the Lone celebrity Stratocaster ended up being rebranded the American Fat Strat Texas Special. The Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Stratocaster of 1998 (an American Specialized series model) had been been successful in 2001 because of the ’68 Reverse Strat Special.

The early 2000s additionally saw the appearance of probably the most well-known musician trademark types of that decade—the Tom DeLonge Stratocaster, of 2001-2003. With chart-topping trio Blink-182, DeLonge had been one of the biggest exponents of Strat-fueled punk play the 1990s and into the 2000s, along with his signature design was notably effective. A distinctively stripped-down accept the original design, the Tom DeLonge Stratocaster showcased a single humbucking pickup, solitary control knob (volume), “large” headstock, hard-tail connection and bullet truss rod modification.

Another strange musician model launched in 2001 had been the Iron Maiden Stratocaster, which put into Fender presence when you look at the steel arena (alongside by-then long-established Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen signature models). The Iron Maiden Stratocaster had a black human anatomy, mirrored pickguard, Floyd Rose securing fan and tremolo bridge, and high-output pickups. It absolutely was offered just through 2002, but other Iron Maiden devices would get in on the lineup in subsequent many years.

Meanwhile, Fender had discerned the need for U.S.-made guitars that didn’t expense quite just as much as present U.S.-made designs, and reacted in 2003 using the Highway One series, which included standard and HSS Strat models. In Fender electric guitar lineup, the Highway One Stratocaster occupied a spot between the Standard series designs produced in Mexico and people in aforementioned United states show. It absolutely was a good standard Strat, minus just what author Tom Wheeler called inside the indispensable research, The Stratocaster Chronicles, “everything that performedn’t substantially impact playability and tone.” It had a thin acrylic lacquer finish that allow electric guitar breathe with noticeable resonance, with Mexican-made pickups like those used in the American show. It was a particularly popular Stratocaster design with longevity just beyond the end of the decade.

Brand new Strat developments carried on apace in 2003. The Artist sets introduced Robert Cray and Mark Knopfler signature Stratocaster designs. The highest growth of the season, however, ended up being the introduction of S-1 switching. Introduced on a few American and Deluxe tool models—including standard and HSS Stratocasters—it ended up being a pickup flipping option in which the switch itself had been constructed into the amount control knob, in order that there clearly was no difference between the outward look of the instrument. Aided by the S-1 switch disengaged on a Strat, the five-way pickup selector switch functioned usually. Engaging the S-1 activate a Strat, however, delivered another set of pickup options, including all three pickups on at a time (surprisingly, this was extremely hard on Stratocasters around the period) and, on HSS models, coil splitting for humbucking bridge pickup.

2004 was an eventful year when it comes to Stratocaster, perhaps not minimum since it switched 50. Using its second electric guitar popular than in the past half a hundred years on, Fender marked the occasion properly with not just one anniversary tool, but four—a minimal release Personalized store 1954 Stratocaster, an United states Deluxe design with modern functions and gold-plated equipment, an American series design (in addition with contemporary functions), and also the gilded 50th Anniversary Golden Stratocaster, that has been produced in Mexico and featured an Aztec silver finish, silver anodized aluminum pickguard and gold-plated hardware.

Eric Clapton, at the same time, had chose to parts methods together with beloved “Blackie” Stratocaster to be able to gain their Caribbean drug and liquor addiction rehab center, the Crossroads Centre. Blackie, a “composite” tool Clapton put together through the parts of several mid-’50s Strats, had been his primary instrument through the entire 1970s and early 1980s, and when it went on the auction block on June 24, 2004, at Christie’s in nyc as lot No. 88, it fetched a record-setting $959, 000—the highest cost previously during the time for a guitar offered at auction. This record would stand for couple of years before becoming eclipsed by still another Stratocaster.

Precisely three months later on, on Sept. 24, 2004, Fender more celebrated the Stratocaster’s 50th anniversary by staging a show at Wembley Stadium in London that featured Hank Marvin, David Gilmour, Ronnie Wood, Joe Walsh as well as others.

Also in 2004, enhanced American Deluxe Stratocasters had been introduced—including V-neck, ash-body and HSS models—that were given then-new samarium cobalt noiseless pickups. The Mexico-made Deluxe Player’s Strat, with an ash human body, Vintage Noiseless pickups and gold hardware, joined the lineup that 12 months, also.