If “nothing stock is good enough” sounds like you, you’ll get this one right away. This Strat-style build started with a Mexican Fender body that’s seen some miles — plenty of honest wear, but all character. It’s been upgraded with a tortoiseshell pickguard, an Allparts soft-V neck, and the original Fender tuners, giving it a feel that’s broken-in but reliable.
Under the hood, it’s wired with GFS AlNiCo vintage-voiced pickups, CTS pots, and an Oak Grigsby switch — no shortcuts, no mystery parts. It plays smoother and sounds fuller than most stock MIM Strats I’ve had through the shop. If you know your parts, you’ll recognize the value right away: this guitar would cost much more to recreate piece by piece, and you’d still need to do the setup work.
This isn’t a collector’s guitar — it’s a player’s guitar, for someone who appreciates tone over polish and knows a smart build when they see one.
Key Features
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Fender MIM Stratocaster body (ivory finish with visible wear)
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Aftermarket tortoiseshell pickguard
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Allparts soft-V maple neck with original Fender tuners
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GFS AlNiCo vintage-voiced pickups – low output, clear and dynamic
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CTS pots and Oak Grigsby 5-way switch
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Professionally set up – low-medium action, excellent tuning stability
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Built and tested in-shop
Tone Tips & Uses
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Vintage Clean Chime: Neck pickup into a clean amp with reverb gives you that early-’60s glassiness and dynamic touch response.
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Blues & Roots: Middle position, light overdrive – articulate and punchy without harsh highs.
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Classic Rock Crunch: Bridge pickup through a tube amp, volume at 8 for that SRV-meets-Knopfler bite.
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Modder’s Platform: Every component is serviceable and upgradable — a perfect base for tone experimentation.
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Studio Utility: Low noise floor and balanced pickup output make it a reliable tracking instrument.