The Frank Jr,
or
Son Of Frankenstein
story
Once upon a
time there was a Jap Strat that was thrown on every floor from Chicago to London
in a punk band called the FUX. He was always being put back together again
and Frankenstein still lives and can be seen on tours and at FUX shows to this
day. However, vicious abuse was taking it's toll....
But
one day a
fairy god-sponsor appeared to Roman and said "Behold, I present you with a
shiny new American standard Stratocaster. Take this and make it your own for
some tours, and fear not the cost or damage that may occur...in other words,
don't be a pussy with it just because it's shiny and new."
"No
problem!" said Roman with glee, and the shiny new Strat was thrown on the
A&R Assembly bench for a FUX retro-fit in order to endure the hardships of
FUX road life. It was made better, and
stronger...meaner.
Frank Jr
traveled to snow covered beer infested Boston, death metal ravaged parts of
Connecticut, and seedy transvestite hiding Russian tea-rooms in New York City...
and plenty of "volatile punk points in between." Frank Jr tried and
tried to hold up to the wrath of war that is a FUX show. He took some real hits,
gave some of his own, but finally succumbed
like most mortal strats must eventually do.
That didn't
stop the mad scientists at A&R Assembly. They had the experience and the
power to breathe new life into the expired Frank. He was put back in the lab
like his predecessor Frankenstein Sr and bolted back together again. Now he's
back...and he wants REVENGE!
Below you
can see Frank Jr in the beginning, when he was virgin and new, and
the end, as a battle-scarred seasoned veteran ready for more that will take no
quarter.
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| Here you see a brand new, 2004 (Fender 50th Anniversary) Stratocaster | Close up of the 2004, to show you a flawless, unmarked Stratocaster. |
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| Hard core FUX mods completed:
1) In addition to Roman's theme graphics, the pickup assembly has been wired to be replaceable with other modified assemblies with the twist of two wire nuts. Pop it out, untwist, pop another one in. Wire nut it together, screw back on and plug it in! 2) When you yank the pickup assembly it's a good time to try any new pickup configurations. Running through high volume Marshall stacks with front end distortion makes the double blade D'Marzio hotrails (humbuckers) ideal for the FUX act. There's a mini-toggle for coil tapping and getting some single coil tone. 3) "Roll bar" over bottom tone pot has stopped a lot of these pots from being sheared right off...which is why we had to make swappable pickup assemblies in the first place. 4) Twin #8 eyehook "strap locks" on the bottom enable this strat to be stood upright against an amp or hot sexy thigh without taking a header like most Gibson SG's are famous for. Another on the horn makes sure that this baby STAYS LOCKED onto your strap. These are the only ones that haven't failed other than just breaking right off from a fatal hit. Still, you just replace at about ten cents a pop. Spring lock "dog-leash clips" (not shown) for your strap cost about $1.50 5) The tuners are repositioned at an angle. No drilling or permanent changes are required. This stops them from being busted back into that position anyway. |
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| A quick death: Frank Jr. makes it through about 6 months before splitting in half exactly the way the original did. |
Front view: Gorilla glue was the tactic now, and good old mending brackets. The operation is a success and Frank is ready to have his neck re-attached. | Back view: Look closely, that's a "50th Anniversary" neckplate |
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Beware the Son of Frankenstein!! |
Original Frankenstein and
Son Of Frankenstein Saga
to be continued...
(Bride of Frankenstein?!?)
See the Original Frankenstein and Son Of Frankenstein at a FUX show near you!
Get back to the Guitar Gallery!
