| "Frankenstein" is a Jap Strat
purchased in an Allentown pawn shop back in 1996, when you couldn't give a
Jap Strat away. The serial number is E934611, which I was told was
actually a 1984 assembly. Now they're collectable to a degree, but it's
too late. The only thing original and not upgraded with better American
parts is the wood body itself, the neck, and bridge. Follow me now through
an incredible tale and testimony to the Stratocaster in general, and a
special testimony to Frankenstein, or "Frank", a true work horse
that has literally been put back together time and time again with parts
from Fender USA to Home Depot
The Neck of Frankenstein:
No bolts in him, but plenty of scars. From the back here you can see
the finish is totally worn thru. This is 9 years of playing and abuse. It
was a lovely shiny gloss when I got it, no nicks, nothing ugly about it. Of course, the obvious alteration is the angled locking tuning
pegs. This not only a functional design, but a practical
modification: after they were broken into that direction often enough I
just started mounting them that way. A side benefit was that this angle
created ease in tuning while the guitar is hanging from your own neck,
which is where it belongs!
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