My Fiesta Red Stratocaster

Fiesta Red

Fiesta Red

Well-Known Member
Country flag
The first (and only, to date) Stratocaster that’s ever been a part of my guitarsenal was bought for $750 in summer of 1993, from the fantabulous but lamentedly defunct JAM Music and Sound.

The expenditure of this money was the first major argument my wife (we’d been married three months) and I ever had…it’s a long story—and she was ultimately right—but I still have the Strat, so I guess it’s a draw.

The year model and model name is a 1992 US Vintage ‘62 Stratocaster. I kept it dead-stock for about five years or so, but since I couldn’t afford any other guitars, I started customizing it; after about 4 years, it was complete.

I know a lot of people hate Poly finishes, but the spectacular shape of this guitar speaks to the toughness of the finish (and the fact that I baby my equipment). I don’t mind Poly finishes at all.

The first picture is when the guitar was less than a year old…the others were taken in 2023.

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This guitar was my #1 from 1993 to c.2008, when it was supplanted by my pinstriped Telecaster…but this one still makes regular appearances in recordings, gigs, rehearsals and jams.

I don’t know why I am posting this, but here it is…
 
Modifications:
(In no particular order)

-Decked and blocked tremolo with small stack of quarters.

-Changed pickups to Pete Biltoft Vintage Vibe SP-90’s

-Changed pickguard from white to aged white mother of pearl

-Changed knobs, pickup covers and back trem spring cover from white to aged white

-Changed stock 3-way switch to 5-way switch

-Added Schaller strap lock strap buttons

-Changed center TONE knob to a push/pull potentiometer, which adds the bridge pickup to wherever the 5-way switch is set (enables Neck + Bridge or all three pickups on at once)

-Added “CUSTOM” badge to “ashtray” bridge cover

-Changed out stock neck plate with custom one etched with Screamin’ Armadillos band logo and the nickname of the guitar “Fiesta Red”

-Added a vinyl sticker of my signature to the back of the headstock

-Added sticker of my band’s logo to trem spring cover plate
 
My first car (1964 Ford Falcon Futura) had been painted Fiesta Red before I bought it; it was an official Ford color, but usually found on the 1950’s Thunderbirds.

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In the early 90’s, I bought a leather jacket with some bright burnt orange panels on the back, which looked like the same shade of fiesta red my car had been painted…then I bought this guitar in 1993, which matched the car and the jacket. It has not faded (much, if at all) in the almost-30 years since buying it.

Either way, it’s one of my favorite hues for guitars (and cars and clothes…)
 
Fiesta Red said:
The first (and only, to date) Stratocaster that’s ever been a part of my guitarsenal was bought for $750 in summer of 1993, from the fantabulous but lamentedly defunct JAM Music and Sound.

The expenditure of this money was the first major argument my wife (we’d been married three months) and I ever had…it’s a long story—and she was ultimately right—but I still have the Strat, so I guess it’s a draw.

The year model and model name is a 1992 US Vintage ‘62 Stratocaster. I kept it dead-stock for about five years or so, but since I couldn’t afford any other guitars, I started customizing it; after about 4 years, it was complete.

I know a lot of people hate Poly finishes, but the spectacular shape of this guitar speaks to the toughness of the finish (and the fact that I baby my equipment). I don’t mind Poly finishes at all.

The first picture is when the guitar was less than a year old…the others were taken in 2023.

3720B13E-C3D1-48F8-8C46-27F1463E239F.jpeg

38D5D2F6-8FE2-4D80-B807-90A24167941E.jpeg

610E9C58-131E-460C-9F9B-F8D1753EB767.jpeg

FF5EFEBE-3F6F-491F-B852-BE0205594E77.jpeg

79783CA3-C1B5-4337-AD22-F9D03B985140.jpeg



This guitar was my #1 from 1993 to c.2008, when it was supplanted by my pinstriped Telecaster…but this one still makes regular appearances in recordings, gigs, rehearsals and jams.

I don’t know why I am posting this, but here it is…
Click to expand...
You got old. :grin:
 
Love it, everything about it, the story, making it your own, everything. And Fiesta Red is one of the greatest of all classic colors - the Strat I just bought is Fiesta Red.

No hate for poly finished on a Fender here. They legitimately switched to using poly so long ago it really doesn't bother me, and the poly really is more durable.
Have to say though, if Gibson switched to poly it would be a major turn-off for me.
 
Good story I've only had one Fiesta Red Stratocaster a 1988 Strat Plus it was a string braking piece of junk for me
I went back to Pre Cbs Strats next 1989 got a PRS Custom 24 10 top the most I ever paid for a new guitar at that time
the PRS never broke strings or went out of tune sometimes our band was playing 6 nights per week back then
Last year acquired 4 PRS guitars but in public I play a Peavey HP2 NOS and a 1992 Parker Fly Deluxe
I'm a paranoid have had guitars stolen
 
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