The one that got away

[Anonymous]

What is the guitar that you regret not buying when you had the chance? I'm sure we all see lots of guitars that we would have liked to buy, but are there any that stand out in your memory?

For me, it's the Fender Japan version of SRV's "Charley" Strat - the gleaming white one with matching headstock & lipstick tube pickups. I think it was Marcus who posted a link to one of the FJ Strats being sold in Japan, & I've always regretted not grabbing it - so beautiful. I also thought it was kinda funny that Fender Japan copied a Strat that wasn't even made by Fender in the first place!

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jcdisciples.org/musicians/srv/guitar/art/charlie_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.jcdisciples.org/musicians/srv/guitar/charlie.html&usg=__m8s20XnI69FkbWDT22SWHmkjpZM=&h=334&w=348&sz=36&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=MvHDYSEdbbq8NM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstevie%2Bray%2Bvaughan%2Bcharley%2Bstrat%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GBfficial%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1

Mike

 

[Dave_Mc]

not the end of the world or anything, but about a year ago i stopped bidding on a (newer) MIJ tokai breezysound when it hit about ?220 (that's what it went for), when in hindsight considering Breezysounds' relative rarity compared to goldstars (which I only realised later), I should probably have bid a little higher. Considering what I've seen more recent ones go for it'd have been easily worth ?250, especially considering it was one of the few colours I like. Not really that rare or sought-after a guitar, just I haven't seen any go for anything near as cheap since, I've seen a couple go for over ?400!

Though with most of the guitars I've missed, something nicer has come along later which I wouldn't have been able to buy had I bought the first one, kind of thing. So I'm never too worried if I miss out.

 

[JohnA]

There have been a few, but nothing I really kick myself for not buying, normally if I see something I REALLY like I'll buy it and worry about the consequences later

Mike, Bacchus do a Charley strat, that would probably be a nice one to get your hands on!

 

[Anonymous]

Mike, Bacchus do a Charley strat, that would probably be a nice one to get your hands on!

Huge fat neck, I assume? Why don't you buy one in time for the next convention, & if I like it, I'll take it off your hands?

:wink:

 

[JohnA]

Mike, Bacchus do a Charley strat, that would probably be a nice one to get your hands on!

Huge fat neck, I assume? Why don't you buy one in time for the next convention, & if I like it, I'll take it off your hands?

:wink:

I probably would buy one if I could find one, I'll keep my eyes peeled :wink:

 

[youami]

For me, it's the Fender Japan version of SRV's "Charley" Strat - the gleaming white one with matching headstock & lipstick tube pickups. I think it was Marcus who posted a link to one of the FJ Strats being sold in Japan, & I've always regretted not grabbing it - so beautiful. I also thought it was kinda funny that Fender Japan copied a Strat that wasn't even made by Fender in the first place!

Mike, there are two of them available as we speak on www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box , just search for ST62-SPL. Both are priced at just under 70,000 Yen. Not cheap for a Fender Japan, but not bad for a very unique guitar. Imagine how much a Fender US Custom Shop Charley copy would cost you!

Here's one of them:

http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/ubox.cgi?T=syosai&sline=3046&print=1&keys2=yokohama%40ishibashi%2Eco%2Ejp&tid=list3

 

[Anonymous]

Oh dear....

 

[JohnA]

Well spotted youami!! Do you know if the Fender Japan ones are routed as normal for three standard single coild, or have smaller routs for the lipstick pickups?

 

[youami]

Sorry, no idea about the pickup routing.

Here's one of the Bacchus Charleys:

http://www.japanvintageguitars.com/images/large/Bacchus%20SRV.JPG

I prefer the look of the Fender Japan version, as it has the correct colour white and the pickups are in better proportion.

 

[JohnA]

I agree the Fender one looks better!

 

[youami]

Oh, and here's one of the originals... for slightly more money lol:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SRV-CHARLEY-WIRZ-CUSTOM-MADE-LIPSTICK-SPECIAL-4_W0QQitemZ190311520127QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item2c4f73577f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Actually, I prefer the look of the Fender Japan to both of the others, the lipstick pickups just look too big on the original.

 

[SUSHI GUY]

http://1484.bz/c/search.cgi?mode=find&cond=AND&view=20&word=ST62&part=0&x=13&y=12

Hey Mike, check this link. It's Ishibashi's F/J 1962 Strat stock list.
At least 7 of that Charley Strat you are talking about
are there right now. Some of them are on the special sale price!

 

[youami]

Ok Mike, we want photos and a report once you've received your guitar from Ishibashi!

Oh, and back on topic, the one that got away from me was my Fernandes Mary Kaye...why I ever sold that one is beyond me.

 

[3pupLPC]

About 7 years ago, there was a 1968 SG standard that had been refinished Lake Placid metallic blue... I was watching it planning to bid and lost track of time and missed the close... :evil: ended up going for $845.00.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok Mike, we want photos and a report once you've received your guitar from Ishibashi!

The Fender is gorgeous, but I'm worried that it might have a big chunky neck, especially because of the SRV connection. Could somebody else please buy one, & tell me what the neck is like? :wink:

If it's a slim neck, I might get one.....

 

[youami]

Here's the specs:

BODY : Alder
NECK : Maple Oval Type , 324 Scale
FRETBOARD : Rosewood, 184R, 21 Frets
PICKUPS : Seymour Duncan Lipstick Tube(SLS-1)
CONTROLS : 1 Volume 1 Tone
BRIDGE : 6 Section Chrome Saddle
COLOR : WHT

Oval type is the standard 57/62 neck shape for Fender Japan, so if you've ever tried one of them, you'll know what to expect. A few of the shops in Denmark St have got various Fender Japan strats.

 

[Anonymous]

Oval type is the standard 57/62 neck shape for Fender Japan, so if you've ever tried one of them, you'll know what to expect. A few of the shops in Denmark St have got various Fender Japan strats.

OK thanks, that does make sense. In that case the necks will be fatter than the Tokai necks I love, so probably not a sensible buy.