• Registered: 2007-07-03
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Joe's Gold Strat + Tom Dowd DVD

Hi,

This seems to be a popular item. I was wondering if anyone knows what model strat Joe's gold strat is ie is it a 62 reissue, genuine 60's etc. The reason I ask is that I saw Joe on the front of Vintage Guitar (great article) and a friend of mine has a Fender Strat with the gold sparkle finish, gold hardware etc which looks exactly the same but has never been able to find out much about it.

On another track, I have a DVD of Tom Dowd in which Joe features in the studio and interview. A great DVD and one that raised Joe's profile for me (not a lot of exposure here in Australia).

If anyone can help re the strat it would be much appreciated.

  • Rick
  • Platinum
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 317

Re: Joe's Gold Strat + Tom Dowd DVD

Hi Guitam, Joe's gold strat was the neck and guts of a real 65 strat

the body was a Fender Custom Shop Body he had repainted.
it's probably seen a lot of pickups, but at one time they were the original
65s rewound by Lindy Fralin

There is a really cool Tonequest report that describes this
shoot me an email, and I'll send it to  you



and that DVD is cool, really dig the solo Joes does

  • Registered: 2007-05-12
  • Posts: 11

Re: Joe's Gold Strat + Tom Dowd DVD

I don't think the body was repainted. I've heard that he took a Custom Shop Strat in Gold Sparkle and then used the neck of a 1965 strat that his dad acquired. I'm not really sure

I wonder if this is the model that he used for the body on that guitar.

http://users.skynet.be/thekingofstring/ … caster.htm

  • From: Tampa, Fl.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 870

Re: Joe's Gold Strat + Tom Dowd DVD

gibson59lp wrote:

I don't think the body was repainted. I've heard that he took a Custom Shop Strat in Gold Sparkle and then used the neck of a 1965 strat that his dad acquired. I'm not really sure

I wonder if this is the model that he used for the body on that guitar.

http://users.skynet.be/thekingofstring/ … caster.htm

Yeah I think the body is straight from the Custom Shop- no re-painting... I heard Joe say that his dad had all the parts (he owns a vintage guitar store) but doesnt like selling non-original guitars and since Len wasn't going to sell it, Joe decided to put them together and he said something like "when I put the '65 neck on the body, the guitar just exploded with tone"

Hope this helps some
Scott

"Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought-- particularly for people who can never remember where they have left things." - Woody Allen

http://www.last.fm/user/skynyrd128
  • From: Glasgow,Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-09-26
  • Posts: 460

Re: Joe's Gold Strat + Tom Dowd DVD

kwsjb1238 wrote:
gibson59lp wrote:

I don't think the body was repainted. I've heard that he took a Custom Shop Strat in Gold Sparkle and then used the neck of a 1965 strat that his dad acquired. I'm not really sure

I wonder if this is the model that he used for the body on that guitar.

http://users.skynet.be/thekingofstring/ … caster.htm

Yeah I think the body is straight from the Custom Shop- no re-painting... I heard Joe say that his dad had all the parts (he owns a vintage guitar store) but doesnt like selling non-original guitars and since Len wasn't going to sell it, Joe decided to put them together and he said something like "when I put the '65 neck on the body, the guitar just exploded with tone"

Hope this helps some
Scott

I'm sure I read somewhere that he had it painted specially. I seem to remember it was in an interview with Joe himself. Could be wrong though! If I remember where I read or heard this I will come back to you. No matter how it came to be that way it is one lovely axe.


Cheers

millhouse smile

"Stars fall like tears from your eyes"
  • Jess
  • Platinum
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  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 312

Re: Joe's Gold Strat + Tom Dowd DVD

Yeah in the Tonequest article he said it was originally a gold custom shop model but had a maple neck, as soon as he changed the pickups/electronics and the neck to that of a vintage 60's strat it "exploded with tone".

-Jess
Check out my band Beth and The Black Cat Bones http://www.myspace.com/bethandtheblackcatbones
Also my own page for my guitar playing http://www.myspace.com/jesszub
  • From: Tampa, Fl.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 870

Re: Joe's Gold Strat + Tom Dowd DVD

Jess wrote:

Yeah in the Tonequest article he said it was originally a gold custom shop model but had a maple neck, as soon as he changed the pickups/electronics and the neck to that of a vintage 60's strat it "exploded with tone".

Ahh- thats where I read that... thanks Jess!

"Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought-- particularly for people who can never remember where they have left things." - Woody Allen

http://www.last.fm/user/skynyrd128
  • Registered: 2007-05-12
  • Posts: 11

Re: Joe's Gold Strat + Tom Dowd DVD

http://users.skynet.be/thekingofstring/ … caster.htm

Click the link. That is a 1997 custom shop gold sparkle strat with a maple neck built by John English.

Is it possible that Joe Bonamassa bought this exact same guitar and used the body and combined it with a 1965 strat neck?