What makes one ordinary and another out of this world? It’s a question players have pondered for the last seven decades – and who better to explain than Master Builders Paul Waller and Austin MacNutt of Fender’s Custom Shop. We join them to talk vintage tone, miracle mods and sanding – lots of sanding..
. “For me, it’s early ’60s. I think that’s when the Strat really started to come into its own.
Putting the rosewood on there, slimming out the neck, and the pickups started getting dialled in to really make what pure Strat sounds are for me.” “I like the late-’50s Strats – just the classic look. They all look great, but I feel like they really got it right, right out of the gate.
” “I personally like just under 8lbs – maybe 73⁄4lbs.” “Yeah, that’s a good range. I’m not terribly picky about it, honestly.
I’ve got Strats all over the weight spectrum [in my personal collection] and I don’t tend to go for one more than the other because of the weight – it doesn’t affect my choice as much as [it might for] some people.” “I have go to with ash. I love the look of it, especially if you can get a nice, lightweight piece.
And they’re out there. I like seeing the grain – it’s a little more interesting than an alder body, speaking personally.” “Yeah, I really like ash-body Strats and it’s a dirty little secret that, because I like the ’60s neck, when I get a customer that orders an ash-body ’60s, I’m like, ‘My dude!’.
