          206 - 141019
Inspiration    Imagined 1954 Fender Stratocaster Prototype
This is the second Zachary ZS in the series of Imagined Stratocaster prototypes. Here you see a further evolution of what could have been a possible Stratocaster Prototype, prior to the actual introduction and production of this guitar model in 1954.
This is a rather Gibson-inspired Stratocaster. Here I decided to use a one piece Mahogany body and a cherry red Nitrocellulose lacquer paint and a vintage Gibson scale length for the neck. These are all Gibson hallmarks and not characteristics of Fender. Yes, I took some artistic liberty and personal fantasy in creating this unique instrument; a sort of merging of Gibson and Fender features. This results in a rare and one of a kind instrument. It could be also considered as a merging of the best features of Gibson and Fender.
I again decided to go to a more primitive implementation, which evokes the more primitive Telecaster, a more primitive predecessor of the Stratocaster. This is seen in the sharp body edges, Telecaster jack plate, and absence of body comfort-contours.
Here you find an unmatched design and setup. The superior vibrato unit, the proprietary nut and string retainer bar material, the stainless steel frets, custom vibrato springs, along with the perfect fretwork and setup, results in an action, playing quality and tuning stability, which is unmatched. Visually this guitar, as well as the one before it (205 151019) may look primitive, however they are high performance.
The pickups are hand wound by me and matched as a set, with beveled magnets and correctly staggered pole magnets, with the middle pickup being RWRP to buck the hum in positions 3 and 5 of the selector switch.
Both the body and the neck are sprayed with thin coat of translucent nitrocellulose lacquer and then reliced.Â
