frettedamericana | 1 decade ago
This "John English "Prototype #02" "Freddie Tavares Aloha" Stratocaster was made in August 1994. It weighs just 7.80 lbs. and has a comfortable nut width of just over 1 5/8 inches, a medium-to-thin neck profile, and a scale length of 25 1/2 inches. Chrome-nickel plated Aluminium body, hand engraved with a Hawaiian scene by master artisan Ron Chacey, contoured on back and lower bass bout, and one-piece highly figured 'birds-eye' maple neck and fretboard with 22 frets and green 'abalone' dot position markers and Aloha and palm tree pearl inlays by Larry Sifel. Four-bolt neck plate engraved "FREDDIE TAVARES / "ALOHA" / PROTO #02". On the end of the neck, written in black ink is "DD# 4 PROTO / J. English 8-94". Aluminium tremolo cover engraved "Freddie Tavares / Commemorative / Aloha / Stratocaster". Three 'Single Lace Sensor' pickups with specially wound outputs of 7.20k, 7.17k, and 6.82k, respectively. Specially hand engraved chrome-nickel plated aluminium pickguard (continuing Ron Chacey's Hawaiian scene from the body) with eight screws. Three controls (one volume, two tone) plus five-way selector switch. Special chrome Stratocaster knobs with knurled sides. Fender "Synchronized Tremolo" combined 'six-saddle' bridge/tailpiece, special chrome tremolo arm. This 'Prototype' is in near mint (9.25) condition and is housed in it's original baby blue leather Custom Shop gig bag which in turn is housed in the original SKB flightcase.
