Ariel Posen's recent Custom Shop signature Stratocaster guitar is not only stunning but also draws inspiration from an unexpected source - the Jazzmaster.
In a recent unveiling, Fender has introduced a new Custom Shop Stratocaster, inspired by a Jazzmaster, for Canadian slide maestro and fuzz connoisseur, Ariel Posen. This limited-edition guitar, designed to capture the qualities that Posen finds most comfortable in a Stratocaster, offers a unique fusion of Strat and Jazzmaster features.
The guitar boasts a hybrid design, combining the ergonomics of a Stratocaster with the sonic qualities reminiscent of a Jazzmaster. The body is crafted from two-piece roasted alder, while the neck is quartersawn AA flamed maple. The fingerboard is round-laminated AAA rosewood with pearl dot inlays, and it sports a 9.5" radius, making it ideal for various playing styles.
One of the key features of this custom Strat is the custom AP-90 pickups. These pickups, designed in collaboration with Tim Shaw, Fender's esteemed pickup designer, are essentially tweaked Jazzmaster pickups. They aim to capture the full spectrum of Posen's sonic vocabulary, from swampy blues to neo soul and rock. The AP90s pickups provide an "open and airy" quality similar to a Jazzmaster, as Posen himself attests.
The neck pickup, in particular, is a standout feature, as it is designed to deliver a warm, bassy tone that is perfect for blues and R&B. The bridge pickup, on the other hand, offers a bright, punchy sound that is ideal for rock and funk.
The guitar also features vintage-style tuners, a bone nut, and 21 Jescar Vintage frets. The solid-colour finish of the guitar is Faded Lake Placid Blue Relic, a finish that is on-brand for Posen. The cupcake tone and volume knobs on the guitar are brown to match the pickup inserts, and the switch tips are amber.
Inside the hardshell case, you'll find a custom leather strap, one of Posen's signature brass guitar slides, signature guitar picks from Dunlop, and a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
While the Limited Edition Ariel Posen Stratocaster comes with a premium price tag of approximately $6,000, it offers a versatility that caters to a wide range of musical genres, reflecting Posen's diverse playing style. For those seeking a more budget-friendly alternative, the Squier Paranormal Strat could be a viable option.
For more details about this custom Fender Stratocaster, head over to the Fender Custom Shop. It's an investment that serious musicians might find worthy, as Ariel Posen himself considers it the most genuine and authentic representation of what he's looking for in a guitar.
This limited-edition Stratocaster, with its hybrid design, offers a unique fusion of technology (the custom AP-90 pickups, designed in collaboration with Fender's esteemed pickup designer Tim Shaw, are essentially tweaked Jazzmaster pickups) and gadgets (the guitar comes with a custom leather strap, one of Posen's signature brass guitar slides, signature guitar picks from Dunlop, and a Certificate of Authenticity).
