G'day, and welcome to Nate Michaels Premium Jams, where I get to carry on about my gear and other music related nonsense…

Today I want to talk about my first strat; the “59” strat. 

I learnt a lot about strats through this instrument. I discovered what I love in one, and what I don't. This one was a Mexican player 1 strat with a very dark Pau Ferro fingerboard, in sunburst poly finish. I immediately disliked the modern stock pickups, and got a custom 59 pearloid guard from JJ's guitar pickups. 

The 59 pickup set is right in the middle of my strat tones, some of the warmth of the 54s and some of the bite of the 65's. Think SRV and blues rock tones. Heres a little jam showing what it can do: 

https://youtube.com/shorts/IJgxHVJ6lFo?feature=share

The tale of the two-point trem…. 

In short, I don't like it. I find them less sturdy and less forgiving than the vintage style ones I have in other strats. That being said, I deck this guitar like a hard tail so it doesn't bother me too much. 

At one point in time this guitar was blocked Eric Clapton style, but I find that this sucks some of the spring noise and character out of strats. Just decked is a happy middle ground for me. 

There is always a special place in your heart for your first guitars, and while this guitar isn't perfect, it sounds great and was a sound first strat purchase. 

If you made it this far, I appreciate it, and hope you will stick around for more guitar related nonsense in the future. 

Cheers, 

Nate