{"product_id":"stevie-squier-20th-anniversary-stratocaster-2002-aged-cream","title":"Stevie! - Squier 20th Anniversary Stratocaster • 2002 • Aged Cream","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eMeet Stevie!\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eSquier 20th Anniversary Stratocaster • 2002 • Aged Cream\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eSome guitars arrive needing their scars removed. Stevie arrived with scars worth keeping, so we’ve preserved and upgraded her, and she’s ready to get out there again!\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eBuilt in 2002 to mark Squier’s 20th Anniversary, Stevie has spent the intervening 24 years acquiring the sort of wear that can’t convincingly be ordered from a catalogue.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eHer finish has worn through around the forearm contour, edges, horns and back, leaving genuine evidence of years of playing rather than somebody attacking a perfectly innocent guitar with sandpaper on a Tuesday afternoon.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eSo we didn’t restore the finish, we preserved it.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eStevie’s body was professionally lacquered for us by Farrout Motorcycles in Congleton, sealing her existing road wear beneath a protective finish. Nothing has been artificially added or distressed. Every scar you see is one she arrived with, now protected so that the story already written into her body can hopefully survive another few decades.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eUnderneath all that history is the familiar Strat formula: double-cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 21 frets and the classic 25.5” scale length. A six-saddle tremolo sits at the business end, accompanied by the traditional master volume, twin tone controls and five-way selector.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eBut Stevie has acquired a little more Fender DNA along the way.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eHer original Squier pickups have been replaced with a genuine set of 1990s Fender Stratocaster single coils from a Mexican-made Fender Strat, retaining the traditional SSS layout while giving her the benefit of a proper vintage Fender pickup set.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eThey’re now sitting beneath a replacement tortoiseshell pickguard which, frankly, looks like it was made for that aged cream and road-worn finish.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eWe haven’t thrown her history away, though! Stevie’s original 2002 Squier pickups AND original pickguard will be included, so her next human can enjoy her exactly as we’ve built her or return her to original specification in the future.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eShe’s also been fitted with Fender Infinity strap locks, which seems particularly appropriate for a Strat that already looks as though standing politely in the corner has never really been her thing.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eTurn her over and you’ll find that lovely 20th Anniversary Squier neck plate, commemorating 1982–2002, while the headstock carries the corresponding anniversary marking alongside the Squier Stratocaster logo.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eAnd, of course, she hasn’t escaped the workshop. Stevie has been stripped down, thoroughly cleaned and carefully rebuilt. Her hardware and electronics have been checked, her fretboard cleaned and conditioned, her frets attended to, and she’s received a full setup.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eWe’ve restrung her with Ernie Ball Extra Slinkys (8–38). The lighter gauge gives Stevie a wonderfully easy, responsive feel under the fingers, makes bends and vibrato particularly effortless and suits the slinky, expressive character we wanted from this Strat. They also make her an especially approachable guitar for players who prefer a lighter touch, without taking away that unmistakable Strat snap and sparkle.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eWhat we haven’t done is try to make her look new, because that would rather miss the point.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eStevie isn’t a mint 2002 Squier.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eShe’s a 24-year-old Strat with genuine road wear, ’90s Fender pickups, a professionally preserved finish and every mark she earned still visible underneath it.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eThere are thousands upon thousands of cream Stratocasters in the world.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eThere is only one that looks exactly like Stevie.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eWe’d quite like her next person to add another 24 years to the story. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"html-span xexx8yu xyri2b x18d9i69 x1c1uobl x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xat24cr xm2jcoa x1mpyi22 xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eOriginal 2002 Squier pickguard and pickup set included.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003eAs always, Stevie leaves us fully set up, restrung and ready to play.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Stray Chord","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58469290213640,"sku":null,"price":260.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1059\/2829\/4664\/files\/image0_66ec319b-1a31-4c42-b7a3-88c1bab5f3db.jpg?v=1787087916","url":"https:\/\/thestraychord.com\/products\/stevie-squier-20th-anniversary-stratocaster-2002-aged-cream","provider":"The Stray Chord","version":"1.0","type":"link"}