For the recording of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, John used what was reportedly a late-’50s sunburst Stratocaster. However, this claim raises some issues. For the guitar to be from the late ’50s, it would need to have a maple fretboard, as rosewood fretboards were only introduced in May 1959. Based on the extensive documentation of the gear John used on the album (as seen in Funky Monks), none of the guitars featured maple necks, which suggests John may have been mistaken in his statement.
My main guitar was a ’58 Strat, though I used a Les Paul reissue on a couple of things. I also have a ’57 Strat, which someone had screwed up by putting on those big stupid frets that everyone uses these days. I vomited and told them to make it fretless. That’s what I used for the “Mellowship Slinky” solo.
Guitar Player (USA), October 1991
Interestingly, the guitar John referred to as a ’57 Stratocaster also had a rosewood fretboard, according to photos (you can read about it here – Fender Fretless Stratocaster (BSSM). This suggests that John either wasn’t particularly concerned about knowing the exact details of the guitars he used at the time or may have intentionally provided inaccurate information.
It’s also important to note that this is not the same guitar fans commonly associate with John’s later years. This particular Stratocaster was used between mid-1991 and mid-1992, before John left the band. A few Strats were seen briefly in the 1993 short documentary Stuff filmed at John’s house, and this guitar could have been among them. However, none of these guitars were used when John rejoined the band in 1998.
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Sorry – a bot did that for some reason. I just approved both of your comments.
I have a 58 strat with rosewood ass well. Often times the body and the neck are different years
Yeah, it could be a “part-caster” – maybe that would explain it.