Guitars: 1954 Fender Stratocaster


On the way home from a gig one Saturday, got a text from a friend with the picture of this '54 Strat that a local store had for sale. Needless to say, the price was VERY right, and I got over to the store right before closing. It was a gut decision, but I slapped down the cash for it and I don't regret it one bit. It is a refret with some 60's parts, and is a truly bad ass instrument. This guitar belonged to a local player named Ray Allen Abbott who passed a few years ago. According to his wife, he had owned this guitar since the mid-70's and played it a lot. It was his favorite guitar.

'54 Strat

Has some respray around the edges but most of the finish is original.

'54 Strat

6/54 Ash body. More dark tonewood than alder, but extremely complex, especially at high volumes. Note I added a '69 neckplate as the original was long gone.

'54 Strat

Tadeo Gomez initials.

'54 Strat

'54 Strat

I have since replaced the incorrect Klusons (most likely from an old steel guitar) with a nice set of Dual-line mid-60s Klusons.

'54 Strat

Playing the '54 at a SA Blue Cats gig in 2012. Mike Sanders is on Vocals.

'54 Strat Case

I was able to score an original, fairly decent case for relatively cheap off eBay in Feb 2013. I dunno why the case sold for about half of the going rate, but maybe it ending during the Super Bowl had something to do with it.

'54 Strat

Closeup shot of the guard. Rewind from '54 and two original October '64 pickups along with the '64 harness.

'54 Edgewater

Ripping it up in Feb. 2014 at a Blues Jam in Edgewater, MD.

'54 Strat Hands

Ah, a photo playing in a bar along with the Colorado Kool-Aid. How appropriate!

'54 Strat

Giving her a practice workout thru my 1960 Bassman and pair of Tube Screamers.