Fender Pink Paisley and Floral Stratocaster Review Scott Grove

[knucklebut420]

Fenders have been crap since just after the oversized head stock mid 70's

[groovydjs]

@knucklebut420 Most have been. There have been some great ones, like pretty much everything made in Japan, the Plus series from 1987-1997 in USA etc. but most others have not been great.

[evilcowboy]

I got a chance to get one of these its in a local shop for $550 I think i'm gonna grab it but I will be looking for the E serial and the 3 bolt neck just to make sure.

[groovydjs]

@evilcowboy Very cool! The E serial number versions are very cool since they are actually a reissue of a 1972 axe for the most part (not that there was ever a paisley or floral in 1972....it's just the STYLE of the guitar that is from 1972). The later ones are simply based on a Strat from another year. Let me know if you grab it. These are just too cool not to have a least one in the collection. Happy New Year!

[Joeskint]

I remember seeing an original blue floral in a guitar shop in London in the late eighties but couldn't afford it - I got one of the blue floral reissues about ten years ago and now I've replaced the pickups with Fralin Woodstock 69's, added an 11 hole WD pickguard and replaced the trem with a callaham unit and it's my go to axe - I'd love a mint '80s one. though.

[groovydjs]

@Joeskint Very cool. You didn't like the pickups, pickguard or the trem? Just curious. Yeah, they are so cool. My one that I used for a couple of decades had some major mods too.

[BrianMorrison71]

Man, look at that horrible neck pocket! that's at least 1/8" gap!!!

[groovydjs]

@BrianMorrison71 But yet it kicks ass over anything that you have. Amazing huh?

[tecumseh22]

I bought my new in 1988. Blue flowered. Believe it or not at the time they couldnt get rid of it.

[groovydjs]

@tecumseh22 I hear you my friend. It was the same way for my first one. The thing sat on the wall for a couple of YEARS at the music store. Nobody wanted anything to do with it. I finally gave in. It was like when Charlie Brown brings home the poor, little Christmas Tree that nobody wanted and then it ended up being the grandest tree of all. lol Same thing. I still have my first Paisley Strat and it was my main axe that traveled all over the world with me for 20 years! Love it!

[thomastheawesomeguy]

I want one sooooo bad

where did you get yours?

[groovydjs]

@thomastheawesomeguy I actually picked this one up in Indianapolis at my regular place there called I.R.C. Music. Someone had sold the store their matching Strat and Tele set and I talked them into letting me have it in as new condition for about $700.00 back then. Not a bad deal at all.

[thomastheawesomeguy]

@groovydjs wow that is an amazing deal! I can't find one anywhere new for a reasonable price.

[groovydjs]

@thomastheawesomeguy I bought a guitar from a music store just a couple of weeks ago and they asked me if I wanted a BRAND NEW paisley Strat for $560.00 with the case and all and I turned it down. I know I should've just said yeah, then simply turned around and resold it. Where were you when I needed to know that you wanted one? lol

[thomastheawesomeguy]

@groovydjs  hahaha if you ever get that deal again by it and I will buy it from you! lol

[groovydjs]

@thomastheawesomeguy He still might give me that deal. He simply doesn't seem to be able to sell it in his location. I'll give him a shout.

[thomastheawesomeguy]

@groovydjs that would be great. THanks a lot

[Odinsgade]

Whores have 8 holes...

[groovydjs]

@Odinsgade As does my blow up girlfriend.

[Odinsgade]

@groovydjs

Haha nice one.

I love your guitar. I always wanted a pink guitar.

They look so cool. :D

[groovydjs]

@Odinsgade Thanks much! I love these pink paisley things. Just funky enough to be cool, and you have to be secure enough in your manhood to handle the morons in the crowd who give you hell for playing one.  Whenever they make fun of what it looks like, I always get on the microphone and ask them to come up to the stage and let me see a picture of their wife or boyfriend so that I can judge their looks. lol If it pisses them off to the point of a fight....you beat them with that pink guitar!

[Odinsgade]

@groovydjs

Haha, well that works too!

I really dont give a shit about people dissing me. I am what i am, and nobody is going to change that. :D

If they dont like my look, then i'm not the one with the problem. :D

Most of the time i'm like "Peace, Love and Harmony" kinda guy, but i also have a really fucking violent temper.

[groovydjs]

@Odinsgade I hear you my friend. I'm the same way. Really passive until given a reason and then "it's on". lol

[Odinsgade]

@groovydjs

Exactly!!

Hey Man, you sound like a really cool guy.

Can i add you as a friend?

[groovydjs]

@Odinsgade Thank you my friend. Please do.......you can never have too many friends for sure!

Scott

[groovydjs]

@Odinsgade Thank you my friend. Please do.......you can never have too many friends for sure!

Scott

[groovydjs]

@Odinsgade Thank you my friend. Please do.......you can never have too many friends for sure!

Scott

[JackGuitarRock]

Hello there. I just wanted to come back to this video to thank you. I watched this video when you first put it up about a year ago. I have played guitar since then but was always sort of timid (playing light) playing because I didn't want anything to happen to my only guitar. It was only after seeing how amazing your original strat looks after all the wear that I was able to let go and really rock out. It helped me play a million times better and have alot more fun with it. Thanks again.

-Jack

[groovydjs]

@JackGuitarRock Hi my friend. Yeah, there are guitars that are destined to be wall are and saved for investment reasons and such. These puppies are just way too groovy and still obtainable for comfortable prices.....so, play them and play them hard. They can take it! All my best and thanks again and for returning to the scene of the crime. lol

[ddayxable]

Hey Scott. In your opinion are the reissues bad ? When I finally make up my mind to get on of these and cant find a real one i want to know if the reissues are any good.

[groovydjs]

@ddayxable They are all reissues and they are all great. There is only one person in the world that has an original and that is John Entwistle of THE WHO.  He had one custom made back in the day. So, every single one made is a reissue and you won't be able to buy John's. So, the ones with the 3 bolt necks, 11 hole pickguards and large headstocks are my favorite because they are modeled after the 1972 Strats, the ones made starting in 2001 are fine, 4 bolt neck, 8 hole PG and small headstocks.

[nativesspoken]

I have an original, bought new in '87 I believe, at the behest of my then girlfriend. I wrote to you after first seeing your video, raving about the guitar and your informative critique/praise. I never heard back from you, but no less, quality work friend! Wahi'

[groovydjs]

@nativesspoken I answer each and every single comment my friend. Many thanks and I'm always here.

Scott

[nahro316]

Dude I love you (no homo) :DD! anyway thank you for all the videos and oh man I love those guitars! : )

[groovydjs]

@nahro316 Thanks man, these have always been one of my very favorite Fender guitars for sure.

[rogeratac30]

Thanks!

[scaredypicker]

That is a sweet looking guitar @_@ LOL!

[groovydjs]

@scaredypicker These finishes are really cool. It's a love it or hate it thing. They first offered the Paisley and Floral finishes on Telecasters and P-Basses back in 1968 and they have kept popping up since in the Japanese market. They are too cool and will keep being reissued over the centuries probably. Lots of other companies have been coplying the foil glued to the body finish that these have. So many cool copies out there. Crook Guitars and Tokai make the best of the copies.

[scaredypicker]

@groovydjs I really like it, although I wouldn't have thought it was my kind of thing. It's got the 60's written all over it :)

[groovydjs]

@scaredypicker Yeah, it's a psychodelic, trippy acid fest for sure. lol

[crownironman]

I had one of those pink ones, bought it new in the 80s, at the time the music store almost gave it to me just to get rid of it. I gigged for years with it and got made fun of often, but it played great. I traded it for a 1985 MIJ Esquire with a rosewood neck and double bound body, also a killer guitar. I kick myself for getting rid of it and wish I still had it every day, but the Esquire is also a great guitar to have and I have never seen another one like it.

[groovydjs]

@crownironman LOL, I hear you. I played my first one of these (which I still have) for over 20 years as my main axe. All kinds of comments from the peanut gallery. lol I always surrounded myself with really buff band members so that they would kick the butt out of the cowboys if they ever gave me too much crap. Then I would go make out with his girlfriend on our breaks. lol They really make a statement for sure. What it is.....who knows, but they are great axes for sure.

[WoWintosh]

I played one of the new blue floral strats today, the CIJ model. It sounded like a strat should, it felt better than the American Standard and Deluxe models, as well as the SRV and Eric Johnson strats I played, plus IMO it looks bitchin'. I can't imagine an original blue floral strat.

[groovydjs]

@WoWintosh Aren't they great? The folks there at Fender Japan just flat out know how to make a SUPERB guitar. And you are very correct. They do make them better than USA, they always have. The USA have their moments of course, but they are so hit and miss. It seems that Japan's factory just pays so much more attention to detail and quality. Especially the frets and factory setup. You can't hardly play a USA axe out of the box. I hope you get you one of these!

[verbotenco]

When you die I'm gonna dig your grave to steal that baby. ;)

[groovydjs]

@verbotenco LOL, Have at it my friend, it would be kind of a shame to let it rot with me in the ground.

[BostonBeanEater]

Scott, just want to say thanks for the excellent and highly informative review as I'm now in the market for an original. Your piece was clear, succinct, informative, and not a second longer than necessary. Excellent job!

[groovydjs]

@BostonBeanEater My pleasure my friend. It's nice to hear a thanks now and then when all the punks are usually cussing me out about my reviews. lol If you don't have something nice to say about the Epiphone or Squier that they use, they get a bit mean. lol Enjoy the hunt and let me know if you are able to land one!

[poppyseller1]

well I dont think fender american guitars are any good even today not to mention back in the 1980s

dont get me wrong,I love strats and teles , but fender is just a mass production factory ........buy vintage

[groovydjs]

@poppyseller1 Anything before the advent of the reverse wound middle pickup is going to be nothing more than a buzzing mess and before 1976, no 5 way switches, so the sounds of the older Strats are simply horrible. They are only worth money for collector's sake. Not because they play or sound good at all.

[cellomannathan]

I'm thinking about throwing some texas special pickups in my malibu. What's your opinion on those?

[groovydjs]

@cellomannathan I really hate the Texas Specials. They hum more than typical pickups and are too dark sounding for me. They don't sound much like Strat pickups, they are geared to sound more like P-90's. If you're ONLY a blues guy and will be playing with overdrive ALL of the time, then you would probably like them.

[JNDGuitarman]

Actually, there were 3 made back in the 1970's: one made in 1972, which was owned by John Entwistle of The Who (that same Strat being featured in the book The Stratocaster Chronicles, Pgs. 132-133) and 2 made in 1979 (I had the privilege of seeing one of the two '79's at Rudy's Music in NYC). Plus, my dad used to own the matching set of The Paisley Strat and Tele.

[groovydjs]

@JNDGuitarman You are correct, Enwistle had one, as far as any production models available to the public, I hadn't heard of any. I knew for sure that there was the one that was custom made for John.

[fenderjagmeister]

while i respect what this guys saying. i just seen one of the re-issue 2001 's today at ballews music and the sales guy said they only made 600 of the re-issues world wide. which would make them more rare then the originals. and it sounded just as good as this one if you ask me. and the re-issues are going for 1000 bucks so they have to be pretty good. iam sure i seen david cassidy playing one of the blue ones in the partridge family . back in the 70's

[groovydjs]

@fenderjagmeister You didn't see Cassidy playing one in the 70's. This guy is me by the way.  The first one of these available to the public was the run from 1985-1987. The Telecaster was available in 68-69, then again a few leaked out of Japan from 82-84 and they were available to the masses in 85-87. So, the Stratocaster was not released when the Telecaster and P bass was back in 68 and 69. The other things you mentioned is wrong also. I know these better than Fender themselves. lol

[thislisa]

I love those. Nice!

[groovydjs]

@thislisa Thank you, I'm glad that people are finally starting to like these guitars instead of tossing the other comments around. lol They are really cool guitars and I couldn't be happier with them.

[Satiaraha]

this kind of model and designed would be so useful for the 60's and 70's but the 80's is a good year but at the mid-end of the 70's the brand of fender and gibson turn down

[groovydjs]

@Satiaraha I have no idea what you are saying. You can try again. Either way, these are superb guitars if you're looking for one. The Strats were first made in 84 the Tele's were introduced in 68 in these finishes. Whatever else you were trying to say needs to be ran back through the English translator.

[pentura]

Cool Video dude !! Just wanted to know what kind of amp settings/effects your using @7:19

I just think that sounds amazing !!

Nice review, those guitars are beauties !

[groovydjs]

@pentura Thank you my friend. I'm running straight into my Johnson Millennium JM150 amp. I've got a few of them and just love them. They were the very first modeling amps to hit the market, but the world wasn't ready for that kind of thing yet and they fell by the wayside and the nasty Line 6 amps came in and soured everybody's oppinions on modeling amps. lol If you want to check out my amp...I do have a review of it on here. Just put in Scott Grove Johnson and it will come up. Thanks.

[reallnormall]

Hi, Great Video! I got one of these (Pink Paisley)! It's not a reissue, but it's old and the painting is cracking in the back and upper side of the body! The bridge is all rusty and the neck pickup is dead! Couldn't find the specs of the guitar, maybe u could give some tips about the specs and replacements parts to keep a close to the original vintage sound, also some techniques to clean and preserve the painting! Feels like I'm destroying the guitar every time I play it =D! Thanks for any help!

[groovydjs]

@reallnormall Once they finish starts to flake, it's all over. My original is almost bare on the back. Simply wiping it very clean after each use is the only way to take care of any finish. You really have to stick to it, use Q-tips to clean the hardware, take the bridge apart and keep it very clean. The only paint is the pink on the edges, everything else is just foil with the paisley pattern on it glued to the body. The pink just covers the seams.

[reallnormall]

@groovydjs Thanks, I'll try to clean the bridge this week and the rest of the hardware...the finish is flaking badly! I'm thinking about covering some of the body with clear-plastic (after cleaning) to prevent contact with the flaked areas...

Just another question, do u know the model of the neck pickup? Or if it's compatible with the Fender Custom Shop 1969 Vintage those made by Abigail Ybarra? o/

[Zuhzuhzombie]

I really dig the paisley patterns. If I can't find one of the CIJ "originals" I may have to buy one of the newer reissues and upgrade it myself.

[groovydjs]

@Zuhzuhzombie The originals are MIJ and then later, in 2001 the CIJ came out and now they are re released again as MIJ. So, the new one's are actually pretty cool. They just don't have the large headstock, and the 3 bolt neck that gives it that vintage vibe. But, still all great guitars. Most everything out of Japan is.

[Zuhzuhzombie]

@groovydjs Ah. Your video somewhat coincided with everything I had heard about the 2001 models. That they were kinda cheap and not worth it. I think they did another reissue in 2008. You've gotten to play those? I've found them a few times on the Bay in the past year or so for a decent price. If they're only a slight downgrade from the "original" MIJ then maybe I'll give them ago. There's one up now where a guy highly modified one.

[Zuhzuhzombie]

If it's still available when I get back from the honey moon I'm gonna put a bid on it. Guy sounds confident, looks good in pics, etc. Anyway, you have a set of really awesome vids Mr. Grove. I found an old one of yours with a solid country lick I'm going to get down tonight!

[groovydjs]

@Zuhzuhzombie The one I played for a little over 20 years has all American electronics from an 89 Strat Plus and the pickups are from a 91 American Strat. So, I'm really used to that one, but the stock MIJ's are very similar. I like them just fine, but there's still something about the 3 bolt ones beyond the cosmetics that are just a bit sweeter to me. It could all be in my head too. lol

[Zuhzuhzombie]

Mr. Grove you're terrible. I'm GASing for one of these something terrible!

[Zuhzuhzombie]

Would love to find an original one of these!

[groovydjs]

@Zuhzuhzombie This is the original, they come up fairly often on Ebay. When they refer to this being a reissue, it is only the guitar style and specs that this guitar is a reissue of from 1972, there wasn't a paisley Stratocaster before the Japanese ones. There was a Telecaster and P-Bass, but never an American made Paisley Stratocaster. Someone did cover one in wallpaper way back when, but not a Fender issued finish.

[MudaFoka]

You are the man. Awesome vid

[groovydjs]

@MudaFoka Thanks my friend. These old 3 bolt Strats are amazing. There wouldn't be so much hype about the Japanese Fender guitars being of superior quality if there wasn't something to it. All of my Fender's are coming from Japan from now on.

[graytheface]

i bought a P series reissue a good few years ago , as i couldnt find a mint original , but i have to say its probably the finest guitar ive ever played ,and cmon who doesnt love the finish on theses things ;-) , great review dude !

[groovydjs]

I hear you my friend. I love these guitars and some guys are too affraid to strap one on and give it a spin. They don't know what they are missing. I fully agree with you. They are just a super axe and the finish is going to go down in history as a classic.....hell.....it already is a classic. Thanks again.

[zerosoma33]

I bought a reissue. Compared it with many USA strats in the shop, and none of them compared. Not sure how the reissue compares to the older ones or what the difference is, but mine sure is a winner.

[groovydjs]

The Japanese are simply better guitar builders than the American plants. So, if you are going to buy a Fender, always go with the Japanes made one like you did, it will beat out the American models every time.

[SPIKECOWLING]

hey nice to see a cherished guitar like your worn paisley, i have one inthe same conditon, played every day and gets better every time she is plugged in, mine is called jo jo,

[groovydjs]

Don't you know it my friend. That guitar refuses to let me down. All the others will be gone someday, that one is going in the ground with me. LOL

[mikerhd89]

I own a blue flower strat. the original.

very nice guitars ;)

[groovydjs]

Very cool. I love these things. Just a great, all around axe.

[admiralbob77]

Actually, this is a reissue as well. I have one just like this - the mid-80s Japanese model you're showing here was the first time they were run in any number. But technically, there was a limited run (in the hundreds) back in 1972.

[groovydjs]

I have contacted Fender before on this matter and they have assured me that none were ever made except for in Japan. They have never seen one, none are in existance to be found in anyone's collection or photo archives and that it is all just an old rumor. Only the Telecaster and P bass were ever produced in an run (no matter how limited) in paisley or floral in 1968 and 1969 only until the Japanese releases in 1984. Direct from the horses mouth. LOL

[HahahaVille]

I dig the videos and your taste in guitars...There was ONE paisley strat made in the sixties( it was a prototype) I believe pete townsound owns it...it had a black pickups and black knobs and I THINK it had a rosewood neck...peace

[groovydjs]

You are kind of correct there, it was done later with actual wallpaper that was applied to the body and then finished over, but not a Fender factory finish. He did like Burton's Paisley Tele and had someone refinish one of his Strats with the wallpaper.

[ThumbsAtWork]

@groovydjs What about the one from the Entwistle collection - black knobs and pup covers, maple neck - shown on page 133 in David Wheelers book about the Strat, "The Stratocaster Chronicles"?

Cool video - very informative! Thanks for uploading. :-)

[groovydjs]

Yes, that was the Paisley Telecaster Bass that Entwistle has. Still no Strats.

[ThumbsAtWork]

@groovydjs The Paisley in the book i mentioned is clearly a Strat, but it's a one of a kind prototype. It's quite beautiful - it's got a slightly different Paisley pattern and the pickguard is different.

BTW: I just bought a Paisley E-series (like Yours). I can't wait to get it.

[groovydjs]

That one was actually done with the velvet type of wallpaper as a prototype experiment. So, the clear coat is like a mile thick. Not a production model nor ever intended to be. It was more of an experiment than anything. No other exists.

[groovydjs]

Congrats on the E-series....you will love that thing. They are amazing. Let me know how you like it when you get it all dialed in.

[admiralbob77]

That's cool to learn. So I've got something that's a one of a kind then!

[AerosmithVault]

sweet guitar , flower power lol , never knew tht bout the low e string , thnks

[groovydjs]

Thanks again my friend. That is a cool thing about the low E tremelo thing. It looks different to the audience and it's cool way to pull off some subtle whammy effects should you chose not to put your bar on or if you simply lose it.