The ShadowMusic Web Community

Every Friday, GAK send out an ad. This week they include a Custom Shop '56 Strat, Fiesta Red, gold fittings. Nothing unusual as far as Shadows people are concerned.
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-custom-s ... -red/32769

The interesting part is the description - "Based on the Hank style strat. By far one of the most popular models"

Now correct me if I've missed the odd one here or there, but look around music shops in general and you'd be unlikely to see a Fiesta Red Strat. Lots of Strats and lots of Strat copies. Lots of other colours.

Yet here are GAK admitting "By far one of the most popular models". Is there anyone close to the retail trade who can explain how shops in general seem unwilling to display "one of the most popular models"?

Or is the implication that people who are prepared to spend £2399 on a Strat will go for Hank-style?

Ray

Careful there Ray... you are in danger of believing adverts

Perhaps they are so popular they sell out before they can be dispayed!

Since Fender do not currently do Fiesta Red on any of their standard range (only on Custom Shop examples and that single Squier model), "most popular" must apply to the Custom Shop output (which is naturally limited in quantity).

I am lucky enough to have visited the Corona factory and can vouch for the fact that the CS output contained (on the day I was there) an unexpectedly large proportion of instruments finished in FR!

JN

I think the presence of a tremolo arm in the photograph would make the guitar look more "Hank-like" since that's their selling point.

-Donna

I'm reminded of the brainless shop assistant - "That's the sixth person who's asked for one today when we don't stock it. I keep telling them, there's no demand!"

Ray

Classic 50´s Stratocaster comes in Fiesta Red!
EvenT

Yes it's funny that you can get all these amazing colours on Mexican Strats, whereas the new American Vintage come in really boring finishes like Black, Blonde and Sunburst.

I predict a rash of FSR Special Editions before long, in Burgundy Mist, Lake Placid Blue, Shoreline Gold, Surf Green, Shell Pink, Dakota Red ... etc.

It may just mean "by far one of the most popular" = the shop owner likes it, had it on the shelf for a bit and now wants to shift it.
Just a thought