Acclaimed guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has been creating memorable guitar riffs for decades. His deft phrasing, fleet-fingered picking, and unmistakable tone have helped make the phrase "guitar solo" a household term. The Fender Ritchie Blackmore Signature Stratocaster is based on his favorite '70s model and has a maple neck with a graduated scalloped rosewood fretboard, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat pickups, and '70s-style "F" tuners. Just like Richie's Strat, the guitar's middle pickup has been replaced with a non-working dummy pickup. Deluxe gig bag included.
Model Name: Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Series: Artist Series Body: Alder Neck: Maple, U-shaped, (gloss polyurethane finish) Fingerboard: Graduated scalloped, rosewood, 7.25" radius (184 mm) No. of Frets: 21 vintage-style frets Pickups: Neck: 1 Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 single-coil Strat pickup Middle: 1 non-active "dummy" pickup Bridge: 1 reverse-wound/reverse-polarity Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 single-coil Strat pickup Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (neck pickup), Tone 2. (bridge pickup) Pickup Switching ” 3 Position Blade: Position 1: Bridge Pickup Position 2: Bridge and Neck Pickups Position 3: Neck Pickup Bridge: Vintage-style synchronized tremolo Machine heads: Fender/Schaller vintage-style tuners Hardware: Chrome Pickguard: 3-ply white Scale Length: 25-1/2" (648mm) Width at Nut: 1.650" (42mm) Unique Features: Graduated scalloped rosewood fretboard Ritchie Blackmore signature on front of headstock Flush-mounted Dunlop Straplocks Large '70s-style headstock '70s-style decal Bullet truss rod adjustment nut 3-bolt neck plate with Micro-Tilt neck adjustment, Pearloid dot position inlays, Black plastic knobs, pickup covers, tremolo and switch tips, synthetic bone nut Strings: Fender Super Bullets 3250L, nickel plated steel, (.009 to .042), P/N 073-3250-003 Includes a deluxe gig bagDon't miss your chance to get a Strat made for hard rock.
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I purchased this guitar as Im a long time Blackmore fan from Deep Purple to Rainbow to Blackmore's Night, I wish Fender would have done more research before they did this model as this is not the first time they had put this model out and its just like the one that was in 1997 Fender Japan. I just cant stand when Fender puts out a Tribute signature guitar and on some models they do a great job like the new DAVE Murray strat, but then like this model it looks like Fender just wanted to make money off Ritchie's name instead of building a guitar to pay him tribute. Back way back when When Ritchie was in DEEP Purple his guitar tech John "DAWK" STILLWELL did all the mods to Ritchie's Strats. He did the Progressive Scalloping as to how Ritchie wanted it, And removed the stock vintage frets with a Gibson size Medium Jumbo fret, he built a custom made tone circuit called the MTC, to work with each of the different pickups Ritchie used through the years, from Stock Fender strat single coils to the original Lace Sensor Gold pickups.I really feel Fender could have done alot better on this guitar. But I think they were just looking to make money period. I had my Blackmore Modified to the specs of John Dawk Stillwell's mods and now this is truly what a Tribute the man in black .Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Electric Guitar Olympic White
.I bought brand new in 1997 the Blackmore strat. I have 14 years of use on it so I would say I'm qualified to rate it. Blackmore is without question in the top five of all rock guitarists in rock n roll history. I'm a huge fan of Purple and Rainbow so when this came out I had to have it.The guitar is awesome but not perfect. The sound is a 10! The seymour duncan pickups are very hot and I get great harminics and a true blackmore tone. I had to adjust the PUPs higher and get a set up....after that the guitar sounded incredible. The scalloped fret board is very well done and verye asy to play and get used to. Well done!I had two qulaity problems. The neck pick up 2 times had to be re-screwed because the spring popped out. A bigger problem is one time when bending a piece of the frets came up which needed a repair. Both issues were not very expensive.The fit and finish is very good, but not american built quality.Overall, a bit pricey for a japanese strat and now mexican strat. However the guitar is very well done and it plays fantastics. Although the fit and finish is not up to the american standard, the sounds you get from this guitar is....it is a very hot guitar.Message to fender -- Make an American made Blackmore strat and keep it in the $2000 range.Bottom-line: Recommended strongly...a great guitar.
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Electric Guitar Olympic White
.This guitar is great. Love the tone and scalloped neck. Only problem is that Fender was shipping a bad batch in late '09 and I went through 5 different guitars to get a good one. To the credit of Custom Guitars Friend, all the returns were hassle free and return shipping was covered. Now I've got a great guitar and the highest respect for Custom Guitars Friend. They earned a loyal customer.
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Electric Guitar Olympic White
.This Blackmore Stratocaster is definitely the sleeper of the decade! If you were ever mildly interested in the infamous "scalloped neck", this guitar is definitely worth checking out. This style of neck is used by Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen, and Fender has put out two great signature models, one for each respectively. I wanted to share some insight with the Fender Ritchie Blackmore model I recently purchased.
I was very apprehensive about a guitar like this, as the word "scalloped neck" was intimidating. However, this neck is efficiently scalloped only where it counts, as the lower frets seem like there is none, while the scallop gradually increases up to the higher registers. The neck is super easy to adjust to, and offers the best of both worlds; effortless open chord playing, and all out shredding.
The electronics is also unique but straight forward, featuring only two high-output Seymore Duncan pickups, and a three position pickup slide switch. The switching is virtually Gibson, position one= lead pickup, middle= both pickups, position three= neck pickup. This combination gives the guitar a welcomed alternative to the typical Stratocaster voicings, as it can sound smoky for blues (neck pickup), scream all out rock (bridge pickup), and even evoke country with both pickups.
Although, I am extremely satisfied and have purchased many fine instruments and accessories at Custom Guitarsfriend, I unfortunately did not purchase this guitar there. However, I wanted to alert potential Custom Guitarfriends' customers, this guitar offers so much more than just a scalloped neck, as it is so versatile, literally two guitars in one – A Fender Stratocaster with the feel and electronics of a Gibson
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Electric Guitar Olympic White
.The first thing that blew me away when I plugged this guitar in to my Blackstar amp was the hot sound of the seymour duncan quarter pound pickups. Those imo are the main thing that make this guitar what it is. Again, it needed alot of setup work and fine tuning by my local guitar tech including lowering the strings, etc. The biggest challenge of this guitar is changing the way you play with the scalloped frets - the strings will bend alot more than on a regular fretboard, making the guitar sound out of tune if you press or bend too far. A different mind set to play - but worth it in the end imo
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Electric Guitar Olympic White
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This is a great guitar! The neck feels great and the tone sounds so hot! The only issue I had was that I had to return the first one as it had a crack in the body by the body/neck connection. I got a no hassle replacement and I've been rocking ever since! I've never missed the middle pickup. My friend who is a GREAT player loves it! When we jam he always wants to play it over his SRV Strat and Les Paul.Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Electric Guitar Olympic White
.This stratocaster delivers in terms of value, quality, and plyability. Those who have never played a scalloped neck would be pleased. it is easy to get used to,with no difficulty or difference in playability. All the things said about tone, sustain, bends etc. are present in this scalloped neck guitar. The pickups also contribute to the sound. if you are a lead, shred or solo guitar player, you will notice a difference whan you play this guitar. A good value for the money.
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Electric Guitar Olympic White
.I've written this same review on a couple of sites now but I have to share this.. :D Now there?s a revelation? Ritchie actually does play this guitar, I?ve seen it on stage, but? What he also does is take the neck off the signature and glue it on a Standard American body if he wants a different colored Strat. Maybe he does this with an Olympic white version as well? Just place black pickups inside and a signature neck, and we all assume he?s playing the signature model. This is just a thought, but that he glues this neck on different Standard Americans is a fact especially the sunburst. However, although Mexican made, this guitar is just phenomenal! Tried it, loved it more than an American standard, maybe it?s the pickups or maybe it is just a better instrument but the workforce in Mexico is cheaper than in USA, so that is why it is actually cheaper, but IMHO better. (Not as versatile though)
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Electric Guitar Olympic White
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