Meet the Black Cat Nonsense Strat, a 1971 Fender Stratocaster that’s been butchered: A natural relic with battle scars and a black cat sticker to add some flair. That guitar has seen better days.
You might think it’s just your average mojo-infused instrument, but oh no, it is so dirty you can almost smell it.
First up, we have the P90 pickup at the bridge. Not a bad mod, I reckon. It gives the guitar a bit of an edge, a touch of rebellion amidst the chaos.
But that’s just the beginning…
Next, we come across the volume knob. Oh, the volume knob! It’s been moved so close to the tone knob that you can’t even imagine turning one without turning the other. It’s like trying to scratch your ear and ending up touching your nose. It’s the kind of modification that makes you yell, “You’ve got to measure before you drill, dammit!”
But wait, there’s more! An extra knob has been squeezed right under the P90 pickup. Why? Who knows! It’s so close to the pickup that it’s practically rubbing shoulders with it. Maybe it’s there just to keep the volume knob company in its little adventure of confusion.
Or maybe it’s just the rebellious teenager of the knob family, standing out proudly wearing black instead of white, and defying all conventions. It’s the misfit knob that says, “I’m different, and I’m not afraid to show it!”
Moving on to the pickguard, it’s seen better days. Broken in some places, dirty, and with a history to tell. It’s like a battle-hardened shield, worn with pride by the Nonsense Strat in its many adventures.
The bridge is no exception to the madness. Rusty and worn, it adds character to the guitar’s already peculiar persona. It’s like a rusty relic of a relic, a badge of honor for the Strat that’s been through it all.
And then, there’s the neck. The last fret is missing, and a chunk of the fretboard behind it is gone too. It’s like a road map of the guitar’s journey, marking the spots where it hit the high notes and the low notes, and everything in between.
But amidst all the chaos and confusion, there’s one thing that stands out—the black cat sticker. It’s like the guitar’s lucky charm, its guiding light through the madness. It’s the symbol of hope and mojo that keeps the Nonsense Strat going, making you wonder if it’s the cat that’s got its tongue, or if it’s the guitar that’s got the cat’s spirit.
Now, you might be thinking, what’s the point of all this? Why would anyone do this to a poor old Stratocaster? And you know what? That’s a damn good question!
And we don’t have the answer but what we may have is a good follow-up story of the 1971 Fender Stratocaster that’s been butchered… and brought back to life! Subscribe to Guitar Fail’s Substack to know more.
