Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster Electric Guitar - Transparent Faded Sonic Blue Reviews

I had been eyeing this guitar for a long time before finally deciding to purchase it, and I am extremely happy that I did. This is my first Fender Stratocaster, and what drew me to it were the unique differences it had compared to other Strats. Visually, I was initially drawn to the neck and inlays, as I have always preferred pearl inlays over clay dots on the fretboard. I was also looking for a single coil guitar tone that could provide a new sound among the electric guitars I already own (all of which are Ibanez). The guitar is absolutely stunning - it looks and sounds exactly as you would expect it to. The pictures don't even do justice to the transparent sonic blue color. The guitar is elegant and beautiful up close. The neck feels different from my other Ibanez guitars, but in a good way - there's just more there to hold onto. Overall, I feel like this was a great purchase and I can't wait to create some music with it. Thank you to Fender, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Sweetwater!

Drove to Sweetwater to play this guitar as I was a bit intimidated by the 7.25 FB radius. When the gutar arrived for me to play, the strings were rusted pretty bad and the bridge was lifted quite a bit as the trem springs were way overtightened (this was a demo sale, BTW). The staff went out of their way to make sure I had a good experience and was able to judge to accurate performance of the instrument by sending over to get setup and a new set of strings. I can tell you that this guitar delivers! The radius concerns were absolutely not an issue! I would place this guitar between an ultra and a custom shop. It feels vintage when you hold it and play it. The nitro finish is the cherry on top! FOr the record, I own 27 guitars and many are premium, top tier guitars. This one may have moved up to my number one spot!

First, I'm very appreciative of Mason Moss' input in convincing me to buy this guitar. Second, I commend Sweetwater for making sure it is packaged in a way that withstands transport abuse.

This guitar is simply awesome to behold I couldn't take my eyes off of it for a whole minute. Off of its case it feels light. The neck profile is perfectly right for me it doesn't make my fingers feel tired even after an hour of continuous playing. And the pickups my have been custom made for KWS but these things just sound perfect with the different types of music I like playing. I simply can't ask for more.

One more thing. Thanks for the shirt, Mason!

Quickly,the Kenny Wayne Shepherd strat is a very nice guitar with good tone, very lightweight, and it's a beautiful piece of equipment. I love it.
However, the first guitar I received had a factory quality control issue so I returned it for a new one. THIS is where Sweetwater shines. The employee I spoke with was very courteous and I received my replacement the very next day, THAT'S the main reason I will always do business with them and not Guitar Center.
My only complaint is I only received a Bit O'Honey wrapper, and not the actual piece of candy.

This guitar is a beautiful top to bottom. When I pick it up, it just asked me to play more and more. I love the neck, body and pick ups. It sounds awesome and has different sound on the different settings than my other Stratocaster's good job, Kenny, and good job Fender. Rich T.

First off Guitar is Beautiful! Light weight!! Goes from Clean to Mean and everything in between!!! Neck feels and plays great. Set up was perfect. Special thanks to Joe Secu!!! I bothered him every week for 3 months, then it finally came in. This in my 3rd guitar from Sweetwater have not had any issues at all!!!

An absolutely beautiful instrument! Built to the exact specs I wanted, Kenny and I have a lot in common! ha.. Big fret wire, 7.25" radius, great neck shape and the semi hollow and these specail pickups are total perfection! Neck binding on a strat? Yes, so cool!

Thanks to my Sweetwater Engineer, Jed! Everything about sweetwater and this guitar are the best!

This guitar is a modernized version of KWS's 1961 Strat, with updated vintage-style hardware, a bound fingerboard, and custom pickups. The chambered ash body gives this Strat the perfect weight. The custom single-coil pickups produce fantastic Strat tones. The guitar comes with a great hardshell case.

For my money, this may be the best looking Strat I've ever seen. I love the block inlays, pearloid pickguard, and matching headstock. The custom Transparent Faded Sonic Blue color on the ash body is just stunning.

I just can't say enough about this guitar. It sounds great, feels great, and looks great. The perfect Stratocaster.

Special thanks to my Sweetwater Sales Engineer, Greg Titzer, for his awesome customer service in helping me acquire this beauty.

I've been looking for a new Strat with a lot of stuff on my wish list - it has to look good, have a nice C-shaped neck (on the slimmer side), have medium jumbo frets, be lightweight with a resonant body, and have blues-friendly pickups. And of course it needs to sound great.

The KWS Strat fits all these requirements and more. It must be the best looking Strat anywhere - the translucent finish, the rectangular inlays ... wow, this thing is killer! Perfect weight.

One more thing - when you are on the bridge pickup, the bottom tone control works just on that pickup. It gives you HUGE control, from nice warm tones with the control turned down, to ice-pick tones with it full up.

Highly recommended - and it comes with a beautiful hardshell case. My only criticism is I prefer a satin neck rather than gloss, and I can't quite justify sanding down a $ guitar neck. I'll live with that for now.

This guitar is simply amazing in every aspect. I opened the case and just stared at her wonder emanating from her on a bed of Ron Burgundy colored crush velvet. I think it plays better than any of the original '62s I've played. The action is perfect, smooth and comfortable. It is very well balanced, not head or body heavy. I think these are the best sounding signal coil pickup ever. The tone is throaty yet chimes. It's the sound I hear coming from all the Old Texas Blues Greats. The neck is perfectly shaped, aged and finished flame maple. The gorgeous finish is laminated by several clear coats and hand polished. I would have waited another year for her if I had too. I would also like to thank my Sales Engineer, Pablo Murcia. He is a true gentleman, patient extremely and knowledgeable. He really loves what he does and it shows. To the Family at Sweetwater, No one offers the experience that you have assembled. I always try to treat people the way I want to be treated. In today's world unfortunately, that's a darn rare thing to receive. You have a customer for life and I will be ordering all of my needs and wants from you for now on. Thank you!!!

Picked one of these up second hand , very nice guitar indeed .

Neck pickup can at times lack some bottom end thump , but position 4 really is quite something on this guitar with these kws pickups ...quacks for days.

Neck profile is a non issue , even for metal players like myself , this neck is very comfortable and solid.

Very light and resonant guitar , only reason it has not got a 5 is that it has immitation mother of pearl, the new epiphones have real pearl at a price saving.

Other than that it would have been a 5 star review from me.