A Masterbuilt Replica of Jerry Garcia's Alligator Strat
The Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat is a Masterbuilt replica of the Grateful Dead bandleader's iconic 1955* Stratocaster. Every contour and radii of this guitar's ash body was matched to the original instrument, as was its 1-piece maple neck and vintage-radius fingerboard. The Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat boasts three single-coil pickups, hand-wound by Josefina Campos, along with Jerry's built-in "blaster" clean boost for authentic early-'70s Garcia tone. This Stratocaster displays all of Jerry's custom mods, including a brass nut, bridge, and control plate, plus "hat"-style knobs and a 3-ply parchment pickguard adorned with true-to-the-original replicas of the Alligator Strat's distinctive stickers. Limited to 100 guitars worldwide, the Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat from Sweetwater is a must-have collectible for all Deadheads and dedicated Garcia tone connoisseurs.
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Definitely not your everyday, run-of-the-mill Strat
Jerry Garcia played a plethora of different guitars during his lifetime, including several custom-built models with esoteric MIDI capabilities. But, as true Dead aficionados know, his first customized electric guitar was the natural-finish 1955 Stratocaster that was gifted to him by Graham Nash. While this guitar was in relatively stock condition when Jerry received it, it wasn't long before he began modding it to fit his obstruse needs. The guitar's mods, which were carried out by luthiers Frank Fuller and Rick Turner, consisted of Raytheon volume knobs, a brass control plate, Schaller tuning machines, a series of bridges (first a Tune-o-matic, then a custom brass model from the Grateful Dead-founded instrument company Alembic). Jerry also adorned his Strat with a series of memorable stickers, including a Harley Davidson logo, a "policeman helper" badge, and a cartoon alligator holding a knife and fork — hence the Strat's "Alligator" nickname. Jerry played Alligator regularly beginning in 1971 up until the Dead's Roosevelt Stadium show on August 1, 1973, which coincided with his 31st birthday. As far as official releases go, you can catch an earful of the Alligator Strat on the Grateful Dead's legendary Europe '72 3-record live album.
A trio of custom, hand-wound pickups
Just about the only thing Jerry left untouched on his '55 Strat was the pickups. The Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat boasts three single-coil Stratocaster pickups, meticulously re-created from the original instrument, and hand-wound by Fender Custom Shop's preeminent Master Pickup Winder Josefina Campos, who apprenticed under the legendary Abigail Ybarra. These pickups deliver prime early-'70s Garcia tones: powerful yet bell-like, with an indelible steely character — the proverbial proud-walking jingle in the midnight sun. The Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat also boasts a replica of the original guitar's built-in post-volume "blaster" clean boost for when you're truckin' away and you need a bit more grind. A master volume knob, neck tone knob, and middle tone knob provide you with plenty of onboard tonal control.
Every contour, meticulously re-created
The Fender Custom Shop went to great pains to re-create every nook and cranny of Jerry's Alligator Stratocaster. Every contour and radii of its 1-piece ash body is a perfect match for the original. Its 1-piece riftsawn maple neck features a spot-on '55 Soft "V" backshape, and its 7.25-inch radius fingerboard includes 21 medium-vintage frets. A brass nut adds an authentic touch to the Limited Edition Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat. You also get a custom brass bridge and tailpiece with a rosewood base plate, a brass control plate with "hat"-style knobs, a 3-ply parchment pickguard, and true-to-the-original replicas of Alligator's iconic stickers. A relic'd nitrocellulose finish rounds out the Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat's authentic particulars.
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat Electric Guitar Features:
- Masterbuilt replica of Jerry Garcia's iconic 1955 Stratocaster
- Every contour and radii of the 1-piece ash body is a perfect match for the original
- 1-piece riftsawn maple neck with a spot-on '55 Soft "V" backshape
- Period-correct 7.25-inch radius fingerboard includes 21 medium-vintage frets
- 3 single-coil pickups, meticulously re-created from the original instrument, hand-wound by Josefina Campos
- Replica of the original guitar's built-in post-volume "blaster" clean boost
- Brass nut and custom brass bridge and tailpiece with a rosewood base plate
- Brass control plate with "hat"-style knobs and a 3-ply parchment pickguard
- True-to-the-original replicas of the Alligator Strat's distinctive stickers
- Limited to 100 guitars worldwide
Note: *Some sources claim it was a '57 Strat, but the most recent consensus indicates it was a '55.
