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Published on 01/31/12 at 07:30Model Name: Pawn Shop™ Fender® ’51
Series: Pawn Shop Series
Color / MSRP* / Part # :
Black
$1,149.99
026-6002-306
Blonde
$1,149.99
026-6002-307
Body
Body Material: Alder
Body Shape: Stratocaster®
Body Finish:
(0266002306, 0266002307)
Polyester
Neck
Neck Shape: "C" Shape
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays: Black Dot Position Inlays
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm)
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Polyester
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Neck Plate
Truss Rods: Standard Truss Rod
Truss Rod Nut: 3/16" Hex Adjustment
Electronics
Pickup Configuration: H/S
Bridge Pickup: Enforcer™ Humbucking Pickup (Bridge)
Neck Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Neck Pickup
Pickup Switching: 3 Position Rotary Toggle Switch
Controls: Master Volume with Push/Pull Coil Split, 3-Position Rotary
Hardware
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Bridge: '70s-Style Hard-Tail Stratocaster Bridge
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Miscellaneous
Strings: Fender® USA Super 250L's, NPS (.009-.042 Gauges)
Unique Features: Telecaster Neck, Hardtail Bridge, HS Pickup Configuration, 3-Postion Rotary Pickup Selector Switch, 2-Knob Chrome Control Plate
Accessories
Case Gig Bags: Deluxe Gig Bag
UTILIZATION
What an interesting idea - Fender decided to make a hybrid of their two most iconic designs, the Stratocaster and the Telecaster. This Pawn Shop '51 is a Strat in body shape and neck pickup, yet a Tele in neck, bridge, and controls. Fender added a humbucker in the bridge for some more modern versatility, and then throw on a pickguard resembling the Telecaster Bass pickguard. It is a bit strange to look at, but it is a neat guitar to play. The neck is super comfortable like a Tele, and the guitar has great tuning stability and resonance like a Tele. Yet the impression one gets from sitting down to play this is firmly Strat! It's a bizarre headgame this guitar played with me, but very rewarding at the same time.
SOUNDS
The sounds are simple - Strat Texas Special pickup in the neck (think SRV tones, which this has in spades), and a Fender Enforcer in the neck (brighter, more bold and aggressive, good for hard rock). The middle position resembled the bridge setting yet tamed the treble output and added some more smoothness. This axe could play literally any style well.
OVERALL OPINION
It may be a bit strange to look at, but I am a fan of this guitar. It's good that Fender is starting to push some design boundaries, looking into its storied past and drawing inspiration from multiple sources, yet still incorporating some modern features. I'd like to see a Bass VI version of this guitar!
Series: Pawn Shop Series
Color / MSRP* / Part # :
Black
$1,149.99
026-6002-306
Blonde
$1,149.99
026-6002-307
Body
Body Material: Alder
Body Shape: Stratocaster®
Body Finish:
(0266002306, 0266002307)
Polyester
Neck
Neck Shape: "C" Shape
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays: Black Dot Position Inlays
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm)
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Polyester
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Neck Plate
Truss Rods: Standard Truss Rod
Truss Rod Nut: 3/16" Hex Adjustment
Electronics
Pickup Configuration: H/S
Bridge Pickup: Enforcer™ Humbucking Pickup (Bridge)
Neck Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Neck Pickup
Pickup Switching: 3 Position Rotary Toggle Switch
Controls: Master Volume with Push/Pull Coil Split, 3-Position Rotary
Hardware
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Bridge: '70s-Style Hard-Tail Stratocaster Bridge
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Miscellaneous
Strings: Fender® USA Super 250L's, NPS (.009-.042 Gauges)
Unique Features: Telecaster Neck, Hardtail Bridge, HS Pickup Configuration, 3-Postion Rotary Pickup Selector Switch, 2-Knob Chrome Control Plate
Accessories
Case Gig Bags: Deluxe Gig Bag
UTILIZATION
What an interesting idea - Fender decided to make a hybrid of their two most iconic designs, the Stratocaster and the Telecaster. This Pawn Shop '51 is a Strat in body shape and neck pickup, yet a Tele in neck, bridge, and controls. Fender added a humbucker in the bridge for some more modern versatility, and then throw on a pickguard resembling the Telecaster Bass pickguard. It is a bit strange to look at, but it is a neat guitar to play. The neck is super comfortable like a Tele, and the guitar has great tuning stability and resonance like a Tele. Yet the impression one gets from sitting down to play this is firmly Strat! It's a bizarre headgame this guitar played with me, but very rewarding at the same time.
SOUNDS
The sounds are simple - Strat Texas Special pickup in the neck (think SRV tones, which this has in spades), and a Fender Enforcer in the neck (brighter, more bold and aggressive, good for hard rock). The middle position resembled the bridge setting yet tamed the treble output and added some more smoothness. This axe could play literally any style well.
OVERALL OPINION
It may be a bit strange to look at, but I am a fan of this guitar. It's good that Fender is starting to push some design boundaries, looking into its storied past and drawing inspiration from multiple sources, yet still incorporating some modern features. I'd like to see a Bass VI version of this guitar!