Fender Stratocaster Lenny Tribute Masterbuilt Yuriy Shishkov (2007)

Lenny - the woman, the song, the guitar! In 1980 when Stevie Ray Vaughan was touring the Austin scene with his band Double Trouble as a merely locally famous guitarist he spotted a 1965 Stratocaster in a pawn shop. Although the guitar had long ago been stripped of its original sunburst finish and refinished, as well as having a "custom" ivory and tortoise shell inlay behind the bridge installed (presumably from a 1910 mandolin pickguard) the asking price was $350, which Stevie was unable to raise. Lenora "Lenny" Darlene Bailey, with whom he had been dating since July 1978 and who later became his wife, rounded up a few of Stevie's friends who pooled their money to buy the guitar and present it to him as a birthday gift. The story goes that Stevie was so touched that he wrote his song "Lenny" that night and played it for Lenora the next morning on his new guitar. Even though Stevie continued to use mostly his Number One in the future, a '63 sunburst Strat he had bought in 1973, he used Lenny primarily on two of his most eloquent songs: the eponymous "Lenny" and "Riviera Paradise," a sparkling instrumental featured on his 1989 release "In Step." In an interview shortly before his sudden death on August 27, 1990 Stevie described his love for the battered Strat: "For some reason, this guitar works for songs like this more than anything else." In 2004 Lenny sold for $623,000 at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Auction. So it gives us great pleasure to offer you here a tribute replica of this legendary Stratocaster from 2007, released by the Fender Custom Shop in an extremely limited edition and built by renowned masterbuilder Yuriy Shishkov. Shishkov paid detailed attention to all the modifications Lenny had received in the course of her life: thus, he replicated the inlays behind the bridge, as well as the softer edges the guitar had received by sanding down the sunburst finish. The two tone pots work in opposite directions, just like the original, and the changed maple neck, as well as the Humbucker routing under the pickguard, which came from a previous owner, were also taken into account. Of course the guitar wears the familiar SRV stickers, as well as Stevie's carved autograph on the back cover plate and a non-original bridge that dates back to a previous owner of the guitar. Besides all the historical and collector aspects this Strat also convinces as a player: "Riviera Paradise" and "Lenny" at their finest and the clear tones of "Tin Pan Alley" just sparkle out. The guitar comes complete with flight case, SRV leather strap, cable, SRV pictures, backstage passes, various CDs and DVDs and a setlist written on a napkin. A piece of contemporary history, a great player, a must-have for every fan and a highlite for every collector, which we are proud to offer you in top condition!

• Including SRV flightcase, certificate Yuriy Shishkov, certificate Lenny Vaughan, certificate René Martinez, SRV belt, cable, various pictures, CDs and DVDs, napkin with setlist, additional case candy
• Weight: 3490 grams