Fender Bonnie Raitt Signature 1996

Built in May 1996, this Bonnie Raitt signature edition Stratocaster is in 3-colour sunburst rather than the slightly more challenging blue. It has an alder body, maple narrow C profile neck and rosewood board, and the highly admired Texas Special single coils, which have an over-wound hi-presence character - great for those in-between sounds. The 4ply white Pearloid scratchplate completes the look.

Like many of our finest playing instruments, this one has seen some life. There has been a minor repair to the body under the tremolo - it is completely invisible from the outside, and an unfathomable cause! Someone has been careless when removing the tremolo fixing screws perhaps. It's invisible, it doesn't affect the function in any way, but we must mention it. There are signs that the guitar has been used properly - the scratchplate screws had seen some heavy blues sweat. We have replaced them with new ones but the staining on the plate remains - signs of a good life.

It is no case queen - it isn't a mint never been used collector's box ticked - this is a fine Strat that someone previously has enjoyed and used properly, (maybe not wiping it down enough but what are guitars actually for?).

We have set it up on 10-46, and as a Strat that rings and rings; and an action height that can have a slide on it without fretting, but low enough to remain comfortable. The middle pick-up is set a little higher than the normal Stratocasters so those Bonnie Raitt covers will be accurate - neck and middle together is totally addictive.