This is a guitar with a few tricks up its sleeve. Based around an early 1973 Fujigen built Ibanez 2375, this features the chunkier 5-piece neck unique to 1973. We named this after the handwritten production line data in the neck pocket and pick-up cavities. This body appears to be a from the prototype line which would also explain the clearcoat finish over a body that would under normal circumstances be painted. The pancake body construction makes itself obviously know, and the thin slab on top has charm even where the contour of the body explains why it didn't make it into production!
 
Originally equipped with short fat Maxons, we have upgraded them to Excel PU-119 pick-ups from a 1977 SE-700 - the first Greco model to feature a 5 way selector therefore appropriate middle pick-up construction to work in parallel mode. 2 new CTS premium pots govern master volume and neck tone, and a push push knob controls the middle and bridge tone. A new CRL 5 way switch provide the normal Strat tones if the push push knob is down, but give it a tap when the neck pick-up is selected and it brings in the bridge coil in series for a big fat humbucker sound. In the neck and middle position, the middle coil joins in parallel to the series connected neck/bridge. This gives a thicker more powerful "in between" tone. These series tones could be heard on a few iterations of the American Deluxe. The addition of these tones to the palette is in keeping with this vintage Strat style guitar - it is not attempting to be a humbucker guitar.
 
The guitar retains its early Gotoh bridge - even though it looks rather agricultural, it does the job adequately, and the nice solid block gets a solid acoustic ring usually only experienced with very expensive guitars.
 
Another clue that this guitar served as a prototype is the presence of the infamous "star tuners" - only fitted to the most expensive guitars at the time. They retain their quality solid feel, and enable very stable tuning.
 
Whilst yellow pick-up covers and knobs won't be to everyone's taste, we think they make a nice change from established colour schemes - yellow always cheers us up.
 
It is pure vintage MIJ in feel and balance, and at 3.88kg (8lbs 9oz) a little weightier than the more famous and later Fender JVs. A 9.5" radius and a 42.5mm nut make this very comfortable and a very low action can be achieved.