“What – yet another Stratocaster model!? Who needs another Strat? Yeah, man, I’ve noticed there’s a ‘bucker at the bridge position, but that’s been done before, hasn’t it!”

True, but this is a new American Standard model you should definitely try out, because the guys at Fender R&D have come up with a couple of nifty improvements that haven’t bee available on HSS-Strats thus far.

“A Shaw-what?”

Fender calls its newest bridge humbucker the Shawbucker in honour of the man who designed it, Tim Shaw. Mr Shaw is a genuine living legend, and held in high esteem amongst people in the know. In the 1970s and 80s he worked for Gibson, and helped to turn around the company’s flagging fortunes and decline in quality. As the resident electronic guru he played a pivotal role during the design of models, such as the Gibson Les Paul Heritage…