Fellows,
I've been looking for a second strat for a while, as I don't feel comfortable bringing Jessica (my black Am. Std.) along to nasty places where I sometimes play... She's too much of a fine lady and I don't like to risk her being stolen or damaged... She belongs in better stages and studios.
I needed another girl that could do the job without costing a lot. Due to our economic situation down here, imported guitars are too expensive for me to think of them, as I already own two good guitars, Jessica and the SG (which is a totally different animal).
So, just as Bilbo Baggins did with the infamous ring, I unexpectedly came across a guitar I've wanted for a long time, but never had the chance to buy back then, and is just perfect for what I want it.
Besides, though not exactly expensive here, it is both collectible and semi-vintage, in its own particular way...
A Fender Strat most of you probably won't even have ever heard of: a Fender Southern Cross Series Stratocaster. Made in Brazil (Yes, I'll tell you about it) around 1993.
The seller will be sending it to me tomorrow; although I don't like to buy musical instruments by mail, I had to, as these guitars aren't so easy to find.
Between 1992 and 1995, Fender had a contract with Brazilian guitar company Giannini, which included Giannini making and exporting acoustic guitars to the U.S., and in exchange Fender licensing and supervising the production of stratocasters here, under the supervision of American techs. The production had to cease in 1995, because the cost became too high, unfortunately. As far as I knoe, only 5.000 Southern Cross strats were made, in three colors: Black, metallic blue and metallic red (a color very close to Candy Apple Red.
They have quite a unique tone, as they are made of one piece cedar bodies and maple necks. They have quite a lot of small details that make them look like a non-Fender guitar, one could first identify it as some kind of a knockoff, but it is a legit Fender product made under license, and do sound quite good. The quality control and finish was more or less like the one you'd expect fro a early years MiM Strat.
Jazz basses were also produced.
Here's an example shot of the headstock oh these guitars (off the internet), where you can note the black/silver 90's logo shape and the "Southern Cross", which resembles the "American Traditional" script in that series...
Owners often say that the heavy cedar body makes them sound "thicker", darker, but still quite decently "fenderish"... I don't know how much of that is true, but I guess I'll find out soon enough. Anyway, it's a rare Fender Strat.
I was lucky to find one with all the decals, as many dumbasses sanded down the "Made in Brazil" and the "Southern Cross" sayings. I want mine to be entirely original.
The one I bought is red just like that one, and was upgraded with USA wiring and custom shop Fat 50 pickups, let's see how she sings...