Why Tom DeLonge’s Signature Fender Strat Is So Important
Fender is one of the oldest names in the world of guitars and the Fender brand features some of the most easily recognisable guitars the world has ever seen. The Stratocaster is easily at the top of that list and over the last 70 years, we have seen a wide range of takes on this iconic guitar, including a number of Signature/Artist models.
The Fender Signature Model list of alumni features some of the greatest and most influential players of all time. From Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck through to Tom Morello, Tash Sultana, Billy Corgan and Jim Root, each artist has had their own unique take on Fender’s classic designs, with some more unique than others. Few however, have had quite as unique take on the classic Stratocaster design than blink-182’s Tom DeLonge, who’s stripped-back, hot-rodded signature Strat has become one of the most coveted models in Fender’s expansive history. It’s not very often you see an Artist run as far away from a guitar’s traditional design but that’s exactly what DeLonge did with his Signature model, which sold between 1999-2004, and it’s exactly what has made it such a legendary model.
20 years on from the original release of the Tom Delonge Signature Stratocaster and Fender are finally reissuing this revered Pop Punk riff machine in all its glory. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we’ve put together a little rundown of what exactly makes this twisted take on the classic Strat so cool.
The Hardtail Bridge
Literally 98% of Fender Strats feature the traditional/vintage style tremolo bridge so players can dive bomb to their heart’s content. The Telecaster has always been Fender’s hardtail model of choice, but every now and then you see a Strat with one. Hardtail Strats are exceedingly uncommon, hard to come by and highly sought after. The DeLonge model is a rare example of a hardtail Strat that got a full-fledged production run and it’s a huge selling point for this guitar.
The Single Humbucker
In tune with the DeLonge model’s ‘no frills’ approach, the guitar features a single humbucker in the form of the ultra-high output Seymour Duncan Invader pickup. Seymour Duncan describes the Invader as ‘loud, vicious and unapologetic’ which is incredibly accurate and on-point for the needs of a Pop Punk guitarist wanting to rip out some big riffs. The Invader is such a gnarly pickup and truly the antithesis of everything that you’d find in a traditional Stratocaster, but that’s exactly why it works. The cherry on top is that the pickup is wired to a single volume know, because what kind of punk guitarist wants to bother with a tone control, right?
The Big Headstock
Fender has a few different takes on the Stratocaster headstock and they’re all iconic in their own way, but there’s something so special about the larger 70’s era headstock. It’s big, it’s bold and it just looks so damn epic. It seems fitting that such a bombastic take on the Strat would feature the boldest version of the Strat headstock.
The Finishes
It’s as simple as three words: Sea Foam Green. I honestly can’t think of a more fitting finish for a Pop Punk signature guitar and it’s also just one of the coolest finishes you can have on any instrument. But if that wasn’t enough, you can also get the DeLonge Strat in Pastel Blue, Graffiti Yellow and Black (if you’re boring). The Fender Stratocaster range is often full of the same old Candy Apple Red, Three Tone Sunburst and Olympic White models, which is why the DeLonge model repping such vibrant and eye-catching finishes is a huge selling point.
They’re So Damn Hard To Find Nowadays!
It’s been over 20 years since the original DeLonge Strat was available on the market. At the time of release, they were priced really well, and they were literally everywhere you could buy Fender gear, so you’d be forgiven for being like me and thinking you’d just pick one up down the line without any trouble. Boy, was I wrong. I tried to track one down a few years ago and immediately talked myself out of it when I saw that they were selling for 6-7x the original retail price.
If You Remove Tom’s Name, It’s Just A Sick Strat
Obviously not everyone is a Blink or Tom DeLonge fan, so that might be enough to dissuade someone from grabbing one of these. However, the only aspect of the guitar that tells you it’s a signature model is the symbol on the neck plate. If you disregard that, then this guitar is simply one of the coolest and most unique Stratocasters that Fender has ever produced. If you wanted to custom order a hardtail Strat with a single humbucker and 70’s era headstock in a pastel finish, you’d probably be paying a hell of a lot more than what one of the DeLonge model costs.
I can’t express how cool it is to be getting a faithful reproduction of the original DeLonge Strat in the market. There aren’t too many examples of Fender Signature Models that stray from the tried-and-true path of their traditional designs, so to see this one return is very special indeed. If you’re like me and grew up ripping classic Enema or TOYPAJ riffs in your bedroom, then you’re no doubt going to want to get your hands on one of these before they’re gone again.
Written by Nicholas Simonsen @blackechomusic
The Limited Edition Fender Tom DeLonge Stratocaster
RRP: $2,249.99 AUD
Learn more about the Tom DeLonge Fender Stratocaster here
Specs:
- A custom crafted neck plate featuring Tom DeLonge’s original artwork
- A Seymour Duncan® Invader™ humbucker, that delivers immense output and turbo-charged tones, ideal for unleashing chunky power chords and crunchy riffs
- Hardtail Stratocaster bridge with 6 block saddles to provide rock solid tuning stability, keeping players in tune when playing fast, energetic, Tom-inspired rock
- Four colors from Tom’s first signature guitar, Surf Green, Daphne Blue, Graffiti Yellow and Black
- And an accessories capsule that includes Tom DeLonge signature straps, designed for both comfort and style, and a mix of 351 celluloid picks, both adorned with Tom’s brand name, “To The Stars,” as well as a Graffiti Yellow signature cable. The accessories range from: $13- $59.