Giving Bruno Mars a signature guitar is really interesting. Now I haven't watched the video yet so I don't know if you love it or hate it, but obviously a lot of people don't associate him with a guitar (he IS a guitar player though, and he did a pretty good job at the Grammy's Prince tribute). BUT he did spec it out, AND I think he hit on a particular design philosophy that Fender hasn't come across yet. He wanted something that looked old but played like a modern, hot-rodded strat. Coincidently that's exactly what I want in a strat, but it's interesting that they sort of "locked" those features behind the signature model of a pop star. But fortunately I think Bruno Mars is cool as hell and I'm looking forward to playing his signature strat in my doom metal band.
I bought the Bruno Mars Strat and it really has nothing to do with Bruno. For me it was all about the specs. I am a Strat guy and have been on the hunt for a very specific Strat and resigned myself that I will have to go to the Custom Shop. I love the Ultra line but I hate the neck shape and wish it had a Nitro Body. I have found many Custom Shops that I like but none of them have the heel cut and contours that the modern guitars have. I also want stainless steel frets and only the Ultra Luxe line of Fender has that (I don’t like the neck shape and it does not have Nitro). Ultra Luxe starts at $2599 and Custom Shops start around $4k. The Bruno Strat has all the specs I personally wanted: 9.5-12in compound radius (I like this compound spec more that the Ultra’s 10-14); stainless steel frets (only available on the Ultra Luxe and Custom Shop); heel contour (Ultra, Ultra Luxe, or Custom Shop for the heel carve that I like/want); locking tuners; a hotter bridge pickup (nice to not have to mod this myself); ‘69 C shape neck (Custom Shop only- maybe Vintera ii and definitely closer with American Vintage); and the Nitro paint. For me, this was cheaper and faster than going through the Custom Shop to get these specific guitar specs (heard CS turnaround time is over 12 months). It is like the Ultra Luxe got the Custom Shop treatment and it got priced right in between the two lines. Plus, as you both said Bruno still has to get paid. I feel as if I I got lucky that something like this was made outside of the Custom Shop. To be honest, I am really impressed that Bruno had chosen specs like this for his guitar. With these specs, I would have bought the guitar regardless of the artist name.
I watched RJ Ronquillo's stream this morning and he had one of these Strats in person, and he remarked that there aren't really any markers on the guitar indicating that it's a signature model. No engraved neckplate, no signature or name on the headstock or on other locations. It could be that way because it's an artist demo guitar for him, but it was interesting nonetheless.
I'm curious to see what the aging looks on the Bruno Mars Strat like in person. I haven't seen great photos or videos of it so far. Is this the first aged US production Fender (aside from the Custom shop of course)?
Release signature guitars next to the same exact guitar without the 'signature' and see if the name sells it, or is it the knowledge that a guitar with those specs exists that sells it... ...or how many people won't buy something because they don't want to be associated with another player they don't relate to.
