HOLY GRAIL OF STRATS -- CUSTOM COLOR FIRST YEAR 1954 Fender Stratocaster w/ Aaron Hiebert! 

I think this is a bigger deal than any burst. There are lots of them. This guitar from 54 with a gold anodized guard is so out of this world it’s almost unbelievable. This is a very special guitar. Might be the coolest that I have seen in my many years.

So sick. I’ve never even seen a sonic blue Strat earlier than about 1960. That’s a museum piece

I would not have guessed in a thousand years something like this existed. Thanks for sharing.

Where do you go after playing the top of the mountain '54 gorgeous blue Stratocaster? It's like going on a date with Marlyn Monroe. Lol The vibe, the mojo, the clarity on EVERY single note is insane. The harmonic swirl when he digs in and with each pickup. Are we tagging this one like we do with sharks before we let it back out in the wild, so we know where she is at all times?

If you look back at how old-looking everything from the 50s looks today, then imagine being in that era when Fender released the Stratocaster - wow!

An enormous treat for any ear, a great guitarist getting a great sound out of vintage equipment. One of a kind guitar, a feast of beauty.

Aaron just blows me away everytime I hear him play that was amazing

Lots of mid-'50s cars painted that color too. Popular 1950s color.

That "Gold One" was Eldon Shamblin's given to him by Leo and was the first custom color Strat made.

'54 Strat. Emerald City Guitars. You guys got a future!

Awesome playing. That guy could make anything sound good.

Everybody talking about hearing SRV in that demo....I'm hearing some great Gary Moore licks in there. Excellent!

That player knows how to get the most out of a strat. Tone really is in the hands. Amazing playing. Thank you!

Tadeo Gomez, master,,,,oh, and that young'un playin' sure makes her sing!!! thanks fellas,

Excellent work Aaron. Gosh, that middle pickup is beautiful sounding.

What an incredibly beautiful looking and sounding '54 . I hope the next owner buys this to play and enjoy it

The more I look at this the more I learn. It sorta reminds me of a 86 bullet one neck. The headstock shape, the covered truss rod hole at the nut, the saddles and sounds are so unique. I'm drooling here.

Joe Bonnamassa does not own Eldon's Gold 54. One of the biggest collectors in the US won't mention his name but initials 'R.P.' is the owner, and leant it out to JB. It is back in Houston with R.P.

As always, you killed it Aaron. Everytime I watch you play a Strat, it makes me want to go out and buy another one. I love my Les Paul but, you just can't beat that Fender coolness.

Now THAT’s a well played guitar… and Aaron only made it better by adding his own mojo!

Killer guitar, but 90% of that sound is that even more killer amp!

Just WOW!!! 😍

Holy f ..gorgeous Fender ..but maaan YOU got that guitar to talk ,scream, moan, whisper, cry, shout ,rage, and contort with badass emotion...just YESSSSSSSS....dude just tore this STRAT Uuuuuuuppppppppp....smokin playin man...

Sweet! Feel fortunate just to watch this video!

The playing on this was mesmerizing. Great tones

That sounds absolutely amazing. I love that los lonely boys Henry Garza vibe there in the beginning. Amazing playing and guitar.

Awesome playing…once again 👌👌👌

Perfect choice of things to play for this lovely guitar Aaron, the Gary Moore cameo is inspired.

Wow…that’s a beast!! ❤️🤘

That thing sounded absolutely sublime.

Holy moly! Incredible!

That old school 50s blue is incredible I want a Strat in that color

This might be Charlie Aldrich's Strat. He used it in a movie called "Bell Book & Candle".

I love the contour cutaways on the older Strats - so sexy in profile and they're lighter and spankier. Wonder if this one is a sunburst painted over with custom colour as many were. When the nitro wears away you see the under layers

Awesome playing! And there's nothing wrong with that strat ...

That is an amazing find. The frets look SO low though. Props to the guy playing it though, when they are that skinny it’s not easy and that was some awesome playing.

How cool is that, and what a great player to showcase this awesome piece!👍 Wow…

Wow! Just WOW!.. And also amazing playing as usual from Mr. Hiebert..

Incredible, love it!

This looks like Daphne Blue! Beautiful!

I want to hear it played through other amps and amp sims. That was so rad.

Sounds good!

Wow pure mojo!!! I want those pickups!! Lol... I want that guitar and so does evry strat lover on earth lol. It spits stevie ray vaughn and hendrix style licks like butter!! With a little something extra on top! Super cool geetar!! Rock on!!

That's a demo !

I seem to remember everyone hating that very color a few years back when it was in the American Pro line... Looks great, sounds great, and the playing is amazing

Beautiful playing on a beautiful instrument. Sonic blues played on a sonic blue. Very choice!👌

Amazing

holy shit that tone and playing was beautiful man thank you

The real collectible one...

Nothing left to say...

Oh !!! Love the way the blue has those green tints in it....but that SOUND !!!

Amazing sounding (and looking) strat. Well played.

A TG 54 Stat in Blue! Yo...I was gonna say that will go in a day asking whatever you want, but this was almost a year ago by now so it is definitely in someone's house or studio right now and everyone they know drools over it whenever they walk in the room.

Wow. Thank you for sharing it🙏🏼🍻

That’s Stratocaster heaven😉

Wow guitar and playing!

What a pile of nonsense. So being a rare or even unique colour for the time makes it some “magical” instrument? Like you can’t find a newly made one that sounds exactly like that and plays even better. These were production line instruments that varied due to the technology at the time. If you measured the neck profile each one would be different. Modern guitars are much more consistent. I’m not saying this couldn’t be a good guitar. But to say that its got something that you cant get these days is just nonsense. This whole idea that the old guitars are better started in the 70s when it was true. During the CBS 70s Fender and Gibson’s quality definitely did take a dive. So the older guitars were better. But that’s just not true these days.

If there is another one like this with this colour then it's most likely a refin. They didn't have aluminum pickguards after early '54 until 1957 when they became popular again. I have a '56 Stratocaster with a Daphne Blue finish with an anodized pickguard but that one I replaced the original white one with. The dark spots in the finish look black - meaning that maybe someone painted over the original finish. It was more than likely originally Sunburst then repainted. I wonder what this guitar would sound like through my amp and with ME playing. Very cool nonetheless. Thank you for sharing this with the rest of us to enjoy.

Just out of curiosity, are y'all using any OD pedals or is this all Fender tube saturation? Either way....it sounds like gold as always. Good job Aaron!

If memory serves me that color is on some of the workbenches in the fender shop at the time

Loving that Pride and Joy tone

its got thin frets too,I luv em.

Sounds like heaven

wow!!!! it's like pee wee crayton"s 54.......but that crazy blue!!!! wow!!!!

Probably already on its way to Bonamassa 😂

Looks like the long lost twin to the Gilmour #1 Strat

I'll take it, and the amp.

a real piece of art

Any guesses as to what it would go for if put up for sale? $400K? Probably a lot more.

I've played three 54 strats with 7 inch radius necks & their just not worth raving about!

Best intro ever

Cool, What’s the history of this exact guitar?

Does anyone know what this went for? I'm DYING to know :D It's absolutely incredible!

Now I know where the PRS Silver Sky Polar Blue color was inspired by.

Dude that stat rips!!

So I just checked their website and its not there so I assume somebody bought it.....anybody know what it sold for?

Thank you! That's all I can say!

I'd really rather have a new one , I don't believe in the vintage mojo - merchants. With them its marketing and the quest for more cash.

Daphne Blue though they might call it a one off thats the color ive got the dupont book here and if you note its a sunburst underneath so someone said I want a guitar the color of the sky not sunburst and they grabbed one off the shelf and down to the paint shop it went and in 50s they used a car shop in fullerton and what ever color blue they were shooting that day in December was already being painted on some car there.. Its daphne blue though by the chart. The only other custom colors being black solid white or Homer Haynes gold. Its impossible to know if it was sent back and painted after 54 though unless by serial number or they have the custom stamp in body and they were not stamping them till the 60s so it would be crude. The trick will be to cross the paint to see what was offered in 53 in that color or 54 since December is last month of year.

Always a joy to hear Aaron’s demos - the guitar’s not bad either!! Thanks for sharing 🤓

Ah, a Stevie fan!

Wow, those frets are wasted! It's sounds great, I wonder how much better it would sound and play with new frets, or would it sound not as good?

Unicorn guitar! 🤯

They say this is refinished. Fact, it was at the factory and originally a sunburst but stripped and redone in blue by custom order. This still very cool but technically a refin. Value about 65k...

I wonder what they called that particular shade of blue back in 1954. I have seen several 54's in the last 50 years but never one with an original custom colour like this.

Needs a fret job but that's probably the best sounding strat I've ever heard

So tex mex is nothing more then 54s man that's the sound right there

Do you guys take trades? I have a Crate 4x12 cabinet, a Line 6 Pod, and a barely used Road Runner soft case. I can also throw in some Musican’s Gear cables. Let me know.

WOW!! ESTO ES EXITANTE QUEEE! SONIDO TAN LIMPIO Y AGRADABLE WOW!!!

🔥🔥🔥

nice of course, but the holy grail would be a custom colour on the prototype first 200 or so, serial on trem cover, now then you really do have the holy grail, would be nice to see inside, what dates, colour of pencil used ? things like that....

Awsome. So what is that colour called? is it Sonic Blue? or is it also unique?

Been at this for 60+ years, and this is a first for me! Great color. Notice how the poles are all low? The 4th is a bit higher, but none of that high 3rd nonsense ...

When it's a heavy guitar, " heavy guitars have more tone." When it's a light guitar, "light guitars are way more resonant and fun to play."🤨😆

skips music in Sacramento had one of these this color years ago. Im wondering if its the same one

7m35s is that fret wear from fingers?! (rather than strings)

What was the first year strat was available in natural finish? Late 50's early 60's?...or were these years all refinished to natural?

Holy mother of God

Is it lake placid blue colour?

Wow! That's all I have to say....