September 2008 \ Features \ Premier Collector \ Premier Collector #8: Vintage Strats and Custom Colors

Premier Collector #8: Vintage Strats and Custom Colors

Premier Guitar

Clean, pristine sixties Jags, Jazzmasters and Strats
Premier Guitar September 2008
(2 of 2)


Some really cool vintage guitars I keep hanging on display


A whole bunch of Gibsons hanging on my wall (mostly hollowbody and archtops) from the fifties and sixties



Performing live. Robbie on far left, Shane Dwight on far right

"After a few years of playing at the Winter NAMM show in Los Angeles for the Fender Custom Shop, John Cruz came to me and said “Hey, why don’t you let me make you a guitar?” John had just been promoted to Master Builder for Fender. So he and I sat down and agreed on the specs (basically a black Strat with gold hardware, green guard, sixties pickups) and about six months later he sent it to me. It was beautiful. He even surprised me by putting abalone inlay on the 12 fret saying Robby Z. On the back of the headstock it says “Custom Built for Robby Z,” along with John’s Masterbuilt stamp. The guitar was so awesome I didn’t want to play it at gigs, but a year later John saw me performing in LA with my ’66 Strat and said “Hey, where’s my guitar?” So from that day on I use it at almost every show."

To join Robby as a Premier Collector, send an e-mail with photos and a description of your gear to rebecca@premierguitar.com

Premier Collector #7: Martins and More
Premier Collector #6: Custom-Built Strats and Fender Tube Amps
Premier Collector #5: The Vintage Room
Premier Collector #4: Oddballs
Premier Collector #3: Vintage Fender Amps and Guitars
Premier Collector #2: Gibson Customs and Modded Marshalls
Premier Collector #1: Kramers, Coronados and More

« Previous    1 | 2   

Related Articles

Premier Collector #13: Gear for the Working Guitarist
Premier Collector #12: Vintage Grails & Boutique Beauties
Premier Collector #12: Vintage Grails & Boutique Beauties
Catalinbread Galileo Pedal Review
Fretboard Implant


Comments

 (10 comments) display by
UsernameComment
chris
on 10/19/2009 		You gonna use all those guitars or just leave em on your stupid wall to look at?
Robby Z
on 06/04/2009 		You guys are right. The Strat on the left is a '59. I have two '59s. One (Jan '59) with a maple board. The second is this guitar with a slab board neck. It has a white (11 screw) guard.
Scott
on 06/04/2009 		I would have to agree with Craig above. In the photo with the four sunburst Strats. You have the last one on the right marked as a '57. I think that because of the rosewood neck, the triple laminated pickguard, and the pickguard screw near the neck pickup, I would have to say that that Strat is probably a 1962 or '63 Strat. (Compare that Strat with the Fiesta Red Strat in the next photo. I would say both of these are from around the same year, '62-'63.) Beautiful collection. I'm jealous.
Dan Marois
on 03/06/2009 		Hey Rafael! Thanks for screaming at us about your not that great guitar collection. Really made my day. Because MY COLLECTION IS EVEN SMALLER AND WORSE THAN YOURS DOOD! =o:P
RAFAEL BONILLA
on 03/04/2009 		YOU ARE A SO LUCKY GUY!!!!! GREAT TASTE, GREAT GUITARS. I HOPE TO HAVE SOME LIKE YOU DO!!!! I ONLY HAVE 25 GUITARS AND NOT THAT GREAT!!!!!!!!
Downrightdaft
on 09/04/2008 		I don't think many will agree with me, but I will say it, all the same: Collectors like these (and the publications that venerate them) are proof that 'Guitars are like little children. They should be seen and not heard'. But seriously.
Craig
on 09/03/2008 		Robby, awesome collection! Love the old Fenders...great stuff! In the shot of the four 50's Strats the last one is listed as a '57 looks like it has a rosewood neck. I didn't think Fender started doing rosewood necks until '59...perhaps a typo? Anyway, I purchased a '58 re-finished Strat back in '75 for $250. It has a terrific v-neck which plays like butter and the guitar is super light...nothing like the old wood of a vintage Fender. You definitely own some beautiful guitars...congratulations on your wonderful collection!
bosrocker51
on 09/03/2008 		I thought I was a little overboard collecting guitars since I have... a few. Now I'm thinking... if I only have another 3 or 4 rooms to put them in and display them... what a great colection, you really have nice taste, man. I'm impressed.
Guitars4stars.com
on 09/03/2008 		Hey Robby - You should show the the 56 gibson Les Paul Gold Top i sold you last year....You have a bitchin guitar collection dood!! You ever need a guitar Safe - i custom build them for collectors like you.

Beautiful collection dood - Chris - Guitars4Stars.com
Ron
on 09/03/2008 		Great taste in vintage, Robbie.
I'm jealous, especially for the two Gretsch dbl. cut Jet's.



Your Comment:  

All comments are subject to editing or deletion by the Premier Guitar staff.

Your Name:  


Please enter the text you see in the image:  
10

EDC9EE82-CF1C-4D3D-9890-BC7F48052BCD