Fender Adding Eric Johnson RW, Ritchie Blackmore Strats to Artist Series

Scottsdale, AZ (January 6, 2009) -- In addition to their Road Worn series, Fender's website is also now boasting a few new Artist Series Strats for 2009, including the Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW and Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster. Here's the info and specs from Fender:

Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW
There is no greater example of guitar hero Eric Johnson’s devotion to his art than his new signature model Stratocaster guitar. With singular attention to detail, the new Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW features a two-piece alder body finished in thin-skin nitrocellulose lacquer, a quartersawn maple neck with bound round-laminated 12”-radius rosewood fretboard, a three-ply parchment pickguard, pickups voiced by Johnson himself, staggered vintage-style tuners, a custom tremolo block, and four brand-new finish options, three of which (Lucerne Aqua Firemist, Tropical Turquoise and Medium Palomino Metallic) are exclusive to this model.

Medium Palomino Metallic Larger Image	Model		Eric Johnson Stratocaster RW
	Model Number		011-7700-(Color #)
	Series		Artist Series
	Colors		Dakota Red, Tropical Turquoise, Medium Palomino Metallic, Lucerne Aqua Firemist, (Thin-Skin Nitrocellulose Lacquer)
	Body		2-Piece, Deep Contoured, ‘57 Style Lightweight Alder Body
	Neck		Quartersawn Maple, Soft “V” Shape, (Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)
	Fingerboard		Bound Round Laminated Rosewood, 12” Radius (305 mm)
	No. of Frets		21 Highly Polished Medium Jumbo Frets
	Pickups		3 Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil Pickups with Countersunk Mounting Screws (Neck/Middle/Bridge)
	Controls		Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
	Pickup Switching		5-Position Blade: 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup 3. Middle Pickup Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup Position 5. Neck Pickup
	Bridge		American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
	Machine Heads		Fender/Gotoh Staggered Vintage Style Tuning Machines
	Hardware		Nickel/Chrome
	Pickguard		3-Ply Parchment, (8-Hole)
	Scale		25.5” (648 mm)
	Width at Nut		1.650” (42 mm)
	Unique Features		Extra Smooth Neck to Headstock Volute, Special Neckplate with Engraved EJ and Kokopelli, 1957 Style Body Cavities, Countersunk Holes in Pickguard for Pickup Mounting Screws, Pearloid Dot Inlay Position Markers, Height Staggered Vintage Style Tuners which Eliminate the Need for String Trees, Vintage Tremolo with Silver Painted Block and ‘57 Style String Recess (No Paint Between Base Plate and Block), 3-Ply 8-Hole Parchment Pickguard, 5 Tremolo Springs and No Back Tremolo Cover Plate
	Strings		Fender Super 250R, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046)
	Accessories		Deluxe Blonde Hardshell Case, Levy’s Woven Strap, 15’ Koil Kords Cable, “Ash Tray” Bridge Cover

Ritchie Blackmore Signature

Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has been creating memorable guitar riffs for decades. His deft phrasing and unmistakable tone have helped make the phrase “guitar solo” a household term. Blackmore and Fender are now proud to introduce the Ritchie Blackmore Signature Stratocaster guitar, based on his favorite ’70s model and featuring a maple neck with a graduated scalloped rosewood fretboard, Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat pickups, and ’70s-style “F” tuners. Deluxe gig bag included.

Larger Image	Model		Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
	Model Number		013-9010-(305)
	Series		Artist Series
	Colors		Olympic White, (Polyester Finish)
	Body		Alder
	Neck		Maple, “U” Shape, (Gloss Polyurethane Finish)
	Fingerboard		Graduated Scalloped Rosewood, 7.25” Radius (184 mm)
	No. of Frets		21 Vintage Style Frets
	Pickups		1 Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 Single-Coil Strat Pickup (Neck), 1 Non-Active “Dummy” Pickup (Middle), 1 Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity Seymour Duncan® Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 Single-Coil Strat Pickup (Bridge)
	Controls		Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck and Middle Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
	Pickup Switching		3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickup Position 3. Neck Pickup
	Bridge		Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
	Machine Heads		Fender/Schaller Vintage “F” Style Tuning Machines
	Hardware		Chrome
	Pickguard		3-Ply White
	Scale		25.5” (648 mm)
	Width at Nut		1.650” (42 mm)
	Unique Features		Ritchie Blackmore Signature on Front of Headstock, Flush Mounted Dunlop Straplocks, Large ‘70s Style Headstock, ‘70s Style Decal, Bullet Truss Rod Adjustment Nut, 3-Bolt Neck Plate with Micro-Tilt™ Neck Adjustment, Pearloid Dot Position Inlays, Black Plastic Knobs, Pickup Covers, Tremolo and Switch Tips, Synthetic Bone Nut
	Strings		Fender Super Bullets® 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042),
	Accessories		Deluxe Gig Bag

For more information:
Fender