Tonight, the Fender Custom Shop Empire ’67 Strat in Magenta Sparkle came out from the case. She’s on sale, but no one’s knocked yet. So I thought: let’s give her a week. Let’s see.
Fifteen minutes into the night, and she showed her class.
The Setup:
Straight into Green Movement, routed through the Broadcast AP — volume at noon, gain at 1 o’clock. No stacking, no layering. The Orca gave a Diffuse setting, just enough reverb to turn sound into atmosphere.
Doodled at the start. Doodled at the end. But in the middle, something happened.
I sang Psalm 9. Melody born from instinct, fingers plucking steady around E and A chords. The guitar responded with patience, tone, and presence.
The Guitar
She’s a Fender Custom Shop Strat, but she isn’t showy. Yes, the Magenta Sparkle relic finish is striking, but underneath — she’s measured.
Her onboard circuit gives her flexibility. Maybe even too much — she doesn’t lock you into one tone or path. That can feel like a lot. She isn’t simple.
But she delivers. With quiet confidence.
She doesn’t beg to stay. She just shows up, does her job, and leaves it to you.
No one’s taken her yet. Maybe they don’t see it. Maybe they want something flashier, simpler, louder.
But tonight, she gave me Psalm 9. And that’s more than most guitars ever do.
We’ll see what the rest of the week brings.