Stratocaster that he thought may have been a variation of Fiesta Red . It looked more like a variation of Dakota Red . The guitar was near mint with strap , cord , and all the case candy . It was on consignment and the owner had not yet made a decision to sell it . He had brought it to show me and K . C . Waite from Pioneer Music . I think the guitar blew my mind because I had kinda forgot about it until I wandered outside for fresh air a week later . I immediately called Bill Richardson at Gryphon Stringed Instruments in
Palo Alto where he was working at the time . I told him I could not live without the Stratocaster . The price he quoted me was $ 5,000 less than the Burgundy Mist Strat . On my way home I had a layover in San Jose . Bill and the owner of Gryphon , Richard Johnson , agreed to meet me at the airport and do the deal , but I had them ship the guitar to me .
The guitar showed up on a Friday and I called my friend Bob Jeniker to tell him about my find .
We were like little kids , showing each other our new toys . Bob showed up at 10am the next day and his mind was also blown . At that point , he began throwing numbers at me . I tried to stress to him , I hadn ’ t even had it for 24 hours and that I thought this one was a keeper . He then made a very serious offer . I have grown to understand that if you turn down a number that is many times what you paid in opportunity costs , you have paid that amount . Needless to say , we had a deal . At that moment , one of us , I don ’ t remember who , decided to remove the tremolo cover plate to search for a date . In doing so , we exposed the truth . Written in pencil , on the white primer coat , then taped over , shot red and then removed , were the words and paint number “ Roman Red T-412 ”. A “ custom ” custom color ! Yeah , of course I had a little remorse , but I was happy with the price and happy it was going to a good home .
Unfortunely , Bob lost his battle with cancer shortly after this . R . I . P Bob . But before he left , he passed it on to a mutual friend , and now I have it back again . This is one that didn ’ t get away twice .
Nov � Dec 2016 CollectibleGuitar . com
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