The book “The Galaxy of Strats” was initially published in 1998 in Japanese. Although it was originally available only in Japanese, its existence is acknowledged by collectors around the world. The book delves into historical facts and explores key elements such as design concept, physical structure, and tonality of the guitars. It also sheds light on unique aspects like the neck construction, which set it apart from other guitars of that time, and the remarkably distinctive finishing method. Additionally, the book discusses factual details like the three-dimensional measurements of the neck and the weight of the body. Currently, there is no English version available; however, efforts are underway to translate it while simultaneously refining and updating its contents. The guitar pictures are being remastered to enhance their quality, resulting in noticeable differences, as exemplified by the samples below.
#-17051 This is a remarkable 1957 custom-order piece by the famous artist Homer Haines, known for his work in the 1950s. The guitar features a gold body, which alone is incredibly gorgeous, but it is further enhanced by the addition of a gold anodized pickguard and gold hardware, giving it an even more lavish appeal. The beautiful grain of the ash wood can be seen flowing prominently even through the paint. The neck has minimal discoloration, and the body is in excellent condition.
This is another example of a rare color. Eventually, it would be referred to as Incasilver, but for some reason, the body of this guitar appears to have very little lacquer top coat. As a result, the amber color aging commonly seen on many vintage Strats is hardly present. Overall, it can be described as having a very refined and classy appearance. The condition of the guitar is also exceptionally well preserved.
#7070 It is a unique and extraordinary Stratocaster that will leave you astonished. Not only does it feature a rare two-pickup configuration that you won’t find anywhere else, but the neck at the nut section gives the illusion of having a completely reversed taper. The shape of the headstock has also been significantly altered to accommodate the width of the nut. This one-of-a-kind guitar is believed to be made for a player named Thumbs Carllile, famous for his extremely unique playing style. Originally finished in Fiesta Red, it was once painted black and later stripped down to its natural finish as in the picture.
The pickups have high direct current resistance, and there is a possibility that they have thinner wire gauges. The two pickups are wired in reverse polarity and reverse magnetization, creating a humbucking connection.