John English's "First" Prototype for the Freddie Tavares 'Aloha' Stratocaster.

This "John English "Prototype #01" "Freddie Tavares Aloha" Stratocaster was built by John English in August 1994, (but never actually assembled). It weighs just 7.50 lbs. and has a comfortable nut width of just over 1 5/8 inches, a really comfortable medium neck profile, and a scale length of 25 1/2 inches. Anodized Aluminium body, hand engraved with a Hawaiian scene by master artisan Ron Chacey, contoured on back and lower bass bout. One-piece highly figured 'flamed' maple neck and fretboard with 22 medium frets and green 'abalone' dot position markers and Aloha and palm tree pearl inlays by Larry Sifel. Small headstock with Fender logo inlaid in abalone and a cresting wave also inlaid in abalone above the logo. On the ball end of the headstock is a palm tree inlaid in white and green pearl and the signature of "Freddie Tavares" in black. Individual Fender 'American Series' chrome-plated tuners with pentagonal Abolone tuner tips specially made (each one signed on the underside) by George Amicay. On the back of the headstock is an oval decal lettered in gold "Custom Built / J.T. English / Fender U.S.A.". On the end of the neck, written in black ink is "1st MPL PROTO" also signed in green ink "J. English / 8-94". Four-bolt neck plate engraved "FREDDIE TAVARES / "ALOHA" /  PROTO #01". Aluminium tremolo cover engraved "Freddie Tavares / Commemorative / Aloha / Stratocaster". Three 'Stratocaster' 'staggered-pole' single-coil pickups with outputs of 5.36k, 5.27k, and 5.26k, respectively. These pickups were specially hand-wound by the legendary Abigail Ybarra and each one is signed by her on the underside. Specially hand engraved aluminium pickguard (continuing Ron Chacey's Hawaiian scene from the body) with eleven screws. Three controls (one volume, two tone) plus five-way selector switch with aluminum tip, all on the treble side of the pickguard. The potentiometers are all stamped "137 9307" (CTS, February 1993). Special hand-made aluminium Stratocaster 'skirt-style' control knobs with 'ribbed' sides. Fender 'Floyd Rose' locking 'Tremolo' assembly with six individually anodized saddles with six black hexagonal locking nuts. Special chrome tremolo arm. This 'Prototype' is in near mint (9.25) condition and is housed in it's original Fender cream tolex hardshell case with tan leather ends and red plush lining (9.00).

The production run of Aloha Stratocasters consisted of a special memorial edition of 153 guitars  - 3 for the Tavares family, 100 for North American Fender Diamond dealers, and 50 for international distributors. This particular instrument was John English's 'First' Prototype featuring an anodized aluminium body, hand engraved with a Hawaiian scene by master artisan Ron Chacey. The body, pickguard and are all nickel plated. The highly figured maple neck features 'Aloha', 'Palm Tree' and 'dot' inlays in pearl and abalone by Larry Sifel. 

Two years ago (in 2009) we purchased Prototype #2 (fully assembled) which was subtly different from the production run… i.e. the pickguard had eight screws instead of eleven and the engraving on the body and pickguard were very slightly different. 

The 'un-assembled' Prototype #1 was originally never intended to be for sale - but late last year John's daughter Jayme agreed to sell it to us. We gave all of the parts to our master luthier - Scott Lentz of San Marcos, CA., who over the past few months has painstakingly assembled and completed this truly unique instrument. 

This Prototype #1 is hugely different from Prototype #2 and also the production run (as shown in the list of variations below). 

Differences between this Prototype #1 and Prototype #2:

Body anodized and then engraved in an entirely different style from the production run which was simply engraved. Abalone side dot markers instead of black dot side markers. 

Eight pickguard screws instead of eleven.

Stratocaster 'Staggered-Pole' pickups instead of lace sensors.

Unique abalone covered pickup covers - each one signed on the inside "Amicay"

Unique abalone tuner tips all made by George Amicay.

Unique aluminium control knobs with ribbed sides as compared to cross-hatched sides. 

The neck profile is 'medium' as opposed to 'medium-to-thin' on Prototype #2 and the production run. 

The nut width is the same as Prototype #2 (at 1.64 inches) but narrower than the production run (1.69 inches). 

The frets are 'Medium' as compared to 'Jumbo' on Proto #2

Prototype #1 weighs 7.50 lbs. compared to Prototype #2 which weighed 7.80 lbs.

There are also some slight variations in the body measurements as follows: 

Bass horn thickness is 1.67 inches compared to 1.72 inches on Proto #2 

Treble horn thickness is 1.65 inches compared to 1.70 inches on Proto #2 

Lower edge near jack input 1.65 inches compared to 1.62 inches on Prot #2 

The body length is actually 15.50 inches compared to 15.375 on Proto #2

The body width is actually 12.50 inches compared to 12.375 on Proto #2 

This unique and historically important instrument came to us directly from the estate of John English together with a letter of authenticity signed by his Daughter Jayme English.

Senior Master Builder John English who passed away June 2007 at the early age of 57 was raised on ‘50s and ‘60s rock ’n’ roll. He joined Fender in 1970, working alongside company pioneers such as Freddie Tavares and Bill Carson, and was a driving force in the early days of the Fender Custom Shop, helping to define the creative environment that continues in the shop to this day. One of the original Custom Shop builders, he was internationally renowned for his custom, concept and art guitars. He was a guitarist, drummer and artist who worked in the United States and Europe, and was a true original whose creations used exotic woods, metals, plastics, stones and bone, and were inspired by music, art, architecture and nature. He built custom guitars for countless musicians and collectors, ranging from Eric Clapton to President George W. Bush. His collaboration with surf guitar king Dick Dale resulted in one of the first Fender Custom Shop signature model guitars; he created Fender’s first Japanese signature guitar with Michiya Haruhata, and his trio of concept guitars created with art phenomenon Shag caused quite a sensation at the 2003 NAMM show.