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

1994 Fender Freddie Tavares Aloha Stratocaster.

This "John English "Prototype #02" "Freddie Tavares Aloha" Stratocaster was made in August 1994. It weighs just 7.80 lbs. and has a comfortable nut width of just over 1 5/8 inches, a medium-to-thin neck profile, and a scale length of 25 1/2 inches. Chrome-nickel plated Aluminium body, hand engraved with a Hawaiian scene by master artisan Ron Chacey, contoured on back and lower bass bout, and one-piece highly figured 'birds-eye' maple neck and fretboard with 22 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. Kluson Deluxe closed-back 'no-name' tuners with oval metal buttons. On the back of the headstock stamped in black is "D.D. 4 / "PROTO"" and below that 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 "DD# 4 PROTO / J. English 8-94". Four-bolt neck plate engraved "FREDDIE TAVARES / "ALOHA" / PROTO #02". Aluminium tremolo cover engraved "Freddie Tavares / Commemorative / Aloha / Stratocaster". Three 'Single Lace Sensor' pickups with specially wound outputs of 7.20k, 7.17k, and 6.82k, respectively. Specially hand engraved chrome-nickel plated aluminium pickguard (continuing Ron Chacey's Hawaiian scene from the body) with eight screws. Three controls (one volume, two tone) plus five-way selector switch, all on the treble side of the pickguard. The potentiometers are all stamped "137 9322" (CTS, June 1993). Special chrome Stratocaster knobs with knurled sides. Fender "Synchronized Tremolo" combined 'six-saddle' bridge/tailpiece, special chrome tremolo arm. This 'Prototype' is in near mint (9.25) condition and is housed in it's original baby blue leather Custom Shop gig bag which in turn is housed in the original SKB flightcase. Also included is the original baby blue leather Custom Shop 'Aloha' guitar strap, and another original baby blue leather Custom Shop 'Plain' guitar strap.

The production run 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 'Second Prototype" featuring an aluminium body, hand engraved with a Hawaiian scene by master artisan Ron Chacey. The body, pickguard and hardware are all chrome-nickel plated. The highly figured maple neck with 'Aloha', 'Palm Tree' and 'dot' inlays in pearl and abalone by Larry Sifel.