Richie Kotzen Fender Stratocaster Unleashed Worldwide!
3,3 / 5,0 | 
The Fender Richie Kotzen Stratocaster has long been an exclusive model for the Japanese market, and on occasion, you would see them pop up in Europe. Now, Fender has given them an official worldwide release.
Fender Richie Kotzen Stratocaster
The Fender Richie Kotzen Stratocaster is a made-in-Japan model and has long been a popular model with guitarists in the know. I myself have been playing a Kotzen signature Telecaster as my main gigging guitar for over 15 years now, and at the time, I had to get it imported from Japan, as they were also exclusive to the Japanese marketplace.
Worldwide Release
The Telecaster version was given a worldwide release a few years ago, and so it really does make sense for Fender to do the same for his signature Strat model.
Strat Specifications
Richie’s signature guitars share a lot of similar DNA, including the figured maple veneer over an ash body. He also favours a chunky C profile maple neck with a matching maple fretboard with abalone dot markers and jumbo frets.
I adore the neck on his signature Telecaster, and it is one of my benchmarks for a good chunky neck, and also has a 12” radius fretboard, so it plays fast, even for such a large piece of wood.
This signature Strat is available in a Transparent White Burst or a Transparent Red Burst finish with gold hardware throughout and a 3-ply white pearloid pickguard. Yes, Mr Kotzen likes a bit of bling.
DiMarzio
His signature models sports three DiMarzio Custom Single Coil pickups and typical Strat wiring with a master volume, plus two tone controls and a 5-way blade switch.
Hardware includes a decked to the body (so pull up only from factory) Fender 6-saddle vintage-style Synchronized Tremolo and a set of Gotoh tuners with Pearl Buttons.
Verdict
Yes, I am already a huge fan of Mr Kotzen’s idea of the perfect guitar (his Telecaster is sublime and a real workhorse guitar for me) and so these two Strat models certainly appeal to me (even though I’m not a fan of the bling).
Put it this way, you get a lot of guitar for the money with these models.
Price & Availability
Official MSRP – GBP 2299
Both models are available now at Thomann: Transparent White Burst & Transparent Red Burst
More Information
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