Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster: Subtle upgrades to the classic formula

14 Aug 2020 by Jef |

5,0 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster · Source: Fender

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Fender has just announced a new signature Stratocaster model for renowned blues player Kenny Wayne Shepherd. This new take on the Strat formula comes with a chambered ash body and matching headstock, block inlays and a sweet transparent finish.

Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster

Back in 2008, Fender released its first Kenny Wayne Shepherd signature Stratocaster, featuring specs like an alder body, 12″ radius fretboard and dot markers. The new 2020 model is quite a different beast. For one thing, the body is lightweight chambered ash giving what Fender calls a “vibrant and resonant tone”. The body is clothed in a Transparent Faded Sonic Blue finish revealing the ash grain. Another aesthetic tweak is the matching finished headstock with Kenny’s signature on the front. The 12″ neck radius and fretboard dot markers on the 2008 model have been discarded here for a 7.5″ radius C-shape 60s profile neck. The rosewood fretboard features pearloid block inlays. I like a vintage radius; to me they feel great to chord with. Because I like the action set high, bends aren’t a problem on a vintage radius.

Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster · Source: Fender

Hardware

The guitar also features a classic six-point tremolo bridge, but with modern day GraphTech saddles. Vintage Kluson-style machineheads are onboard, too, along with a smart-looking pearloid pickguard. I’m not normally a fan of pearloid pickguards, but I think it works very well with the shade of blue that Kenny has selected here.

Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster with matching headstock · Source: Fender

Signature Kenny Wayne Shepherd Pickups

The guitar comes with three signature Kenny Wayne Shepherd single-coil pickups wired via a 5-way switch. There’s a slight modification to the traditional Strat wiring, as the second tone pot is wired to control the guitar’s bridge pickup. This handy little mod lets you roll off some high end there when needed.

I like many of these little updates to the classic Stratocaster formula. They are subtle but worthwhile and together they make for an enticing giutar. Overall, this is one mighty fine-looking Strat, and I’m sure it will be popular with many players and fans of Mr Shepherd.

RRP: GBP 1985