When the going gets tough, the tough buy new guitars — clearly the most practical coping strategy!
It's been a while since I last succumbed to GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), but I couldn't pass up this limited edition Fender Stratocaster — an Ultra II HSS (humbucker, single coil, single coil) with an S-1 switch and an "Ultra Blaster" preamp toggle. The finish, called Aurora, doesn't quite translate in photos; in person, its iridescence really does shimmer the color of the northern lights, and even brings to mind blue-colored Festive tiger beetles I've seen at Spring Green. After playing it a few times at my local Guitar Center, the rep I work with there offered me a great deal — and I've been playing it almost every night since I brought it home.
Here are some close-ups ...
The pickguard controls ...
Gorgeous grain on the roasted maple neck and headstock ...
I'll likely never gig again (I did in the early 90s), but I mostly play and practice along with jam tracks on YouTube. I still do online lessons from TrueFire, which I can wholeheartedly recommend. It doesn't matter what your skill level is — they have something for everyone.
Just about every TrueFire instructor offers multi-lesson paths that walk you through concepts step by step, gradually increasing the difficulty and letting you progress at your own pace. Animated guitar tab and sheet music goes along with multiple angles of the instructor's lesson.
In other Fender stuff, here's Paul Davids giving a historical retelling of how the Stratocaster became the most iconic electric guitar of all-time. Paul is an incredible guitarist, educator, and YouTube personality known for his clean playing, thoughtful songwriting, and clear, well-structured guitar lessons. I've thought about buying his online lessons as well, but we'll see.
That's some collection. Did you know there's a super-impressive Stratocaster collection right here in Wisconsin? Dave Rogers of Dave's Guitar Shop has an astounding array of Strats, Telecasters, Jazzmasters, and more — it's worth millions.
Also, Fender recently got a new CEO.
All images © 2026 Mike McDowell