Wayne 2020

Fender's recent release; a Kenny Wayne Shepherd signature model. His last signature Strat was in 2013, this recent manifestation is quite a departure from its predecessor. Visually, the block inlays & painted headstock are the obvious changes. The body is now ash & chambered & that neck there is bound, not quite visible from this angle. A very big difference is the radius; from its former 12" manifestation to the current 7.25" so he now favours a curved profile. I think it would look killer with a 70s style headstock but that's just me. 

Fender: Kenny Wayne Shepherd signature

Lately, I notice Fender's ardent inclusion of signature models with a vintage-modern fusion. You've read about the Billy Corgan model, the latest addition here is the Kenny Wayne Shepherd strat.

Cult followers of KWS would find this racing stripe finish rather sacriligious but be informed that it's only one of the several colour options offered by the manufacturer.

The vintage take:

• Vintage-type tuners
• 6-point sync vibrato bridge
• 21 frets

The modern take:

• Graph Tech string saddles (KWS has a set of the black String Savers in his original guitar but the manufacturer decides to keep the hue flushed with the bridge on this one)
• 12" radius