Fender 1988 Stratocaster Homer Haynes #416 of 500
Fender 1988 Stratocaster Homer Haynes #416 of 500
Fender 1988. Stratocaster Homer Haynes #416 of 500.
Gold Finish.
This was the 1st Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition (HLE) based on Homer’s original ’57 Stratocaster.
Maple Neck and Fretboard.
Gold Anodized Aluminum Pickguard.
Gold Hardware.
From Peter Kellett's Collection.
Peter Kellett.
Extract from:
The Unique Guitar Blog
Homer Haynes Guitars - Comedian Guitars
Henry D. Haynes aka Homer (of Homer and Jethro) was one of THE best rhythm guitarists ever. At least that is what Chet Atkins had to say about him. Chet should know, because he frequently called him as a session player.
Jethro Burns & Homer Haynes.
Haynes started his career at age 16 when he and Kenneth (Jethro) Burns won an audition on Knoxville radio station, WNOX. At the time, the host could not remember their names, so he christened them Homer and Jethro.
The duo played live on the great Country Music shows of the mid 1930’s, such as the Renfro Valley Barn Dance, the Midwestern Hayride, the Ozark Jubilee, and the National Barn Dance. These all not only had a live audience, but were broadcast on the radio. So millions of listeners became aware of the comedy duo. The guys hit it big when they discovered their niche of doing parodies of popular songs. And though Homer and Jethro were funny, both were serious musicians.
Haynes played guitar in a style known as comping (accompianing), which was popular with most big band guitarists of the era. Instead of playing a single chord, the player would play variations of the chord or related chords, which made the song more interesting and made great use of the guitar as a rhythm instrument. One of the few guys that has mastered this technique is Doug Green aka Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky and the Time Jumpers.
Homer Haynes favored a beautiful red-burst Gibson L-5C throughout his career. He occasionally was seen with a natural finish and a sunburst L-5C.
Early in Haynes career, he played an Epiphone Triumph. He can be seen in videos with a Gibson J-200. The main instrument was always the L-5C.
Homer with #001
In the mid 1950’s, Leo Fender bestowed Haynes with a Stratocaster that bore the registration 001. The instruments body was painted gold. The pickups were white. The knobs were white and the scratchplate was tinted gold and all the hardware was gold plated. It was a beautiful instrument. But you never saw Homer playing it. Perhaps he realized its value and left it at home under the bed.
In 1988, Fender made a decision to reissue a Homer Haynes Limited Edition Stratocaster that was limited to 500 units.
This was an exact replica of the original intrument that utilized the same machine bent bridge saddles and five spring tremolo. The neck was maple. The pickguard was attached to the body by eight wood screws. The pickup switch was the older 3-position model that is found on all early Strats.
The Fender Stratocaster Homer Haynes is ranked on Strat Collector/Tom Watson’s “C-List“:
The number after the guitar is the total number of units manufactured.
“C” List
1989, 35th Anniversary Stratocaster. 500 (I would put the first 10 in the B List, and #001 in the A List)
1989, Homer Haynes Limited Edition Stratocaster (HLE). 500 (I would put the first 10 in the B List)
1995-96, Hank Marvin Signature Stratocaster. 164
1994, Diamond Dealer 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Stratocaster. 150
1996, 50th Anniversary Relic Stratocaster. 200
1998, Custom Shop Disney Stratocaster. 75