NGD Fotoflame strat

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Delayman
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NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by Delayman »

Just picked up an ugly but nice playing Fotoflame. Really excited.

Through Facebook, a guy who is helping a family member clear out gear. Nothing else was nice.

I haven’t looked into the details too much but I think they are a 62 reissue?
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They keep telling me tone is in the fingers, but I have yet to see a "look at my fingers" thread.
Lawrence wrote: Every orchestra that comes thru here is a covers band as are most of the jazz bands...

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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by jimi »

My bass had that finish when it was new. 1995 MIJ.

I got it stripped and refinished. Definitely don’t miss the original finish.

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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by Slowy »

I'd forgotten those horrors! But I reckon there could be a good guitar under the trashy makeup. Happy NGD!
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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by Delayman »

Slowy wrote:I'd forgotten those horrors! But I reckon there could be a good guitar under the trashy makeup. Happy NGD!
Thanks. It plays well - so that’s the main thing. I’ll have a think about getting it refinished but I’m not gigging so who really cares.
They keep telling me tone is in the fingers, but I have yet to see a "look at my fingers" thread.
Lawrence wrote: Every orchestra that comes thru here is a covers band as are most of the jazz bands...

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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by kdawg2a »

I'd imagine that so many of those got stripped and re-finished, an original one might end up becoming a rare bird.
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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by Cdog »

Crikey why no love? Looks pretty sweet to me. Happy NGD :thumbup:

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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by jimi »

Slowy wrote: But I reckon there could be a good guitar under the trashy makeup. Happy NGD!
Yeah probably should have added, mine has the nicest bass neck I’ve played. Still have it 25 years later.

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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by willow13 »

Cdog wrote:Crikey why no love? Looks pretty sweet to me. Happy NGD :thumbup:
I think what you said is the problem .. it "looks pretty sweet". I remember when these came out and "people" were appalled that i was basically a photo of flamed wood so it "must be shit". Bottom line is they in general are good sounding guitars

Fenders problem is/was that they didn't do "caps" on their guitars so Gibson/PRS etc could put a maple cap on with pretty wood so Fenders solution was to put a photo finish instead of a veneer (which tonally is pretty much the same thing) ... no they don't look real to the trained eye but meh all that matters is what comes out of the speaker
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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by Bg »

I had a 54 reissue, that became the 'ratty' strat - though I did make a new body for it.
And a jazz that I defretted and sold pretty quickly as I decided playing Paul Young songs all day didn't really do it for me.

They were both good quality, nice playing guitars :) Even though the Jazz came from Denche (makes the sign of the cross and cowers....)
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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by kdawg2a »

The bass player in my band back in the 90's had one too and it was a great feeling gat. I should have also reiterated happy NGD!
1935 Martin D-45, 1942 Gibson Southern Jumbo,1950 Fender Broadcaster, 1954 Fender Strat, 1958 Gibson Moderne prototype, 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
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Big black garbage bag full of original Klon Centaurs and TS808s.

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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by k1w1 »

I had one of those bought new in 1996. Yeah the fotoflame was shit, but like others have said it was a really good feeling and playing guitar. Sold it early 2000s for almost as much as I payed.

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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by Delayman »

Yep I played it this afternoon and it’s great. A few
Frets need a bit of work, but I was already going to get a free leveling kit for the avonator.

The finish is worse in the flesh, where it has peeled up the guy has “repaired” it with thick clear epoxy (or something).


Has that very glassy but full sound that’s good for me old mate’s sound
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They keep telling me tone is in the fingers, but I have yet to see a "look at my fingers" thread.
Lawrence wrote: Every orchestra that comes thru here is a covers band as are most of the jazz bands...

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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by Slowy »

Cdog wrote:Crikey why no love? Looks pretty sweet to me. Happy NGD :thumbup:
Remember spotting these when they were first released. The shop guy told me the finish was a photo etched plastic film. I just handed the guitar back and walked away.
It seemed like a massive marketing department fail and my reaction was, "How stupid do you think I am?"
I mean, we all GAS for a solid maple Strat, right? Yeah.
So a plastic coated fake was going to be a sure fire winner.

I'd buy one now, it's a Jap Fender and should be a good guitar: but only to rescue it.
Love to know what the body's made from if you figure it out Delayman.
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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by willow13 »

Slowy wrote: I mean, we all GAS for a solid maple Strat, right? Yeah.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a solid maple strat now let allow back in the early 90's
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Re: NGD Fotoflame strat

Post by Slowy »

willow13 wrote:
Slowy wrote: I mean, we all GAS for a solid maple Strat, right? Yeah.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a solid maple strat now let allow back in the early 90's
Here's one. Possibly the only one Fender ever did.
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Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who so survive.

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