Tom Delonge Sticker Stratocaster Replica (October 1994- November 1997)

[23adrock]

On 7/25/2021 at 8:17 PM, Burgersandcole said:

@daveyjones@Q182 hey i don’t know if you guys have already discussed this or you guys care, but I have a vintage x2n from about the 90s and a new one from 2020 and they both sound pretty diffrent from each other. I dont know if you guys are still trying to get that tone, but theres a good youtube video explaining the differences between them both( the vintage and new version). 

See my recent post, interesting they claim it’s the same

[blinkstillrules]

My original Sticker Strat replica with incorrect stickers had a modern X2N. My current replica, 1994 40th Strat with the accurate stickers I helped reproduce with daveyjones and Q182 - the same I sent Tom to resticker his - has a 90s X2N in it. I've personally noticed no difference in sound.

[23adrock]

6 hours ago, blinkstillrules said:

My original Sticker Strat replica with incorrect stickers had a modern X2N. My current replica, 1994 40th Strat with the accurate stickers I helped reproduce with daveyjones and Q182 - the same I sent Tom to resticker his - has a 90s X2N in it. I've personally noticed no difference in sound.

Thanks for the info, I didn’t know someone else had used an actual 40th. Question, did you take the medallion off?   I’m assuming Tom put the shamrock there to cover the cavity?

[blinkstillrules]

On 1/29/2025 at 5:26 PM, 23adrock said:

Thanks for the info, I didn’t know someone else had used an actual 40th. Question, did you take the medallion off?   I’m assuming Tom put the shamrock there to cover the cavity?

Both Davey and I bought 40ths around the same time to make 99% accurate replicas. We're each only a few hundred serials off of Tom's. We both had Allan Corona refinish the bodies (neither of us bought Olympic white ones - we took what was available and in great condition) to Frost (I can't remember the name exactly?) White. Allan said its resistant to yellowing (unlike Olympic White) so they always look like its the late 1990s.

If you go by 1996 and 1997 (davey doesn't have Lagwagon on his, I do), ours are more accurate than Tom's is in it's restickered state because of the X2N in ours vs the Invader still in Tom's (I asked and they do not plan on taking the Invader out of it) and the fact that I sent Tom the stickers before we had a good conclusive shot of the back, so Tom's back has a wrong sticker right now and is missing a couple. So Tom's is currently the "2022-Present" version of the Sticker Strat as far as stickers go.

Tom's manager got the stickers from me in September 2021 right before they left for the AvA tour and it was restickerd right after New Year's on the evening of Jan 4 2022. I was asked to keep it a secret untl Tom was ready to reveal it (the blink reunion tour, it was in the VIP display). I just messaged Tom's manager (we had been going back and forth with questions and pics of the Sticker Strat and some other non blink stuff) and I asked if they were interested in restickering it after he told me Tom said "he was trying to do something cool when he de-stickered it but fucked it up and wished he didn't take the stickers off". That's how that happened.

 

For the shamrock, there's really no cavity. Davey and I both took the pin off the headstock. That 40th pin just pops off and leaves two pretty small holes. Either Tom was covering the holes or he just liked the look of it there.

I like my 1994 40th strat so much I bought a second all black (body and pickguard) and turned it into my own "sticker strat" with a JB in the bridge. I left the 40th pin on that one though.

[23adrock]

4 minutes ago, blinkstillrules said:

Both Davey and I bought 40ths around the same time to make 99% accurate replicas. We're each only a few hundred serials off of Tom's. We both had Allan Corona refinish the bodies (neither of us bought Olympic white ones - we took what was available and in great condition) to Frost (I can't remember the name exactly?) White. Allan said its resistant to yellowing (unlike Olympic White) so they always look like its the late 1990s.

If you go by 1996 and 1997 (davey doesn't have Lagwagon on his, I do), ours are more accurate than Tom's is in it's restickered state because of the X2N in ours vs the Invader still in Tom's (I asked and they do not plan on taking the Invader out of it) and the fact that I sent Tom the stickers before we had a good conclusive shot of the back, so Tom's back has a wrong sticker right now and is missing a couple. So Tom's is currently the "2022-Present" version of the Sticker Strat as far as stickers go.

Tom's manager got the stickers from me in September 2021 right before they left for the AvA tour and it was restickerd right after New Year's on the evening of Jan 4 2022. I was asked to keep it a secret untl Tom was ready to reveal it (the blink reunion tour, it was in the VIP display). I just messaged Tom's manager (we had been going back and forth with questions and pics of the Sticker Strat and some other non blink stuff) and I asked if they were interested in restickering it after he told me Tom said "he was trying to do something cool when he de-stickered it but fucked it up and wished he didn't take the stickers off". That's how that happened.

 

For the shamrock, there's really no cavity. Davey and I both took the pin off the headstock. That 40th pin just pops off and leaves two pretty small holes. Either Tom was covering the holes or he just liked the look of it there.

I like my 1994 40th strat so much I bought a second all black (body and pickguard) and turned it into my own "sticker strat" with a JB in the bridge. I left the 40th pin on that one though.

So cool!  Thanks for the info. 

[23adrock]

Custom shop pickups arrived!  Authentic to the 90s with taped bobbins and accurate logo

[Sgt. Rainbow]

2 minutes ago, 23adrock said:

Custom shop pickups arrived!  Authentic to the 90s with taped bobbins and accurate logo

What pickups?

[23adrock]

 

4 minutes ago, Leo the Lion said:

What pickups?

Mentioned above, the SD Hot Rails and JB Jr. but accurate to Tom’s with the taped bobbins (versus plastic casing nowadays) and SD logo in the correct location.  For what it’s worth it’s built like they did in the 90s but doubt it sounds much different; mostly for the look.  

[Sgt. Rainbow]

2 minutes ago, 23adrock said:

Installed 

Mentioned above, the SD Hot Rails and JB Jr. but accurate to Tom’s with the taped bobbins (versus plastic casing nowadays) and SD logo in the correct location.  For what it’s worth it’s built like they did in the 90s but doubt it sounds much different; mostly for the look.  

Right on. I just checked the prices of those 40th anniversary strats on Reverb…you guys are insane for paying that much for those lol

[23adrock]

5 minutes ago, Leo the Lion said:

Right on. I just checked the prices of those 40th anniversary strats on Reverb…you guys are insane for paying that much for those lol

Idk I talked him down to $1100.  Hard to find a US made strat for a lot less from any era nowadays.  Olympic white but does have some yellowing with age.  This won’t be a case queen.  I’m gonna rock it stageside

[Sgt. Rainbow]

1 minute ago, 23adrock said:

Idk I talked him down to $1100.  Hard to find a US made strat for a lot less from any era nowadays.  Olympic white but does have some yellowing with age.  This won’t be a case queen.  I’m gonna rock it stageside

Ok that’s not too bad. The prices I’m seeing on reverb are like $1,200- $2,500

[23adrock]

Custom pickups installed 

https://imgur.com/a/Mj9TqxJ

https://imgur.com/a/dfsq7VM
 

body routed for x2n close to tailpiece.  Used a dremel with sanding tip

https://imgur.com/a/E5gpi1b

 https://imgur.com/a/4rr2kWP

 

[23adrock]

All stickered up!

https://imgur.com/a/MZqpza8

Maybe in the future I’ll have it repainted arctic white as the other guys did so it looks more 90s.  Closest paint shop is two hours away.  I video recorded the entire transformation including cutting pick guard, soldering, sanding, etc and I’ll post here when it’s all edited.  Also has before/after tone comparisons. 

[blinkstillrules]

On 3/3/2025 at 8:51 PM, Sgt. Rainbow said:

Right on. I just checked the prices of those 40th anniversary strats on Reverb…you guys are insane for paying that much for those lol

I paid $850 for mine. Not insane at all IMO. People pay $1200 for new MIM strats like a TD signature.