I think with the craziness that goes on in the world it is easy to understand why people would look fondly back into the past. We were children and things most of the time from a child’s perspective are simpler.
I remember taking clothes out of the washer and putting them into the dryer for my mom when I was a kid. The washer and dryer were finished in a green Antigua color pattern as show in the photos. She was very proud of those appliances. I think they were the first brand new major appliances that my parents had purchased. My dad prior had always kept things marginally humming along by home repairing used and secondhand appliances. Seems like a million years ago. They were still married, and they were both still alive.
If you had asked me 20 years ago if I wanted a guitar with an Antigua finish, I would have most definitely said no. Now, things are different and when I look at the finish I am reminded of simpler times and thoughts.
I recently purchased one of the Vintera II Antigua Stratocasters and still have it in my collection. Which says something. Most times I will turn something shortly in my Reverb store after doing a video so I can put the funds back into the queue so I can do more projects.
I had never thought of doing an Antigua build until I saw MJT holding an auction recently on eBay. The body was described as Alder official MJT® Custom Vintage style Aged Nitro VTS Guitar Body & Pickguard finished in a custom Antigua finish. It was a very impulsive buy. It fell into the category of “I have to have that…”
I paid too much for it and for what I have installed into this guitar I will never get my money back if I try and sell it, so this is one for me.
Here is why. First, I had two Fender made necks that were great candidates for this project. A MIM Fender bullet truss rod, Big Head Stock maple neck which would look perfect on this body and for the most part be accurate in how the guitar should look.
Alas, I broke the nut while filing it and did not have the correct nut in my parts bins and was impatient to complete the build.
I ended up installing a Fender American Performer Stratocaster maple with rosewood fretboard instead. Not the most historically accurate looking neck other than the large headstock and I think rosewood looks better on an Antigua finished guitar.
The neck has the modern specifications of 9.5-inch radius and 22 frets. I also installed a set of Fender® ClassicGear™ tuners.
Next for the pickups and electronics I had a simple and perfect solution for this guitar. I had a Fender Vintage American II 1973 Stratocaster loaded pickguard that would be the correct voicing for this guitar.
Last I installed a Fender F style neck plate and a Fender Vintage style six screw bridge.
She plays and handles great. With the body lightly aged by MGT she kind of reminds me of having put a matchbook below one of the legs on the washer so it would stop going out of balance.