Fender Aluminium Stratocaster

Aluminium Stratocaster
Manufacturer	Fender
Used	15-03-2015 – 18-12-2017 ; In Studio Use
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Bolt-on
Body covering	Brushed aluminium paint with chrome scratchplate
Wood	Body: Unknown Neck: Maple Fingerboard: Maple
Bridge	Fender Synchronised Tremolo
Electronics	One volume, two tone, five-way pickup selector switch
Pickup(s)	3x singlecoils with chrome covers.
Special circuits	None

Background

It is very likely that this guitar is a Fender Custom Shop model. It is very similar to the Custom Shop Master Built [Hydroform Stratocaster] built by Scott Buehl, allthough Matt's guitar has a chrome/mirror pickguard.

Similar to his Manson’s guitars, it’s probable that there are 2 Rigs for touring certain parts of the world, there are likely 2 models of this guitar. The original Ali Mirror Strat used on the Psycho Tour and Drones World Tour featured a larger Headstock, it’s possible that there is a duplicate guitar or the neck was replaced at some point.

The Aluminium Strat has also been seen in the studio during the making of Simulation Theory. It was likely used on Break It to Me due to the distinct neck pick up sound, and a couple other songs off of the album.

Touring

Matthew Bellamy first used this Fender Stratocaster extensively on the Psycho UK Tour and the Psycho US Tour from March to May 2015, debuting live in Belfast. It was used for various songs in standard tuning. Interestingly, it was used once for Knights of Cydonia at the Newport Centre on the Psycho UK Tour's third night. Whether Matt used it as a backup for the song, or he just decided to try using it for that one gig, is unknown. However, the whammy bar system isn't as versatile as the Floyd Rose requires for the song, which is probably why it wasn't used for the song again.

After a period of assumed inactivity, this guitar returned to use for the The Drones World Tour 2015/16 starting in November, with the low E string tuned down to A for The Globalist. It was used exclusively for the song until the song's last performance in 2017. It hasn't been used live since, though it was used during the recording of Simulation Theory and possibly Will of the People as well.

The Aluminium Strat was marked "6" by Matt's guitar tech.