Fender Aluminum Stratocaster

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 guitar was first seen used by Bellamy in 2015 and was used live up until 2017.

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 in March 2015, debuting live in Belfast, and was used for various songs. After a period of assumed inactivity, this guitar returned to the stage for the The Drones World Tour 2015/16, with the low E string tuned down to A for The Globalist on which it was used until the song's last performance in 2017

Interestingly, it was used for Knights of Cydonia on one occasion at the Newport Centre on the Psycho UK Tour's third night. It's unknown if it was used a backup or if Matt just experimented by using it for one gig, but the whammy bar system isn't as versatile as the Floyd Rose requires for the song.

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