Neal Schon "Lights" Fender Stratocaster Pearl White

bananas.com
Legendary Journey guitarist Neal Schon has given us the keys to his vault. We've convinced him to let go of some very personal instruments. Check out these four one-of-a-kind guitars, built to Neal's specifications and finished and set up by Gary Brawer. These are available for sale for a short window of time, only at Bananas!
This is the "Lights" Stratocaster! This guitar was used on all of the early 80's recordings on some of the biggest hits by Journey. Neal Schon played this guitar on hit songs and records such as Escape, Frontiers, Infinity, Faithfully, Lights, and Send Her My Love. Featuring a refinished Pearl white, early Floyd Rose bridge, a 1963 neck, and a PAF pickup "in the back."

[@nsen74]

One of the most tasteful guitar players of all time,

[@harrysearia1784]

One of the GOAT guitarists of my time.

[@rodrigoallendes2513]

No doubt

[@davidstock2713]

I messaged schon last year 2020, during one of his home studio videos towards his strat he was playing during this particular video. Schon messaged me back approx 20-minutes later, his responce being " Love em". Neil is such a cool person. To acknowledge one within his believers is very rare. I viewed multiple of his home studio schreds. Im intrigued within his pauses, never the same, throughout the entire neck. Un-predictable when, or where his next pause will occur. Some harmonic screamers, some down pulls, some up-bends, some Floyd enhanced combinations. Lack of variety will never be schon, when he plays, consession stand, bathroom can wait as secondary" hes so fun to view.

[@jordandelacruz1866]

Neal's a BEAST!!! My first concert I saw Billy Squier and Brian May, second concert Matthew Ashman with Bow Wow Wow with Annabella and 50's White Falcon in my face in the front row and third concert, Bryan Adams and Keith Scott opening for Neal and Journey for the 83 Frontiers tour! All of them great musicians! Neal underrated imho!

[@nokomisnichols]

Hey Neal Schon you are one of my all time favorite guitar players in the whole world. Love you man. Your the greatest. I love that you use Floyd Rose tremolos. They are my favorite trems.

[@samtheman123]

One of my favorite solos of all time. Also I’ll Be Alright Without You. So tasteful.

[@my2penniez]

What a special guitarist and musician. Can’t believe he would part with that guitar. Thanks for the video, he’s one of my favorite guitarist ever, great to see him again.

[@thebomontellano4996]

Schon used melody to beat all the shredders in the 80s. He learned that from Carlos. But Neil played faster and different.

[@Datanditto]

He’s a rocker- not a shredder.

[@dagdunesbury8570]

Journeys Lights of the City,baby... ...Dont Stop Believing,Neal!!

[@grandadmiralmanatee]

Neal has some crazy stories! He’s led a life and a half

[@lauraroberts6533]

So talented!!!🎸🎸❤The best !!

[@jamesz.58]

All time favorite. Just incredible.

[@Challender]

One of kind beautiful Strat Neal Schon In my mind always Top Shelf.

[@joeprincipe6678]

For those who are interested, the neck is an 8/61 slab board. Some photos posted on the Fender forum. Joe

[@rogercardenas111]

Nice strat 🎸🤓😷 amazing guitarist, N.Schon .

[@markdavis545]

that Blackstar amp right there is kick ass!!

[@elpablosky6300]

He play on n stars sessions 1985 w Yngwie and George Lynch qnd many more show and songs not the mentioned have a lot of songs : where were you , the party over, dead or alive , walks like a lady on captured live 1980 , open arms snd send her my love(both songs only on studio) and the last years he play lights a lot live with this guitar and he re recorded lights version 2008 from the album revelation on that year with pineda on hod debut

[@mr_m_5000]

I have an observation. When Mr. Schon holds the Strat near the camera at several points in the video (e.g., 0:29), it appears that the neck has a slab fingerboard (the mating surface between the maple and rosewood is milled flat, and the truss rod screw cutout involves both the rosewood and maple). As you are probably aware, a neck from '63 would have a thinner veneer aka. "round lam" fingerboard (the mating surface of the maple neck and underside of the rosewood 'board radiused and the truss rod screw hole below the rosewood). Fender switched from slab-boards to veneer-boards in late-'62 (August, I believe). If it does in fact have a slab 'board, the neck would have been manufactured at some point between mid-'59 and Aug. '62. I could be completely wrong, but it sure looks like a slab fingerboard. I'm curious, have you unscrewed the neck and checked the date on the heel?

[@joeprincipe6678]

I finally opened the guitar. The neck is an 8/61 slab board.

[@briannorman952]

Legendary guitar player to say the least.

[@TuxyKat]

Guitar OBSESSION. And he has every right to be.🎼🎸💜👂👌

[@andysimpson5878]

wonder what it went for? Love Neal and that guitar has some serious history.

[@elpablosky6300]

Neal and Eddie can makes a jam sessions with both stratocaster the frankestrat , Neal haves this guitar on a musseum but he can go to fender custom shop and makes very similar job ( the recreation of this guitar

[@timtim-hf3ut]

What a riff

[@georgemorris4142]

I really liked Neals blues style on lights, walks like a lady,& I'll be alright with out you,don't hear enough or it.

[@chrislestermusic]

George Morris YES!!! Those are my 3 too! Nice.👍🏻

[@georgemorris4142]

Dock of the bay with Michael bolton

[@princij]

This is actually a 54 body with a 63 neck (could be a 62 make as per below). PAF in the bridge position. The guitar has been sold... Similarities to EVH Frankenstein.

[@TuxyKat]

Wow😩

[@hosoiarchives4858]

It would go for so much more now

[@thegee-tahguy4877]

That axe is definitely from his early years. I wonder if he did any of the Journey beer commercials with it.

[@MrLespaul1963]

Mr. Bryan...my old iPhone doesn't favor me with the detailed view that you had, but it's possible that when Mr. Schon identifies his Strat as a '63, he's speaking accurately. I've both read and been told (I believe from George Gruhn) that Fender would use leftover bits from the previous year or run on the next. The term I recall, in context to the particular model, would call this a transition Strat. I live in Northern Cali and if I had $100k in discretionary funds, I'd be rolling to Bay Area right now. The Stratocaster is my go-to guitar and this would be my particular go-to Strat; alas if I only had the means.

[@matthalo89]

If I had the money I'd pay that much for it. Worth every penny.

[@n.g.9705]

Is this the same pewter body Stratocaster that he uses in the "Separate Ways" music video? I noticed that there's only two knobs and that it's an HSS Strat as well. What I'm thinking is that he changed the maple neck to the '63 rosewood neck that you see in this video, am I right?

[@elpablosky6300]

Noah G that guitar ( separate ways video) was a shecter strat style i know because i saw a rig video from mark knopfler ( he playing a similar guitar with the 2 silver knobs) maybe 1982 shecter strat .

[@emiliefulgencio984]

you re the best

[@MrZerosRememberWhen]

I think Neal once Referred to this Guitar as the "Strat-O-Blaster" mZ

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

What model Blackstar is that?

[@wangbar1]

How many monies?

[@eddiea3251]

Guitar reminds me of Alex Lifesons Hentor Sportscaster.

[@123spleege]

I don't get the Neil is underrated thing................not with guitar players!!!!! He's a monster and just a great player!!!

[@MMACHMP]

Literally already sold doesn’t say how much it went for but I guarantee you it was a lot

[@KeatonTait]

sweeeet

[@tracypeed7936]

Where can I purchase these guitars??

[@BananasatLarge]

Hi Tracy. We don't have these guitars in right now but if you want to send your contact information to [e-mail], we can let you know if we have anything that might be coming in!

[@matthalo89]

Why would he ever give that guitar up?!

[@schuey999]

Why would he even sell it?

[@elpablosky6300]

cyclops centurion he talks about this and his answer was : I don’t have enough space for haves a lot of guitars

[@StratMatt777]

He knows that it is just a guitar. It is a tool that he used. It is only people who idolize him (like me) who are capable of thinking that it is more than a guitar. Bottom line: He likes changing gear as often as I change my underwear, so he surely does run out of room... and he likes new Lamborghinis (though I'm sure his royalties and touring easily pays for them). ;)

[@slaznum1]

StratMatt777 totally agree. I couldn’t believe David Gilmour sold his black strat but he said the same, it’s just a tool.

[@gkgkjghiguggg527]

Even rockstars run out of money!

[@JohnDoe-pq8yw]

No way he ran out of money, he owns the publishing. Correct me if I am wrong.

[@mikerexaccuseasondeveloper2046]

Why is Neal wearing a cap? Is it cold in the room?

[@frankiebella5745]

Mike T. hes got no hair. da"

[@denismguitar1552]

Must be really bright in there too. Cold and bright!😂.

[@mcjeff8909]

What blackstar model is that?

[@BananasatLarge]

Hi Jeff. This video was filmed several years ago but we believe it is a Blackstar ID-Core amp. Check out all of our Blackstar amps at bananas.com/blackstar

[@mcjeff8909]

BananasMusicTV thank you very much

[@brianruyack7632]

@@BananasatLarge I agree, I can tell by the silver arrow for the TVP button. I love my ID Core 15, especially after I replaced the speaker with an Eminence.

[@DavidLee-wj9sp]

The lead on lao dao rips

[@ivorharden]

Is that the Hear n Aid guitar?

[@joeprincipe6678]

It is

[@theunionbeats1]

why is he selling this?!?!

[@dgcmusi]

Believe me people he doesn’t need the money....lol it’s probably for charities

[@joannejaycox2340]

The Union Beats o

[@djizzah]

Too much aint enough love is his best solo, not shredding not incredible diminished augmented just soulf ul bending and perfect tone, all rhe menorable solos in history are melodic, Carlos knew that of course

[@billtotolo]

So who snagged this?

[@joeprincipe6678]

I was the lucky guy to snag it in 2016

[@billtotolo]

@@joeprincipe6678 that’s a real piece of history.

[@joeprincipe6678]

@@billtotolo thank you. It’s a special guitar for sure.

[@dreamlifter2701]

Who ever owns that now is incredibly lucky lol.

[@babayaga1767]

hey he's got bills to pay ya know

[@afterstars]

He’s worth multi millions

[@hairyhunk44]

I'd rather have his black les Paul from the 70's he toured with playing lights..you know back when he had an afro and infinity just broke with lights getting air play.

[@gameroftheyear1000]

That’s the one he had his original Floyd #3 I believe on it during the escape tour. I don’t want to doubt the man himself but I feel he may of let history slip through the years as during the escape tour, his black les Paul standard he’s had since the 70s had a non fine tuner Floyd rose on it that was jury rigged into the body. He may of had it on that strat at one point but problem is I’ve never seen a non fine tuner Floyd on that strat. I’ve seen the 6 point fender trem and the chrome Floyd we see here but not an original non fine tuner Floyd. But I have seen it on the Les Paul. To me this is a huge bargaining factor and can actually change a lot in its selling price. Also to me I feel that the Les Paul is more iconic with Neal. Personal opinion I know.

[@hairyhunk44]

At Cleveland Stadium 1978 and 1979 I did not see a Trem on his Paul. I went back and looked at the vids from that time and no he has a stock bridge. Any of the vids that have Ross still in the band are from that time. In 1978 Cleveland Stadium did not recognize the music of Journey and I heard someone yell out "Is that a girl" about Steve. The following year Journey would return to the Cleveland World Series Of Rock having the best response and love from the crowd from any of the groups in line up.

[@Oneness100]

Stick with what works. Keep it.

[@elpablosky6300]

Captured ( walks like a lady and solo guitar from the record).

[@ericpresley7527]

That guitar where not on even half off the songs he mentioned i know that for a fact.

[@matthalo89]

Eric Presley but they were....your facts are bogus.

[@gameroftheyear1000]

And neither was the non fine tuner Floyd he said was on it. That Floyd was on his Les Paul standard as clearly shown during the escape tour. I feel Neal let his history get re written for a better marketing price. Hell the Floyd on it here looks almost brand new. I’ve seen a fender trem and a OFR trem but not an original hand-built one from Floyd himself like he said.

[@vidsforsquids]

@@gameroftheyear1000 He said the original Floyd had BEEN on there. Not the Floyd in the video.

[@IDVDalot]

C'mon tell the truth. Did anyone else see that hat and think that this was really Joe Satriani>

[@tommynoble3428]

I LOVE Neal's playing, writing, and performance styles. But as a person I find him so off-putting. He's undoubtably a genius, but something about the way he speaks to people gives me bad vibes.

[@nickalussaffle1132]

I watched some interviews of him from the 80’s and I totally caught the same vibe. I’ve always been in love with his playing but I get what you’re saying.

[@jacksonmarshallkramer5087]

He should NOT have sold that guitar.

[@malcolmbrannen]

If this was such a great axe then why is he playing Gibsons in all the concert videos??

[@rickstamey9289]

He uses Gibson, PRS and still uses Strats

[@lonnielrc]

forget it want to much

[@elpablosky6300]

Shows respect $chon 3:31 😤 😡

[@carleysdad94]

Neal is 70 but dresses like a teenage Justin Bieber.

[@carleysdad94]

@@fj5144 - Based upon your grammar I'm going to assume you are under the age of 12?

[@billygoat126]

would look a million times better with a maple fretboard

[@mooseknuckle9657]

Yes it would.

[@matthalo89]

I think it looks perfect the way it is. I use to hate rosewood boards but then I saw this guitar and now I think the world of rosewood. But maple boards are good, too. I own a few guitars with both.

[@rorycunningham5457]

No the opposite maple is ugly only works on a black body thats it and rosewood sound better especially Brazilien rosewood which is on that 60,s neck.

[@ougigaming8710]

man Rosewood sounds warmer .I like it ..but I have Maple necks also just prefer the little tonal difference in Rosewood ..

[@123spleege]

jesus turn the reverb off!!!

[@StratMatt777]

I don't think Jesus is featured in this video..?

[@michaela.c.2097]

It's Neal Schon.

[@aldonova71]

I just can't get over the goofy hat, great player though.

[@chebrneck]

This is when he started having to hawk his stuff to feed his lifestyle.