Fender/Roland Stratocaster


 
This guitar is basically an American standard Stratocaster with a built-in Roland GK-2A MIDI pickup. 

The Roland MIDI pickup is placed just behind the rear strat pickup, in front of the bridge. The electronics of the GK-2A are inside the Strat control cavity (much better than an ugly external unit attached to the front of the "host" guitar).

The controls are slightly different to a standard Strat. Instead of the usual Master Volume- Tone(neck)-Tone(bridge) configuration, this guitar has Master Volume-Master Tone-MIDI Volume knobs. There are also two push-buttons for MIDI program change (Up-Down) and an output selector switch (guitar/MIDI/both).

The output from the hex pickup is connected to an external tone-to-MIDI converter via a 13pin connector in the bottom bout of the guitar.

The other difference to a standard Strat can be seen on the back of the instrument -  a battery access panel!
Note: I don't know if it was special for their 50th anniversary year, but current model Roland-Ready Strats are based on lesser Mexican-made, not American-made instruments, and Candy Apple Red is not one of the available colors.

Cool Features:
    - It's a real high-quality American Strat
    - It's Candy-Apple Red!
    - All the GK-2A features and controls
    - Convenient - no bulky external box
    - Nice Strat tone
    - One volume/one tone is good layout
    - 50th anniversary guitar