Steve Lacy: An Ode to The Old Classic Design
The Steve Lacy "People Pleaser" Stratocaster®, a product of cooperation between FMIC and the Grammy-winning singer, guitarist, composer, and producer who was born and bred in California, has been released. This Signature Stratocaster® guitar is a celebration of not just Lacy's lasting mark on popular culture, but also of a guitarist whose playing style is technically proficient and emotionally emotive. The "People Pleaser" Stratocaster® highlights Lacy's development from a starving musician to a chart-topping performer and guitarist and is named after his groundbreaking reputation, crowd-pleasing sounds, and stage looks.
The singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer rose to prominence in 2015 as a member of the alternative R&B/soul band THE INTERNET, and he has since established himself as one of the music industry's leading trailblazers by successfully erasing boundaries between musical genres while maintaining a strong emphasis on emotionally expressive performance. Since the beginning of his career, Lacy has worked with major names in music and the arts, like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Solange, and Vampire Weekend. He has also established himself in the haute couture industry by walking the catwalk for prestigious designers such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci. In 2022, the lead song from Lacy's Grammy-winning second studio album Gemini Rights, "Bad Habit," was released. Celebrating a career built on defying expectations and encouraging a new generation to fight uniformity and build a sonic palette completely their own, Lacy's trademark Fender® Stratocaster® combines his distinctive attitude and irresistible musicality.
"This guitar means so much to me. It's a full circle moment. My first guitar was a Squier strat. It was the box set that came with an amp, case, quarter inch, and the whole 9. Now I have my very own Fender Stratocaster guitar," said Steve Lacy. "The People Pleaser Strat, in a nutshell, is my dream guitar as a kid when I first started playing and my dream guitar as the guitarist I am today. An ode to the old classic design that Fender is known for with all the new specs that make a guitar feel like home. I hope everyone gets to experience the feeling of this guitar. I'm excited to see what people make with it."
The "People Pleaser" Stratocaster® was created with an eye towards revolutionising the guitar industry. While Lacy's playing is based on strong melody and razor-sharp technique, his chord changes and lead playing defy categorization. The People Pleaser's wide tonal range and clean, crisp sound allow guitarists of all skill levels to access the same wellspring of inspiration that has helped elevate Lacy to the level of distinguished artist he is today. Its Player Plus NoiselessTM pickups and onboard custom-voiced Fuzz circuit are the instrument's lifeblood, allowing for a wide variety of classic dirty tones, from mild overdrive to full-on fuzz. The custom-voiced Steve Lacy Chaos Fuzz circuit is forceful and expressive, with piercingly clear highs, throaty mids, and taut lows; it also features severe distortion and rich harmonics. The Steve Lacy "People Pleaser" Stratocaster® puts your instrument in the spotlight, whether you're trying to replicate Lacy's warm, oaky timbres and smooth chords or conjuring your own particular pandemonium with the expressive Fuzz circuit.
The guitar has a new "Chaos Burst" finish that Steve came up with; the unconventional hue perfectly captures the guitarist's otherworldly sound. The "People Pleaser" Stratocaster® was inspired by Steve's collection of vintage Fender® guitars, and it contains several signature Fender design components, including an alder body and synchronised-tremolo, to replicate the intangible enchantment of a well worn instrument. The custom neck plate features Steve's hand-drawn artwork, and the back plate has a one-of-a-kind blue and green checkered pattern that unifies the colourful model. Finally, a custom dice inlay serves as a discreet visual theme that bears Steve's imprint. Fans who were paying close attention were able to catch a glimpse of the iconic guitar before its formal debut in his recent performances on SNL and the Grammys, as well as on stage during his most recent tour.
Instruments in Fender's Artist Signature Series are designed around the specific needs of some of the world's best guitarists and bassists, continuing the company's long-standing practice of paying tribute to legendary performers through technological innovation and compelling narrative. "We aimed to design a guitar that not only represents Fender's unwavering dedication to quality but also mirrors Steve's distinctive character and individuality," said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product at FMIC. “Steve is a longtime collaborator and fan of the brand, and Fender is proud to introduce one of our most innovative designs to date, which includes a brand-new chaos burst finish, that matches his eclectic personality, and a powerful integrated custom-voiced fuzz circuit, that delivers aggressive distorted tones for howling chords and solos.”
"Steve's unique sound and style have distinguished him as one of the leading artists of the new generation, who keep the guitar's role in music and culture exciting and relevant," stated Evan Jones, the Chief Marketing Officer at FMIC. "Inspired by Steve, the 'People Pleaser' Stratocaster is designed to captivate audiences and appeal to guitarists seeking a unique instrument that stands out in their collection."
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