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Electric · Strat-inspired / Floating trem

2002 Warrior 55 Throwback

2002 Warrior 55 Throwback — body front closeup, Pearl White, birdseye maple board, wood Warrior Angel pickup covers

About this instrument

I'm a sucker for beauty. Back in 2003 I bought a Warrior Fully Armed Guardian and was disappointed. My main beef with that guitar was the recessed bridge which I felt sucked the tone from the guitar. Since I was so in love with the body design I thought that it would make perfect sense to check out a 55 Throwback model. After all, it has a floating tremolo instead of the recessed bridge. It is fair to say that this is a better sounding guitar but it still falls far short of where a guitar in this price class should be.

The 55 Throwback is designed to produce the sounds of a 1955 Fender Stratocaster. It sounds nothing like one and it plays nothing like a Fender Strat. It is my opinion that they have not improved the feel over a great vintage Strat.

I am absolutely convinced that I do not like Maple fingerboards. They feel too harsh on my fingers. Another thing about this guitar is that it DOES NOT stay in tune worth a damn. This is probably due to the cheap Warrior tuners. This is absolutely, positively unacceptable. This guitar is good but mediocre in many regards. That means I am selling it. I will never buy another Warrior.

Specs

  • BodyLightweight alder with deep-dish carved top (Pearl White); faux / natural scraped binding
  • Neck1-piece maple
  • Fingerboard22-fret birdseye maple with paua abalone inlays & graphite nut
  • BridgeMann floating tremolo
  • PickupsWarrior Angel; birdseye maple covers
  • Controls5-way selector with agate stone tip; recessed spalted maple knobs
  • TunersWarrior with agate stone buttons
  • Weight~7.4 lbs
  • Build materials & quality9 (would be 10 without cheap tuners)
  • Sound8
  • Playability8
  • Tuning stability7
  • Appearance9
  • Overall design8

Personal instrument — not for sale.