The Guitar Player's Resource
You're looking at an axe players like Steve Morse, who view technical mastery as a vehicle for exploring every corner of the musical landscape, view as the kind of precision instrument that keeps up with superhuman picking technique while maintaining the tonal versatility that real musical communication demands.
When Steve Morse needed a signature guitar, he wasn't pining for something that would impress other guitarists at trade shows - he needed an instrument that could handle his impossible schedule of switching between Deep Purple's hard rock, the Dixie Dregs' fusion complexity, and Flying Colors' progressive sophistication, sometimes all in the same night.
The HSSH pickup configuration with its seemingly complex switching system makes perfect sense once you understand Morse's approach. That bridge humbucker delivers the punch needed for Deep Purple's crushing riffs, while those two middle single-coils provide the clarity and articulation that make fusion runs really speak. The neck humbucker adds warmth for melodic passages that need to sing over dense arrangements.
But here's what separates this from typical "super-strat" designs: those custom DiMarzio pickups are balanced across the entire fretboard. Whether you're playing down in the bass register or up in the stratosphere, pickup output remains consistent. This matters when you're executing those lightning-fast Morse-style runs that cover the guitar's entire range - you don't want volume drops throwing off your phrasing.
That roasted figured maple neck with gunstock oil and hand-rubbed wax finish feels smooth and stable under your hands. The 12" radius and sculpted neck joint provide comfortable access whether you're stretching for complex chord voicings or executing those athletic single-note passages that made Morse legendary.
The poplar body keeps weight manageable without sacrificing sustain, while that Tune-o-matic bridge with solid brass tail block provides the intonation accuracy that rapid-fire alternate picking demands. Those Schaller locking tuners ensure you'll stay in tune through even the most aggressive playing sessions.
This guitar understands something important: when your repertoire spans country, rock, fusion, and progressive styles, your instrument needs to adapt seamlessly. The switching system's learning curve pays dividends once you master it - you're getting chameleon-like versatility that serves real musical situations rather than just technical showboating.
General:
Number of Strings: 6
Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
Body:
Body Type: Solidbody
Body Shape: Steve Morse Signature
Body Material: Solid Poplar
Body Finish: High Gloss Polyester
Color: Morse Blue Burst
Neck:
Neck Material: Roasted Figured Maple
Neck Shape: C
Neck Joint: 5-way Bolt-on
Radius: 12"
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
Number of Frets: 22, .104" x .047", Stainless Steel
Scale Length: 25.5"
Nut Width: 1.625"
Nut Material: Compensated Melamine
Hardware:
Bridge/Tailpiece: Tune-O-Matic
Tuners: Schaller Locking
Electronics:
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio DP-200 Morse Signature Humbucker
Middle Pickup: 2 x DiMarzio DP-108 Vintage Single-coil
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio DP-205 Morse Signature Humbucker
Controls: 1 x volume, 1 x tone
Switching: 2-way switch, 3-way toggle pickup switch, 3-way blade pickup switch
