Nile Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on recordings that have sold more than 500-million albums globally. Every hit record he’s produced has shared one essential element: the used 1960 Fender hardtail Stratocaster® Nile bought in a Miami music shop. Rarely is a single guitar so inseparably identified with its owner as The Hitmaker.
The Hitmaker features a 1960 alder body that is uniquely smaller and more contoured than a typical vintage Strat. The beautiful Olympic White lacquer matches the finish Nile sprayed on the guitar himself just after he acquired it in the early days of Chic. The custom ’59-profile one-piece maple neck has a 9.5” radius fingerboard, medium jumbo frets and a satin finish. A “Nile Rodgers & Chic” logo adorns the back of the headstock and a custom Hitmaker logo is stamped into the neck plate.
The Nile Rodgers Hitmaker single-coil Strat pickups are voiced to accurately replicate the quack, chime and bell-like clarity of the original Hitmaker. Other features include a hard-tail string-through bridge with period-correct bent-steel saddles, an eye-catching mirrored chrome-plated brass pickguard, locking Sperzel® tuners and a set of white speed knobs. The guitar also comes with a vintage-style case with Hitmaker-embroidered interior and a custom certificate of authenticity.
Features:
Featuring a unique alder body, slightly smaller and more contoured than a standard Stratocaster, this detailed recreation of Nile’s original Hitmaker provides a comfortable playing experience.
Originally a sunburst model, Nile chose Olympic White lacquer to refinish the Hitmaker. Fender’s Olympic White lacquer finish offers vintage-accurate looks that will age gracefully and allow the wood to breathe, letting the instrument’s true character shine.
Custom headstock logo and Hitmaker neck plate
Voiced to replicate the vintage single-coils in Nile’s original Hitmaker, these custom Strat® pickups deliver the quack, chime and bell-like clarity needed to get Nile’s famous tones.
The Fender Nile Rodgers Hitmaker features a chrome-plated brass pickguard, delivering stand-out looks to match the original.
An uncommon feature in vintage instruments, the hardtail string-through body bridge delivers tight, solid tones with extra body and sustain perfect for funk rhythm.
Like the original Hitmaker, this model features Sperzel locking tuners for quick string changes and improved tuning stability.
BODY
Body Material
Alder
Body Finish
Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape
Stratocaster®
NECK
Neck Material
Maple
Neck Construction
4-Bolt Standard
Neck Finish
Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish with Gloss Headstock Face
Neck Shape
1959 "C"
Scale Length
25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material
Maple
Fingerboard Radius
9.5" (241 mm)
Number of Frets
21
Fret Size
Medium Jumbo
Nut Material
Bone
Nut Width
1.625" (41.3 mm)
Position Inlays
Black Dot
Side Dots
Black
Truss Rod
Vintage-Style Butt Adjust
Truss Rod Nut
Vintage-Style Butt Adjust
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup
Hitmaker Nile Rogers Strat®
Middle Pickup
Hitmaker Nile Rogers RWRP Strat®
Neck Pickup
Hitmaker Nile Rogers Strat®
Controls
Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge/Middle Pickup)
Switching
5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Configuration
SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge
6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Strat® Hardtail with Bent Steel Saddles
Hardware Finish
Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines
Sperzel® Locking
Pickguard
11-hole Chrome Plated Brass
Control Knobs
White Speed
Switch Tip
White
Neck Plate
4-Bolt Serialized with Custom Hitmaker Logo
MISCELLANEOUS
Strings
Fender® USA 250L Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges), PN 0730250403
ACCESSORIES
Case/Gig Bag
Deluxe Limited-Edition Hardshell with Embroidered Hitmaker Logo
Included Accessories
Deluxe Hardshell Case, Strap and Certificate of Authenticity.
