Lorenzi John Frusciante Tribute

Among the virtuoso guitarists with a turbulent path, John Frusciante holds a prominent place. A musical genius burdened by addiction, his troubled life journey forced him to part ways with most of his instruments during his darkest hours. Sold off or lost in a house fire, his beloved guitars became mere memories of a more carefree time. After several stints in rehab, John Frusciante emerged free from addiction and rejoined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1999, just in time for *Californication*. Upon his return, Anthony Kiedis gifted him a 1962 Stratocaster, which became his main guitar during the recording of *Californication* and remained his primary instrument on all subsequent albums and tours. Italian luthier Lorenzi set out to recreate a faithful tribute to this iconic Stratocaster—painstakingly crafted to resemble and match the quality of Frusciante’s cherished guitar. A stunning piece, remarkably close to the original, available now at Matt’s Guitar Shop!

John Frusciante’s playing style is defined by his deep sense of melody, tone, and musical structure—often culminating in profoundly inspired solos. Despite a career marked by personal struggles, he is still widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of his generation. By the late 1990s, having lost nearly all his gear, Frusciante had no decent guitar when he rejoined the Chili Peppers. To remedy that, Anthony Kiedis gave him a 1962 Fender Stratocaster in sunburst finish, which became his go-to guitar both live and in the studio. He reconnected with his musical spark through this Strat, which features heavily across the *By The Way* album. Since 1999, most of his live performances have been played on this iconic ’62 Strat—except for a few songs requiring different guitars, like his White Falcon.

The Strat already bore signs of wear and aging when he received it, only adding to its unique vintage charm. Its pickguard, for instance, had taken on a distinctive greenish hue—a quirk of early ’60s Strats, whose plastic naturally aged this way over time. Fascinated by the legend of this instrument, Italian luthier Lorenzi sought to pay homage to it with a handmade recreation. Built entirely by hand in his Italian workshop, each guitar features carefully selected tonewoods and pickups, with a delicately relic’d finish that captures the spirit of Frusciante’s original Strat. From its feel to its look, this guitar is a striking tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist’s iconic 1962 Stratocaster. A must-see at Matt’s Guitar Shop!

Have questions about this instrument? Don’t hesitate to contact us!