September 01, 2023
Meet Foggy (Mirror Chrome)
My relationship with Fender started back home when I first laid my hands on Fender. I was about 12 years old. I bought my first strat when I was 18. ‘73 Fender. Soon after that I got my beloved reissue ‘57 that would always be with me on all concerts throughout my whole career. Fender strat was my guitar always. The one guitar I wanted to play. Fast forward many years later I bought my all original ‘64 strat and paid 20.000$ from my own merchandise money.
My actual relationship with Fender started in 2000 when I first met Billy Siegle in California. At that time there weren’t many women playing guitar, and quite frankly they were not in demand either. It was a very much a masculine world of guitar. Billy welcomed me to the family. Over the course of 20 years we stayed in touch while I was working on my career, working on creating my sound and my recognizable licks as I wanted to leave my print in the world of rock, blues and funk guitar and strats.
That led me to a conversation about a 20th anniversary strat that would celebrate my career. Billy said: “We wanna celebrate with you. We wanna salute you!” That was really heartwarming. I wanted something different and new but staying true to my self as a player. I didn’t want a replica of what I already had, and by no means wanted to try to top my road warrior- my all original ‘64 strat that always gets my blood pumping. That guitar has been just an everlasting inspiration throughout the years. So I didn’t want to copy what I already had and I wanted something - both looking and sounding modern, something hip and cool but at the same time rooted enough in old school sound as well. Billy and I talked about making a guitar that would celebrate my career and accomplishments of a female guitar player coming from Eastern Europe to the US and touring the world for 20 straight years, hundreds of shows every year inspiring new women to take the guitar and be fashion icons as well as play their axe and front their band and be successful business women.
Feb 21. 2019
My first visit to Custom Shop regarding the new guitar. We went with red colors, gold, whites.. I took home the color pallet and had many sleepless nights thinking about this. Fender would send me examples to listen and look at.
March 8.2019
This text made me curious: “Hi Ana. Roasted Alder body and Roasted 5A Flame Maple neck with a very Dark African Blackwood fretboard. Sounded unreal. Exact same neckshape that you liked on that 63 2tsb Strat with the brass block you liked. I can totally see this style guitar with your logo on the fretboard as we discussed. Just give it some thought.
- Fender
Hi Fender, Love the red. But when I was on Experience hendrix I saw Joe’s (Satriani) guitar, and man that just reflects in the light and is so cool. He said he thought fender has an option for a thin layer of color as well. Check it out” and then send him some photos.
On May 8th 2019 there was a first attempt at chrome finish.
“Hi Ana. Well this was my first attempt at a Chrome finish. It looked good when the actual chrome paint was applied, but has a cloudy effect after applying topcoat over it. Honestly I think it will look good if I can figure it out. “ - Fender
And that was really the winner: “Cloudy” effect gave it that thing I was looking for. Less shiny more bluesy. More old school. But the same WOW effect. I was sold. On October 11 2019 there was a visit to the Custom Shop and I could hold my new baby for the first time! That was excitement I can not explain!
On October 14 2019 we named the color 'Foggy Mirror Chrome'. Fender doesn’t have that color - I’m the first one with it! It just kinda reminds me of that hot Bathroom mirror after you get out of the shower.
Right then we knew: this guitar is going to be EPIC!
On Feb 20 '20 the layout for the fretboard was made. So exciting!
On May 5th I was back trying out pickups. We had many lined up- dunkan 78, dunkan 59, bunch of humbuckers, and we had good times trying them.
May 20 '20
There are rumours of plant closing due to covid.
May 15 '20
“Good Morning Ana. Things are starting to happen quickly now. The neck is with our inlay guy now and should be completed very soon. I’m putting the body into paint today to get the process started. It is quite a lengthy one. More updates as they develop. Take care.
On July 17 '20 I get a text from Chris Fleming with this gorgeous photos:
At that time covid is real and everything gets put on hold. Soon after that I find out I was diagnosed with breast cancer. And my fight begins. As I am recording “POWER” - record that literally gave me power to survive- I’m daydreaming about my guitar and my world seems like on a different planet. I needed that guitar then more than ever!
May 20 '21
Greg Fesler is on board to finish the guitar. This guitar was like a saving grace for me at that time! Greg Fessler was amazing and really picked up the pieces where we have left them, back when the world was normal. He was on board to finish it and get it to me! However Covid has left so many things on hold so the wait wasn’t over.
A few years later on August 10.2023 Billy Siegle shipped this guitar to me. The moment I met Foggy for the first time can’t be compared with anything! I LOVE IT. It illuminated my world! I love everything about it. My fans absolutely love it. They want it! Every night I get questions “Can we order it?” - I would be honored! Is my reply. It’s exactly what I wanted. It bites and reflects the light just as my music and I want to reflect the light and positivity, excitement of being a musician and touring the world and leave a positive message to the world!
Ana with 'Foggy': Seymor Duncan 78 Model Bridge Pick up.
Wired like the original from 1978, warm crunch with biting leads and harmonic overtones. One of the best Alnico II (three different metallic elements: aluminum, nickel and cobalt) Singles are Custom Shop neck and middle single coil pick up made by specs from the 60’s. Neck shape: Large "C" Jumbo frets.