MY MISSION

Back in October 2000 I set up the "Strat Central" web site. Why? Because I loved my own Stratocaster (a 2997 'Crafted in Japan' '68 Reissue), and I think there is genuinely no cooler/sexier-looking guitar than the Stratocaster. Les Pauls and Telecasters be damned (though I do have a curious affection for the Gibson Explorer and the BC Rich Bich).
I was the kind of webmaster who proudly claimed to "do everything in Notepad" (not even Notepad++). The site used frames and tables and was probably not even state-of-the-art when I started. Nonetheless, it accounted for 40% of my total website traffic.

Mid-2016 I got the idea to revamp the site, with bigger and better quality pictures, now also using a proper CMS that would allow for mobile devices to be used. I decided to use Typo3, which I had also used for two of my other sites. And a little later (well...Christmas 2025...) I finally got crackin'.

I am Richard Karsmakers, teacher of English in the city of cheese, Gouda, in the Netherlands. I play the guitar (though not particularly well), love me some Stratocasters, and maintain some websites. Enjoy this one!

YOUR PICS

I am very interested in receiving pictures from your special/beautiful/rare/interesting guitars, Stratocasters in particular. If you want to increase the chances of the axe getting added, make sure...

• ...the pictures are big enough (at least 1200, but up to 3000 pixels for the length of your guitar);
• ...it's mainly your guitar in it, not too much to distract from it;
• ...you add extra pictures of relevant details, if any;
• ...you tell me any relevant/special/specific details as well, including the year of production (I you don't know that, tell me the country of manufacture and the serial number so I can determine it myself);
• ...you own the copyright them.

You can send them by using the link at the bottom of this page, though you can only send one picture at a time.

Thanks!