Description
Roadhouse USA:
Vintage Phased Systems D-Mini Series III Explorer Guitar in Black W/Original Case.
I have had several of these over the past year, one other Explorer body style and one Les Paul style.
This is a very early model.
Manufactured in Japan, the scale length for this Series III neck is 19-1/4″ with 22 -frets.
It is all original and was purchased from the original owner who bought it new.
These early models had no headstock decals or identification marks (later D’Mini had set neck models with two pickup configurations). Volume and Tone pots are smooth and frets look almost unused.
This little beauty is in very good vintage condition. You will see some light dings etc around the body of the guitar, but nothing major. Its been played, but not abused and for its age its in very clean condition.
Frank Zappa and Steve Vai both played these mini guitars by Phased Systems back in the day and you can find Vai’s strat model on his website guitar collection still. I believe he played it on stage with Alcatrazz if you really want a blast from the past:)
Plays great, MUCH better than you would expect and the neck is fun to get around on.
Comes as pictured with original soft case.
This one is a sleeper. You’ve got to get it in your hands to really appreciate the quality. Plus, you would almost definitely be the first kid on your block to own one of these 80’s rarities….
From Guitar Player Magazine in 1983:
“Guitar Player interviewed and put Mr. Zappa with his D’Mini Strat on the cover. A part of the interview where he talked about those guitars:
FZ:Yes. I have three of them, and I don’t wear them: I play them. I have one Strat and two baby Les Pauls. They were made by D’Mini. (Ed. Note: These models are called the Les Paule and the Strate by their manufacturer, Phased Systems.] The D’Mini Strat that I have is unbelievable; you can’t believe the noises that come out of that thing. It’s ridiculous. I’m having a special one made with a little bit deeper body on it so that I can have a locking vibrato put on.
Q:How are those guitars tuned?
FZ:The little Les Pauls are tuned up to A, and the Strat is tuned to F#. The relationship between the strings is the same as on a standard guitar.
Q:Are special strings used on those guitars?
FZ:On the little Strat I use Gold Maxima strings. On the little Les Pauls, I use Black Maximas, which are Teflon-coated. They don’t make them anymore, but I had a lot of them lying around. The upper unwound strings are platinum-plated.”
