ARTIST SIGNATURE SPECS: MICHAEL LANDAU COMA STRATOCASTER

With a résumé that includes performances on over 700 albums, Michael Landau is the ultimate guitarist’s guitarist. Highly sought-after as a session player and sideman, he’s recorded with legends like Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks and toured with icons like Ray Charles, Boz Scaggs, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and more. He has also recorded an impressive catalog of original material with bands like Burning Water, Raging Honkies, Renegade Creation (with Robben Ford) and The Steve Gadd Band. And for much of his musical career, Landau has relied on his trusty 1959 Dakota Red Stratocaster, nicknamed "Coma." First purchased at a used guitar shop when he was a teenager, his Strat features an unmistakable faded finish and has been repeatedly modded over the years, providing it a unique and recognizable identity.

When we partnered with Landau to produce his signature model, it was of paramount importance that we got every detail correct as befitting a player of his stature. This included replicating the modifications and aesthetic details that made the Coma Landau's standout Strat for decades. Let's dive into the specs of this extraordinary guitar.

BODY:

When Landau bought the Stratocaster that became Coma, its Dakota Red finish had been stripped away by the previous owner. To replicate the punch, clarity and style of the original, this model features a ’59 alder body – complete with a Floyd Rose® rout – finished in iconic Coma faded red lacquer.

NECK:

The satin-finished custom “C” shaped maple neck includes a slab rosewood fingerboard – a time-tested tonewood combination for clear, spanky fundamentals with warm, smooth highs. The fingerboard also features a vintage-accurate 7.25” radius for comfort and playability with narrow tall frets for big bends and wide vibrato.

ELECTRONICS:

According to Landau, when he first purchased Coma, it came with pickups that were not true to the original ’59 Stratocaster, which gave him permission to further customize the guitar to his liking. This included swapping out the electronics in order to get the sounds he wanted. For this model, we’ve added Michael Landau signature pickups, which include a custom-voiced Wide-Range CuNiFe humbucking bridge pickup combined with custom-voiced Ultra Noiseless pickups. This custom-voiced set is designed to flawlessly deliver the artist’s legendary hot-rodded Stratocaster tones, from the sparkling highs to punchy midrange to full lows.

HARDWARE:

The Michael Landau Coma Stratocaster comes with ClassicGear™ tuning machines for an ideal combination of retro style with modern 18:1 gear ratio for smooth, precise performance. It also includes a 6-screw vintage-style synchronized tremolo with bent steel saddles and a cold-rolled steel block.

OTHER FEATURES:

To celebrate the artist’s original inspiration to write “Coma” in sharpie on his own guitar, this signature Strat includes a custom neckplate featuring Michael Landau’s Coma artwork. This remarkable instrument also comes with a Coma-embroidered hardshell case, a sticker set and a special booklet written by Landau himself.

Learn more about the Michael Landau Signature Coma Stratocaster (and pick one up for yourself) here.