Bill Lawrence BC2E-Custom 

This custom Stratocaster made of walnut most likely bears the model name BC2E-Custom.

Inside the neck pocket, it is stamped BC2E-N. The body is luxuriously crafted from a single piece of walnut (1pc), and it is fitted with Black Label pickups.

A Stratocaster with this distinctive tortoiseshell-pattern pickguard appears in the November 1989 catalog (see photo below). Apart from differences in fingerboard specifications, there were two Stratocaster models and four Telecaster models featuring the same pickguard design. Since no catalogs from other periods show this pattern, it can be reasonably inferred that this guitar was produced around the same time.

Earlier walnut Stratocasters were part of the regular product line and featured gold mirror pickguards. Those models were priced at around ¥130,000, so this one was likely sold in a similar range. At the back of the same catalog, only the model name “BC2E-Custom” appears, with the body wood listed as “Special”, suggesting that no specific wood type—or fixed price—was designated.

Tonally, it delivers gentle, mellow lows reminiscent of a wooden temple bell (mokugyo) and clear, bell-like highs, creating a soothing and meditative sound. This is a guitar that truly shines when played clean.

Weight: 3.67 kg (including strings)
(Updated June 17, 2016)