# Motor City Guitar's Magic Strat Story

> Motor City Guitar's 'Magic Strat' played by Eric Johnson and Mark Tremonti.
- Title: Motor City Guitar's Magic Strat Story · Guitar World
- Summary: Motor City Guitar's 'Magic Strat' played by Eric Johnson and Mark Tremonti. Motor City Guitar's 1955 'Magic Strat' was borrowed by Paul Reed Smith who made a…
- Keywords: motor city guitars, eric johnson, mark tremonti, paul reed smith, magic strat, 1955 stratocaster, les paul, eddie van halen, guitar shop, guitar store, waterford michigan, detroit
- Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/gear/guitars/inside-motor-city-guitars
- Published: 2026-11-13T11:51:36+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: motor city guitars, eric johnson, mark tremonti, paul reed smith, magic strat, 1955 stratocaster, les paul, eddie van halen, guitar shop, guitar store, waterford michigan, detroit
## Motor City Guitar's Story
Motor City Guitar started in 1988 with founder Marty Minui and his wife Melissa.
## Growth and Local Roots
The shop grew from a dream into a Michigan guitar institution with 3,000 instruments.
## The Magic Strat
The Magic Strat is a 1955 original guitar that Paul Reed Smith borrowed and duplicated.

> Paul Reed Smith lit up the second that guitar was in his hands. He loved it so much that he borrowed it and made an identical duplicate of it just to see if he could capture its magic.
## Celebrity Encounters
The shop has hosted famous musicians including Eddie Van Halen and Paul Gilbert.

> Eddie Van Halen gave me a hug when he visited the shop without anyone knowing.
## Guitar Selection
The shop has 3,000 guitars with half on display and half in warehouse.

> It hovers at around 3,000. Around half of them are on display, and the other half are in our warehouse.
## Eddie Van Halen's Custom
The shop sold a Van Halen Custom Shop Bumblebee signed by Eddie Van Halen.

> A Van Halen Custom Shop Bumblebee, one that Eddie held and signed just a week or so before we got it.
## Guitar Bonding
The best guitar is the one that bonds with the player's fingers.

> How much you bond with it, that means everything, and that’s something that’s different for everyone.
## Customer Experience
The shop focuses on earning happy customers who recommend the shop.

> We’d rather earn happy, lifelong customers who recommend us to their friends than try to sell every person who walks through the door something they don’t need.
## Local Music Community
The shop has hosted 100 clinics and meet‑and-greets for local musicians.

> We’ve hosted at least 100 clinics and meet‑and-greets to try and share knowledge and advice from the people who inspire us to play.
## Best Advice for Buyers
Let the guitar find you by playing it until you know it's right.

> Let it find you. Don’t think too hard, you’ll know the right one when you play it.
## Guitar Shop Community
The shop has a community of musicians from all ages and backgrounds.

> It’s a personal thing, too. Many of us couldn’t even imagine life without music; it changes lives, including ours.
## Key takeaway

Motor City Guitar's 1955 'Magic Strat' was borrowed by Paul Reed Smith who made a duplicate after loving it so much.