My first guitar was a cheap Stratocaster knockoff (under 50$) & I have to admit that their shape & neck is very comfortable & fast. After that I've been playing strictly humbucker based guitars due to the nature of music I play. Right now I have a bunch of LPs, but I want to pick up one Sunburst SSS Fender at some point which I've always wanted since I was a kid. Now what would you recommend to look at for one and only Stratocaster, cause I'm not planning to get another one? I don't shy to get one used, price range is really flexible, let's say from 500-1500$. I can wait and extend the budget if it's worth it. I was checking some & see bunch of different strats: Standard American, Deluxe, 57, 62, 70s......., I see some older (90s)custom shop Stratocasters that look killer, but since I have no experience with any of them I could use some advice. I'll be playing mostly blues & clean stuff on this guitar.

I was never a strat guy and I don't own one, so I'm probably not one to give you any advice on strats. I never found one that I really liked, so I pretty much stick with Ibanez guitars and my Les Paul and a few other brand guitars, mostly humbucker types. I did play a G&L; strat that I really liked though. Don't remember the model but might be worth looking into a G&L; when you are comparing strats.

I have one of the collectible Japanese Squiers from 83'. Plays better (faster) than my 78' Strat and the overall build quality is also quite superior.I pulled the bridge pickup out and replaced with a lil' 59 PAF which to my surprise, has more single coil vibe than humbucker.

It's a great guitar and I only paid $300 for it back in 95' I believe.

I think there's too much preference.

If I had to blindly recommend for buying new...I'd say check the NEW American Standard series, and add $225 for a set of Fralin pickups.

Now, personally, buying new, I would get the AmVin 70's reissue...and add Fralin Real 54s. But, that's because I prefer the big round "U" shaped necks...and the foriegn 70s RIs have gotten worse and worse. And to be honest, I'd likely call the custom shop and tell them to make me that guitar with a nitro finish.

Anyway...add the couple hundred to an AmStd or better, and the tone will be there...and they play well enough...at that point, it's really about what shape neck feels right in you hands.

To oversimplify, they make "modern C" (most new ones), "V" (Clapton/late 50s), "Soft V", "U" (and ACTUAL 54 or 70s RI), and "SRV" (a combination of an uneven U with a really flat fretboard radius).

So, that's what you need to know--neck shape...fretboard radius...how they interplay. I think if you walked into a GC or the like and said, "Bring me a Clapton (V), SRV, (American)70s RI(U), and a John Mayer(C)" You'd cover a lot of ground. in knowing. Not that you'd likely want any of those signature guitars (overpriced and other issues), but salesidiots know where the expensive sigs are, and they'd be examples of the extremes of the neck profiles. You can sub an AmStd for the Mayer.

My guitarist has a G&L; that totally kicks arse (S-500 maybe?). I've also heard good things about the brand new American Standards from Fender... block out a couple days and just play them all

Having played a shitload of Strats of varying statures and vintages lately (from the late 50's to new am. standards and even the much vaunted $17,000 Custom Shop Lenny...which...was...okay...it sounded good)...the only advice I can give is that you should play a bunch and find which one turns your crank the hardest.

If you can find a japanese strat of some variety (foto flames are all japanese, for example), you'll probably get a nice chunk of wood and decent hardware. Put new pickups and other electronics in them, and you've got yourself an ass-whoopin' guitar!

There are also Nash guitars, which are basically NOS strats without the Fender logo on the headstock. He's doing cool stuff, though...nitro finishes, distressing (if you want it)...any pickups you want...

Just some food for thought.

If you're feeling crafty:
www.warmoth.com

build it yourself. great woods. great parts.

yeah, but warmoth isn't a good idea without knowing what you want. They're an option to calling the Custom Shop...not to finding effectively your first Strat.

I'm just saying...pay less attention to the sound...more to how it plays...a set of Fralins (or Dimarzios if you're cheap) will take any strat that plays well into the good tone zone. The only Strats you'll find, IMO, that are already there are the AmVintage and Custom Shop series...even then--they're still improved by Fralins, IMO.

My personal thing: U neck, 7.25 radius, Ash body wood, Nitro body finish-light poly neck, body cavity sheilded, vintage bent steel bridge...stock 54 wound PUs (underwound by today's standards). once you have THAT kind of knowledge of what you like, Warmoth is an option. until then--you gotta go play'em.

Pick an appropriate amp. 65 deluxeRI. 59 BassmanRI...are ones anywhere will have. If they have boutiques--65amps, that VoxAc15 handwired, Victoria, DrZ Maz18, and the Fralin/VVT would be the short list. nothing sounds worse than a Strat into a Bogner or such, IMO.

Thanks, good info.

I want a Fender, ready to play. PU change is the most I'll be willing to do, but I really don't want to do that either. Also I want the guitar to keep it's value so I can sell it in case I decide to switch to another strat later.

A question: I've noticed that my LPs with nitro finish resonate better & sound better in general. Do you feel this is true with stratocasters?

quote:

A question: I've noticed that my LPs with nitro finish resonate better & sound better in general. Do you feel this is true with stratocasters?

LOL

Laugh all you want, I'm not joking. Looks like the ones with nitro finish have thinner layer over the wood & you can definitely hear the difference.

Yes, but if you aren't going to do a pickup change, it's a MUCH smaller nuance. Part of the upgrade of the NEW AmStd series is that they've redone the way they do the undercoating of the finish to be thinner. Still poly...but, thinner. You're not going to get away from poly in a "working man's" guitar--it's too durable.

In fact, I can narrow your search if you're not going to switch PUs...AmVintage series and Custom Shop. You'll spend easily twice, if not 3 or 4 times as much to get one full on"ready to play". I played a 54 Custom Shop a while back that was cool. I think it was $3600 USED.

I really dig the Eric Johnson strat. It is the lightest / best balanced strat I've ever played... Plus it has such a great neck (maple version) that it is hard to set down.

As pop stated, the new American Standards are super nice as well. Very nicely finished necks.

All my guitars have nitro finishes these days. They are working man guitars as well... A thru the paint gash on a poly coat looks like hell. The same injury on nitro looks "vintage". Haha.

-Dusty

I know a LOT of people, including my tech, who LOVE that Eric Johnson. For me, I just didn't. It was like a less comfortable SRV sig. Both have fat necks with flat fretboard radius...but, for me, the SRV felt more natural.

...then, keep in mind, I gots huge skeletor looking fingers. So, I also understand people liking LPs and C shaped Strats.

Side note...Tele necks are different. Even though they use the same "letters". I have a C shaped Tele with a std 9.5 radius I think plays like a champ...strats with the same feel too small and thin for me to wrap my baboon fingers around.

Nitro IS the way to go...I'm just saying, with Fender you'll pay a LOT for it...and it is much more of a nuance than putting Fralins in an AmStd. You'll note my "perfect strat" recipe has a Nitro finish. But, that would have to be custom shop ordered.

Another thing to be pointed out...the Hwy1 series has VERY thin nitro finishes (matte rather than buffed)...and are American made-politically fine (if you care), but, they're gonna need the cavity sheilded and such like a Mexi/Jap strat would...and don't include HSC-again, if you care. Just so you compare apples to apples. They've increased the price of the AmStd series to go along with all their upgrades, so...

And, it's an individual guitar thing, too. The BEST sounding/playing strat I've ever laid hands on was a SRV that had been customized w/custom wound Fralins. If I go to GC and pick up a SRV, it's fine, but nothing that justifies it's price--or having some dude's initials on my guitar. ...so, it's unit to unit differences. I HAVE played a MexiStrat that KILLED...and 50 more that bit.

I Recently helped a friend buy an expensive CUstom Shop Fender. We spent some time playing about 10 different guitars.

The Custom Shop does GREAT work.
They are expensive.
Worth it if you can afford it.

jmp

Thanks!

If you want the Nitro finish, which I like as well, I'd pick up a Highway 1 series strat, change out the pickups and have it setup and a good shop. You'll spend a lot less that a custom shop (like $2000 less) and you get a great playing and sounding guitar.

And...unless they've changed something recently, have the cavity sheilded.

My personal issue with the Hwy1s is the same as most other modern Strats--that C profile neck. It's not "bad"...but, for my hands, I need a big ole hunk'o'wood to wrap my hands around.

Also, a note on the Custom Shop...their repros kinda blow, IMO. Unless you get into their masterbuilt like the 54 repro I played a while back.

My favorite I ever played? That was my buddy Ron Emory from TSOL's blonde 62 that was unfortunately stolen a few years back.

My Epiphone Strat knockoff is my main live beater but I have a 75 bullet with variety of vintage pickups that was my main guitar for many years. I hadn't played it for a while but I pulled it out a few days ago and it felt great. Sort of like running into an old friend. I think I'll have to get it set up and put it back in the rotation.

quote:

Also, a note on the Custom Shop...their repros kinda blow, IMO.

I agree- especially with the "signature" guitars. I used to sell Fenders and the Custom Shop gear was pretty hit and miss. However, the hits are amazing. For example the Jerry Donahue Teles are beautiful instruments but other than the skinny frets, the Jerry Donahue Hellecasters are not much more interesting than any other Strat. We also had couple SRV models but beside the big C neck it was basically a stock sunburst Strat with Texas Specials and an engraved pickguard.

Of course, each guitar is unique so another Hellecaster in another shop might be something special. The problem is, at Custom Shop prices, they should all be great.

Jon

I agree with Ian. You're going to have to play a bunch of them to see what you like. I've got an anniversary Lone Star here that's ok - it's more difficult to play than I would like but the sound is definitely right. I prefer my LP Pro over just about anything I own though - that baby is just a trooper even after all these years.

Weird thing is I have a MIM Tele here I picked up back in '95 (another anniversary guitar) that plays very well - electronics aren't great but it plays pretty nice for a cheapo - same with that '74 Ampeg I picked up last year for the hell of it. So it really depends on what you like and how playable it is. The next two or three grand I have just begging to be spent (which will be never ) I'll be looking for another LP Pro or maybe just the Deluxe. Love those P90s!