software

Okay, here's the deal:

I'm looking to pick up a strat. I want it to be a keeper. I'll probably end up modding it (brass saddles, new p'ups, locking tuners, etc.). It doesn't need to be a fender, but it needs to have that Strat sound.

I ruled out Andersons, Tylers, and the like because they're too expensive. Finding one used proved much harder than I thought, and I realized I'd like to do a lot of modding to get my own unique guitar, so why go expensive? I don't really want to get a Carvin because their electric work is shoddy (would have to re-do it all) and their bodies would be slightly different, making it hard to get after-market parts off Warmoth, etc.

After looking at actual fenders, I liked the prospect of a Fender American Strat or a Fender American Deluxe Strat HSS. They are $1350 and $1500 (CDN), respectively. I also am interested in the Fender Classic 50s Strat ($900 CDN). I'm leaning towards the 50s Strat because of the price and the vintage aesthetic/vibe.

My questions: Are there any other recommendations as to what I could look at? Anything wrong with the Fender 50s Strat, and do any of you know if it's USA-made? I couldn't find out.

Another possibility is to assemble my own guitar from individual parts (E-bay, Warmoth). While I like this idea, I'm thinking it would end up more expensive than buying a guitar in one piece? Any experience/advice from people that have done that?

the classic is a mexican made guitar

as of jan 2004 the classic has:
3 piece body with trans colors, 5-6 with solids
7.25quot; radius neck, 21 small frets, v shaped
ping tuners
ping vintage style bridge
poly finish
cheaper electronics
gig bag

the normal american:
3 piece body
9.5quot; radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, v or c shape
schaller tuners
2 point w/ hardened saddles
cts pots and grigsby switches
hardshell case

if you want this to be a keeper, i would go the warmoth route. youll get exactly whats you want for about the same money as the american strat or less and probably have a better built guitar.
if you want to start with a working guitar, id go with the american. just better stuff all around

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking I'll go the Warmoth/USACG route. I want to at least start relatively soon, and if I go for the American Strat, I'll have to wait a while until I can get the $1500 (after taxes) for it. I'm really jonesing for the sunburst look, and the paint amp; finish for that alone will cost $220 at Warmoth.

If went with Warmoth/Ebay/USACG, would I be right in assuming that the body, neck, and trem unit will be the most expensive aspects of the guitar?

the 50s and 60s MIMs are decent enough guitars, but I usually don't care for the vintage radius with small frets, so I'd suggest playing one first - they just don't seem as comfortable to me as a regular US strat

your best deal might be on a used Am Std, or putting one together with Fender parts like Joneser did

if you decide to go the custom route, you have to be fairly motivated by wanting something special, since resale value will be an issue

thanks, i'll check out some used strats. resale isn't really a concern, i'm looking to score a keeper.

Look at Mexi-strats, anykind but make SURE you play them first.

You might also consider finding a Hamer Daytona. Great Strat guitar that comes stock with Duncan pups (Alnico Pros I think). Hamer makes excellent guitars. They discontinued the Daytona a few years back, but you can still find them used, amp; for a decent price.

If you want a new Fender I'd get a Jimmy Vaughn and change the pickups to Duncan Antiquitys or Fralin Vintage Hots. I just picked up a killer used Hamer Daytona...it's one of the finest Strat guitars I've ever owned and it cost me under $600...came with Duncan APS-1 pickups too! (I'll be installing my prototype Duncan Stack Plus pickups though...I bought it for gigging and the new Duncan Stack Plus pickups are the finest noiseless pickups I've ever owned) Lew

Thanks for the heads up on the Daytona, I'll have a look.

I'd suggest you go to Guitar Center, and spend a whole afternoon putting your hands around MIM, Japanese, and American Series strats.

My personal preference is for alder American Series. I dislike vintage 7.5 radius and small frets, so those are out. MIM strats feel and sound cheap to me, no matter what pickups are in them.....the exception being the Jimmie Vaughan. Japanese strats are usually 50's/60's reissues with small frets, plus they cost the same new as a used American, so those are out.

I'd suggest scouring the used market for an alder American Std or American Series strat, from 90-2005. I think 2001 was the first year for American Series, and the only differences between those and Am Std's (pre 2001) is that the fretboards feel slightly smoother at the edges, and they're routed HSH under the guard, not a rectangle swimming pool route. No biggie.

They cost around $900 new, but if you search the used market, local or Ebay, you can get one for as low as $500-$650. If it's intonated right, you don't need any locking tuners! Just change the pickups, like Lew said, and you're done.


Originally Posted by jeremythe classic is a mexican made guitar

as of jan 2004 the classic has:
3 piece body with trans colors, 5-6 with solids

Wow, at 5-6 pieces they may as well call it plywood.

most mim guitars are 5-7 pieces

alder is getting pretty expensive

i have a daytona as well and they are great guitars.

Well, I must have gotten lucky with my MIM because it is a two piece alder. And it does sound great, very resonant.

If your looking to get a well made inexpensive guitar, i'll recommend a Fender U.S. Highway 1 Strat. I recently bought one of these and quickly realized i didn't need to make any changes except for some .010 gauge strings and a set of aged white knobs and pickup covers to match its honey blonde finish.

This guitar feels familiar and broken-in like an old strat from decades ago thanks to its all satin finish. This finish also helps the tone too. Very nice strat, for just a tad bit more money than a 50's MIM Classic Strat.

If this sounds good, you can see a few pics of mine at Photobucket.com. Look under FenderBender03
FenderBender


Originally Posted by FenderBender03If your looking to get a well made inexpensive guitar, i'll recommend a Fender U.S. Highway 1 Strat. I recently bought one of these and quickly realized i didn't need to make any changes except for some .010 gauge strings and a set of aged white knobs and pickup covers to match its honey blonde finish.

This guitar feels familiar and broken-in like an old strat from decades ago thanks to its all satin finish. This finish also helps the tone too. Very nice strat, for just a tad bit more money than a 50's MIM Classic Strat.

If this sounds good, you can see a few pics of mine at Photobucket.com. Look under FenderBender03
FenderBender

That's a good tip, I checked it out and it's quite affordable ($770 CDN for the HSS, if I want it)... I was just wondering how many pieces it's body is? It's a MIM, right? I don't really mind that as I'll be swapping out pickups, and probably even the trem eventually. I'm liking that bit about the fretboard edges.

3 or 4 piece body
similar neck to american
ping tuners
ping vintage style bridge
satin poly finish
cheaper electronics
gig bag

These Highway 1 Strats are USA made, and i think the bodies are the same as the American Series bodies which i'm guessing are 2-3 pieces. It can't be made from many more pieces than that because its WAY too resonant to be a piece of contoured plywood lol

In a recent edition of Fenders Frontline catalog, they called the pickups quot;American Specialquot;. Someone here awhile back said that they used Mexico electronics in these guitars? I don't know, but i do know that for $629 your getting a very comfortable, cool, and toneful guitar that IS American made.
FenderBender

Good to know. I imagine I'll be more than happy with it. Even more so once I completely spec it out.

If you are looking for a gfreat 50's Style Strat with a better neck the Jimmy Vaughan IS THE way to go!

The neck is IMO the best production neck Fender makes right now, the stock pickups are even good. The tuners and tailpiece are the SAME units that come of a CS reissue Strat and are amazing, 9.5 inch radius, MJ Frets...killer guitars for very little cash! I asked the same question you are asking about a year or so ago...bought a Jimmy Vaughan and have NEVER looked back.

kinda silly to spend a lot of cash on a guitar that ends up being all modded in the end- you'd wind up paying for parts you aren't going to use. it might be better to save for exactly the strat you want, or just pick out bodies and necks from warmoth or ebay or something.