software

I have a dilemma. I have recently purchased 2 guitars off Ebay, and unfortunately can only keep 1 of them. The first is a '97 Fender Strat Plus, clear lacquered alder body, maple 1 piece neck, torty scratchplate. It is fitted with US standard trem, LSR roller nut, Schaller locking machineheads, and gold Lace Sensors with TBX control.The second is a '96 Gamp;L Legacy, honeyburst 1 piece ash body, maple neck with rosewood 'board, 1 piece white scratchplate. It has a standard Gamp;L trem, vintage style Gamp;L machineheads and plastic nut. I believe the original pickups have been replaced with SD Vintage staggered, and vintage style wiring.

If I kept the Fender I would replace the Lace Sensors as the sounds in pos'ns 2 4 sound awful, although I do like the extra poke for soloing. If I kept the Gamp;L I would swap the machineheads for locking 1's. The sounds from the Gamp;L are typical glassy Strat. I would probably carry out a couple of mods to improve tone.

Any thoughts you guys could give me on which I should keep, or which mods to carry out would be gratefully received. I wish I could keep them both, but with 4 kids, it just can't happen. Thanks for your time.

i would keep the one that feels better and sounds better unplugged then mod that to fit your needs.


Originally Posted by jeremyi would keep the one that feels better and sounds better unplugged then mod that to fit your needs.

1.

Play each one unplugged and see what sustains the best. Which one quot;feelsquot; the best? From there, you can mod the heck out of it. In the long run, it's better to invest a few extra bucks into something that is made with good wood and a neck that you won't fight.

It's difficult. I've been playing them unplugged all day, and both have their plus points. The Gamp;L seems to have sparkle and not quite so pokey on single notes, but the Strat seems to have more mid range to it, especially on single notes although not the same shimmer on chords. I suppose it could be worse and I had neither of them!!!

I am looking for a sound in the classic rock area.

Does one guitar particularly hold a note unplugged for longer? Are the necks virtually identical? You can take a bright guitar and make it darker with pickups; that's not a problem.

The string spacing on the Gamp;L is narrower, and feels comfortable, the notes don't sustain as long tho'. The Fender feels a little wider, still comfortable, but not quite as comfy as the Gamp;L.

G amp; L's have a great trem, FWIW
they also have a flatter radius, and the vintage nut width you noted
they are still more of a hand made instrument

however, I prefer alder bodies ... more mids

you could have worse decisions!
they're both good strats, so once you make your decision, you'll be able to sell the other one no problem

I definately notice more mids on the Strat. I could do with a mixture of them both!! There is a noticeable difference in the build quality as you say. Not that the Fender is poor, just a real handmade feel to the Gamp;L

Are you sure the Fender is Alder? I'm pretty sure the natural finished Strat Plus's were Ash.

Anyhow, like others said, I'd choose the one that plays, feels, and resonates the best unplugged. Chandler makes all the Gamp;L pickguards, so if you want to mod the Gamp;L with HSS or a different colored pickguard, you have to call Chandler, not Gamp;L.
Also, I'd probably leave the vintage style tuners on the Gamp;L, since they let the neck resonate better, IMO. Also, the holes on the headstock may be smaller than the Sperzel shafts. Of course the Fender sounds midrangey.....that's the Lace Sensors.
Personally, I'd probably keep the Gamp;L and install Antiquity Texas Hots with Custom bridge in it, or buy a pickguard and turn it into an HSS.

I've got Fenders and Gamp;L, and it's hard to say which I like better. The Gamp;L's seem higher quality, but I like the fact that the Fender necks sit deeper in the pocket than Gamp;L's. Oh yeah, and the necks ARE NOT interchangeable between Fender amp; Gamp;L.

Not 100% sure on the body wood on the Strat. It does sound more quot;middyquot; even unplugged. I had trouble stringing the top 2 strings on the Gamp;L, they just kept slipping. The taper on the string posts narrows at the bottom unlike the old kluson Strat machineheads where they are narrow in the middle of the post. I had to string the top 2 by clamping at the post instead of putting the excess string into the post centre hole. Very frustrating

Well if you can't make the decision I will, pick the Gamp;L .

The Gamp;L will probably become more valuable then the strat. You can change the pickups to get some more midrange in it too. It feels better to you also as you said.

How about you post some pictures?

Keep the Gamp;L!!!!! Gamp;L's build quality is far superior to Fenders build quality. I'm also a very loyal Gamp;L fan.Sprinter

Well, if I were you, I'd be really tempted to send me the Gamp;L free of charge.

Seriously, though, I'd be all over that Gamp;L.


Originally Posted by proxyThe Gamp;L will probably become more valuable then the strat.

I doubt that. Gamp;L resale value is very poor compared to Fender.

I agree with what everyone else has said about whichever one feels the best is the keeper.

Although remember if you're already planning on a pup change, you can get more highs or lows from that Strat no problem. And the Strat sounds like it's already pretty well decked out with the locking heads, LSR, amp; TBX. Maybe I'm just saying this because I'm a Fender man but I'd be all over the Fender.

Which color do you prefer?


Originally Posted by jeremyi would keep the one that feels better and sounds better unplugged then mod that to fit your needs.
I wld do that. But I have one more Q how do u like ur guitars routed? I wld remove the pick guard and have a look under it to make sure abt that. I personally hate the pool route.

I'll post some pictures later.

I love Gamp;L's. I've played a few and joneser actually has me keeping an eye on ebay for them now.

Thanks for all your comments fellas. Obviously it's a little harder and more expensive to get US made guitars over here in the UK. I've been wanting a Strat Plus for quite a while so was really chuffed to be able to get one. I got a superb deal (for the UK) on the Gamp;L. They've always been guitars that I've admired from afar cos I didn't think I would be able to afford one here. It seems they're held in high regard over there! ! things true, Leo got it bang on.

Gamp;Ls resale value has gotten much better of late and the sale prices on Ebay have never been higher. I have seen ASAT Specials and S-500s bring very good resale.

The Commanche and triple pickup guitars are a more limited item, fewer are sold new and of course fewer used as expected. The very custom pieces such as maple tops and ebony fretboards raise the price of new Gamp;Ls and they seem to sell quickly used, but do not bring the expected returns for the upgrades. YMMVBrent

The resale value isn't that important to me. I have a large family, so whatever guitar I choose will be a keeper. Unfortunately I can't afford or justify a lot of money on guitars which is why it's such a big decision for me.