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Location: Michigan | Before I go any further with my plight I will
O.F.C.-ially apologize to anyone who may take offense to this question about the Fender Stratocaster on the OFC site.
It seems that I have seen alot of OFCers that show that they have a Stratocaster in their collection.I re-strung a freind of mines Korean made Lite Ash Stratocaster this weekend and when I got it done I plugged it in & started playing it and Ive got to tell you I couldn't put it down .
I have never been a fan of solid body guitars but this one blew me away.I recently sold my Gibson Historic Reissue Les Paul Custom Shop SG because it was a very heavy uncomfortable hard to handle guitar & the list price was over $3000.00.The strat I played cost my freind $550.00 and its alot more user freindly. I know the quality is quite different between the two but I now buy what I enjoy playing and the SG was just a novelty thing so it went away. I have BAD GAS for one of these Strats right now & I would like to know if any of you can give me a rundown on what is the difference is in the price & quality of the
Japanese made stratocaster
Korean made
Mexican made
American made
I have trust in you guys on this so tell it like it is , so if you can share a little bit of info on this subject please FIRE AWAY!!! Thanks G.W.B. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | American strats are better made but the mexican strats are very good for the money....probably a better value for most.
I don't know much about the Korean or Japanese made versions.
On a budget, I would go with the mexican made. |
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Location: Central Florida | The only Japanese Strats I'm familiar with personally are the 50's Reissues. I've owned a couple of them and they are fine guitars. The bodies are made of either poplar or basswood(?). The build quality on them is excellent. The only downside is they've stopped distributing them in the US within the last ten years or so, so unless you can find a used one on eBay or something, chances are you'd have to buy from a Japanese dealer.
I believe all the Korean made Strats bear the "Squier" moniker, and are up and down in terms of quality. They're considered entry-level instruments.
The Mexican Strats are pretty good bargains, especially used. I've often thought about buying a used Mexi-Strat and dropping in a set of Vintage Noiseless or Lace Sensor Gold pickups to have on hand as a back up.
Now, for my money, the American Series Strats are the bee's knees as far as production line electrics go. If you're only gonna own one electric guitar, a US Strat, IMHO, is the way to go. They're very well made, have solid electronics and hardware, and are setting the industry standard for fingerboard and fret work right out of the box. Up until about a month ago, I owned the Strat you see in my sig line, and a gorgeous honeyburst Les Paul. But sinc I play acoustic roughly 98% of the time anymore, I decided to pare down to just one electric solidbody. Although the LP definitely won in the eye candy category--and was, by far, the more expensive of the two, I decided to keep the Strat and sell the LP because I felt the Strat was the more versatile guitar, sonically.
A bit long winded, but I hope this helps a little. |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | MIJ Strats are the cats meow when you can find a good one. They are arguably better made and better sounding than their American counterparts from the same era (mid 80's to early 90's). But I don't think they've brought any MIJ strats into the US for about 10 years. There are eBay sellers who specialize in these, including some Japanese dealers who make a business out of selling MIJ strats to Americans.
MIM Strats are very decent for the money. Fender has a major presence just south of the border ... close enough to Corona California to keep a close eye on quality. They make a lot of amps there, too. But like all guitars, check it out in person if possible before you buy.
Korean made strats are for the birds, imho. Jeff has got it right ... want a cheap guitar that looks like a strat and has the Fender name on it? Go for it. Want a good guitar ... pass. Mass production for the masses.
There is nothing quite like an American made Strat. I have had mine since the mid 80's and whenever I pick it up, there is something just so right about it. I really like the newer models ... the quality has really picked up over the past few years. If I was going to buy a new one, I'd spend the extra $$ and go for the ash American Deluxe. Although there is definitely something missing from the new ones ... the classic 60 cycle hum is comforting in its own wierd way.
The thing to remember is that all of these guitars are mass produced. Leo figured out how to make the parts stand alone and introduced the Henry Ford method of manufacturing to the guitar world. They just pay attention to detail and materials in varying degrees depending on where they're built. If you are looking, the biggest issue you're going to face is which one to buy ... there are SO MANY different models, finishes, reissues, artist series, styles, etc. that it'll make your head spin. But it is also like owning an old Volkswagen ... there are tons of places where you can buy quality replacement parts and change/upgrade/replace things around to your heart's content without breaking the bank. |
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Location: Oregon | I own a fender fat strat, mexican. Great for blues, rock, and jazz. Metal is harder for some reason to get a good sound. The jack is always loose on it. I can't stand that.
I customized mine a bit with a Borris Vallejo picture behind the bridge and my family coat of arms on the pickguard. Even switched the original knobs for knobs from my fender frontman 15g amp. It's held up to my mutilations. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Get Warmoth parts and make your own. |
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Location: NJ | I've seen/played a couple of Bill's Warmouth creations, and I have to attest that they DO play rather nicely . . . |
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Location: New Hampsha | For about the same money as a MIM Strat you can get a G&L Tribute Legacy and for the same $jing$ as a US Strat you can get a G&L Legacy made in the USofA. Either are way better products than the Fender counterparts. Leo did a great job keeping what was important and updating what wasn't with these G&L products and they deserve a hard look before purchasing a Fender. |
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Location: CT | They have the 'Players Strat' now, which is a mexican made guitar with USA pickups, and they look real nice. Never played one though. Play lots of them, find what you like, then get a deal on eBay. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I have three Strats, all American made, all ash. My favorite is a '99 with SRV Texas Special pups. The "feel" you speak of is just right for me.
My advice would be to look around and play a bunch of different models if you can. The set up on each can very tremendously. You can find very good American models with original HSCs for less than $600 on the Bay, about the same price as a new import without a case. Deluxe models go for about $100 to $150 more. My Deluxe model has the Jeff Beck upgrades, but I'm not all that thrilled with the locking tuners. They seem to be more trouble than they're worth.
There is a reason the Strat continues to be the number one all-time best-selling guitar of performing stage musicians. Now, it will never match the tone of our A/O models when you're playing an acoustic set, but they're just superb for what they've been designed for.
Some folks believe the Ovation solids from the 70's match up well against the Strat. I have four different Ovation solids (Viper III, Preacher, Breadwinner Ltd, and UKii) and they are o.k. against my Deluxe Strat, particularly the UKii, but none feel nor sound as good as my '99 Strat. Maybe if I spent some money and had each one preofessionally tuned and set up to match the set-up on the Strat the comparison would be much closer.
Buying sight unseen can be risky unless you plan on tuning and setting it up on your own if necessary. One player's perfect set-up can be another player's worst nightmare.
Good luck. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I have an '86 JapStrat and it is a truly fantasic guitar. |
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Location: Anchorage, Alaska | I have 3 Strats. 1 American Deluxe, 1 American Vintage '57 Reissue, and 1 Crafted in Japan. All are absolutly fantastic guitars. I have played dozens of other Strat models and have found the US models as a whole are on top followed very closly by the Crafted in Japan models. The Mexican ones would be third. I would not even consider one of the Korean Squires. Cheap, cheap, cheap in every sense of the word. The MIM are probably the BEST VALUE in the Strat line. Seriously look at the "Fat" Strat. Very versital with the humbucker PU at the bridge. My favorite Strat hands down. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I have two Strats that I've acquired since the first of the year, a current Mexican 70s reissue, and a 62 reissue that I built from a new CIJ (Crafted In Japan) body and neck that I got on eBay. The approach that cwk2 suggests is the best if you have the chops for building and setting it up. The 62 reissue, with Texas Special pickups, is a nicer instrument that the factory-built 70s reissue.
That said, the Mexican 70s reissue is my favorite of the Fender line right now. Might be that BIG headstock.
Roger |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If your on a budget I'd recommend finding a MIM body on ebay, and then buying a warmoth neck, and tricking it out with a torres engineering pre-made pickguard with pups and electronics.
If that seems like too much work then go with a G&L. American Made and really nice. |
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Location: San Bernardino, California | If it was lighter than an SG then it probably has an Agathis body, which is used on the Indonesian made models. The serial number usually can tell you where it was made. Indonesian made have an 'I' in the serial number. If I remember correctly they also have 'Manufactured in Indonesia' on them as well. Most of the MIM, MIJ & MIA are heavyer than an SG.
I recommend going to a store and trying out Strats until you find one you like. Try Telecasters as well. |
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Location: Indiana | I have had 4 strats through the years(a 60, an Am. Stand., a 66, and a Japanese w/a hotrails in the bridge pos and a Kahler). The 66 as just a P.O.S.. The 60, well ....ooh la la is the only way to describe it. The Am Stand is a great guitar.I sold the Japan Strat(don't remember the model) years ago for absolutely no reason. Kicked myself in but for years. I agree that the Japan made Strats are at least as good as a U.S., maybe better.But always try them out.I've seen some really nice Mex Strats also.Great for the $$$. I also agree about the G&L's. IMHO they are Fenders taken to a higher level.
Bill |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I just reread the original post and I have one other thing to ad....if weight is a consideration, I'd have a look at an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra....it has a chambered body and is around 5-6 pounds, plus has a good tone.
If you're set on a Strat, all you can do is try a bunch until you find the one that "speaks to you". In my case, it was the MIM 70s reissue.
Roger |
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Location: Michigan | It is amazing how many different strats are made .They are like boats , every single one is different. I went to a GC this afternoon and could not beleive it , no one waited on me the whole time I was there. I spent a half an hour in the place looking around & playing a couple of their high end Taylors & Martins ( not impressed at all ) the way they are set up there, and only one person said hello when I came in ? This is a 1st for me as normally you cant get away from some type of ( ? manager ? )of some sort from the time you step thru the door.
Anyway I am going to take a look at the G&L brand at a store that is fairly close to me and see what is up with those.You fellows seem to speak quite highly of them so it is worth a look.
It sounds like as always the USAs are the best made still but the Japanese ones sound like they are a top notch one also.From what you say they must not have a plant in Japan that makes the Stratocaster anymore( must be to expensive to produce them there now )maybe thats why they went to Mexico & then Korea. I was told that the Korean made ones do have a higher end Strat called the American Deluxe & then the Squire models which is the absolute lowest end ones .Thanks for all of the info on this and keep it coming in I always like to hear what others think about different guitars . GWB |
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Location: Upper Left USA | You need a highly customized Viper!
I like the boat comparison though! |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | There definitely IS a plant in Japan that makes Strats.....my 2005 CIJ body and neck were made there!!!! But CIJ Strats are not exported to the U.S.....don't ask me how the seller on eBay that sold me my body and neck got them. It's one of the sellers that part out new guitars, and he apparently has a source.
(I bought the body because it was a color not generally offered in the U.S., and I got a matching neck for the body to minimize build problems)
There are two North American plants that make Strats, the U.S. plant in Corona, CA, and the Mexican one 90 miles south of there. I don't see differences in build quality between U.S. and MIM Strats, mostly differences in quality of parts used. The U.S. plant generally gets the higher quality wood, the better pickups, tuners, etc.
Roger |
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Location: Australia | Fender's from Japan are excellent guitars (particularly the vintages Ri's)
....buy'em here
http://www.ishibashi-music.com/fenderjp/ |
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Location: CT | Only 64,000 yen! wtf is a yen, anyway? Is that where eggs come from? |
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Location: CT | YEN! Now I get it! I looked at the exchange rate and here is the price.
64,000y = $549.75 (there are some cheaper models)
3,000y = 25.78 (bank wire fee in instructions)
14,500y = 124.60 (guit. w/hard case shipping to US)
81,500y = $700.13 total price for Japanese Strat. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | And probably worth it, if the quality of my body and neck are an indication.
Roger |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by brainslag:
Only 64,000 yen! wtf is a yen, anyway? Is that where eggs come from? Aww, now there you you reinforcing that stereotype that Americans generally don't know anything outside their borders! |
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Location: UK - Canterbury Kent | I have in the last three weeks, just bought a Mexican Stratocaster 70's re-issue, in white with maple neck. I started off by trying this guitar in a Canterbury (UK) shop and it was very very good. Great action, sound and weight with bags of sustain.
I then came to the conclusion that the USA built version would be even better, so I travelled 120 miles to Guildford (Andertons) and Farham (Guitar Village) and tried out the USA versions. The American built versions of the 70's re-issue did not have the sustain and the action was not nearly as good and the sound was not so full. So, race back to Canterbury and I bought the Mexican guitar at half the price of the American built version and gigged it the next weekend. I am very happy with this guitar.
I also have a 1988 Korean built Squire Stratocaster that has a great neck and action, but very poor tone. However, it was cheap when I bought it in 1988 (£180) , but I am told because it was one of the early ones, it is still worth £ 150 - £200.
The Mexican Strat blows away my 2004 American Telecaster.
So, yes the Korean built versions are beginers guitars, but there are some people out there that like the cheap tone and sound. It stll looks great in red with a white scrathplate and rosewood neck.
Piers
1778-LX-BCB
Martin D28
Fender Telecaster American
Fender Stratocatser 1970's Re-issue
Fender Squire Korean Stratocaster 1988 |
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Location: CT | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Aww, now there you you reinforcing that stereotype that Americans generally don't know anything outside their borders! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Aww, now there you you reinforcing that stereotype that Americans generally don't know anything outside their borders! Them's fighting words. I have half a mind to jump a plane to Briton and kick your butt. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by brainslag:
...we have BORDERS? Outgoing, none that your government recognizes. Inbound, more like Checkpoint Charlie.
Jeff; I'll be waiting for you down at the pub.
:p |
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Location: NJ | ". . Inbound, more like Checkpoint Charlie . ."
Exactly the way it should be. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Last summer, coming back from Canada the US customs agent asks us:
Are you returning with any agricultural products or farm products like cheese.
We say yes.
She says is it less than $10,000 worth?
I look at my wife and the two small suit cases in the back of the honda hatchback which the agent can clearly see and I say:yes.
She says:Welcome back to the US.
It was bizarre. They're worried about cheese smuggling! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Jeff; I'll be waiting for you down at the pub.
:p If you could tell me where in England Columbia is, I'll be there. |
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Location: Michigan | Thanks for the website Richardd.
http://www.ishibashi-music.com/fenderjp/st7185tx.htm
After looking at it I am confused now on what guitars are what.
Can anyone tell me what model the
Japanese ST71-85TX resembles to the USA or Mexican or Korean made models ? I like the looks of the natural one and I am wondering if anyone knows which model this one represents? I was told that only the Stevie Ray Vaughn model used the Texas special USA pick-ups. What do you think , are these worth the money to get one from over in Japan without playing it? It is about an $800.00 USA gamble for one with case and sent over the pond to my address.
PS. I am a gambler....
?????Any thoughts on it ????? Thanks GWB |
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Location: Houston, Texas | You can buy an American made one for about that can't you. Been a while since I looked at strat pricing, but if you do that and don't like it the shipping will kill you to send it back. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | The ST71-85X is closest to the 70s Mex reissue, which I have one of. But the 70s reissue does NOT have Texas Special pickups....my "homebuilt" Jap '62 reissue DOES, though, I bought them and built it up myself.
I can tell you that it makes very little difference in sound between the stock 70s reissue pickups (which are supposed to be upgrades from the Standard Mex Strat units). If this is what you want, find yourself a Mex 70s reissue and grab it....not worth the trouble to get it from Japan, IMHO. More color choices with the Mex Strat, as well.
Roger |
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Location: Australia | Buying Fender Japan guitars may not be the way to go for guys in the USA but here they're way cheaper than American Fender's. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I was looking for a decent Telecaster when I bought my Mexican Strat lo those many years ago. No regrets for everyday R'n'R but I'd still like a Tele
Originally posted by Jeff W.:
If you could tell me where in England Columbia is, I'll be there. Just cadge a ride with those guys from the ATF bureau. They know where everything is. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The 70's strat models (originals in particular) were never popular with club musicians because the CBS beanies wanted to save some bucks and forced the engineers to go to a three-bolt neck design, which simply didn't hold up like Leo's original four-bolt design. The three bolt design was eventually scrapped with a return to the four-bolt models. This leaves me a bit suspect over any model with a three-bolt neck. The Texas Specials come stock on a number of higher end USA strats, and can be purchased after market and installed on anything. |
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Location: south east Michigan | Damn bean counters....In the whole scheme of things how big can the savings be??? One bolt and one more hole to drill. Big deal.
Just watch...next thing will be that guitars will come without strings.
Now if they reeeeealy wanted to save some costs they could make the backs of their acoustics out of ....plastic!!!! :eek: |
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Location: Houston, Texas | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
The 70's strat models (originals in particular) were never popular with club musicians because the CBS beanies wanted to save some bucks and forced the engineers to go to a three-bolt neck design, which simply didn't hold up like Leo's original four-bolt design. The three bolt design was eventually scrapped with a return to the four-bolt models. This leaves me a bit suspect over any model with a three-bolt neck. The Texas Specials come stock on a number of higher end USA strats, and can be purchased after market and installed on anything. I've heard this before but I don't buy it. I've owned a 76 strat for 26 years and never had any problem whatsoever with the neck. I also doubt very seriously that this was a cost cutting move. The three bolt neck was actually designed as an improvement incorporating a "micro-tilt" neck adjustment which has a set screw and a metal plate as additional parts and allows you to adjust the neck angle to some degree. So in all likelyhood it was probably more expensive to produce. The fact that they went back to four bolt non-adjustable necks was probably the cost saving move.
There's enough old guys on this board, anyone ever have a problem with a three bolt neck? |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I've already done neck relief adjustments on my 70s reissue and it's MUCH easier to adjust the three-bolt neck with the neck shim screw, as compared to the four-bolt, where you have to shim with wood, after virtually removing the neck. For adjusting neck relief, I'd rather have the three-bolt.
I would think the four-bolt is the cheaper neck, also.....the additional manufacturing steps to locate the shim screw, plus the cost of the screw(a unique size for Fender), would be more, IMHO. I would bet, though, that the main reason is that the three-bolt necks have a lousy reputation.
Roger |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Never had the three-bolt neck, so I have no personal knowledge of the design deficiencies which are relatively well documented in the historical record. Maybe the whole thing was a ruse. |
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Location: Central Florida | My first Strat was a '76, and the three bolt neck never gave me a problem. Matter of fact, I've often wished I had that guitar back. |
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Location: SoCal | Jimi Hendrix loved the 70's Strats..... |
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Location: NJ | . . . but not for very long . . . |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | ??????
He could only have had about 8 1/2 months experience with it...tops. How deep could that love be?
'course, I'm a heathen. Never much of a Hendrix fan. Yes I can hear the skill and brilliance, it just doesn't move me. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | .... cause you're not sittin' close enough to the speaker. |
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Location: Snellville, GA | ...'scuse me while I kiss this guy... |
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Location: Michigan | Going to look at G&L guitars tomorrow.I will let you know what my opinion is.
Some of you guys said these were as good if not better than Fender USA"s . I will give you my
( worthless ) opinion tomorrow night !
I can't beleive all of the OFC"ers that own Stratocasters ???
I am starting to profile you OFC'ers and I have come up with my " PROFILE " of OFC-ers
Average Age = 40 - 70 years old
Severe Hair-loss
Dope Smokers
Heavy Drinkers
Shitty Guitar Players Who Cant Sing but still do?
Still think that they will have their 15 minutes of fame with their guitar in hand????
Now using prescription drugs legaly prescribed for you.
The doctor gives you anything that you ask for? VIAGRA , AMBIEN . DARVON .
Where & the hell did I go on this thread ,,,,,,,
GOODNIGHT....... GWB ..... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | guitarwannabee,
Obviously you stole those stats from the bio located on Cliff's business card!. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | You had me until you got to "dope smokers".....although the later ones about singing and "15 minutes of fame" still apply......
I looked at G&L guitars before buying my Strat. They're "OK", but I didn't think any better than "the original". Depends on the indivdual instrument, I suspect.
I'm sold on the Strat.....it's the "Swiss Army Knife" of solid-body electrics.....if you want to do something, it can do it. Just choose your effects and pickup configuration.
Roger |
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| Owned an early 80's made in Japan Strat. once you get used to the fine tuners it was the best playing electric guitar I ever owned. The frets were big but very very low to the neck and rounded nicly on the ends. I had the action set so low you could look at it and it would play a chord. I have big hands and sometimes when playing the bar chrods I tend to squeeze the neck and strings fairly hard and with low frets I do not go out of tune. and Bar chords are a dream to move around with. I had a Gibson SG Supreem it had narrower frets but they were real real high and the trimed neck and sharp edged frets made this thing impossible for me to play at all. The frets were so high every time I squeezed just alittle to hard it sounded out of tune and I was always catching the edges of those nasty frets. This guitar needed a real light touch or an intensive session with some fret files. I could not set the action very low it always seemed to buzzz... I just did not want to work on an expensive guitar I felt I should not have to. If I did not find that the Deacon I have has a neck that plays as nice as my old Strat did I would have a Strat on my guitar list as well. I do still miss that Fender, I will mosty likly find a nice cream/white one like I had and replace it someday anyway. Why not???? you only live once that you'll remember anyway so why not enjoy it.
Randy |
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Location: Central Florida | Since the pandora's box has been opened, let's see just how accurate GWB's "profile" is on an individual basis. I'll start:
[list]
[*]Average Age = 40 - 70 years old (yep)
[*]Severe Hair-loss (nope)
[*]Dope Smokers (nope)
[*]Heavy Drinkers (nope)
[*]Shitty Guitar Players Who Cant Sing but still do? (nope)
[*]Still think that they will have their 15 minutes of fame with their guitar in hand???? (nope)
[*]Now using prescription drugs legaly prescribed for you. (yep)
[*]The doctor gives you anything that you ask for? VIAGRA , AMBIEN . DARVON . (nope)
[/list] |
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Location: Hiram, Georgia | I think if the survey were posed anonymously, and precede some questions with current or former, I would say GWB is pretty accurate. |
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January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | Just got back from the G&L store and I have to say that I was not totaly overly impressed by the guitars. I played a Legacy and it did play nice but I didnt feel any warm fuzzy like I did when I played the Fender Strat.Maybe because of being in a store had something to do with it but when I was done playing and picking the owners brain apart on it , the guitar that I would want is over $1200.00. It is a S-500 model with a birdseye maple neck and upgrated pickups. I am not a guitar luthier but it seemed to me to that it was a bit of a pricey guitar that is using Leo Fenders reputation to do its selling for them.One thing I did like alot better than the Fender was the whammy bar & bridge setup .You could be very aggressive with the whammy bar pulling it or pushing it as hard as you wanted and the guitar stayed in tune .It is a fine guitar but just not the one for me. I will end up with a Fender Stratocaster. I thank all of you for the input you gave me on this thread & now I have a little more wisdom on another brand of guitar . GWB
P.S. Jeff I guess I missed your profile by a long shot but you gotta get a new DOCTOR.
What about the rest of the 4862 of you out there ?????? DO YOU FIT THE PROFILE ??????
GWB |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | MY uncle owns a Japanese-made Strat, and I have/had the opportunity to play it on numerous occassions. I'm not an electric-guitar type player, but my uncle's strat is one of the best ones I have played ... maybe, it just might equal to that of its American-made cousins + good electronics, and at about half the cost.
I'd been told that Japanese-made strats are not readily available as they did then, and they also hold their resale value much better than the ones made in either Korea or Mexico. I'm not surprised if it's true ... |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | I am trying to get a deal on an American strat on E-Bay. I don't think that I can afford a new one made in the USA. I am checking on the Japanese website ( about $800.00 ) for the one I want but I am told I will have to pay customs something on it , but I don't know how much . The price from Japan goes up on September 1st, due to the cost of materials .
These guitars have a CULT following .
As Old Applause Owner Roger says ...
They Are The Swiss Army Knife Of Guitars.
Agree with you on that one
GWB |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | guitarwannabe, watch for used Strats locally. I check out Music-Go-Round in Novi....they had a nice used American Strat until last week. There's a Music-Go-Round in Ann Arbor, also. The chain deals in used instruments. My local Guitar Center in Canton also often has used American Strats. They tend to run $600-$700.
Roger |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | Thanks , Im still looking at E-Bay items . The more I learn about Fender Strats the more I get confused. I talked with a fender rep today in Arizona and he had alot of good info so now I may stray away from the USA one? I am going for a good looking woodgrain since the guitar will be a natural finish and looks are very important to me. The rep said that the new Made in Mexico guitars as are as good if not better than the Japanese reissues made in the 80s & 90s.
I will try and keep the gas level normal so I make a LOGICAL decision on one. I only hope that the Vulcan part of me surfaces.
GWB |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | If that's what you want.....Herb David's in Ann Arbor has a Mexican 70's reissue in natural with a maple neck, as of two weeks ago. Believe he wanted a little under $700 for it. I think Guitar Center in Canton has one, also.
Roger |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | Don't the new 4-bolt necks have the micro tilt? My '83 Elite Strat has a 4 bolt with a micro tilt. CBS was trying to revamp the lineup in the early 80's, because a lot of so-called Strat knock-offs were better than the Strat. Thus the Elite series is born - Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Precision Bass. Afterwards, CBS sold the company. My Strat (pix in the gallery) has active, lo output pup's (precurser to the Lace Sensors) with 9-volt pre amp, MDX and TBX tone controls (later put on the Eric Clapton model), hum cancelling dummy pickup, in-body tremolo rout (a-la the Kahler sp?) a neck to die for (12" radius), and yes, that side of the body plug jack which some of you have said you hate. My advice, play one before you write it off. These are still relavtively inexpensive on eBay, and worth every penny. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 17
Location: San Jose California | Originally posted by TWA:
...'scuse me while I kiss this guy... Get the lyrics right! :confused:
Purple haze all in my brain
Lately things just don't seem the same
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
'Scuse me while I kiss the sky
Purple haze all around
Don't know if I'm comin' up or down
Am I happy or in misery?
Whatever it is that girl put a spell on me
Purple haze all in my eyes
Don't know if it's day or night
You got me blowin', blowin' my mind
Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time? |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | I took a chance and went for an American Strat that was on E-Bay after talking to the person who had it in their hand.
I have bought 5 guitars on E-Bay in the last two years and have been very satisfied with the guitars.I just still have to try and get what I think is a super deal and hope that I will be happy with the purchase when it arrives.
I did alot of research into these Strats and I just kept becoming more & more confused on what to get. So after playing a ton of them I did see quite a difference in the USA made ones & the Mexican & Korean ones.Sound wise I could not tell you for as far as I can tell ,different amps can change the sound of any guitar just like pick-ups and wood can. I will let you know what happens when it arrives and I hope I can still have faith in the E-Bay system and a persons word.
Thanks for all of the good info. GWB |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | I purchased a Japanese Strat Contemporary back in the 80's. I believe, although I might be wrong, it was during the time that Fender USA production dropped to zero, I believe due to either the sale of the company back to Fender employees or a fire.
The Contemporary was a little ahead of its' time. It has a floating bridge. The bridge rest aginst two posts which was unusual as the bridge on a regular Strat was held in place and pivoted on six screws.
The guitar came with a locking nut assembly which I removed immediately. Also the bridge employeed six fine tuning screws. These I found worked well but got in the way of my right hand. They wound up in my parts bin.
Th guitar sounds great. A mod that I did to mine, allows me to use both the neck and bridge pickup together. This is a sweet sound that is still not available on new strats. I used a push/pull switch so the guitar still looks stock, but doesn't soud stock.
I also have a $70 pawn shop special strat that I totally restored. It looks brand new but weighs a ton. I also use an early 70's Tele.
And yes, I have a 70's Standard Balladeer, and a 2000 Balladeer Special, as well as an Alvarez Master Series.
If you like the sound of your instrument, go with it. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | Like a first time father I am getting nervous & impatient as I keep on clicking on the UPS website and punching in the same tracking numbers over & over again to find out where in the country my guitar is at , only to get the same reply for the last three days....
Packaged scanned at so & so time and
!!YOUR PACKAGE IS IN TRANSIT !!
AHHHHHH UPS ...YOUR KILLING ME...
Tell me what part of the country my guitar has traveled to.Tell me where it is at.
That is why I like Fed-Ex tracking they update on the website every time it gets scanned in at a different site.
Sorry I just had to vent while waiting for my guitar.
I think I better check the UPS site again. GoodBye..O.F.C.ers GWB |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Save some typing... many people don't realize this, but drop your UPS or FEDEX tracking number into a Google search box. Bookmark the link that it comes back with. Now just hit that bookmark every time you're jonezing for an update. no more typing or clicking "Yes, I agree to your T's & C's."
Also, the UPS site should have a "further details" button under the IN TRANSIT that will give you all of the package scans.
When I bought my Collector's, the UPS link kept coming back with "DELAYED DUE TO MISSED TRAIN" day after day, I feel your pain! Good luck! |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | I should be one day away from receiving my newest addition .I will be at our Company Sponsered Golf Outing so I will not be able to see it until Thursday. What a Bummer.
According to the UPS site I am not sure where the guitar is currently.
They are not as fast on the updates of TRACKING as is Fed-Ex.
Good luck to all tracking on the UPS site. GWB . |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | Oh boy I got my guitar today and to my suprise !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I received an American Fender guitar neck and hardware on a who knows what brand , very nice strat style body.
After contacting Fender I found out that from the full serial # on the neck that my guitar was a 1999 American made strat that was black in color. The strat I purchased was a natural finish.The body had been changed.
I calmly called the person who I purchased it from and told him that I been sold a fraudulent guitar and he truely seemed suprised.
After talking it over he agreed to refund my Paypal money or work something out and asked what would be fair to me.I told him that I really did not want to repackage the guitar again and send it back so if he would refund $400.00 of the $500.00 that I paid for it I would keep it.He agreed to that and did a Paypal refund to me.
I am glad to know that most people are still honest out there in the internet land.
The guitar is a very nice player and is in great shape so I think I will use it as a player and maybe just live with a I dont know what to call it
??( FENDERSAKI )??
brand guitar and case that costs me $100.00.
Any suggestions on what brand to call it ?
G.W.B. |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 629
Location: Houston, Texas | Are you sure it wasn't just stripped and refinished in natural?
Sounds like a good deal for $100 either way. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | I took some of the hardware off and inspected it very closely and if it was , it was a perfect job , not one tiny sand scratch or a speck of black paint or a flaw anywhere to be found . if you look close enough on the best of the best made guitars you can normally find a flaw somewhere.I can tell that the body weight is lighter than a normal strat.
Still I am very happy with the way the deal turned out, I thought that I would get a Keilbasa in my backside when I called the guy but we talked about it and within 10 minutes we came to a reasonable fix . I see that the American necks alone like this are going for over $200.00 so I feel good about that, but I will still look for the one that I really want . G.W.B. |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | GWB;
Fender can tell the original colour from the serial #?? The sure must be keeping better records than they used to.
I have been a Fender collector/aficionado for years and have never ever seen reference information (other than custom ordered or custom shop instruments) that signified anything more than approximate DOM.
Not saying it's incorrect but it is sure news to me.
Either way, you got a hel-u-va deal! Can you post some pics?
Wayne |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | Hey Wayne ,
Here is the phone # to Fender 480-596-7195
Ask for tech service
I have used this number a couple of times when I started looking into strats .They were very helpful and knowlegable & personable.
As far as the pictures go I am not sure how to post them here. The last time I tried I had to send them over to someone else to post them for me.
If there is another way please let me know.
I will be out of town until Monday .
G.W.B. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | I'll buy it from you for $101.00, how's that? Seriously though, you can get a NICE American made Strat body for under 400 bucks on eBay, then you have a USA Strat in whatever color you like. Sell the other body for 75 bucks or so and you'll be laughing all the way to the bank(or your next eBay purchase). |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | GWB: For $100, you did wonderfully. You mentioned that the body is natural. Can you identify the wood? Most typically, the natural models are ash, which many consider an upgrade from the lower priced models (Poplar or Alder, I believe). If it plays well and you're satisfied with it, consider it a great deal. If you're not, post it in the For Sale section and a make a few bucks. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | Im not sure about the wood , I did notice that it is lighter in weight than other strats that I have played . I will check it out with a freind of mine next week who does piano restorations and Im sure he will know.
The color of the body was supposed to be natural but it has a very slight blondish cast to it that allows some of the grain to come through it but it is definetly not totaly natural.
The pictures of it were of poor quality and the guy told me that it was natural so I took his word for it. I couldnt make that it had the blondish tint to it from the pics.
I am very satisfied with the deal but now I have choices again ??? G.W.B. |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | GWB;
Is this your Strat? If so, that sucker is bone stock and I would leave it just as it is! The body is definatly ash.
Wayne
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | OK , I just got some information from a Fender dealer in Northern Michigan .
The strat has had a body change made to it.
It has a Mexican Ash strat deluxe body with upgrated pickups & a Honey stain that shows the graining of the wood thru it very nicely.
The hardware was changed to gold which I already knew and that is why there is no marking on the back of the cover plate that holds the neck on .
He showed me in the Fender catalog that the mexican made deluxe strats have this push button near the tone knobs to turn on the bridge pickup and I guess can achive seven different pickup configurations.? Thats the way he put it to me .
Does that sound like right ? G.W.B. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | I was reading chapter on guitar refretting by Dan Erlewine in his book Guitar Player Repair Guide.
He talks about how Fender prior to the 1980's inserted their frets across the neck as opposed to being hammered in from the top.
I have an early 70's Tele that shortly will need a partial refret up to the 5th fret.
I am debating whether to try his recommended procedure myself or take it to a repair shop that is not familiar with the correct fret removal/installation procedure.
Since traditional frets are installed into the top of the fret board, an attempt to remove vintage Fender frets using the "Pull them up" technique will result damage to the fret board.
Does anyone out there have any experience with this procedure.
Erlwine indicates that the frets can be pushed out sideways as opposed to yanking them out.. aka.. the dental procedure .....ouch.
I'll try and not fret about it until I hear from someone.
Tom |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | G.W.B. - I have the Mexican Strat Deluxe - if the configuration is the same, here are the specs:
5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickups (Plus Bridge Pickup When Push/Push Switch Is Activated)
Position 5. Neck Pickup (Plus Bridge Pickup When Push/Push Switch Is Activated)
1-Push-Button On/Off Switch: Activates Bridge Pickup in Positions 4 and 5 of Blade Switch
Mine is as you described - gold hardware - the only difference is the color - mine is sapphire blue with the woodtone showing through... very nice looking.
Here is the link to the Fender website:
http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0133000327# |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1483
Location: Michigan | Thanks for the info, It is that model with a 1998 american made neck on it. I think that the stratocaster is the only guitar that you could have 1001 set ups on and never know what you are actually buying used? GWB |
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Fender Sratocaster Info ?? Go Ahead & Kick My Ass For Asking on The OFC Site