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Posts: 120
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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April 2006
Posts: 1138
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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November 2003
Posts: 11039
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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November 2005
Posts: 4832
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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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Inbound, more like Checkpoint Charlie . ."
Exactly the way it should be. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
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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November 2003
Posts: 11039
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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January 2006
Posts: 1483
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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Posts: 629
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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July 2003
Posts: 1922
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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May 2002
Posts: 651
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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November 2005
Posts: 4832
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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January 2006
Posts: 5881
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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September 2003
Posts: 9301
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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March 2004
Posts: 629
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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July 2003
Posts: 1922
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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January 2006
Posts: 5881
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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June 2002
Posts: 863
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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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Jimi Hendrix loved the 70's Strats..... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | . . . but not for very long . . . |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
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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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | .... cause you're not sittin' close enough to the speaker. |
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February 2005
Posts: 349
Location: Snellville, GA | ...'scuse me while I kiss this guy... |
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January 2006
Posts: 1483
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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April 2004
Posts: 13303
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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Fender Sratocaster Info ?? Go Ahead & Kick My Ass For Asking on The OFC Site
