Stratocaster: Best for the $
- Thread starter Brown81
- Start date
pm Beauregard, he probably has an awesome guitar he's tired/bored of playing. it'll be sweet.
Ant
Pink Freud
Several ways to go off the top of my head for a killer strat for $800-ish and under.
Classic series 50's (MIM)
Deluxe Player (MIM)
American Special (USA)
Classic Series 60's (MIM)
Jimmy Vaughn Tex Mex (MIM) my favorite of the made in mexico line.
And nothing wrong with a used strat if he wants to go that route. The MIM strats are NOT shitty, in fact Fender has sort of shot themselves in the foot with the high quality that the MIM's are made. Had this discussion with several Fender reps and from personal experience. I'm a bit of a strat junkie.
Classic series 50's (MIM)
Deluxe Player (MIM)
American Special (USA)
Classic Series 60's (MIM)
Jimmy Vaughn Tex Mex (MIM) my favorite of the made in mexico line.
And nothing wrong with a used strat if he wants to go that route. The MIM strats are NOT shitty, in fact Fender has sort of shot themselves in the foot with the high quality that the MIM's are made. Had this discussion with several Fender reps and from personal experience. I'm a bit of a strat junkie.
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Hooli
Big Ugly
Trouble is, it'll probably be a black guitar. :laughing
Squidly McSmearstain
Well-known member
The American Special series are really a great deal for the money. It's the only way to get a sub $1,000 new American made strat. However, they may not appeal to all. In particular, the American Specials have the large 70's style headstock (which I like), that doesn't appeal to everyone. They come with the Texas Special pickups and come standard with a common strat wiring "upgrade" that helps shape the tone a little differently. The bridge is the six screw bridge which I don't like as much as the two screw bridge on the American Standards. Overall, a great value.
The Deluxe Players are VERY nice and probably the best bargain. They're fantastic electric guitars, VERY reasonably priced and MIM Fenders are fantastic instruments. I don't care much foir the gold hardware, but that's just a taste thing. For the price, the components are great and the fit and finish will be great!
FWIW, I have an American Special Strat HSS that I bought new for ~$900 and I have a Les Paul Standard that I bought new for about ~$2,000. The fit and finish on the Fender is a LOT better than the fit and finish on the Gibson. The American Specials really do feel special.
I've been thinking about picking up a Fishman Triple Play Strat HSS for shits and giggles.
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Brown81
Well-known member
Cool. Thanks a lot fellas. Very helpful.
I think he is also going to get a Vox AC15c1 to go with it. Should be a decent pair.
I don't play as much anymore so I am out of the loop. But this kid has me fired up about music again and I actually plugged into my Champ for the first time in years the other day. Sounds so awesome. Feel bad for neglecting the little guy.
I was like "why don't I do this more often?" Heh.
I think he is also going to get a Vox AC15c1 to go with it. Should be a decent pair.
I don't play as much anymore so I am out of the loop. But this kid has me fired up about music again and I actually plugged into my Champ for the first time in years the other day. Sounds so awesome. Feel bad for neglecting the little guy.
I was like "why don't I do this more often?" Heh.
Hooli
Big Ugly
Midlife crisis is a wonderful thing. :laughing
Ant
Pink Freud
Have him put a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker in the Vox, ooopha! :thumbup
Brown81
Well-known member
Indeed.:cool
They have them available with the Alnico Blue, which I encouraged him to buy, but don't think it's in his budget yet. Like $200 more.
Ant
Pink Freud
I have a V30 in my AC, prefer that over the Blue. Personal taste n shit. My second choice would be something Jensen.
Hooli
Big Ugly
No, srsly. You can actually afford to buy stuff you lusted after as a kid. :thumbup
Brown81
Well-known member
Never had or tried a Ablue, but it looks cool! :laughing
Wasting all my money on guns. Got caught by the competition bug!
My poor guitars are more than I need and get neglected as it is. But still want a nice SG and a nice LP!
Brokenlink
Banned
A few years ago I was watching Les Claypool tear it up on stage. Some kid had a six string bass and he kept trying to get Les to play it. Les said no so the kid started giving him shit.
"What, you can't play six strings?"
"Son, you see what I'm doing with four strings?" said Les. "Why the fuck do I need two more?"
Beauregard
Aut Agere Aut Mori
Always buy American- not for any other reason than resale value.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Amer...113?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae9133d51
If color really isn't important I'd look for an American Standard from the early to mid-nineties with as few mods as possible- stock being best. With a clamshell case.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Amer...113?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae9133d51
If color really isn't important I'd look for an American Standard from the early to mid-nineties with as few mods as possible- stock being best. With a clamshell case.
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1962siia
Well-known member
The 80's japanese E series strats are pretty nice quality too, although the pickups aren't all that great. I've got a squier E series with 2013 american deluxe noiseless pickups and s1 swtiching. I think I paid $160 for the guitar and $215 for the loaded pick guard, and its a lot of guitar for the $. Its a 62 reissue and plays great.