Which Strat?

I have a nice acoustic (Taylor 614ce) but want to start playing electric as well. I'd like to get a Strat but there's so many models to choose from. Which would you get and why?I'm leaning toward a American Deluxe because it seems like the most versatile and won't break the bank.

--zbert

I don't currently own a strat but I've played several and I do have a Fender Nashville Telecaster that was made in Mexico in 98. The reason I mention this is to tell you not to automatically ignore Fender's products from Mexico. I know there's a lot that's been said and written about the quality (or lack thereof) of these guitars, but remember the old saying, "don't believe everything you read."

I have to tell you that I love my Tele. It stays in tune, it has a great variety of tones, a large neck with jumbo frets (great feel and string bends), the electronics work perfectly with no noise, and it looks great. As I go through the 5 pickup selections some give me a bit of hum and others don't -- I'm not sure that would be any different with an Am Standard, but probably would improve with an Am Deluxe since it has noiseless pickups.

The ONLY problem I have with my Tele is the G string tends to buzz as I get farther up the neck, and to date no guitar tech has been able to eliminate that. But for $375, and for a guy who rarely plays out, this guitar was a GREAT deal.

So to end this essay, I think your choice depends upon your intentions. If you gig regularly go for the Am Deluxe. If your playing is done mainly at home, then I'd suggest going to local guitar shops and trying all 3 varieties. That way you make sure that you get the right guitar at the right level of investment for you.

And just to muddy the waters, don't forget about G&L guitars...or if you happen to live near Vegas, Ed Roman guitars makes the Pearlcaster. I tried one last time I was in Vegas and I was very impressed.
Tom

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Price no object...a custom shop Relic...my choice would probably be a 50's model with the varnish worn off the neck, slightly hotter pickups, a bone nut, bigger frets, and setup from the factory with .10 gauge strings. To be absolutely honest, I would prefer a tele (the body just feels better sitting down), with a mini humbucker in the neck position. It would probably cost $3500, but play like a dream... but I'd have to go to a store that had many relics to choose from to be sure. Probably the best guitar I've ever played was a Telecaster heavy relic, which sold before I could get back to the store to buy it. Alternatively, a Bill Nash Timewarp, which by all I've heard accounts are better than the Fender Relics at half the price. I need to work my way to a shop that carries them to give them a proper trial. Two of my buddies who are hard core strat lovers have them...(including one who has a real white '62 Strat....a divine $50,000 instrument in mint condition)

In my opinion, the best production guitar from Fender is the Eric Johnson Model. It has the 50's style neck, hotter pickups, and feels great in my hands. Fender does a good job at consistently making these feel good out of the box. The EJ Model is the what most collectors "expect" from a Strat. They go for about $1600.

I have a 2002 American Deluxe, and it is a great guitar (locking tuners, candy tangerine paint job, modern bridge, clefed neck joint, "noiseless" pickups, cream faded pastic, etc.)... but is has that "new" feeling that makes it seem inauthentic and certainly depreciate in value (I've seen go on eBay for 25% less what I paid at Guitar Center discounted- $1100). That doesn't happen to a Relic or even the EJ model..... and certainly not a pre-80's strat. It's a working musicians guitar....it sounds like a strat...and plays like a nice new guitar (better than any PRS I've played)... but it does not have that "vintage vibe" and worn in feel like a relic or the EJ model. The newer American Deluxe models have the S-1 pickups (which sound a bit duller to my ears, and definely different feeling necks... but still have that new feel). I prefer the 2002 to the newer models, but your tastes may be different. Most of the features of the 2002 can be found at nearly half the price with the Mexican "Players" series....which are great guitars for the money (~$600 new).

Fender, unlike Gibson, seems to definitely have more of a variance from guitar to guitar.... so it's essential to try them out and compare them to many instruments even within the same model to make sure you are choosing one that suits you. They also setup most guitars with .09 gauge strings out of the box. I prefer the tighter feel and extra sustain of .10 guauge (or light top heavy bottoms)....and some Fenders need a lot of work to get them adjusted as such (my Telecaster Nashville Power, for example).

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I've had a lot of trouble with the neck and nut from my Telecaster Nashville Power...so much so that I'm looking to put a different neck on it. I've also had trouble with the stereo wiring. My buddy at Guitar Center tells me that all Fender instruments have a "limited lifetime warranty".... so if you are having unfixable problems like warped necks, bad nuts/frets, unfixable buzzing....Fender will generally fix those sorts of things. He offered to send my telecaster back to Corona to get worked on, but since I am seriously considering a neck change, it may be a mute point. I might do it anyway, but I'm in the middle of making an album that relies on the sound of that tele (the shimmering electric acoustic mix thing, which is wonderful for big open chords ala Pete Townsend). My tele is not a lead instrument because of the neck issues. Still not a bad guitar for $600.

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[quote=adaptable;170].... so if you are having unfixable problems like warped necks, bad nuts/frets, unfixable buzzing....Fender will generally fix those sorts of things.

That's an interesting idea. Thanks for the suggestion, I will investigate...also, you made a good point in your earlier post regarding string gauge. I went to
.10s on my Tele and .11s on my old 66 Jag. We had to make some adjustments but it was worth it.

Sounds like the Eric Johnson model is a winner. I'm always torn between price and quality. I would rather not spend a lot because I don't play professionally. But, then again, I want a quality instrument that plays like a dream and gives me the best chance of sounding good.

Thanks to everybody for their feedback.

--zbert

Most Warmoth Necks do not fit the Nashville Telecasters (see here...scroll to the bottom), except for the 21 fret "Vintage" series which has truss rod adjustment on the heel (meaning that you have to take off the neck to make the adjustment).

I'm a little bummed, but it may be my only option. I'm looking for a replacement neck for my Nashville Tele with a wider nut width. I could still send it to Fender to fix my intunation issues and buzzing... but if I go through that trouble, I'd rather get a neck that I'm 100% happy with.

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I would look for a model that doesn't depreciate in value. Check out Buffalo Brother's Guitars . They have a policy that if you buy any guitar from them, you get full credit on any more expensive model if you upgrade as long as you keep it in good condition. I plan to buy my next Fender or Gibson from them. I go there about once a month to check their stock. They are looking into carrying Bill Nash guitars as well. Their prices are fair, and the staff is knowledgable....and they have more of a selection of Relic/Custom Shop stuff than most Guitar Centers...and a decent stock of the new stuff.

So theotectically, you can start with that American Deluxe you originally wanted, compare it to the EJ model, and then either trade up to it, or get a custom shop or Relic at a later date, and not lose any money.

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I've been playing a ton of different Strats as research for a series of reviews I'm running on my blog (My Quest For The Perfect Strat,) and while I haven't posted all of the reviews yet (or even finished writing them all!) my favorite so far is the Limited Edition American Vintage '62 Strat with thin-skin nitrocellulose finish.

They apparently made 180 of these, and they differ from the standard American Vintage '62 in that they have the fatter 6105 frets (not those skinny vintage ones,) and of course the true thin-skinned finish, which will age much nicer than the modern polyester finish, and is the same finish used on the Eric Johnson model.

I also really liked the Eric Johnson, though my love of the vintage "C" shape neck and rounder fretboard radius wins out...

Surprisingly, even though it's a limited edition, the price is right in line with the American Vintage '62 (around $1500,) though you have to search a bit to find one. You can still find a few at Music Machine, and probably some other online retailers.

Of course, ultimately you just need to get out and play some instruments, and see what works for you... all those fancy specs don't mean a thing if your guitar doesn't feel good in your hands and sounds good to your ears.

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egr :: guitar spoken here

I went to Buffalo Brothers Guitars outside of San Diego yesterday, and played a bunch of Relics and assorted Fenders. I really liked one of the EJ Strats that had for a decent price.

They had this guitar slightly used for $1299. It was a trade-up that happened within a few days in perfect condition:



Considering that Guitar Center wants $1600 for this guitar and the great trade up policy Buffalo Brothers has (good condition, 100% of the value on a trade up), this is an excellent deal.

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