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So, there is this remote possibility that I might go to San Fransisco this year, in which case I'd be remiss not to buy a guitar. But before then, I have plenty of homework to do - starting now.

Please share with me your opinions on what is the good and the bad of Fender Strats. What are the different configurations? What advantages does custom shop have over regular factory produced? American Standard? American Deluxe? Maple fretboard? Rosewood fretboard? Are there different options in terms of fret size? What is there to know about neck profiles? What are the options in terms of body wood?

I understand that a lot of this is subjective but I'm interested in your subjective opinions. Also, if you have objective opinions, those are welcome too. But really, if you feel like yelling in ALL CAPS that maple fretboards are for ill adjusted sociatal outcasts who like to lick bus windows, then go ahead. If you feel that strongly about it, I'd like to know.

Let me put forward what I've been thinking thus far and feel free to bash me where I'm ill informed, silly or flippant:

1. I like the idea of a MIA strat, not so much because I believe it to be better quality but because I believe it will retain it's value (and appreciate) over time better than MIM. In other words, if my grandson (and I don't even have a kid yet) inherits it one day, it might be worth a fortune which I doubt would be the case with a MIM axe.
2. I like the maple fretboard because:
a. It looks cool. To me that is what a Fender Strat always looked like and should look like.
b. I've been told that it has a brighter tone which, considering Fender is all about snap and bright tone, I figured is the better fretboard choice as well then.
c. I like the feel of it under my fingers. I haven't played a lot of Strats but it does seem to me as if it offers less friction to my fingers and the strings.
3. I don't mind buying 2nd hand but I'm not particularly interested in vintage guitars as I believe they've already appreciated in value (monetary that is) to the point where you're paying for more than you get (quality that is).

If I had to walk into a store now and pick one off the shelf it would probably be this one; American Deluxe Stratocaster in susnet metallic with maple fretboard and SSS pickup config.
    The problem is there are dozens of models these days and lots of options. Good if you know exactly which features you want, but bad if you don't.

    Don't limit yourself exclusively to particular features - use them as a starting point for trying out guitars, but buy the one that speaks to you, regardless of how far it is away from what you thought you wanted. There's always one that will surprise you.

    +1 on the US model. Custom shop if you want to spoil yourself and have the moolah. While neither is a guarantee of being amazing (and you can find great guitars in the Mexi models), your chances are much higher.

    Fingerboard woods - I prefer the sound of maple (specifically the faster attack), but the feel and look of rosewood (I use pao ferro, which is the best of both, plus the durability of ebony - the earlier SRV signature Strats had pao ferro). The finish on maple board Strats can drag a bit, unless you degloss them.

    Alder body is more flexible with a more balanced tone and a bit more focus for heavier playing styles. Ash has a low mid scoop and more tonal character for clean to crunchy and looks better for a transparent finish, but is far more variable in weight and tone (generally, the lighter, the warmer sounding). I'm an ash man myself, preferring weights between 3.6 and 4 lbs.

    I think clear, bursts and trans finishes will appreciate more as woods become more scarce in the future. Plus they look better IMO.

    US Standard Strats are great - the Deluxes don't give you anything extra that matters and I prefer the normal single-coils to the Fender Noiseless models. If you really want to go noiseless, fit some Kinmans or DiMarzio Area series.

    The best production line models are still the original maple-board Eric Johnson Strats, followed closely by the Rory Gallagher model.
      When we wanna talk about Fender strats...... ? we'll need plenty of time !
      Briefly....the customshop models are made of selected (or better) tone woods by experienced craftsman. The customshop also operates separately from the regular factory (I believe) and has the 1st choice of woods and materials (according to the customshop)..... a Bit more expensive than the standard models
      Maple or rosewood fingerboards ...? your preference.
      Body wood...? alder or ash, again your preference I guess.
      I also think you're right re the holding of value of a MIA strat compared to a MIM or even a MIJ strat.

      Buy MIA (Customshop) if budget allows.... and then get a good valve amp...and pedals...and..... ?
        I'd say try some out, get to know the difference between maple and rw, and alder and ash. Ash and maple can get a bit sharp and sizzley, but a light piece although having less lows has smoother highs.

        I'd personally try and buy second hand.. Th
          Let me start my advice from the other end - what other guitars do you have or are you planning on having?
          To me it is all about balance. I really don't understand guys that have 5 Strats and no Les Paul, no Tele, no hollow body and no flat top acoustic ???
          If you don't plan to have a humbucker equipped guitar, it is alright for the Strat to be a fat strat (bridge pup humbucking) and have a rosewood board and Alder body. If you do not plan to have a Tele but must have an SG, it is alright to go for the brightest Strat you can get. etc etc.

          Then some remarks about price. Chatting to Kira the other day our conclusion was that the best bang for your buck is a branded upmarket instrument fully specced bought at the right price. What happens is that you do put down a premium in cash (you're right about vintage but there is a lot between new and vintage) but you do not need to mod it and you can sell it at any time without dropping a penny.
          Essentially you 'borrow' a guitar from the system and all it takes is not overpaying when buying and some cash to start off with. Should you sell, you've got all your cash back and can move on from there.

          Finally I must emphasise the sense of the comment above about the guitar feeling right. The neck must feel good in your hands, acoustically you must be able to hear it vibrate, the tone must blow you away and everything must go automatically - it must almost play for you.
            Thanks for all the responses so far guys. Let me just ask, as regards to these different body types etc, does one have that option when you buy a guitar off the shelf or is that more pertinent when you buy a second hand guitar? In other words, could you walk into a music shop (let's say the biggest one there is) and say "Hmm, I'd like that one over there with an Alder body please"?

            Gearhead, I've actually given that question some thought before I bought my first electric guitar (Epiphone Les Paul). I figured that, considering the type of music I typically enjoy, a single coil guitar would probab;y be better suited for me. However, at the time I couldn't really justify spending big bucks on a guitar so I decided I'd get a cheaper guitar of the pther type (humbuckers) and later get a good guitar with single coil pickups.

            So yes, I currently have an Epiphone Les Paul, a Martin acoustic and a Takamine nylon and I think a Fender Strat would be an excellent addition to this list and will probably end up being the flagship of the fleet.

            Interesting though how one's tastes evolve. Where originally I figured that a single coil guitar suits my tastes best, I'm now starting to think that a hollow body electric would be my first choice. Maybe one day when I'm big I can bag a Gibson Custom Shop ES-335 in lightburst finish. But then again, maybe by then my tastes will have evolved some more still.

            But I'm drifting off, back to Fender Stratocasters. Let's hear some more opinions please.
              I've owned my Mexi Strat for a few years now and have some gripes.

              The string trees are a pain in the butt. The second I can save up enough cash, I'm going to buy staggered locking tuners so I can get rid of the trees.

              I don't really use the vibrato bridge. (In recent times I've started toying with it as a special effect, but only because I feel like I'm "wasting" the guitar if I don't use all its features.) If I could (easily and cheaply) change my guitar into a hardtail, I totally would. It would certainly help the tuning stability...

              The other problem with the vibrato bridge is it has a huge effect on the complexity of setting up the instrument.

              All I'm saying is: if you don't actually need a vibrato bridge, I strongly urge you not to get one.
                henrebotha wrote: All I'm saying is: if you don't actually need a vibrato bridge, I strongly urge you not to get one.
                Ha, interesting observation and I'm glad you're saying this. I'm not used to a whammy bar and will probably not miss it if it's absent. Is that a common configuration? I mean, can you buy a Strat off the shelf with a hard tail?
                  You can, but they sound different. Trem bridge is part of the tone, even if you don't use it. Easy enough to adjust it down hard against the body for tuning stability if you don't plan on using it (plus you can still screw in the arm and do downbends when the mood strikes you).
                    A tremolo Strat is probably easier to get and flog. Hardtails are rare and you will wind up not being able to 'borrow'. Blocking is not difficult, drop by if you need help. Just in case you don't think it works well: Clapton blocked the trem of his Blackie. To name one. With a wooden wedge.
                      they reallu cost far too much for what they are which is neauthiful instruments. Listen, there is prestige available in them but there are local guiat makers who can give you much better at less. I reckon anyway.
                        Wel the latest fender select models have me al excited.. Abit out of my league but they are gorgeous!!! http://www.fender.com/products/select

                        But this is the love of my life:



                        She is a American Deluxe similar to the sunset metallic one in your pic except she has a Ash body (The Ash body is about $100 more and only available in Tobacco Burst, cherry burst and Wine transparent)

                        I decide to go for the american deluxe for the extra features.. Shes my first guitar with a real whammy and i didnt think ill ever need it... Now i cant live without it! The locking tuners really helps with tuning stability, she rarely goes out of tune! The S-1 switching is also great to ad a little versatility.. You have your average 5 sounds with the pickup selector + 5 more... Maple vs rosewood or ash vs alder up to you but i believe the extra features makes it a better guitar.




                          well man i got my first MIA strat last year.......and i swore i would never play a strat.....................

                          But its 1 of the best choices i made buying a guit!!! As all said if u have the extra cash get a custom shop! but the standards do just fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Good luck!
                            Freddy-Bl00D wrote: Wel the latest fender select models have me al excited.. Abit out of my league but they are gorgeous!!! http://www.fender.com/products/select
                            OK, so could you distil for me, what exactly are these Fender Select guitars? Is this one tier above American Deluxe? Just had a look at the webpage and although it has the wrong fretboard and wrong pickup config, isn't this puppy an absolute beauty!

                            Freddy-Bl00D wrote:The S-1 switching is also great to ad a little versatility..
                            What is S-1 switching?

                            Also, can someone explain to me what Highway 1 is all about?
                              deefstes wrote: OK, so could you distil for me, what exactly are these Fender Select guitars?
                              Fender's attempt to get back some of the high end market from Suhr et. al. by going all flamey... but at those prices... Maybe I'm just a cynic.
                              What is S-1 switching?
                              Doubles switching options from five to ten. I found not much was usable in a playing situation for my needs though.
                              Also, can someone explain to me what Highway 1 is all about?
                              Mexican quality and price, but made in the US.
                                deefstes wrote:
                                Freddy-Bl00D wrote:The S-1 switching is also great to ad a little versatility..
                                What is S-1 switching?

                                Also, can someone explain to me what Highway 1 is all about?
                                The Highway 1 models has been discontinued and replaced by the American Special models.. Basicly the entry level usa guitars..

                                The S1 gives you some series/parallel options.. Theres 2 out of the extra 5 sounds I found usefull the S-1 engaged on position 1 has Bridge, middle and neck pups in at the same time abit of higher output for when you need that extra bite from a s/s/s strat and i use the S1 engaged in position 5.. Not sure what it changes in the pups in that position but its alot more bright then just the neck pup.. I had a manual somewhere that explains al the S1 positions.. If i find it ill post the info, i think the fender website has a good explanation on the S1 switching and al its functions

                                Edit: With S1 Switching On
                                Position 1: All 3pickups in series
                                Position 2: Middle and bridge in series
                                Position 3: Neck + Middle in series
                                Position 4: Neck + Bridge in series
                                Position 5: Neck pickup out of phase & parallel middle and bridge in series.

                                So thats the extra features the S1 switch gives you in technical words
                                  i quite like the Eric Johnson signature strat, as mentioned by Alan earlier in the thread!
                                  and also in tobacco burst!

                                  http://www.fender.com/en-US/products/search.php?partno=0117702803
                                  The Eric Johnson signature Stratocaster® guitar features a light two-piece alder body with deep ’57-style body contours and cavities; one-piece, vintage-tinted quartersawn plain maple neck (contours sanded very smooth) with light ’57-style V shape, 12” fingerboard radius and highly-polished frets; special Eric Johnson single-coil pickups with countersunk screws and a five-way switch; vintage tremolo with silver-painted block; ’57-style string recess; no paint between the base plate and the block; five springs (no tremolo cover); master volume; neck and bridge tone controls; thin neck-cap with staggered machine heads; and ’57-style parchment pickguard. Available with .010-.046 gauge strings and a thin-skin nitrocellulose lacquer finish.


                                  Personally, I wouldnt want anything more in an American Strat!
                                  Except a lower price :-[ ?


                                  The Select's look reaaaaally nice! but again, as was mentioned, the price!!!

                                    Norman86 wrote: i quite like the Eric Johnson signature strat, as mentioned by Alan earlier in the thread!
                                    and also in tobacco burst!

                                    http://www.fender.com/en-US/products/search.php?partno=0117702803
                                    The Eric Johnson signature Stratocaster® guitar features a light two-piece alder body with deep ’57-style body contours and cavities; one-piece, vintage-tinted quartersawn plain maple neck (contours sanded very smooth) with light ’57-style V shape, 12” fingerboard radius and highly-polished frets; special Eric Johnson single-coil pickups with countersunk screws and a five-way switch; vintage tremolo with silver-painted block; ’57-style string recess; no paint between the base plate and the block; five springs (no tremolo cover); master volume; neck and bridge tone controls; thin neck-cap with staggered machine heads; and ’57-style parchment pickguard. Available with .010-.046 gauge strings and a thin-skin nitrocellulose lacquer finish.


                                    Personally, I wouldnt want anything more in an American Strat!
                                    Except a lower price :-[ ?


                                    The Select's look reaaaaally nice! but again, as was mentioned, the price!!!

                                    OK so what sort of price do these Select's go for? It appears that an American Standard goes for around $1300, an American Deluxe for around $2000
                                    while the Eric Johnson strat goes for around $2600.

                                    Another question; In two years time the stratocaster will be 60 years old. Do you guys think it might be worth waiting until then and get a nice anniversary model or something? Or even an ordinary production model (Standard or Deluxe) manufactured in 2014? Basically, do you think a production model manufactured in 2014 would be worth more in 2064 than the same model manufactured in 2012 would be in 2062? Just curious.

                                    Norm, what is that strat in your profile pic?
                                      Fender Select Strat starts at $2850 retail!

                                      http://www.fender.com/products/select/models.php?prodNo=0170301



                                      The Eric Johnson starts at $2600 yes, but i have seen them new from $2000!



                                      The strat in my profile pic is special!!

                                      Its a 2011 Fender Custom Shop Road Show Limited Edition Custom Deluxe Stratocaster


                                      http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/9245/Fender-Custom-Shop-2011-Road-Show-Limited-Edition-Custom-Deluxe-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar/

                                      Talk about a "Super-Strat," this Custom Deluxe has a killer flame maple top on an ash body, AA-grade flame maple neck with a 10/56 "V" shape, abalone side dots and fretboard inlays, gold Sperzel locking tuners, and three John Cruz Fat 50's single coil pickups. Looks, tone, and playability, this one certainly has it all. We not only love the great figuring in the maple top, but the cool grain patterns in the ash back as well.

                                      Fender®, Stratocaster®, and the distinctive headstock and body designs commonly found on the Strat® are trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

                                      Aged Cherry Sunburst Finish
                                      Flame Maple Top
                                      Ash Body
                                      1-Piece AA-Grade Flame Maple Neck
                                      10/56 "V" Neck Shape
                                      25.5" Scale Length
                                      9.5" Fretboard Radius
                                      .880" Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
                                      .980" Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
                                      22 Dunlop 6105 Frets
                                      John Cruz Fat 50's Strat Pickups
                                      Abalone Side Dots and Inlays
                                      3-Ply Parchment Pickguard
                                      Sperzel Locking Tuners
                                      Gold Hardware


                                      Sale Price: $4,160.00
                                      YUMMY!!! ?
                                      The pictures of this truly gorgeous guitar are on the link!!