chris77
They're like jeans. Everywhere I look on weekends people are wearing them. Sure there are a few chinos and fancy pants in the mix as well, hell, some folks even wear shorts! But most prefer jeans. Hmmm, wonder why..... ?
Most folks don't need to be deliberately different to feel good about themselves. They are comfortable with what works for them and stick to what they like and know. And if it's affordable, practical, readily available and gets the job done, then why not.
nick
I own a strat and have gigged a strat, but I still haven't fallen in love with it. To me a strat is the Toyota Corolla of the guitar world, great if you want something a bit mind numbing that does the job.
vic
chris77 wrote
They're like jeans. Everywhere I look on weekends people are wearing them. Sure there are a few chinos and fancy pants in the mix as well, hell, some folks even wear shorts! But most prefer jeans. Hmmm, wonder why..... ?
Most folks don't need to be deliberately different to feel good about themselves. They are comfortable with what works for them and stick to what they like and know. And if it's affordable, practical, readily available and gets the job done, then why not.
Apart from being a fashion thing......I can't think of a more affordable solid body guitar (professional or otherwise) than a Strat-type axe...and together with its looks...?.....there lies the answer me thinks. ?
teleplayer
I tired really hard to stay away from owning a strat, as much as it was always 'the sound i wanted in my head'. When it came down to buying a 'professional' guitar, I got myself a USA Tele and LOVED it!! It was all that I thought i wanted. I did have one gripe with it though, it wasn't warm enough. As much as i played on the neck pup and set my eq, it was always just on the verge on the sound i sought after.
Recently, I had the opportunity to do a trade for a strat (the fact that it was a limited edition made me go and look). After that, the rest is history, I love my strat and it gives me the sound and feel that I had always wanted. Perhaps I'm a sell out for going for it and putting my tele aside, but the bottom line is that I now have a better guitar to my ears and hands. - I still need to change my name though ?
In saying this, i have played some strats that just felt awful to me, perhaps that's why i was put off all those years ago. I think it's important to note that a strat is not a strat. They don't all feel like the real thing, or play like it. I've played Jeremy E's Jap and that was just to die for too. Not to knock anyone, but I've personally just not enjoyed the feel of the mex necks, maybe it's personal, but they just have never sat with me, perhaps some of the special edition mex's are worth it, but the standard wasn't a win for me, even though they don't sound half bad through a great rig.
Psean
Keira WitherKay wrote
Well like my mother says " the proof of the pudding is in the eating"
Firstly, thanks for not saying "the proof is in the pudding" like half of the rest of the country.
But back on topic, I really hear the points being made about them being "vanilla" or the Corolla of guitars. It was the one thing that put me off them initially; as cool as they do look, you just see them everywhere. Besides metal and punk gig's I'd struggle to thing of a show where I haven't seen one. The thing for me is, besides being boring because of the overexposure, like others have mentioned, they just do so many things right - comfort, versatility and whatnot. I was against them until just before I saw mine in the shop. I hate the Strat quack in certain positions, but as long as I avoid those it does what I need and I love playing it.
Big-G
I think I must be shopping in the wrong places? Affordable? Read on.....
Like what Alan says, for years I steered clear of all and any Fenders due to their poor and very variable build quality. Out of maybe 30 or so fenders (of all types bass and electrics) maybe 5 or 6 were anything half decent.
So my passive hatred of Fenders was born.... I'd never knock anyone who plays one, if it works for them thats great, but for me, I simply never got on with any of their range. Then recently, I got to play a Tele, and it felt very nice! And the more I get into recording, and from years being around the music scene, I have always enjoyed the sounds of a Tele, Strat or Jazz bass. Even the incredibly boring one toned P bass has its charms, but two things still put me off.... Playability (improved somewhat now though) and the rediculous pricetags!
For the cost of a USA strat here in SA, I could practically have a custom built guitar (with virtually whichever figured woods I liked) made in the UK! It seems a heck of a lot of cash to fork out on a mediocre guitar. I'm not saying that they are not good solid reliable workman like guitars, but they are certainly not affordable, or more to the point 'justifiable' expenditure in my eyes.
So Fenders may have the tone, the versatility, the 'look', the years of tradition and fame of seasoned players around the globe, but thanks but no thanks! Unless I see one going super cheap, a USA Fender will not be a part of my guitar family. And just to prove that I am a complete reckless heretic, I'd take a Tele over a Strat any day! And I'd Take a LP over a Tele!
Personal preference and feelings here, so I hope no one feels its a personal attack?
Cheers
G!
shaunf
I'm still sniggering at "Springy Sound"... Only in Japan....
AlanRatcliffe
Big G wrote
I think I must be shopping in the wrong places? Affordable?
Sure, you can go masterbuilt and pay through the nose, but at it's core the Strat is easier and cheaper to make. Fenders were specifically designed that way and it's a big part of Leo's genius. You can get a "Strat" retailing at entry levels (and not just talking Fender brand here).
Like what Alan says, for years I steered clear of all and any Fenders due to their poor and very variable build quality.
To be fair, I started in the early '80s, which was probably the worst era for Fender quality. After the management buyout they got things back on track. Sure, you get the Bullet Squiers and the like, but the Standard Strat on up are consistently decent guitars.
V8
My prejudice vs the strat was based on a cover band my friends dad played in - the lead vocals/rhythm guitarist had a strat and absolutely butchered Mike and the Mechanics - Another cup of coffee. I swore I'd never play a strat, just because of the horror of sitting through that tune so many times....A decade later I borrowed one for a while to play in the same cover band and found that I realllllyyyy liked it as a rhythm guitar ???
Perhaps the shape is overexposed, it's been around since 1954, mass produced and so many copies variations (Parker Fly, G&L, Cort, Ibanez, Yamaha Pacifica) I was thinking that people would connotate the shape with a sound/performance. E.g The Shadows - it wouldn't seem right if they were playing BC Rich Warlock's (pickup differences aside).
If I play in a band context, I usually use the strat. If I play w/DJ I use a Hohner GT2 steinberger copy - mainly because people don't know what sound to expect (and I usually process the signal so much that there's little difference - imho - between the sound of the single coils and humbuckers in these two).
IceCreamMan
Pamela anderson is considered over exposed , to me she is still the pinnacle of womanhood ...droooooooooooooooooooooooooool 8)
that is all
Squonk
IceCreamMan wrote
Pamela anderson is considered over exposed , to me she is still the pinnacle of womanhood ...droooooooooooooooooooooooooool 8)
that is all
No ICM! She is scary....
ZarK
I had a few Strats when I was younger and after selling the last one I swore I'd never get a Strat again... 12 years and many guitars later I got my hands on a Fender Standard limited edition and fell in love... My technique and ear had obviously improved from my tone and volume all the way up, max gain and scooped mids era... Fender Strats are capable of delivering such diverse tones, yet they're so simple in design... After swearing them off as a youngster, now I won't be without at least one. I dig the more modern examples with larger frets and higher output (relative) bridge pups... They sound fantastic from cleans to high gain. Great for both rhythm and lead. Great tonal variety, great build quality (US) and excellent value-for-money compared to other premium brands... Makes sense they continue to be such a popular choice imho... Classic no-frills design - everything but boring to my eyes...
aubs1
Vic wrote
The Strat is the "flavour of the decade" I guess.
Jimi and Stevie is to blame !! ?
There you go !!!!!
I bet deep inside most guys who plays the guitar, would love to own a Strat, especially a US Strat..... the ones who say they don't are just in denial, they need therapy .... ?
singemonkey
Sure Aubs. But that's not the issue. Why do 90% of live performers in SA play them? Strats have a very particular sound. A Telecaster can sound like just about anything. But a Strat always sounds like a Strat. I can pick them out on record more reliably than any other type of electric. So these Strat players end up having very similar sounds.
It's not the equivalent of jeans. It's jeans... wiv a white t-shirt.
Tokai-SA
Keira WitherKay wrote
and consistantly good build quality in the usa made ones ,,,,,,,
And lastly the usa ones play beautifully ,
a beautifully playable usa standard '95 stratocaster ,
lol, what is it with you and USA?
A Strats the easiest guitar in the world to build, the Mexicans, Chinese, Koreans and Japanese build Strats just as well as any USA Strat.
MIA guitars are just a psychology thing, not reality.
aubs1
singemonkey wrote
Sure Aubs. But that's not the issue. Why do 90% of live performers in SA play them? Strats have a very particular sound.
Perhaps it's a perception that if they have and play a Strat, they've "arrived" ... ??
nick
Aubs1 wrote
singemonkey wrote
Sure Aubs. But that's not the issue. Why do 90% of live performers in SA play them? Strats have a very particular sound.
Perhaps it's a perception that if they have and play a Strat, they've "arrived" ... ??
Its a case of when in doubt/unsure, strat.
IceCreamMan
Aubs1 wrote
Vic wrote
The Strat is the "flavour of the decade" I guess.
Jimi and Stevie is to blame !! ?
There you go !!!!!
I bet deep inside most guys who plays the guitar, would love to own a Strat, especially a US Strat..... the ones who say they don't are just in denial, they need therapy .... ?
very long decade that
Tokai-SA
singemonkey wrote
Why do 90% of live performers in SA play them?
I think they play them because they're light and comfortable, and they look sexy.
Many guitarists tell me they can't gig with a Les Paul because it's too heavy, :? ?, and they won't gig with a 335 because it's for "old" guys, not young rocking dudes. ?
vic
I will gig with a 335 anytime... but I tell you this..... I HATE TELES >☹ (stir stir stir)
