Stratocasters and their variants

Wizard · 2009-01-29T20:14:44+00:00

A curious thing about the guitar industry is an active attempt for the cheapest and the most expensive to look visually the same, at least to the untrained eye. For most other products, there is something intentionally created to make the more expensive items look more expensive. I'm now picking up that one has to look for small clues ... place of manufacture being one. A cursory glance at a pickup catalogue quickly convinced me that this was an area where lots of price differentiation could kick in. I am convinced there is no limit to the 'high-ended-ness' that one can get for every component. (I noticed for the first time tonight that my Squier has its bridge pickup vertical, while 'real' Strats seem to have it at an angle.) Here are some questions: --> In the very subjective opinion of forum members, one are the most important components and design features that distinguish the cheap / fake Strats from their expensive 'authentic' relations? This would perhaps imply an order of upgrade. --> Where is the 'sweetspot' in terms of variants of these guitars and components? i.e. the point at which the extra buck for components is struggling to achieve much in terms of extra sound? --> How much of the price is fashion / sentiment (Eric Clapton had one like it, so it costs more) Feel free to highlight flaws in the questions themselves.

MoJo-JoJoe

Renesongs

Rene can't do this himself, but I can

Thanks for the free promo BTW might check out my affiliation more closely before you start offering free beers ?

Wizard

Saying 'no' to the meet & greet turned out to be the right decision.
My son did open the batting and did bat for 2 hours !!

Sean

You can't just tell us the time he spent at the crease. We want details:
1. How many runs did he make?
2. How many boundaries?
3. How many dot balls?
4. Strike rate?
5. Was he unbeaten?
6. If not, how did he lose his wicket?
? ?

MoJo-JoJoe

Wizard

Made 32 runs.
A couple of fours ... ran many singles ... many threes (to his regret)
Many dot balls
Low strike rate ... (32 runs in 2 hours)
A close run out trying to run two to a misfield.
Was playing for Rondebosch 2nd team.
Enough detail? ?

Oh wait - he also took a catch at mid-on.

Is this a little off-topic from stratocasters?

To put it back on topic ...
... since our team is fielding, I took a break from the cricket and spent the last hour practicing guitar.

Reinhard

I did not have time to read through all the posts show I apologize for any repeats.

Places they cut costs:
Quality of the fret work. Sharp edges etc.
Badly cut nuts. The strings bind and give that annoying ping when you tune.
Bad nut and frets, leading to fret buzz even after a basic setup.
Cheap electronics: Simply put the pickups sound shit/weak. Noisy pots, flimsy switch etc.
Cheap tuners. The ratio is bad and it feels like they have a lot of "play" in them.
Cheap hardware: More specifically the bridge in strats.

I think a fender squier with a better bridge and perhaps even replacements pups will keep you happy. Check the local ads etc. Buy on for a good price, replace the guts if necessary get a quality setup and off you go. My two cents...

Wizard

You'd suggest upgrading the bridge of the Squier?
To what?

Reinhard

Sorry I meant the trem block/bridge. The guys at the Fender Forum feel the steel trem block (e.g. the Callahan made ones) give better tone and the sustain than the stock ones. I've never tried one, but they wax lyrical over the Callahan hardware.

AlanRatcliffe

The Callaham stuff is great, but the US vintage hardware is 90% of the way there and the Gotoh Steel block bridges are too (at a lot less money). ?

BTW - The proper vintage-style Strat bridges like the Callaham are also not drop-in replacements for the bridges on the Asian Squiers and Asian-made Fender models like the Lite Ash models - they have a wider string spacing that means filling in holes and drilling new ones to fit them. Some of the Gotoh Wilkinson models are cleverly designed to fit almost any Strat though.

Wizard

Suppose you decided you were never going to use tremolo:
a) would this affect the decision of which bridge to upgrade to?
b) should you be persuaded to use trem?
c) have I misunderstood something and worded this question poorly?

Reinhard

If you go from a floating bridge to a blocked trem, it's going to change your tone. Even with a blocked trem, I think a different bridge will still affect the tone. The strings still pass through it, and a heavier trem block should still sound different. I'm speculating, Allan will be able to tell you with more certainty.

A trem is fun, even if it you aren't Jeff Beck...

AlanRatcliffe

Usually you will find that the bridges operate better as trems are also the ones with the better tone, so it's just a case of finding a nice model.

The trem is a very important part of a Strat. Even if you don't use it as a trem (I don't), it can suck tone - also the springs add a fair amount of resonance. The main consideration then is what the bridge is made from and how it attaches (two stud floating or six stud "synchronised") - I prefer the tone of the six stud and insist on a steel block and plate.

I have never found any need to block a trem, I just tighten the spring claw until the trem sits flat against the body. I used to load all five springs and crank the claw up tight, but I found the spring resonance got a bit too much then, so usually just stick with three.

Wizard

Every time I ask a question ... I learn some more.
Obvious (with hindsight) that the sprung, floating bridge would affect the overall character of the sound.

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