Steer me towards a Strat

sacdeez · Post by **sacdeez** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 11:51 pm

I'm looking into buying a Fender Strat in the near future. I've playes some and realize I think I like them better than the Les Paul's I've played in the same price range. I'm looking to spend under $500 and won't be playing it live or anything, just messing around.

This will also be my first electric guitar. I'm looking for suggestions on what I should get. I saw some Blems on the musicians friend site and thought that would be a good route since i really don't care about the looks of it that much. Soooooo can someone give me some advice on what direction I should turn? Thanks much

Ranting Thespian · Post by **Ranting Thespian** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 12:55 am

Fender over Epiphone Les Pauls . . . get the strat. Make it american (not mexican). If you want, try out the Eric Clapton "blackie" strat, that's a very good one. Strat over Epiphone Les, get the strat.

thejoe · Post by **thejoe** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 12:10 pm

for 500??? i dont think so nick

go with the standard strat if its your first and wont be playing any shows

i have a standard tele and am very happy with it
if youre not rich.. the americans just arent worth and extrra 400 or whatever they are

jeffro · Post by **jeffro** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 12:22 pm

I just recently got a U.S. Highway 1 Strat HSS and I love it. It only costs 600 bucks, so its not that bad. It's basically a stripped down version of the American Strat, so it's a great 1st electric that will last you a long time. Just make sure you get the version with the Humbuckers in it (HSS).

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid ... id/511251/

I love it.

sacdeez · Post by **sacdeez** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:04 pm

so i want the one with the humbucker to get that "crunch" option right? and it looks like thats the cheapest "american" one out there. I wasnt aware all the others were mexican.

jeffro · Post by **jeffro** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 1:21 pm

I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure Humbuckers cut down on the humm that single coil pickups create, thus the term Humbucker. So with Humbuckers you get more Volume and tone without the buzz. So basically your guitar sounds better no matter how loud you get. I haven't really tested it since I only have a 30 watt amp, but I think thats the idea.

But Definitely go american, I played an american and a mexican strat back to back and the difference was amazing. Also, try a tele if you get the chance.

sacdeez · Post by **sacdeez** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 2:04 pm

how do the tele's compare price wise? whats the big difference between them?

thejoe · Post by **thejoe** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 6:17 pm

teles should be the same price.. unless your dealer if fucked up

the only difference is a totally different sound
play one.. theyre cool

way too many people have strats and les pauls
those two are awesome.. we people need some originality

sacdeez · Post by **sacdeez** » Sat Jun 19, 2004 5:55 pm

well i ended up buying a 60's reissue strat. it has the upgraded pickups and although it is mexican it sounds good for my taste. fender has it retailing at $850 and i got it out the door with tax and upgraded case for $460 so i'm doing ok. i just couldnt justify paying the extra $ for an electric since this is my first one. my dealer who i've know for a while and works on my taylor helped me out and he actually talked me down from an american to this one. he toured the factory in mexico and was very impressed and i trust him so thats that. thanks for the info everyone.

thejoe · Post by **thejoe** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 11:15 pm

good buy