Because of the rediculous ammount of Strat models I have abosolutely no idea what to buy.
I shall be mostly playing rock and blues so high output pickups and a good neck are whats required.Could someone point me in the wright direction.As I am in the uk I will probably be looking at MIM strats as the USA models are stupidly expensive!May buy second hand usa if i can find one.
Any help much appreciated.
bob
ps. I am specifically looking for a fender strat.no alternatives please.
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I know less than you do about strats but I guess my quest might start by seeing what people are playing that have a sound you are looking for and then see what flavor they are playing. I also believe your output (amp) will have a lot to do with it. It might require a combination of gear to get where you want to be.
The best part about this is the quest. You'll get to try several versions of a strat and maybe a new amp to find what you are looking for. Nothing better than the trip getting there....oooh-lala!!! :D
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
You could also look for some Jap Fender imports, they're supposed to be good. The SRV version looks pretty good to me?
http://www.guitaremporium.co.uk/index.php?f=data_fender_japan_new_guitars&a=1
unfortuately the owner of that site is in hospital at the mo but there are similar sites around
look for used strats. there are good prices on late 70's and 80's models. the Hwy 1 strat is all american and affordable, although the import fee could be painful.
short of moving to the states you could filter through a bunch of japanese made strats. GSL was Leo Fender's company after he left Fender. they are very fine strat type guitars and cost less too. I cannot speak for the availability in the UK though.
I don't think there is any one brand, manufacturer or model of guitar in which ever guitar made is superior, or inferior. I used to have a Fender Mustang (when I say "used to", I mean I lent it to my friend and never got it back, it's still out in Dallas somewhere) that had a body that resonated on E. I could take an E tuning fork, bang it, set it anywhere on the body and the guitar would "EEEEEEE" on its own. I have not had another do that.
I now have a Mexican made strat. I checked out quite a few before I got it. Solid maple neck. I had always had a rosewood finger board before this one. Odd thing is that ever note on this guitar is crisp, but the B (7th fret, high E string) just takes off. Really wierd. Really cool.
Brain-cleansing music for brain-numbing times in a brain dead world
http://www.oenyaw.com
before i got my american stray, i played atleast 15 different strats, mim, hwy1, this one just sang to me, i gotit new for a 1000 bucks,
how bad is the markup in the uk?
even god loves rock-n-roll
The markup is bad, basically we pay around £1 per $1 when the exchange rate is £2-$1 so we pay around double what you do! :(
For eg a Squier 51 is $99 to you, £120 to us or the equivalent of $240!!!
That's too bad. You could probably fly to NYC, buy a guitar there and take it home with you for less than buying one right in London. Hey, maybe a travel agent could book charter flights for musicians! One day tour of NYC - first stop ---> music store!
I wondered about stuff like that. And they even ding you on the stuff that is an import here? Not fair!
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
I don't want to promote illegal activities, but you can just take a hard guitar case out there with some rubbish guitar in and then swap them and return tax free. :twisted:
"Today is what it means to be young..."
(Radiohead, RHCP, Jimi Hendrix - the big 3)
jim,
thats insane :evil: , i wonder what chuckster payed fo his new les paul 8,000 :shock:
clazon,
thats a great idea :idea:
even god loves rock-n-roll
Clazon, I've thought about that, maybe taking a rubbish cheapo over and leaving it! :twisted:
Maybe when I finally get over to Fenway?
the US dollar is very weak lately. 2 dollars US to one UK pound.
maybe now is the time. our republican government will be out in 2008 and I suspect things to change then.
when I read about your dilemma and similar problems from our world wider guitar friends I feel so lucky living in the states where Fenders are falling off the trees like apples. tsk. what a shame. does not seem fair.
perhaps a stateside agent could buy then gift to you. are gifts taxed differently than purchases?
Seems like a great time to put together a holiday tour of our Guitar Noise friends from the UK!
Seems like a great time to put together a holiday tour of our Guitar Noise friends from the UK!
let's jam. the Rainbow people would have nothing on us!
