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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:45 pm
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I'm thinking that replacing the neck might be a good option (for the MIM or Hwy 1), but then that just puts me right back in the endless cycle of upgrading.

I'm trying to find a stock Fender that matches at least 90% of what I want, but I'm not having any luck. And I'm even looking at Custom Shop models. Is there one which has,

-Jumbo Frets
-12" Radius Fretboard
-Thin Finish (not a deal breaker but I'm going to spend a ton of money on a Strat which I'll use forever, it would be nice if it were exactly what I was after)
-Narrow neck with slightly rounded back (or even a narrow soft V)

I can always add better pickups later. I also kind of want it to have a lefty tremolo, but I understand that's not a stock feature. (I've played SRV signature Strats and while they sound incredible, they just aren't that comfortable for girl hands. :lol: )

I'm leaning more and more to building one. Or really just assembling one with my favorite features. Now it's more of a debate on whether to go the Allparts/Warmoth way or actually try and save for an actual custom Fender. I don't know if I can wait that long though.

In any case, I'm going to try to wrangle my Mom into driving me to Guitar Center tomorrow. I want to actually play some Custom Shop Strats (and hollowbody jazz guitars while I'm at it). Hopefully I'll fall in love with one and it'll give me extra motivation to keep saving. :)

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:31 pm
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Oh BOY !! Sorry I meant Girl :)

As far as Custom Shop, I would first go to the Custom Shop page on this site and look up the specs of the various Custom Shop Offerings.
If still unsure, I would ask Mike Eldred, even though he is busy, he has answered my questions when asked. That would be a good starting point.
As far as Guitar Center.... I'm always reluctant to seek critical advice from them just because they are such a huge retail chain and definitely not bespoke.
You could also try calling one of the fender Showcase Dealers, they know the CS product inside and out.

Just a thought but you may want to see if you can find or get a hold of a Bonnie Raitt CS model.
By what I understand it is a much narrower neck profile aimed at a woman's/girls much smaller hands.

Also go to this website www.bhefner.com
They offer necks in various sizes and radius, as well as bodies. you may find what you need if you are considering building your own special strat. They are Fender licensed so that any Fender parts will fit. There is other links on that site so it is pretty much one stop shopping.

If it were me, I would research as much as I could before speaking with someone at a big store, for no other reason than to be sure of what you are looking for and not be misled by someone who just needs to make the sale....

Good Luck and let us know what you find and ask a lot of questions no matter if they sound ridiculous.

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:44 pm
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By the way !

I don't think you need anyone to talk sense into you.
It is easy to make mistakes when considering new instruments and upgrades.
Just ask lots of questions.

I also just had an idea. A good friend ( Josie ) is now residing in Australia, she plays strats and is a great player, she would be much better at addressing your concerns from a girl's point of view.
She is on Facebook and can be reached/ friended I'll send a note to let her know if you wish.
Also one other Friend (Marlee) has just also relocated to NYC, she was playing with the Tim Taylor Blues Band. As well as a fine Blues player, she also teaches and is a tech and is also on Facebook. These two should be able to give you much better advice than I....

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:53 pm
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For a stock model TGS maybe the Classic player 60' offers the nearest - 12" board, medium jumbo & nice finish, been a few posts lately praising them, good luck
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Clas ... New_photos

+1 on 53magnatone idea about posting in ME board for the custom specs


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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:05 pm
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How about a neck upgrade for the MIM and drop in your Texas Specials and make it your number one. Get a neck from Warmoth with stainless frets for longer life around $300. You'll even get your 22nd fret, and the compound radius is great for bending. The MiM will also take other upgrades like a better trem-block. Try the one from Guitar Fetish for like $20. You can make a MIM strat a great player. You may even be able to sell your current MIM neck to offset some of your costs.

Drop whatever pickups are currently in your MIM into the Squier and keep it as your backup.

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:21 pm
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What amplifier are you using?


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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:17 pm
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53magnatone wrote:
As far as Guitar Center.... I'm always reluctant to seek critical advice from them just because they are such a huge retail chain and definitely not bespoke.


Oh no, I'm not going to ask them any questions other than "Can I play that one?". :lol:

The guitar tech at the shop I work at is my go to guy for guitar questions. He always asks me the right questions I need to make up my mind. I'm borrowing the Highway One this week, so I'll take it to him tomorrow and have him look it over and see what his take on everything is.

Quote:
Just a thought but you may want to see if you can find or get a hold of a Bonnie Raitt CS model.
By what I understand it is a much narrower neck profile aimed at a woman's/girls much smaller hands.


Those came and went before I even started playing guitar, so I've never seen one. I've done some measurements on all the Strats currently in my house (they have a way of following me home lol) and I've found that my Squier and Fender MIM both have the same string spacing (import) and the Highway One has wider spacing (American). The drastic difference though, is the nut width. The Highway One is 43 mm, the MIM is 41 mm, and the Squier is a mere 40. And believe it or not that makes a huge difference in the way it feels! I tell you what, if anything all these comparisons are really helping me find out exactly what it is which makes me like the feel of the Squier so much.
Quote:
Also go to this website http://www.bhefner.com
They offer necks in various sizes and radius, as well as bodies. you may find what you need if you are considering building your own special strat. They are Fender licensed so that any Fender parts will fit. There is other links on that site so it is pretty much one stop shopping.


Cool site, I'll think about it. :)

As far as my amps go, I have a Peavey Classic 30 (JJ Tubes, Attenuator) and a Fender Deluxe VM (which I won here actually). Both are decent amps and I can get some really good tones out of them, but I know, I know. A better amp will make everything sound better. Someday I'd like either a real vintage '65 Super Reverb like the one I played in Austin or a Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb like the one I played at a jam a couple of months ago. Or maybe something else entirely, who knows?

The thing is, neither of my amps are blowing up right now, but my main guitar's days are numbered (fret-wise). So that's what needs my attention (and money) first.

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:02 pm
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Actually, the more I play this Highway One the more used to the wider neck I'm getting. I'm not sure if it's just me, but it seems like bends and vibrato are almost easier with strings further apart. Is that a fact or is that just me? It's kind of hard to do an exact comparison right now because the Highway One has .9s and I've never kept .9s on a guitar before. .10s and up for me. I think I'll string it up with 10-52s (my normal favorite gauge) tomorrow after I let my tech take a look at it.

I thought of a few more possibilities too. What if I just buy the tools I need and learn to do a refret myself? I've watched the tech do it several times at work and I bet he can help me out if I get into a jam. Then I never have to worry about labor costs for frets and refretting is something I'll need a lot of in the future. The first refret I'd do would be about the same cost as if I had my tech do it because of the cost of tools and material, but after that I'd save about $250 a refret if fret wire costs $50.

1. Pickup swap. Stick the Texas Specials in the Highway One and the Highway One pickups in the Squier. I kind of like the Highway One pickups (old style, they were the same as what came in the MIM Classic series). The Texas Specials overdrive whatever it is you're playing through much faster and they have much more mid range punch. The Highway One pickups have more highs and that clearer, bell like Strat tone. I'm surprised at them, they sound good. They don't take distortion/overdrive as well as the Texas Specials though. Anyway, a Highway One with Texas Specials is a step up for me. Use the Squier as a backup.

2. I've always wanted a Strat with lipstick pickups. They have too much treble to be used as a backup to something with Texas Specials though. It would have to be a completely different guitar just devoted to the lipsticks. I could use my MIM as that guitar, Highway One with Texas Specials as a main axe, and Squier as the main backup axe. In the future, use the Highway One as a backup to a Custom Shop Strat. I'm liking the 1960 model from reading specs and reviews, and I also like the fact I could probably find a used one for under $2000.

Selling the MIM or especially the Squier isn't really an option for sentimental reasons. The Squier was my first guitar and the MIM was my first Fender and my dream guitar since I was 9. When I finally got it I was extremely happy and it was also the guitar I used on my first trip to Austin. Jimmie Vaughan signed the neck for me, and honestly I still like it. It's going to play great once I get new frets on it. :)

Tomorrow's really going to be a good day to figure stuff out. I'll be able to talk to my tech and play every Custom Shop guitar at Guitar Center.

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:54 pm
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TGS,

Look around North Houston at Texas Guitar Emporium. There is also a Guitar Center across I-45 from them, just in case you wanted to stop by there as well. From TME, I recently came home with a new Blacktop Stratocaster for $385. I seen American Standards for $700-ish, Mexican Standards for $350, Squiers for dirt cheap. And I know they recently came into a very nice "used" Classic Vibe 60 Strat 3 tone burst that was well maintained (by me) that may be a solution for your Squier delimma. I am sure you could pick it up for $150 to $250 (just guessing here). Use it for parts for your Squier, or use your Squier for parts for it.

I also like your idea of learning to refret guitars. Perhaps you could learn all those valuable guitar tech stuff on your guitar. Then you would never have to pay to have work done to a guitar. Just do it yourself.

Follow your heart on this and the delimma will not be as difficult to overcome.

BTW, I love my American Special and Highway 1 because of the different spacing than I had on my old Squier. But I also loved playing it after playing my other two because it was just that much more easier to play after playing them.

Sorry for the long post, I have edited it more than you will know to cut out some reading time for you. As I read through it, it still is a bit long, but conveys the main points.

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:15 am
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rkreisher wrote:
TGS,

Look around North Houston at Texas Guitar Emporium. There is also a Guitar Center across I-45 from them, just in case you wanted to stop by there as well. From TME, I recently came home with a new Blacktop Stratocaster for $385. I seen American Standards for $700-ish, Mexican Standards for $350, Squiers for dirt cheap. And I know they recently came into a very nice "used" Classic Vibe 60 Strat 3 tone burst that was well maintained (by me) that may be a solution for your Squier delimma. I am sure you could pick it up for $150 to $250 (just guessing here). Use it for parts for your Squier, or use your Squier for parts for it.

I also like your idea of learning to refret guitars. Perhaps you could learn all those valuable guitar tech stuff on your guitar. Then you would never have to pay to have work done to a guitar. Just do it yourself.

Follow your heart on this and the delimma will not be as difficult to overcome.

BTW, I love my American Special and Highway 1 because of the different spacing than I had on my old Squier. But I also loved playing it after playing my other two because it was just that much more easier to play after playing them.

Sorry for the long post, I have edited it more than you will know to cut out some reading time for you. As I read through it, it still is a bit long, but conveys the main points.


No problem, I'm the master of way too long posts. :lol:

I've seen the Texas Guitar Emporium before when I was competing in the King of the Blues thing, but I haven't actually been in. Sounds good from what you're saying though. I didn't know they were a Fender dealer. Parker Music was a bit of a disappointment because they didn't have any Fenders. Sometimes you can find better Fender prices in small guitar shops than in chain stores like GC.

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:49 am
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texasguitarslinger wrote:
I have several options for what to do about it.

1. Upgrade pickups and replace tiny vintage frets in my MIM Standard. With new pickups costing me roughly $150 to buy and install and $300 for a refret I'm looking at $450 to get this guitar up to par.

Hi TGS: I've been watching this thread and wondering if there's anything we can do to help. If a set of Corona Am Standard pickups came your way would that allow you then to concentrate your resources on the other bits of the project?

There is a very nice story behind this set of pickups - but you need to be free to say if you want them or not first.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:20 am
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So as I've read through this post, and what you're looking for in your main guitar, I instantly thought of the G&L Legacy...I know it's not a Fender, but they are incredible guitars. Pro Guitar Shop sells the Legacy deluxe minus the figured top, which brings down the cost. Looks like it runs just a little over a grand at the moment, and I think it's about one of the nicest guitars I've played. Just a thought. Good Luck.

http://proguitarshop.com/store/guitars- ... 762-p-2569

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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:27 am
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Miami Mike wrote:
Voodoo Blues wrote:
Here's my take on your situation... you are a budding professional musician and it's time you start investing in your career. I'm not trying to down play the guitars you mention but you have to start thinking about your guitar as your tool. Save every cent you can, seek out people who believe in you and beg for money, sell anything you can... whatever it takes to get the right tool for the job. Ride out the Affinity for as long as you can and in the mean time save up for a high grade guitar. Remember it's about your career... it's not a guitar, it's an investment.


My sentiments exactly...well put, Voodoo Blues!

I agree with this totally...very good advice....some of us have thrown away money which could have been put to better use only to realize it too many years too late.
get the best guitar you can,that fits you for a long time to come.


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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:04 am
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I think it would be great if our esteemed forum members, master builders, and collectors of numerous guitars all got together and supplied our budding young superstar with her perfect guitar (and backup).

What better way to help a young rocker achieve her dreams.

Since I can't build anything myself I would be happy to donate a small monetary contribution to this worthy cause. Perhaps other forum members would do the same.

What do ya think?


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Post subject: Re: Somebody talk some sense into me...
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:10 am
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ChrisNJ wrote:
I think it would be great if our esteemed forum members, master builders, and collectors of numerous guitars all got together and supplied our budding young superstar with her perfect guitar (and backup).

What better way to help a young rocker achieve her dreams.

Since I can't build anything myself I would be happy to donate a small monetary contribution to this worthy cause. Perhaps other forum members would do the same.

What do ya think?
I'm up for it......I like where this is going..... :wink:

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