Hello, I am debating on a used usa strat standard or a brand new usa strat special. l am into playing blues and know that the usa special comes with texas specials while the standard has classic tone, which would you recommend?

I would get the standard.

I'd go for the special.

_________________

I like Texas Specials.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

+1 on the standard

_________________
blues - its a religion...

From the product description, it looks like the standard has a steel block, described as "high mass". Don't know what that means, but the special doesn't mention it at all. The special lists an alder body; standard doesn't say. Special is $1200, Standard $700. Sounds like the special is going to have better materials, hence the price. If this was all I had to go by, I'd get the special.

_________________
"There's an arse for every chair"

5 guitars
7 amps
4 dogs

Tough choice, Texas Special are nice. Is the bridge the same on both guitars?

He's talking about the American Standard - new MSRP is $1400, compared to $1150 for the American Special. But he's getting a used Standard, price unknown.

I've got an Am. Standard, and like it fine. A playing buddy has the Special - I haven't played it, but it sounds distinctively different from my Standard. I'd say if you can try each and see which sounds best to you, you should.

+1

cheers

_________________
It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting - paulo coelho

Well the special is 850 new from guitar center and the standard is 400(used price), i know both are great deals but for classic fender sound l am not quite sure which is better

The Standard would be "classic" Fender sound. The question is whether you like "classic" or "Texas" better.

What is the "Classic" Fender sound when it comes to Strats? Buddy Holly, Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Trower, David Gilmour, SRV? See what I mean? Same type of guitar, way different sounds. The Strat has changed so much over the years. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. It has to be what sounds best and feels best in the hands of the person playing it.

I'm a firm believer that a guitar picks you, you don't pick the guitar.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

If I had to pick, I'd say the MIM Standard would be the "classic", based on the fact that that's the majority of the strats out there, and that design has changed the least over the years. I would say anything you refer to by the name of an individual artist is not classic, by definition. Since you have to ask for Gilmour, SRV, et al. pickups specially, I wouldn't think that falls into the classic stratocaster genre.

Just my opinion; the real crux is which sound the OP associates with a Strat, and which sound the OP likes best, and whether one guitar can get all the tones the OP is looking for.

So here's a question: Is it easier to get close to "classic" strat sound with Texas Specials, or to get close to SRV tone with a standard strat?

l actually have played both and the texas specials get a little closer to the srv sound then the standard does

It's just me but I'd go for the MIA Standard. Your choice though my friend!
Should go without saying- try playing each guitar if possible. I see you've already done that.