hi! some of my favorite players have played strats faithfully. I have been trying to purchase one for myself. The problem is that i have limited funds. Can anyone tell how much they had to spend to get a strat that was stage worthy? Its not that i wont pay its just that i have already tried that option. i paid big bucks for 50,s style strat. and i have to say it was not playable. I paid almost 2000.oo for the guitar. I mean really how much do i have 2 spend?

It's all really subjective, I mean...

Some people like low action, other like really high gauge string! Some like the certain tonalities of pickups which other think they should be transparent as possible! Squiers are cheap, and with a good setup, can be one of the best personal investments. You can mod the heck out of them too!

In my experience, spent $400 all in all for an 87 MIJ Squier, and it's been my go to ever since picking up the guitar.

_________________
1987 Fender Squier Strat - Lake Placid Blue
1981 Yamaha Eterna Folk Acoustic
2006 Peavey Bandit 112
2007 Roland HP-207 Piano

absurd, ridiculous, incongruously unreasonable, foolishly fooling as a first post. Welcome to the Forum Brian. Would it be too much to hope for a pic of the unplayable strat?

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I dont have the guitar anymore. I ordered it special from a local dealer and sent it back as soon as i could. I still want one or at least i want a good. I have looked at some of the custom shop stuff but that is kinda out of my price range. I can tell i upset you but i am being honest, for that kind of money that guitar should have played like a dream. I love fender's tone with a passion i just need one that is a little more user friendly.

For $2000 I can build a nice '62 clone in any color I want with all-Fender parts AND buy then fully recondition a vintage Fender tube amp to render it stage-worthy for professional use.

In all candor, if you couldn't secure a "playable Strat" after spending two large I submit you should find a new hobby.



Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

not upset, honestly. It's just that you would be the 1st guitarist that I've heard say anything like that. Keep playing guitars until you find one that is user friendly for you.

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I guess i will just have to stay with my soloist! I guess its kind of a fender-

Then you do have a guitar that you can play. Good for you Brian. We love pics, videos, music. Post if you will. There are big dogs here, if you are one you will feel right at home. Those of us that are still learning appreciate the good company. Again welcome.

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

hmmmmmmmm

I have heard many many good things about the classic vibe squiers, they should definitely be an option for you.

I have a mexican standard, i can tell you it is fantastic. So playable, sounds great, some real classic rock sounds. I think I am very lucky, my particular strat is very good, a good example I think of the mexican standard. It is definitely stage ready, I have used it on stage. I would recommend trying a one of these, and if you can afford it, I don't think you will ever regret it.

_________________
"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

Zoom MS50G
72 tele dlx RI
2011 standard strat
Blackstar HT-5R
Taylor Big Baby

http://www.youtube.com/user/Almungo/videos?flow=grid&view=0

Might I suggest checking out a MIM Classic Series Guitar...both the 50's and 60's models are very playable and at $450 to $700 depending on whether you get one used or new. Great vibe, sounds, and if those don't suit you just keep looking you'll find one that suits you.

FWIW

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.

Man,I used to play American Standard Strats all the time,they all cost way less than $1000 because I found them used,and set them up to my playing style and they sounded great.
You really took a wrong turn somewhere...

Hi brian39 and welcome to the forum. If your strat was "unplayable" maybe you could have gotten the dealer to do a setup to your liking, rather than send it back. I have a MIM Strat in my stable that is as well setup and plays as well as my Am Deluxe Strat. If it was the tone you did'nt care for maybe it was your amp or the way you had your amp dialed in. Most guitars will need a little tweaking right out of the box due to climatic changes during shipping etc., hope this helps.

Yeah, right!!!

There's no Stratocaster that plays better than an American Standard for $1200 or so. Anything after that is bells and whistles. You aren't buying a higher end Strat for playability but for some other specific reason.

I've played Strats for 40 years. If I were to take a Squier Classic Vibe, a Mexican Strat and an American Strat, nobody could tell what I was playing if it was for stage quality performance. A change of a pick makes as much difference in sound as the sound quality difference between those guitars themselves. The same with a nudge of the amp's equalizer settings.

I agree with Chef Wong above, a Classic Vibe except you don't have to pay $350 but $275 for one. Or get one used (like smart people do) for $150.