I'd visit GC often and look at used gear. Sometimes a good deal pops up.

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...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob

Hey Buxom, I found a 2004 MIA Strat. How does this sound?
Used 2004 MIA Strat, repainted to Gibson Goldtop color. New 2011 MIM Strat Neck. Original MIA Pickguard with Fender humbucker, pots and 5 way switch included. MIA Texas Special PUs. GFS Mean 90 in the bridge. Whammy Bar.

All for about $135

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1995 Fender Mustang

If that's legit, i'd snatch it up.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

PROVIDE THE LINK! We need to take a looksy.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

I hope you guys don't outbid me on this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Stratoca ... 43b06c6a9d

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1995 Fender Mustang

That looks pretty good, but remember, it has over 3 days left. You may not get it, but I would try for it. Bid a bit later to keep it lower, if possible. Don't let them know you want it, this will make them try harder.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

You know something........I am gonna throw the cat amongst the pigeons here.......

I actually quite like the Starcasters...........
As most of you know, I am partial to farting about with guitars and don't mind getting a hunk of junk but one of my pupils turned up for their lesson a few months back and had bought a Starcaster starter pack from the local COstco.....

SHe is 12 and had decided that she liked my sunburst Squier and saw the sunburst Starcaster and got her mum to buy it for her (without my advice). I was trying soooo damn hard when she took it out of the case to show some sort of enthusiasm but ended up blurting out what I thought of them before I could help myself..........obviously she was pretty crestfallen, especially when we plugged it in and started farting about with it and it 'scratched' when you moved the selector switch and turned the tone control, buzzed at every fret above the the 7th and the final straw was when I swooped on the whammy and 3 strings snapped........

I actually felt so bad that I told her I would replace the strings and see if I could sort the buzz before she took it back to get a refund.

I just kind of left it in a corner for a couple of days and grunted with disgust every time I walked past it........then her lesson was coming up again and I thought, 'sod it' let's get it over and done with..........fully expectig to re-string it, hand it back and give some friendly advice on alternatives.......

SO I picked it up and, through sheer habit rather than anything else, just started to investigate......Because it wasn't bought froma music store, it was sold as is with no set-up and probably still set for transit.........the action was stupidly low, the truss rod was waaaay out and the nut was almost flat........I took the scratchplate off and the soldering was all over the place......and I mean worse than ANYTHING I have done..... and the pickup covers were so high you could only just see the pole pieces........

I deliberated for an hour or so and decided to just see what I could do. I resoldered pretty much the whole thing, put on a string and, hey presto, no more scratching. I slotted the nut....notice the word 'slotted' rather than 're-slotted' (It actually loooked like someone had just scored the thing with a craft knife!!!) then set the action, truss rod and intonated it. Now don't get me wrong..........it didn't become an amzing guitar after being set-up but it did become completely playable and actually enjoyabe to play!!!! It's got a maple cap on the neck and is actually pretty nice to play.......easy as comfortable as a Squier affinity Strat. Now this one had no fret issues - probably quite lucky - and it is quite nice with the maple neck and tobacco sunburst body. I also like the fat headstock.

Put it this way, if it was mine I would quite happily change the pickups and gig it........

Obviously, the girl is delighted to have a working guitar and I am (pretty much) sold as far as the Starcasters go. I don't think I would buy one online...I would have to see it frst as I know all the issues that folks worry about. But if I saw one, played it and could see the frets were ok..........well, a bit of tinkering(even putting it to a tech if you cn't yourself) and with a view to replacing the pickups (they are fine for a beginner with no need for tone yet) I would hold this up with most entry level Squiers........they need about as much setting up in my experience........

Just my observations.

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

You know what, before I do anything I am going to go to Guitar Center and see if there is anything I like. I want to see what I am getting before I buy it.

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1995 Fender Mustang

I KEEP CHANGING MY MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OKAY, I changed my mind about the Strat that is on eBay. I don't want to pay for something that is used and made of 2 guitars. I am just going to get a NEW Squier (yes, Squier) Bullet Strat in daphne blue and put some Ernie Ball strings on it. I will probably upgrade it over the months. It is actually a really cool looking guitar. Here's a link.

http://www.amazon.com/Squier-Fender-Bul ... EI3TAS1AUY

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1995 Fender Mustang

If it was a brand new MIA Strat I definitely would but in this situation the bullet seems like a good idea. I am getting a Tele in about 5 months, anyway. The bullet seems like a good guitar.

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1995 Fender Mustang

Wtf is a parts o caster? I just want to try out the bullet. If I dont get the Bullet it is the Starcaster . Any guitar is a good one if it is played right, though. I will put in new PUs eventually. I am putting on Ernie Ball strings and new tuners. When I am done with it it will probably be better than a regular Strat.

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1995 Fender Mustang

Oh yeah, did I mention that this is my FIRST electric guitar? I have experience with acoustic but not too much with electric. Do you have a YouTube account?

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1995 Fender Mustang

guitar guy mike , try and pick up a second hand squire std or classic vibe , or maybe a mim std , way out in front of a starcaster , and no , new strings and tuners and anything else you throw at it will not make it better than a regular strat , imho , just buy a half decent strat to begin with and you wont need to replace anything ,cheers
Alan

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HI Mike

I am with SK on the Bullet....it is garbage......but for that price I probably would get one to mess about with.......

BUT.....as you said this is your first electric. I would definitely heed the advice of guys on here.......I am probably the only one that will say a Starcaster is fine for a beginner but as I said I like taking junk and making it playable.

What you should do, without doubt, is go to your local guitar store and take someone who knows electrics with you and play as many as possible....who knows you may find you like playing something completely different!!!

You said you were getting a Tele in a few months..........what type....is it the kind of thig you could just wait and add the cash from this purchase and maybe get it a couple of months earlier or have the cash from this purchase and get something better??

What made you decide on a Tele? If you have little or no experience of electrics you should go by feel and what you like aesthetically for a minimum budget......I personally don't think anyone should really spend hundreds on a first electric.....find something comfortable that you can bash about, learn as much as poss on and only then, upgrade...you will be amazed how you take a leap in skills when you have gone from something that is designed for learning to something that is designed for playing.......again this is just my observation......

Evan

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

I decided getting the Tele over the Strat later on because the music teacher in my school let me play his and I thought it was more comfortable than the Strat my friend let me play. But right now it comes down to the Starcaster and the Bullet. My friend knows a lot about electrics and he said the Starcaster is a PoS. I dont know what to do!! But yeah, Evan I will go to Guitar Center (I dont know if you have that in the UK, guessing that is where you live) and try out some stuff.

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1995 Fender Mustang