For the past 2.5 years, I have been experimenting with a variety of guitars, while learning to play and also trying to decide if I can find a preferred, "go-to" or favorite guitar on which I can become very proficient. I kind of like the idea of having a "blacky" -- a guitar I've had for 30 years (one day) on which I know every little millimeter and know it like the back of my hand. One that I’d gig with and feel the most comfortable with.

Included among the guitars I've tried are the '65 Mustang Reissue, the Pawn Shop Mustang Special, and, of course, American Standard strats and teles, and a Highway One Strat (which has JUMBO frets and a slightly wider neck). The '65 Mustang, of course, has a vintage, very curvy 7.5" radius and vintage skinny little fretwires and the 24" scale and a slightly thinner neck and the strings are slightly closer together (which has become noticeable—see below). The weird Pawn Shop Mustang has the short 24" scale but the 9.5 radius and medium jumbo frets of the Am Standard strats and teles. Thus it feels fat and short.

The American Standard strats and teles have the “best of both worlds,” according to the marketing, modern 9.5” radius with 25.5” scale and medium-jumbo frets.

Well….I think I am starting to feel that I can indeed play the American Standards the best and they feel the most comfortable. Both the Am Standard strat and tele. Same neck. I love them both. They both feel right both sitting and standing.

As I get better, I’d add that they feel the most comfortable BY FAR. The last time I tried to play my ’65 Mustang—I get out all of my guitars just for variety and fun—I had some trouble and it didn’t feel right. Namely, my fingers felt fat and I had trouble chording without muting wrong strings and I felt like it was because the strings are too close together. And I had trouble bending without fretting out because of the 7.5 radius and skinny fretwires. The guitar is set up pretty well BTW. Low action but not too low, neck is pretty straight with some relief.

I’ve never felt good with the weird pawn shop mustang, with its “stratlike” thickness on a short scale.

The highway one strat with JUMBO frets and a slightly wider neck….I also don’t like the feel of it as much as the American standards with medium jumbo frets.

Perhaps there is a reason why strats and teles are used all the time by pros from Hendrix to Clapton to Springstein to Weezer etc etc etc etc etc to everyone in between??? The 9.5 radius and medium jumbo frets do feel just right, to me (and apparently many others).

I feel like more and more I’m going to be a strat and tele player and put the little Mustangs away in a case and give them to my kids when they get older to be their student guitars.

Anyone have any thoughts along these lines? My idea is that I should continue my learning on the good old American standard specs and my fingers will learn on that, without variety getting in the way and confusing my muscle memory.

Yet, I do realize that many or most pros go from guitar to guitar in the same gig, including acoustic with a fat neck, Gibson, shorter scale, whatever.

I’ve done that too, in my “practice” gigs, but (again) I’m feeling like I simply play the American Standard strat better. It feels just right.

Other than Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth and other punk/indie bands, with their mustangs, jaguars, and jazzmasters, you don’t see serious bands that want to *sound* good playing a mustang. You just don’t. You see them with strats, teles, and gibsons.

I guess I could have shortened this post by saying I think I don’t like 7.5” radius and vintage skinny fretwires.

Edit: I note that, in addition to their love of dirty blues and blues rock, Screamin’ Armadillo and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys (and I think many others) have something else in common (correct me if I’m wrong): owned a Fender Mustang early in their playing days, think it’s a fun little guitar and have fond memories of it, but have moved on and would not dare try to gig with one, because of its limitations, one being a danger of fretting out and causing embarrassment. I’m feeling the same way. In fact, I do “gig.” I do little performances for my girlfriend and kids. Even for this little thing, I have noticed that if I want to actually *sound good* and show them whatever progress I’ve made, I lean towards using the American Standard strat or tele, both for the playability and tone.

1. There is no perfect guitar. All the variables have a purpose.
2. There is no guitar that is going to make you play better. That's only going to come with time and practice. If you have a good quality guitar, you're good to learn.
3. You're over thinking this. As you progress, your needs are going to evolve with your playing. You'll end up realizing like most of us, that you will need several different instruments for different styles of playing. Don't try to predict the future. Learn on one main guitar and then add tools as needed.

My own GAS has subsided quite a bit lately as I realized my stable of guitars is pretty decent and I really just need to improve my skills and not try to rely on a particular guitar to make it easier.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Solid advice. Thanks!!