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Post subject: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 12:23 am
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This was a Father's Day gift to me way back 2011 from my wife and I tried to jive with it but it just does not work for me.... :oops: :( I wanted to sell it to fund some other MIM guitars but I can't because of sentimental value. My wife's ok with my idea to sell off my other guitars though and she doesn't mind at all selling this... Mine is a Sonic Blue with Rosewood fretboard and here are my woes :

* It is somewhat on the heavy weight side -- I dunno why but, for me the weight of an American Standard is much more balance. I have an LP type which is 9lbs but it still feels right.
* I cannot bend in upper frets... it is just too d*mn difficult. it fights back! This is properly and professionally setup with .10s from a luthier shop. My other cheapo Squires has more 'relief' and easy to bend accross the frets and also with .10s. I did change the bridge though with Graphtec String Saver though >> http://www.graphtech.com/products/brand ... 7d6586b47b but even without that, it is really fighting with me when I do bends.
* The 2 HH pickups sounds like mud. I tried adjusting my amp and the PU height and it is till too dull... lifeless... change PUs? Too expensive....
* This is more like nitpicking. The color of the body's now changing to yellowish on the side of the body after I mistakenly left it hanging on the wall for several days direct on sun... :evil: grrr...

Anybody here still dig their Blacktop? Help me restore my confidence with this guitar! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 4:19 am
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Quote:
This was a Father's Day gift to me way back 2011 from my wife

Your wife is your father...?!

Seriously, sell or p/x it if you're not getting on with it. 5 years is a fair trial period! What's the point of having something you don't want to play? Go buy one you bond with instantly...

Incidentally, I have a couple of HH AmStd Strats (self-modded) and my HB's are definitely not muddy - so it can be done!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 5:28 am
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Beware! Women are funny things. She may say you can sell the guitar.....you can't.

On the plus side, it is a Strat, so most things can be changed and PUP's are perhaps the easiest issue to resolve.

The lack of bending joy might be addressed with lighter strings or reducing the number of trem springs.

The main issue with the feel of a guitar is it is very subjective. It may feel heavy because you have got use to a lighter guitar. My MiM FSR swirl "Curly Whirly" didn't seem particularly heavy originally but now, as the two guitars I play most are lighter, it feels very weighty. You could always sell your lighter guitars. ;-)

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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:31 am
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I am. I picked up a used sonic blue one a few years. I wanted a lower cost guitar I could learn to setup without being too nervous about destroying it and one I felt cost wise I could mod without costing too much.

After taking the time to learn to set it up I have no problems with bends 12 fret and up, actually I think it plays pretty easy.

I put in a set of DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary pickups in which cleaned up the mud in a hurry and are worth every penny. Odd maybe but I like the Blacktop pickups for playing clean jazzier stuff you just have to turn the guitar's volume down. Higher gain stuff they do just go to mud.

To do yet is learning how to change out the 5 way for a 3 way selector and change the pots so I can get real Strat knobs instead of the amp knobs.

I still like mine but it has out performed my expectations given what I paid for it. I see playing it for years to come.


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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 10:30 pm
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John said a mouthful.
You can NEVER trust a woman when she says it's OK to sell some gift she gave you.
NEVER.
Ever.
For any reason.
In any Universe.

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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 12:12 am
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Exactly this ↓ No matter how carefree & pretty her agreeing comments are wrapped....it's a space-time-logic warp.
BMW-KTM wrote:
John said a mouthful.
You can NEVER trust a woman when she says it's OK to sell some gift she gave you.
NEVER.
Ever.
For any reason.
In any Universe.

Image


WOW, she bought you a guitar! That is priceless, how many more will she buy now?

You not only have to make it your absolute favourite axe, by playing it often and showing here you are bonding with her generosity, then tell her it was just a silly phase you were going through, and you have changed your attitude to her beutiful gift. IT's JUST GREAT!! :)

I have the Blacktop Tele, pickups read 12.5Kohm and 13Kohm Bridge, typicaly medium hot, blunt side of the knife.
Sharpen it up. Turn the amp Treble up to 11, and buy a boost pedal with active Treble and Bass knobs, like a Kinman Blues Drive, excellent violin like overdrive.

Or...when she's not looking, change the pickups to lower output humbuckers, like Seth Lovers neck or Pearly Gates bridge.

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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 1:51 am
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Appreciate there's some wry humour going on here, but I must be lucky - my missus isn't that scary! She hasn't kept that dodgy perfume or underwear you once bought her, has she?! Mine understands that not everything is perfect, you don't always get it right, and sometimes you have to cut your losses! :)

I love the Pearly Gates in one of my HH's, and agree with Jonny Soniq, but you did say you wouldn't change p/ups. The action/bending problem could no doubt be cured by a decent luthier, but you can't do anything about the weight; it's obviously just a heavier piece of wood. So as I see it, if you don't want to spend any money on it, you either leave it hanging on the wall or sell it! I suppose it all depends on your relationship!!! :)

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 7:11 am
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No. She doesn't still have it. She smiled and wore it but she made sure she used it up in short order by pouring a few drops down the sink each day when you weren't looking while simultaneously telling you all about another scent that is even better than this "perfect" one you bought her so you'll know which one to get next time.

Never allow yourself to be soothed and eased into a state of comfortable complacency.

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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 8:23 am
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Peter S wrote:
... my missus isn't that scary! She hasn't kept that dodgy perfume or underwear you once bought her....


Other people buy perfume and underwear for your missus? :shock: You really shouldn't have sold that, what ever it was, she bought you after all. I rest my case.

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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 4:45 am
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John Sims wrote:
[Other people buy perfume and underwear for your missus? :shock: You really shouldn't have sold that, what ever it was, she bought you after all. I rest my case.


Er... no sorry, John, you've lost me! Or are you a lawyer (picking bits out of context to make a point)... :? :)


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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 1:07 am
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Thanks for your responses folks! :wink: Really helpful... I guess I'll keep it for now and change the PUs to have more bite and treble... ! I'll have it setup by a guitar tech soon once I have the extra cash to make it more playable. :)

I guess wifey might notice and she may say that she's fine but she might not buy me any guitar stuff in the future... :lol:

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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 9:04 am
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Sounds like you're a wise man.
:wink:

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Post subject: Re: I'm not digging my Blacktop Stratocaster anymore :(
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 7:09 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Sounds like you're a wise man.
:wink:


Thank you! :P

and you guys rock... I rarely visit Fender forum but, most of the folks are always responsive and nice! KUDOS! :D

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Fender Stratocaster Blacktop Sonic Blue MIM
Fender American Elite Stratocaster HSS
Fender Stratocaster VC BTP MIJ
Yamaha THR10
Vox AC15 Limited Edition

"Sing to Him a new song;play skillfully on the strings,with loud shouts"


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