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Post subject: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 1:02 pm
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Hey everyone,

I'm new here, my name is Ryan and I've been playing guitar for about 8 years. I'm currently a senior in high school and have been saving since my freshman year in hopes to finally buy my first Strat for graduating high school. David Gilmour is my guitar hero, so I've been watching videos of him since I started playing, and even saw his Rattle That Lock tour last year. Needless to say, I'm in love with his Strat and the history behind it. I'm looking to buy my first ever Stratocaster, like his, so I'm trying to do as much research as possible, and I figured I could turn to you awesome people for help 8)

To keep a long story short, I'm going to get a very generic but iconic look. Black finish, white pickguard, SSS, maple neck. The big question is this: out of all the models of Stratocasters, which model will give me the best "I just walked into a store in 1970 and bought one" feel? More specifically, which model is the most traditional and similar to what would've been sold back in the day? I like the American Elite series, but they seem a bit too futuristic for me. I'm looking for a quality, American made model that doesn't fall too far from its ancestor's tree.

Thanks for all your help and I look forward to becoming a member of this great Fender family :)

Ryan :)


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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 1:31 am
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The good news is, the black Strat DG plays has gone through so many changes you can choose almost any model.
If money's no issue, there's the Custom Shop Signature (it just may be that you will never be satisfied if you choose something else).

The bad news is, a model 'most like a Strat sold in 1970' might not at all be the guitar you prefer to play.

If you want advice (= the ugly...): do the footwork. Play as many properly set up (black... or red, it's just as famous... or white... or sunburst...) Strats as you can.
I predict that in the future you will buy some Gilmour set for electronics, so you don't even have to plug the guitar in - just concentrate on the play feel; which neck profile, radius, frets etc. you like the most, which guitar resonates to you in all possible ways.

And BTW, "quality" isn't a feature restricted on MIA Fenders exclusively.


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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 2:09 am
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There are a great many resources on line and in print which describe DG's black Strat in infinite detail. I have a back issue of Guitarist which does exactly that.

Funny thing though, guitars which are associated with people only seem to work if you play their music. I know this is complete nonsense but consider a Hendrix reverse headstock model. It looks great if you play Hendrix stuff but a bit incongruous if playing Wish You Were Here.

What I am trying to say is don't limit yourself by looking like a Gilmour wannabe. Get a Strat which resonates with you. If you want a black body Strat this is cool. I think a black body is great as it never looks out of place in any situation and my first Strat had a black body (because that's what EC played) :) In fairness that is a pretty generic looking guitar.

And the thing with Gilmour is his guitar went through so many changes that it isn't defining in his sound...For that you need effects and many of them. I recently found my DG Nirvana inside a TC Electronics G Major 2.

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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 6:02 am
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I'd start with an American Professional, or a recently discontinued American Standard. Try them out then branch off to other guitars. Don't ignore the made in Mexico guitars....you may find one you really like at a good price.

But follow the advice already given....try them and see which one fits best.


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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:44 am
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Classic 70's Strat
Available in black with a white guard and a maple board.

As jmattis says, it may or may not be the guitar for you and he used several pickups over the years.

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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:26 am
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Hmm. Like I said, the DG Black Strat has gone through many changes, but AFAIK it's always been a four bolt and with the correct headstock. :lol:


But to be a little serious:
It's absolutely OK to have idols - I'm sure Mr. Gilmour had and has his.
But it just isn't about looking like your guitar hero, actually not even sounding like him...
And, it doesn't take a Stratocaster (any color) to sound like Gilmour:


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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 1:05 am
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jmattis wrote:
Hmm. Like I said, the DG Black Strat has gone through many changes, but AFAIK it's always been a four bolt and with the correct headstock. :lol:


This shows the original neck on it...
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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 7:23 am
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According to Guitarist Magazine (Feb 2015) it was originally a 68 to 69 Alder body black painted over sunburst with a large headstock 60's Maple neck. A rosewood necked version was also used on Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here (? a different guitar).

The original black Strat (purchased for Manny's in May 1970) isn't actually the original black Strat as this was stolen having only been bought a few weeks earlier.

The guitar bought May 1970 later had a Charvel neck fitted but after significant damage to the guitar during its loan to Hard Rock Cafe this was again replaced. It currently has a 1983 '57 Reissue C shape neck with 7.25" radius. (Pretty much dispels the rumours that you can't bend on a 7.25" neck ;-) )

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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 9:17 am
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John Sims wrote:
(Pretty much dispels the rumours that you can't bend on a 7.25" neck)


+1

It's all in the set-up and the skills of the luthier who performs it.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 11:21 am
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stratmangler wrote:
This shows the original neck on it...

I humbly stand corrected on the first 3ish years. :wink:


Last edited by jmattis on Wed Mar 15, 2017 12:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:47 pm
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jmattis wrote:
....
And, it doesn't take a Stratocaster (any color) to sound like Gilmour:


He doesn't seem entirely comfortable with that; a few glitched notes here and there and not as fluid as we might expect...or perhaps that is just me.

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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 7:05 pm
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John Sims wrote:
He doesn't seem entirely comfortable with that; a few glitched notes here and there and not as fluid as we might expect...or perhaps that is just me.

While experience and practice can compensate a lot, we all lose dexterity as we age. Guitar gods are no exception. He still has chops in spades - more than most. Just not more than his younger self.


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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 6:46 pm
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arth1 wrote:
While experience and practice can compensate a lot, we all lose dexterity as we age. Guitar gods are no exception. He still has chops in spades - more than most. Just not more than his younger self.


+1

An affliction we'll all suffer from sooner or later.

:(

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 11:45 am
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Pudbert wrote:
I'd start with an American Professional, or a recently discontinued American Standard. Try them out then branch off to other guitars. Don't ignore the made in Mexico guitars....you may find one you really like at a good price.

But follow the advice already given....try them and see which one fits best.


What he said!
Really good prices on American Standards right now!


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Post subject: Re: Beginner Strat question!
Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 10:23 pm
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Actually, to me the MIM Stds have a lot of 70s vibe all the way down to the 21 frets (small headstock, though). I love my black MIM Standard, great neck and playability.

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