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Post subject: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:49 pm
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I'm finally upgrading my starter pack Les Paul and have realized for awhile that Fender / single coil pickups are the way to go for the sound that I want. I've managed to save around $500, and can't decide what to buy. I'm mainly gonna be using it to make my own music, and will probably be my only guitar for awhile.

The sound I'm going for is very close to Mac Demarco. I've read that he pretty much always uses a strat nowadays, and that seems like the obvious choice. I just really like the look of the Mustangs a lot more, and I like that the Mustangs are a little more unique with not as many people having them.

With the money I have, it seems like my two choices are to either buy one of the new Mustangs, or find a used MIM Stratocaster. Which one of these seems like the better option? Or are there any other guitars I should be taking into consideration? Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:44 am
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This is an almost impossible question...

Try to put most weight on which guitar suits you. And in that, the first thing to do is play both models. They are quite different, so one may feel right and the other wrong for you.
A Strat is a multi-purpose tool, a Mustang in a way is more limited - sort of a one-trick-pony.
I'd like to say that if you specifically don't need the Mustang features, choose a Strat - but that's just a first impression.

Don't be stuck on the usedMIM/newMustang duality, the second hand market has a lot of guitars to offer. If you want to make your decision harder, check the Teles, Duo Sonics and Jaguars - to begin with. :wink:
And in general, sounding like (insert your idol player name) is seldom a question of what gear one has; the real good players sound like themselves on any guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 7:34 am
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Brand spanking new MIM Strat.
You got $500.00 (assuming US Dollars)---a new MIM Standard Strat is $599.99.
Sell that EPIPHONE for $99.99 and you're there. All you have to do is pick a color.


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 8:04 am
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I'd buy a Strat, but then you have posted in the Strat forum. :wink:

Strats are one of the most readily available guitars, in almost all guises, so this makes it a buyers market. Mustangs less so, so your options will be a great deal more limited.

As noted above you absolutely need to play both and as many examples as you can get your hands on. Just because you don't like one example of a guitar doesn't mean all of that type will feel and sound the same.

You do need to be comfortable with the look of your instrument. Unless you intend to play behind a curtain, you don't want to be hanging a guitar around your neck that you will be embarrassed to be seen with.

Another plus for Strats is you wont look out of place if you turn up to an audition with a Strat, no matter what the style of music happens to be. This cant be said of some guitars.

As has also been said, just because you like the sound "insert name here" has with a "insert guitar here" doesn't mean the guitar you might buy will be the same specification or sound as the one your idol plays. A distinctive sound doesn't come from the instrument as much as the fingers. I have a number of idols who play many different guitars. I often can't tell which guitar they have used just by listening to the recording. It still sounds like them though.

Remember a guitar you love could be with you for the rest of your life.

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:22 pm
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MIM Strat -- just wait until you can grab one on sale for $499 if you can (there were a few good options last month at that price)

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 11:59 am
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taite wrote:
With the money I have, it seems like my two choices are to either buy one of the new Mustangs, or find a used MIM Stratocaster. Which one of these seems like the better option? Or are there any other guitars I should be taking into consideration? Thanks.




I would go with MIM Strat myself. I got mine used for $350.00 Canadian (they go for about $500.00 used now) in Calgary here off of Kijiji. Did my own setup, intonation, adjust neck, adjust pickup height, adjust tremelo, put in a new nut and lubricate nut and saddles.
I like it better then my John Mayer Strat.

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 7:34 am
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Well; here it is nearly a month later....so.....what's the verdict?
This site becomes more and more anti-climactic by the week. Some of these folks might as well ask their questions on Yahoo Answers if they don't plan on having a conversation.
I know, I know...I'm starting to sound like a broken record.


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 10:21 am
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Get the Strat!

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 11:53 am
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White Dog wrote:
Well; here it is nearly a month later....so.....what's the verdict?
This site becomes more and more anti-climactic by the week. Some of these folks might as well ask their questions on Yahoo Answers if they don't plan on having a conversation.
I know, I know...I'm starting to sound like a broken record.


I agree with you entirely.

It really gets my goat when people post a question, we all give freely of our time and experience to answer it as best we can, and then we hear nothing.

That is the thing with knowledge freely given; because it is free it is considered worth nothing.

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 3:27 pm
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John Sims wrote:
Another plus for Strats is you wont look out of place if you turn up to an audition with a Strat, no matter what the style of music happens to be. This cant be said of some guitars.

Well... he's not trying to decide between a Fender and a Wylde ;)

Quote:
As has also been said, just because you like the sound "insert name here" has with a "insert guitar here" doesn't mean the guitar you might buy will be the same specification or sound as the one your idol plays. A distinctive sound doesn't come from the instrument as much as the fingers. I have a number of idols who play many different guitars. I often can't tell which guitar they have used just by listening to the recording. It still sounds like them though.

Absolutely.
Jimmy Page is identified with the Les Paul (and EDS-1275), but many people do not realize that they are hearing a Telecaster on many/most of the early tracks, including all of his work with the Yardbirds, as well as even later on some tracks with The Firm. Page also used the Strat for some tracks on Presence.

His 12-string work on Zep 2 (Living Loving Maid), 4 (Stairway), Houses of the Holy (The Song Remains the Same) was done with a '65 Fender XII!

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a used MIM Stratocaster or a new Mustang?
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 11:06 am
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White Dog wrote:
Well; here it is nearly a month later

John Sims wrote:
It really gets my goat when people post a question, we all give freely of our time and experience to answer it as best we can, and then we hear nothing.


I waited a bit before posting this opinion/observation, just to be sure. And: I'm not attacking or contradicting the two distinguished members I quoted, just trying to make an explanatory point.

Yesterday and today, the forum suddenly got a lot of first posts from new members. Some of those have been delayed, waiting for a spam check; and during that about two weeks delay, no new member posts have come out.

Now, I don't whine about the policy - fighting spam is always good. (Maybe the checking could be done by someone who has time for it, instead of guys busy with NAMM & other stuff..? An intern, maybe..?)

But this delay (and the troublesome pic posting) may play a part in new members disappearing. This topic OP: joined & posted on Jan 14th, last sign-in Jan 19th, first answer Jan 20th (that's when I read the post for the first time)...

Now, the other forums don't have the delay, so the answer may come (a lot) quicker elsewhere - and those other forums allow pic posting.

Read somewhere that less than 10 % of people who buy their first guitar continue the hobby. And most companies try to find ways to commit their clients.
Food for thought, flesh for fantasy... 8)


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