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Post subject: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 7:22 pm
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I'm new to the forum and I'm looking at purchasing a Strat. I have been looking at a Fender American Original, Artist Series and the Fender Custom Shop. The reason why I'm asking for help is I want to purchase one guitar and not go through the painful process of buying and selling guitars like I did on the Acoustic side. I first purchased inexpensive acoustic guitars and that's the wrong way to go because of playability and sound.

I'm looking for a Fender that I can use for playing Rock & Roll, Blues and some Country.

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 10:21 pm
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Dont buy online!!! Go to the store and try many until you find the one you like the most. Its best to use the same amplifier w/ all the guitars initially but my advice would also be to try different amps as well to see if it sounds good on a few different amps at different price ranges. If money isn't an obstacle an American stratocaster and a Deluxe Reverb would be a great choice that should last you for several or more years.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 2:01 am
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sfceric64 wrote:
Dont buy online!!! Go to the store and try many until you find the one you like the most. Its best to use the same amplifier w/ all the guitars initially but my advice would also be to try different amps as well to see if it sounds good on a few different amps at different price ranges. If money isn't an obstacle an American stratocaster and a Deluxe Reverb would be a great choice that should last you for several or more years.


Very sound advice.

Try as many as you can. Even two identical specification guitars will feel/sound different.

Off the peg Strats have a variety of neck profiles and fret sizes, string spacing and bridge type. Also body weight can vary quit a lot. All of this will impact on if you connect with the guitar or not.

I understand your comments regarding " buy cheap and buy twice" and I have done so more times than I can remember. The advantage of this route is experience and experience is an investment. Because you bought a cheap acoustic you know why your expensive acoustic is the price it is and appreciate it for that. If you dive in an buy the most expensive Strat you can afford straight off you may never properly appreciate what you bought. And just because it is expensive doesn't mean it is the best one for you.

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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 4:16 am
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Some great responses here.
Like someone else said, try two guitars with the same specs because they do play and feel different.

Also considering it's Fender we're talking about you really can't go wrong with the Mexican line either.
Since it's your first Strat I would actually start there, because if it turns out that the guitar isn't for you.. well then you've blown huge money and need to sell it.
I think it's easier to sell a Mexican Strat and get back some of the money.

Also I recently got my Fender Player Stratocaster and I've been playing an exact same American Professional (with rosewood instead of pau ferro though) and to me they feel exactly the same.

But if it's really important that you get an American made or just an high end, I would go and look for other options such as Suhr for example as you might get more for your money.
Otherwise I would just go to the Fender Custom Shop and completely get myself a Strat exactly after my specs, but that's gonna cost a lot.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 7:15 am
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It is not because you buy high end guitars you will like them.
They may have specs you don't like.
Fret size, neck , fret board curve and general feeling.

You must try it before buy.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 10:43 am
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A remark which hasn't yet been turned up: "playability" is a) a very personal thing and b) depends a lot on setup.
Guitars in a shop may or may not have been setup, and if they are, it's usually done with "average" specs. Different string gauge, high or low action, straight neck or with a big relief (etc. etc. etc.) make the same instrument feel very different.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:34 pm
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PSU wrote:
I'm new to the forum and I'm looking at purchasing a Strat. I have been looking at a Fender American Original, Artist Series and the Fender Custom Shop. The reason why I'm asking for help is I want to purchase one guitar and not go through the painful process of buying and selling guitars like I did on the Acoustic side. I first purchased inexpensive acoustic guitars and that's the wrong way to go because of playability and sound.

I'm looking for a Fender that I can use for playing Rock & Roll, Blues and some Country.

Thanks


What's your budget or how much is the most you want to spend?

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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 10:31 am
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To answer your question in regards to my budget.

I would like to keep it under $3,000. My guess is I can't get a custom shop guitar at that price unless it's used. I don't have a problem with a used guitar as long as it's in mint condition.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 11:42 am
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Checking reverb.com, at the moment they have 67 used CS Strats in mint or excellent condition and priced between 2000-3000. And reverb is not the bargain way when one searches for used guitars.

One good thing about used instruments is, if one chooses wisely, they don't significally loose their value. And I bring that up, since there's no guarantee that the first Strat you (= generic, not personal) buy is the one you're happy with for the rest of your life - or even for a year.

Then again, one could get something like a second hand Vintage '57 Hot Rod Strat for about 1500$€£ and spend the remaining sum in a nice Vox amp. But that's just me rambling again. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 2:53 pm
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PSU wrote:
I don't have a problem with a used guitar as long as it's in mint condition.


How would you tell if the guitar had been reliced?

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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 1:31 am
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stratmangler wrote:
How would you tell if the guitar had been reliced?


If the guitar is an authentic Fender-made relic, all factory "scars" have a nanoscopic "F" trademark symbol next to them -- easily confirmed with an electron microscope.

:wink:
Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 8:53 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
stratmangler wrote:
How would you tell if the guitar had been reliced?


If the guitar is an authentic Fender-made relic, all factory "scars" have a nanoscopic "F" trademark symbol next to them -- easily confirmed with an electron microscope.

:wink:
Arjay


:lol:

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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 10:01 am
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:mrgreen:
Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 12:24 pm
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This amount of relic is acceptable to me ..... just about

Image

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Post subject: Re: Purchasing a Stratocaster
Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 4:33 pm
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As fine a specimen as a re-issue relic can be.

Arjay

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