How do they stack up with modern Fenders? At the prices true vintage guitars are at right now I'll probably never get to play one for myself. Do they really play and sound that much better then a new guitar or do people just buy old (50's and 60's) Strats because that's what the guitar players they like play?

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I got to play a '68 Strat at the Guitar Center in Manhattan (lots of sucking up was involved!).

They are wonderful! Truly. But didn't sound or play any better than the guitar that I bought (my '62 reissue) and especially not better than a custom shop reissue.

So, very cool and very collectible but best left to those with way too much money who are just going to put them in glass cases.

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

I have a good friend who has a '63 Stratocaster that's all original. No mods at all. It even has the 3 position selector switch. Gruhn's in Nashville offered him some very serious $$s for it but he wouldn't sell. Needless to say this guitar doesn't go outside his home very much at all now days.

I've had the opportunity to play this guitar on several occasions and I have to say I haven't played anything like it. None of my Fenders, Gibsons or Gretsches, which are fantastic instruments in their own right, come close to the feeling of that guitar's neck, it's responsiveness or tone.

If you ever get the chance to play or own a guitar like this, grab a hold and hang on like grim death because you won't experience anything else like it.

Having played both, the vintage ones are great, and very cool to have. But, to me, the newer neck shapes are a bit easier to play.

I've owned several and played many.

Of course, the natural aging process has helped quite a bit, especially with the abundance of superior, premium woods available back then vs. literally, what is left now. Couple this with the individuality of each guitar, borne of a more hands-on manufacturing process of the time(s). Sure, there were good, better and best, but a Strat back in the day was always of a certain standard of excellence.

Granted, modern technology has successfully duplicated many aspects of these guitars including eliminating many of their inherent deficiencies but it all comes down to artificial vs. natural. I think the colloquial word nowadays is, "mojo".

With these antiques, there's the bonding and the feel of like a most comfortable, old pair of shoes aspect along with surely, a certain snob appeal. Lastly, it is somewhat expected by the, "rank in file" that a popular professional has and uses such an instrument as his/her instrument(s) of choice.

FWIW, the first Stratocaster I ever owned was a 1960, OEM factory pink model. Can you imagine how many heads I'd turn today if I pulled such a thing out of its case to play?

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You dig?

I wouldn't get too hung up on it - don't lose any sleep or sell your first- second- and third-born to get a pre-CBS Strat, but...

I own a '65 Strat. I bought it for $265 at Catello and Son in Berlin NH in 1980. It had been painted ugly housepaint brown, had a hole drilled in the pickguard, had a broken tone pot shaft, needed a fret job, etc., but the body, neck, and most of the electronics were wonderful, and original.


This was my Player guitar, along with a '69 Gibson ES-340 and a '61 Melody Maker, so I made it work for me - new frets, new pot new tuners, etc. I stripped the finish, seeing that it had been born as a 'burst etc., but the body, neck

A good modern Strat, even a MIM, can play smoothly, in-tune, and it will sound just how you expect a Strat to sound. Mine is lighter, resonates differently than any mondern one I've played, and makes me happy. I've restored it as much as I can to its original spec. No 'burst refinish yet, but I plan that, not as a relic job but just because that's what this guitar wants to be.

I also have built a few electric guitars from parts, and I play these as much or more than the vintage guitars. Get the best, simplest instrument that you can, and make more music!

I've played many from a 59 to a 68. Some were great, some were total tone turds. I think the newer ones are more consistent. Especially in the neck department. The pickups in the older Strats varied a little too. I played a 65 that was a pure joy to play and a 1960 that was just okay. Fact of the matter is a good guitar is a good guitar, makes no difference when it was made. Current prices are just insane. Parts will need to be replaced eventually, then what have you got? My 72 is light, stock, and sounds and plays great. One of the nicest guitars I ever played was a 64 LP Goldtop. Played like butter.

Some vintage instruments I've played are the greatest thing I've ever laid hands on and some are (in the words of Bart & Lisa Simpson), "meh..."

Few, if any, vintage instruments are worth the coin they're pulling down these days.

Having said that, several years ago I did get to play a somewhat beat-up 1958 hardtail Stratocaster that rocked my world...I was drooling and planning on what to sell to be able to get it and then I realized it cost more than my first two cars...combined! I could have pulled it off (I wasn't married and had very few bills), but I couldn't bring myself to let go of that kind of cash.

I kept that guitar in mind as a benchmark for "feel" as well as tone. One of these days I'm going to build myself a Franken-caster (or rob a bank for a real one ).

In the meantimie, I'm happy with my MIA 1962 ReIssue Stratocaster...

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I have a '65 Strat (small headstock) and an excellent ''62 Strat Vintage RI
Both are Alder body 3-color SB with RW FBs. The finish on the '65 has blended into the wood and the pick guard has turned green with age.

I've done A/B comparisons of the two thru a Fender Amp.

Overall, they have a similar Vintage Strat sound, but there is detail & nuance in '65. The '65, when I strum out a chord, the individual notes have individual clarity ringing out more resonantly within the chord, whereas the '62 RI notes sound "mushed" together with noticeably lest individual distinctiveness, more run together. Mind you, the '62 RI sounds good, but the '65 brings out even more. To me, the '65 seems to gives me the ability to add a little more dynamics and drama to the chord compared to '62 RI, instead of "just strumming" the chord to faithfully complete that part in the chord progression.

I think of it as comparing an acoustic guitar with good Indian Rosewood to the same model having Brazillian Rosewood. The IRW sounds great until you play it next to the BRW, then you realize there is more that you can get out of the sound. The IRW almost sounds like it has a cork in the sound hole by comparison to the more open, resonant sound of the BRW. Although, for the strats, the difference isn't as dramatic as the acoustic comparison.

That's My 0.02

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'96 Cstm FMT Strat, Red, RW FB, Art Esparsa MB
Stat Plus Deluxe w/ Fat 50's, SB, Maple FB
'95 Strat '62 Vintage Reissue, SB, RW FB
Strat Ultra, SB, Ebony FB, orig Lace sensors
'65 Stratocaster, SB, RW FB, all orig, green guard

bbnco, not that I'd ever seriously suggest you try it but I would be very interested to hear how the stacked up using the all of the electronics from the '65 in the reissue.

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

I owned a '65 strat for about 15 years. The tone, feel, and "mojo" were second to none. Everyone who played it, wanted to buy it. Financial situations forced its sale, which I regret to this day.

I have some 80s and 90s strats now, and they are nice, and very playable. But they don't have "it." Most vintage guitars that I've played have the mojo working for them, and I still prefer them.

To supro63: I didn't know that there was a '64 goldtop.

JJ

That's a very interesting thought, but since the value of the guitar has increased so much over the years, I'd be extremely reluctant to give it a try.

If you run into anyone that has done that, I would like to know. Keep me in mind.

I will definitely do that- I am very impressed with how good a job Fender did at recreating the '62 Strat. I was never happy with those 57/62 pickups and would bet that a lot of the muddiness you were describing can be attributed to them.

I always keep an eye out for original electronics so it's possible that someday some might find their way into my Strat.

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

It's hard to explain exactly what vintage guitars have over newer guitars. You can feel it when you hold them, though I'm not sure it would pass blind testing.



I can't really comment on the superiority of mid-50s woods over today's woods. But overall "excellence back in the day" is arguable because there were quality issues with Stratocasters from day one. Many of those issues have been fixed and manufacturing consistency is certainly better today.



I've got a couple stories like that ... mistreated guitars that cleaned up nicely. Used Strats of any year were about that price 30 yrs ago.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I still own a 1958 and a 1962 (both original). They are old, and sound glorious, and people say theyr'e worth big money. They're not worth what they are going for, but there are no Strats out there that sound and play better.

But I do have an everyday player that's the best alternative to these I've ever seen or heard. It's a Custom Shop 50's Masterbuilt. Lovely guitar, very faithfully recreated, and instant charm to it. I'd highly suggest something like this instead of leading a life of frustration and regrets, shame and woeful wishing. Prepare to part with @5G, but prepare to be dazzled.

Cheers, Pete