I am in the market to get a new guitar and would like to get a Fender Strat. However, I do have a budget and most strats seem to be way out of my price range. I am an amateur that likes to play Pink Floyd, blues and classic rock. I saw a Buddy Guy polka dot Strat that was within my price range (plus I always liked Randy Rhoads). Anyone have any comments on that particular Strat? I'd like to get a new one for $700 and below. I know that really limits what I can get, bu until I get real good I can't justify spending over a grand (wife wold kill me). Any other Strat recommendations would be most appreciated!! Thanks!

Chaz Kellie

I would just buy a standard strat and upgrade the pickups....

well Ive been messing around for about 2 years but I've been forced to take a few breaks when real life decided to kick me around and have gone 8 months without touching a guitar ...until feb 1 2009 when I got my first stratocaster.

I trust one of the guys at the local guitar center and went in on the 1st, we tried out 2 american and 2 mexican stratocasters. I had originally intended to order the lite ash stratocaster but I fell in love with the arctic white stratocaster.

I tried out both the american and the mexican strat for about an hour and dan played them both for me as well since he's light years better than i am. the only real difference i could tell between the two was the fret dressing on the american was like silk while the mexican was a bit rougher. but both were amazing instruments. the new mexican strats are leaps and bounds beyond what they produced previously. Dan actually recommended the mexican over the american.

the mex run 449, the american run 999, so for one of the guys in the shop to recommend the mex over the american says something.

I liked it so well I went back in today and bought a telecaster blackout deluxe...so I spent the same as I would have on the american and got a strat and a tele.

now for the previous poster...what pickups would you suggest to upgrade to in the mexican strat. I would like a little more fuzz and dirt but i know absolutely nothing about pickups and electronics.

a friend suggested texas specials

I posted pic's of my new fenders in the picture thread if you want a look

I purchased a Jimmy Vaughan Signature Strat white for $399.00 It was discontinued and it was brand new!1 Two years ago I bought the Buddy Guy and when I showed it to my wife she flipped out, and not in a good way. It went back! She said POLKA DOTS are for girl! I guess a Hello kitty axe is out of the question LOL! So if you want to consider a Signature Strat at a decent price it would be the Jimmy Vaughan. Stick with a Fender and you'll do good. Consider a Musicians Friend buyer card (or similiar )where you can get a $1000 Dollar credit line and take a year to pay off interest free, that way you can get your Strat now and work the payment to $80 a month. Good luck! You'll be playing a Strat soon.

Hello PinkFlyodUSA,

$700 should buy you a new Highway one.
The Buddy Guy is neat, but a bit tough to
pull off as a #1.

Those dots might not grow on you, with 4
other strats I'm ready for one in my stable.

Best of luck with your choice.

Cheers.

" Those dots might not grow on you "
I tend to agree with Mr. Bill on that...The dots would turn me off also.

Play and buy what you want. It is you who has to make the deci$ion. At the end of it all you will feel more inspired to play more out of an instrument you love than one you find "will do" at the time.