I want a candy apple red Strat with Texas Special pickups and I want to spend less than $1K. I believe the two options are to buy a Jimmy Vaughan Strat or buy a new Standard Strat and change out the pickups. I know there are a number of differences between the two options (different trem, electronics, neck profile, etc.).

I'm leaning toward the Standard Strat option... I'm wondering if the new features of the Standard (better trem block, tinted neck, etc.) make it a better option than the JV Strat. I'd be using the Custom Shop Texas Specials which, I know, are different than the pups in the JV Strat but I'm guessing they would be roughly comparable...

Price-wise, I figure the two options are pretty close. Which choice would you recommend?

You're talking about a Mexican Standard Strat, right?
I've played the Road Worn Strat (same pickups as the JV) and I have a Strat with Texas Specials and actually they're surprisingly different. The Tex-Mex pickups are slightly more vintage/biting/sparkly sounding to me than the Texas Specials are. The Texas Specials seem deeper and warmer with more mid range.
Either way you can't go wrong, both are amazing pickups. Personally I like the Texas Specials a little better. Have you played a JV Strat and a Standard to see how the feel differs? I'd go with the one you think feels best, because if you really like the Texas Specials but at the same time you really like the feel of the JV Strat then you could always swap the pickups out later on that one.

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Yep, I'm talking about a MIM with either choice. My original plan was to create a candy apple red Lonestar Strat with a maple (not rosewood) fretboard.. but now I'm considering going the SSS route instead of HSS.

I thought the Tex-Mex pups were about the same as the Texas Specials but I need to listen to both, then decide which I like best. When I saw that the JV Strat was available in candy apple red, I figured that might give me the sound I'm looking for... But, then I figured that cost-wise, I could do a standard MIM and mod it by adding the CS Texas Specials... At my local dealer, I can get the newly upgraded version of the standard MIM Strat, plus the pickups for almost exactly $600... not sure what a candy apple red JV would cost there...

In any case, I'll try both the MIM standard Strat and the JV to see how which one feels better to me... Plus, I can check out the sound of the Tex Mex pups... I gotta check Fender's product page to see which Strats have the Custom Shop version Texas Specials (SRV, if I remember correctly, not sure if any others use them..)

I wonder, though, if the new standard MIM has a heavier trem block than the JV (and therefore, possibly more sustain)?... on the other hand, Fender specs say the JV has USA electronics and and American Vintage trem... and on and on it goes....

Thanks for your suggestions! I'll let you know how it goes..

How does this look to you :

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Japan-57-Rei ... 7C294%3A50

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Ah, you had to go and show me that.... looks like option 3 is now added to my list. Wow, that looks VERY nice and pretty much what I have in mind! Hmm... ends June 9.. I've got it on my ebay "Watch" list now... Thanks!

Oh yeah, I forgot about the different wiring on the JV. I have a similar wiring on my Strat, only the middle and bridge share a knob. With either the Tex-Mex or Texas Specials I'd highly recommend you have the bridge pickup wired to a tone knob whether you have the neck/bride together, the middle/bridge together or stick with the JV wiring.

You can try listening to demos on youtube of the Tex-Mex pickups and the Texas Specials to get a better idea of what they sound like.

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Hey StratHeads-

I have a MiM with Texas Specials and I love it. The tone is warm and rich with a nice midrange. It still has the Strat "Twang" bite but without the ear splitting brightness you get from vintage and Tex-Mex Pick-ups. This is all my own opinion so...take it for what it is worth. I play in a Band that does Classic Rock and Blues...On the side I play Surf and it works for all 3 very well.

The Freeze

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There's Always Room For MELLOW !!!!

2000 MIM Stratocaster, Midnight Wine W/Texas Specials
2000 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
1969 Fender Vibro Champ

Freeze, my interests are in classic rock, blues, and surf too. I'm thinking the brightness of the Tex Mex pups might be a bit much for my taste... I'll check 'em out, though, and see how they compare to the Texas Spls...