I finally took the plunge yesterday. Put 25% down on a beautiful new American Strat. White with maple neck - she's a beauty, so long chinese epiphone! (Now to just come up with the rest of the money!) Thanks guys for your input and info relating to this guitar. I can almost feel myself improving already!

Congrats! You won't regret it.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Congratulations! I know you will enjoy your new strat. Post a picture when you bring her home. Please.

Congrats on the plunge. I think you will love it. Post pics when you can.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

As that famous philosopher, Tom Petty, said, "The waiting is the hardest part." Congratulations!

That's a beautiful combination. I hope you don't have to wait too long. Welcome to the forum, rockingeezer!

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

Concrat's on the layaway!!!! But don't dis on the Epiphone because its made in China. Was it a bad guitar?

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Regarding dissing the epiphone, yes I think I got a lemon. Even after taking it to Daves Guitar Suop in LaCrosse, their luthiers could not get the string height down to a reasonable distance, without loosing my high register. Set as low as they could get, chords low on the neck like D,A,E,C would play sharp. Tried heavier strings, but the guitar was out of tune with itself. I tried several other guitars, and could not duplicate this condition. Bar chords from CMaj on up were fine. Also, the truss rod was at the end of its adjustment (bottomed out). The shop said I could send it back for warrenty repair, but Id be without it for a while. Also, the frets are closer together so chording can be kind of cramped, and most of all, its not a strat!

Congrats on the coming guitar.

The Epi might just do well to move on to a less-sophisticated owner who can love it until they too outgrow it.