Hey...I am about to buy my 1st ever strat and in a way my 1st electric. I am narrowed down to 2 choices. 2005 Am Standard @ GC where they are asking 700. Plays nice, very good condition and I liked it. Thought it was a bit overpriced, but I know they will come down.

I have read some reviews on the mexi Classic Players 60s and people LOVE them. I live in the Philly area and all the local shops have zero to play on to check them out....

I found one for sale and it plays just as sweet and is one year old...kid bought it, took 5 lessons and then cased it.
Price is around 600

So....price is really not an issue they are both about the same. I like the way they both play, but which one will retain it's value and appeal? The Sonic Blue 60's or the Black stock Am. Standard.

I am sure that is a loaded question on this board!

thanks for any and all input.

Try to get over to JH Guitars in West Chester.
610-363-9204
Monday thru Friday 11am to 7pm Saturday 11 am to 5 PM Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm

Usually plenty of Fender Strats!

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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!

I'd take the American, unless you want need something cheaper. It's a "better" guitar to me and will hold its value better and longer than any non-american model.

take the american standard
700 is not that bad especially if they will go down
on it . you can always add or change electronics
pickups and what not but it is not as easy to change
body and neck if you get the standard you are
talking about a lifetime guitar that will last

the american won't leave any regrets
i have trading away all my other electrics
for my two american " ICONS "
LOVIN IT EVERY TIME I PLAY

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1956 Gibson CS Lemon Les Paul
1957 Fender CS Aged Cherry Strat
1958 Gibson CS Pg 85 Les Paul
1960 Fender CS 3tsb Strat
1961 Gibson SG Wildwood Pelham blue
1966 Fender CS Firemist Metallic Silver Strat

You won't regret the American Standard, but it's up to you when it's all over and done. Good luck. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

depends on your playing ability. i own an american standard, but didn't get it until i had been playing 10 years and thought i could properly take care of it and would have the need for something that nice (and could truely respect it for what it is.) i know you said this is your first electric, so if you are an amazing player on acoustic.....go american. if you are still learning guitar i may recommend the classic player. they are both top-notch instruments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



ignoring the previous statement...$700 is a good price for a gently used american and you could probably talk the $600 price tag down on the classic player

Really low prices on both those models so you can't go wrong price wise. Lots of people like the American Standard. I don't but spend some time thinking about it and choose the one that will make you happiest in the end.

I have been so leaning towards the Classic Player's 60s, but having an American seems to be the consensus.....I am amateur @ best. The Classic is on ebay and I can't "test" it out and the Am. Standard is pretty awesome. I played it and it was sweeeeettttttt. Is this really a color choice? I like the sonic blus (the standard is black). The classic 60s is really "new". I feel blessed to even be in a position to make a choice.

The Classic Player will also have a 12" radius. The 60's version anyway. The American Standard could very well have a 9.5" radius. Both are very good but the 12" is even flatter.

My guess is you could get them to come down close to $100 on the price of the Am Std...just purchased a similarly priced guitar a week ago and that was the break they gave me on the asking price, although I was trading in a guitar too (got $200 for the trade).

I would lean toward the Am Std personally, but you really can't go wrong with either one.

HD

Both descent guitars .I have an AS and i really like it.Differences are 12" and 9.5" radius,6point and 2 point tremolo,gig bag and hardshell case and the 60s cp has vintage wiring while the AS has the "deltatone circuit" which gives you the option of taking the tone pots out of the circuit for the middle and neck pickups .You also have control of your bridge pickup with the AS as well.

The neck alone would be a big difference to me. I like the rounder 9.5 much better than flat necks. Sure, I "can" play on pretty much anything, but it feels so much better for me, and my playing style, to bend and play on a 9.5 neck.

On a side note, acoustic necks are the same. I love the wide flat Taylor necks for writing and fingerstyle. For rock and blues, where I do more leads and bending - the wide flat neck isn't my favorite.

Actually they both have 2 point bridges.. I would go with the Classic Player. I had an American Standard but I ended up trading it for a CP 60s, much better guitar than the standard I had, but then again its all up to you. Since you can't play the CP you are safer buying the guitar you can play. Plus it seems like a pretty fair deal on the MIA

First of all, can you picture yourself holding one of those guitars several years from now? That may be able to help you.

I agree with the people saying to get the American. Remember, if eventually you decide to drop it, the American can only increase in value, unless you mod it ridicukously. For the latter purpose, I'd get the CP.

I would really like to be in your position to be able to choose between two fine instruments.


-The Screamin' J

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CURRENT RIG:
2008 Squier bullet stratocaster modified with Rumpelstiltskin pickups -> Dunlop GCB-95 Original Crybaby -> Fender Vibro Champ XD

"Could you take the stain from this pair of pants, and put in on this pair of pants?"

I will never try to convice someone to pick one guitar over another. That is just a personal thing, and one should try both and decide for himself (after all.......you have to live with it, and not me) . That being said.......my personal choice is the American Standard.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne