Hey guys, I have been playing Les Pauls my whole life and I love them to death, but its time I get a Strat to mix it up a bit.

I am looking at an American Vintage '57 Strat in blonde white. Does anyone else have this model and can give me some pros and cons?

Regards,
Read

Pros:
-Ash body/maple neck make for a clear, snappy tone.
-Setup and finish were flawless on mine, quality is very close, if not equal to custom shop.
-It's a strat, 'nuff said.

Cons:
-7.25 neck radius and medium jumbo frets are a lil tough to get used to (specially if you're used to LPs), but once you do it's hard to go back <_<
-The price is a lil steep in my opinion ($2000 on MF I believe), but I bought mine used in mint condition for $1200 so I avoided that one.

Bottom line is it is a very solid axe just like all of the American Vintage series. IMHO they are some of the best Fender has to offer short of custom shop, you should definitely check em out. ^^

edit: Where are my manners, welcome to the forum

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

I would also look at the Deluxe and some artist models like a Jeff Beck which has a nice chunkie neck, or a John Mayer and Eric Johnson as these are really good strats. I would say skip a Clapton because of the TBX and midboost it kind of treads on humbucker territory and being a Gibson player you are looking for a more pure strat sound plus the one you stated is a great ax. I would surely go and play a few before making a decision. Warning -they are highly addictive.lol

go and try out a bunch at the music store..youll soon figure out what type of neck shape suits you ..then figure out what type of neck wood you like as rosewood sounds darker than maple...then the color and woods and weight of the guitar ..the price comes into play on the more desirable and rare units /electronics and pickups etc...i like fatter frets..itll get down to two or three then to 2..then the 1...buy that one!!