I read your posts with great interest and find them very educational. So, I was wondering -- which currently-available Strat do you think is the best all-around Strat for, let's say, classic rock & blues? Consider versatility and reliability as important factors..

I'm flattered.

Actually, you're talking my exact musical tastes.

You know you are hitting me with a totally subjective question. Notwithstanding, I've never been a rich guy so any and all of my Strats were bought in accordance with what I felt was a reasonable price. Consequently and to this day, I find anything Custom Shop grossly overpriced for what it is and can pretty much mimic any production model to give me the sound and feel I require. So, I eliminate all of them, no matter how good they may be.

As it is a solid body and this point has been argued pro and con a million times, even right here, I maintain that although to a degree it does, the wood does NOT have as great an effect on the overall sound of a Strat as people popularly attribute to it. Further, electronics can have a greater effect on the overall sound of the guitar than people popularly attribute to it.

Having said that, the closest nowadays to what I'm used to and have used throughout the years is an American 62 RI Strat. Granted, modifications such as a compound radiused fingerboard, larger frets and some serious electronic overhauls (which I'll get into later) are required but once these things are done, all bases are covered in my book.

I have always favored Rosewood fingerboards as I feel I can get a gritter and richer sound from them and that the board microscopically breathes with your fingers whereas with a maple board, you are merely playing on it. Further, maple boards tend to be a little too 'snappy' (if that makes any sense to you) where there's a depth of tonality missing that is always there with a rosewood board. Ironically, and I'll be the first to admit it, I like the looks of a maple board much better.

As far as the pickups go, I'm not a 'quack' player. The ONLY time I use positions 2 and 4 at all is if a cover tune demands it. I think these sounds are WAY too overused for decades now and too many people simply, "set it and forget it" in either of those two positions (Robert Cray is a perfect example). As a matter of fact, I don't even use 5 way switches, only 3 ways.

Typically, I would wire my guitars with master volume and tone and the blender pot because I do appreciate the presence and value of that Tele sound.

What I've been using as my #1 since 2007 believe it or not is a Deluxe Players Strat. Yes, you've read this correctly. It is WELL put together with excellent wood specimens and has the feel and even the acoustic sound of many of my 60s Strats. And with the 12" radius and larger frets, half my job was done. I did have to shave the fret ends and totally resetup the guitar (with Ernie Ball 9s, my string set of choice since 1969) but once all this was done, the guitar truly mimics my 60s ones and I defy anyone to A/B it against any US production model and point out how construction and quality wise, the US one is better. As a matter of fact, I had no intentions of buying this guitar. I just happened to be in a music store on a consultation and there were 5 different ones spanning a rack. Just out of curiosity, I picked one up to see what it was all about. It was awful as was the next one, etc, etc. until I came to this one and like I said, it was the acoustic sound which made me pursue it further. I saw the potential in it and the rest is history. Needless to say too, those Vintage Noiseless pickups did not do it for me any way, shape or form either. Believe me, I tried everything with them.

For pickups, I have a very light touch so, I keep them a tad powerful but let's face it, NOTHING beats a single coil in a Strat. I have all Duncans, an SSL-2 in the neck, an SSL-6 in the middle and an SSL-3 in the bridge. As you can see, I start off normal with the neck and wind up rather powerful with the bridge. I use a 250K volume pot and a 500K for each tone pot. The 250K keeps the rip at a high volume, the 500Ks keep things smooth and crisp at lower ones. This guitar is wired stock, believe it or not but I also have that extra OEM push button to engage the bridge pickup (yes, I rewired it). Needless to say, the 5 way was replaced with a 3 way.

So, if you have a few bucks and are skeptical of MIM stuff, my #1 choice would be for you to bag the US 62 RI. The OEM pickups aren't bad at all (the 57/62s). But if you want something really interesting, look into a Deluxe Players.

I'm sure that there are other equally good model Strats out there which will suit your purpose but this is my experience and believe me, I've tried MANY of ALL the Strat models past and present.

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Lol, I was actually wondering the same thing, but didn't want to bother you Martian.
As always, a good read.

Martian,

Very cool response. Thanks. I always enjoy reading what you have to say about guitars; especially the electronics side! I appreciate it.

I've got a couple of build projects floating around in my head, and as they solidify, I'm sure I'll have some questions for you.

Thanks again for your knowledge and your posts!

Rick

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Old age and treachery will win every time over youth and enthusiasm.

"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer

Another good article!

One could NEVER bother me with such questions and as I've stated above, I'm flattered that my opinions are actually valued. PLEASE feel free to ask whatever WITHOUT hesitation!!

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I thank you and you're quite welcome!

As previously stated, I welcome any and all questions and am glad to share what I know.

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Nice read Martian.

Funny to read something in which someone whose knowledge I really respect, yet we differ in our Strat tastes quite a bit. yet we're both right. Some of the stuff you don't like (quack, for example,and for me the rosewood board isn't 'snappy enough, :lol ) is some of the stuff i really like. Good thing not all strats sound the same, or for that matter, good thing you can make one strat sound significantly different.

But you really show that you know what you like, and how to get there. It's rare for guitarists to actually take the time, and put in the effort and/or care to hone their own sound.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Thank you!

Absolutely, we are BOTH correct!!

I find it rather tragic really when I see so many posts of, "How can I sound like 'so and so'..." where one's musical quest is to duplicate every nuance of someone else, right down to pick choice. I remember when I was just learning, a friend of mine who was by far, the best guitarist in the neighborhood made a passing statement once where he said that if someone is going to stand in front of a stage and drool all over that guitar player on the stage, said person will never be that guitar player on the stage. I never forgot that statement and to this day, have always strived to sound like myself both tonally and stylistically. Even when playing copy tunes, I always try to put my own spin on it (naturally, in conformance with the tune). Let's face it, for better or for worse, if every guitar player on the planet wanted to be a Jimi Hendrix clone for example, and as much as I like Jimi Hendrix, how boring would the world of guitars be?

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Hey, Martian, thanks for the very informative reply to my original question. I've been considering picking up another Strat that I'd feel more comfortable modding and setting up. My goal is a '60s kinda look and sound so your info was on target for me. I considered a Classic Players '60s (if I could find a really good deal) or a standard MIM as a starting point. Now, the Deluxe Players Strat is another one I'll take a look at.

Actually, the CP '60s sounds like it was fairly close to what you described, except of course for the pickups and the price. I'm guessing the fretwork you described would not be required on a CP '60s, though. One other point -- until I read your response in another thread, I didn't know that the string spacing on the Deluxe Players Strat was like an Am Std, not the closer spacing of the MIMs..

You're quite welcome!

Yes on the string spacing. I was all prepared to comment on that too but I was distracted and totally forgot about it.

With the CP '60s frets, I would have to reserve decision on each specimen until I, myself eyeballed it.

As to fret sprout in general, I've seen so many Fenders, regardless of [alleged] country of origin that have it to where I accept and correct it as routinely as I would change an OEM string set. In all fairness though, I've also seen it with other high end brands too. Obviously, as guitars are being cranked out faster and faster due to CNC machines, the wood is not allowed to dry and shrink as in years past, regardless of presumed advances in synthetic methods. I honestly don't think factory QC has anything to do with it though. A factory controlled environment will always be 'the' ideal setting and it is here that the frets and all else are honed to a "fine and dandy" condition, waiting to be shipped. Rather, it is simply more a consequence of leaving the factory and entering the 'real world' of multiple imperfect for guitar environments over a brief period of time and then, oftentimes sitting in a completely different environment over a prolonged period of time and possibly again and again. Something has to give and when it comes to frets vs. fingerboards, you know the rest.

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I heard a very wise player once who said, "Learn everything you can learn, copy everyone you adore, read all that you can read and then forget all of it. After that your sound and style will emerge.

As far as classic rock/blues tunes, I couldn't agree with you more RI 60"s-70's Strat defeniatly rule. However, in the last several years my budget has severly dropped for Strat purchases, so other avenues had to be pursued. Best road I found for me, MIM with subtle mods. Mostly pickups and controls. The rest is just cosmetic for taste and style. I think the MIM's have improved by leaps and bounds over last few years.

Wow, you really have a lot of truly outstanding information here and I couldn't agree with you more!

I've also said repeatedly what you've said about the MIMs and that they have a much closer feel to the Strats of the 60s than what American Standards (and their spinoffs) do.

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MArtian, I was glad to read your comments on your DP strat. I've been eyeing the saphire blue one up, just because I like the color and I like the fact that you can have all 3 pickups plus the neck/bridge option. I guess I'll have to give some a try like you did to see if I find one that moves me.
Thanks for the info,
filerj

Glad to help.

Remember though, you may have to traverse a few of them until you find one which has bonafide potential. Again, leave the Vintage Noiseless pickups out of the equation and like I said too, fret sprout may be common. So, presume it to be there and unless you can tackle such a task yourself, choose a store which has a COMPETENT tech who will make it all go away with no collateral damage to the frets, neck and fingerboard BEFORE you buy it.

Good luck!

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