Hey Folks,

I've been searching for the past 2 months for the perfect Fender...and I finally found it yesterday.

I started playing the guitar about 2 months ago and I've been taking weekly lessons with an Acoustic-Electric. I was walking around the shop and just picked up a Fender American Strat and instantly fell in love. It gave me that warm, fuzzy...tickle in your toes feeling!

I'm 23 and never played an instrument before...so it's hard as hell to learn(thus the reason I'm elected to get lessons).


I'm planning a wedding this Aug. so I knew I couldn't spend $1k on a Fender...so I had decided to go Mexican as my first guitar. If my fiance saw $1k come out the Savings Acct...I'd be pissing blood for a year. Rule of thumb: Wedding + Open Bar for 70 guests = MUCHO $$$

I was looking on Craigslist for a mint condition MIM Strat and I found some guy selling a used Buddy Guy Strat for $450. It's a 2004 very clean, all original, etc...so I ended up paying $300 which I thought was a steal.


I'm at work, but should be home shortly to take pics...but I couldn't wait to share the great news with everyone here...



Thanks,

Yeah, no doubt. Man, I would cut that out of the budget. Really. Give people people a choice between beer (get a couple Heineken kegs), wine (a good but not great quality red and white), or champagne. If they want to drink Johnny Walker Black or Corvousier, then that is on their dime. Oh, and have good food, and go "old school" if you are having a DJ. Remember, when people are driving home they will first discuss the food ... people always remember the food.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Tell me about it...she's in law school as well.

If I ever decide to call it quits, she's taking my $@! to the cleaners!

The Buddy Guy model is a nice guitar!! Congrats!

Thought about doing a Beer and Wine Bar.

The problem is my family is full of heavy drinkers. Plus I figured I'll bite the bullet. The one thing I had to have was open bar...

There are a few things to skimp on to save cash. Flowers, cake, lights, etc... The three things we did right were: Bar, DJ and Photographer.

The one thing that counts are the photos man...those things are being looked at for the rest of our lives...

Pimp4 congrats on the axe and the wedded bliss. Take it from someone who had an open bar at my wedding. It will be expensive!!!! The other problem is there is no way you can reconcile how much booze is served. I asked the manager to tell me what their pours would yield. Based on the bill he provided all 90 people at our wedding had 6 beers, half bottle of wine and 6 drinks EACH. Plus my family are all light drinkers. I did have a few friends though that would fill that average. Anyway I challenged the manager's bill. He knocked 30% off without batting an eyelash. the only reason I didn't pursue it further was its was my wife's boss' country club. I had a buddy in the catering business who said it's no problem for them to produce the empty bottles to justify the bill. So enjoy your new guitar, wife and wedding. But keep an eye on the bar.

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2015 Epiphone Casino Goldtop
2011 Taylor 814ce
2009 EC Custom Shop Merc Blue
2008 Schecter ATX
1964 Epi Granada E444T
Fender Super Champ XD

Thats a good idea on the pre-nup for the guitar!!

Also, you may want to consider starting a seperate savings account called the "divorce fund" - it could be very beneficial if that "not so glorious" day every should arise!!

Im totally joking man, congrats on the new strat!!!

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"Wait a minute, somethings wrong here!"

You guys suck!! giving him divorce advice!!!

Anyway congrats on both the guitar and the impending nuptuals.

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

LMAO!! My cousin got hitched a few weeks back. The first thing my wife and I talked about when we got in the car was how crappy the food was.

The hell with the marriage - think about all the equipment you could buy!


Congrats on your engagement and the nice guitar, friend. May both ladies bring you countless years of enjoyment to come

WOW! WHAT A STEAL!!!!!

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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Congrats on the guitar and the marriage... in that order. Just kidding.

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"Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul..."

-Emily Dickinson

I appreciate all the kind words...you folks are actually an extremely cool group of people (most forums are full of d1ckheads).

Figured I'll mention...the resort we've having the wedding at had a food tasting last weekend - the food was awsome!


I finally snapped and uploaded some pictures.


FRONT:







BACK:







FULL SHOT:







NECK:







SMALL CRACK (1):







SMALL CRACK (2):






I didn't see the cracks when I brought them and got nerves when I saw them today. I called Fender and they told me it's extremely common and gave me the number to a local store that's a Gold Certified Repair Shop. I called them and they told me 75% of all Strats end up having that same crack...thoughts?

I was wondering...it's a 2004 (I had it confirmed by Fender Customer Support). Do you think it was a good deal for $300? It's in perfect condition besides those small cracks.

The seller also threw in a gig bag and amp cable for free!!!

I say decent deal, and yeah those finish cracks are a fairly common thing.
Love the dots!

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

No matter how you put it, its a STEAL! I've heard of the cracking, usually just a finish issue. But it wouldn't hurt to have a pro look at it. That is a beautiful guitar. The newer Buddy Guy Strat's colors are reversed. I like your verison better. Its funny that his guitar is so popular. He wanted his painted like that so people wouldn't ask to borrow or keep (or both) his strat.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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