Went to Guitar Center today to try out some gear to judge my next purchase.

First guitar I tried was the KWS Signature Strat. Wow. It sounds awesome. The pickups give it an awesome bluesy sound even on clean. Overdriven is even better. The neck is thicker than my MIM standard, which I didn't think I'd like, but it's actually a very nice feel. And the wider radius makes chording easier. Only bit I didn't like was the shiny headstock and maybe the mint green guard. I might swap that for a tortoiseshell. I think this'll be my next guitar.

Also tried a Lonestar Strat - the only one I found with the Texas Specials I've been after for a while. I must say that I could barely tell the difference between that and my stock pups. A little more spank to them, but the KWS custom pups were much cooler. Won't be buying these.

Also tried two pedals - the Boss BD2 and the Tube Screamer by Ibanez. The TS sounded way too much like my amp's built in distortion (I have a FM 65r), and I wasn't too impressed. The Blues driver, however, sounds amazing. Paired with the KWS, it's perfect. I'm not even that big a blues fan, but I do love the overdrive tone of that pedal and the KWS strat.

Walked out empty handed (I'm broke, this was just a planning trip) but all in all a successful visit.

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[08 MIM Standard Arctic White] > [Danelectro Fish n Chips EQ > Radial Texas Bones OD > Tonerider British Distortion > Electroharmonix Russian Big Muff Pi > Vox V847 Wah] > FM65R

Sounds like you've found something you really like, cool.
I had a planning trip of my own to guitar center today. I'm GASing bad for a Japanese '57 RI that I played there. I hate it when it hurts to put a guitar down.

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Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
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yeah. If only I could wish 900 dollars into my pocket. Sigh.

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[08 MIM Standard Arctic White] > [Danelectro Fish n Chips EQ > Radial Texas Bones OD > Tonerider British Distortion > Electroharmonix Russian Big Muff Pi > Vox V847 Wah] > FM65R