First....I'm new here. So hi. I really miss my 2004 50th anniversary Strat that I had to sell due to babies and what not:)

I am now in the market for a Strat and the two I am really looking at in my price range are killing me with G.A.S.!! The first one is a 1997 Cali Series and the Second one is a "Crafted in Japan" 1998 54 reissue. They are both around $650.

My question is which one would you guys choose? The Cali has a rosewood board and the 54 reissue has a maple board. I like both so that's not an issue.

I was even thinking of getting a MIM Strat to mod out because there are some KILLER deals on those things. I could even maybe get two:)

Thanks for reading this long post.

The 54 reissue would probably be closer to your 50th Ann. in feel and sound.As for MIM Strats some of them such as the Jimmie Vaughn with Tex Mex pups sound great out of the box.Welcome to the Forum,let us know what you choose and post pix too please.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Tough call all together. Both sound like awesome guitars. Have you had a chance to play them?

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

It might be a few weeks before I get to purchase one. I will post pics as soon as I get it of course.

I'm going to stop by and play them both tomorrow and possibly a few others. I'll let you know what I think.

Always let your hands and ears be the judge. Please keep us posted.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Yep. Each guitar (for me at least) is unique. You have to hold it, play it and listen. It's a bit like trying on a new relationship. Good luck. Post pics!

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-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

You can find a decent MIA strat for that price, maybe a tad more. The cali strat, if I remember right, was american parts assembled in Mexico. The MIJ are of the great quality, so much so it saved Fender in the 80's. MIM strats are nice, especially the deluxe series...

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


facebook.com/313DBC

So I missed out going to the shop today to play the two guitars I mentioned above. I'll be there tomorrow for sure and then I'll post a report. I've been playing for 27 years now and I am mostly a humbucker guy:)

I've been getting into single coil sounds now that I'm older. I just need to play them before I decide which one.

So I pulled the trigger on a 1985 Japanese Strat A serial# today. Can't wait to take pics and share it with you. Now the waiting begins........... All original, candy apple red, rosewood board. He called it a '62 Reissue. Don't know much about the Japanese Strats so I'm trying to educate myself. Next post will have pics. I promise.

Hi there.

I am sorry I got to this posting late, I would have suggested that you look at the guitar I just bought, a FSR MIM strat with a H-S-S set up, in sunshine orange sparkle.



I cost me 499.00 otd.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

Nice!!!! I think I got a great deal on the MIJ Strat. I got it for $499 as well. I was very surprised at the price. Very inexpensive to me.