Just bought my first brand new Strat. This may be a dumb question, so bear with my ignorance, but does a new guitar straight from the factory need to be taken in to a shop to be set up, have the frets leveled, etc., or are they usually ready to go right of the box?

I just bought a new AVRI '57 and It played okay when I got it but I had it set up by a professional and It was like a totally different guitar. So yes I would recommend you at least have the set up checked on it by a pro. It really made a world of difference on mine.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Thankyou sir, and congrats on your new axe, looks great. I think you're right, I probably should have it looked at. I've been out of the guitar world for a long time, so its probably best to get back into it with the Strat properly set up.

Thanks and congrats on yours too. Hope you enjoy it. I've been out of the guitar world for a while too until a week or so ago. I've been playing acoustic alot but it's just not the same as being plugged in with a strat eh?

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

You got that right. Been about 20 years since I last played. I fear I've gotten a little rusty over the last two decades.