I've been playing a '79 strat since I bought it brand new. I've enjoyed it a lot, and the only "70's problem" it has is the boat-anchor weight. Anyway, I'm looking for a second strat and I have some preferences for this one, hoping you guys can help me decide between 3 models I have my eye on.

What I really want is a flatter radius and fatter frets, and still have vintage styling. So I'm looking at:

1. Eric Johnson Strat, the 12" radius is great but I don't know if I'd like the soft "V" neck.

2. Custom Shop Special Edition Custom Deluxe as seen at Musician's Friend http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Custom-Shop-Special-Edition-Custom-Deluxe-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=584101 It's got a 9.5" radius but I'm not so sure about the two-bolt tremolo.

3. Hot Rod '62. Love the specs and the vintage vibe, but it's the cheapest of the three and I wonder if the QC is up to the same level as the others.

Which one would you pick and why? Your responses will help a lot in making this decision. And I know what you're going to say , but ... none of these guitars are available in-store anywhere near me, so I can't try them all out and choose the one that fits me best.

Thanks for your input!

Hi TorzJohnson,

The neck on the EJ model is beefy, hand-filling, more than a 70s U shape neck. The 2 bolt trem will stay in tune better than the six screw trem on the other two. And the QC on all, including the HRd, will be great, but the Custom Shop are hand made, not regular production.

As far as choice, do you want to use the trem, or do you like a flush bridge with no trem use? If you want to whammy I would get the 2 bolt trem for better tuning stability. I prefer my bridge flush and held down tight to the body, no whammy, so I would get the '62 HRd, for the reasons that you listed.

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Thanks shimmilou - I don't use the trem at all, and I've always kept it screwed down tight. I'd buy a hardtail if it could get it. So it's not something I'd need in the CS strat.

BTW it says it's CS but it only costs 2 grand, way below other CS strats such as Relics. I have to wonder if it really is CS or some kind of hybrid production/CS guitar.

There´s no such thing as hybrid/cs fenders, that one is definitly a Fender Custom Shop, and I would go that route if I was you and have the budget u got. You wont be sorry.