Good morning folks, this is my first post on these forums. I'm looking into buying my first Fender and could use some advice.

I started playing guitar 19 years ago and have been primarily a Gibson/Epiphone player and my style is mainly blues. I took a few years off from playing (marriage, kids, etc) and have now rediscovered my love for guitar.

I'd like to buy my first Strat but there are so many options out there in the Fender line-up that I honestly don't know where to start. I'm well aware that alot of people will say "Go and try them out" and I will do this but for now I want to do the internet research first. Back in the day I remember when you pretty much had 3 versions of strats, American (Standard)/Mexican (Squire)/Japanese(?). With todays market having so many different options, where would be a good place for me to start? Again blues is my main focus and I'd also like to stay under the $1000 mark.

Thanks.

Playing guitar for 19 and never had a Fender??? What took you so long? just kidding.

You won't see many Japanese Fenders these days because Fender has limited their export. So your choices in the guitar shop will be limited to US and Mexican, but which is still a plethora of choices under $1000. Options really open up if you look at used guitars.

Maybe ask yourself what features you are looking for. Modern or vintage? Start there and work your way down the list. Go to the products section here and compare specs of a few different Strats under $1000. Don't go by the MSRP listed, check out sites like Musicians Friend for the current going rates.

Any Strat can do the blues, but for your budget I'm biased towards the MIM Classic Player or MIA American Special (American Standard might stretch your budget but it will be worth it). I find MIM Standards' pickups not well suited to the vintage Strat vibe if that sound is what you're going for. But yeah you got to try before you buy since every guitar is different just as every piece of wood is different.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

If you´re a Bluesman, then the Texas Specials is your pickups.
You can buy the same I have with that budget, you wont regret it. It´s a pretty much modern strat with that SRV tone on the pickups, plus locking tuners for superb stability.

Fender Special Run of 20 American Standard Stratocaster

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44771

There´s still 4 of them left at Sweetwater and Sweetwater only.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratAMMBL/

And let me recommend you a Fender Blues Junior III Tube Amplifier to go along with that for a killer blues tone!

Thanks for the replies. What about HSS vs. SSS for blues sound?

Keep an open mind to used gear. There are a lot of people out there that trade in great condition guitars for different reasons that are almost new to us. Buying American is almost always a better choice. The MIA retains value much more than MIM. Its going to boil down to taste from there. Do you like the 70's headstock (real big one), if so, than an American Special or Highway 1 will be perfect. One has glossy body, the other has a satin Nitro finish. If you like the normal headstock, look for a used American standard or older Highway 1. Then you get into other items such as all single coils (SSS config), Humbucker and two single coils (HSS), and duel Humbuckers (HH or Big Apple). Pickups vary from one model to the neck and are easily replaced, so is pickups, bridges, tuning machine heads, etc.... Go for a style you want first, then pick out your guitar.

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


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I really dont mind for a Humbucker at the bridge of a stratocaster. Someone in the past said to me "Let a Strat be a Strat". And I really dont dig the looks of a HSS Strat, but its just my taste.

And regarding for the blues sound, the Texas Special bridge will really nail it.

Which models besides the "SRV" come with the texas special components? I LOVE the SRV model. It's exactly what I want except for one thing, the price tag.

Hello 240sx,
Welcome to the forum. First of all I'm no expert and there are guys on here who know a lot more than I do but I will give you my 2 cents worth and I hope it helps. The great thing about Strats is you can get a really nice American Strat for $1000. And I'm certainly not knocking Mexican's by saying that. Just be sure you try out different ones with different neck radius's. The 57 and 62 Reissues have Vintage Style frets so if you've been on Gibson's for a while you may or may not like the small fret wires or the 7.5 radius. The American Standard's have Medium Jumbo frets and a 9.5 radius. Then you have the new Deluxe with the compound radius but you may not find one of those for that amount of money or a Reissue either unless you look for used ones. You just have to go play as many as you can until you find one. I bought my AVRI 57 from ebay and didn't play it first and It took some getting used to with the Vintage Neck but I love everything about it now, probably will never let it go. They have quite a few different types of pickups for 'em too. Just play as many as you can. I hope this helps a little and I hope you find the right one for you. I think the American Special's come with Texas Special's.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

What about the one I posted you ? It does got Texas Specials. And locking tuners. And it´s a Limited Edition for 1199!
You can get the same Texas Specials on the American Special Stratocaster too, for only 799! But it aint got no hand-rolled frets!

Fat strat or HSS strats are cool, but I had a Lonestar and the SD Pearly Gates was too powerful to be matched with single coils (even the Texas Specials I had). Humbucker are great too. More blues players actually use humbuckers anyway. When Clapton played with the Bluesbreakers, he was using a Les Paul. Hendrix did too. BB King, Albert King, Freddie King, list goes on, all used humbuckers. Then you have SRV, KWS, Robert Cray, and that list keeps going of single coils.... You can't go wrong either way. The tone is in your hands more than the guitar!

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


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Aren't those Tex-mex not Texas Specials? There is the MIM Deluxe line which uses Texas Specials too (Lonestar and Roadhouse)

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


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Yes but it's out of my price range. Plus I'm in Canada so shipping would not be free to me. Nice guitar though.

No Tex-Mex here mate. Texas Specials.

Then for Texas Specials and American made Strat, you will be happy here:

Fender American Special Stratocaster $799.99
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratASM2TS/


Besides it aint got no hand-rolled frets, it´s a damn good guitar! I got the Highway One model also, as it´s the same guitar, but different color and pickup specs.

joaokorb it looks like you've just found my next guitar! That's the color I was looking for too. Thanks man! They have them here locally for $875 CDN.