I've been an happy Jimmie Vaughan signature stratocaster owner for about 3,5 year now and still loving the thing to death!

But i've been fairly harsh on it and the fretwear is starting to become an issue, if i keep on playing this much on it i'll probably have to give the thing a fret smooth job within a year. However i really don't want to mess with it because it can influence the playability, i rather make it my 2nd strat so i can use it to play certain songs on gigs (Lenny for example).

So i'm kind of looking around for a successor for this guitar, my budget is 1500-2000 euro's. However i'm having some problems with making my first selection. In this pricerange i have a few options:

Eric Johnson Signature stratocaster
+Hardware wise very interesting!
-Getting mixed signals about the tone, that it would be very peculiar and dry.

Custom Shop Deluxe stratocaster
+Custom Shop quality
-Not too sure about the fat D necks. I like teh JV's soft V but i don't have very big hand so it might be too much

Stevie Ray Vaughan stratocaster
+Texas Blues all the way!
-Texas Blues all the way! (i think that the Tex Mex in my JV tend to be more all round than the Texas Specials but please proove me wrong)

American Vintage '57 stratocaster
+Spec wise a lot like the Jimmie Vaughan one. But visually diggin it less than for example the '62
-Havent played it yet.

American Vintage '62 stratocaster
+Love the mojo and looks
-played one once...output was VERY low, almost weak...just didn't do it (maybe it was a rotten apple)

American Deluxe Stratocaster
+Said to be very nice for people who play a lot because of the modern stuff
-doesn't give me GAS at all...missing the love and vintage feel

American Standard Stratocaster
+Said to be very good nowadays. Played one once, loved the neck
-I can do better budget wise

As you can see i'm having a lot of trouble...I pretty much want the successor quality wise of my Jimmie Vaughan, maybe you guys can help me in the right direction?

i own a 62 riessue in Surf Green and it is a great guitar. I think you should keep checking it out though because i didnt have a problem with the output i thought it was pretty strong and the one you could have played was maybe just a bad apple.

Custom build your own Strat to your specs. That way you know youll get the guitar you want.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

I have to agree. I find it hard to believe you could have wiped out the existing frets in such a short period of time.

As to a second guitar, do something revolutionary. Forget about SRV for the moment and consider getting one that you would hang YOUR name on as YOUR Signature Strat.

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You dig?

if you want a number 1 strat, get the ej strat.
it is super sweet.

if your concerned about a thick neck, srv,and custom classic(im not sure about this one)
might be worth checking out.
also check the eric clapton strat out. that way you c an have 2 strats with alot of ground to cover.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Honestly, my advice would be to get a fret job. I've been playing my Squier (with Texas Specials, it's no joke) for about the same amount of time and I've needed two fret jobs so far. This summer I'm getting a refret. Why spend money for a refret on a Squier? Because it's the right guitar, I love it, and it's still cheaper than buying another.

Although I can understand the need for another guitar. You need a backup with a similar feel and sound, especially if you play live a lot.


I've only played one briefly myself, but everyone I know who has one loves it.


Don't buy something just because it says "Custom Shop" on it. The fat D's and soft V's are entirely different animals as well.


A Jimmie Vaughan Strat and a Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat are actually very different.
-The neck shapes are much different, the SRV neck is very similar to a '62 Strat (which makes since because the real #1 had a '62 neck on it). Whereas the JV neck is thinner and like a cross between a 50's neck and a modern C. I strongly prefer the JV neck, but that's just me.

-The tone is also way different. Both pickups are hotter than vintage, but the Texas Specials have more bass/midrange and are warmer and richer sounding. The Tex-Mex pickups are a little more bright and biting. I have Texas Specials in my Squier and swear by them. That's not to say Tex-Mex aren't good, but I think most people prefer the Texas Specials.

-The placement of the tremolo bar is lefty on the SRV Strat. I actually like that feature a lot and I wish I had the guts to rout out my guitar for one.


Beware of the frets!!! From what I can tell you;
1. Like Texas blues a lot, which means bending.
2. Don't like fret wear.
3. Want a new guitar specifically because you want to preserve your frets.

If this is the case you don't want any guitar with "vintage frets" in the specs. You'll wear those things out before you know it and you won't just need a fret job, you'll need a refret. And you won't play your guitar because of the stinkin' little frets which make it hard to bend. I know because I have an '04 Standard Strat stuck in it's case never getting played because the itty bitty frets bug me. I won't really be able to play it until it gets a refret.


Again, beware of the frets. And it may be that you're used to higher output pickups, I dunno.
[/quote]
American Deluxe Stratocaster
+Said to be very nice for people who play a lot because of the modern stuff
-doesn't give me GAS at all...missing the love and vintage feel[/quote]

What exactly do you mean by missing the vintage feel? I'm not being critical, I'm just curious. I played an American Deluxe V neck Stratocaster and it felt wonderful. Actually it was kind of similar to the Jimmie Vaughan Strat as far as the neck goes. And it has a compound radius, which isn't fun for guitar techs but I like it. I'd swap the N3s out for Texas Specials though.

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if you are from europe you could go with this one,its the best strat i ever played

http://www.andonamusic.com/missinglink.html