Hey everyone....im Conor ( new )

Just need some suggestions .... i got my first fender not long ago ( fender blacktop jag ) ...and love it .....im a BIG strat fan and just wondering what would be the best fender strat model to get ( please no squire sh** =D ) ...any suggestions ....btw I'm on a budget .....and would like a candy apple red one ...i was thinking mexican standard ...any suggestions ???

Thanks everyone

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2014 Fender Classic 50's nitro Stratocaster - Candy red.
2011 Gibson Les Paul Junior 'Billie Joe Armstrong' Signature.
2011 Fender Classic Player Jaguar Special HH - Olympic White
2012 Epiphone Dove Acoustic
Marshall MG100CFX
Marshall MG15CFX

can't go wrong with a mexican standard. They are inexpensive, and you can do some great mods to get them to do what you want. I've got 2 mim standards in my strat collection. I'd look in the used market...there are a ton of used mexican standards that you can easily pickup for about $300 USD.

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'10 Fender Classic Player 60's Strat
'04 Fender Std Strat w/ vintage Noiseless pickups
'98 Fender US Strat
'95 Fender Std Strat w/ dual HB's
'09 Gibson Les Paul Std
'10 Fender Blues Jr. NOS
'98 Peavey 5150
'04 Fender Hot Rod Deville
'10 Fender Mustang I

MIM strats are very good you can also get a blacktop candy apple red for 100 buck more.

Since your criteria is "' On a Budget " I would be less concerned with color and really maximize value by finding the best for the money spent.
Or really Go and Play as many as you can than decide, a well set up Squier will beat a poorly set up MIM or MIA.
It should be entirely dependent on your needs. If you are not gigging or are still in the intermediate stage than a full pro set up, will never be optimal.

Speaking just for myself but I believe this to be true for many on this forum.
It is a graduating process to acquire any guitar, as your abilities expand so does your requirements, many have bought expensive instruments only to realize later that they have moved on into a very different style and that instrument is worthless for the style of music they are now performing.
An extreme example would be for me to get a Jim Root sig. model for the style of music I play.

Good Luck and just be honest with yourself when it seems you may have found the Holy Grail.
" All that Glitters is most definitely not Gold "

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

thanks everyone for your quick replys

Hmm well ive looked at the blacktop strat ....and to be honest ..i dont really need the humbuckers because of my blacktop jaguar ...so ill buy an sss strat ....the mexican soulds and looks very nice ... how is the quality of the standard series ??...also ..how are the necks ??? ...btw how does CAR with a maple neck sound

thanks

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2014 Fender Classic 50's nitro Stratocaster - Candy red.
2011 Gibson Les Paul Junior 'Billie Joe Armstrong' Signature.
2011 Fender Classic Player Jaguar Special HH - Olympic White
2012 Epiphone Dove Acoustic
Marshall MG100CFX
Marshall MG15CFX

Hey, welcome to the forum, I'm sure u will enjoy it here!

I bought a new MIM strat this christmas, candy apple red with a rosewood board, and I have absolutely no complaints. I had two Squier affinity strats before it, and it is certainly a noticeable improvement in quality. I don't know as much as some of the guys here, but I would definitely recommend trying out the MIM standard, as I love mine!

Drew

Hi conork, welcome to the forum. Well even if you have a low opinion of the Squier guitars, they still might be an improvement for some players, certainly a step in the right direction. I own one and I can say that a well set up Squier is a very good guitar for the price. Anyway I agree with the MIM suggestion, a step ahead, but also need a decent set up to perform as any guitar regardless of it's price. Good luck.
Claude.

Hey everyone ...wow more replies ...I like this forum =D

On the subject of squire guitars ...I've got nothing against them but a couple of weeks back I went to a big music store and played lots of guitars , some squires , some MIM's and some MIA's ( just for fun ..I can't afford one of them =D ) and I just didn't think any of the squire guitars felt right in my hands .. And this could be just me also wanting the fender name .....but now that I do own a real fender ( blacktop jag ) ..I'm just looking for a nice playing stratocaster yes Im gonna go with everyones suggestions and get myself a MIM strat with candy apple red finish and maple neck

Thanks for all your help ..oh and your welcomes

_________________
2014 Fender Classic 50's nitro Stratocaster - Candy red.
2011 Gibson Les Paul Junior 'Billie Joe Armstrong' Signature.
2011 Fender Classic Player Jaguar Special HH - Olympic White
2012 Epiphone Dove Acoustic
Marshall MG100CFX
Marshall MG15CFX

You mentioned being on a budget so here are my thoughts on a budget strat coming from a budget guitarist. All prices are in Canadian $$ so convert as req.

I own a Squier Standard series strat in which I put EMG SA's and the guitar became an "inspired by D. Gilmour" creation. Great guitar but with the stock pickups, too bright for me. You could likely get some MIM pickups to go into it for a low price and have something comparable to a MIM strat at a lower price. About $250.

I used to own a MIM Standard series. It is a subtle increase in quality, but IMO the pickups are not my favorite. They are hot but not with a particular amount of character. Once I put some Texas Specials in, I liked it a lot more. It's also more than twice the price of the Squier Standard if you want a guitar to modify. $550.

I own a Highway One and I am really happy with it. There are varrying opinions out there on these guitars but I really like mine and it's stock and I picked mine up on clearance for $50 more than the MIM Standard. These are essentially the precursor to the American Special Series and the only difference is Alnico 3 pickups vs Texas Specials. $600.

I really think that for the budget minded guitartist looking for a strat however, by far the best value in a stock guitar is the Squier Classic Vibe series. Much higher quality guitar than the MIM Fender and the Squier Standard. They are close in quality to a Highway One. I have the Classic Vibe Telecaster custom. Alnico 5 pickups, 60's styling, very nice guitar and definitely on par with my Highway One...the 2 form a nice duo. The pickups are not perfect, but they sound good for classic rock which is what I use it for. Best thing is that it is stock and it's great. I picked mine up for $300 on sale but they can be had for around $400 all the time.

Name is not always the most important consideration. Just play lots of guitars and find something that pleases you.

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All the guitars hanging on the wall came from the factory with a generic set up. They might have been there for months, and maybe have been played and abused by hundreds of potential buyers before someone but it and take it home. Any guitar will benefit from a decent set up. But the price of the set up is the same, regardless of the price of the guitar. So it might be better in the long run to acquire the best quality guitar you can afford and do your own experience from there.
Claude.

hi there , a mim strat is a good guitar and has been mentioned the pups are a bit hot , but with a bit of fiddling you can get em sounding not too bad and it's also a good platform for modding (i've already replaced the bridge on mines after only a few weeks ) if you don't like the pups you can always swap them out , iron gear do texas loco pups for the strat at a very nice price i have a set in my 89 mij ,heres a pic of my mim strat



cheers
Alan

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Conor

I wouldn't go slating Squier's on this site. Just a word to the wise, cos of your new'ness and all.

This



Get's way more play time than these



Or this



Or this.



Anyway welcome to the forums and congratulations on prefering the most excellent of strat colours.

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No no and no

Classic Vibe Squiers I've played have been particularly excellent:

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products ... _apple_red

Hi Conner, welcome to the forum. I have to agree with nicholsoni and Dino in that the Squire Classic Vibe series guitars are an amazing value. I just purchased a Classic Vibe Tele Custom and I absolutely love it. It is a beautiful guitar that looks like it costs many times what I paid for it and it sounds great. After setting it up it plays well. The neck is alittle slim to my liking but I can deal with it. If you are on a budget I strongly suggest checking out the Classic Vibe Strats and Teles. I think you will be very suprised at the quality of these instruments. Plus the Strats come in some cool colors. Happy hunting.

Russ

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'08 Amer. Dlx. Strat, '98 Amer. Std. Strat, '10 Squire CV Tele Custom, '96 Seagull S+6 Cedar
Deluxe Reverb RI, Tweed Blues Jr., Champion 110, Champion 600, Mustang I, Line 6 Vetta

While I understand liking your Squier a bunch...I'd be happy to trade a Squier for one or two of those other guitars

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