EDIT: Let's take the American Deluxe out of it... probably more than I can afford to spend right now.

So I've decided to cash in a coupon this weekend on one of the strats below. I called the nearest Guitar Center (200 miles away) and they only had the American Standard and one Deluxe in stock, so playing them beforehand isn't an option. I'm currently playing an 04 MIM (all-stock), so I think any of them should be a significant upgrade.

More info: My MIM has vintage frets and I've also played a friend's MIA that has medium-jumbo frets and I like both; as far as I can know, I've never played a neck that wasn't 9.5" modern C. I play mostly indie stuff (White Stripes, Radiohead) and classic rock through a Super Champ XD. What would you suggest?? Thanks!

1. American Standard ($800)

2. Jimmie Vaughan ($700)

3. Classic Players 50s ($700)

4. Classic Series 50s ($600)

5. Deluxe Players' ($500)

6. Roadhouse ($500)

American Standard, all the way. Cant beat that buttery neck. Pickups you can change anytime.

+1 American standard all the way for me. They play nice and sound great, plus as mentioned you can change the pickups if need be.
To be honest, I prefer the standard to the deluxe, it just sounds better in my opinion. I just don't like the n3 pups.

American Std.

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the American Standard hands down.

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Just slap some really nice pickups in your MIM.. . I don't see the use in spending 800 dollars on a guitar.. I've got a MIM that sounds better than my buddies american standard, granted mine came with custom shop pickups, and then I added a telecaster pickup into the mix just to get a tele sounds since i cant afford one of them yet.

Though I did play a 1000 dollar telecaster in which i fell in love with and would gladly fork over 1000 on it if I was rich. .. but until then, it's mexicos finest for me.

They're all put together by mexicans anyway you look at it..


and the more expensive the guitar doesn't mean you'll be a better player, Hound Dog Taylor and a bunch of them boys back in the day played on cheap POS Teisco and Kawai's that could blow the roof off any juke joint. People just get sucked into the MIA hype, I think those guitars are the only things we make here in America haha everything else is made in China.

Love the tinted neck on the Jimmy V model. If I didn't want a USA model I would have picked that one.

Classic 50s all the way. they play sound and feel like butter!!
ABS

There is no wrong decision. Find the one that speaks to you in person

On my last Strat shopping trip I tried out several Strats including Am. Stand. but the guitar that I liked most was the Jimmie Vaughn-it just sang out to me-but whereas guitar preference is purely subjective you will be the best judge as to which one is right for you.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

That would be the best way to go if you can do that.

Do you play more rhythm or lead? For bending and lead playing flatter fretboards tend to feel best, and chords feel a little better on more rounded fretboards. That's generalizing though, you're personal preference could be different from that.

Out of the choices you listed, my personal favorite would be the Jimmie Vaughan Strat. But then, I play blues and I like play with my thumb up over the board so I like V necks. In your situation an American Standard might be a better bet if you've never played a JV in person. Judging from the guitars you say you like now, you'd most likely be very happy with an American Standard.

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98 MIA Strat, 07 MIM 60's Reissue Strat, Mustang l, Mustang lll

Any of the Classic Series or the Jimmy V for the feel of V neck.

I have a JV that I play through a SCXD and just love it. The neck is truly amazing.