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Post subject: The Fender Standard Upgrade Raises Important Quesrions
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:45 am
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Let me say this: I am really impressed with the Standard Strat Upgrade. I would welcome any discussion/reaction.

Let me start. The maple necks ones I've played have clearly been the best with rosewood necls. not entirely praiseworthy. With that said, a player for over 35 years (not a Gibson/Ibanez player review here), I think these guitars are more than simplty a "great value." They are great guitars. Not great in the sense of vintage glassiness, but a modern strat that someone who knows how to play can really kick $@! with, as is, with the stock pickups. I realize this is heresy for people in my age bracket (I'm 48) or even younger who think that Steve Miller riffs and SRV are THE strat sound along with Hendrix. Yes, people have described them as somewhat darker in tone. But with amp settings, you can get it where you want. This is true of course for almost any guitar. People who spend 2000 and then EQ it seem to have less complaints, bad feelings somehow. Is one of the causes of GAS people really not knowing how to play very well? I think the Standard Upgrade poses questions. How good are a lot of people at adjusting pickup heights? Do a lot of players really know where tone comes from?

Note: this "topic" is meant to be expansive and provocative.

For the me, the quality of the Fender Standard Strat raises a lot of questions about guitar players not just guitars...

Put bluntly: if I can't kick $@! with the Fender Standard Strat maybe I'm really not that good of a player... yet.


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Post subject: Re: The Fender Standard Upgrade Raises Important Quesrions
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:04 am
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njupasaka123 wrote:
Is one of the causes of GAS people really not knowing how to play very well?


Absolutely. And the obverse is true as well. It's a vicious circle that runs like this:

"I play lousy. Maybe a new guitar will help. Gee, spending money feels good... I'd rather buy guitars than practice! But then, I eventually realize again... I play lousy. Maybe a new guitar will help..."

Next thing you know, you own 30 Strats and can't play any of them well. This is why I always say that G.A.S. is anti-musical.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:45 am
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I think that single coil guitars in general expose this but the Standard Strat Upgrade in particular makes the point conclusive. No need to go extensively into the history of any guitar company. It's the year 2008. But I think the notion that somehow flawless guitars were produced in the vintage years is somewhat naive, guitars without any issues. The impotance of what amp gets used is also somewhat obscured by those searching for the perfect Strat or whatever. Amp technology has improved.

I find the notion that the Standard Strat Upgrade is a good "beginner's guitar" somewhat amusing. I'd love to hear some of those people who say that play.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:56 am
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Wheather you play a Fender, Gibson, or any other make and model, I would think it depends on whose hands the guitar is in that makes it sound good or bad. True, different makes use different woods and components. But lets be realistic, the guitar don`t play by itself. Practice is what brings out the best in the instrument and the player.


Last edited by JPD on Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:12 pm
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[quote="JPD"]Wheather you play a Fender, Gibson, or any other make and model, I would think it depends whose hands the guitar is in that makes it sound good or bad. True, different makes use different woods and components. But lets be realistic, the guitar don`t play by itself. Practice is what brings out the best in the instrument and the player.[/quote]

Amen to that! I've suffered with GAS before, then I realized that the best guitar for me was the ones I played most often, regardless of what it was.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:34 pm
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Every year, guitar manufacturers (and other industries) improve their products. This was Fender's year to make a big statement. The changes were not monumental, but the stock Fender was already very good for an of the shelf axe. Modern instruments are the best so far, and will continue in that direction. Gonzo gearheads will never see this, and continue tearing things apart and spending more time and money instead of just playing more and getting better. Guitar players will see it and benefit immediately. And, some people just like to shred anything anyone says that is either positive or not what they think. You get it all on these forums! Just go play one and make up your own mind before everyone tries to make it up for you.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:16 pm
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njupasaka123 wrote:
I find the notion that the Standard Strat Upgrade is a good "beginner's guitar" somewhat amusing. I'd love to hear some of those people who say that play.


that is such a good point, it seems there are so many beginners now that get these $1000+ guitars as thier first guitar and its completely rediculous (IMO). i guess people just have more money to throw away now but when i was starting ten years ago me and everyone i knew where getting guitars in the $50-$300 range. now it seems the american standard has become a beginners guitar and run of the mill custom shop models are like what the american standard was to me growing up. :? its kinda sad i think.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:44 pm
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Yeah. My first guitar, a Stella, cost my dad $5. He bought it used from some guy at the bowling alley in 1964 for me. I played the hell out of it.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:21 pm
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kja wrote:
njupasaka123 wrote:
I find the notion that the Standard Strat Upgrade is a good "beginner's guitar" somewhat amusing. I'd love to hear some of those people who say that play.


that is such a good point, it seems there are so many beginners now that get these $1000+ guitars as thier first guitar and its completely rediculous (IMO). i guess people just have more money to throw away now but when i was starting ten years ago me and everyone i knew where getting guitars in the $50-$300 range. now it seems the american standard has become a beginners guitar and run of the mill custom shop models are like what the american standard was to me growing up. :? its kinda sad i think.


I can't comment on the Standard Strat Upgrade as I haven't seen one other than on the website, and haven't played one. But I AM suspicious of ANY guitar that has 'Upgrade' in the official model name. It doesn't imply to me that I'm getting a better guitar, but instead tells me that there were 'inferior' ones before that. Should I wait a couple of years so that I can see what the 'Super Duper Bells & Whistles' model is like?

I've been shopping around for guitars for over 20 years, and I definitely have my preferences. I don't know where I would've found a good guitar 10 years ago that would've run $50-$300, certainly not new. For $400-$600? Absolutely, Yes!-but even those were second-hand. That being said, I haven't bought a new guitar in years (bought used, yes), and call me old fashioned but even thinking about plunking down $1000 or more for ANY guitar even now makes me break out in hives.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:35 pm
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Well Folks, I am a 67 year old guy going on 18. I have gas always in more ways than one. I`ve been through at least 15 guitars in the last two years. Gave four away to my sons and grandsons, and sold the rest for a tidy profit. I have four keepers that I won`t part with. Not expensive guitars but I like them enough to be satsified. My wife bought me two,that I was lusting after. I can`t very well justify any more guitars, As I realize that to be a good guitar player, I Must Study Music and practice practice practice. A costlier guitar is not going to do that for me. You can buy excellant guitars today in the 3 to 4 hundred dollar price range. I`ve played alot of them, that were great. Three of mine were more money than that, but I can enjoy them, and LEARN more. Gas takes away from my practice time.. Take it from me, a good tube amp is worth it`s weight in gold when it comes to manipulating tone even with a cheaper guiter, as long as it plays well. I buy them only if I know I can make money on them. If I were to make money playing, i could probably buy a better guitar. but as it is I really don`t need to tie up money on anything thats just going to set there and be in my way. Actually, if I had to I could get away with just one, and it don`t have to be the best. What is the best anyway? I`ve been looking for along time. There aren`t many bad guitars today, only bad players. They spend too much time gassing, and don`t have time to clear thier mind to learn. Don`t mean to offend anyonr, but take it as you see it.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:48 pm
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olman222 wrote:
Well Folks, I am a 67 year old guy going on 18. I have gas always in more ways than one. I`ve been through at least 15 guitars in the last two years. Gave four away to my sons and grandsons, and sold the rest for a tidy profit. I have four keepers that I won`t part with. Not expensive guitars but I like them enough to be satsified. My wife bought me two,that I was lusting after. I can`t very well justify any more guitars, As I realize that to be a good guitar player, I Must Study Music and practice practice practice. A costlier guitar is not going to do that for me. You can buy excellant guitars today in the 3 to 4 hundred dollar price range. I`ve played alot of them, that were great. Three of mine were more money than that, but I can enjoy them, and LEARN more. Gas takes away from my practice time.. Take it from me, a good tube amp is worth it`s weight in gold when it comes to manipulating tone even with a cheaper guiter, as long as it plays well. I buy them only if I know I can make money on them. If I were to make money playing, i could probably buy a better guitar. but as it is I really don`t need to tie up money on anything thats just going to set there and be in my way. Actually, if I had to I could get away with just one, and it don`t have to be the best. What is the best anyway? I`ve been looking for along time. There aren`t many bad guitars today, only bad players. They spend too much time gassing, and don`t have time to clear thier mind to learn. Don`t mean to offend anyonr, but take it as you see it.


No offense, but buying a guitar or amp 'only if I know I can make money on them' seems to me to be a variation of Guitar Acquisition Syndrome (GAS). I presume that your emphasis is on playing and not on 'flipping' (reselling) guitars and amps.


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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:08 pm
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Yup I like flipping them. I`m retired and a little extra income is nice. I play 2 to 3 hours aday.


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Post subject: Re: The Fender Standard Upgrade Raises Important Quesrions
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:23 pm
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njupasaka123 wrote:
Let me say this: I am really impressed with the Standard Strat Upgrade. ..., I think these guitars are more than simplty a "great value." They are great guitars. Not great in the sense of vintage glassiness, but a modern strat that someone who knows how to play can really kick $@! with, as is, with the stock pickups.


There are actually quite a few inexpensive guitars that play well and sound great.

And I agree that the importance of the amp is often overlooked.

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Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:42 pm
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No need to fear the Upgrade designation. Sure, it seems like a software thing, LOL. By defintion any improvement presumes making things better than before. Among a group pf guitars, one or 2 might stand out and can be said to be better. If Fender puts oiut a guitar with the deisignation "Vastly Superior" I might hesistate then. Words like "Deluxe" don't scare away the customers. "Upgrade" does mean better than before, but not that other Standards were vastly inferior. Not all "Upgrade" Strats are created equal...


BUT and this is my point, when you put aside the relatively few ones with issues, you've got yourself a great guitar.


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Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:41 pm
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I don't see them as a upgrade, but a improvement. Each one I took off that wall at NAMM played great. I've always wanted a white Strat and I think I'll get this one Image

I already have two AmStd Strats Image

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