Not meaning to be sacreligious but have you auditioned any of the PRS guitars??

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"Another day in paradise!"

I've only tried out a few lower end. Local gc doesn't
Stock the expensive ones. Originally thought of just outright
Purchasing a Santana se. 750.00.
I still have them in my peripherals , just not targeting them.

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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

The SE's are quite different from the higher end guitars. The new 'strat-like' instruments they've just introduced might be a place to start. They have a slightly different body and neck carve than the CE's or McCarty's.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Just make sure you have enough $s left to get it 'set up' i.e. finished. This is my '60 50th anniversary LP with gold COA. When I buy a good strat I don't have to touch it even though it has travelled from the USA to the UK. This one was more like a kit of components. I enjoy playing it but they could send them out finished.

Beautiful les Paul brotha, I don't pay for setups, i set up
All my strats, even when I had a lespaul, I paid for a setup
There was fret buzz and intonated half $@!, Ive set a few
Of my friends guitars for free .

Zzdoc, I've seen some on the net. Have you tried them out?

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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

I've owned 2. A '94 CE-24Bolt On/wide thin neck; and an '08 Johnny Hiland
I don't care for the necks on PRS guitars but bother the MIA's and MIK's are well made.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I'm setting it up in this pic but not everyone can or wants to after a major purchase. Thinking about it, the last two Gibsons have been guitars bought from dealers on the internet so I suppose a shop that you can walk into would do a setup, I just don't understand why it should be necessary if Fender can deliver ready to play. I know wood moves but these necks are fixed, yet the screwed in Strat neck arrives just fine. Nuts always seem to need work.

I love playing the LP but as the other guys say here, it is pointless trying to compare them. It does sit behind my Strat cases so gets pulled out less often.

sorry fender, i couldnt turn away from a great deal,
bought the traditional plus ice tea

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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

Mighty nice BST.I have an ice tea lester and love it .Enjoy it.

She's a beauty,it looks like the finish came through a time warp from 1959-congrats.

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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.

Hey, apologies not necessary Captain Neela.Gotta have at least one Les Paul. Shows respect for one's elders.

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"Another day in paradise!"