hey all. new guy here. wanted to get some opinions on a strat purchase.

a couple weeks ago i purchased a standard mim strat. i have not owned a guitar in almost a decade. began playing when i was 6-7 years old and lost my way in my twenties when i joined the service. anyhow i decided it was time to get back with the program.

it is a decent instrument but honestly the neck, and the electronics are not working for me so i am going to return it this week and move up to american standard (with some mods added) or a american deluxe. i have played both. the feel of the two instruments was very similar with the exception of the neck. not sure the compound radius is for me. the lockers are a nice addition.

if i purchased the standard i would be adding the following mods:

emg david gilmour setup
fender "f" lockers
graph tech nut and saddles
callaham block & arm

due to the price (my wife gave me a budget) the deluxe would stay stock at least for the time being except for the callaham block & arm.

i dont have any way to try out an american standard with the mods so my question is this, does anyone have any experience with an american standard with similar mods and if so how does it compare to a stock deluxe?

i know its another "what should i buy" bs question,sorry, but i dont have anyone else to bounce this off of. any info is appreciated.

i bought a new amer.deluxe in the HSS and it rocks--so many varations with the S-1 switch and the Humbucker it is a amazing guitar for the price

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2011 PRS 25th SAS
2008 Eric Clapton Custom Antigua Strat
2012 PRS Artist Package Studio Special Order

Well, sounds like you already have a guitar with a neck you're not satisfied with, so no reason to pay extra for an AM Deluxe if you're not sure about the compound radius neck. With all the mods you're planning, I'd go with the least expensive starting point as long as the neck is to your liking. Based on your comments, that would be the Am Std...

With all the mods you're planning, its too bad the MIM won't work for you...

Just a suggestion, but why not look at Fender's older offerings? I have a Lone Star Strat that I absolutely adore- bought it because I'd always wanted one since I was a younger lad, and really glad I did. Amazing sounds and feel, feels very different to the newer Fenders.

They come in awesome colours too.

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

Looks like you want a gilmour strat.
I would buy a Candy Apple Red American Standard with Maple Neck, and mod it to your needs. The nut on the americans are wayy better than mexicans and highways. I can tell you won´t even feel the need for a graphtech on these. I can say the same about the 2 point tremolo as well, it´s great! You´ll only be needing to put some locking tuners and the emgdg20 pickups, and you´re good to go! I bought my american on a fsr that came already with deluxe locking tuners, good stuff!

Actually the Gilmour signature model is available only in Black, though I guess the Custom Shop will introduce (by popular demand, IMO) an exact representation of the original candy red Strat with the DG20 set and the EXG/SPC circuitry to match the Black Strat replica. A must for any Pink Floyd fan!

the man is my hero and that is exactly what i had bouncing around in my head when i put those mods together for a standard. the red '57 reissue used on momentary lapse of reason and division bell.

i did give thought to just modding the mim. it is an fsr, 3-piece ash in sienna sunburst. the grain is beautiful and perfectly matched. its a little bright but i think with the active electronics it could be toned down. i could buy an american standard neck (better neck finish imo) from stratosphere and the other mods. im just not sure i feel right about putting a mia neck on a mim. feels a little like blasphemy. is that crazy?

i had a chance to play an american deluxe today with the soft v neck. wow. im sold.

going with an american deluxe v neck in candy apple red. later in the year i will pull out the elec and put in the gilmour emg setup. then i will cherish it forever.

ill pick it up in a couple days and post pics. thanks for the replies.