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Post subject: Buying my first "real" strat...
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:35 pm
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Alright, so I've been in the market for a strat now for some time. I currently own a knock off strat that I bought a when I first started playing for about a hundred dollars, but it's left me rather wanting, and I've played only Les Pauls and semi-hollow bodies since. I've decided on getting an Eric Johnson strat to kind of fill the gap, if you will, but I've found myself in a bit of a conundrum. I can do one of two things. I can either buy one that I found at Guitar Center that is really nice, has a perfect finish, is already set-up flawlessly, and sounds about as good as I think its going to get for 1749.99 or I can go to a local shop, get a discount of about 300-400 dollars, and order one straight from Fender. What do you think I should do? I would love to save the money and buy a good pedal or two, or something else, but then again, I don't want to give up a nearly perfect strat for the sake of saving money either...


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Post subject: Re: Buying my first "real" strat...
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:14 pm
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riddlebox139 wrote:
Alright, so I've been in the market for a strat now for some time. I currently own a knock off strat that I bought a when I first started playing for about a hundred dollars, but it's left me rather wanting, and I've played only Les Pauls and semi-hollow bodies since. I've decided on getting an Eric Johnson strat to kind of fill the gap, if you will, but I've found myself in a bit of a conundrum. I can do one of two things. I can either buy one that I found at Guitar Center that is really nice, has a perfect finish, is already set-up flawlessly, and sounds about as good as I think its going to get for 1749.99 or I can go to a local shop, get a discount of about 300-400 dollars, and order one straight from Fender. What do you think I should do? I would love to save the money and buy a good pedal or two, or something else, but then again, I don't want to give up a nearly perfect strat for the sake of saving money either...


I can empathize. Part of this is "I've played it...I like it...I want it"...and the question of buying something you've never played.

Question: How much is that 300 or 400 dollars worth to you? What if something happens with that guitar, or there's a problem with it?

Maybe it's just me, but I still like buying from actual human beings. For something of that price, if there's any issues with it, you can take it to that store and get it fixed. And, you've got a name!

I'd go for the store bought, and sacrifice the extra 300 bucks or so for a piece of mind.


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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:12 am
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For the most part I agree with Sentry.

Although with the way the guitars are manufactured these days, these usually all come out pretty much the same. Now, I know everyone will have a story where the played "X" model strat and it was great then they played their buddies or another one at a different store and it was junk. I have been in this situation myself, but usually the root of the problem is a set up issue which is rather easily resolved.

$300 - $400 is alot of money, especially when you start adding tax on that. I would talk to the local shop and see if they would order it for you knowing that you want to buy it but "need" to play it first. I have seen this done for many people at many different stores.

...it would be nice to have the extra cash for some other goodies, or use it to start saving for your next Strat.

Just my .02


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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:32 am
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Let me throw a wrench in the work.

$300-400 is a serious discount. You can undoubtedly set up any new EJ to play and sound like the one yo like so much, and if you're certain that's what you'd be getting then it's an extraordinary deal.

I have to wonder, though... everybody is selling these guitars for $1749, which is the standard 70% of list you expect to pay. If you discount that another 400 bucks, you're now talking about paying $1349... 53% of list, almost exactly what the store is paying for the guitar.

So who's going to sell you a brand-new EJ and make no profit on it?

Nobody, that's who.

Now, if the discount is actually going to be 300 dollars, and you know for sure that this local store is willing to make a lousy 100 bucks on the guitar just to make you a super-happy guy, well, then... go for it.


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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:37 am
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I'm with Jim. Buy it at the discount and then have it set up to EXACTLY your preference.

I have seen them here in Canada for around $1549, sometimes a little lower if someone has a sale.


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:50 pm
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I can buy a Hwy 1 new at the store for $700 plus tax. I personally got mine used for about $525. It cost me $98 and change to have it prof set up, and the guy I went to was one of the more expensive guys in the area. That $100 included fret work, having the neck removed, and new strings. So... for well under $700 I got my dream guitar.

Now, that is my guitar not yours. I would personally research what it is you like about the EJ guitar. Find out how much the added parts are, then think about customizing the perfect guitar. The heart and soul of any guitar is the neck and body. Everything else can be swapped out or modified. I say play every strat you can get your hands on, pick the one that speaks to you and then go from there.

Plus, I sooo preffer used guitars. There are so many impulse buyers out there with more money than brains. I bet there are at LEAST 10 used strats in your imediate area. Half have probably been barely played.


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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:52 pm
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Sabre_bandit wrote:
Plus, I sooo preffer used guitars. There are so many impulse buyers out there with more money than brains. I bet there are at LEAST 10 used strats in your imediate area. Half have probably been barely played.


Good advice. Used can really be the way to go.

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