I am looking to buy a used strat and I have up to $1000.00 to spend.The only thing that I want for sure is an all original with a maple neck and american made with single coil pups.The color I am flexable on but I am leaning towards olympic white.I was wondering how old could I go for the money I have and what would be something that is desirable.Let me say that I am looking for a player and not a wall hanger but If I can get a good player that has some desirabilty or could be something that is an up and comer as far as desirabilty is concerned that would be great.Opinions please.

Well depending on where you're located you should be able to pick up something like that for $600-$700.

I am in the chicago area.What year could I expect for that money?

You can expect anything from a Am stnd. up to a Eric johnson if the deal's right. Best bet; stay away from Ebay, look at craigslist. Money talks and bullshit walks on there. Even if they want $1200-1300, wave 10 $100 bills, and you'll probably get it..
The best deals believe it or not (and im am quite skilled at finding them) is actually to look at Guitarcenter.com at their used section. I sold cars for years, and one thing i learned; people get attached to their cars and guitars, and for that reason, its worth much more to them than it is to anyone looking to buy it. Stores dont have this problem. Plus a lot of times, if you trade something in at GC, they automatically give you 10% off whatever you buy. So even if you trade something cheap, and only get $10 for it; if you're looking at a $1200 guitar, you'll get $120 off.
Ebay IS NOT THE PLACE TO FIND THE GOING RATE FOR USED INSTRUMENTS. They're really overinflated prices.
With Fenders, $1000 will buy you a lot. I've seen a beautiful Eric Johnson on Craigslist in Boston for $1100. I guaranty you, with cash I could get it for $900-950.
Also on Guitarcenter.com, if the guitar is in Miami FL. they'll ship it to guitar center by you, and you purchase it at your local store. If its not what you want, you wont have to buy it. Plus you can return it if theres a problem, of if you just decide you dont like it, not as easy with a personal sale. I got a dd-2 from a store in N.C., it showed up, i brought it home, plugged in; it worked for about 20 minutes, then jsut died. It would only work on HOLD, and not even the way HOLD should.
I brought it back, and got all my money back.

Thanks windwalker.Even though I hate my local guitar center you bring up some good points.What year guitar in your opinion could I expect to get?Is there anything that you would consider desirable?I have looked at craigslist and there is a lot of guitars there but I am concerned with fraud and fakes.I know a little but not enough to spot a fake.I am going to stay away from ebay but I am going to try a vintage show that is coming up in September.

He's right, these are great. Or any of the American. I hate working with guitar center too, Im always waiting to get paid from them. But the devil you know... know what i mean.

Just look at them as brokers.
As for craigslist; I wouldnt worry too much about fakes. This is something that doesnt happen as much as people would lead you to believe. If you're nervous about it, make sure you meet them in their home. People dont usually S#&t where they eat.

I dont want to recommend, because what you want may be different. I LOVE the EJ strats. The one i built i based off the design.

American Vintage (though I dont like the vintage neck). Used American Deluxes ( but be carefull, there was a few year period where they had problems with neck twists, 2002-1007, not all of them, just check it out)

If i were lucky enough to be in your shoes, id go onto the GC website, look up Fender Strat in the used section, and go from there. There are probably a couple hundred up there. Weed out what you dont want, and if you want; PM me, ill give you my email, and forward me the links. I see Strats come in all the time, and now what years/models have issues, and what to look for. Just because a certain year may have issues, doesnt mean all of them are bad.

Well this one in your area seems to match what you want.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/msg/2539119419.html

Im going to tell you what I used to tell my friends when I used to sell cars; dont focus too much on the year. The guitar itself, and the condition is WAY MORE important. Ive seen ones; cars and guitars, that are 2 years old that look 20, and not in a good way. Ive seen some older ones, like a 89 Eric Clapton i replaced the active electronics in, that looked like it was maybe 6 months old. Go to fenders guitar builder, put in the features you most want, see what models pop up, and look for those, or ones similiar.
Vintage show are nice, but they're going to be way more $$ than you want to spend. You may find some late 70's or early 80's, but you should stay away from them. Stick to this millenium, and you'll be good to go. I'll give you as much help as you want.

Thanks windwalker.I just might take you up on your offer.I was just talking to a friend and he suggested guitar center too.Says he has bought and returned half a dozen guitars in the last year alone.He has the money to collect vintage and what ever else that might float his boat.He is not to crazy about craigslist.He says he see's a lot of fraud in our area.I am for sure going to check out guitar center.Thanks for the input.What can you tell me about the clapton model?My friend mentioned it.

Thanks Jason I just might have to go look at that one.It looks like everything I am looking for.Good price too.

great guitar, not so great pickups. Active mid-boost, makes it sound similiar to a humbucker, can really push an amp. Great feeling neck, great color choices. I personally dont really like active electronics, due to needing all the batteries. Id like to try one where i can replace the Vintage Noiseless with Dimarzio Virtual Vintage, Area 58/61 pickups.
Comes with a vintage style tremolo, it comes blocked so you cant use it, but its just a block of wood, pull it out, and its a regular tremolo. Nice V profile. Older ones come in Candy Green, sexy color.
Im not defending CL, but there really isnt alot of fraud, its not really worth it with middle of the road guitars.

Your friend is right though, Guitar Center has a VERY liberal return policy. Im a pedal junky, and if I decide to get, say a new delay. I'll buy and return 7 or 8 in a 6 week period before I get the one i want. New, used, in the store, shipped from another one. The thing about Guitar Center, is they ship from one store to another. So it works out great. you can have it shipped to Chicago from Seattle. They call you when its there, go try it out. IF you like it, you buy it. If you find 2 weeks later you dont, bring it back. Its really no skin off their noses, all the moneys just transfered from one store to the other. That my friend, is going to give you the biggest selection, with the least hassles. And like i said; stores dont fall in love with instruments, they're inventory to them. SO there isnt the sentiment mark up you get when you're trying to buy someones guitar, unless they're junkies on the verge of getting dope sick, then there may be some good deals.LOL

Hey don't totally rule out ebay.I just bought a 1991 american standard for $750 insured +shipped and came with original hard case.Always check out the seller.I know enough to know that it is real and in perfect condition except for the visible glue seams.It's a player I talked him down and i'm happy.I've also had success with guitar center and I too am from chicago area.Let me tell you that I was just at the guitar center on the northside recently first visit actually and they truly have some classic guitars there check it out and staff was cool too.Good luck!!!

Freddy my friend has told me that the chicago guitar center is a good place with a good selection so I am going to give the a try.

There are more Genders and Fibsons on Craigslist than anywhere else .... been stung myself with a '62 relic that turned out to be a ropey chinker .... fortunately I was able to recover my cash but the bastard is still doing CL. Don't ever get too excited about a bargain on CL ... better paying a little more through a reputable dealer and using a Credit Card ....

+1!



Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY