Hello folks!

My very first post on these boards here. Allow me to introduce myself:

I am 22 years old, and started playing guitar around the age of 18. At first my father bought a Stratocaster copy starter pack, but it wasn't long before I woke up with a present waiting for me: A used, yet incredibly beautiful, 1993 MIM Strat.

I had always loved the typical sound of a Stratocaster more than any other guitar. Mainly due to the fact I started playing around with my dad's Pink Floyd CDs at an age of 8, which was creepy stuff back then, but surely fell deeply in love with David Gilmour's emotional style of playing.

Unconsciously, or perhaps because of the music I grew up with, I never played any fast stuff like shredding when I started playing the guitar. I always played along Pink Floyd songs, as well as backing tracks from the Gilmourish.com website. As of late I'm starting to blend in more strength training into my playing, as I notice the transition between using my pinky and ring-finger is very weak. Ironically, the sadder I seem to feel, the better my bends and general playing seem to come out.

My current guitar is a 1993 MIM stratocaster; rosewood fretboard and a black body with white pickguard. A few months after I got it I had an accident with it and the bridge got damaged. My dad had to modify the bridge a little bit to fit a new whammy bar in it. I suspect the fact that the guitar gets out of tune a little bit when using the whammy bar is because of this accident.

Nonetheless, she's my most precious possession. With my hand on my heart I can say there's nothing I love more than my MIM Strat, except for my family of course! No matter how angry or sad I am, my guitar always is there for me to let it all out.

I'm currently playing through a Mustang II 100W since it's cheapness and the amount of effects just got me sold instantly, and partly because I'm a student and I cannot afford a Twin Supersonic... Yet!

However, I have a strange feeling, or need, to upgrade. My MIM Strat just doesn't seem to give me that Strat sound anymore. Whenever I play her, I'm loving the sound. But whenever I view a video the American made Strats just sound so much better. I guess I can partly blame the pick-ups, but the MIM Strat means so much to me that I refuse to change anything to it.

So 3 years I've passed since I first got her, and when browsing my local guitar shop in Norway, I was stunned how cheap some of the American Strat models are. The ones that particularly caught my eye were three Strats:

- The American Special Strat:
http://www.gitarhuset.no/ProductPage.aspx?PID=3011
http://www.gitarhuset.no/ProductPage.aspx?PID=3012

- The American Standard Strat:
http://www.gitarhuset.no/ProductPage.aspx?PID=3407

- The 50s Strat:
http://www.gitarhuset.no/ProductPage.aspx?PID=2609

Divide the price at the top by 6 and you've got your American Dollars. As you can see, the price difference between the 50s and the Standard isn't that much. The American Special is quite a bit expensive, but if it would mean a best upgrade from a MIM Strat I'd be prepared to accept the price difference.

One thing is for sure: It HAS to be a sunburst or candy apple red. Currently I'm completely stuck on the colors as I've always had a soft-spot for any sunburst finish, but I fell straight in love with the candy apple red color when I saw David Gilmour's EMG pick-up Strat.

So in short I'm looking for the best upgrade from my MIM Strat of these three while getting that legendary neck pick-up Strat sound I've loved for years.

My apologies for this very long post as a finisher.


Many greetings from Norway,

The 50's Strat shown is a MIM model.

They're very nice guitars (I own one).

HTH and welcome to the forum.

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

Welcome to the forum! I see Arjay has already posted what I was going to say so good luck!!

Are you sure that the standard you have linked to is the American standard and not just "the standard" which is MIM?

Wouldn't it show on the neck, though?

I guess Arjay is right about the 50s Strat as the writing on the neck looks very similar to my MIM neck and I believe the American Strats don't have the serial numbers on the neck. Correct me if I'm wrong, though.

I did read the new MIM Strats are supposed to be very good, but I'm looking for a pure American Strat so I guess I can take that 50s model off the list.

I may try to contact the store on these posted models and clear this issue up.

Bummer though, it looks fantastic!

All Fender instruments bearing the "013" prefix in their catalog number are built in Ensenada, Mexico.

I urge you not to dismiss them out of hand, especially the "Classic Series" re-issues. They're very fine instruments.

Arjay

_________________
"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

The American Standard guitar has 22 frets and the one you have linked only has 21 frets just like a MIM standard. The truss rod hole should be lined in wood not black plastic. I'm afraid you have them mixed up my friend. Also, the special should cost less than the MIA standard.

Ok, so if I'm correct judging by your post and Arjay's the only real MIA Strat I linked to at this moment is the American Special. Correct?

I should head into the local store and see if they have the MIM models in stock so I can play them both and see which one feels and sounds better in my hands.

10-4!! That would be a good idea my friend. Good luck!!

+1!

Best of luck

Arjay

_________________
"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

Welcome to the Forum. Buying a guitar is really a personal choice. I always say play before you pay. A few years back I was in the same boat. After playing I chose my Highway 1 over the American Standard. Fast forward a couple years I in a position to buy again. This time it was between the American Special and American Standard. This time the American Special won out.

I did do a lot of playing before I made my decisions. I cannot day anything bad between the 2, both have their good and bad points about them. Hope you have fun on your guitar journey. Keep is apprised which one you choose.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Well I've got free on Friday so I'm going to the store and see which Strats he currently has in stock. I'm already incredibly exited!

Hi bramturismo,

Sounds awesome, post some pics after your purchase. We get excited too when someone else gets a guitar.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

I'm excited for you! I'm also envious! I love buying a new guitar, whether it's a $200 guitar or a $2000 one, it's just so much fun!! Enjoy my friend!!

Thanks guys! I'm not saying I'm buying it on Friday though hehe! Currently gathering money on a seperate bank account to be ready when my eyes and ears have decided. It will the very first guitar I buy myself and I want it to be something special, a moment I can enjoy for the rest of my life.

EDIT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcGhZcWSHys

The more I see it in action, the more I want it. The candy apple red as well as the neck looks so much better than I could've judged from the website I linked to earlier. Getting mixed feedback on the guitar judging from the video comments, but overall it seems this is a great Strat. I really hope my local guitar store has this one in stock right now because I know he has the real MIA Standard Strat so I could compare both.

Get it setup...., and get you're current one setup again. They should be setup at least twice a year for best playing, and sounding. If you're luthier is thorough, and you dont mind the extra trip back to the shop; a proper setup (though very rarely done, for reasons that land in the lap of the luthier, and the owner) is done, then done again a week later.
It gives you a chance to make sure everything is how you want it, and it gives the guitar a chance to settle in, the wood can move to wherever it's going to move, etc.

You may need the nut reslotted on the MIM you have, or a new one may need to be put in, especially if you've changed string gauges.

I know 20year long players who dont change their strings regularly, let alone get it setup once, never mind twice a year.