First of all, this guitar is not a starter guitar. I may be a starting guitarist, you could say, for I have been playing simple and mostly power-chord-based stuff for some eight years now, that means I haven't been working on playing solos much, so my skills are lame, and since I did not experiment much with the equipment and guitars, I don't know much about them, about the sound and I still have lots to learn about them, but this is going to be not my first guitar, not second and not third guitar.

I live in Lithuania.

I would have a look at the black tops I bought one in september a candy apple red one mint green pick guard, humbuckers vintage tremolo what else could you ask for. It has a five position switch which splits the buckers in positions 2 and 4 giving you some great strat sounds. Ok it,s MIM but mine is built great and feels great to play and at £455 it is priced really good. Check them out.
Derekt

Hello! I thought you were Lithuanian by your name.

I'm a first generation American, my father is full-blooded Lithuanian, born there...my mother is not. So, i'm exactlty 50% Lithuanian.

Anyways, you asked, "There were some claims that the solid body electric guitar does not have to necessary resonate loudly to produce a good result when plugged in. What are your thoughts?

The above is true. But, chances are that the better guitar (quality and tone) will resonate more, not necessarily loudly...but you'll FEEL the vibration more. I read and also feel that the better made or better made & set-up guitar will have a tight neck joint, have tightly fitting parts overall etc. At the same time its argued that your pickups and amplifier have a huge impact on your sound/tone. Some say that you should spend as much on your amplifier as you do on your guitar. I for one do not. I play a solid state amp. I used to own a a large Marshall tube-amp which I sold almost ten years ago when I was primarily into metal and power chords only (Metallica etc). I found that I got descent sounds with smaller and cheaper solid state amps especially since I play for the love of it. I still play a little metal, but my love is for the blues.

Wow! On prices, I hope you realize that in the USA we do not pay the full MSRP (Manufacturer's Retail Price)...generally, we pay about half or a little more than half. Currently, an American Standard would cost between $900 to $1,000 USD. Used ones can run from as low as $600 to $800. Basically, they're built so well and sound so good that they retain most of their value when re-sold. Thus, one big reason why they're the better buy. That said, a Fender Standard Stratocaster (Made in Mexico), cost beteen $475 and $525 new and as low as $250 to $350 used. But upgrades to the MIM guitars generally decrease their value and many if not most MIM guitars are upgraded to suit the player's tastes. Basically, MIMs are work-horses. They're the working-man's guitar...beaters. You can make them sound as good or better than some (not all) American guitars by upgrading the pickups, electronics, and possibly the tremlo system...but the wood cannot be upgraded although you can switch out the neck/replace it if the neck broke or you're unable to refret after years of use.

I honestly think you have 2 choices:

1) Go ALL the way...save and wait...buy a really really nice Fender USA guitar such as an Fender Artist Series Eric Clapton Stratocaster (MSRP $2,200 USD but about $1,600 retail). it has 22 frets, a lightly finished maple fretboard (which are easier to refret in the future if needed), noiseless pickups, mid-range boost for heavier music while retaining the sweetness of single coils etc. Overall, its a beautiful guitar and many professional musicians choose Eric's guitar, even those with their own signature models. Excellent guitar overall...and because its an Artist Series, you know special care was given to this guitar...although its not a Custom Shop.

2) Buy a Fender Standard Stratocaster (MIM)...even buy a used one manufactured after 2009 if you want a better one since they were upgraded that year. But even ones before at are very good. But ones after 2009 are closer to their American cousins. The Standard Stratocaster will not disappoint and is probably the best value for the money. You can play this guitar and play it hard! They're well built and many say they have no need for upgrading at all (if you can handle the 60 cycle hum, but I cannot)...the ceramic pickups sound great! But at the same time, you can make it your own and customize it to your liking over the years especially since you have no plans in selling it. I'll never get rid of mine! I love it. I'll add to my collection in the same way you will (already have since you also have other guitars). Fenders are addictive! I'm already thinking about my next Fender...eithe the Clapton or the SRV. But you can't lose with the Standard Stratocaster. Look into the Fender MIM Stratocaster club in this forum. Start more topics concerning American vs MIM Stratocasters if you don't find your answers in existing posts. Its a heated debate but there are advantages to getting an American and there are Advantages to getting a Mexican made Stratocaster.

I'd also see what other's in your area are playing. There are all kinds of custom guitars and Stratocaster copies out there made by small companies...some are very very good. In the end, who cares what the headstock says. If I were you, I'd go for a Standard Stratocaster and IF I love it and want more I'd consider getting an Artist Series or Fender Custom Shop in the future. But for jamming and enjoyment, I love my Standard Stratocaster.

Oh, also for your information:

The Highway One Stratocaster is/was the lowest grade of the American models, I believe the American Special is slightly improved (Texas Special pickups) but still at the bottom, THEN you have the American Standard Stratocaster, then the American Deluxes, Artist Series, Fender Custom Shop, then the Mast Builds. The American Standard is the flagship strat...there are ones above it and below it. Then below the Americans are the MIMs (but there are better MIMs too, like the Jimmie Vaughan & Kenny Wayne Shepherd)...then below that are the Squires (but there are better ones as well). But what is a guitar? Its pieces of wood, metal and plastic. They're all strats but of better woods, better electronics, better quality control, and some built the way they were in the 50's- Custom Shop and Master Builds.

Take care!

Keep reading the forum...there is just a wealth of information you just have to know where to look. Also, watch youtube, read reviews, ask questions and finally KNOW what you are looking for and what sound you are after. Try lots of other guitars (and brands) and if possible compare them.

Cool



Do you mean that maple fretboards in general are easier to refret or that lightly finished maple fretboards only?




What should be replaced to get rid of it? Pickups or other electronics?




No, I always had one guitar at a time . Now I have one Japanese Tokai Love Rock LP copy, and I am probably keeping it, so there are going to be only two guitars



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How does it work? Do you mean that there are lots of sales so that you can always find a guitar on sale or just that the stores generally sell them cheaper?
Unfortunately, in my country, those guitars cost similar to manufacturer's retail price, even slightly more. Maybe it's partly because in Europe everything imported from the USA cost more (a 100 dollar thing may cost 100 EUR, while EUR is actually is more expensive than a USD).


If I decided to buy a new Fender guitar online from the USA, is it safe buying it unseen? I wouldn't want risk paying for returning the thing back if it's not good, so, how do you think, what are the chances I would get a good guitar? Also, would it be setup properly, would the frets be levelled? I heard lots of awful things about Gibson (that you can't trust their quality control and it's not safe buying it unseen), and from what I heard, Fender is better, but still I wonder whether I can trust it.


Also, I found on the forums that at least some MIM Standard Stratocasters are veneered bodies. I don't really understand how it impacts the sound, but from how people react to it, it seems it's an inferior thing. What could you say about it?

What would you say about the Mexican Deluxe Players, Roadhouse and Lone Star Strats? They are, according to MSRP, just a hundred dollars cheaper than Highway 1 and more expensive than Standard.

Hi Andrius.

I'm sure everyone reading this feels the same way as I do when I say I think its awesome that you're doing your homework and researching Fenders. Its my hope that you are extremely pleased when you eventually make your purchase and finally get to hold it in your hands.

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can from my experience and what I've read and learned through this forum and others, because there ARE others. I won't post which ones but if you google, you will find. I'd even ask some of your questions there as well to get the most info as possible. I'm sure there are others like yourself who have gone through what you are going through.

1) Do you mean that maple fretboards in general are easier to refret or that lightly finished maple fretboards only?

Well, I did some reading in couple books and on-line. I'd be difficult to reference. But basically, I read that solid maple necks and fretboards with light finish are easier to refret without having to do TOO much cosmetically afterward to make it look like new/or the way it was prior to the refret. I guess it makes sense. I beleive that sometimes fretboards have to be re-leveled (sanded down a little bit?) and because rosewood fretboards are glued-on to a maple neck, that can be more labor intensive. A tinted, shiny maple fretboard may not look the same if it has to be re-leveled. But I guess a lightly tinted may be easier? Maybe someone who's done re-fretting can enlighten us.

But, fear not, if for some reason it costs too much (way way in the future), you can always purchase another neck (Ebay etc) and bolt-it on for less money...the genius of Leo Fender!

2) As for the 60 cycle hum: What should be replaced to get rid of it? Pickups or other electronics?

Well, the simplest solution would be to simply replace the stock pickups (if not noiselsess) with Fender Noiseless pickups. Currently, I believe you can go with Fender Vintage Noiseless (like Clapton), Hot Noiseless (like Beck), Lace Sensor, SCN (Fender Samarium Cobalt Noiseless) Fender N3s replaced SCNs for Fender in 2010 (I don't think you can buy them, they only come on a few of Fender's American models). There are a host of noiseless single coil pickups (usually they're stacked-humbuckers) depending on the sound you're after. Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio are very popular.

I chose SCNs, but if I had to do it again, I'd probably go with the Fender Vintage Noiseless like Eric Clapton. Fender Hot Noiseless are very nice as well. But I'd have to do more youtube research on it to see how different they sound etc. But don't get me wrong, I love my SCNs but the only thing is that you cannot replace plastic covers and I hear they are sensative and bigger (go deeper into the guitar) than other pickups. But the SCNs are supposed to have the most modern sound but also capable of vintage-like sounds but not truely classic Fender single-coil in sound. I do agree they don't have that certain something like the noisy stock pickups. But I just can't stand the 60 cycle hum when I use distortion on high gain. Drives me crazy! But you can also always put humbuckers in your Strat HH or go HSS.

3) On MSRP: Do you mean that there are lots of sales so that you can always find a guitar on sale or just that the stores generally sell them cheaper?

My take on why they're cheaper is probably since we don't have to pay import costs and additional taxes etc. The guitars don't travel too far relatively speaking and are usually shipped by truck at a relatively constant temperature by our reliable UPS service.

I used to think Fender posted MSRPs at almost double what they're actually sold for at places like Guitar Center JUST to make it LOOK like we're getting a good deal. Well, I guess that's its true value per Fender but retailers lower costs due to competition and can raise them due to supply and demand. I'm not sure why its much cheaper here and much more in Europe...I guess the same would apply to German guitars like Framus which are top of the line as well.

4) If I decided to buy a new Fender guitar online from the USA, is it safe buying it unseen? I wouldn't want risk paying for returning the thing back if it's not good, so, how do you think, what are the chances I would get a good guitar? Also, would it be setup properly, would the frets be levelled? I heard lots of awful things about Gibson (that you can't trust their quality control and it's not safe buying it unseen), and from what I heard, Fender is better, but still I wonder whether I can trust it.


IF a place like Guitar Center can do the conversion from Euros to Dollars (pretty sure they can), your Euro is worth more! Should cost less but then you have shipping and insurance and possibly limitations of special pricing due to being outside the US? I would say that its safe buying a Fender Guitar unseen as long as properly packaged (hard-shell case)...although you may want to wait a couple days before opening the case once received due to temperature changes. If its a Fender MIM or American Stratocaster I have faith that you'll get a good one no matter what.*** Compared to others, like I said, you may like some more than others but without comparison you should love yours! Yes, I heard horror stories about Gibson, but to be fair I'm sure not ALL Gibsons are of poor quality. But because Fenders have bolt-on maple necks and without that weird and fragile headstock (LPand SG), you should be good. Fenders are the AK-47s or Glocks of Guitars...SOLID WORKHORSES! Thus one major factor why I chose Fender vs Gibson!

****But remember, even the best Fenders will probably require a set-up to get the most out of it!

5) Also, I found on the forums that at least some MIM Standard Stratocasters are veneered bodies. I don't really understand how it impacts the sound, but from how people react to it, it seems it's an inferior thing. What could you say about it?

Because I'm running out of time, I'd say do more reading in this Forum concerning this question. But honestly, I think that MIM Standard Stratocasters are excellent guitars and most people can't tell the difference. MIMs may use 5 pieces of wood glued for their bodies vs 3 for Americans. But I'm told that the glue makes it stronger overall but that MIMs may not have the same tone etc. To me wood is wood. 5 pieces of Alder vs 3...and the 3 are ALSO glued! MIMs are awesome and every bit a Fender!

6) What would you say about the Mexican Deluxe Players, Roadhouse and Lone Star Strats? They are, according to MSRP, just a hundred dollars cheaper than Highway 1 and more expensive than Standard.

Personally, I'd look and compare the specs of each. I for sure know the MIM Deluxe Players has Noiseless Pickups and a 12 inch radius (big like the Les Paul) neck...its probably my next Stratocaster! The Roadhouse is also nice but although I love SRV's music, I'm no SRV and don't/can't play his style of Texas Blues...he played HARD with huge guage strings. I'd stay away from Highway 1 since its the bottom of the Americans and although the American Standard IS better, I'd have to pay more for Noiseless pickups and installation. So, the MIM Deluxe would be the way I'd go.

Take care! Talk to ya later.

Thank you for your answers and suggestions, marcaltus. I'm not going to buy a guitar soon, but now I know much more about them and it will be easier for me to choose when the time comes.

By the way, I tried American Standard and a Japanese Tokai Strat copy, and I didn't really feel any difference (there may have been the differences, but I just didn't notice it), except for the pickups. I wonder whether the are actually differences between Tokai copy's and Am Strat's neck and frets.

I would look into a Mexican made Strat. I have two HSS Standards and a '50s Classic Series. The Classic Series is slightly higher in quality but all three guitars are excellent. I've played American Fenders and I would put my guitars up against them any day. Or if you can find a Japanese Fender jump on it. I have two of them and they're incredible guitars. My Japanese Tele outplays a Hot Rod US Tele that I played today.

I have '06 and '09 Mexistrats and I can't tell any difference in quality between them. The main difference is color and that the headstock decal was changed sometime around '08. I have read that the '06 was upgraded significantly over the '05 but I've never read that the '09 was upgraded.