I've owned both a Tom Anderson and a Valley Arts strat which I thought were the only guitars I'll ever need. Then one day I walked into my local music store and saw a white CS strat with a maple neck hangin there, I plugged it in played a few riffs and said, "Holy*#^t I'm buying this thing!" I told the sales guy to get the case and 15 minutes later I was home and I didn't put that thing down for over 7 hours. That strat is bitchin. It's a cold hard fact that strats are definitely NOT overrated.

I'm not sure I understand what was meant by the trolling motor photo. But what a coincidence, I was working on my trolling motor just yesterday.

Fender Stratocasters are dramatically underrated. There's always some new "boutique" guitar that people want and then they feel soo hot. For some, it's a Vai from Ibanez. Good for metal, sure, not as good for chords because of the radius compared to a typical 9.5 for a Strat. Good songs have both chords and individual notes to keep it interesting. For others, it's a PRS with the birds and yada yada. Fender owns Charvel so I won't go there. These are copies of the Stratocaster. Even Gibson's SG is a copy (not as attractive) of the Stratocaster. The boutique guitars are vastly more expensive, but they aren't better. Criticize the g string volume all you want, but you know what that vintage g string is fundamental to a lot of blues songs and really works well in a lot of stuff, and if you don't want it that way Fender's got other options including the American Standard and noiseless. If it's not the boutique guitars it's the boutique amps. Truth is, Fender Strats are loaded with music and tone. Strats have tons of variety with different pickup options and once you dial it in the way you have it you've got three pickups and three different voices. It's really important that Strats are easy to set up and perfect if wear or shipping or manufacture leaves any rough edges, and really cannot be beat for the money. Every luthier knows how to do it, and a lot of it we can do ourselves. Most of all Strats are the best playing guitars around - thin, lightweight, with a low action for barring chords attainable, good for bending blues, or for bright and chrstal clean chords. That's why everyone from Buddy Guy to Hendrix to Clapton to Beck to Joe Walsh to SRV to Frusciante to John Mayer plays them. Many of these guys are signature artists and it's not because they need the money but because they love the guitars and having that close relationship with Fender R&D and the Custom Shop. Fender keeps on innovating and the Fat50s I'm upgrading into my Highway One are examples with a fatter tone like I like and hum cancelling, while still being modeled on the 1958 Fender Strat pickups.

No, Fender Strats aren't overrated. They're constantly dissed by people who my guess is don't play too much or don't really have an ear for tone. For the beauty of music, I'd stack my Highway One once I get the CS Fat 50s against any Vai or PRS, and that's only like $500 spent on it, maybe 1/4 the price of a PRS.

With the Strat, Leo Fender invented a new kind of guitar and he lit a candle in the wind that was wavering at the end of the CBS era. Kudos to Fender for all they keep doing now to ennable us humble guitar players to make some music.

Just wanted to give you a quick demonstration of my psychic capability.

About 10 years ago I knew a guy that played in a group in Richmond, VA. He owned a PRS and his words were that it was too expensive and overrated!

Thats what happened to me when I picked up an EJ. There was no way I could leave without that damn guitar. I even bought the Cyber Twin I was playin it through. Great amp. I was overtaken by G.A.S.

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"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ

I drink coke, i wear converse and i play stratocasters.
All three have their competition and even their betters in terms of quatlity, craftsmanship etc. All three have been adopted by millions who have been swayed by the high profile of these brands. But I don't care.
I know that coke is the taste for me. I know that I look DAMN SEXY in converse. And I know that I was born to play the stratocaster.
It is on the Strat that I am the best player I can be.
Who cares what anyone else thinks?

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Rock out with your socks out.

You got that exactly right

Good move! I don't think you'll ever regret it for a second!

Oh Man ! I say Yes!

No...How could a guitar than has survived at the top for 50 years virtually unchanged be "overrated"?

I to find it funny that you enter a strat forum, imply and ask if anyone thinks the strat is overrated. Then, when a few take a defensive position, you get insulted. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were looking for an arguement, lol. But thats ok man, I know better, I understand that you just know any better
J/K

I guess if you are looking for the short answer......No sir, I do not believe they are overrated.



Wow...thats says it all Bro!

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05 AmDeluxe, 50th anniv strat gold hardware, custom pickguard, Gold "F" knob from 80s era strat

Besides the sound of a strat....one other big selling point for me is the body design, and how comfortable it fits on my body, as well as how easy the neck makes it to play.

I'm always hearing Les Paul owners complain about the weight of the guitar, and how uncomfortable they are.

both guitars are awesome, and neither is overrated. I don't think so at least. It's just a matter of opinion...

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I dare you to move
~Switchfoot~