Hi chaps! Forum newbie and complete Strat virgin Ben here.
Professional guitarist, play Dean, Larrivee, Indie Co, Faith, Yamaha, Peavey, but never Fender as yet.

I've just decided that I need that fresh single coil twang in my life.

I need some advice... regarding 50s or 60s strat, USA or Mexico, and difference between the light pastel blues including Sonic or Daphne blue.

I like the look of the 50s model strat, with the old style headstock, maple neck and old tuners. I want either white or pastel blue/turquoise with aged/off-white pups and switches. I love the aged look and I was considering a road worn but I thought I could start with a standard and have it done myself.
(I love the look of worn/relic but can't bring myself to let any of my guitars wear down so maybe I should go all out and have it done custom to bite the bullet)

What's the main difference between the 50s and 60s? Other than aesthetics. Are the pickups and tone noticeably different etc? As I say I'm after the classic strat sound that's versatile enough to sit well in rhythm or bluesy lead and also go through pedals etc for distortion with a few bands I'm playing with. Is there a difference in pups power/drive wise?

Also, this may be a question for another time/place, but does anyone know how scalloped frets are to live with? I'll be playing a lot of lead and solos up the top end so is it worth having it done? Maybe just from 12 fret upwards...

My second main question is about Sonic Blue or Daphne Blue... what is the freakin' difference and has anyone got any photos of them together? From what I can see, the sonic blue looks fantastic against aged hardware and pick guard , but it can sometimes be a really washed out almost-white and I'm not sure whether that will look good or not... whereas Daphne blue is a more definite blue, but again some shots I've seen don't contrast well with the aged hardware; look better with shiny bright white pups etc.

I'm in UK so is there a huge difference in price and quality between Strats made in Mexico, USA, elsewhere? Shall I just go out and find one I like to play...

I'll sign off now, been ranting for too long.. there's just so much to know about Strats. Simply put I want a fairly standard machine that is around the £400-600 mark that will last me as a general workhorse for the next 3 or 4 years, and apart from that I like the white or pastel blue and I like the aged look. Any suggestions on where to get that done well in the UK, midlands or London area, would be great

Thanks all, I massively look forward to your feedback!

Typically the 60's models have a slimmer neck than the 50's models, and I think the two models usually have the same pups. From my experience, in the past the USA models were significantly higher quality but many folks seem to think the gap has closed lately. IMO if you are buying this first Strat to serve as your main guitar, then I would go USA... if the Strat is to serve as an equal member of your stable, then a MIM should be fine.

Thank you so much for your advice.
But what's a MIM?

Edit: 'Made in Mexico', duhhhh

Hi bensteele, welcome to the Forum!

..and amen to that, sir.

Essentially I believe you are right to simply try out as many strats as you can until one speaks to you. There are so many price points on Fender guitars (to fit everyone), that you can really spend about as much as you like on one. And it's possible to find that any two guitars of the very same model can feel entirely different. It's really a matter of finding the 'diamond in the rough'.

As far as 50's and 60's models go, you can't really go wrong with either. There's a longstanding tonewood debate that maple fingerboards produce a "snappier" tone vs the "warmer" tone of having a rosewood fingerboard. Many think this is utter BS, and to just play the darn thing. Then there's ash vs alder bodies (though I find most strats out nowadays use alder), etc, etc.
In terms of pickups there are higher and lower output sets to both 50's and 60's specs. But again nothing that can't be remedied by trying out as many guitars as possible and seeing what you like.

As for Sonic and Daphne Blue.. they are both gorgeous! But again it seems there are a lot of variants of these colours depending on what type of finish is applied, the country of origin, etc. There is really no concrete, by-the-book defined colour of either of these. As another example, Surf Green is notorious for this. But you can get a general idea of each from photos on the net.

I wish you the best of luck on your search!

You can't go wrong with either of these guitars. I would check out the specs for both guitars in Fender's product section where it lists all the aspects of each guitar.

The 60s Strat will have a rosewood fret board, which will give you a warmer sound. A maple neck will give you a brighter tone. Maple neck (70s Clapton, Buddy Holly and Hank Marvin like tones). Rosewood neck (SRV and Rory G. like tones). Keep in mind most of their sound came from their fingers.

So, sonic blue and dalphne blue. From my experience sonic blue is a pale blue and dalphne blue is like a baby blue. Fender colors are funny like that. I owned a dalphne blue strat. Really pretty color, but I prefer the lighter, softer sonic blue.

I personnally feel that Sonic blue looks great with roadwood. You can get an after market Fender Strat pickguard and aged parts online.


I really like the Road Worn Strats. They feel, look and sound great. They would be a great way to go.

As for buying your first Strat I would just out and play a bunch of them. Years ago I owned a Peavey T-26 and a MIJ Tele, but then one day I wanted a different sound. I must have played about 6 guitars until I played an '87 Strat Plus. From that moment I was hooked. I've owned (own) many Teles, Les Pauls and other brands, but my 5 Strats are my most loved guitars.

I hope all of this helps.

_________________
1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

ever thought about a HSS--Best of both worlds--single and bucker tone--awesome guitar
just happen to know where there is 1 available--

_________________
2011 PRS 25th SAS
2008 Eric Clapton Custom Antigua Strat
2012 PRS Artist Package Studio Special Order

Sounds like a Classic 50's in Daphne Blue might be a reasonable one to consider.

I've missed something in my post. On the topic of the Road Worn series.. it is important to note that each of these Relics are 100% identical to the next. So if you get one and run into someone with the same guitar, they'll be two exact clones of each other (awkward ).

Much better to have a nitro-finished guitar and do it yourself through honest play wear, I think

If you really want to go crazy and make something very special you could buy a Hwy1 Body (an early one came in Sonic blue) and buff it out with some rubbing compound, a cotton T-shirt and some elbow grease. Then buy yourself some CS '54 pickups and a vinatage Strat neck. I've done this myself and it is a great set up.

FYI the 50's & 60's series come with a (period correct) 7.25" fretboard radius. While it makes chording easier, wide bends may fret out if the string action is too low. You may want to consider a Strat with a 9.5" radius, which is on the majority of Fender models.

I have owned (and loved) my vintage series Strats for years, but I would like to add a 9.5" radius Strat to my arsenal for the reasons mentioned above.