Whaz Up All ! I believe I want to buy a Fat Strat, I have been reading up on them but still don't know which one to get. I want to get one that will hold it's value, but most important built with quality parts. I play bass but want to explore a guitar more. If anyone can point me in the right direction, and possibly what scams I need to be aware of when buying one, I would GREATLY appreciate your overview. I only have the money to spend once and I want to get a REAL DEAL.
Thx For Any Help

Look for a used Made in USA model in good shape.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Depends on your price range man. If you want a great fat strat then you would prob. love the Dave Murray Sig. sure its not a true fat strat but you get an added single coil. Good luck on finding the one!

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It is not the years its the mileage!!

Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.

Hey BMW... What is the average price range for a decent Fat Strat?

Dunno. Haven't been in the market for a used Fat-Strat for some time. I suggest you start scoping out eBay, craigslist and Kijiji, if you have it in your area, to give you an idea what people are asking these days. The internet is your friend. Just don't jump on the first one you find. Study your market for a while. If you miss one or two opportunities while you're researching don't sweat it. Used Strats are plentiful. Another one will come along.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Fat Strat was Fender's term for Stratocasters having a scorching humbucker in the bridge. It was now replaced by the more conventional Strat HSS. Double Fat Strat denotes an HH config.

The Dave Murray signature model and the MIJ HST-57DM use an HSH configuration, with the latter sporting a Floyd Rose tremolo, 5-way switch and a Texas Special single-coil pickup in the middle.

Dave's own guitar is the same USA-made Artist Signature series except it incorporates many of the features found on the HST-57DM tribute - such as the Floyd Rose tremolo and the 5-way pickup selector - as opposed to the Paul Kossoff-owned '57/'63 hybrid for which the current signature model is based.

Hot blues = USA Texas Special HSS or Lone Star
Good all-rounder = USA Standard
All the tones you need = American Deluxe with S1
Boutique & gorgeous = Custom Shop specials
Cheap and versatile = Mexican Lone Star

All I've ever owned in the Strat category are Fat Strats. Personal favourite is the American Deluxe. Classy, good sounds, good looks.

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

Don't forget the Sambora Strat with the active mid-boost and huge star inlays!

+1 on this one!

Try to get a mid 90s American Lonestar Strat. 2 Texas Special SCs and 1 Pearly Gates humbucker.
I've got one and it rocks!

Mid 90s USA Strats have a very good quality and can be found relatively cheap. They should be around 500 to 650 US $, I guess.

In Germany they're around 550 to 650 Euros. Some guys ask for 750 but I've never seen one sold for that high price.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

The American Deluxe stays in tune better with a mini Floyd Rose bridge. Fender dropped the locking tremolo option in 2007.

Thanks for all input. I found a Lone Star Texas Special, but....... the Humbucker was replaced withe a Seymour Duncan, at he bridge. I am going to look at it tomorrow and was wondering if anyone can tell me the difference in the Pickup(s)?

Thx

The LoneStar came with 2 Texas Special (neck, mid) and 1 Seymore Duncan Pearly Gates (bridge). It was a hot, angry, mid-heavy guitar that was pretty useful for kick-butt Rock 'N Roll.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.