picking up a strat for my little cousin for his birthday.

he is turning 16, has been playing for a couple of years. I would consider him intermediate level guitar player. he's been wanting a strat forever so I was going to pick him up one but know nothing about them

I was looking at these two in particular

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Modern-Player-Stratocaster-HSS-Electric-Guitar-H76267-i2013846.gc

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Blacktop-Electric-Rosewood-Fretboard/dp/B005FG3DSK

Between those two I much prefer the HSS. What turns me off to the blacktop is the locking nut. I hate locking nuts.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

what don't you like about them?

If you are willing to buy either of those guitars, then I'd let the person you are buying it for chose which one to get. You can ask for opions on which one to get but in the end the only opinion that matters is his. If he's an intermediate player then he knows which one he'd prefer.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

I have not played the Modern Player HSS. I do own the Blacktop withe the Floyd Rose. I love my Blacktop. A nice intermediate guitar that is easy to convert to a pro level guitar with minimum money.

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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

+1

Choosing a guitar or an amp is an entirely subjective decision based on a myriad of personal factors. Let the lad make up his own mind.

JMOOC

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

Buying a guitar is not like buying a dishwasher .....the thought, I'm sure will be much appreciated, but he needs to look at the guitar play it and see what they prefer

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Fender Strat USA deluxe
Gibson SG with Classic 57 humbuckers
Gordon Smith GS1 with P90
Orange Rocker 30
Orange Tiny Terror

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This is the Blues. Are you listening?

give him a gc voucher

Take him to a guitar place - give him a budget amount, turn him loose. He may decide on a different guitar. Les Paul types are easier to play than Strats to start with - shorter scale and such. JMO

I would say if you know your price range, take him to go pick it out. Hard to buy a guitar for somebody, because the feel of a guitar is a very personal thing. different styles, different neck shapes, and radius, make a day out of guitar shopping, it will reward you both!

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"