Hi everyone,

I just joined this forum today. I am very excited about my first real electric guitar (I played on the cheapest Squire first only for a short while). A little background about me: I am a keyboard player in a rock/pop coverband and would like a versatile guitar to also play some electric tunes, mostly as rhythm guitar player.

At home, I would like to play some lead guitar (I am totally new in this area). Now I have been trying a MIM standard HSS guitar, and I really liked it! The only thing was that I didnt like the cheaper feeling of the maple board, but I guess like the Rosewood better.

Now with some research my eyes also went over the MIM Lone Star. If I am correct, the difference with the Standard MIM HSS is that the pickups and Humbucker are different. Next I also heard that the Lone Star is not that easily detuned as the Standard one: this is important for me since I kind of have a rougher playing style.
Another difference is the price: The Standard is 499 and the Lone Star 599. Is it worth for me to invest the extra 100? I did not have a chance to play the Lone Star at a guitar center.

Your opinion/facts are very appreciated!

Paul

The most obvious difference is the pickups. The Lonestar has a Pearly Gates humbucker bridge and Texas Special mid and neck pickups.

The both have the exact same tuning machines from what I can tell from the specs. I don't understand where the comments about the LoneStar staying in tune better would come from. There is a Standard HSS with a Floyd Rose trem and locking nut so that would be more apt to stay in tune better when doing heavy whammy work, I would think.

Maple is not a "cheaper" neck when compared to rose wood. It is just different with advantages and disadvantages. I personally prefer maple and love the ease of maintenance and it just looks better. Some will say that rosewood is "warmer" and that maple is "brighter" in tone, but I have yet to be able to tell the difference. Most of us that play use pedals of one sort or another and have different tastes in amps that would make more of difference in final tone instead of the neck material. I like the feel of maple better. Others will not.

Go with what feels best for you. Play them both and let your fingers do the deciding.

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2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

IMHO, the extra $100.00 for the Lonestar vs. the Standard HSS is more than worth it. I used to have an American Lonestar Strat and absolutely loved it. The Texas Specials are (I think) among the best single-coil pickups out there.

I know that the MIA Lonestar has a two point bridge, and the MIM Lonestar has the vintage style bridge with six screws. The two point offers better tuning stability.

As markara pointed out, the best tuning stability is with a double-locking system.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.