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Post subject: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:46 pm
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I have a colleague who is interested in purchasing a Fender Strat and amp up to $5000 Australian (which is about the same US$). He can't play but wants something that may hold value into the future should he decide to sell it or hold as a collectors item. Can anyone suggest what current models might be available in this price range that would suit our needs?

More than happy to but direct from the US as prices in this country are over the top.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 1:32 am
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nigel1296 wrote:
I have a colleague who is interested in purchasing a Fender Strat and amp up to $5000 Australian (which is about the same US$). He can't play but wants something that may hold value into the future should he decide to sell it or hold as a collectors item. Can anyone suggest what current models might be available in this price range that would suit our needs?

More than happy to but direct from the US as prices in this country are over the top.


Well, no real advice from my side because there's hundreds of opinions about what would be the best suited models (see manufacturer websites and online catalogues/ guitar center catalogues)

I'd like to give a general advice/suggestion though:

Of course it's perfectly correct to buy an instrument which will last a long time and which will still satisfy the beginner after he/she got more experienced. That's why I always tell beginners to buy a decent Squier as minimum, not a plywood junkcaster from some local supermarket for 99 Dollars including amp :shock: .

BUT: spending up to 5000 bucks right from the beginning is just crazy in my eyes because:

- possible resale will bust about 30 to 50% of the invested money (i.e. compare prices on eBay for new and used guitars and amps!)
- a beginner does not know, in what direction he will drift! With increasing experience he/she might be in need of a totally different instrument to suit the style of music to play.
- same for amps!

My suggestion: if the money is there, your friend should get a decent but maybe used gear.
Start off with i.e. a Mexican or US Strat (if it has to be Fender) and a decent tube amp.
For most versatility in all styles, I suggest a HSS strat (humbucker at bridge).
That'll be already top notch for a beginner and ensures joy for many years. You can have it used for something around 1000 to 1500$ (amp & guitar!!).
Unless having a swimming pool full of money like Dagobert Duck, I wouldn't like to unnecessarily invest 3 to 4 thousand dollars more without knowing where my path is going...

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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:54 am
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Too much money for a beginner follow Smoking' Frets advice


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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 7:21 am
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Wow- 5 grand can buy a car- if you know what I mean. It can also get a round the world airfare! So spending that amount on a guitar, is like buying a new Ford Falcon XR6 (aussie car) for someone who has just passed the learner driver license test..

So I learned on a $150 vester Strat copy with a small samick practice amp. Perfectly suitable- something similar will do the exact same job. 5 grand for someone who can't play is way over the top.

Reminds me of a lawyer I read about who whilst going through a mid life crisis, bought a Gibson Les Paul Standard to learn his first chords on.. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:04 am
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If your friend has all kinds of disposable income and wants to spend it....hey, it's his money.

If he thinks this is going to be an investment as a collector's item and he'll be able to recoup his money, or make a profit.....well, that's not going to happen.

Until he learns to play he won't know what he is ultimately looking for. Sound and feel differ greatly between guitars. For example, he may buy a thin, narrow neck guitar and find out down the road he prefers thick and wide. He may buy a Strat then find out he prefers a Tele.

He can get a quality setup...guitar and amp, for under $1,000.00. Learn to play (easier said than done), then make the move up to more expensive gear, if necessary. It really isn't necessay to spend that kind of money to get high quality gear.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 1:24 pm
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totally agree with the other posts here.

5k is a bit too much for a starters purchase.

regarding Investment,, Resale value is going to be no where near what the initial cost is.

and also true that if he's just starting out, no telling what he's going to gravitate towards.

He has no idea what he's looking for, so I would definitely advise to lower the target budget, and get something that's good to learn on.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:03 am
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Thanks everyone for the input. Nice to be on a forum where there are no nasty or sarcastic replies.

Money is not an issue for the buyer so I think he feels if he buys something half decent and later decides in the future that he no longer wants it, he won't have flushed all his money down the drain. I too started on the cheaper guitars and now have a collection that includes Gibson's and a Taylor.

I would definitely want US made so lets just say he spent maybe $3,000 on the guitar and $2,000 on an amp, case and freight, is there anything sticking out that might be of interest to me?


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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:17 am
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nigel1296 wrote:

I would definitely want US made so lets just say he spent maybe $3,000 on the guitar and $2,000 on an amp, case and freight, is there anything sticking out that might be of interest to me?


Still too much money for a start without knowing the direction, if you ask me.

If money doesn't matter, go Fender Custom Shop, it can't get any better than that with Fenders. I'm sure you'll find one around 3000 bucks.
Since he's a beginner, the model is of no concern, he wouldn't know anyway.
So I suggest to get the most versatile one, suitable for EVERY possible style, which would be a model with HSS configuration.
I also would suggest a model with standard wiring scematics, standard controls etc.... nothing "confusing" for a beginner like crazy pickup combinations with 5 way mega switches, S1 switches, push/pull knobs and stuff like that. Just a plain and mean and ordinary standard strat.

Take him to the store and have him "test" some.

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STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:30 am
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Smokin' Frets wrote:

BUT: spending up to 5000 bucks right from the beginning is just crazy in my eyes because:



Agreed. $5k is overkill for a beginner. The collectible market is a different beast, is not for the uninitiated, and even the initiated lose money.

Buying OS, sight unseen to circumvent high Aus prices is also a poor decision for a beginner IMO. Go and play a heap of guitars and he'll find out why.

He can get a perfectly decent beginners guitar for $400 if you find a used Mex. Any money bet he'll never tell the diff between that and a Custom Shop costing more than 3X as much.
Save the exotica for when he can play the thing.

Yeah, buying amps from the US or Eur isn't that much cheaper when you factor in the shipping. Goodness knows I've tried Then you need a transformer for the voltage diff for the US ones.


Last edited by Drubbing on Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:48 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:37 am
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Wall current is different between US & Australia I believe. So make sure you order the proper voltage in the amp. I might suggest buying the amp locally & import the guitar only. It actually might turn out cheaper that way, if you consider shipping cost.
good luck :)


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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:38 am
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mojjett wrote:
Wall current is different between US & Australia I believe. So make sure you order the proper voltage in the amp. I might suggest buying the amp locally & import the guitar only. It actually might turn out cheaper that way, if you consider shipping cost.
good luck :)


Good advice, especially with an amp's weight in mind.

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STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:54 am
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Buying an ENGL amp from Germany would be a great option (used as well). They are designed for 250V and the prices in Australia are about 3 times as much as here.
Shipping isn´t too expensive and even buying new from ie. Thomann in Germany you could make money out of it selling in Australia, just a thought.
I can highly recommend the ENGL Blackmore. It sounds like a great tuned Marshall and it has an awesome clean tone as well. It is about 1100€ (1400 AUD) new. Used they go for about 600€-800€ (sometimes even less) that is 780-1000 AUD.

All the best,
Robin

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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 5:12 am
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nigel1296 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the input. Nice to be on a forum where there are no nasty or sarcastic replies.

Money is not an issue for the buyer so I think he feels if he buys something half decent and later decides in the future that he no longer wants it, he won't have flushed all his money down the drain. I too started on the cheaper guitars and now have a collection that includes Gibson's and a Taylor.

I would definitely want US made so lets just say he spent maybe $3,000 on the guitar and $2,000 on an amp, case and freight, is there anything sticking out that might be of interest to me?


Ok we'll if money seems to be no object here- I say buy used. Purely for the simple reason is that you say that he does not want to loose his money, then he has already bought something that has depreciated in value.

Realistically, in our market (nz is very similar to Au in this respect) you won't be able to get anything for $3k that will not depreciate in value significantly. In this bracket if you were looking to get something that didn't loose value so quickly and for something new, you'd be looking at a customshop instrument. Dont expect to pay $3k however, they tend to start for nearly double that amount.

Besides- if you do buy used with a budget of $3k you may be lucky enough to find a second hand customshop instrument or an eighties AVRI through eBay.com.au vs a new American deluxe that is new.. For example.

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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 6:45 am
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I hope after spending all that $$$ he doesn't decide to go bass!

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Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
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Post subject: Re: Advice on purchase of Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:22 am
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nigel1296 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the input. Nice to be on a forum where there are no nasty or sarcastic replies.

Money is not an issue for the buyer so I think he feels if he buys something half decent and later decides in the future that he no longer wants it, he won't have flushed all his money down the drain. I too started on the cheaper guitars and now have a collection that includes Gibson's and a Taylor.

I would definitely want US made so lets just say he spent maybe $3,000 on the guitar and $2,000 on an amp, case and freight, is there anything sticking out that might be of interest to me?


I share the opinion that $5,000.00 is still too much for an novice to invest. He just doesn't know yet what he is looking for.

However, if he wants to purchase something that he will not outgrow, I'd suggest an American Standard Strat and a good amp, such as a Blues Junior III. He will come in around $2,000.00 and not likely ever feel that his money was "flushed away".


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