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Post subject: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:13 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I'm looking at various hard tail Strats - a rare, almost extinct species - and was comparing the Custom Shop Robert Cray with its MIM counterpart. Putting aside the fact that the quality of a CS guitar is the highest of all Fender production lines and looking only at a few significant stats, it appears we have two very different instruments with regard to how they feel and play.

    CS <> MIM
  • Neck Shape: '61 "C" <> '60s "C"
  • Fret Size: Vintage-Style <> Medium Jumbo
  • Fingerboard Radius: 12" <> 9.5"
  • Pickups: Custom-Wound Vintage Single-Coil Strat® <> Vintage Style Single-Coil Strat®

I haven't played either instrument so would like very much to hear from those who have and can provide a comparison.

Thanks & Cheers!
BM

p.s. All those who would love to see a return of the Hard Tail option raise their hands. :D

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:00 pm
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The MIM Cray's pickups are in fact custom-wound and voiced *similar* to those installed in the CS MIA edition. I've never actually played the latter guitar but the Ensenada-made signature instrument has a significantly different (I hesitate to label it as "better" since tone is so subjective) sound when compared to the garden-variety MIM '50s and '60s Classic Series Strats, especially when using the bridge pickup or the bridge/middle combination.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:39 am
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Thanks for the feedback, Arjay. I'm looking for a Hard Tail Strat and the only one I've ever played - the Corgan - isn't my cup of tea so I thought the Cray may be closer. I'd rather not get a signature Strat to have a hard tail Strat but since a CS build is not an option I'm looking into the RC.

I've tracked down the MIM model to a dealer not too far away and my local Fender CS dealer says he has the CS model on order. Hopefully I'll be able to try both soon and post back with a comparison.

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:46 am
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Bear in mind, the RC is only available in three colors -- Dark Violet, Inca Silver, and 3TSB. My first custom-assembled Strat was built around a Mexican 3TSB Cray.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:15 pm
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Bluer Monkey wrote:
I'm looking at various hard tail Strats - a rare, almost extinct species - and was comparing the Custom Shop Robert Cray with its MIM counterpart. Putting aside the fact that the quality of a CS guitar is the highest of all Fender production lines and looking only at a few significant stats, it appears we have two very different instruments with regard to how they feel and play.

    CS <> MIM
  • Neck Shape: '61 "C" <> '60s "C"
  • Fret Size: Vintage-Style <> Medium Jumbo
  • Fingerboard Radius: 12" <> 9.5"
  • Pickups: Custom-Wound Vintage Single-Coil Strat® <> Vintage Style Single-Coil Strat®

I haven't played either instrument so would like very much to hear from those who have and can provide a comparison.

Thanks & Cheers!
BM

p.s. All those who would love to see a return of the Hard Tail option raise their hands. :D

I was interested in a hardtail Strat as well. But there are some many better strat options with the trem. I am going to either build one myself from parts or get a Strat I really dig and block the trem......


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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:22 pm
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Since I block the tremolo of my Strats, might as well have a hardtail... I never played a Robert Cray model, but I know I'd trade my MIA Standard for a Robert Cray or Buddy Guy in a heartbeat!

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:02 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Bear in mind, the RC is only available in three colors -- Dark Violet, Inca Silver, and 3TSB. My first custom-assembled Strat was built around a Mexican 3TSB Cray. Arjay
    I'm not too thrilled about the color choices - especially the violet CS model with the gold hardware - and after reading your post the thought of building one crossed the windmills of my mind. Then I spent some time clicking away on the Warmoth site and the total came to $622 ($360 body + $262 neck). Adding the cost of pups, pg, and assorted hardware would bring the Partscaster price above the cost of MIM RC.

      ... One day, the hard tail option will return ...
            ... Perhaps, but not today. :lol:

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:25 pm
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I used a Robert Cray in 3TSB as the basis for this custom Strat......

Image

It was my first foray into the realm of building a personalized guitar.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:26 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
I used a Robert Cray in 3TSB as the basis for this custom Strat......
It was my first foray into the realm of building a personalized guitar. Arjay
    Sweeet! That's a classic :!:

    I assume the body is from the MIM RC but where did the neck with binding come from? The volume knob looks like it has the S1 switch. Nice job, Arjay. Would love to see more pics, especially of the back.

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:40 pm
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The neck is a CIJ "Premium Vintage" '65 re-issue with ivory binding, vintage frets and radius, plus some of the nicest non-Brazilian rosewood I've ever seen on a modern neck.

The pickups are SCN's with S-1 switching.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:46 pm
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Impressive beauty. 8)


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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:43 am
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Tough call. As with other inquiries of this type, you'll really have to play both guitars. It's a personal call. Then, of course, there's the cost factor. Keep us posted. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:29 pm
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All I know is that I LOVE my hardtail Strat. I have a couple others with trems as well but I always go back to the hardtail!


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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 1:51 pm
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Wow, nice customized Strat! I like it!

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Post subject: Re: Robert Cray vs. Robert Cray
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:39 pm
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This afternoon I spent some quality time getting to know the MIM Robert Cray Strat. I played through a '65 Deluxe Reverb Vintage Reissue and also a Blues Junior III.

What I really like about this guitar is the look and feel of the neck as well as the fingerboard. My initial reaction was that the neck felt smaller than the one on my American Deluxe but according to the specs the difference is 1 mm. I seriously doubt I was able to feel that so it's probably a combination of other things.

The one thing I didn't like about the guitar is the noisy pickups. The sound is fine, but the noise is really too much. At first I thought it may be an issue with the amps or the mains so I tried an American Standard and there was no noise. I wonder if the CS version of these pups is as noisy.

Cheers!
BM

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