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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:12 pm
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Brilliant, you guys are so incredibly helpful.

I guess I've developed a stigma towards certain guitars and labelled them as "blues" or "metal" guitars etc, when really its all in the player.

I'll take your word for it that you can get any tone out of standard pickups, because even as an amateur like myself I have managed to make some pretty cool sounds with my Deluxe Blackout Tele.

So I will considering asking my parents to 'loan' ;) me money and let me buy the guitar now and I can pay them back in the summer.

However you said that buying them from guitar center // musicians friend etc is usually a good idea -- but you also said I should try out any guitar before I buy it -- so what should I do?

I mean I could go and try a bunch of guitar models at a local shop here in town, but then if I ordered the same model online, couldn't I risk it not sounding as good to me? Or being damaged on the way to my house in the mail?

Thanks

Nick


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:27 pm
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Steely.. you are about to open a huge can o worms on the "only-buy-what-you-can-play--in-store subject!"

Here's my thoughts: It would be great to waltz into your local store, find exactly what you want, find that it plays just like you want it to, pay for it and leave... but that is sadly not the case with most in-store inventory. On the other hand, the big box stores have large in-store inventory but every blessed one of the guitars has been mauled by teenagers over the weekends taking them off the wall, lugging them around the store and jacking them into every floor amp and shredding or punk-rocking away on them! Your brand new guitar is worse than used! I buy guitars from places like Guitar Center... but I usually order mine so it is brand new never played outside the factory when I get it. If there is a problem with the guitar... well, that is why I like a store with a 30 day return policy! I also expect that the guitar may have to be taken for an initial pro setup by a luthier or guitar tech shop - roughly $50 there.

So if you can find the guitars you are interested in locally... by all means test drive em and if you like one and are happy with it take it home! Otherwise, especially from a good brand like Fender and on a US made Strat, don't be afraid to order one based on it having the specs you want. Chances are, you will be happy!

Oh, and IF you want to hit Mom and Dad up for a loan to get a $699 new US made American Special Strat from Guitar Center before March 31st... I sincerely think you will be getting the lowest price of the year with $200 off the regular $899 sale price.

My Am Spl was shipped to store brand new in box. I picked it up in-store and thoroughly checked it out before taking it home. I have no complaints! I specifically wanted Texas Specials and specifically wanted a maple fretboard with 70s headstock. The Am Spl fit that bill and was fabulously priced to boot; so I ordered one without hesitation.

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Tiger J

my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:09 am
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Thanks TigerJ. Again, super helpful.

I've been told by everyone in the world except you to try out any guitar before you buy it, but you raise a good point.

What I might do is go to the store, try an American Special HSS strat with the Texas Specials on it, and see if I like it at all. If not, I won't spend the money on it. If I do (and I'm sure I will), I will see what kind of condition it is in, what new models they can give me instead of the floor model, and if all else fails, I'll turn to Guitar Center or some other place with a good return policy.

Cheers

Nick


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:11 am
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Sorry, stupid question:

By naming it "American Special Strat" does it signify that it is MIA?

699 Seems pretty cheap for an MIA guitar, I remember buying my MIM Tele at a store where they had MIA strats (standard) for 1400...


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:28 am
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SteelyRayVaughan wrote:
Sorry, stupid question: By naming it "American Special Strat" does it signify that it is MIA? $699 seems pretty cheap for an MIA guitar.


MIA it is. Find the guitar in the online products section.

The advice given is quite sound. I consider all these guitars on the wall as 'used' for all the reasons Tiger cited. You also have to be sophisticated enough to understand the serial numbers. You may find last year's production series on the wall at this year's price. Soooo, as suggested, when you find something that appeals to you, have it ordered, and insist on receiving the box 'unopened.' Open it in the store, if you care to just to make sure all is in order before taking it. Opening a new box should generally find the guitar's neck wrapped in paper, and all of the 'case candy' as well call it, neatly packaged, as well as the production tags intact on the guitar tuner keys. Often, the locks are taped over in plastic to indicate that it was sealed at the factory.

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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:40 am
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Cool beans!

So if I went and tried one of these out in the store, you would suggest buying it then online?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Amer ... 1502369.gc

They also have a coupon code at the top "12SAVE" 12% more off the already on-sale strats. That's like 615$ for a MIA Special Strat!!!!

Is this something I should capitalize on right now?

Nick


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:47 am
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Crap they don't ship to Canada :( Gotta find another place


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:52 am
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SteelyRayVaughan wrote:
Cool beans!

So if I went and tried one of these out in the store, you would suggest buying it then online?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Amer ... 1502369.gc

They also have a coupon code at the top "12SAVE" 12% more off the already on-sale strats. That's like 615$ for a MIA Special Strat!!!!

Is this something I should capitalize on right now?

Nick

Not all guitars are going to be the same even if they're one serial number off. You really need to do the hands on testing to get what your really after. With money being tight there's no room for error. Have you consider a lightly used model?


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:12 am
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BrittB wrote:
Not all guitars are going to be the same even if they're one serial number off. You really need to do the hands on testing to get what your really after. With money being tight there's no room for error. Have you consider a lightly used model?

Trouble is that 'guitars off the wall' are not lightly used, they're often mightily abused. Shopping for a well treated used instrument is a careful task and takes time.

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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:41 am
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ZZDoc wrote:
BrittB wrote:
Not all guitars are going to be the same even if they're one serial number off. You really need to do the hands on testing to get what your really after. With money being tight there's no room for error. Have you consider a lightly used model?

Trouble is that 'guitars off the wall' are not lightly used, they're often mightily abused. Shopping for a well treated used instrument is a careful task and takes time.

When you are buying face to face, you can make that call if it's acceptable or rubbish.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:58 am
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Perhaps the OP needs to be patient...
OP.. You say you don't have the funds until June - July unless you ask your parents for a loan....
Why not just save the needed funds because .... Perhaps your family crosses the border frequently but....( From Ontario Province which unfortunately we don't know how far from the U.S. borders you are. And parents always prefer seeing a savings towards a goal rather than the "Hey Can i borrow $800 for a guitar and I'll pay you back in July ?? " :| )

But if, within a short drive, why not travel to the US and walk in to a big shop or small, try out a few guitars after asking which of the displayed are in stock unopened. Play those and choose the one which fits, . Once decided, ask if there are any discounts associated with that guitar... BUT before you say I'll buy it.... ask for the same model in an unopened box.
Try to find out first if you can get that guitar right there and then at a reduced price.

This is of course just a suggestion and to quote another Forumitee ... YMMV

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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:03 am
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No MIA Fender is going to be "rubbish" out of the box new... it may just need a good setup; but it won't be rubbish. As I said, if you are lucky enough to find the guitar you want in stock at a store... and you are satisfied with it play and condition; then great! But most of the time, your local store is not going to have exactly what you want in stock or the in-stock wall model is going to already be beat up. In that case, I would never hesitate to order an instrument as long as there is a return policy.

I wonder if world famous musicians go to stores and try out guitars... or do they custom order guitars and simply not accept them if they are below expectations? Also, for the more novice hobbyist like me... am I really going to be such an audiophile that, over a course of weeks or months and at several music stores playing through several different amps probably not on the precisely same settings,,, am I going to be able to say the 22nd guitar I tested sounded better than the 12th? I don't think so. What I will be able to tell is if the guitar is in pristine condition or less so and if the guitar has fret-buzz or otherwise needs a setup.

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Tiger J

my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:33 am
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Also, if you do make the drive to your nearest big box store... again, go online first. You will be able to see if they have the guitar you are interested in trying in-stock before you make the trip.

This is the major problem with the play-it-first-always advice: If you go to Guitar Center's website and look up the American Special Strat and select the color you want. You can then enter a zip code and check availability at the stores nearest you... but you will likely see that none are available in-store. Why? Because American Specials are the best value Fender has to offer in a balance of quality and affordability and they rarely last in-store for very long. You will most likely have to order one to be shipped to you or to the store for you. Either way, your satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back for 30 days!

Same holds for all signature Fender models... it is just extraordinary luck if the store near you happens to have the one you are interested in. Usually the big box stores will have a few American Standards and Deluxes in-stock... but not in the most sought after colors.

_________________
Tiger J

my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:21 am
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Hey again,

The problem with waiting is that this sale ends in 7 days, and I want to make sure I get one

A) before the online places run out of stock, and
B) the sale ends.

I've found a website that has it in-stock, and the model I want and everything however the return policy is 7 days from the date it arrives at the house. Then, if returned, there is some sort of "A minimum 25% restocking charge will apply for returns on online purchases only." disclaimer. What does that even mean?

But like you said, for a novice hobbyist like myself, chances are I will not find any problems with a MIA Special Strat. Even if there is one, I probably won't even be able to tell.

Is 7 days enough?
Why is the sky blue?

Haha thanks again, you guys are being great and very patient!

Nick


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Post subject: Re: Advice on Buying a New Stratocaster
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:34 am
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SteelyRayVaughan wrote:
Then, if returned, there is some sort of "A minimum 25% restocking charge will apply for returns on online purchases only." disclaimer. What does that even mean?

Simple...Do the math...e.g.:25% of $1000.00 =??? That's what they will ask of you to return the guitar. :?

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