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Post subject: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:32 am
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I'm looking for some advice on buying a new strat. I have been playing a few in store for the past few months and im ready to buy one this month.
I love the feel and playability of the Fender American Standard Strat but I love the tone and sound of the 59 Vintage Reissue. Anyone any ideas on what I should go for?


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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:12 am
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Apple, or orange?

:lol:

I wonder, what do you intend to use it for? Simply for pleasure, or for a particular sound in a band for example? It might help you to decide if you focus on what you need/want most from it.

Would you come to love the way the 59VRI plays because it sounds so good to you, or would it sit in its case because you don't quite get on with it? Would you find a way to get the sound you want from the AS because it just feels right?

If there's no particular rush to buy one or the other, you could keep searching until you find a guitar which delivers both the playability and the sound you like - I am sure there will be one out there for you.

If you absolutely have to buy one or the other now, I'd go for the one which feels right. In my experience you can more easily change a guitar which feels right so that it sounds right than you can change a guitar which sounds right so that it also plays how you want it to. I wouldn't recommend doing that though.

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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:45 am
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I'd go for playability every time. You can change the sound a lot easier than you can change the feel.

Plus, if you're comfortable with a guitar, you'll play your best, which is worth more tonally than a hundred vintage Strats. If you're playing a guitar which doesn't feel right to you, no amount of 'vintage correct' features or pickups hand would by Tibetan monks are going to make you sound as good as if you were just playing something comfy. :D


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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:10 am
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I would say that if love the feel of new Am. Std, but love the tone of of the vintage '57, get yourself an American Std. Neck, a Hwy 1 body and some CS '54s or '57/'62 pups (or something like them).

I did this about a year ago and built an amazaying guitar.

If you do this, make sure that you hand buff the statin finish with some rubbing compound and a cotton cloth. The guitar will have that mint "old guitar look." (I don't mean reliced).

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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:14 am
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paris wrote:
I would say that if love the feel of new Am. Std, but love the tone of of the vintage '57, get yourself an American Std. Neck, a Hwy 1 body and some CS '54s or '57/'62 pups (or something like them).


+1

Sometimes that's what it takes to satisfy a guitarist's requirements.

You might also give the Fat '50s pickup set some consideration.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:33 pm
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The new am strats have fat 50s so that would be a good choice


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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:41 pm
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Niallser86 wrote:
I'm looking for some advice on buying a new strat. I have been playing a few in store for the past few months and im ready to buy one this month.
I love the feel and playability of the Fender American Standard Strat but I love the tone and sound of the 59 Vintage Reissue. Anyone any ideas on what I should go for?


The most important thing is playability. You can always get an electric guitar to sound a certain way but not necessarily to play a certain way.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:12 pm
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Personally I like both.


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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:38 pm
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tbazzone wrote:
The new am strats have fat 50s so that would be a good choice


I was testing out a couple of amps with fat 50 American Standard a couple of months back, they really are a wonderful guitar. Feel great and sound great. If i'd been flush with cash I probably would've bought it.


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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:29 pm
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Great playability and great vintage tone can be achieved from one great guitar here is my 59 VRI. Life is short so choose wisely.
Best to U 8)

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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 1:51 am
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Thanks for all the great advice, it is very much appreciated. I like the idea of building my own but it scares me slightly. I think I might have to take the playability option and I must admit the Fat 50's sound pretty good aswell, American Standard it is!!


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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 4:48 am
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Niallser86 wrote:
Thanks for all the great advice, it is very much appreciated. I like the idea of building my own but it scares me slightly. I think I might have to take the playability option and I must admit the Fat 50's sound pretty good aswell, American Standard it is!!


Wisely chosen! :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:43 am
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The American Standard has a set of 9s on it and the Vintage 59 has 10s.

Get the American Standard and throw on a set of 10s to get more of a vintage tone.


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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:35 am
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Quote:
The American Standard has a set of 9s on it and the Vintage 59 has 10s.
Get the American Standard and throw on a set of 10s to get more of a vintage tone.


Thanks, I would say that's definitely worth a try!!


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Post subject: Re: Modern Playability vs Vintage Tone
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:43 am
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If I were in the market for a new srtat, I would be going for the new MIA standrad w/fat '50s :wink:


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