It took me a long time to realize that I did not like Fender's with rosewood fretboards. So yah I had a few. Maple rules!

its quite simple if i dont like a guitar i dont make a purchase

_________________
"Blues, as a human you get it right"-

John Mayer
'84 MIJ(#1)
90's Samick S-Type (Slim)
Vox AD50VT-XL w/Footswitch
Peavy Audition Chorus 10 watt

i love them with both though i have a maple board i am more for the rosewood

_________________
"Blues, as a human you get it right"-

John Mayer
'84 MIJ(#1)
90's Samick S-Type (Slim)
Vox AD50VT-XL w/Footswitch
Peavy Audition Chorus 10 watt

I absolutely hate guitar center, but I was there one day and i picked up an American strat that was set up horribly. it buzzed all over. I was kind of put off, but that's just how guitar center treats their guitars i guess.

Hi Ceri,

I think no.

While I don't necessarily "love" the corporate Guitar Center entity that people foam over, it's hard to beat for one place to go to find tons of stuff, and some great deals on many things.

Me, I don't go there expecting top-notch sales people that can answer any question, I can read up on things on the internet. I go there for the huge selection and great prices (on many, not all, things).

I actually love going there, checking things out, and testing out things for hours at a time.

Many times.
Strats are like any other guitars... in that some are more equal than others ;^)

That said, they're also a very classless guitar society. The most magical and "right" examples can turn up anywhere in the price range.

Very well said Smoke.

I've absolutely played many strats that I couldn't stand. As soon as you move into the realm of corporate mass production your inevitably going to experience a drop in quality, or at least a lot more 'bad eggs' then you'd have otherwise.

Hell, I've played vintage strats that I thought were absolute garbage.

That said, I do believe that strats are the easiest guitars to make playable, and generally modify/work on. Hence I praise the brilliance of Leo Fender, while maintaining that his company is no better then any other guitar manufacturer.

I bought a white Clapton strat about 8 years ago and it was terrible. It had noiseless pickup(sounded like an acoustic, and the whole guitar was stiff as a board. Wish I had it now so I could sell it, it seems to be desirable to alot of people.Do not be fooled by fancy names. My 62 strat with a 50 neck plays circles around it.

I don't think it so much an issue of mass production or loss of production quality . The materials and construction standards are generally very good today.
It's more to do with two lumps of wood coming together to produce a sweetly ringing guitar that feels "right" in your hands.
I think we all know what that feels like.
[We also know what the opposite feels like...even with some very expensive and prestigious pieces.]

We try to make the best guitars we can...and spending more money can help. But the gods decide which ones rise to the top;^).

I usually get used to a new guitar but even if I don't I still like it.

yup. i'm not a fan of HSS strats either... i like the traditional all single coil guitar.

oh and i cannot stand black or red stratocasters, they remind me of squiers.

I hate 70s style strats. Yeuuch.

_________________
"It was right from the start" - John Mayer

I'm just happy to be a Guitar player!
I can't imagine what life would be like without it.

I love the wood grain finishes and rosewood necks. In fact, that's why my main (98) strat looks like now that I stripped the paint last year and refinished. But, unlike most, I've never been a fan of the big 70's headstocks. They remind me of bedknobs, or some other ornate piece of antique furniture that one's grandma might cherish.

Well, I didn't like to say so, but...