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Post subject: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:53 am
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First time poster. Have played off and on for 4-5 years. About 4 years ago, I bought a used Les Paul Special which I have used exclusively for electric play. Play through a '78 princeton reverb or 5 watt bugera amp. Really want to add a strat to the mix. I don't have any interest in buying new so have been searching the local listings for a while now.

At this point, I've gotten stuck as to whether or not it's worth the extra money of buying a slightly nicer strat vs. a basic MIM strat (not squier). Seems like it's relatively easy to get a MIM strat for $200-250. I am currently looking at the two below, especially the USA special. For first time purchasers, what are people's thoughts on spending a few extra hundred for a higher quality instrument?

-'09 USA Special Strat (tobbacco burst) with hard case $600 - texas specials; professionally setup; mint condition.
-'09 MIM Jimmy Vaughn Strat (olympic white) $425 - professionally setup; quarter size chip in the paint.

Thank you in advance!!


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:30 am
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Nothing wrong with getting the MIM instrument. If it sounds good to you and feels good to you, then it will be a very good value.


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:01 pm
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I don't see these model in the Fender Frontline 2009 catalog . Are they original Fender ? Fake or Part-O-caster ?


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:04 pm
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Yea - for people that have owned both, would you say it's worth paying the extra money? Seems like the USA's hold their value much better and I'd prefer to buy something that I can hang onto for a while.


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:12 pm
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Without seeing pictures the usa model would be the one to buy.


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:27 pm
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Here's the american special:

http://i.imgur.com/5N9PioL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/w3A2pti.jpg

Here's the jimmy vaughn:

http://i.imgur.com/94ZVbMg.jpg


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:26 pm
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Feeling absolutely no love for any "modern" interpretation of a Strat, I would opt for the Jimmy Vaughan simply because it's closer to vintage Leo specs.

Arjay (the forum's resident Luddite)

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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:30 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Feeling absolutely no love for any "modern" interpretation of a Strat, I would opt for the Jimmy Vaughan simply because it's closer to vintage Leo specs.

Arjay (the forum's resident Luddite)


What do you mean by "modern" interpretation of a strat?


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:32 pm
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Love the white JV strat.

they supposed to be pretty good guitars in the MIM line, and anyway some people pay to have chips put in their guitars :lol:


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:40 pm
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Sev Grey wrote:
Love the white JV strat.

they supposed to be pretty good guitars in the MIM line, and anyway some people pay to have chips put in their guitars :lol:


Yea, just not sure about paying $400+ for a MIM strat with a chip in the paint...


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:34 pm
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blakeg11 wrote:
What do you mean by "modern" interpretation of a strat?
The following is not an attempt to put words in Arjay's mouth.

I have noticed that most people who voice less than glowing comments about the newer versions of the Stratocaster usually have their concerns centred around the bridge type, machine head type, pickups, fretboard radius and fret size. Modern Strats often have sealed tuners rather than Klusons, a two point bridge rather than a six point, a flatter radius and larger frets than those found on "vintage" type guitars. There are pros and cons to both kinds. Some see the newer models as being improvements while others loathe the very idea that there could ever be a such thing as an improvement because Leo got it right the first time. There is merit in both arguments and it's up to the user to decide which they prefer.

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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:45 pm
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Go with the JV Strat! Never did like the big headstock on a Strat, always made them look unbalanced! MIM Quality is very good and if you can talk the guy down $50 on the JV, then you're getting a good deal too!

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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:51 pm
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Let's say I can get the American Special down to $400-425 (with no case). Change any opinions?

I like the JV but the chipped paint is a sore spot, unless I were to pay more $$ to relic it.


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:37 pm
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As I see it, you are leaning towards the special, so just get that.

I just said it on another thread that we have to buy a guitar that speaks to us, be that from a pic or the sound.

If the chip is a sore point for you, that thing will probably haunt you forever, so why bother.

2c


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Post subject: Re: First Strat Purchase - help
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:49 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
...I would opt for the Jimmy Vaughan...


+1

In this case, the Am Spcl basically has a MIM bridge, and has no real advantage over the JV, plus the JV looks better to me, especially the headstock. The TS pups are nice, but the Tex-Mex pups have a better overall sound IMO, and I have owned both pup types. The soft V neck on the JV is quite nice also.

I just don't see the Am Spcl holding value any better than the JV. Dings don't bother me that much, and wouldn't sway my decision over sound and playability.

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