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Post subject: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 3:23 pm
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Hi there!
I am about to purchase my first American made Stratocaster after years and years of fantasizing :D
Currently I am torn between two very different options, and I would appreciate your expert opinions dear community members.

Candidate 1: 1980 Hard tail model with large headstock and a maple neck. All the hardware is original according to the seller. It has a new set of frets and has been painted yellow. There are no visible dents or scratches apart from one on the back of the neck.

Candidate 2: 2010 Sunburst American Deluxe with a RW neck, noiseless pickups and a S1 switch. Very much like this one: http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocaster/american-deluxe-stratocaster-rosewood-fingerboard-3-color-sunburst/.

Both guitars look and play great.

Which one would you prefer and why?


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 3:45 pm
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First, to me 1980 doesn't seem worthy of the term vintage, but that aside-
I'd go with the newer one.
Why?
Because while I don't use a trem/vibrato bar that often (I have one on my Mustang that mostly I just use subtly by pressing my hand back against the tailpiece, but it's nice to have if I want to do more) if I were to get a Strat, to me the Strat includes the vibrato system.
Plus I prefer rosewood boards, as I like the way they feel, it feels like I get some grip, but maple boards on Fenders are finished and they feel slippery--I can adapt to them, but I prefer rosewood boards.

But I would like to try both, maybe the hardtail one would speak to me and the newer one wouldn't.

Ultimately you have to decide what you want out of a guitar and whether either one matches that.
The correct answer could possibly be neither one.

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 3:56 pm
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A nice, original, 34-year old guitar is preferable to a modern interpretation. The lumber and pickups are seasoned with age and mojo, and it will definitely hold more residual value than the newer cookie-cutter instrument. Plus I'm biased to hardtails.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 4:17 pm
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Zontar, you are probably right - according to ebay the term vintage applies to pre-1980 guitars! So it may become vintage next year :?

I have heard the argument that a hardtail start is not really a strat, but I (almost) never use the trem and I might even consider blocking it in order to get more tuning stability etc.
However, I wonder if the classic strat-tone is achievable with the hardtail.

Then again, I wonder the exact same thing about the noiseless pickups in the deluxe, but at least the are easily replaceable


Eubar


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:01 pm
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Play them and get the one that sounds best. Neither is going to be worth much in resale value - the repainting pretty much killed whatever age accrued value the 1980 had. And the new one is, well, thirteen a dozen.
So get the one that plays best for you. Or, if you can afford it, get both, and sell the one you like the least after a couple of months.


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:40 pm
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That's a hard one for me as I do like the guitars from 1980, I've played a few and better yet it's a hard tail but it's yellow. I don't much care for yellow guitars but I can refinish them so it's not a deal breaker for me. A new delux is nice and I'm sure a very nice guitar. I would have to see and play the 1980 and as long as it plays like it should I would probely go with it.


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:08 pm
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Suggestion:
Go with the one that you feel sounds and plays the best. Whichever one you feel more of a "bond" with... that's the one you should get.

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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:35 pm
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Get the Deluxe. Don't ask why; just do it. In all seriousness, there is no right or wrong answer here, but I like the feel and modern features of the American Deluxe.


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Post subject: Re: Should I buy a vintage hardtail model or a newer deluxe?
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:28 am
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In all honesty, get the new American Standard. You can't go wrong. The Fat 50s pickups are some of the best they've ever put on a Strat. The American Deluxes really polarise opinion for a lot of players. While they have all the bells and whistles, sometime their pickups or tone don't get favourable reactions. We see a lot of American Deluxes over here for sale on second hand web sites, very very few American Standards.

As a first American Strat, go for the original and the best in my opinion. :)

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2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
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