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Post subject: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:43 am
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New member here, hello everyone!

I've always really loved strats, and now I'm going to be purchasing a my first soon! I need some advice on which one to purchase. I play mostly metal and classic rock, so the first one I looked at was a Blacktop strat because that seems to be what it's made for. However I've been mulling over these:

Blacktop Strat HH (maple/rosewood) - I like the look of maple more bit I have been told rosewood may be better for heavier music. I have been looking at pickup upgrades too if it needs to be spiced up for my heavy metal. Humbuckers are a plus, extra fret as well

Standard strat SSS (maple) - regular mim strat, I would most certainly upgrade to either Bare Knuckle/SD/DiMarzio pups like the Sinner/Hot Rails/ Super Distortion. Am I better off with regular humbuckers rather than the mini buckers?
*im also a fan of the satin finish models, thoughts on those?

Standard strat HSS (maple) - if a regular Humbucker would be better for me I would grab this over the regular SSS, so you tell me! Again most likely will be upgrading the bridge pup.

A few closing notes, I change tunings often, from standard all the way to drop A# (parkway drive etc), so I'm avoiding FR models. And $500 is really the most I want to spend, down the road I'll go for an MIA strat. So which of those 4 do you think would be best? *4 including the satin finish* feel free to recommend others as well! Also taking pickup recommendations =]

Thank you! Glad to be part of the Fender family soon!

PS- I play through a Blackstar HT-1 tube amp


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:42 pm
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I find with the right amp and effects almost any strat can be used for metal and classic rock. The blacktop is essentially the same as a MIM standard but has the HH setup as you noticed. Those are supposed to be overwound hot pickups so might be what you need. Can you get to a music store and try it out? Compare it to the sss and hss models.

As far as the fretboard it is said rosewood is "darker" sounding and better for metal/classic which is why you hardly see any metal guitarists using maple, but some do like EVH and it seems to work for them.

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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:10 pm
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Prior to getting my Mexican standard SSS strat with maple board,all my guitars had been rosewood with either hss or hsh pickups.I play rock,metal,blues and find the SSS pickup configuration to work fine.so much so that I have sold off all but one of my other guitars because I found the strat was the only one I was playing.once in a while I wish I had that extra fret.from your description,I think the blacktop series might be a good choice..only you will know for sure..


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:09 pm
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May I suggest a Fender Big Apple Strat?? You may find used ones anywhere between $500-$650. A little steeper than what you may want to pay, but they are hot rodded versions of the American Standard and come with double humbuckers--real Seymour Duncan pickups (pearly gates+ models).

However, if you're set on getting a brand new guitar, you've got selected a great lineup from which to choose. In my experience, going from humbuckers to mini humbuckers didn't cut it, it just sounded like a thin humbucker/thick single coil, which you may very well prefer. Otherwise, go for the HSS or HH configurations. I personally love the HSS configuration on a Strat because I can get the viscous tones out of a thicker bridge pickup, the punch and clarity of a single coil neck pickup, and all the lovely shimmery, quacky tones in between for those classic rock/blues moments; I love the versatility!


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:14 pm
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ebaysux wrote:
I find with the right amp and effects almost any strat can be used for metal and classic rock. The blacktop is essentially the same as a MIM standard but has the HH setup as you noticed. Those are supposed to be overwound hot pickups so might be what you need. Can you get to a music store and try it out? Compare it to the sss and hss models.

As far as the fretboard it is said rosewood is "darker" sounding and better for metal/classic which is why you hardly see any metal guitarists using maple, but some do like EVH and it seems to work for them.


TouchmyGstring, if you want maple then go for it, tone is in your hands
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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 1:23 am
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I have a satin finish strat from when they first done them about a decade ago. I love the finish and always keep an eye out for the other colours they done. The new satin colours are great.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:20 pm
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thanks for the input everyone! so it seems like i should go for the HSS or the blacktop. i guess mini buckers just wouldn't cut it for my style? I could always get a standard SSS down the road, which i want to do. I would keep that all coil


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 6:06 am
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Hi and welcome!
One thing you'll get here at the forum
Ms are all kinds go opinions... You just need to go to a good shop and play a bunch of different guitars and and amp... Just make yourself happy!

Good luck with the hunt and don't forget the pics when you pull the trigger!

Bill

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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:08 am
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Maple/Rosewood? Makes no difference whatsoever when you're playing with metal gain.

Doesn't' make much of a diff clean either.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:28 pm
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Drubbing wrote:
Maple/Rosewood? Makes no difference whatsoever when you're playing with metal gain.

Doesn't' make much of a diff clean either.

Tonal qualities aside, it makes a big difference for the feel of the neck. And that changes the sound.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:55 pm
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FWIW, my Blacktop Strat with my B* HT-5R sounds great for heavy rock/metal type stuff. The hum-buckers are better than single-coils for the heavy gain sounds, as I don't use pedals. The BT Strat also has a sweet Tele-like sound in pup selector switch position 2, which is awesome when played clean. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:06 pm
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arth1 wrote:
Drubbing wrote:
Maple/Rosewood? Makes no difference whatsoever when you're playing with metal gain.

Doesn't' make much of a diff clean either.

Tonal qualities aside, it makes a big difference for the feel of the neck. And that changes the sound.


Feel changes the sound?

Okey dokey then...


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2014 11:48 am
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What you want to find in a guitar is one that plays well for you, one you can sync with and feel great in your hands. it make no difference whether it is rosewood or maple it's all how it responds to your touch.

Once you find one that plays great, then you can upgrade the hardware (Pick-ups, tremolo block, pots) to what you want, it's how it plays with you that matters.

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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:03 am
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My advise is don't buy new. With $500 you can pick up a couple of MIM Strats for different pickup combinations and/or tuning.

I also agree, with today's technology almost any guitar/amp combo can be used.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice on my first Fender Strat purchase!
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:44 am
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I can recommend you American Special HSS has rosewood fingerboard and jumbo frets which makes bending easier. Really versatile guitar from blues to heavy metal. They are less expensive than standart stratocasters and you do not need any upgrade. Cheers

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