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Are mexican strats better that USA strats?
Yes 5%  5%  [ 2 ]
No 66%  66%  [ 29 ]
They're both just as good 25%  25%  [ 11 ]
Can't tell 5%  5%  [ 2 ]
Total votes : 44
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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:27 am
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James092924 wrote:
nick off, all those smart alek's

I don't think you got too much smartalekings, if you just note that "perfect condition" may mean very different things to different people.
The only way to really keep the guitar looking brand new is to not play and keep it in a sealed case with humidity control. And, if you choose to try to keep it looking like brand new, the first ding or nick will be a real shock...


But ask yourself, what is "perfect condition" for that guitar when it turns 10. For me, it would mean visible 'scars of honor' e.g. natural relicing where it appears on guitars that have been played a lot.

On cleaning and maintenance, there is a myriad of designer brand care products - go with any major brand you choose, I'd say they all fill the purpose.
The cheap and traditional way is to use clean cotton rags & elbow grease for cleaning, aided with Zippo fluid when necessary, and lube every string contact point with lip balm applied with a toothpick.

Edit: On the poll, I'd say in general Mexican Strats are more Mexican that US Strats.


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 11:04 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
I love the question in the poll and not just for the misuse of the word that.
Years ago the question was, "what can I do to upgrade my MIM so it's as good as MIA?"
Then the question became, "what's really the difference anyway? Is there a difference?"
More recently it became, "Why is everybody dissing my MIM when it's just as good as MIA?"
And finally we have arrived at, "Why can't people just accept that MIM is BETTER than MIA?"

The evolution of an idea .....


:lol: :lol: :lol:
mud


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 11:28 am
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I have an AM Strat Sienna burst cost around $1300, I do take care of it, I remove my belt and pull my shirt out before I play as to avoid back scratches. I put it in my case every night after I wipe her down with a microfiber cloth when done playing, I use fender quick clean once every 2 weeks, lemon oil the fretboard twice a year, it is 1 2/3 year old now and it does look as good as the day I bought it.

At your age you might think of it as expensive but in retrospect I drive my car every day to work yes it gets ding from the parking lot and it cost me more than 15 time more than my guitar, just part of life, but I am not going to keep it in the garage because of ware, dings, and scratches that I didnt even put there.

So look at it as a tool that gets used, and yes I put my tools away clean when I am done, try to take care of it and it will take car of you

Your lucky you didn't take up the Bassoon as a cheep one goes for $3,000.00 and a good one goes for $30,000.00
mud


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 12:19 am
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Treat it as you would a valuable treasure . Don't listen to anyone telling you to beat your stuff up just because they don't take care of theirs. That is their choice, but doesn't have to be yours. I play all the time, and I manage to keep all of my guitars in immaculate condition. I don't wear belts or buttons when playing, I am mindful when moving around with them or putting them in their cases, and I take time to polish them regularly. I'm also the only one who plays them because I don't want dents and scratches on my stuff just because somebody else doesn't care.


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 1:50 am
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No one said don't care. Don't obsess; it's not treasure of a work of art. Damage will happen eventually and if you obsess you'll make a bigger deal out of it than neccessary.


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:15 am
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yeah


Last edited by James092924 on Tue Jun 06, 2017 4:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:30 am
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Yeah you've got a beautiful guitar there. For the longest time I was only interested in natural and sunburst guitars, but I recently got a Blue Strat and I'm loving it. They are clearly the best sounding of all the Strats. :lol:

Anyway I can appreciate where you are coming from wanting to take care of your guitars, but I have always bought mine used so there was always minor wear on them from the day I got them. The first scratch or dent is the hardest to live with, but eventually you get used to it. The way I see it is, the more flaws you have on your guitar the more personality it has and the more it shows that someone has shown it love and affection by playing the **** out of it.

If I was playing on stage, I would want a guitar with some flaws on it.. I would feel awkward with a perfectly mint instrument, like it had never been played before or I had just pulled it off the rack at the shop. The best thing you can do for your guitar is play it, and not worry about the rest. It will thank you for that.

That being said, I hate fingerprints on the finish so I do wipe them down every so often, but that's about it.

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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 6:30 am
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I have a different take on things than may be listed. You can have both. I play the hell out of all my guitars and they ALL still look as good as any on a showroom. I don't travel or gig with them so I'm not out bumping them around, so that helps. However, I work with "tools" in a different way that most I see. I use "tools" (drills, saws, guitars, & my Harley's) with some reverence and pride with ownership. Which simply means, I DON'T ABUSE my tools or toys!! :D My Daddy (rest his soul) taught me to buy the best I could find and TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. He was a very smart man IMHO!!

Like said:

1) keep in the case & I keep my winter humidity spot on in the house. Better for my health & guitars too.

2) play and wipe down body with a very soft & dust free cloth, and try a special string cloth (like a GHS string cloth much) and wipe stings after every playing. Wipe the tuner keys & all chrome down. I keep a wipe for the tuners esp. when they are gold plated.

3) Wash hands prior to playing (esp. good advice if you play Nitro finishes) It keeps the finish & strings in much better shape.

4) Clean with a spray polish, and a good one too, every month if play a lot. You can spot clean with a damp (NOT WET) cloth & then buff dry in-between. You also don't want to get too much polish buildup but if using a liquid spray you should be fine.

5) Use a "Scratch Pad" on the back (just takes a few seconds to stick on & take off). Not only does it keep the buckle rash off the git, it doesn't slide around while play. Look them up on the web.

6) Meguires "ScratchX" for rubbing out the scratches in the finish (Poly, CV, or Nitro). Used in the automotive industry & at auto parts stores.

All this takes me a moment or two, before & after playing. When I change strings the git receives a thorough detail cleaning job and a quick job in between.

Hope this helps. Every can do what they want w/ a guitar. I never see "MOJO" when I see a beat up or scarred guitar/finish. All I see is abuse and lack of care. That's just me and I'm an experienced guy (older). :roll:

Aster


Last edited by Aster1 on Fri Oct 03, 2014 4:40 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:16 am
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Aster1 wrote:
I never see "MOJO" when I see a beat up or scarred guitar/finish.

Really..?


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:02 pm
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I try to let my equipment age gracefully. I wipe my guitars down after use, I maintain the fretboard and body with the proper solutions, I store it properly, but most importantly.... I play it.

As long as I'm using common sense and taking personal responsibility for my equipment then everything else is inevitable. For me, dings, scratches, etc are like wrinkles on a aging face.....they tell a story, and I do love a good story.

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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:01 pm
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socal323 wrote:
For me, dings, scratches, etc are like wrinkles on a aging face.....they tell a story, and I do love a good story.


So true... Thx u guys, u've changed my mind about those scratches and as much as i love my guitar, I won't overreact to a little ding... :mrgreen: :D


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 12:07 am
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Hey mate! Nice strat you got there!
Like some of the others already said, a guitar is made to be used. There's no point in trying to keep it 100% perfect because I've found (like most things in real life) things never go to plan. You can kind of relate it to getting a new pair of expensive shoes...the bigger deal you go about trying to keep them clean makes some people tempted to stand on them or make you run through a muddy field!
There's an old proverb that says: "A ship in the dock is safe, but that's not what ship's are built for".
So, it's best really to just play it man. Sweat on the strings and bridge might wear off the shine a bit but seriously, all that kind of gradual wear and tear is what evolves into that instruments individual character. That kind of thing is appealing to buyers when they purchase a used instrument believe it or not. If your worried about retaining your instruments value you really don't have to worry about general usage wear showing, as long as it's either a MIA or a high end MIM it will generally hold a decent resale value anyway.
Just play it man!
:mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 4:37 am
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jmattis wrote:
Aster1 wrote:
I never see "MOJO" when I see a beat up or scarred guitar/finish.

Really..?



REALLY!!! I don't have tats, piercings, or cut myself either to have "MOJO". I just have it being me. :)

I watch people loose & abuse work tools all day on jobsites often too. (I own a technology company working on luxury homes) The Sawsall that got dragged around on concrete by its cord didn't have mojo. It just became a beat up old tool before its time IMHO. To each their own.

Back in the day I don't remember ever seeing Jimi H (or really any of the big names for that matter) play a beat up looking guitar. Hendrix git looked new every performance (course now he was given a new one after smashing it to bits at the bigger concerts). :mrgreen:

Aster


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:34 am
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Well, to each his/her own - you keep your guitars ship shape, I'll let mine age naturally. - they get no abuse though.
And further, after all those burnt or maimed Strats, Jimi might not be the best testimony for your view of taking care of one's tools. :mrgreen:

IMHO:
I keep my tools in best possible working condition (chisels sharp etc.) but they are for use, not for display.
Likewise, a 30 years old guitar should look like it.
Same way as I prefer a 1947 Harley to look its age.
Or my wife. :wink:
Or the odd guy in the mirror. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Whats the best way to keep your strat in perfect conditi
Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 3:46 pm
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SNick wrote:
It is just a tool. Treat it as such. Clean as needed. Don't worry about scratches or dents. Play it like you mean it.

True, just play it and don't worry.

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