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Post subject: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, right.
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 7:13 pm
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Okay, I hope the appropriate people from Fender are reading this because I can't keep it in anymore.

Why is it so *@%^# difficult to get a Stratocaster HSS with a FLOYD ROSE that is not MIM and is not a $4200 Custom Shop model?

I mean, we get every other configuration under sun of American Strats - SSS, HH, HSS, HSH, 2-point trem, vintage trem, hardtail, alder, ash, rosewood, maple, '50s headstock, '70s headstock, "spaghetti" logo, '70s logo, standard truss rod, bullet truss rod, synthetic nut, roller nut, vintage tuners, standard tuners, locking tuners, white plastic, parchment plastic, black plastic, cream plastic, chrome hardware, gold hardware, screw-in trem arm, pop-in trem arm, 21 frets, 22 frets...

...every option under the sun except a Floyd Rose.

So, Fender People, this is really simple. All I'm looking for is basically an American Standard HSS Shawbucker Strat except take the 2-point trem and synthetic nut and replace them with Floyd Rose stuff. I even love the Mystic Blue and the maple fretboard.

See? Easy.


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 7:40 pm
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You mean, like this?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-american-special-strat-hss-with-floyd-rose-tremolo

Had they been popular, they would likely still be offered. Maybe you can find a used one?

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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 9:08 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
You mean, like this?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-american-special-strat-hss-with-floyd-rose-tremolo

Had they been popular, they would likely still be offered. Maybe you can find a used one?


That is no longer a current model. Gibson usually offers at least one standard USA Les Paul model with a FR, and a FR on a LP is a far less common addition. I don't know why it's so hard for Fender to offer at least one standard American model with a FR.


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 11:40 pm
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Simmie already answered that, there is not sufficient demand for a US HSS FR model.
Just modern day economics...

Now, an innocent question: why not get a MIM HSS FR model?
Even if you upgrade all the electronics, it's still under an AmStd price level.
Somehow, I doubt the one missing fret would limit your creativity in any way...

But if the country of origin really plays the crucial role, there are the AmSTD and AmDlx HSS's, just waiting for a FR upgrade...

A Strat is made to be modded. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 1:10 am
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jmattis wrote:
A Strat is made to be modded. :wink:


+1!

Like an old Chevy or a 1911 pistol.

8)

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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 2:12 am
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I don't know a great deal about FR trems (not being a big tremalist myself) aside thinking they look damn ugly.

That aside surely there must be a straight bolt on replacement judging by all of the options on their site?

Getting all hot and bothered that Fender don't supply one is a bit like getting upset that they don't do a vintage sunburst with a blue pearloid scratch plate (yuck!) ...Just change it.

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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 6:47 am
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They have had them in the past and they just don't sell well enough at the USA price point any more to justify having them in the lineup.

Also the only Gibson USA Les Pauls with a Floyd have been special runs for Guitar Center/Musician's Friend; otherwise you're looking at either an Epiphone or the Custom Shop Axcess or Lifeson Signature models.


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 7:52 am
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I have a separate question: Why is a Floyd Rose so important? Is anyone really doing that many "dive-bombs" with the vibrato arm? Maybe, who knows?

There are plenty of "plug and play" trem setters (Hipshot comes to mind) out there that do not require a player cup up the body or buy a Floyd Rose. And for my money, I'm not a fan. They are clunky, get in the way of where I play, a pain when it comes to changing strings and just awkward to me. I realize that it's a personal thing, so everybody's different and there is no right or wrong about this. I realize that heavy metal and its offspring can be Trem heavy, so it's understandable to want a dependable trem. I'm just thinking that if you're not using all the time, it's dead weight.

There plenty of players who are wammy bar masters who don't use a Floyd Rose and don't seem to have tuning issues: Jeff Beck, Andy Summers and Hank Marvin instantly come to mind.

If you are worried about the guitar getting back in tune, remember two things.
1. Tuning issues generally start at the nut. A poorly shaped nut will catch the strings, no matter what trem you are using.
2. If you are out of tune, I have found that pulling back on the trem arm slightly puts it right back in tune.

When setting up a Strat bridge here's a few things I do:

1. Use five springs.
2. Raise the bridge off the body to where I want it (about an 1/8").
3. I raise the front end of the bridge (the part what is pivot point) so that the whole bridge in parallel to, and floating off, the body.
4. Did I mention to make sure that the nut is properly shaped?

I’m sorry to hear that you can’t seem to find what you are looking for. I understand your frustration. I’ve wanted Fender to produce an Andy Summers signature (not the 2007 CS) Telecaster for ages now. That’s between the Andy, Fender and the market.

Good Luck!


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 9:08 am
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paris wrote:
When setting up a Strat bridge
1. Use five springs.

There's more ways that one to set up a Strat trem properly.
So just as an example: IMHO&E(xperience), sometimes three springs with just the right amount of "pre-tensioning" work better than four springs with less tension. Plus: I very seldom need to use all five springs...


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 9:50 am
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jmattis wrote:
paris wrote:
When setting up a Strat bridge
1. Use five springs.

There's more ways that one to set up a Strat trem properly.
So just as an example: IMHO&E(xperience), sometimes three springs with just the right amount of "pre-tensioning" work better than four springs with less tension. Plus: I very seldom need to use all five springs...


A very good point. I do know that there are springs with various stiffness. I use five out of personal preferance, not that I think it's the only way to go.

You remind me of something very important that I think many people forget, and I have only recently learned:
1. A guitar is a system in ballance. This ballance can be altered to each person's playing style. We can alter that blallance to a small degree, but if we go too far, we can throw everything out of ballance.

2. Every player is different and what works for one, doesn't work for all. For instance, it said that SRV's Strat had impossibly high action, and vertually unplayable by the person writing the article (Fender CS article from several years ago), but for Stevie, it worked. I too, like my action a little higher than some. I'm a pretty heavy handed, especially when I play blues. When I'm playing modern Christian music, I'm little lighter with my touch.

Thanks for your insite


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Wed May 13, 2015 5:20 pm
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gregsuarez75 wrote:
Okay, I hope the appropriate people from Fender are reading this because I can't keep it in anymore.

Why is it so *@%^# difficult to get a Stratocaster HSS with a FLOYD ROSE that is not MIM and is not a $4200 Custom Shop model?

I mean, we get every other configuration under sun of American Strats - SSS, HH, HSS, HSH, 2-point trem, vintage trem, hardtail, alder, ash, rosewood, maple, '50s headstock, '70s headstock, "spaghetti" logo, '70s logo, standard truss rod, bullet truss rod, synthetic nut, roller nut, vintage tuners, standard tuners, locking tuners, white plastic, parchment plastic, black plastic, cream plastic, chrome hardware, gold hardware, screw-in trem arm, pop-in trem arm, 21 frets, 22 frets...

...every option under the sun except a Floyd Rose.

So, Fender People, this is really simple. All I'm looking for is basically an American Standard HSS Shawbucker Strat except take the 2-point trem and synthetic nut and replace them with Floyd Rose stuff. I even love the Mystic Blue and the maple fretboard.

See? Easy.


You'd be better buying an american special and taking it to a tech to add the Floyd assembly, or buying a Charvel pro mod or a San Dimas. They are priced far better than anything else (SD pickups, compound radius, jumbo frets, Fender headstock and better neck shape/feel) and MIM Floyd Strats aren't worth looking at. There isn't any thing hot rodded about them apart from the floyd.

I hear your pain though. There's a market for everything else for Fender except a Floyd. The thing is, Fender customers generally aren't into that kind of music. Even though the genre is making a comeback. So regardless of whether or not you are a Fender fanatic, there isn't anything with a fender logo on it worth looking at.


http://www.charvel.com/support/2015namm.php

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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 1:59 am
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XR6_Falcon wrote:


Thanks for the link. It was certainly an education.

I have 0 respect for any manufacturer who thinks it is fine to directly rip off someone else's design. How difficult can it be to come up with a different headstock?

And it certainly confirms my thoughts regarding the look of FR bridges.

To some extent I think I would be happier if Fender stuck to their classic designs and left the shredder's axe to others. I'm even uncomfortable with the fitting of double row humbuckers.

You should buy a Strat because you want a Strat ie the classic sound of SSS.....but then obviously Fender need to sell guitars so have to also supply bastardised versions.

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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 2:11 am
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John Sims wrote:
XR6_Falcon wrote:


Thanks for the link. It was certainly an education.

I have 0 respect for any manufacturer who thinks it is fine to directly rip off someone else's design. How difficult can it be to come up with a different headstock?



Who do you think owns Charvel?


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 2:20 am
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gregsuarez75

Fast forward to 4:46


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Post subject: Re: "Find a Stratocaster Guitar for your Sound"... yeah, rig
Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 2:32 am
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stratmangler wrote:

Who do you think owns Charvel?


I have no idea.

Do I assume from your cryptic comment they have a relationship to Fender?

It doesn't change my view. VW, Porsche, Audi, Seat, Skoda Bugatti all have their own identity despite their ownership. There was a time when almost everything we bought in the supermarket was owned by 3Ms, Unilever, Nestlé or EMI if you looked deep enough (Perhaps they still are).

If you produce an individual brand you should stand by the merit of that brand.

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