Ok then...which Strat for sub £1k ?
Discussion
I need
want fancy a Strat.
Im not at any sort of level that gigging is going to happen anytime soon,and I dont have a fortune to spend either.
I love my current Squier Tele VM C2 and am seriously tempted with an equivalent Strat.
My tutor says buy a usa standard as it wont lose any money.
I keep thinking about Mexicans as I get a Fender logo on the headstock...
Your thoughts please...
Im not at any sort of level that gigging is going to happen anytime soon,and I dont have a fortune to spend either.
I love my current Squier Tele VM C2 and am seriously tempted with an equivalent Strat.
My tutor says buy a usa standard as it wont lose any money.
I keep thinking about Mexicans as I get a Fender logo on the headstock...
Your thoughts please...
this is worth a watch.. pretty good comparison of what you get at which price point etc..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnUuUjqHEMU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnUuUjqHEMU
If you can get an American Standard for under £1k then that is exactly what I would go for.
Had mine for 9 years now and I love it - gets played for at least an hour every day and has given me no trouble at all. Still looks and feel great, have gigged it a few times without fault, and it sounds fantastic.
If you want a bit more bite then you can get them with humbuckers, or do what I did and stick a JB Junior on the bridge with a coil tap
Had mine for 9 years now and I love it - gets played for at least an hour every day and has given me no trouble at all. Still looks and feel great, have gigged it a few times without fault, and it sounds fantastic.
If you want a bit more bite then you can get them with humbuckers, or do what I did and stick a JB Junior on the bridge with a coil tap
lockhart flawse said:
Thought of a 1980s Tokai Silver Star for about £350? They are EXACTLY the same as a Strat. Doubt if anyone could tell the difference if they didn't know. I have one now and have had a USA Strat in the past. You won't lose money on it.
L.F.
Can't say I agree with that having played both, I thought there was a huge difference between the Tokai and the real thing. Don't get me wrong the Tokai was a lovely guitar, but more comparable to a MIM Fender or maybe a Highway 1 (or American Special as they seem to be called now) but not close to the American Standard or Deluxe. All my opinion of course! L.F.
OP, have you thought of the Squier Classic Vibe if you want to spend a lot less? They are very nice, and seem to be very highly regarded. Leaves you some change for some tasty upgrades if you so desire
BorkFactor said:
OP, have you thought of the Squier Classic Vibe if you want to spend a lot less? They are very nice, and seem to be very highly regarded. Leaves you some change for some tasty upgrades if you so desire
Yep, currently have a Vintage Modified Tele and I think if I dont go for a MIM will probabaly buy the VM70S strat, but I do like the idea of having a "Fender" rather than "Squier" by Fender....http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-vintage-modified-70...
Turn7 said:
Yep, currently have a Vintage Modified Tele and I think if I dont go for a MIM will probabaly buy the VM70S strat, but I do like the idea of having a "Fender" rather than "Squier" by Fender....
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-vintage-modified-70...
This was the one I was thinking about:http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-vintage-modified-70...
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-classic-vibe-50s-st...
Can't argue with wanting to go on to a Fender though, what about one from the Classic Player series?
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-50s-classic-player-...
ESP 400 strat if you can find one. About 85 to 90 they were made. ESP used to make very high end strat and Tele copies a long time ago before the metal fraternity discovered them. The 400 is better than any Fender strat you can get for less then a grand. By miles. If you're going Tokai, get a Gold Star or Springy Sound. The Silver stars are CBS strat copies - thus they are a copy of a worse thing.
Don't believe the nonsense some talk about pick ups. Some are good - some bad. Tokai's stock pick ups are fine.
You could get a decent get Fender US strat at that money. Go here http://guitar-classics.co.uk/
Buy that US strat with the Texas specials. Graham at Guitar Classics is a decent, honest bloke. Can't recommend him enough.
You could always buy a Fenix guitar for a couple of hundred quid. They are brilliant.
Don't believe the nonsense some talk about pick ups. Some are good - some bad. Tokai's stock pick ups are fine.
You could get a decent get Fender US strat at that money. Go here http://guitar-classics.co.uk/
Buy that US strat with the Texas specials. Graham at Guitar Classics is a decent, honest bloke. Can't recommend him enough.
You could always buy a Fenix guitar for a couple of hundred quid. They are brilliant.
If I was you I would 100% get a Warmoth everyday of the week.
Build quality so far superior to the factory Fenders its not even funny.
A good friend of mine owns a shop and he has/had Fender, G&L, Tom Anderson, James Tyler strats in and his own guitar is a Warmoth (he sold his TA and JT as didn't compete in his opinion)
As far as Tokai's go, get the right one an they can be amazing. Once you'd done a few upgrades easily compete with a MIA strat IMO, I use mine as a daily player and plays as well the modern and vintage Fenders that are kicking about between me and my mates... If it's good enough for SRV can't be all bad!
Build quality so far superior to the factory Fenders its not even funny.
A good friend of mine owns a shop and he has/had Fender, G&L, Tom Anderson, James Tyler strats in and his own guitar is a Warmoth (he sold his TA and JT as didn't compete in his opinion)
As far as Tokai's go, get the right one an they can be amazing. Once you'd done a few upgrades easily compete with a MIA strat IMO, I use mine as a daily player and plays as well the modern and vintage Fenders that are kicking about between me and my mates... If it's good enough for SRV can't be all bad!
Don't buy new. It makes no sense at all. I've been playing the guitar for a living since 1995 and I've learned that, as a rule, guitars do benefit from a bit of aging. If you must buy new, then get the thing set up properly as most guitars are terrible out of the box. As above - you could do a lot worse than Warmoth.
Buy really I strongly advise buying at least nearly new. Much like cars really - once you get into vintage stuff, the price goes up but there's a nice sweet spot in the middle.
You can get a nice US strat, if that's what you want, with upgraded PUPs (that have a slightly higher chance of being good at best) for less than 1K - I suggest buying from a dealer. Guitars from Ebay are 50/50 really.
I don't know where you live but if near London, go to Graham at Guitar Classics - he won't sell anything duff.
Buy really I strongly advise buying at least nearly new. Much like cars really - once you get into vintage stuff, the price goes up but there's a nice sweet spot in the middle.
You can get a nice US strat, if that's what you want, with upgraded PUPs (that have a slightly higher chance of being good at best) for less than 1K - I suggest buying from a dealer. Guitars from Ebay are 50/50 really.
I don't know where you live but if near London, go to Graham at Guitar Classics - he won't sell anything duff.
Turn7 said:
My tutor says buy a usa standard as it wont lose any money.
Your tutor is bang on. I bought a USA standard six years ago, gigged it extensively & sold it a month ago for exactly what I paid for it. What more could you ask for? It's a quality instrument for free. Buy a good guitar & it won't cost you a penny.BorkFactor said:
lockhart flawse said:
Thought of a 1980s Tokai Silver Star for about £350? They are EXACTLY the same as a Strat. Doubt if anyone could tell the difference if they didn't know. I have one now and have had a USA Strat in the past. You won't lose money on it.
L.F.
Can't say I agree with that having played both, I thought there was a huge difference between the Tokai and the real thing. Don't get me wrong the Tokai was a lovely guitar, but more comparable to a MIM Fender or maybe a Highway 1 (or American Special as they seem to be called now) but not close to the American Standard or Deluxe. All my opinion of course!) L.F.
http://www.nachoguitars.com/
One of these even badder boys. Possibly um, a bit over budget. They only make about six a year, pretty exclusive stuff.
One of these even badder boys. Possibly um, a bit over budget. They only make about six a year, pretty exclusive stuff.
Turn7 said:
davepoth said:
No love for MIJ? Worth a look in that price bracket I reckon.
For reasons unknown to me, I want to buy new, so that puts MIJ's out of the picture I think ?http://www.guitar-emporium.co.uk/Fender_Japan_Stra...
Just "happened" to be passing my local axe shop this morning....
Had a look at both Squiers and Mexicans.
The Mexican played nicely, but I wasnt overly impressed with the fret edges on the side of the neck. My Tele is better finished than this particular one.
I looks again at the Squier Deluxe, which seems nicely made, but the back of the neck isnt quite as fast as the Mim.
Still no further forward I think.
Im now thinking that maybe just get a Squier until my playing improves enough to warrant a real Fender.
Had a look at both Squiers and Mexicans.
The Mexican played nicely, but I wasnt overly impressed with the fret edges on the side of the neck. My Tele is better finished than this particular one.
I looks again at the Squier Deluxe, which seems nicely made, but the back of the neck isnt quite as fast as the Mim.
Still no further forward I think.
Im now thinking that maybe just get a Squier until my playing improves enough to warrant a real Fender.
Justin Cyder said:
http://www.nachoguitars.com/
One of these even badder boys. Possibly um, a bit over budget. They only make about six a year, pretty exclusive stuff.
WowOne of these even badder boys. Possibly um, a bit over budget. They only make about six a year, pretty exclusive stuff.
Their Telecasters look incredible! Never heard of them before, I thinking dangerous thoughts now!
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff