Lets look at our guitars thread

[kev b]

Is that piss yeller or puke green?

[benny.c]

Mave said:

Great colour! Here's my matching Tele...

I'm looking for a Tele at the moment. Yours would be perfect

Ekona said:

That Fat Strat is absolutely gorgeous, what a colour!

• goes off hunting*

I couldn't find too much info about it really other than I think it was a special run for a particular music shop chain in the US. It maybe should have knurled, metal knobs, which I may fit at some point.

kev b said:

Is that piss yeller or puke green?

If your piss is that yeller then you may have issues

[FreeLitres]

Can I get some ideas on guitar selection please?

Most of my favourite players use Strats. Hendrix, SRV, Clapton, etc. I love that vintage single coil sound, especially from the neck pickup.

I did have a Strat for a while, but I never got on with it. It was a decent Strat too - USA Strat Plus with lace sensor pickups, roller nut, locking tuners, etc. but I just didn't enjoy playing it for reasons that I can't really explain.

I moved to an Ibanez RG which I love for 80s stuff, but it's not hitting the spot for my blues/Hendrix playing. The tone obviously isn't right and the neck doesn't feel right for that kind of playing.

Is there anything out there appart from a Strat that could give me some vintage Strat-like single coil sounds for my Blues cravings? What about the other Fenders like Teles, Jaguars, Mustangs? I'm not a fan of the Les Paul looks or tones but I am keen to explore a shorter scale length.

[The Nur]

I thoroughly recommend you spend a few hours in a good guitar shop and play everything that tickles your fancy. Only you can decide what feels/sounds right.

[Mave]

The Nur said:

I thoroughly recommend you spend a few hours in a good guitar shop and play everything that tickles your fancy. Only you can decide what feels/sounds right.

Absolutely this. And just to be clear, different Strats can feel very different, so even if you didn't bond with yours, there may be a different one with your name on it! I was having a look at a 60s classic player the other day, expected I was going to love it, but the mojo wasn't there :-( Then I had a look at a deluxe and it felt great to play (although I generally don't like large head sticks, YMMV!)

[enjo]

FreeLitres said:

lace sensor pickups, roller nut, locking tuners, etc.

Perhaps these are the reasons?

[Mave]

enjo said:

FreeLitres said:

lace sensor pickups, roller nut, locking tuners, etc.

Perhaps these are the reasons?

:-)

[FreeLitres]

enjo said:

Perhaps these are the reasons?

You may have a point. If I was to look at strats again, I would defintely go vintage inspired.

Its wasn't just the tone though. Something about the feel wasn't right for me. I even paid for a pro set-up but I sold it soon after that as there wasn't much (any?) improvement.

[Mave]

FreeLitres said:

You may have a point. If I was to look at strats again, I would defintely go vintage inspired.

Its wasn't just the tone though. Something about the feel wasn't right for me. I even paid for a pro set-up but I sold it soon after that as there wasn't much (any?) improvement.

The thing is, there are loads of differences between Strats that change how they feel. The pro setup can tweak the action and suggest different string gauges, but they can't change your choice of rosewood vs maple fingerboards; neck shape; neck finish; fingerboard radius; fret profile, body wood. Try loads and see if you can narrow down what feels right for you.

[Eddie Strohacker]

I've got three of them & they're wildly different from each other. One's butter, one is a dead weight & the other is worth a small fortune but borderline unplayable. So many variables with Strats, you just have to plough through a bunch of them until you find the right one & it will exist somewhere.

[Ekona]

Definitely play as many as possible, and not necessarily expensive ones either: When I was choosing my last guitar, I played back to back with half a dozen of various different ones, ranging in price from £350 to £3500. I ended up with a £500 one, purely because it felt the best to me and I couldn't tell a significant difference sonically between that and the top priced one. Always feels odd to not be buying the best you can afford, but in this case I don't regret it at all.

[Eddie Strohacker]

My 500 quid second hand bought blind on Gumtree strat is the best guitar I've ever owned

[6th Gear]

FreeLitres said:

Can I get some ideas on guitar selection please?

Most of my favourite players use Strats. Hendrix, SRV, Clapton, etc. I love that vintage single coil sound, especially from the neck pickup.

I did have a Strat for a while, but I never got on with it. It was a decent Strat too - USA Strat Plus with lace sensor pickups, roller nut, locking tuners, etc. but I just didn't enjoy playing it for reasons that I can't really explain.

I moved to an Ibanez RG which I love for 80s stuff, but it's not hitting the spot for my blues/Hendrix playing. The tone obviously isn't right and the neck doesn't feel right for that kind of playing.

Is there anything out there appart from a Strat that could give me some vintage Strat-like single coil sounds for my Blues cravings? What about the other Fenders like Teles, Jaguars, Mustangs? I'm not a fan of the Les Paul looks or tones but I am keen to explore a shorter scale length.

Depending on budget, Tom Anderson.
Brilliant guitars.

https://worldguitars.co.uk/shop/tom-anderson-class...

[Animal]

Eddie Strohacker said:

My 500 quid second hand bought blind on Gumtree strat is the best guitar I've ever owned

Likewise, my £500 bought blind on eBay Gibson Les Paul (probably genuine), nicknamed 'The Dog', is by far and away the best guitar I've ever played. If only it weren't for those one-trick EMG pickups...

[bga]

6th Gear said:

Depending on budget, Tom Anderson.
Brilliant guitars.

https://worldguitars.co.uk/shop/tom-anderson-class...

Lovely guitars, as are Suhr.

G&L are good & ticks the "heritage" box if that's important.

Alternatively you there is always a Ron Kirn, even at its most basic it will better than anything that isn't a Fender custom shop (and many that are).

At the more budget end I have a soft spot for Gordon Smith guitars. Their S & T styles are no-nonsense & made in UK.

[curlyks2]

Not a guitar, but the latest addition:

[Walter Sobchak]

Eddie Strohacker said:

My 500 quid second hand bought blind on Gumtree strat is the best guitar I've ever owned

I bought a Mexican Strat off Gumtree blind earlier this year for £270, I'm still a pretty new player but have tried US ones in music shops which just don't feel as nice to play, plus my guitar tutor is always trying to buy it off me as he loves it, it won't ever be for sale though, I expect I will get another one day but will always keep it.

[Walter Sobchak]

Eddie Strohacker said:

My 500 quid second hand bought blind on Gumtree strat is the best guitar I've ever owned

I bought a Mexican Strat off Gumtree blind earlier this year for £270, I'm still a pretty new player but have tried US ones in music shops which just don't feel as nice to play, plus my guitar tutor is always trying to buy it off me as he loves it, it won't ever be for sale though, I expect I will get another one day but will always keep it.

[benny.c]

Is anyone just starting out or know someone that would have a use for these books and tuner? Just had a cleaout and found them in the loft. Postage is on me.

[Dr Z]

Ah this is still going strong! Any ideas how a standard strat with stainless steel frets, solid mahogany body and an all ebony neck will sound? No humbuckers in sight.

I hope the brightness doesn't knock my head off.