Which Strat - Clapton sig or?
Discussion
Hi chaps. Thinking about investing in a decent Strat, and have long thought an EC sig would be the way forward, the combination of the midboost and blocked trem suiting my playing.
Thing is, at £1400 should I be looking at other makes of "Strat" rather than heading straight for the Fender dealer? And does anyone know how the "Soft V" neck on the EC model compares with the USA Deluxe that I can try out more easily at my local shop?
Thing is, at £1400 should I be looking at other makes of "Strat" rather than heading straight for the Fender dealer? And does anyone know how the "Soft V" neck on the EC model compares with the USA Deluxe that I can try out more easily at my local shop?
I don't mean to come across as a smart arse, but you do know how easy it is to block off a trem? If it were me, I'd buy a USA standard & put the bits I wanted on it until I had the guitar I wanted to play. In fact that's what I did.
Mine has a roller nut, S1 switching, Jeff Beck noiseless hot pups & locking tuners. All in about £800 including the original guitar.
Mine has a roller nut, S1 switching, Jeff Beck noiseless hot pups & locking tuners. All in about £800 including the original guitar.
I think if you really fancy one, and the price isn't a problem, then you should go ahead and get one, after trying it out first of course.
These things are so much a matter of personal taste that as long as it's a good quality guitar, which I'm sure it is, and you really want one, I don't think there is anything anyone can say which is going to help.
These things are so much a matter of personal taste that as long as it's a good quality guitar, which I'm sure it is, and you really want one, I don't think there is anything anyone can say which is going to help.
Justin Cyder said:
I don't mean to come across as a smart arse, but you do know how easy it is to block off a trem? If it were me, I'd buy a USA standard & put the bits I wanted on it until I had the guitar I wanted to play. In fact that's what I did.
Mine has a roller nut, S1 switching, Jeff Beck noiseless hot pups & locking tuners. All in about £800 including the original guitar.
Yeah, I know the vintage style term is easy to block, the one on my 60s jap strat is blocked down. Not sure about blocking the term on a Deluxe though, and I'd rathe have the noiseless pickups. Mine has a roller nut, S1 switching, Jeff Beck noiseless hot pups & locking tuners. All in about £800 including the original guitar.
Did look at upgrading a standard strat but then found the Warmoth site. That would be a dangerous way to spend too much... USA standard is now over £1k new anyway, before you throw bits on it.
The way I see it, if you want a Strat then only a Strat will do. But Justin's right, there are easier ways to get your ultimate Strat than buying somebody else's vision of what a Strat should be.
For me, the absolutely key aspects of a guitar are neck feel, weight, and balance. I own two US Standard Strats, made in the same year with supposedly the same body and neck specification, and they are really different. One feels like a heavy, thick-necked beast, the other is light, wieldy, and with a beautiful slim neck.
If I were you, I'd get down to a big guitar score and try as many as you can get your hands on, new or used, picking the one that feels right to you. Then lock the trem down with an extra couple of springs, slap a roller nut on it, fit your favourite strings and add the pups of your choice (I'd recommend the EMG David Gilmour set every time). You'd probably spend less money and get your own ideal.
But you're not me, and if you fancy an EC Strat, then go for it!
For me, the absolutely key aspects of a guitar are neck feel, weight, and balance. I own two US Standard Strats, made in the same year with supposedly the same body and neck specification, and they are really different. One feels like a heavy, thick-necked beast, the other is light, wieldy, and with a beautiful slim neck.
If I were you, I'd get down to a big guitar score and try as many as you can get your hands on, new or used, picking the one that feels right to you. Then lock the trem down with an extra couple of springs, slap a roller nut on it, fit your favourite strings and add the pups of your choice (I'd recommend the EMG David Gilmour set every time). You'd probably spend less money and get your own ideal.
But you're not me, and if you fancy an EC Strat, then go for it!
If you want a new one, then you want a new one. I would personally be leery of a guitar built to someone else's spec too & stats are ideally suited to customisation, but Gaspode's right, try a few. See what you like.
I had a go on one of the '62 AVRI's last week & it was very sweet indeed - there's always a lovely one around the corner.
I had a go on one of the '62 AVRI's last week & it was very sweet indeed - there's always a lovely one around the corner.
Edited by Justin Cyder on Tuesday 12th March 20:00
It's a tone selection thing Fender offered on I think the American deluxe strat to start with but nowadays you can get it on Tele's & basses too.
It essentially adds more combinations of pickups than the usual selector switch & works by a volume knob that has a push switch built into it alongside a modified 5 way selector switch.
More on it here.
http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2011/A...
It essentially adds more combinations of pickups than the usual selector switch & works by a volume knob that has a push switch built into it alongside a modified 5 way selector switch.
More on it here.
http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2011/A...
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