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Post by cheycaster on Jun 6, 2006 5:47:27 GMT -7
I got to finally try one out this weekend and was wondering what other Z forumites might have thought or even own one thinks. I thought the frets were a nice size and shape and the weight of the guitar was good also. I thought the pickups were cool as well. I only played it clean through a new Deluxe Reverb re-issue . I own a CS 51 Nocaster with the HUGE neck and them sweet rolled edges are great. I thought that the EJ should have rolled edges cuz to me the guitar feels nice and the neck shape is cool but the edges while not being too sharp were "edgey" feeling and to me that took away a good thing from what seems to be a "smartley " made Strat. Just my 002. tho....Anybody elses two cents worth?? Cheycaster
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Post by garyh on Jun 6, 2006 8:45:16 GMT -7
I played one for the first time yesterday too and I found the neck weird. At first thought it was just big but it was really the sharp transition from the really round neck (I thought these were supposed to have a V-neck?) to the really flat fingerboard (12" radius) that felt strange. I think you're right Cheycaster. Rolled edges would smooth out that contrast. I prefer my American Deluxe Ash (Thank God). I was worried about new GAS because the EJ has a lot of appealing features.
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Post by cheycaster on Jun 6, 2006 12:14:39 GMT -7
Yes it does. I really like the thinner headstock ending in a non-need for string trees and those vintage staggered tuners I think are the bomb. I wonder if places like USA Custom guitar can put out a neck like that with the thinner headstock plus I know you can get rolled edges from them etc. I'm in the planning stages of putting together my own Strat from parts. Cheycaster
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bajan
New Member
Posts: 42
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Post by bajan on Jun 16, 2006 6:31:06 GMT -7
I just got my new candy apple red EJ a few days ago (#2877). Great guitar. Mine doesn't have as pronounced a V in the neck profile as some other I have tried, nor is it quite as fat. The neck shape and size is nice though. I don't find the edges of the fretboard sharp at all, actually they seem a bit rounded and it feels nice. The only thing is the slight sticky feeling to the nitro on the neck but apparently that goes away with some playing time and I am more than willing to put in the time. This guitar is also very loud acouticaly and resonates like a mother. I think Fender really did a great job with the EJ.
Shane
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Post by Curt on Jun 17, 2006 19:13:37 GMT -7
I've played 4 of them and just can't warm up to them. I agree they look great on paper but the neck seems "odd" to me as well...and way too glossy for my taste as well.
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Post by LeftyLang on Jun 17, 2006 22:04:57 GMT -7
I just got my new candy apple red EJ a few days ago (#2877). Great guitar. Mine doesn't have as pronounced a V in the neck profile as some other I have tried, nor is it quite as fat. The neck shape and size is nice though. I don't find the edges of the fretboard sharp at all, actually they seem a bit rounded and it feels nice. The only thing is the slight sticky feeling to the nitro on the neck but apparently that goes away with some playing time and I am more than willing to put in the time. This guitar is also very loud acouticaly and resonates like a mother. I think Fender really did a great job with the EJ. Shane Ya...but they forgot to make it Lefty !!
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Post by funkyjazz82 on Feb 13, 2007 14:05:16 GMT -7
I had one for almost a month and took it back for many of the same reasons you guys mentioned. I didnt like the tone I was getting either. It was definitely not worth the $1699 I almost paid for. I prefer my Fender Strat V Neck a helluva lot more.
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Post by groovergeorge on Feb 13, 2007 14:27:41 GMT -7
If your looking for a typical vintage feeling strat then the E'J probably isn't going to be your thing. I strayed away from one for that particular reason. While the body shape is fantastic in that it has my favourite thin contours early 60's design which I think was the best Fender ever came out with, the neck has got a 12' radius and for someone that loves 71/4 radius this leaves me as a player feeling a little wierd when playing it. This may also contribute to the feeling that the edges aren't rolled enough, although for the price, compared to a custom shop strat I could easily see why they wouldn't put as much attention to detail. The neck is quality however. frets are medium jumbo,nitro finish is great tone wise and for those saying it is sticky,well its a new guitar,play a while and that slick feel will soon be gone otherwise some fine grade paper will take that sticky feel off easy enough. Finish on the bodies has been very good on the ones I've played and the pickups are quite nice although not in the caliuber of Fralin. All in all I found them to be a very nice instrument and pretty good value,the quartersawn maple on the neck ads a nice touch as does the staggered klusons with no string tree.
Q:Would I buy one?
A:NO
Q:Why?
A:Just can't stand 12' radius fretboards on a strat or tele, as a blues player just find it really wierd on my technique
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Post by Joey Beverages on Feb 13, 2007 14:32:49 GMT -7
EJ Strat? Yup - tried a bunch at different stores through different amps, etc. (Un)fortunately, I did not have a very good run of luck trying to buy one. If I could of bought three or more and built one out of the bunch .... maybe. that said - I like the idea of the 'mods' that were used to create the EJ. I just couldn't find one for me just my .02
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Post by Curt on Feb 13, 2007 14:47:45 GMT -7
Pick up a way inexpensive Jimmie Vaughn Sig Strat.....now those are KILLER Strats and way under valued IMO.
Soft V to C neck, 9.5", med jumbos, hot bridge pup with a tone control, very nice giggable axe, mine was $340 ;D
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Post by sonicgator on Feb 13, 2007 14:49:41 GMT -7
In my experience, I think I've decided that I do not like the feel of Fender's 12" radius necks. I own a Deluxe Player's Strat and have played the EJ and Hwy 1 Texas Tele, all of which have the 12" radius. I agree with the sharp "edge" they have; I've just not found one that feels as good as their 9.5" radius necks.
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Post by Joey Beverages on Feb 13, 2007 14:54:21 GMT -7
Curt,
ya got that right about the Jimmie Vaughn .... still kickin' myself for missing out on a good one last year .... but just got my Super Sport and 'hell hath no fury like ......'
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Post by dock66 on Feb 13, 2007 15:01:21 GMT -7
+1 for Jimmie Vaughn Sig Strat,certainly under value.
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Post by nitehawk55 on Feb 13, 2007 15:25:38 GMT -7
Some would turn down a MIM Strat but anymore I think the made in USA Strats are coming out of Mexico anyway .
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Post by sonicgator on Feb 13, 2007 17:24:15 GMT -7
The Baja Tele is a MIM that's a really great playing and sounding guitar. I'm not sure of the consistency of the build quality, but I played one that was great at, believe it or not, "the store we shall not name (cough G....cough C....). Anyway, I've noticed that Fender's seem to be hit or miss anyway: when you find a great one in a store, buy it right away because the next one you play may not have that magic!
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Post by Curt on Feb 13, 2007 18:18:29 GMT -7
Agreed with all of today's post's here. I am a ..or have been a tone snob, amps ..fugitabout it Dr Z period. Guitars, hmm, a year or so back I found myself with a stable of very high end fiddles, all really nice and played/sounded good, but many lacked soul. some may not care but to me that is big. The two best guitars I owned, and the ones that saw gigs were under $1k, a '52 Tele RI from 1997 and a $340 JV sig Strat. All the high dollar axes are now gone, still have the 2 mentioned and I stumbled across the best guitar I have ever owned a few weeks ago, an unknown year Mexican Tele, do not know what model but it is amazing, cost? $500 cash out the door, has been to every gig since and is #1 by a long margin. Simnply a great guitar that is a shade better thatn the Anderson it replaced due to soul, plays as well or better and I have $1600 left in the bank account.
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Post by jwr on Feb 13, 2007 20:21:35 GMT -7
I've only played one and was not impressed. The tone was mediocre at best and the guitar just didn't ring. It was "vibeless".
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Post by quinto on Feb 13, 2007 20:40:47 GMT -7
I picked one up "used" just before Christmas off of craigslist. The guy hadn't even opened the goody bag, or taken the plastic off the pick guard. I stole it for $1150.00. I really like the low weight, pickups are pretty good, it's very lively and full of sustain to me. The only thing I don't care for is the feel of the nitro on the back of the neck. The radius doesn't bother me at all, in fact I go between the 12", 9.5", and a 7.25 and it isin't a big deal to me. I like it so much I'm selling my Clapton Strat that I have had for 10+ yrs.
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Post by jzguitar on Feb 13, 2007 22:51:34 GMT -7
Agreed with all of today's post's here. I am a ..or have been a tone snob, amps ..fugitabout it Dr Z period. Guitars, hmm, a year or so back I found myself with a stable of very high end fiddles, all really nice and played/sounded good, but many lacked soul. some may not care but to me that is big. The two best guitars I owned, and the ones that saw gigs were under $1k, a '52 Tele RI from 1997 and a $340 JV sig Strat. All the high dollar axes are now gone, still have the 2 mentioned and I stumbled across the best guitar I have ever owned a few weeks ago, an unknown year Mexican Tele, do not know what model but it is amazing, cost? $500 cash out the door, has been to every gig since and is #1 by a long margin. Simnply a great guitar that is a shade better thatn the Anderson it replaced due to soul, plays as well or better and I have $1600 left in the bank account. I'm with you - one of my favorite guitars is a Japanese 60's reissue I found used for around $300 back in '97. I put a Suhr pickup in the bridge and more recently a DiMarzio Area 58 in the neck and it's pretty happening. My #1 guitar is a Deluxe Strat Plus I got in '92 for around $750.
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Feb 13, 2007 23:16:07 GMT -7
mine #1's a beat to all get out '83 fullerton strat... bought around 1991 for.... $450.00. mojo like no other... sold my original black '68 strat after that... that fullerton just feels way better to me... lucked up on another beat up '82 fullerton strat a few years ago... $750.00 and is very much like the '83... I wanted a similar backup and it ONLY took me 10 years or so to find another one like it.... fenders are VERY hit or miss.... don't let go of a good un. I like the Jimmy vaughns myself and the mexican stuff is very nice when you find one that you like... just pop some fralins in it or something. and get a DR Z...
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Post by homicidalzen on Feb 14, 2007 22:44:14 GMT -7
I've been playing my Eric Johnson strat for a few years now. The neck, to me, is very comfortable. I replaced the pickups with some Van Zandt blues which gave it a more balanced tone. I had to get a new set up from when I bought it, I'm running elixir 11s on it and just recently installed a callaham trem block. Plays and sounds great, leaves me not wanting anything more from the strat department (and I'm very picky).
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Post by funkyjazz82 on Feb 21, 2007 15:18:36 GMT -7
The EJ strat is not worth the money and does not have that V neck feel at all. I had one for a good 30 days and took it back. I prefer my V neck strat and standard.
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