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Post by Greg G. on Apr 24, 2006 23:14:42 GMT -7
Well, turns out the Eric Johnson Strat I ordered is on back-order until the end of August, so I told the local dealer to forget about it and cancel the order. Just as well I guess, I just put a lot of money into the Tele I just bought and I was going to have to sell it to pay for the EJ (and lose out on the deal big time). So I'm gonna keep the Tele for now, get to know her better and search on for a Strat.
Here's my thought: I mainly just want a nice looking and playable Strat for cheap (under $700) that I can upgrade with new pickups and possibly hardware. I was looking at the Fender Deluxe's, but the S-1 switching system is unnecessary for me and the SCN pickups sound like junk, just not acceptable for a $1k guitar. I'm sure some of you out there either have cheaper modded strats or parts-strats that could chime in on this. Thanks!
-Greg
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2006 0:21:15 GMT -7
What's up Greg! Check these guys out. They can build a wicked body and neck for under $700. You should be able to do it for well under that. I had a tele bult by them that had a chambered one piece swamp-ash body w/Spruce top and a quartersawn maple neck w/brazilian rosewood. Body and Neck together came to about $730 at the time with finish. It rocked. Just make sure you check out Jason Lollar. You would love his Blackface Strat pickups, or even the Blonde set if you want more of an EJ thang. I unfortunately had to trade it off towards my '69 tele. www.usacustomguitars.com/
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Post by Greg G. on Apr 25, 2006 10:43:04 GMT -7
Thanks Arun! That just might be the way to go. -Greg
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Post by Curt on Apr 25, 2006 13:51:04 GMT -7
Greg, I have a Jimmie Vaughn signature Strat, yes..it's MIM, but is is one of the best, if not the best Strat I have owned, and that list includes a $2800 much coveted GVCG Strat. I grabbed mine at a Pawn Shop for $340 and it's a GREAT guitar, Good American electronics come in them. You can hear it on "She's Gone" on my putfile site...straight into a Ghia/V-30. Very playable with med jumbo frets and a 9.5 radius. Don't know the cost new, but mine is a keeper for sure. and I'm a picky basterd
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 25, 2006 14:36:41 GMT -7
How about the Deluxe Player's Strat for $599.99?
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Post by Greg G. on Apr 25, 2006 18:11:31 GMT -7
How about the Deluxe Player's Strat for $599.99? Not diggin' the color options and the gold hardware, other than that I'm sure its a good buy. Curt, I was looking at the Jimmy Vaughan Strat, but I just hadn't heard anything about it, good or bad. I'll have to check it out. -Greg
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Post by Curt on Apr 25, 2006 21:05:36 GMT -7
How about the Deluxe Player's Strat for $599.99? Not diggin' the color options and the gold hardware, other than that I'm sure its a good buy. Curt, I was looking at the Jimmy Vaughan Strat, but I just hadn't heard anything about it, good or bad. I'll have to check it out. -Greg Get yer mits on one if ya can, I love mine Nice soft V neck profile...really good axe, I almost did not play it when I saw MIM but since it was a JV I gave it a whirl, man am I glad I did, what a steal @ $340 !!!
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Post by zane on Apr 26, 2006 18:14:52 GMT -7
Well, turns out the Eric Johnson Strat I ordered is on back-order until the end of August, so I told the local dealer to forget about it and cancel the order. Just as well I guess, I just put a lot of money into the Tele I just bought and I was going to have to sell it to pay for the EJ (and lose out on the deal big time). So I'm gonna keep the Tele for now, get to know her better and search on for a Strat. Here's my thought: I mainly just want a nice looking and playable Strat for cheap (under $700) that I can upgrade with new pickups and possibly hardware. I was looking at the Fender Deluxe's, but the S-1 switching system is unnecessary for me and the SCN pickups sound like junk, just not acceptable for a $1k guitar. I'm sure some of you out there either have cheaper modded strats or parts-strats that could chime in on this. Thanks! -Greg Get yourself a 50's Classic...great guitars
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Post by zane on Apr 26, 2006 18:16:59 GMT -7
Greg, I have a Jimmie Vaughn signature Strat, yes..it's MIM, but is is one of the best, if not the best Strat I have owned, and that list includes a $2800 much coveted GVCG Strat. I grabbed mine at a Pawn Shop for $340 and it's a GREAT guitar, Good American electronics come in them. You can hear it on "She's Gone" on my putfile site...straight into a Ghia/V-30. Very playable with med jumbo frets and a 9.5 radius. Don't know the cost new, but mine is a keeper for sure. and I'm a picky basterd Yep the Jimmy is the way to go if you want the 9.5...great neck on 'em
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Post by Greg G. on Apr 26, 2006 18:20:29 GMT -7
Get yourself a 50's Classic...great guitars I'm actually looking into the 60's Classic, Henry Garza from Los Lonely Boys plays completely stock MIM ones and gets some of the best strat tones I've heard. I'd prefer an American made one, but we'll see. I do like the 50's soft V neck, but I think I'm more of a rosewood fingerboard guy.
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Post by Greg G. on Apr 28, 2006 6:46:04 GMT -7
Well, I ended up bidding on and won this American Vintage '62 Reissue on eBay: A little more than I wanted to spend, but still a good deal at $885 consdering they go for about $1400 new. Plus, the previous owner already installed the 5-way switch, so that's one less thing for me to have to mess with. Sweet! -Greg
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 28, 2006 7:20:30 GMT -7
Greg, I have a Jimmie Vaughn signature Strat, yes..it's MIM, but is is one of the best, if not the best Strat I have owned, and that list includes a $2800 much coveted GVCG Strat. I grabbed mine at a Pawn Shop for $340 and it's a GREAT guitar, Good American electronics come in them. You can hear it on "She's Gone" on my putfile site...straight into a Ghia/V-30. Very playable with med jumbo frets and a 9.5 radius. Don't know the cost new, but mine is a keeper for sure. and I'm a picky basterd Curt, I think the MIM Fenders are one of the best kept secrets around - a lot of those guitars are really great. I have a MIM Strat here that looks great, plays great, sounds great, and I have about $300 invested (got it used). A great value indeed!
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Post by zane on Apr 28, 2006 16:12:31 GMT -7
Well, I ended up bidding on and won this American Vintage '62 Reissue on eBay: A little more than I wanted to spend, but still a good deal at $885 consdering they go for about $1400 new. Plus, the previous owner already installed the 5-way switch, so that's one less thing for me to have to mess with. Sweet! -Greg wow that's sweet looking!
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Post by garyh on Apr 28, 2006 17:54:35 GMT -7
Congrats Greg. That's a real looker. Love the brown case too.
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Post by Greg G. on Apr 28, 2006 18:37:46 GMT -7
Congrats Greg. That's a real looker. Love the brown case too. Thanks, Gary. I never thought I'd be lusting over a white guitar, but this one just had some mojo about it when I saw it.
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Post by Curt on Apr 28, 2006 20:09:12 GMT -7
Always dug Oly White Strats !!!!
Nice one Greg, good choice.
Yep Steve, SOME of the MIM guits are unreal, My JV and an Esquire I played have floored me.
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Post by garyh on Apr 29, 2006 8:54:07 GMT -7
I just sold my MIM strat yesterday to a guy at work to help pay for my new strat. That was a fine guitar that served me well for the last couple of years and I miss it already, sort of. I liked playing it more than my PRS. Oh well. Get over it Gary. You've got a better strat now.
Oops, sorry guys, just havin' a little argument with myself.
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Post by billyguitar on Apr 29, 2006 9:49:48 GMT -7
I know the feeling. I've always regretted selling gear. I guess that's not quite true. I regret having sold vintage pieces but newer stuff I can sell easier. New stuff just doesn't have any mojo that pushes my buttons the same way. I've decided I'm goig to consign some amps to sell; Reverend Hellhound (hope i can get $400), Marshall Bluesbreaker reissue (hope i can get $500) and a Randall RM50 with three preamp modules (hoping I can get $500 for it). I won't miss these but they really are good amps.
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Post by quinto on May 1, 2006 19:57:51 GMT -7
I just picked up this 2000 model Mexican 60's Strat at a store I frequent. It had been in their other location that I never go to. Nobody bought it there and when they brought it over and I saw it I had to have it. The thing that kills me is it's new, it just sat around for six years. The best thing about it is I only had to pay $425.00 for it. Pickups aren't too good, but the rest is pretty good for the money. I would recommend the Mexican reissues to anyone.
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Post by Greg G. on May 1, 2006 21:36:59 GMT -7
hmmm....those Mexi's seem pretty tempting. I see having a few around with different pickup sets in each one...one with a Lollar Blackface set...one with Fralin Vintage Hots...one with Amalfitano SP's...the possibilities are endless!! ;D ;D
-Greg
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Post by quinto on May 2, 2006 16:34:22 GMT -7
hmmm....those Mexi's seem pretty tempting. I see having a few around with different pickup sets in each one...one with a Lollar Blackface set...one with Fralin Vintage Hots...one with Amalfitano SP's...the possibilities are endless!! ;D ;D -Greg I have Fralins in my other strat and I like 'em a lot. I think I'm going to try a Lollar Blackface set this time around.
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Post by Greg G. on May 2, 2006 22:52:15 GMT -7
if you go with the lollars BF's, let me know how you like them.
-Greg
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Post by Greg G. on May 11, 2006 13:46:42 GMT -7
Well I got it this Monday and its as beautiful as I expected. It plays like sh!t though, terrible setup and intonation and the truss rod needs adjustment, was tuned about 2 whole steps down when I opened it. Oh well, dropped it off at my tech's shop today for some TLC, we'll see how it feels when I get it back. The stock pickups sound pretty thin so I am almost positive they'll be gone soon, probably go with the Lollar BF set that Arun's always pluggin'. All in all it seems like a great guitar, just need to get it to where its playable.
-Greg
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