Reviews needed for Fender Strat

maharzan · December 2005

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/510000/

I am trying to buy a new gear for myself. I own a custom JEM Jr but I want to try out some other ones too. I found this a cheap one but its a FENDER Strat you know. So if anyone is playing this and know this please let me know how it is. Is this good for some overdrive stuff? for rock alternative songs? If you suggest any other guitars let me know which ones.

Thanks.

Kewlpack · December 2005

I have an Artic White version of that model. I had to play several of the same model before I found one that really felt and sounded just right. There can be inconsistencies with the low end Strats.

I play lots of styles - no \"nu metal\" at all. Of course, you don't buy a Strat for metal. But this guitar plays like butter and feels great.

I don't mind the bright, inexpensive Fender standard single coil pups either. I like 'em - they are different than my other gear... so they have a spot.

Great guitar - but you should play a few to find the best of the bunch.

Thomas · December 2005

I'm a stratguy myself, but my main Strat is a little more in the high price range. It works well for overdriven stuff as it has a red lace pup in the bridge position. I don't thing the one you are looking at is too good at OD stuff. Might want to check out Ibanez models in the same price range - I think you'd get more bangs for the bucks with an Ibz for the money you seem to want to spend. And while you're at it, check out some of the stuff at Rondo music as well... Strats are great, but this one does not seem to be what you are looking for imo - unless you put other pups in it...

Just my 2¢,

T

AlbertA · December 2005

\Kewlpack\ wrote:

You don't buy a Strat for metal..

Tell that to Yngwie!! he he he...

Mike B · December 2005

I have one of the Mexican Stratocaster's, the serial number begins with a M. I had to adjust the action to my taste when I brought it home form the music store, and I agree somewhat with Thomas, about the pick ups, sometimes the noise from the single coils can get irritating. I do want to go to a hot rail in the future, but I have owned this guitar for close to 4 years now and it's been a pleasure and fun to play, and it has all the classic stratocaster sounds. Another thing I have found, talking with others, is the 5 way pick-up switch, on the low end models, may be a problem later, although mine hasn't. One other thing and then I'll be quiet, there are only 21 frets, if you want that high D on the last string, it aint there, unless you can chime it or use a slide, or bend up to the tone.

Play as many as you can before taking the plunge. What ever you buy, make sure you set it up right, and you will have a decent guitar.

peace on earth

glp_78 · December 2005

I absolutely love a Strat. I have the brown sunbrust and it's great for any style in my opinion. I do recommend new pups though. That's what I did, I put in the Jeff Beck noiseless and they sound fantastic. I couldn't recommend a strat enough. They are very vesatile and feel great. I love my Les Paul too. They are all I play anymore. For hard rock, look at Hendrix, or Tom Morello. I think they both have made the Strat scream a time or two.

Kewlpack · December 2005

\AlbertA\ wrote:

\Kewlpack\ wrote:

You don't buy a Strat for metal..

Tell that to Yngwie!! he he he...

I know I know - but even his Strats aren't standard issue... and he's not really part of the post '90 fizzy-metal I meant to refer to. Anyway, I was speaking really generally. You can do it (and some folks do) - but a humbucker seems to handle the genre better (IMHO).

FWIW, Yngwie's tone is pretty low gain overall.

8)

jimj136 · December 2005

The s-1 switch is a nice feature that will give you all the great strat sounds and the push of the button gives you a great humbucker sound.

I have a 50th anniversery model and love it. The s-1 switch can also be found on the cheaper model, and yes u can get the classic sounds as well as some metal sounds with the right gear to go with it.

ItsAlwaysRainin · December 2005

I bought a '98 Jimi Hendrix \"Voodoo\" Stratocaster which I like a lot. I like the maple fretboard. The action is pretty smooth. For a bolt on neck with a trem, it has pretty good sustain, though sometimes I find myself wishing it would hold on a little longer.

My biggest complaint (and it's no real biggy) is the 21 fret neck. Some times I find myself wishing it had at least 22.

There is a sound difference between single coil pups and buckers, too. What you buy there depends on what you want to sound like, I guess.

The price quoted in the link you provided is about the same as it is at Zzounds, though they have a blem there for a little less. Free shipping there, though. (Don't know what that might be costing you.)

Over all, I like the Strat; but right now I am waiting for delivery of a new axe that has 24 frets and humbuckers. I get the feeling that once I get that one set up, the Strat might be taking a case nap for a while. And there was a time when I never thought I'd say that.

Rained On

maharzan · December 2005

thank you guys.

I am looking for an alternate guitar for my Ibanez JEM Jr (555). Its good for rock and noise stuff and I will be using it for leads as well.. I am thinking of getting another guitar for the rhythm part mostly clean tones in between songs and some distortion stuff when I am playing leads.. Plus sometimes a clean tone is reuired in some songs, and this guitar can come in handy.

yep this is a mexican guitar and may not have the quality of sound as american or japanese but still i am looking for a cheaper model where it can do the work.

Do u recommend any other guitar like ibanez?? gibson? i am not that fond of jackson or esps...

guitar3456 · December 2005

A cheap guitar that gets no credit....OLP Petrucci Model

Setup was beautiful, paint..perfect..Crimson Red just like my real EBMM.
Stock pickups shimmer, neck is like a Strat or Ibanez JPM ( fat tapered )
NO BUZZ fret crowning for an overseas guitar was fantastic.
Locking top thread tuners, Beefy trem that is stronger and better return to zero than any Wilkinson bridge.

I bought this when it was being reviewed in the JP forum. Playing out with the real EBMM ( didn't want to ding it up ) but for 350 bucks..the OLP is a great copy of the real thing. Don't count OLP out...beat the buns off of most guitars under 400.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/516053/

Slacker G · December 2005

Strats Rule.

I have a big \"F\" hole Epi Zenith, a Birdland, several SG's and Les Pauls. And have owned and passed on a lot of other guitars. No one could convince me to put up my Gibson axes long enough to give a Fender bolt on neck a fair shake. Then I quit playing for 35 years.

When I started again, it was a Fender scale that blessed my ears. I have several Telecasters. {Personally, I think they're one of the ugliest guitars made. {Not meant to insult anyone} BUT when I started playing my first Strat, the world stood still. I think it's is the one of the most comfortable, most beautifully sculptured guitasr ever created in my book. And from the amount of rip offs of that guitar style, I don't think I'm the only one to think so.

I have 5 Strats. Mostly Warmoth bodys and necks, and most all of them have a full sized humbucker in the bridge position. And all have built in varitones. I could never go back. I like all guitars, but the Strat made a believer out of me. Almost all my recordings are done with home constructed Warmoth parts Strat's with Gibson, Epi, or Dimarzio Super distortion humbuckers in the bridge position.

Long live the Strat. Leo was at the peak of his game when he made that sculptured beauty. Oh, by the way, did I mention that I love Strats?

Tal Rules · December 2005

Aw Slacker,

You really had me unitl I got to the last post.. Everyone knows Gibson Rules. Leo just made the strat so he could mass-produce the heck out of em and beat Gibsons price..

Slacker ever played one of these?

http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/archtops/WesMontgomery/WesMontgomery.html

Or how about one of these?

http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/es/175/175.html

You'll never even look at a Fender again...

Now I've done it.. I've finally started the great Fender vs. Gibson debate.. This ones been going on since I was a young guy. Who rocks more Page on his Paul, Hendrix on his Strat? Gosh why did I open this can of worms. My apologies in advance. :twisted:

That having been said I do own Fender electric dobro.. Which I do love..
8)

See Ya,
Tal

archon · December 2005

id love a gibson - but the necks are too fat!! ive got my eye on an epiphone Iommi SG made to his spec with a slim line neck!!

ive ALWAYS wanted a strat though - i love the sound of them, but they are a bit too pricey for me = does anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Yamaha Pacifica's? they're sposed to be made from the same wood as the original strat models? yamaha bikes are cool - i reckon they could probably nock out a guitar pretty well too?

ednrg · December 2005

I have 2 LPs, and neither have a fat neck.

archon · December 2005

ok = i havent actually played EVERY SINGLE MOTHER LOVING Gibson on earth - BUT the ones i have played are quite wide and fat - certainly a lot less easier to play for myown specific and particular preference than the slime line fender, squire and Variax 300 necks i am used to.

there you go - is that statement legally watertight enough for you?
apart from anything else i was talking about an SG specifically - the one i played in the music store two days ago had a neck that felt like a classical guitar.

mmmkay?

8)

Mike B · December 2005

Archon, I have PMed you about a Pacifica. But here it is for everyone to read.
Yes! I owned a Yamaha Pacifica, for several years, well I guess 5 years. Mine was not the Strat but it was a Tele style model 302s.

But the neck was the best part of the guitar. Slim and easy to play. The only minus about the guitar was the neck pick up. Played by itself, the sound was kind of weak mud. In fact I had to raise the pick up to the point it almost was too close to the strings, in order to get any sound from it and to balance the output with the bridge. After that the sound of the guitar was acceptable to use around the house, occasionaly I would use the guitar at church, but only if the Strat needed new strings.

I have played with a few Strat style Pacificas in music stores and the necks felt similar to what the neck on my 302s felt like. I did like the neck!

peace on earth

glp_78 · December 2005

As far as the Gibson/Fender debate goes, I never could side either way. I am truly a Les Paul/Strat guy. I have both and that's all I play. I have bought and sold countless other guitars and always stuck with my Strat and my LP. I have customized both of them to the way I like and now I am content. I get any sound that I could ever want out of those two guitars and believe it or not, I don't even have a desire to get another guitar. That's a first for me. But, if you can't decide, save your money and get both. Word of advice though, if you go with an Epi instead of Gibson, change the pickups, the bridge, the pots, the tuners, and have the nut slots shaved a little.....the nut on the Epis tend to not be cut wide enough and bind the strings, this will cause you tuning problems. If you do these things you will be as close to a Gibson as you can get at a lot lower price. The same thing with the Mexican Fender Strat. I'll open another can of worms for you with acoustics, one word: TAYLOR!!!!!!

Slacker G · December 2005

Tal,

I owned a Super 400 in the 60's. Liked them a LOT. But my Epiphone Zenith was a nicer playing better sounding guitar. The Epi was made when the Epi guys were still building them. I almost wore through the fret board into the neck wood I played it so much. Spent some time with an L-5 too, but didn't ever buy it. Still ...... I have a hot SG {Swampash body with a Tele neck and two Humbuckers. And I have the 60's Les Paul Custon {3 pickup SG} , and two Pauls and a Birdland. But I still would grab my Warmoth Strats first. Reguardless, I'll take the Strats over my Tele's or my Gibsons. Lots and lots of sounds with two Mexican Strat pickups and a Dimarzio Super Distotrion pickup at the bridge. FAR more sounds than I could ever get out of any of my Gibsons. By the way, I use compound Radius necks. For the money, they beat everything out there for a great playing good feeling neck, at least for my hands.

P.G.Shadow · December 2005

Hmm, Les Paul tone with a Strat feel neck=Variaxe.

Sorry guys,had to.

Tal Rules · December 2005

I haven't played the Zenith but here's a link for a 1935 model on ebay..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Zenith-Vintage-Guitar-1935-Pre-Gibson-Buyout_W0QQitemZ7374489311QQcategoryZ33023QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have played the Zephyr Emporer Regent and it really is a sweet guitar. 8)

And yes I do have big hands with fat fingers. People have said my fingers resemble little polish sausages.

The Gibson neck suits me to a tee.. 8) 8)

I feel to cramped and confined on a strat... The rosewood fretboard feels cheap and the maple fretboard feels alien to me.. :?

And personally I think Gibson's tone just kick's strat butt...

I'd take that Super 400 over any guitar you named in your post...

That 18 inch body can be quite a load though, but what a sound. :shock:
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/archtops/Super400/Super400CES.html

And the L5, Jesus what a sweet guitar.. 8) The tone is just awesome and the flower pot on the head stock has a lot of history behind that model... 8)

http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/archtops/L5CES/L5CES.html

And the one I drool over is the Johnny Smith model now renamed the LeGrande... Has the L5 body with the Johnny Smith Floating PU and the Super 400 neck...

http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/archtops/LeGrande/LeGrande.html

Have played all three of the above mentioned models several times and have never heard ANY Fender even come close although I have heard Strat jazz players getting remarkable tone out of the thing.. How??, I have no idea, but I have seen it...

And my ES175 is my baby right now.. Will purchase an L5 next year.. I do own a 68 LP gold top, a Ramirez classical, Fender Dobro, Epihone Emporer Regent (Korean).. and a couple of others plus my sons guitars as well. But there's just something about the sound of a GIBSON archtop running flat wounds that just drives me crazy. That's why my ES175 is my main axe...

My old time Jam bud was a guy went by the name \"Guitar Tom\" and he was strat man and I was a Paul guy and this debate went on endlessly for years..

And I've heard your stuff Slacker and it wails 8) in spite of playing a Fender 8)

So I guess we're gonna have to agree to disagree..

See Ya,
Tal

archon · December 2005

i agree - the variax is a sweet guitar - playing solos on it or plucked gently - but hit is harder or palm mute it and that piezo noise makes me feel ill

ItsAlwaysRainin · December 2005

Maharzan,

I posted a reply saying I had a Voodoo Strat that I liked, but had bought an Agile PS900 (PRS copy) that I was waiting to receive, and would let you know about it when it arrived. I got it today.

The guitar only cost $270. Made in Korea. Solid (2 piece) mahogany body. Quilted Maple top. Set-in (not a bolt-on) maple neck with rosewood board. 24 frets. 18:1 grover tuners. Gold colored hardware. Tunamagic-type bridge. Fit and finish are absolutely gorgeous.

Set up was 99% right out of the box: easily tuned; intonation was right on, and that's unusual for a new guitar. There was only the slightest buzz on the 6th string at the 11th fret: doesn't show when amplified, and it's an easy tweak-fix.

A very solid guitar. Great sustain; even when not amplified. With amplicication it sustains for days, and the distortion capabilities are excellent.

Two buckers: mid range. Fair. A little bright on the treble and slightly damp on the bass, but good enough for anything except professional use.

The strings suck. That's the first thing I'll replace. The pups will be fine until I actually need better.

The beauty is: even long-time PRS owners are saying this guitar has many of the basic elements of a PRS,;and if you put in, say, a set of Dragon II or Santana III pups (another $150, new, on eBay) you've got something that sounds about as good (and some said better) than a PRS for a fraction of the cost.

Someone else in this thread also recommended that you check out RONDO MUSIC (do a Google search for their website) in New Jersey. Read the product reviews on Harmony Central, too. People are saying good things about Agile guitars: lots of bang for the buck. They have excellent Les Paul and Strat copies, too; among others.

For the quality and the price, I don't see how you could go too far wrong at Rondo Music. Good customers service reputation, too.

Hope this helps.

Rained On

maharzan · December 2005

thanks. i'll do a search and see

smegolas · December 2005

uhhh - not to change the subject but...

what do you get with an american strat for the extra bucks (vs the strat in question)? do you get better pups? does fender make a humbucker the size of a single coil?

also - i own a ibanez rgt. what else should i get for something different - american strat or ernie ball axis?

ednrg · December 2005

You can easily put hot rails in the strat slots.

ItsAlwaysRainin · December 2005

SMEGOLAS said:

\"what do you get with an american strat for the extra bucks (vs the strat in question)? do you get better pups? does fender make a humbucker the size of a single coil?\"

What do you get? That's the question, and I don't know what the answer is. I'd like to think that the quality of the new American Strats is better than those made elsewhere; but I heard a lot of guys say the quality really isn't that much different, and some said certain \"American\" Strats are actually made out of country. But I don't know this for sure; it's just what I heard.

Regarding pups: I do believe I've seen a humbucker that will fit in unmodified Strat slots, but I don't recall the product name offhand. One could probably find it by searching the online music shops or eBay, I'd think.

Modified Strats with humbuckers are fairly common these days; and as EDNRG pointed out, there's always hotrails.

Hope this helps.

Rained On

M_R_O · December 2005

Currently, my favorite axe is the Yngwie Strat. It has the the DiMarzio HS3 in the bridge, and the mid and neck are DiMarzioYJM's. The scalloped neck is the best for vibrato and insane bends, but can frustrate heavy grippers when playing complex chords. The HS3 pickup has the old PAF humbucker sound, and the YJM's are very clean.

Unlike my DiMarzio Evoution equipped Strat (hot to the point of molten!) it needs a little push to really drive an amp, but that is a matter for your own personal taste.

ednrg · December 2005

\ItsAlwaysRainin\ wrote:

SMEGOLAS said:

\"what do you get with an american strat for the extra bucks (vs the strat in question)?

Along with the higher quality workmanship, don't you get a 22nd fret?

ItsAlwaysRainin · December 2005

EDNRG said:

\"Along with the higher quality workmanship, don't you get a 22nd fret?\"

Sometimes. With so many models it's hard to keep track.

The Eric Johnson specials (pricey) still have 21 frets. I've seen Standards that have 21. Mid-priced Highway Strats can be had with 22. The (model name) \"American\" series has 22 frets but it's fairly expensive.

Then again, the \"Black and Chrome\" model (for all you Raiders fans out there

) comes with 22 frets, two open coils, and a bridge bucker. That one's marked down to $199 at Zzounds. I'd expect it's probably made in Indonesia or some place similar. I don't know the origin or materials stats offhand.

But yep: 22 fret Strats are out there, and in the low price range, too.

Rained On

Reviews needed for Fender Strat

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