A couple of friends of mine documented a really thorough strat shootout years ago on a guitar forum. The guitars included an early prototype '54, '55, '56, '60, '64, a couple of modern reissues, a '50s ash/maple replica, and a cheap Made in Mexico guitar w/'50s pickups. Same strings, same amp, same cabinet, same settings on the amp, etc.. I loaned the newer guitars for the recordings and my friends used the '50s and '60s guitars from their collections. This is serious guitar nerd stuff, but if anyone has any interest in listening to how different the guitars can sound the .wav files from the shootout are posted here:

Index of /strats

I have a Jap too. Really like it. :D

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After watching one of my favorite local guitar players and a few too many barley pops. I came home that night rather inspired and bought a Strat I'd been admiring on Ebay. It's a super nice guitar that someone with my skill level has no business owning. I've been on the fence about selling it, but I fear I might regret it.

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I just sold my 2006 Highway 1 strat. It was ok but I think the MIMs are just as good for half the money. I too have heard lots of good things about the Classic Vibe Strats and teles. I have a MIM strat in Olympic White currently I got off Craigslist for $250. Ill probly tinker with it and upgrade the electronics sometime.

I'd like an early reissue strat but I'll wait a few years before I buy another gee tar.

As far as amps, the Vox Valvetronix models are good for practice amps. I just upgraded mine to some low watt tube amps but it served me well for 3 years.

If you want a cheap low watt tube amp that does great cleans and is easily modifiable check out the Blackheart amps in 5 or 15 watts. They aren't made anymore but are pretty easy to find on Craigslist or ebay. I got mine for $125 and it sounds great!

Birdseye...smacks of Custom Shop...what is it? (very nice, btw)

If I had $800 laying around I'd be tempted by this:

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Fender Pawn shop series strat. Certainly not classic but pretty cool!

Good eye on the neck... It's a custom ordered 56' Custom Shop NOS Strat w/ birdseye maple neck and 1 piece ash body. It was never played when I bought it. The seller actually wanted to buy it back. The guitar sounds really nice both plugged in and acoustically. It usually stays in the case as I have a nicely modded Epiphone Dot I practice with. I think I'm going to spend a little more time with it this winter.

I look at that and get tempted....Ive had a couple of custom shop s/s/s strats over the years. But then I snap out of it and remind myself that no Strat is worth more'n 500 bucks...that surely is beautiful tho....

Here are 2 amps I find good for in home use. A 68' Fender Champ original everything with speaker upgrade and a Tweed Deluxe 5E3 clone w/ nos tubes and reconed Jensen c12q.

They both can get loud, especially the 5E3. The Champ keeps the wife happier, but they both sound good at a reasonable volume.
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That's beautiful.

My main amp is a original '60s Deluxe Reverb.

here's my Strat.. MIM, brass bridge and block with Sperzels. Vintage Noiseless in the bridge and wired for master tone.

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And the new Wall of Sound I'm building..

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Well, I still don't have a Strat, but I decided to get the Squier Tele Classic Vibe. Crafted in China and it's a Squire, but WOW it isn't a toy.

Demo model was $300 plus tax @ Sweetwater.

Now I'm thinking of getting the Mustang III Ver2 amp. 100 watt solid state modeling amp. $329.

I really like the '50s style tele too. There is one I played I just loved. I might just pick that up.

Thanks LWJ and Astroboy for the tip.

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Before you get the Mustang 3 try out a Blackstar ID15 or ID30. They're running a rebate on them.

I put all my tube heads in storage after getting my ID15.

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The Classic Vibe Tele is sweet, great choice! You'll also find the teles seem to keep their value more than the Strats, probably because everyone buys a strat so there's more supply.

I was working on Hey Joe by Hendrix on my Tele tonight, what a great song...

I'll be giving my MIM strat a makeover soon with new '69 custom shop style pickups, a new volume pot and a sweet custom pickguard I found. I'll post pics when I'm done.

Doug, if you're looking into modeling amps, check out the Vox Valvetronix line. They come in several wattages and have pretty nice features. You can find them in good shape used on Craigslist for $120-150. New they're around $300. Great amp.

These cheap copies are very good.

But I don't understand why you guys are screwing about with cheap chinese import copies of vintage American icons. We are all old enough and ugly to have the real thing. Why not buy a new USA instrument and keep your countrymen in jobs, or find a yourself a real vintage Tele?

cheap chinese "fender" at big box guitar sellers. The reason the US economy is in the ****.

[QUOTE=Nostril Cheese;7721671]That's beautiful.

Thanks... I'm very happy with that amp. I took a chance on it and bought it off Ebay from a small amp builder(I couldn't build it for what it cost). He definitely did a nice job, used nos tubes along with other high end componentry including a
60's reconed Jensen C12Q.

BTW... Nice wall of sound! A Blackface Deluxe Reverb is on my wish list, I'm jealous(I think it's the amp to own)!

Well you have to ask yourself..."Do I want a Fender guitar made in Mexico by Mexicans" OR "Do I want a Fender guitar made in America by Mexicans" With all respect to my Mexican brothers. MIM or MIJ is a nice start. Also don't kid yerself. Fender hasn't used nitro finish in a VERY long time,,like the 60's. If you want nitro cellulose, (it's illegal according to the VOC act), you have to do it yourself and you can get rattle cans here;ReRanch Guitar Refinishing

be warned, it is a ton of work. I have done two basses this way a Fender and a Gibson. You had better like sanding. Oh and good luck getting Fenders under sealer off.. Get a heat gun and an orbital sander ready. The "relic" and "roadworn" series is just over buffed and tinted whatever they use for paint these days.

The cheap Chinese copies play as well and sometimes better than the American made ones.

The reality is that most "American made" Fenders are simply assembled in the US, the parts are manufactured at their main plant in Mexico.

It ain't about the label, it's oh it sounds!

Oh, and I think Doug was looking for a first electric, I think a MIM or a Squier are great first electrics. Why spend a grand on a guitar when you don't really know what you like yet?

IM not sure that's right....certainly Fender Custom Shop stuff is all nitro- but its not the nitro they were using in the 50 and 60s. Are Fender USA gits poly finished?

Yeah, youre correct about stripping poly bodies. If I ever do that again, Im sending it off to be chemical dipped and stripped. You get a better result too....no matter how much filling and sanding you do after a heat gun strip, the nitro shows every defect in the wood under the new paint.