best strat for under $1100.00

[Alvin Lee Fan]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

Well, depends on what kind of sound you're going for. Me, I'm a vintagey kind of guy. Best deal out there right now for new vintage style Strats is the Jimmie Vaughn signature model. Basically a '57 style (deep contour body), great 50's V neck, USA tuners and bridge assy, Tex-Mex pickups (sound more "classic" than TX Specials), $550 brand new. I'm gettin' one today

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

Here is the deal...I very strongly disl;ike most non Custom Shop Fender necks, I also really dislike most stock Fender pickups made past about 1970, plus I think that most newer Fender guitars are very overpriced. The closest thing Fender has to what I want is an older Jeff Beck Strat but it's still got the wrong pups, bridge, and tuners, plus if I had it perfect, it would have a maple fingerboard. I just gonna build it myself...I can choose all the right parts, have the neck done just right, plus I can do a real nitro finish on it! That is unless somebody has a real good idea real fast!

[some_dude]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

That is unless somebody has a real good idea real fast!

A friend of mine has a Warmoth compound radious neck on his Strat and it's some sweet.

If I was to go the custom route, I'd go Warmoth as I don't have the tools to machine bodies. I'd also be building a custom Jagstang with forearm and belly cuts, plus a TOM-Stoptail bridge.

[rspst14]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

Go the Warmoth route. For that kind of money, you can get a Strat exactly the way you want it. Off the shelf Fenders just don't do it for me for several reasons. I would never buy one because of the narrower, thinner necks and smaller frets. So I got a neck and body from Warmoth, and I'm in the process of putting together a killer Strat for much less than $1100. In fact, the neck and body combined cost me less than $500.

Ryan

[gt5litre]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

I found a Strat 1960 Custom Shop Closet Classic used for $1199, before negotiating. I hope I can snag it.

Brent

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

I agree about most Fender necks...if it's big enough the frets are tiny and the radius is 7 inches...if the frets are big the nack is very thin...here is what I think I'm gonna do...if you have any feedback or ideas, please let me know
-Alder or Swamp Ash body from Warmoth
-Maple neck from Warmoth(big and fat!)
-Locking Keys
-Roller nut
-Callaham vintage Tremolo
-All vintage hardware from Callaham(except straplocks...gotta have'em)
-2 APS 2's and a Twangbanger
-Vintage Brown case form Callaham
-Nitro finish (aged) I will do the finish myself

After all is said and done It will come out to less that $1000.00...and i must say IMO this axe will be top shelf...

[Gearjoneser]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

I agree about most Fender necks...if it's big enough the frets are tiny and the radius is 7 inches...if the frets are big the nack is very thin...here is what I think I'm gonna do...if you have any feedback or ideas, please let me know
-Alder or Swamp Ash body from Warmoth
-Maple neck from Warmoth(big and fat!)
-Locking Keys
-Roller nut
-Callaham vintage Tremolo
-All vintage hardware from Callaham(except straplocks...gotta have'em)
-2 APS 2's and a Twangbanger
-Vintage Brown case form Callaham
-Nitro finish (aged) I will do the finish myself

After all is said and done It will come out to less that $1000.00...and i must say IMO this axe will be top shelf...

Sounds nice! I'd get it in alder, use frets that are just a little smaller than Am Std frets, use a bone or graphite nut, instead of the roller, and I'd install a set of Antiquity Surfers and the Custom Surfer 9.7 A-5 bridge. It's hard to imagine a more perfect strat than that.

[FenderBoy]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

I would say look for a used American Deluxe strat. I got a 2003 model a few weeks ago for $580. It plays really sweet. The only thing I wish it had was a neck more liek the Clapton models. I'm happy enough with the stock pickups ( 2 noiseless and a bridge humbucker) that I don't even need to change them.

Either that or find the highest end used guitar that you can for upto $1100. I've reached a point in life where I want that extra money in the bank so I wouldn't even think of spending $1100 anymore, you may differ though.

happy shopping!!!

[rspst14]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

I'd go with an Earvana nut instead of a roller nut. The Earvana nut has the slipperyness of graphite, so it works well with tremolos. But it also improves your intonation, and they're not too difficult to install yourself. If you have the skills to do a nitro finish, I have no doubt you could install one.

Ryan

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

My only problem with Fender guitars is the neck...If I bought a Fender Strat, I would end up changing the neck, and the pickups, add to that a new nut and more that likely locking keys...by this point I've spent $900.00-$1000.00 and the guitar in question is not exactaly the way I want it...it's just close! I think doing it myself is the way for my to go. I was offered a 60's classis MIM strat Friday for $275.00, and it was nice but I would endup changing so much of it, it just seems pointless.

[Sprinter]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

G&L Guitars?

G&L, in my opinion builds the best strat style guitars. I prefer the S-500, it's pickups are powerful, and clean. You can buy a new S-500, for $1,100 as long as you don't go wild with options. Nice used S-500,s can be found in the $500-$600 range. S-500's sound the best with mahogany bodies, but they're kind of hard to find.


Sprinter

[hacker]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

Go warmoth-especially if you like fat necks.

[Curly]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

[dr.barlo]

Re: best strat for under $1100.00

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/fender/strat/strat_v146395/strat_v146395.html

You'd need $200 more tho!

B