Best Fender Guitar?
- Thread starter Diminished Triad
- Start date
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
The 2001 MIA Fender Deluxe I gave my father, one of the best necks I've ever played.
The 2001 MIA Fender Deluxe I gave my father, one of the best necks I've ever played.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
Fender Deluxe American models are consistently good to play on. Some of the pickups offered on these models are not to my taste but that was not the OP question. Anyway, pickups can easily be changed.
My preference is for vintage style replica instruments. Difficult to top the Custom Shop Relic '51 Nocaster. (Just convert the selector switch to bridge/both/neck.) Bass-wise, I nominate the (discontinued) AVRI '62 Jazz Bass.
Fender Deluxe American models are consistently good to play on. Some of the pickups offered on these models are not to my taste but that was not the OP question. Anyway, pickups can easily be changed.
My preference is for vintage style replica instruments. Difficult to top the Custom Shop Relic '51 Nocaster. (Just convert the selector switch to bridge/both/neck.) Bass-wise, I nominate the (discontinued) AVRI '62 Jazz Bass.
DreX
New member
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
I've been thinking about this thread for a few days, but I just can't pick a favorite. There are some that have issues, like the single piece Tele necks that have more of a slight warp to them that any 2+ piece, but otherwise I appreciate them for all their differences. The Aerodynes have a slim neck, achieve low action and play rather fast, not as fast as a flatter radius Super Strat, but still, but then the ones with higher action allow for better control when doing finger style, and sound slight better for having the higher action, the strings seems to ring out more fully. Some have thicker frets than others, I tend to prefer the thin ones, but I'm glad they're not all the same.
If I could save only one guitar from a house fire, I'd grab one of my MIJ paisley Teles, though they're not even the best players, and I'd succumb to the smoke trying to pick which one to grab.
I've been thinking about this thread for a few days, but I just can't pick a favorite. There are some that have issues, like the single piece Tele necks that have more of a slight warp to them that any 2+ piece, but otherwise I appreciate them for all their differences. The Aerodynes have a slim neck, achieve low action and play rather fast, not as fast as a flatter radius Super Strat, but still, but then the ones with higher action allow for better control when doing finger style, and sound slight better for having the higher action, the strings seems to ring out more fully. Some have thicker frets than others, I tend to prefer the thin ones, but I'm glad they're not all the same.
If I could save only one guitar from a house fire, I'd grab one of my MIJ paisley Teles, though they're not even the best players, and I'd succumb to the smoke trying to pick which one to grab.
mojosman
New member
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
I own an early Robert Cray Custom Shop Strat. It is from the first year of production, and I think it is pretty close to the perfect Strat model. The neck is a very thick D shaped neck with a 9.5" radius and vintage frets. I like a larger neck, and this one has that "bat" shape, it feels great. The pickups are very smooth and have a great tone. The only thing that I would change is the poly finish on the neck is a bit sticky, I prefer a nitro finish, and maybe jumbo frets. It plays great, sounds great and I've never played a stock Strat I liked more than this one. The kicker is one night Ronnie Earl played it and signed it for me. I'll never part with it.
I own an early Robert Cray Custom Shop Strat. It is from the first year of production, and I think it is pretty close to the perfect Strat model. The neck is a very thick D shaped neck with a 9.5" radius and vintage frets. I like a larger neck, and this one has that "bat" shape, it feels great. The pickups are very smooth and have a great tone. The only thing that I would change is the poly finish on the neck is a bit sticky, I prefer a nitro finish, and maybe jumbo frets. It plays great, sounds great and I've never played a stock Strat I liked more than this one. The kicker is one night Ronnie Earl played it and signed it for me. I'll never part with it.
daan
New member
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
Best strat "type", the partscaster I just finished (big fat neck, ash-veneered basswood body, 3 rail pups, push-pull pots for series/parallel and bridge tone control, and a heavy brass trem)
Best "real" Fender: An early 60's Jazzmaster a friend has. It's the stereotypical "Vintage" guitar (he paid, like, $6K for it) but it just plays and feels PERFECT. Unfortunately, I still sound like the self-taught hack I am when I play it...
Best strat "type", the partscaster I just finished (big fat neck, ash-veneered basswood body, 3 rail pups, push-pull pots for series/parallel and bridge tone control, and a heavy brass trem)
Best "real" Fender: An early 60's Jazzmaster a friend has. It's the stereotypical "Vintage" guitar (he paid, like, $6K for it) but it just plays and feels PERFECT. Unfortunately, I still sound like the self-taught hack I am when I play it...
blaise.brown.7967
New member
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
Fender Strat. MIM, HSS configuration. Played it& I bought it on the spot!
Fender Strat. MIM, HSS configuration. Played it& I bought it on the spot!
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
This one...not much info out there on them and somewhere between 25-50 were manufactured with some having Maple Fretboards. Really was a great guitar and without fought the best Fender I ever touched.
1989 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster in Charcoal Burst with Gold Lace Sensors, a Floyd Rose "Original", "Fender Custom Shop" Stamp on back of HS...all stock..."Made In U.S.A." Serial "E 900014".
All I really found on them is below from an old eBay listing that was ironically still in eBay history at the time I picked up mine...
1990-1991 Fender Stratocaster Ultra Floyd Rose NAMM Show Prototype:
"This is a rare 1990-91 Fender Custom Shop Prototype Stratocaster Ultra in Blackburst with a matching painted head stock, Gold Lace Pickups, a factory German Floyd Rose with the locking nut and Clapton modification.
This is the first year Fender factory installed Floyds and possibly one of the first to have a locking nut not the Wilkinson Roller nut on most Plus and Ultra models. Stays in tune whenyou use the tremolo.
This Custom Shop Ultra has the Eric Clapton mod; a mid-range boost/roll off that is used on the Eric Clapton model Stratocasters today. The neck on this guitar is thin, quick and straight as an arrow.
You won't find another one like this in Black burst a rare finish used by the Fender Custom Shop with painted headstock to match! Also included is the original tweed case with crushed purple interior.
Ultras were introduced for the first time at the NAMM show in 1991 and were only made until 1995. The Ultra was the top of the Fender line higher than the popular Plus model.
This is one of what are generally considered very desirable years of Fender's Custom Shop 1989 - 1995.
Very slim fast neck that feels like it plays itself. Sweet action and AMAZING playability!
The Fender Lace Gold pickups are hot enough to get that great rock and blues tones, yet gentle enough to back off and get some beautiful high end sparkle."
This one...not much info out there on them and somewhere between 25-50 were manufactured with some having Maple Fretboards. Really was a great guitar and without fought the best Fender I ever touched.
1989 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster in Charcoal Burst with Gold Lace Sensors, a Floyd Rose "Original", "Fender Custom Shop" Stamp on back of HS...all stock..."Made In U.S.A." Serial "E 900014".
All I really found on them is below from an old eBay listing that was ironically still in eBay history at the time I picked up mine...
1990-1991 Fender Stratocaster Ultra Floyd Rose NAMM Show Prototype:
"This is a rare 1990-91 Fender Custom Shop Prototype Stratocaster Ultra in Blackburst with a matching painted head stock, Gold Lace Pickups, a factory German Floyd Rose with the locking nut and Clapton modification.
This is the first year Fender factory installed Floyds and possibly one of the first to have a locking nut not the Wilkinson Roller nut on most Plus and Ultra models. Stays in tune whenyou use the tremolo.
This Custom Shop Ultra has the Eric Clapton mod; a mid-range boost/roll off that is used on the Eric Clapton model Stratocasters today. The neck on this guitar is thin, quick and straight as an arrow.
You won't find another one like this in Black burst a rare finish used by the Fender Custom Shop with painted headstock to match! Also included is the original tweed case with crushed purple interior.
Ultras were introduced for the first time at the NAMM show in 1991 and were only made until 1995. The Ultra was the top of the Fender line higher than the popular Plus model.
This is one of what are generally considered very desirable years of Fender's Custom Shop 1989 - 1995.
Very slim fast neck that feels like it plays itself. Sweet action and AMAZING playability!
The Fender Lace Gold pickups are hot enough to get that great rock and blues tones, yet gentle enough to back off and get some beautiful high end sparkle."
Last edited:
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
Yup. Me too. But if I had to pick just one, it would be the Roadhouse Strat I got from forum bro Butch S:
She plays like butta'. Thanks Butch.
Yup. Me too. But if I had to pick just one, it would be the Roadhouse Strat I got from forum bro Butch S:
She plays like butta'. Thanks Butch.
rgand
New member
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
Damn, that's beautiful!This one...not much info out there on them and somewhere between 25-50 were manufactured with some having Maple Fretboards. Really was a great guitar and without fought the best Fender I ever touched.
1989 Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster in Charcoal Burst with Gold Lace Sensors, a Floyd Rose "Original", "Fender Custom Shop" Stamp on back of HS...all stock..."Made In U.S.A." Serial "E 900014".
...The Fender Lace Gold pickups are hot enough to get that great rock and blues tones, yet gentle enough to back off and get some beautiful high end sparkle."[/I]
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: Best Fender Guitar?
This is the only "fender brand" I've ever liked.
This is the only "fender brand" I've ever liked.
