Best Strat?

BS123

BS123

New member
I'm in the market for a new guitar and I was thinking of complimenting my Tele with a good Strat. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg so I'm looking for the best bang for the buck...

Here are some options I have so far...

1. Fender Lite Ash Strat
2. Fender Highway 1 Strat
3. Fender Classic 50's Strat
4. Fender Classic 60's Strat

What do y'all think?
 
Re: Best Strat?

I have a thing for those classic 50's Strats... The Lite Ash one is real cool too so those two (in that order) would be my preference.
 
Re: Best Strat?

The Lite Ash is really sharp, but from what I hear the quality is hit and miss on those so be sure to "play the one you buy" if you go that route. I'm a big fan of the Highway 1 models as well, I'd like to pick one up before they're discontinued unless I decide to go used.
 
Re: Best Strat?

stonabus said:
is that the nashville tele?
Click to expand...

It is now....

It's a Highway 1 that I routed and installed a minihumbucker in the neck and Strat pickup in the middle.
 
Re: Best Strat?

Ive played all of the above guitars and would have to agree with B2D on this the 50's strat is my favorite out of the bunch. check out the "vintage player" model of the 50's version as well
 
Re: Best Strat?

Check out the Texas Special Fat Strat as well - they sometimes come up as near new or NOS on ebay. Best bang for the buck especially since they hover round the same price range as what you mentioned. From the list tho my pick is the 50's strat - I luv v-necks!
 
Re: Best Strat?

The CIJ are nice and offer great value for the buck. YMMV.
 
Re: Best Strat?

So much for people boycotting Fender for their cheap tactics....

Light ash strats always looked great. "Best strat" is kinda subjective. If I were to choose top of the line, look at a Lentz (if you can find one, #1 in my book), Suhr, Grosh Retro Classic, Sadowsky etc.
 
Re: Best Strat?

A California Series or Jimmie Vaughn Strat would be better in several respects than those you listed. I also would prefer an American Series Strat over those choices, but I prefer the 1 11/16" nut width and 9.5" radius. If you like the vintage neck specs, then the choice between the two Classics comes down to maple or rosewood. I haven't been too impressed with the couple of lite ash models I've seen -- didn't care much for the neck or the pickups. The HWY1 neck is a modern one with 9.5" radius and m-j fretwire (but standard truss rod) -- you know the drill on the finish. All of the models you listed will likely have SSS routing, whereas the Cali and JV likely have HSS and the American Series will have HSH. You'll probably want to change the pickups in any of them, so go for the neck that pleases you the most.
 
Re: Best Strat?

Kelsey said:
A California Series or Jimmie Vaughn Strat would be better in several respects than those you listed.
Click to expand...

I didn't think of those. If I could find a California Strat, I'd probably buy it....
 
Re: Best Strat?

I played 6 Hwy1s in a store one day and was amazed by their tonal consistency. A good choice if you like the am std neck.

The mexican classics can be great, but I recommend you play a bunch to find the one you want.

Also check out the G&L tribute series. I was astounded at the quality of the one I saw on holiday recently. I thought it was a top of the line US model on first inspection.
 
Re: Best Strat?

I don't know if you are interested, I have a zero ( maybe 1 or 2 ours max) played 50th anniversery Strat neck from a 96 Jimmy Vaughn Tex Mex Strat. It was bought the day they came out by my moms old boyfriend. I was with him when he bought it, we tried out several and this was the best in the bunch. He recently gave this guitar and a bunch of others to me. The guitar still had the tags, plastic on the pickgaurd and original strings on it. It simply sat untouched in his closet for all these years. I fell in love with the body color and put my 62 RI neck on it. I am a rosewood C countour guy, this neck is maple and V. Clean as clean and is a great neck but just not my cup o tea. You could then snatch up a body and make your own special blend. If interested shoot me a note, it might be your kinda neck style. I figure it is worth 140.00 to 150.00 shipped. I can't imagine finding a cleaner neck anywhere of this vintage. It has the 50th anniversery badge on the headstock.
 
G&L, S-500

G&L, S-500

Sorry, I'm not a fan of modern Fenders. Before you by a strat, be sure to try a G&L, S-500. I think the S-500, is superior to the Fender strat in every way. Used S-500's can be had for around $500.


Sprinter
 
Re: Best Strat?

I just got an American Stratocaster for Christmas for bout 900 bucks, def. def. def.!!! a good decision. Especially with Surfers in it, i could get nothing better.
 
Re: Best Strat?

I'd get a music man instead. The Lite Ash strats weigh too much. The 50s strats aren't versatile enough- I hate the tuners too. The colors are cool though.
 
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