Best Value in Stratocasters?

[Adieu]

EART
roasted maple neck
Stainless steel frets
Nice pickups

Looks.like a nice strat for less than $300 new
The purple is beautiful

Specs seem nice (assuming execution and QC are good), but how do you know about the pickups? Personal experience? Or do they have a model with branded pups?

Although in any case, it doesn't really seem like a strat-strat... more like something along the lines of some Schecter or Charvel models

 

[NegativeEase]

My '66 Strat has not only the big headstock, but it's thicker as well. The tuner holes just clear the wood. It sustains like my Les Paul Standard. They make a great stereo left/right pair.

Very cool, I'm not sure I knew they went back that far -I think I assumed they began with CBS in 68. Very Cool.

 

[jeremy]

cbs bought fender at the end of '65

 

[Kac]

Used MIM or MIJ Fenders are excellent, as has been said, play a few to see what you like the feel of the best. Even some great old MIJ squiers out there can be had for a great price.

 

[chadd]

The best value Strat is the one you never have to replace. Play as many as you can, find one you love, buy it and hold on to it forever.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Specs seem nice (assuming execution and QC are good), but how do you know about the pickups? Personal experience? Or do they have a model with branded pups?

Although in any case, it doesn't really seem like a strat-strat... more like something along the lines of some Schecter or Charvel models

Mm, if you don't mind your Strats being a bit outside of traditional, it seems like a good axe for the price. The body (mahogany) does seem a bit sharper cut like a Dinky/Soloist. I wonder what the tuners are - they look like Gotoh 510s, but aren't branded.

The pickups seem to be generic ceramic single coils in the 5k range; the 60 cycle hum bloke got one of these guitars and took it apart.

The only thing I'm not into is the snot scratchplate, bit too green.