Classic Player 60s vs American Original 60s

[contiContiCONTI]

Hi all!

So I have a Mexican classic player 60s strat. I've loved the guitar since I bought and is basically the only guitar I play. The only problems I have are minimal set-up issues. It can lose its balance very easily, whether its the neck bowing too much, the saddles lowering by themselves, fret buzz occuring out of nowhere. I mean its not drastic but I have to make adjustments monthly (I dont play live, just from playing in my room a few hours a day).

Recently I have been a bit gassed about the American Original 60s stuff. Reason being because I see it as a 'better' version of the guitar I already love. I expect more stability, maybe better sound. Or it might just be a silly status thing of owning an American strat (I know its ridiculous but hey, we're all culprits to some extent).

Anyone has a take on the mexican 60s strats vs the american? is it really worth the 1.5k price difference?

Cheers!

Christian.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I have several Strats (2 American, 2 commeratives, and several Squires). The American Dlx is the best by far.

I've been playing for over 60 years and I've currently got about 75 guitars and NONE of them have ever made changes to their truss rods or saddles by themselves! You sure you didn't step into the Twilight Zone?

 

[contiContiCONTI]

I have several Strats (2 American, 2 commeratives, and several Squires). The American Dlx is the best by far.

I've been playing for over 60 years and I've currently got about 75 guitars and NONE of them have ever made changes to their truss rods or saddles by themselves! You sure you didn't step into the Twilight Zone?

ahaha when i say 'by themselves', i do mean with me playing of course, not overnight. So for example, might be my right hand hitting the saddles or something.

 

[GuitarDoc]

ahaha when i say 'by themselves', i do mean with me playing of course, not overnight. So for example, might be my right hand hitting the saddles or something.

I understand that. And "by themselves" I meant that I didn't take a tool to them and purposely make any adjustments. Guitars that I have been playing for 30 years (by myself, in rehearsals, and during regular gigs) have never gone out of adjustment as you described.

You make adjustment monthly?!! You could have some VERY defective saddles...in which case you could just replace them since you love the guitar anyway (saddles are a heck of a lot cheaper than a new guitar). But like I said, the American Strats that I have are a thing of beauty. There is certainly nothing wrong with owning another guitar.

 

[contiContiCONTI]

I understand that. And "by themselves" I meant that I didn't take a tool to them and purposely make any adjustments. Guitars that I have been playing for 30 years (by myself, in rehearsals, and during regular gigs) have never gone out of adjustment as you described.

You make adjustment monthly?!! You could have some VERY defective saddles...in which case you could just replace them since you love the guitar anyway (saddles are a heck of a lot cheaper than a new guitar). But like I said, the American Strats that I have are a thing of beauty. There is certainly nothing wrong with owning another guitar.

yeah makes sense. I've thought about replacing components various times. But every time i fell into this rabbit hole of 'if im changing this then i might aswell change that too' and eventually came to the 'if im gonna spend that amount of money, i might aswell upgrade the whole instrument'.

But yes, the smart thing would probably be to simply replace the saddles. Wouldn't help the truss rod problems though.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Wouldn't help the truss rod problems though.

You'll need to contact Rod Sterling about that.

 

[larryguitar]

Some necks are simply less stable than others; wood is pretty individual, after all. You may also want to check that the humidity in your place is staying pretty stable; that can make necks 'move' as it falls and rises.

Larry

 

[GuitarDoc]

Some necks are simply less stable than others; wood is pretty individual, after all. You may also want to check that the humidity in your place is staying pretty stable; that can make necks 'move' as it falls and rises.

Larry

The neck has a steel truss rod, the guitar stays inside and isn't subjected to sudden dramatic temp or humidity changes. I've taken guitars out of a warm room in the winter to do outdoor gigs with snow all around and not had any noticeable change in the neck.

 

[larryguitar]

The neck has a steel truss rod, the guitar stays inside and isn't subjected to sudden dramatic temp or humidity changes. I've taken guitars out of a warm room in the winter to do outdoor gigs with snow all around and not had any noticeable change in the neck.

And that's what YOUR guitar does; but I was talking to the OP, of course.

Larry

 

[beaubrummels]

I think the American made would likely be more stable than the MIM. Granted, these days, there's overlap, e.g. some MIM models are just American parts assembled in Mexico (I honestly don't know to what degree that is true or not, I've just read it on here.).

I have an American 1962 RI and that thing stayed in tune for three whole 3-hour gigs, playing blues and doing Albert King bends most of the night. Rock solid.

 

[LRS]

Hi all!

So I have a Mexican classic player 60s strat. I've loved the guitar since I bought and is basically the only guitar I play. The only problems I have are minimal set-up issues. It can lose its balance very easily, whether its the neck bowing too much, the saddles lowering by themselves, fret buzz occuring out of nowhere. I mean its not drastic but I have to make adjustments monthly (I dont play live, just from playing in my room a few hours a day).

Recently I have been a bit gassed about the American Original 60s stuff. Reason being because I see it as a 'better' version of the guitar I already love. I expect more stability, maybe better sound. Or it might just be a silly status thing of owning an American strat (I know its ridiculous but hey, we're all culprits to some extent).

Anyone has a take on the mexican 60s strats vs the american? is it really worth the 1.5k price difference?

Cheers!

Christian.

Play them to find out! I had an Am Performer Strat which was lovely, and from the same series a tele which s*ucked big time. Although Fender’s built consistency is great for the past 20 years, they’re not flawless. Also wood is a natural product which might have quirks. So touch it, feel it, play it, smell it. They only way to find out!
Cheers,
Chris

 

[Mr. B]

Sounds to me like your Strat's neck may just change a lot due to humidity and temperature changes. When the neck relief changes, it can also change your string height, even though the saddles never actually moved. Adjusting your truss rod will put your string height back where it was. It also accounts for the sudden string buzz showing up. I have some guitars (not usually strats though) that change quite a bit when the humidity changes, and need a truss rod adjustment fairly often. I have others in the same room that never change by a micro-millimeter no matter what the weather does.

 

[GuitarDoc]

In any case, you should go play a few Am Strats and see how you like them. You MAY just fall in love with one and have to have it. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. I totally love all of mine.