Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

[Diminished Triad]

Fender has released reissues of the '54, '55, '56, '56, '62, '65 and maybe more. Whether from playing the actual strat or enjoying its sound, what year is your all time favorite?

So far, for me, it's the '62. They are not making many remakes of this and the current '62 models out there at this moment are more modern than the actual vintage remakes from before. I haven't played the Elites from last year or the Professionals from this year and would like to hear the 4th generation noiseless pickups in person. I have heard/read that the Japanese strats play very well and are decent reproductions of the various years, but of course their pups are less than desired and don't compare wiith Fender pickups let alone the sound possible from Seymour Duncan pups.

Thanks for your strat opinions! Looking forward to what year(s) you enjoy most.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

'57 actual (Clapton Strat) Strat is the consensus best of all time, and the price proves it. 55/56 actual Ash is nothing to sneeze at, in fact, if you can find a light one than you are all set. . The actual early 60's Rosewood Strats are , of course, epic as well.The late 60's earl;y 70's maple actuals are phenomenal, but nealry non- existent on the used market, particularly the custom color. I'm gonna say I want a actual 70-71 custom color Strat- they are so freakin' rare..

The reissues are all gonna sound about the same besides the pickups.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

I had a vintage 1960, and that was the best playing and sounding vintage Strat that I've ever played. It had been refinished before I got it, and was beat to heck, but it was a really good one. I paid $150.00 in 1972, and sold it in 1990 for $1,000.00. Hated to sell it.

A couple of years later in the '90s, the American Vintage '62 I tried felt really close to mine. I played a new 1960 Custom Shop years later, and it was dead on feel-wise, but didn't quite have the sweet tone that mine did.

Eventually, I wound up replacing my '60 Strat with a G&L Legacy. I went to the store to buy a Vintage '62, but five minutes after I tried the G&L I was sold on it. It had the tone and even felt better in my hands. Played in tune, stayed in tune...loved the updated hardware and the PTB controls were genius. Vintage feel, with the right modern upgrades. Total win. I now have 11 Legacys, and several of their other "strat" models: S-500, Comanche and Legacy Special, too. G&L makes my favorite Strats.

I would also give a shout out for Fender's Road Worn Series Strats. Very nice, for not a lot of money.

Bill

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

'57 actual (Clapton Strat) Strat is the consensus best of all time, and the price proves it. 55/56 actual Ash is nothing to sneeze at, in fact, if you can find a light one than you are all set. . The actual early 60's Rosewood Strats are , of course, epic as well.The late 60's earl;y 70's maple actuals are phenomenal, but nealry non- existent on the used market, particularly the custom color. I'm gonna say I want a actual 70-71 custom color Strat- they are so freakin' rare..

The reissues are all gonna sound about the same besides the pickups.

Why doesn't Fender reissue the Clapton strat with what is likely the neck/radius from that time?
I don't think Fender made 9.5 radius fretboards until later in the 60's...if not later. Yet both the Hendrix and Clapton models have 9.5 radius fretboards. In fact, even the vintage reissue of the Nile Rogers "Hit Maker" from way back in the day has a 9.5 radius neck.

When Fender made the very expensive "Blackie" strat going for well over $10,000, it made it with the 7.25 radius fretboard.....yet the signature model (not cheap and going for about 4K) has the 9.5 radius. In fact so does Jeff Beck's strat from back in the day... I think all these strats were orginially made with 7.25 radius fretboards.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

Why doesn't Fender reissue the Clapton strat with what is likely the neck/radius from that time?
I don't think Fender made 9.5 radius fretboards until later in the 60's...if not later. Yet both the Hendrix and Clapton models have 9.5 radius fretboards. In fact, even the vintage reissue of the Nile Rogers "Hit Maker" from way back in the day has a 9.5 radius neck.

When Fender made the very expensive "Blackie" strat going for well over $10,000, it made it with the 7.25 radius fretboard.....yet the signature model (not cheap and going for about 4K) has the 9.5 radius. In fact so does Jeff Beck's strat from back in the day... I think all these strats were orginially made with 7.25 radius fretboards.

The Clapton Strat isn't a replica of one of his vintage guitars; it's a replica of the guitar he ordered from the Fender Custom Shop in the mid/late 80s when he quit playing the vintage Strats live. That guitar has a 9.5" radius, 22 frets, Lace Sensor pickups, and the active midrange boost. He then switched from the Laces to Fender Vintage Noiseless in the ealry 2000s. Likewise the current Jeff Beck Strat is a replica of what he plays now, not a vintage instrument.

If you want a replica of Brownie or Blackie, order a '56 from the Fender Custom Shop as both of those Clapton guitars were essentially 56/57 partscasters that he assembled from several used Strats in the early 70s.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

i have access to a actual 57.Now despite the fact that I'm a Warmoth junkie with about 8 Strats with jumbo frets and compound radius, the Actual '57 is an astonishing thing to play. With the 7.25 radius, It doesn't choke, and has the most sublime action I've ever felt.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

I like the weird, quirky models.
The weird 1983 model with the jack on the pickguard, and my 1982 'The Strat' are favorites, as well as the early 80's Elites. The early 80s MIJ Strats were really cool, too.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

Ever try one of the front-mount/System 2 or 3 vibratos? I want a Contemporary or HM myself.

 

[Diego]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

I like the weird, quirky models.

Do you? I'd never guessed that. :nana:

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

Best sounding strat I've had the opportunity to play or own is a 1966.

I have a 1962 reissue that plays amazing - very easy action and stays in tune unbelievably. But the sound is weak to me.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

The Clapton Strat has a 9.5" radius because that's what Eric wanted.

Bill

 

[Jacew]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

I have to wonder how much of that vintage guitar "magic" is placebo effect. Only thing i can think of that any good luthier wouldn't be able to copy are the wood aging and corrosion. And I think it's possible to replicate that corrosion as well. Wood aging needs time, but i don't think anyone would be able to differentiate 20 year old wood from 50 year old, since we're talking about electronic instruments.

It's also hard to believe engineers back then were so ingenious, that there's been no improvent tone-wise in last 50 years. Of course we love that classic tone, but honestly, I don't think it's the best you could have.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

I think guitars in general have gotten better in terms of specs and production value over time. Companies like Suhr, Nash, G&L and Xotic (and more!) have nailed the strat in ways that fender never have in their production history.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

I have to wonder how much of that vintage guitar "magic" is placebo effect. Only thing i can think of that any good luthier wouldn't be able to copy are the wood aging and corrosion. And I think it's possible to replicate that corrosion as well. Wood aging needs time, but i don't think anyone would be able to differentiate 20 year old wood from 50 year old, since we're talking about electronic instruments.

It's also hard to believe engineers back then were so ingenious, that there's been no improvent tone-wise in last 50 years. Of course we love that classic tone, but honestly, I don't think it's the best you could have.

Smoke and feathers near the rectum.

However, there is something to be said for the neck and fretboard edges slowly wearing down over time due to playing, but other than for the prospect of resale, I would never pay hundreds of thousands for a piece of wood supposedly infused with some sort of voodoo.

My favorite Strat is the modern Yngwie Strat. Hard to choose my favorite one, but my Sonic Blue with maple board + Dimarzios is probably it if I was forced to narrow it down. There is nothing else like the feeling of deep scallops with Dunlop Super Jumbos. You can even add vibrato to power chords with ease that is not possible without the scallops for some extra attitude. It's inspiring!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

ive played a bunch of 50's and 60's fenders and there is a fair amount of variation. some are amazing all around, some play like crap but sound good, and ive played two later 60's teles that played great but sounded pretty thin and plinky. other than the wood, i think a better guitar can be made today. companies like calaham and glendale make amazing parts, you can find any type of pup you want etc... we dont have much old growth wood around, especially at a reasonable prices. the best new guitars ive played had been made with old reclaimed wood. granted i play blues and rock and usually go for a tone that you could commonly hear in the 60's or 70's. if i was playing modern metal then i would be looking for much different things

 

[Mincer]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

Oh! I also like the original Blackmore Strat from 91...much better than the one that came out much later. Set neck, 2 pickups...strange, but a great playing instrument.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

Since the Strat players have treated Strats like the great modular instruments they are (Clapton's Blackie and Brownie were built from 4 Strats, Gilmour modded his black Strat with various necks and pickups, etc.) so I think the best I could get (I'll never afford a real vintage) is to get good woods with the specs that fit me. Like Timmy below mentions, lots of people build great Strats now.

I think guitars in general have gotten better in terms of specs and production value over time. Companies like Suhr, Nash, G&L and Xotic (and more!) have nailed the strat in ways that fender never have in their production history.

Suhr, Anderson, G&L, sure... Nash, eh... just a cheaper Custom Shop.

BUT! We want the vintage tone created by the quirks. Huge truss rods, cast saddles, noiseless and active pickups, locking trems and nuts, flamed caps are all great improvements technically but do change the tone.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

brownie was a stock '56 strat as far as i know. clapton did use brownie's neck on the tele body for blind faith. youre right about blackie being a parts strat though. he bought six 50's strats, gave one to harrison, winwood and townshend then build blackie with the best parts of the last three

 

[Jacew]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

Since the Strat players have treated Strats like the great modular instruments they are (Clapton's Blackie and Brownie were built from 4 Strats, Gilmour modded his black Strat with various necks and pickups, etc.) so I think the best I could get (I'll never afford a real vintage) is to get good woods with the specs that fit me. Like Timmy below mentions, lots of people build great Strats now.

This is why I like stratocasters so much. It's perfect "players guitar". Solidly built and designed, yet cheap and easy to customise into exactly what you want.

BUT! We want the vintage tone created by the quirks. Huge truss rods, cast saddles, noiseless and active pickups, locking trems and nuts, flamed caps are all great improvements technically but do change the tone.

I agree. I do prefer more vintage spec'd strats over modern ones.

 

[czarokrates]

Re: Favorite Stratocaster of all time?

BUT! We want the vintage tone created by the quirks. Huge truss rods, cast saddles, noiseless and active pickups, locking trems and nuts, flamed caps are all great improvements technically but do change the tone.

Love that. Hendrix didn't use them so they're useless.