Good strat to buy????

[papersoul]

Re: Good strat to buy????

Interesting, so the G&Ls have various neck profiles/sizes?! I like wider necks like my LP and PRS. I hate narrow necks!

Can I get a wider neck on the G&L?

About the Robert Cray strat - does it have a wider neck and not just fatter or deeper?

Basically I don't like narrow necks so I don't know which Fender Strat would fit the bill or which G&L, etc.

 

[Sprinter]

Re: Good strat to buy????

Interesting, so the G&Ls have various neck profiles/sizes?! I like wider necks like my LP and PRS. I hate narrow necks!

Can I get a wider neck on the G&L?

G&L necks are available in the following widths: 1 5/8", 1 11/16", or 1 3/4". I love G&L, guitars but the Legacy, has weak sounding pickups. The G&L, S-500 is the way to go. The S-500, has G&L's MFD pickups in it and they are hot.

Sprinter

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good strat to buy????

Thanks Sprinter! Maybe an S-500 with an 1 11/16" neck is the way to go for me. If only I could find some locally to play.

Does anyone know if Strats are available with a wider neck?

It appears that G&L only offers a 12" radius fretboard rather than the 9.5 or 10" of Fender or PRS. I am surprised. I will admit the 12" on my LP is sweet. I wonder why PRS doesn't switch.

 

[Jonny R]

Re: Good strat to buy????

My G&L is a 1991 Legacy with Alnico 2 pickups standard I think (JB jnr in the bridge).

I haven't noticed the pickups sounding weak compared to other strats - just incredible clean sounds and really smooth lead sounds....

Nice overdriven rhythm sounds too

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good strat to buy????

I was hoping gearjoneser may have input.

 

[lex666]

Re: Good strat to buy????

My MIM strat is about 4 years old and is still going strong. I've been really satisified with the sound and have made no mods to it. Its even taken a few beatings and is still rock solid.

but since you already have nice guitars, you probably wouldn't want a cheap MIM strat. look into the american series, or the very least, some deluxe editions. the deluxe editions are nice, and usually come with better pups than the MIM standards.

Also, I was in Guitar Center the other day and tried a limited edition strat (made in korea or japan I forget which one) that had an all ash body and birdseye maple neck. It was loaded with SD pups already. The tone was real nice in all positions. nice and thick but not muddy. the cleans were really nice too, without being too sharp. still had that fender twang, but with more edge or fullness. I think this may be my next axe, an upgrade for my MIM... the price was reasonable too... about $600 bones...

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good strat to buy????

It seems like a good bet is an American Standard Strat as I see them at a good price. I could always change the pickups or anything else that needs it...

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good strat to buy????

I own 2 Clapton Strats. They are both older models with the Lace sensor PUPS. I actually prefer these over the noiseless pups. I found the noisless PUPS to be a little thin by comparison. The radius on my EC Strats are 9.5". I don't know if Fender Changed this in recent years, but I believe they are still 9.5". Both of my EC Strats go back to 88 or 89. This is my Primary guitar. The Lace sensors as well as the noiseless PUPS will not give you certain nuances that a true single coil will. Yet you will not have any 60 cycle hum either, so I would say look around for a used one with Lace sensors, and compare it to a new one with noiseless. Thats what I did and IMO the Lace sensors sound better!! Great guitar either way. The preamp, which is a 25DB midrange boost "fattens" the tone when playing with OD or gain. In a clean sound if it is turned on full it tends to get to midrangy. Through a MArshall cranked it is truly remarkable. Very thick and creamy, not what you would expect from a Strat. This PreAmp will work with "other" PUPS as well. I have heard of people using this preamp with Texas Specials, as well as Antiquities. I have no idea what that would sound like, but I know people have done it. What I espically like anbout this guitar is the "V" neck. It plays like it was made for my hand. This model Strat is ONLY available in a maple Freboard! Good Luck!

So is the older model Claptop Strat with the Lace Sensors pickups...this is the standard 9.5 fretboard radius? Is it a wider neck than a normal Strat? It still has the mid boost and all the controls of the current Clapton Strat? I also like that the Clapton Strat has the blocked trem. Is this the case with the older model? I am not looking for true single coil pickups becaise I don't like the 60 cycle hum so maybe I'll have to try some Lace Sensors, Vintage noiseless and the Cobalt noiseless.

I am actually starting to think that with the addition of various neck options, the G&L S-500 with a wider or flatter neck may be the way to go. Do any of the G&Ls have noiseless pickups?

Does anyone know why G&L went with the 12" radius like Gibson? I find it interesting since Fenders and even PRS guitars have always had a more rounded board.....10" and 9.5".

Thanks!!

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Good strat to buy????

From what I've read (I haven't played one), the Clapton Strat has a deeper V-shaped neck on it specially made for that model Strat. They had U.S. Highway Strats on sale at Guitar Center a few weeks back for a ridiculously low price....I think they were about $400 new or something like that. If they haven't started filtering in already, the '05's will be coming out real soon which may force a few Strat retailers to put their '04 models on sale to clear 'em out. You might keep an eye out for a good deal. Try the 60's Reissue models, too. They have "C" shaped necks, but bear in mind the trussrods in those necks have to be adjusted under the pickguard where the neck meets the body as there is no access above the nut as in most necks. I haven't needed to adjust the neck in my 60's RI MIJ Strat since just after I bought it and set it up and that was about 3 years ago. There's another good Strat to look for and try, a Japanese-made 60's Reissue. They're excellent guitars that are every bit as good as American-made, IMO.
I've played G&L's, and personally I'd go for either an American Standard or U.S. Highway 1 Strat....but definitely get out and play several to get an idea what type neck feels best in your hand. There's several different types of neck-shapes on Strats from all kinds of different years. A C-neck on one axe might feel totally different on another....it all comes down to how well the neck was manufactured and groomed before it was installed on a body. You may end up preferring a "U" shaped neck.
The American Deluxe model have some of the smoothest playing necks I've ever come across, and also have great body finishes and top-grade hardware, but they are spendy even used.
Good luck!
....Bob