Help on Picking a Strat

J

Jon87

New member
Okay I am looking to buy a new strat...here are my choices so far:

American Standard
Jimmy Vaughan Strat
Highway 1 Strat

If you have any other suggestions they would be appreciated. I normally play blues, SRV/Mayer, but I also play some pop/worship music also. Also, I am scared to buy off ebay because I want to try out the guitar before I buy it. I have about 1000 to spend.
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

The Jimmie Vaughan Strats I think use american parts and wiring, but are assembled in Mexico. That being said, it should be the same (maybe not the exact same) as an American Standard. The Highway 1 also uses a different type of finish, I'm not sure what though. I might score a used upgraded Jimmie for $450. Near any guitar stores? Try them out!
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

If your looking for more of a vintage tone, stay away from the american standard strat because they have a 2 pt trem system instead the 6 pt one.
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

I played a Mexican Two-tone burst Classic '50s Strat and an American Vintage Surf Green '57 Strat Reissue and I really loved both. I loved the surf green color, and the action and neck felt a little better on the American and the tone was much richer and livelier. But for half the price, you can get a great Mexican one that pretty much gets the job done. I'd recomend those two depending on your budget, because the American Vintage '57 is about $1300. The Mexican Classic '50s Strat is $630. Good luck, but if you play blues, those 50s strat reissues are the way to go. I liked the V necks and the maple boards on the 50s reissues much better than the C necks and rosewood boards on the 60s reissues. The V neck was awesome.
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

Highway one. Thats what Im going to get once I get the green. The finish is a lighter laquer than most so its a little bit suseptable to damage but thats okay if you dont mind it looking like you've been using it lol. As far as I know they are American parts but Mexican electronics and I plan to redo the electronics anyways so yeah. Good luck on your search. All three guitars are nice so whatever you choose it'll be a nice guitar.

and +1 on the American standard. Its not really vintagy and I personally dont care for the 2 pt. bridge. 6 pt. is the only way to go for me.
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

$1000 is a nice chunk o' cash. You can get a used Clapton strat or an American Deluxe(used) for that bread. I always hear nice things about the Jimmie Vaughans and the Highways but I think you definetly have to play them first to avoid a dud. I think I would go with the Vaughan. If you are open-minded, you can get a perfect condition Reverend USA Avenger(strat layout) on ebay for $600 and you are almost guaranteed an awesome axe. Lots of people don't like them for the looks/materials but let one rip and you will be a believer like me.
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

I really love the modern American Standard series strats.... I like the trem on there.... the way it feels and the narrower string spacing... i like the pickups and the med-jumbo frets.... nice modern strat

The HWY 1 is kind of an American Standard but has different Satin paint and a Vintage style bridge...

The Jimmy Vaughan strat is a great cheaper hotroded vintage style strat.... great guitars but i'd go with the American Standard if i could afford it myself..... To me the American Standard just seems better and more solid....
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

I'm really thinking of trading my american standard for a highway 1. I played a few highway 1 strats and man I love the feel of them more than I like it on my american standard. My american standard is only a few months old so I haven't really gotten attached to it, but I'm not so sure I will get attached to it...also considering selling a couple of guitars to get something really nice like an ES-335 or something like that. I really want one bad :)
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

if its your first strat, I recommend the American Standard. The name says it all...its a standard strat and its made in america. don't mess with a mexican or japan made one. I don't care what anyone says, they definitely don't compare with an american standard. The Highway 1 strat is nice but based on what you like to play, I don't think it will be as versatile as you'd like it to be. Go to your local music store and find one of the new American Series strats and play it through a nice amp and see what you think. I guarantee it will be love at first site.
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

Go for the Jimmie Vaughn. Great neck, nice medium jumbo frets too. Play it for a while as is and then put some Antiquitys in it. Lew


Jon87 said:
Okay I am looking to buy a new strat...here are my choices so far:

American Standard
Jimmy Vaughan Strat
Highway 1 Strat

If you have any other suggestions they would be appreciated. I normally play blues, SRV/Mayer, but I also play some pop/worship music also. Also, I am scared to buy off ebay because I want to try out the guitar before I buy it. I have about 1000 to spend.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

hareek said:
if its your first strat, I recommend the American Standard. The name says it all...its a standard strat and its made in america. don't mess with a mexican or japan made one. I don't care what anyone says, they definitely don't compare with an american standard. The Highway 1 strat is nice but based on what you like to play, I don't think it will be as versatile as you'd like it to be. Go to your local music store and find one of the new American Series strats and play it through a nice amp and see what you think. I guarantee it will be love at first site.
Click to expand...

I agree, although I think the ones that are built today are called the American Series. Highly Recommended!
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

Jon87 said:
Okay I am looking to buy a new strat...here are my choices so far:
American Standard
Jimmy Vaughan Strat
Highway 1 Strat
If you have any other suggestions they would be appreciated. I normally play blues, SRV/Mayer, but I also play some pop/worship music also. Also, I am scared to buy off ebay because I want to try out the guitar before I buy it. I have about 1000 to spend.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I dunno. Me, I'm kinda weird, I'd just use whichever one has more Seymour Duncan than Fender pickups. Unless they were the cobalt samarian whatever noisless pickups by Fender....
But I don't think you can go "wrong" with an American Standard. But if you play Mayer and SRV, check out their signature strats. I think the Mayer is cheaper and would probably give you some "breathing room" money-wise to get some other stuff too, or maybe swap out for SD pickups :D
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

MA good strat is a good strat IMO. Youll find certain americans that are better than the best mexicans, and you can also find a real ****ty MIA. Try em out, see if theres one you really like.

I personally love my american strat though. :)
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

If you have the money, I can only suggest playing as many American Strats as you can until you find 'the one'.
 
Re: Help on Picking a Strat

Yeah I forgot to say that you should test drive them first and weed out all of the duds. Never go blind on buying a guitar...its just a bad idea.
 
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