Jimmie Vaughan Strat

[the guy who invented fire]

I need honest opinions of this guitar...the neck is a big point for me about this...pickups can be changed...I want to know about the neck and if the hardware is "standard" size...what i mean is could I change it out if I want/need to with USA stuff?

The guy who invented fire

 

[Illini1330]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

could I change it out if I want/need to with USA stuff?

Well ive never owned one, but I think that they're made in mexico. This means that they be measured with the metric system and the USA parts aren't. So no that wont really work for screws and such. You'll need a different set of screw drivers too (If you only have ones that fit usa guitars)

I think overall its a good guitar, and I'm also guessing that the neck is a v-shape neck (I'm asuming ure familiar with fender neck sizes)

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

It is a MIM strat but it uses USA hardware...I know that I could uses what ever tools I wanted...I want to know if I take the bridge off of a USA 62 reissue...will it fit on the JV strat? I would also like to know if the body is poplar or alder. And I know that the neck is a V shape...but I want to know about the size.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

I think it's alder, although possibly 2 or 3 pieces, which wouldn't matter if you can't see the seams. I have to admit, I like the neck shape! The neck is worth the price of admission on that guitar. If I had one, I'd probably put Surfers in it, a new loaded pickguard, and maybe add Graphtech saddles....that's it. I almost bought a black/maple one for $300, but slapped myself and changed my mind. No more gear for me.

 

[marty_the_westie]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

If it's a newer one, it's alder. Older, then it's poplar. They switched over about 2 years ago. Hard to tell though, because the dated serial # will can not specify what wood it is because they just produced all that they had in poplar and then switched to alder. I know because I called Fender about the very same thing with the Jimmie Vaughan that I had. It is wuite possibly the best value in the Mexican made line.

 

[marty_the_westie]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

By the way, the Jimmie Vaughan has the same bridge as the USA reissue. If you check out the website, it states that is an American reissue bridge. No need to switch.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

Thanks GJ..anyone else?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

I think they can be wonderful guitars and I think the neck is usually very comfortable and easy to get around on. Kind of a '57 shape neck but with large frets for easy string bending. My buddy AJ has one and every time I compare it to any of my Strats I always think it's just as nice as my favorites! Even the stock pickups sound very, very good. I installed Duncan SSL-1 neck and middle pickups and a Fralin Steel Pole 43 bridge pickup in my friends and it became an even better guitar!

Highly recommended: I think the Jimmie Vaughn is a steal!

Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

Thanks guys...and thumbs up from Lew and GJ...thats all I need!!!

You guys rule!

 

[B2D]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

Personally I think the neck kicks boo-tay on that thing. The fact that the 2nd tone control is linked to the bridge pickup too rocks.

The Body is alder... probably 2 or 3 peice knowing the MIM stuff but that guitar is WAY above and MIM standard in terms of quality and mojo. If I had one I'd put some locking tuners and Graphtechs on there and that'd probably be it. The sound of the stock tex-mex pickups just seems too good to mess with.

It's a hot axe! Butnut has one that he REALLY did some work on... ask him about it!

 

[sgstrat]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

I have a "Tex-Mex" model Strat which was the predecessor to the Jimmie Vaughan and have been very pleased with it since day one. One other nice feature is that the neck has a 9.5" radius fretboard which, along with the medium jumbo frets, makes blues bends real smooooooooth.

For my tastes the JV Tex-Mex model is just about the perfect blend of traditional and new features and may be Fender's "biggest bang for the buck" Strat model.

 

[mig50]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

i've only played one of these once, but i highly suggest you try one out before you buy it.

everyone seems to love the necks on these, but i personally find them painful.

you may love it (or you may hate it) but trying one out first certainly couldn't hurt.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

well, I went today and played 2 Jimmie Vaughan's several Highway ones, 3 different MIM 50's strats, a 56 relic, and a real 64...the 64 had the fattest neck you could imagine and i loved it except it had a rosewood board, the relic was ok, but the neck was too narrow for my taste, the highway ones are ok, but I would change everything about them...I love mt HW1 Telecaster but it's pretty much been rebuilt, and I still might put a new neck on it one day. The JV's were not really even OK to me...I hated the pickups...th JV's had the worst sound of any Strat I played today...I hated the necks on top of that both were real heavy...I mean REAL heavy. The MIM 50's were the best things (except the relic and the 64) I played all day...truth is, the 64 is WAY out of reach but is amazing. As for the relic vs. the MIM 50's...there is a big difference BUT...the 50's are $530.00...the relic was $2800.00...there was NOT a $2300.00 difference in these guitar, especially when you consider that I will change the pickups and tuners anyway!!! But the point of this thread is the Jimmie Vaughan Strat...I hate the only 2 I've ever played!

 

[B2D]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

Wow... well if you don't like 'em you don't like 'em. More for me I guess!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

I have to post something to clear the air. I made a post about the JV strat I played, and I it was right...the guitar have a real thin skinny neck, and the pickups sounded like draging nails over a chalk board. I went this weekend and played 2 more...one played great, fat chunky v neck...I plugged it in and it sound like nails over the chalk board...then I played the other one...killer neck like the 2nd one, and the sound OMG...I can't belive such a good soiund came from "cheep" pups...If I had that guitar I wouldn't change a thing...ity really is a killer guitar, in fact I wnet head to head with a 56 CS strat. I wion't try to tell you that the JV kicked the CS or anything like that...but for the price difference it would be a tough call...the CS strat was better, but I can say this...I do not think it was $3100.00 better! So now afte4r more shopping I can say this...The JV strat can be great or they can be real bad!

 

[B2D]

Re: Jimmie Vaughan Strat

I've never played a "bad" one... and the neck ain't super chunky but it ain't a wizard either. I wouldn't call it thin. But then again I've got small hands.

Plus I'm in So Cal about an hour's drive from the factory so maybe I just get all the good stuff

Just goes to show ya, no two guitars are the same.