Looking for a Strat-type guitar

[Sly_D]

I'm thinking of buying a Strat but I'm on a budget really. Some people on other board told me that the Yamaha Pacifica 112J is actually better than a MIM Strat, but seriously I doubt it. Some people are just too cheap to buy decent gear.

Do you have any suggestions for a Strat copy or Start-type guitar?

Squier? MIM Start? Yamaha? Fernandes? Jay Turser (eeek!)?

I'm ready to change pickups, but I want a decent neck and overall OK electronics.

Thanks in advance.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Looking for a Strat-type guitar

can you give us an idea on your budget for it? that may help point you towards the better guitar for the money. although i must say i own several MIM fenders and i have no complaints with them asside from a missing 22nd fret hahaha.

-Mike

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Looking for a Strat-type guitar

i'd go for a MIM fender. I prefer the vintage series semi-accurate reissues to the standards, as I think the hardware and QC is a bit better on those models.

The entry level Yamahas are very good for the money, too.

 

[Kac]

Re: Looking for a Strat-type guitar

I have no complaints on the MIM strats either, there are some very very nice ones out there, there are also some flawed one, check 'em out. I love the feel of my mim fender's neck.
Rock On :smoker:

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Looking for a Strat-type guitar

Yeah, try as many out as you can. I tried over 60 strats of all types a couple of years ago when I was looking for one, and eventually got an MIA 62 ri. What I found was there were a lot of pretty ordinary MIM strats and some duds, but the occasional one would be a really nice guitar.

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: Looking for a Strat-type guitar

The G&L Legacy and S500 tributes are very nice, assembled and set up here in the US with their US made pickups (no need to swap out the pups) - the bodies I checked out were flawless, the finish was excellent and the necks were finished off as well as thier US made models. I also agree with the yamaha entry level guitars, great bang for the buck.

 

[Twitch]

Re: Looking for a Strat-type guitar

Yeah, try as many out as you can. I tried over 60 strats of all types a couple of years ago when I was looking for one, and eventually got an MIA 62 ri. What I found was there were a lot of pretty ordinary MIM strats and some duds, but the occasional one would be a really nice guitar.

+1 you hit the nail on the head. Their are some amazing MIM strats out there and a ton of ordinary ones.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Looking for a Strat-type guitar

a Strat is a Strat, if you're putting new pups in there anyway just get one that feels good in your hands.

-X

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Looking for a Strat-type guitar

Thanks guys, I'll check that out.

I played on a Yamaha Pacifica and I think the neck is too thin, looks like it'll break in your hand. The MIM Fender looks and feel sturdier.

I'm almost sold to an Alpin white/maple neck MIM Fender now. I may check the G&L Legacy though, there are some cool ones slightly cheaper than the MIM Fender.

Cheers!