Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

[Hot _Grits]

OK, an opportunity is at hand:

about 18 months ago, I traded my soundguy a Blue Angel head (original issue blue leather with tan grill) for a PRS custom 22. I'm happy with that trade, but recently I've been looking for a second amp, both as a backup and for a bit of tonal variation.

After half-seriously mentioning to aforementioned soundguy that I might want to swap my beat up 76 strat for my old BA head, he said he was interested and wanted to deal. So now I have to weigh up if I should do it.

Pros:

-I get my beloved old amp back, and class A 6v6/el84 tone.
-The 76 strat doesn't get gigged due to an overly strident neck pickup rhythm tone, something inherent to the overall tone of the guitar. I just prefer alder strats.
-I get to keep the antiquity texas hot from the '76.

Cons:

-I lose the coolest looking guitar I own, with my favorite neck, and a superb lead pickup tone.
-It's also somewhat 'vintage', though it'll never be a big money piece.
-I'd need to get a new speaker cab for the BA. Nothing major, but extra cost.

so, whaddaya reckon?

 

[Breaking the law]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Depends.. I like my guitars more than my amps, so I'd stick with the guitar..
And since you alredy once traded the amp away, maybe you don't need it that bad. Your call.

 

[nuntius]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Do you need that particular amp now?

I'd keep the strat personally and wait till I could afford to buy a blue angel. The "favourite" neck bit swung it for me, I'd never give up my best playing axe...

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Do you need that particular amp now?

I'd keep the strat personally and wait till I could afford to buy a blue angel. The "favourite" neck bit swung it for me, I'd never give up my best playing axe...

Hmmm, do I NEED that amp?

-well it would be good to be able to go into the studio over the next few months with a few more tones at my disposal, and I really should have a backup amp in case my Vibrolux needs to go into the shop. there's also the pleasures of the multi-amp setup to think about, too.

I also have three strats right now. My 57ri does all my gigging/recording work, and the 76 gets played unplugged around the house. It's the king of beat-up strats, as far as looks goes, but is that enough to justify keeping it?

As for the fave neck thing, It's true, but my tele and PRS have fantastic necks too, so it's not like I'd suffer too greatly. jumbo refrets on my strats would go a long way to improving them, too.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

If you really like the neck on the Strat that much I say NO WAY! There is nothing special about the amp...and what I mewan is that another one will sounds just as good...guitars are all different, and if you have a CBS Fender worth keeping I say hang on to it!!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Well, the guitar sounds like it's worth $700-$1000 US. The amp is worth about $650-$700. If I were you, I'd try and come up with the least amount of cash the guy is willing to take, and either absorb the loss, or sell your guitar for top dollar.
That way, you'd have enough money left over to buy another $300 worth of stuff.

 

[FireBros.]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

The BA is my favorite amp, but If that neck is so great... I'm glad I don't have to make that choice. I do agree that Blue Angels pretty much all sound the same, and a guitar like that is a one of a kind. You'll probably regret losing the guitar, more than you'll enjoy the amp.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Well, I don't really dig strats, but I love my BA...and theres not many blue leather ones available (mine has a black cloth/blue leather combo)...I'd say get the BA. If you don't love everything about the guitar, ditch it.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Well, the guitar sounds like it's worth $700-$1000 US. The amp is worth about $650-$700. If I were you, I'd try and come up with the least amount of cash the guy is willing to take, and either absorb the loss, or sell your guitar for top dollar.
That way, you'd have enough money left over to buy another $300 worth of stuff.

Some solid reasoning there, GJ, but my local market doesn't seem to play quite the same. The Strat would probably fetch NZ 1500 on a good day and the amp would probably sell for 1400-1700 (new at 3999, believe it or not). So it's pretty much a swap considering the local market.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

You're right, Mesas cost more used in New Zealand. It's your call. I'm not a big fan of 70's strats, so I'd take the Blue Angel. Do you have the funds to just buy it, or do you have to do the trade? At least you already know the amp well.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Here's an idea, take the neck off of your '76 and switch it with the neck on your RI. You'll have the preferred tone of the RI with the feel that you loved from your '76, and you get an old amp back

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Here's an idea, take the neck off of your '76 and switch it with the neck on your RI. You'll have the preferred tone of the RI with the feel that you loved from your '76, and you get an old amp back

haha, that dog don't hunt. He wouldn't want a 76 body alone. Anyway, the neck pockets don't match up. Typical 70s fender workmanship for ya...

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

Here's my 2 cents, Grits:

You really like your Blue Angel, and it might not be easy to find another one. Your strat has some things that you've mentioned you don't like. A good amp should be your first priority, because it can make a crap guitar sound amazing. Also because you said your other guitars (with better tone I would assume) have amazing necks/playability. Go with the amp!

 

[Curly]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

I'll be one of the minority voices here ... I like Blue Angels, and I'm just not crazy about 70's strats ... I know they're considered "vintage" by some people, but even though some look cool, I think it would be fairly easy to find a newer strat that played and sounded better

 

[JeffB]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

I agree with the last 2 posters. The Strat is something you don't even gig with anymore. The amp is something you'll use, correct?

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

get the BA back. you will miss that neck but you have others to play that feel good too. maybe get one of the strats refretted

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

I agree with the last 2 posters. The Strat is something you don't even gig with anymore. The amp is something you'll use, correct?

yeah, it lasted two gigs before I switched back to my 57ri. It's a guitar I'd love to use as my main strat, but it hasn't worked out.

Leaning toward doing the trade at this point. thanks for all the opinions, guys...

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

I'll give him my Strat for the BA !!!!

You know I love my 4x10.....a Strat is a Strat is a Strat in my book, but a Tele thru a Blue Angel, now that's something to behold!!!!!! :32:

 

[Boston Joe]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

I've traded or sold guitars if they sat unused in their cases for several years or never or rarely made their way onto any studio recordings. Will you regret the trade 5 or 10 years down the road?

 

[Grandor]

Re: Please advise: Blue Angel head for a '76 strat?

I like amps more than guitars but considering GJ's price analysis.
I'd keep the more expensive piece.
But in the end think - u just traded an old '76 strat for a PRS C22 and spent money only on a cab.