Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

[astrozombie]

Does anyone have experience with this model? I'm looking at this and the john mayer stratocaster.

I'm also considering a run of the mill American strat if I can find one in a color i like but that would require money to get to where I want.

What's the SRV strat like compared to the American model? Has anyone tried it? I know the JM strat has a thicker neck than usual.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

Texas Special pickups, compound radius fingerboard, traditional six-screw fulcrum vibrato.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

Texas Special pickups, compound radius fingerboard, traditional six-screw fulcrum vibrato.

I probably could have googled this myself. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

The trem on the SRV is left handed.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

No question I would take the John Mayer strat. I could not give two hoots for the guys music, but his sig strat has excellent appointments. The SRV strat never did much for me. Do not look over the KWS strat either. Best bang for the buck out of the Mexican factory. Avr bridge,big neck, metal shielding plate, jumbo frets, really good cheap pups, and a 12" radius ( I prefer vintage for strats, but..)Only thing I am not enamored of are the graphtec saddles. I prefer bent steel. Graphtes are a little dull.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

Can't really go wrong with any of the three. Depending on what size frets you like, the specs of the KWS appeal to me the most. It is easier to swap saddles than frets.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

If going custom, I'd take the Eric Johnson strat over the other two. Quartersawn neck. Tone on neck and bridge pups. No string tree - staggered tuners for straight string to post.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

If you like the 12" radius of the SRV Strat, take a look at the G&L Legacy or the S-500--better pickups, better tuners, better vibrato, better tone controls, more color options. And I like the neck better too...the SRV is a little large; the Legacy profile is more like my old 1960 Strat. And...I'd argue that the quality is better than a lot of the Fender stuff I've seen lately.

G&L, of course, is the company Leo founded after he sold Fender to CBS. Of course, if you're status-conscious and the headstone simply HAS to say Fender...

Bill

 

[B2D]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

Overall the SRV is hotter and ballsier with more mids in the sound. The JM is brighter and snappier but it's still got body. I tried the JM on a whim recently and really dug it. I think it's those "Big Dipper" Pickups they've got in there. Very expressive sounding and they reward the little nuances in your playing.

 

[Letus]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

Another one for the Eric Johnson Strat.

 

[Oinkus]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

Just want to point out that pretty much any moron can get their own signature guitar , it doesn't really ever make it worth the extra cash having a famous name on it. You can probably get a better guitar cheaper elsewhere. Just had to drop the everlasting cynical moron line on this.Move on nothing to see here.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

The SRV strat was popular at first since it used overwound pickups to mimic the tone SRV got with his heavy strings, using lighter strings. They were designed for Stevie, though I don't think he ever had a chance to play them.

Aside from the 12 inch radius, there's not a whole lot special about it and there's better options for the money

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

A used Vintage Hot Rod would be my top pick for a stock strat.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

Aside from the 12 inch radius, there's not a whole lot special about it and there's better options for the money

Without getting into an argument with you, let me just say the one I played had a really nice neck topped with a pretty pao ferro board and finished in silky smooth lacquer. The lefty trem bugs me a bit though.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

The first run had Brazilian rosewood fretboards like the original, then when the Brazilian rosewood became scarce they switched to Pau Ferro- which looks like Brazilian rosewood but plays like ebony. I believe it had jumbo frets too, and they tend to use a better grade alder for the body

 

[Bludave]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

I would just buy a Rosewood fingerboard Strat and mod it to your liking.

I did this with two Strats. One started out as a 57 RI that I replaced the neck, pickups, tuners, pickguard and this guitar is killer. It has Duncan Texas Hots in it and the neck was very big boat neck that I got because a buddy recommended it. Its birds-eye maple, Brazilian Rosewood board and compound radius neck If I had to do it again I would have gone with a 9.5" radius and a V neck back. The neck has been reshaped to fit my hand better(my bad for not researching this a bit more). I also have Sperzel locking tuners, graphite saddles & nut so it stays in tune very well too.

My second Strat has a neck that fits my hand perfectly. It is a Clapton "V" 1 11/16th's verses 1 5/8, so the strings are space a bit further apart. It has Duncan Surfers and it is a killer guitar as well. I also have a graphite nut & saddles but no locking tuners. yet it still stays in tune pretty well. Keep in mind I am barley using the whammy so this works for me, but some guys are very aggressive with the whammy and you have to make sure that the strings are stabilized when using it aggressively. These are two of my favorite Strats for a very traditional sound. I also have atwo Clapton Strats. The EC strats are really great guitars but when I need a more traditional approach I use one of these two. My EC strats are older ones with the lace sensors. Considerably better sounding pickups then those noiseless pickups that are in them now. I have yet to hear a guitar with those that sounds good. I think they are lifeless and very sterile sounding pickups. My understanding is they are made by Kinman(?) not sure if thats correct.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

This thread got really interesting.

There are only a few differences between the john mayer strat and the SRV model, fretboard radius, bridge and fretboard wood. pickups, besides that it's the same frets in there, im assuming the same tuners. the neck shape is different but mayer's is based on an SRV strat he has so.. how different can they be really...?

I didn't realize KWS had a signature stratocaster. Any idea what those "custom voiced" pickups are like? It seems like it might be a good bang for my buck, the SRV and JM strats are around 1k used from what i've seen on the web, I'm going to start researching the KWS model. The only thing i'm not liking is that the KWS model comes in 3 colours, two of which have custom graphics and the other just looks like a sunburst strat, nothing too special about the specs either...

im going to research it, it's a good alternative.

Thanks JeffB!

I'm looking for an end-all strat, I'm going to sell some of my guitars to get it, I'm thinking of sticking with the strat and my es-333.

that's versatile right?

 

[Bludave]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

This thread got really interesting.

There are only a few differences between the john mayer strat and the SRV model, fretboard radius, bridge and fretboard wood. pickups, besides that it's the same frets in there, im assuming the same tuners. the neck shape is different but mayer's is based on an SRV strat he has so.. how different can they be really...?

I didn't realize KWS had a signature stratocaster. Any idea what those "custom voiced" pickups are like? It seems like it might be a good bang for my buck, the SRV and JM strats are around 1k used from what i've seen on the web, I'm going to start researching the KWS model. The only thing i'm not liking is that the KWS model comes in 3 colours, two of which have custom graphics and the other just looks like a sunburst strat, nothing too special about the specs either...

im going to research it, it's a good alternative.

Thanks JeffB!

I'm looking for an end-all strat, I'm going to sell some of my guitars to get it, I'm thinking of sticking with the strat and my es-333.

that's versatile right?

Great choice. I generally use a 335 & a Strat. Good luck with your search!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

I really liked the pickups in the JM strat, they sound awesome.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Stevie Ray Vaughn Stratocaster

Forgot to mention the KWS also has a satin finish neck. Very fast. But vintage glossy on the headstock. Neat touch.

Pickupwise the KWS pickups sit in between the Big Dippers and TX specials. They are fat and have some midrange but are not nasal like the TXSp. The middle pup is especially good. No low wind whimpy pup to make the guitar more quacky in 2/4. It is meant to sound good all by its lonesome and it does. Great Robin Trower vibe.

All that said, I do not feel the KWS pups are the best thing Fender makes, or are amazibg. But compared to typical inexpensive strat pickups they are very good. They are voiced around Fender BF style amps per KWS.