Upgrading from my current stratocaster

[TRex]

Hey guys, so I think it's time to get a new guitar to replace my current Squier Affinity Stratocaster I got back in '08. It's tremolo block isn't great at staying in tune, and

I play a lot of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Punk to metal to pop to even some covers of EDM. I already have a nice Eipiphone Les Paul Standard for all my humbucker needs, but I need a strat that can keep up and last me atleast till I am in collage.

So, I'm looking at what is the best way to go from here...

Cheapest to most expensive

1.upgrading my current strat
-cheap and would make a nice sounding guitar, but I would never be able to sell it for a reasonable price and would require a lot of hours of professional and/or my own labor that doesn't add much value.

2/3. Squier Classic Vibe 50's or 60's Strat
+Price is very reasonable
+vintage looking
+has Alnico 3 or 5 Pups
+greater workmanship than my current strat or the mim
-Squier name (very small minus)
-not available atm on local used market AFAIK

2/3. MIM standard fender
+Fender name
-Ceramic magnets
+a lot is known about them
+Easy to find used for cheap used
-would require a bit of upgrading to sound fantastic

5. G&L Legacy Tribute HB
+cool vintage look
+History of G&L
+better tremolo design
+Split coil stock
-Basswood body
-impossible to find used on Craigslist

5. Used MIA Standard HSS or SSS
+Fender American name
+Custom Shop pups
+2 point tremolo
+superior workmanship than all others
+almost all mods are already done to it
-price (lowest I have seen them go is $500 in black)

I plan to go to guitar center or another fender dealer to try some of this out, and I'll definitely want to try before the specific guitar

 

[DreX]

Re: Upgrading from my current stratocaster

Are you buying used for sure? Difference in wear and tear can single handedly change the pros/cons ranking, if for example, it has dents or chips, worn frets, rusted hardware or dirty electronics. Just be sure to look it over real well.

Also I wouldn't consider basswood to be a negative unless durability is a big issue. It's rather soft, so if it dents, the dent is more likely to be a deeper one, but tone-wise, I think they're top of the line.

A new Squier Classic Vibe looks like the best deal based on what you consider to be important and what I'd consider worth/not worth spending money on in that price range. It's not MIA, but the nice thing about having a cheaper Strat around is you don't feel obligated to baby it.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Upgrading from my current stratocaster

Classic vibe
My MIM was almost new with plastic still on the pickups and on the used rack for $300 out the door.
I changed the pickguard and locking tuners
Otherwise it sounds and plays great

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Upgrading from my current stratocaster

You omitted the very cheapest option. Block off the stock Squier vibrato.

For reasons that I cannot properly explain, Squier Affinity STRAT/Bullet + EMG active pickup(s) makes for a shredtastic budget guitar. (I had the unfair advantage of already possessing a pre-owned EMG-81 humbucker and controls.) Other long-term forumites have had similar success with EMGs in a Squier Hello Kitty Strat. LtKojak installed EMGs in a budget Yamaha.

With a Quik Connect solderless wiring loom, you can pick 'n' mix EMG or SD Blackout pickups until you arrive at the best combination.

 

[TRex]

Re: Upgrading from my current stratocaster

Are you buying used for sure? Difference in wear and tear can single handedly change the pros/cons ranking, if for example, it has dents or chips, worn frets, rusted hardware or dirty electronics. Just be sure to look it over real well.

Also I wouldn't consider basswood to be a negative unless durability is a big issue. It's rather soft, so if it dents, the dent is more likely to be a deeper one, but tone-wise, I think they're top of the line.

A new Squier Classic Vibe looks like the best deal based on what you consider to be important and what I'd consider worth/not worth spending money on in that price range. It's not MIA, but the nice thing about having a cheaper Strat around is you don't feel obligated to baby it.

If I buy used, I'm going to check all over the thing and play it through a decent amp before I buy it.

MIM and MIA im looking at used because they arnt too hard to find used.

Classic vibe
My MIM was almost new with plastic still on the pickups and on the used rack for $300 out the door.
I changed the pickguard and locking tuners
Otherwise it sounds and plays great

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

So you like the Classic vibes better?

You omitted the very cheapest option. Block off the stock Squier vibrato.

For reasons that I cannot properly explain, Squier Affinity STRAT/Bullet + EMG active pickup(s) makes for a shredtastic budget guitar. (I had the unfair advantage of already possessing a pre-owned EMG-81 humbucker and controls.) Other long-term forumites have had similar success with EMGs in a Squier Hello Kitty Strat. LtKojak installed EMGs in a budget Yamaha.

With a Quik Connect solderless wiring oom, you can pick 'n' mix EMG or SD Blackout pickups until you arrive at the best combination.

Arnt EMG pups like >$60 a pickup. That's just as expensive as selling my current strat for a used mim. That's not even taking other new electronics I'll need

And I'm not a big fan of active pickups. Almost every one I have ran into sounds overly have been really dry and are not as versitle.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Upgrading from my current stratocaster

GFS has actives with the same harness

Called Red Active

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[Synapsys]

Re: Upgrading from my current stratocaster

http://www.espguitars.com/products/9772-st-213-maple-car?category_id=1963308-st-series

Good, cheap and awesome base for upgrades and customization.

 

[Kais]

Re: Upgrading from my current stratocaster

you should definitely buy my Fender USA bridge here: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...er-USA-62-Reissue-Stratocaster-Tremolo-Bridge

I believe that is the same used on new Vintage replicas and the like...

 

[TRex]

Re: Upgrading from my current stratocaster

you should definitely buy my Fender USA bridge here: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...er-USA-62-Reissue-Stratocaster-Tremolo-Bridge

I believe that is the same used on new Vintage replicas and the like...

Nice, I'll look at that after I buy the thing and assess the tremolo on it

http://www.espguitars.com/products/9772-st-213-maple-car?category_id=1963308-st-series

Good, cheap and awesome base for upgrades and customization.

I have heard somewhere that they where comparable to a standard squier, I have 0 experience with them though.

GFS has actives with the same harness

Called Red Active

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

I saw those, but I'm still not a big active guy. Passive is what I'm used to