What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

[raul693]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

I'm a fan of super strats, and I'm NOT a fan of regular stock strats.

Even I would say take that strat. I think the Yamaha is pretty ugly looking to be honest.

Really? Interesting, aesthetically I think I like the Yamaha more (at least form an industrial design POV), strats are certainly too common, but that Yamaha actually gets quite a lot of compliments

But if something is wrong you should know by the way it plays and/or looks. That just looks like a player's strat to me, that stuff around the frets is likely just dirt you could easily clean that up unless my eyes deceive me.

You know that's what I thought, the guitar really seemed to play good and except for the neck I'd say it's in really good conditions, I mean the hardware looks almost new. The gunk around the frets remains a mystery to me but I'll ask the tech what it is.

BUT, the fret thing, what are some of the issues that changing fret-wire for something larger and taller could have on a guitar (specially knowing the nut was not modified)? I heard it could make playing weird, you know by making notes sharp all the time and stuff like that.

Here's the deal. Are you in this to make money? Are you going to turn around and resell this guitar to make a profit? Are you making this purely as a business decision? Go with the guitar that makes you want to *play* guitar and not sit in the room and stare at it. Go with the guitar that performs, that gives you a sound and feel that you're looking for.

Important, I'm on the road for work now, when I get home I'll try to play the Yamaha as much as I can.

BTW, anyone knows how much can I expect value to decrease because of the stained fingerboard? I know it depends on the buyer, but it be good to get an estimate.

 

[ErikH]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

That sucker looks played for sure. Check out the Strat. If it plays well and speaks to you, make the trade. If you have any doubt whatsoever, don't do it.

That fretboard can be cleaned up real easy with some 0000 steel wool and some elbow grease (cover the pickups with painters tape first).

 

[brunogio]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

If you don't like the feel of the neck, you may not bond with the guitar. If it's gunky it can be cleaned but if you need a fret job it could run you a bit of money. After that you might like the guitar's palyability better but only if the neck feels right.

I am funny about strats and they are certainly hit or miss with me based mostly on the neck shape. So if that doesn't do it for you I say you stay with what you have.

 

[dvadneau]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

It sounds like neither guitar is really speaking to you. If that's the case, take the Fender, sell it and put that money towards a guitar that does speak to you. Unless you NEED a second guitar in your possession in the short term you'd be better off getting rid of it to focus on a better guitar.

I thought I would never get rid of a Telecaster I had. Then I bought a '91 335 Studio, sold the Telecaster, and now I'm not sure why I need some of my other guitars.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

BUT, the fret thing, what are some of the issues that changing fret-wire for something larger and taller could have on a guitar (specially knowing the nut was not modified)? I heard it could make playing weird, you know by making notes sharp all the time and stuff like that.

People have re-frets done all the time, it is a completely normal thing to have done to a guitar and as long as it was done by a good tech should produce no problems. A friend of mine just had his Am. Deluxe Strat refretted with 6105 wire, it plays and sounds great, no problems at all. I don't think you should let this be a show stopper for you, even if you did discover a problem later you could always take it to a tech for a setup and still be WAY on top in the trade...

 

[raul693]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

That sucker looks played for sure. Check out the Strat. If it plays well and speaks to you, make the trade. If you have any doubt whatsoever, don't do it.

Oh yeah, it's definitely had a rough life, yet I find it funny that except for the frets and fingerboard the thing looks near mint :-S From what I could tell in the brief minutes I played it the neck felt quite good, small yet chunky enough, yet I'm filled with doubts.

It sounds like neither guitar is really speaking to you. If that's the case, take the Fender, sell it and put that money towards a guitar that does speak to you. Unless you NEED a second guitar in your possession in the short term you'd be better off getting rid of it to focus on a better guitar.

Don't really need a second guitar, I just want one, still think the Yamaha could be it but I'm not set on it, perhaps if I take the Fender and sell it or trade it I could a mid-priced semi-hollow (I drool for them) and a Squier Classic Vibe (for some reason I've always believed regular strats and teles should be cheap). Of course I know the Fender wouldn't sell that quick.

People have re-frets done all the time, it is a completely normal thing to have done to a guitar and as long as it was done by a good tech should produce no problems. A friend of mine just had his Am. Deluxe Strat refretted with 6105 wire, it plays and sounds great, no problems at all. I don't think you should let this be a show stopper for you, even if you did discover a problem later you could always take it to a tech for a setup and still be WAY on top in the trade...

A couple of guys at another forum pointed out the frets looked flat (poor or no crowning), flat (as in not corresponding to the radius) and worn (THIS IT NOT THE CASE, frets look new!). Anyway, before trading I would inspect these issues obsessively.

 

[raul693]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

BTW! Being fair to both guitars, I think it's only fair to show you the rest of the pics I took of the Yamaha (as always pardon me for the poor image quality):

Gotta love that neck joint!

Cheesy Yamaha logo

And finally take a look at that lovely fingerboard

 

[Aceman]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

Blah strat, in a blah color, with blah pups, blah trem, and blah modern but old construction and a mother of toilet seat pick guard or...

Killer purple gold awesomely builtGold Floyd Duncan C5 superstrat? Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's just every Yamaha I have owned / played has been awesome. I'm rolling woth the purple Yamaha here....

 

[Crane]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

IMO
the Strat is definitely worth more than your guitar, but nowhere near the tops of $1500
Personally, I would not be a sellout and base my decision on that fact alone. (unless of course you just looking for profit$$ - which is o.k.)
If your guitar 'plays awesome' - keep that in consideration. Play the Strat and make sure it also 'plays awesome'.
This from a Strat fan.

BTW: the Yamaha looks like a great guitar - if you keep it - try some better single coils.

 

[raul693]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

Yeah, this in many ways the luxury model of my first guitar, a Yamaha RGX 121s, the thing with Yamaha is their consistency quality from budget to premium price. As I mentioned before this was top of the class Yamaha at it's time of release, it was +1000$ guitar, too bad the market is so brand oriented.

 

[raul693]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

IMO
the Strat is definitely worth more than your guitar, but nowhere near the tops of $1500

Yeah getting more realistic I would post it at 1000$ but would probably take 600$ or trades for axes in that range.

I'll see if I can have my tech bring it over to my place, he lives near me, I'll play them head to head with my tube amp and then I'll know, naturally I'll inspect the fretboard and fretwire more closely before deciding.

 

[indie folk guy]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

dude keep in mind that you can easily and cheaply get a setup, new bone nut installed, and get the frets levelled and dressed (the frets can flatten and wear out from being played) this is like changing oil in your car or rotating your tires.

The value of the guitar doesn't really go up or down.

At least in my area $150 USD should do a full setup including a brand new bone nut and the fretwork.

But in any event let us know how the head to head goes

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

Man, I love everything about that Yamaha. I would love to do dirty things to her...

 

[JordanM82]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

I think the Yamaha is gorgeous...just wanted to say that... and a chopper neck and breed bridge might do wonders for that guitar and you bonding with the sound... just saying... it NEEDS to shred...

as far as the trade goes, if you really want the Strat... I think just be ready to have a setup done on her, maybe with a new nut if REALLY necessary, but still the value of the trade puts you on top.

 

[raul693]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

dude keep in mind that you can easily and cheaply get a setup, new bone nut installed, and get the frets levelled and dressed (the frets can flatten and wear out from being played) this is like changing oil in your car or rotating your tires.

I setup my own guitars, however, new nut (in case I acquire it I never wanna get rid of the LSR design), fret levling and dressing is the next step that I can't do on my own and quite frankly don't want to pay for as a consequence of the trade. Also as I've said before, frets are not worn in fact they look brand new, problem is it was pointed out that they sort of look funny, way too non-stratty, something I did sort of notice but didn't pay enough attention to.

Thank you for all the love shown towards the Yamaha TheLivingDead and JordanM82, I know it's an exceptionally well made guitar, if I keep it I was leaning towards getting a Fat Track 1 for the neck, Cruiser bridge for the middle and keeping the SH-5 there (which seems sort of similar to the breed), only problem is I can't find the Cruiser in my country :-S

Regarding the value of the strat, if the frets prove to be A ok and taking into consideration the stained fretboard, how much money are we talking about? 600-1000$?

 

[Crane]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

my guess $850

 

[indie folk guy]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

a polished bone nut imho is the best nut you can use for any guitar and a neck and fret size are very personal....you can't really say a fret size is stratty same with a neck profile, radius, etc.

there have been so many different sized necks and frets used on strats (and s-style guitars) over the decades that's just laughable to even worry about such minor things.

Technically a full setup should involve leveling and dressing all frets (they should all be the same height and radius and be crowned and polished), the instrument should have the truss rod properly set, string height properly set, all strings fully intonated. So to me not doing all those things isn't really setting up your guitar. Most guitars don't come from the factory with solid fretwork so yeah if you are going to learn to do something or invest in tools, learn to maintain your frets!

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

I myself, like another poster would also say it sounds like niether guitar really does it for you. I know which one I would rather have but that is not relevant here. I would say if niether one works for you then get the start and sell it or trade up to get what does do it for you.

 

[ErikH]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

Looking at the detailed photos, if that Yamaha plays half as good as it looks, I'd keep it. Yeah, a Strat is nice, but why do the trade if you're not 100% sure? Besides, that Strat is really worn. It won't fetch as much as some think it will.

 

[raul693]

Re: What do you think about this trade? (Guitar porn included)

I myself, like another poster would also say it sounds like niether guitar really does it for you. I know which one I would rather have but that is not relevant here. I would say if niether one works for you then get the start and sell it or trade up to get what does do it for you.

Definitely, the feel is definitely there with the Yamaha (perhaps neck is a bit too wide but not by much) but the sound does not convince me, meanwhile the Fender has that classic strat sound and also a nice small baseball bat c-shape neck but both the fret thing and stained fingerboard (that reduces value which is very important in this deal) make me lose my sleep. BTW, you HAVE to say which would you take, I'm not gonna base my decision on what you think but it's still fun to know

that Strat is really worn. It won't fetch as much as some think it will.

It plays beautifully, probably better than it looks, and it's so rare... You're right there's also the beating that the strat has taken, I'm worried it might lower the price of the guitar too much fro my taste.