StrangeSound
GlossesForNothin'
Tell me your stories dudes. I can't get enough of Strats.
What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
- Thread starter StrangeSound
- Start date
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
Once I went into GC in Arlington, Texas and for the first time picked up an American Deluxe HSS Strat. I was blown away. All I could think about was how great the samarium cobalt pickups sounded ...... and what a great contribution to the tone an LSR Roller Nut must make, and so on. A fender American Deluxe Strat instantly became #1 on my G.A.S. list!
I went back to the store about a week later and that particular guitar was gone but there were others ....... and the other three GCs I visited that day also had that model, but none came close to sounding like the first one I played.
My strat story is this: Even with the same pickups, same bridge, same nut, same pots, same caps, same species of wood, same type of finish, and on and on .... they all sound different. If you find a strat that's alive don't pass it up!
The second best strat I've ever heard is my pawn shop beater that has the sloppiest neck pocket I have ever seen. I can't begin to understand why it sounds so good. It has to be the resonance of that particular body slab that is somehow miraculously coupled to just the right chunk of neck wood. Who knows?
Once I went into GC in Arlington, Texas and for the first time picked up an American Deluxe HSS Strat. I was blown away. All I could think about was how great the samarium cobalt pickups sounded ...... and what a great contribution to the tone an LSR Roller Nut must make, and so on. A fender American Deluxe Strat instantly became #1 on my G.A.S. list!
I went back to the store about a week later and that particular guitar was gone but there were others ....... and the other three GCs I visited that day also had that model, but none came close to sounding like the first one I played.
My strat story is this: Even with the same pickups, same bridge, same nut, same pots, same caps, same species of wood, same type of finish, and on and on .... they all sound different. If you find a strat that's alive don't pass it up!
The second best strat I've ever heard is my pawn shop beater that has the sloppiest neck pocket I have ever seen. I can't begin to understand why it sounds so good. It has to be the resonance of that particular body slab that is somehow miraculously coupled to just the right chunk of neck wood. Who knows?
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
My step brother's real '62 is a great Strat. The Antiquity Surf pickups are based on those '62 pickups and they are stronger than the pickups from the 50's or other years in the '60's. They're stronger than the pickups in my own '63 Strat.
The pickups varied from year to year with those from '54 being the puniest sounding and those from '62 being the strongest. Those from the 70's are not so hot either.
My brother Bruce just dropped off a Strat for me to check out that was custom made and set-up for Steve Rosen. Steve is the inventor and machinist who created most of the TonePros designs. He gets no credit for this, but he's the man.
Steve died last month and his widow Jan needs to know the value of some of his guitars so Bruce brought me one of Steve's Teles and Steve's favorite Strat to check out and value for her.
Steve, being the highly skilled machinist he was, as well as being a great guitarist, had this Strat up perfectly. He even used a laser to check the fret height and make everything perfectly straight.
What a guitar! I like it better than any of my Strats. It has a big round neck. Never played one quite like it but it's so comfortable.
It reminds me a lot of some of the James Tyler Strats I've played. Those have all been superb guitars too.
Steve's guitar did come in a tweed Fender case and does have the Fender logo - but it does not have a Custom Shop stamp on the back of the headstock. I don't know who made it but whoever built it knew what they were doing.
Lew
My step brother's real '62 is a great Strat. The Antiquity Surf pickups are based on those '62 pickups and they are stronger than the pickups from the 50's or other years in the '60's. They're stronger than the pickups in my own '63 Strat.
The pickups varied from year to year with those from '54 being the puniest sounding and those from '62 being the strongest. Those from the 70's are not so hot either.
My brother Bruce just dropped off a Strat for me to check out that was custom made and set-up for Steve Rosen. Steve is the inventor and machinist who created most of the TonePros designs. He gets no credit for this, but he's the man.
Steve died last month and his widow Jan needs to know the value of some of his guitars so Bruce brought me one of Steve's Teles and Steve's favorite Strat to check out and value for her.
Steve, being the highly skilled machinist he was, as well as being a great guitarist, had this Strat up perfectly. He even used a laser to check the fret height and make everything perfectly straight.
What a guitar! I like it better than any of my Strats. It has a big round neck. Never played one quite like it but it's so comfortable.
It reminds me a lot of some of the James Tyler Strats I've played. Those have all been superb guitars too.
Steve's guitar did come in a tweed Fender case and does have the Fender logo - but it does not have a Custom Shop stamp on the back of the headstock. I don't know who made it but whoever built it knew what they were doing.
Lew
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
You took the words right out of my mouth.
El CHupacabra
New member
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
Well my strat duh! 2004 MIM strat. I sanded down some of the finish on the neck for smoother slides, and man does that guitar play a fine tune (when it's a good day for me anyways).
For those of you who heard my crap before, please skip to next post.
I got mine from a local blues musician who really kicked ass but had fallen on hard times. It was a $500 mexi strat that he had modded out with better pickups, actual vintage vibrato from eBay and the works. I pay only $285 for the guitar AND a classic Fender hardshell case. $285!!!
Today, in the spirit of Mr. John Gianaris (the musician), I have modded mine out with an AlnicoIIpro neck/Pearly Gates bridge with a StewMac pickguard, CTS 500k pots and converted my vibrato to a stoptail bridge with the addition of a 5th spring and a block. It gets quite a bit of use and I wouldn't give it up for any other guitar out there (really!). She's become a part of me since the day I got her. Man what a guitar.
Well my strat duh! 2004 MIM strat. I sanded down some of the finish on the neck for smoother slides, and man does that guitar play a fine tune (when it's a good day for me anyways).
For those of you who heard my crap before, please skip to next post.
I got mine from a local blues musician who really kicked ass but had fallen on hard times. It was a $500 mexi strat that he had modded out with better pickups, actual vintage vibrato from eBay and the works. I pay only $285 for the guitar AND a classic Fender hardshell case. $285!!!
Today, in the spirit of Mr. John Gianaris (the musician), I have modded mine out with an AlnicoIIpro neck/Pearly Gates bridge with a StewMac pickguard, CTS 500k pots and converted my vibrato to a stoptail bridge with the addition of a 5th spring and a block. It gets quite a bit of use and I wouldn't give it up for any other guitar out there (really!). She's become a part of me since the day I got her. Man what a guitar.
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
Most of the lefty strats I've played...:naughty:
Most of the lefty strats I've played...:naughty:
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
There are a few that stand out to me...a local vintage dealer used to have a burst 62 that was AMAZING...big neck, beautiful sounding pickups and played like a dream. I loved that guitar.
Also at a guitar show in the late 90's I ran up on an early 56 Strat...burst, maple neck, swamp ash body...a little on the heavy side and didn't have the strongest pickups out there but MAN what a tone...beautiful and rich in all positions...I wanted it...still do!
There are a few that stand out to me...a local vintage dealer used to have a burst 62 that was AMAZING...big neck, beautiful sounding pickups and played like a dream. I loved that guitar.
Also at a guitar show in the late 90's I ran up on an early 56 Strat...burst, maple neck, swamp ash body...a little on the heavy side and didn't have the strongest pickups out there but MAN what a tone...beautiful and rich in all positions...I wanted it...still do!
Sprinter
New member
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
+1 G&L's, strat style guitars are awesome!
Sprinter
+1 G&L's, strat style guitars are awesome!
Sprinter
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
+1 for G&L!
Actually, I own 14 G&Ls--eight Legacys; and two each of the S-500, Comanche, and Legacy Special models. So make that +14!!!!
And I used to own a 1960 Strat. It was a great guitar, no doubt about it. But the G&Ls play better, sound better, and stay in tune better.
Leo Fender always said that the G&Ls were the best guitars he ever made.
I guess that just makes Fenders--well, ROUGH drafts. LOL!
Bill
+1 for G&L!
Actually, I own 14 G&Ls--eight Legacys; and two each of the S-500, Comanche, and Legacy Special models. So make that +14!!!!
And I used to own a 1960 Strat. It was a great guitar, no doubt about it. But the G&Ls play better, sound better, and stay in tune better.
Leo Fender always said that the G&Ls were the best guitars he ever made.
I guess that just makes Fenders--well, ROUGH drafts. LOL!
Bill
MasterKtulu
New member
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
If I'd ever played a better playing/sounding strat than my Fender Strat, I would have bought it...
If I'd ever played a better playing/sounding strat than my Fender Strat, I would have bought it...
beandip
Frito's Better Half
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
We have a real 61 in the shop, and that thing just blows me away. My boss can't remember the whole story of where he got it, but he knows he didn't pay too much, and thought it was a knockoff for years until he had it verified. It absolutely blows my mind, through any amp we have in the shop. Especially an old Alamo 5w bugger.
That, and we have a CS '56 Heavy Relic that turns me on. A lot...A whole lot than a maple necked strat should.
We have a real 61 in the shop, and that thing just blows me away. My boss can't remember the whole story of where he got it, but he knows he didn't pay too much, and thought it was a knockoff for years until he had it verified. It absolutely blows my mind, through any amp we have in the shop. Especially an old Alamo 5w bugger.
That, and we have a CS '56 Heavy Relic that turns me on. A lot...A whole lot than a maple necked strat should.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
I've played back and forth between modern and vintage US and Custom Shop Fenders, and always dreamt of the the perfect Fender.
In my opinion (a pretty nickpicky one) I've found that the dream Fenders come in the 57 and 62 Hot Rod Series, and the 52 Hot Rod Tele, all three, combine to be the best spec'd Fenders....at least for my taste.
I've contemplated selling a bunch of guitars, just to add those 3 to my stable of Gibsons, and consider myself finished with the tone search.
Gone would be the middle of the road Fenders, as well as all the PRS's and cheapos. Just end up with the best of Gibson, Fender, and Martin.....and a few others, like my resonator, classical, and Dearmonds that blow me away at a cheap price.
After going through well over 100 guitars, that's what the anal retentive guitar lover usually ends with....Fender, Gibson, and Martin. Those are the 3 that slammed the nail on the head.
I've played back and forth between modern and vintage US and Custom Shop Fenders, and always dreamt of the the perfect Fender.
In my opinion (a pretty nickpicky one) I've found that the dream Fenders come in the 57 and 62 Hot Rod Series, and the 52 Hot Rod Tele, all three, combine to be the best spec'd Fenders....at least for my taste.
I've contemplated selling a bunch of guitars, just to add those 3 to my stable of Gibsons, and consider myself finished with the tone search.
Gone would be the middle of the road Fenders, as well as all the PRS's and cheapos. Just end up with the best of Gibson, Fender, and Martin.....and a few others, like my resonator, classical, and Dearmonds that blow me away at a cheap price.
After going through well over 100 guitars, that's what the anal retentive guitar lover usually ends with....Fender, Gibson, and Martin. Those are the 3 that slammed the nail on the head.
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Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
Hmmm. Ive played expensive strats, cheap strats, etc. I suppose one of the most expensive would qualify as the "nicest", but I absolutely love my Japanese Squier strat. The frets are not silky smooth (needs a fret job) but the tone, feel, sustain and all are there..
Factor in, I paid under $150 and wow......
Hmmm. Ive played expensive strats, cheap strats, etc. I suppose one of the most expensive would qualify as the "nicest", but I absolutely love my Japanese Squier strat. The frets are not silky smooth (needs a fret job) but the tone, feel, sustain and all are there..
Factor in, I paid under $150 and wow......
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
I never really bond with Fenders, yet I love how they sound so I always gotta have one. This time, I was particular in the specs I wanted so I decided to buy all the parts separately and make a partsocaster called a Friggin Stratobastard (check out the logo).
This is probably the loudest acoustically, easiest playing, strattiest sounding strat I've ever played. Very light too. The only downside is I lack the playing skills to do it justice.
I left it with my regular guitar tech to throw it all together for me and he can't stop raving about it. he said he's never had a guitar go together so perfectly and with such little adjustment (1/4 turn was all the neck took). He also let his blind blues friend play on it, the guy held it by the neck and slapped the front to hear it ring out and said it was almost as good as his. Then he pulled out his real 58 to compare them. That's mojo talkin' right there, LOL. Anyway, it really is cool and the whole thing ran me about $1,000.
Musikraft Strat Neck
Maple/Rosewood
1-11/16” Bone nut
Straight 10” Radius
Clapton V Profile Shape
Imitation clay dots
Medium Jumbo 6150 frets
Vintage tinted satin back
Vintage tinted gloss headstock
The Guitar Mill Body
4.1lbs Swamp Ash (finished)
Olyimpic White (slightly relic'd)
Thin nitro Finish (can see all the grain pattern through it)
Frailin Pickups – Vintage Hot, Vintage Hot, Blues Special w/base plate
CTS 250k Pots
Fender 62 Mint 3-ply Pickguard
Aged White Plastic
Callaham Vintage Narrow Trem Assembly
Short Gilmourish Trem Arm
Gotoh Vintage Tuners
Schaller straplocks
Flash in the pics makes the body look brighter white than it actually is, it looks a little more aged in person.
I never really bond with Fenders, yet I love how they sound so I always gotta have one. This time, I was particular in the specs I wanted so I decided to buy all the parts separately and make a partsocaster called a Friggin Stratobastard (check out the logo).
This is probably the loudest acoustically, easiest playing, strattiest sounding strat I've ever played. Very light too. The only downside is I lack the playing skills to do it justice.
I left it with my regular guitar tech to throw it all together for me and he can't stop raving about it. he said he's never had a guitar go together so perfectly and with such little adjustment (1/4 turn was all the neck took). He also let his blind blues friend play on it, the guy held it by the neck and slapped the front to hear it ring out and said it was almost as good as his. Then he pulled out his real 58 to compare them. That's mojo talkin' right there, LOL. Anyway, it really is cool and the whole thing ran me about $1,000.
Musikraft Strat Neck
Maple/Rosewood
1-11/16” Bone nut
Straight 10” Radius
Clapton V Profile Shape
Imitation clay dots
Medium Jumbo 6150 frets
Vintage tinted satin back
Vintage tinted gloss headstock
The Guitar Mill Body
4.1lbs Swamp Ash (finished)
Olyimpic White (slightly relic'd)
Thin nitro Finish (can see all the grain pattern through it)
Frailin Pickups – Vintage Hot, Vintage Hot, Blues Special w/base plate
CTS 250k Pots
Fender 62 Mint 3-ply Pickguard
Aged White Plastic
Callaham Vintage Narrow Trem Assembly
Short Gilmourish Trem Arm
Gotoh Vintage Tuners
Schaller straplocks
Flash in the pics makes the body look brighter white than it actually is, it looks a little more aged in person.
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
nicest one i played was a USA standard northern ash HSS, right when they changed the US standards. felt decent, and sounded great. plus it was heavy as hell, which is great in a strat imo!
nicest one i played was a USA standard northern ash HSS, right when they changed the US standards. felt decent, and sounded great. plus it was heavy as hell, which is great in a strat imo!
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
Nicest stock strat IMO is the Fender 62 Hot Rod, that's a nice strat right out of the box.
Nicest stock strat IMO is the Fender 62 Hot Rod, that's a nice strat right out of the box.
butnut
New member
Re: What was the nicest Strat you've ever played?
One of my guitar bids has a sunburst original '65...it does'nt have one scratch on it, looks totally unplayed. Sounded and felt amazing....yeah, that's the nicest one. My white Jimmie Vaughan was the only Strat I owned, loved it, but I'm a HB guy now.
One of my guitar bids has a sunburst original '65...it does'nt have one scratch on it, looks totally unplayed. Sounded and felt amazing....yeah, that's the nicest one. My white Jimmie Vaughan was the only Strat I owned, loved it, but I'm a HB guy now.
