Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash
WHAT MODEL STRAT WOULD YOU GUYS SUGGEST? The pickup selection stock from Fender is if-y and the quality is confusing (American have better fretwork etc).
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what is the budget?
Anyway, I'll speak for myself.
My #1 is a strat. I love love love my strat and would not sell it at ten times what I paid for it, which still was not cheap. It's a early 90's fender MIJ shop order. There are probably less than 100 in the world, less than 10 in the usa. I've played many many starts that do not get me going the way it does. here is the formula:
-'62 reissue contours.
-maple/rosewood neck 7.4 radius, medium+ thickness C contour
-3piece hard ash body, SSS / 6 screw classic trem routed
-pickups are alnico staggered GRECO EXCELL grey bobbin, circa 1979. middle pickup IS NOT RWRP.
-finish over body and neck is a matte trans burgundy poly, billed as "thinner than nitro" - it does not have fullerplast (I know this from dings exposing bare wood, and yes, its THIN).
-6 screw classic trem with pot metal block. Thinking about upgrade to ss but dont really want to change anything in the formula
-low action, 9's, kluson tuners
Now, my advice to you:
Get a 62 RI Fender mij from the 80's or early 90's WITHOUT a basswood body and with the kluson style tuners.
I'd go for Serials in this order: A,C,E,N
Immediately swap the pups for Fralin REAL 54's with a non rwrp middle and quality electronics.
Determine if you want a callaham block or not.
Since this is a studio guitar, you will probably want the Suhr hum cancelling backplate. A straty strat needs to be SSS/ non rwrp, but this is inherently noisy. It's the price of the good strat tone, and it typically shows on recordings.
Lastly, have a serious guitar tech set up the intonation and have them set the bridge as floating 1/16" to 1/8".
Pickup height and bridge setup are huge parts of the strats sound and playability so do not skimp on getting those right.
All in, you should be under a grand. I can't imagine you not liking the tone, but then I hate vintage 30's and you do not. My strat pairs especially well with the brown deluxe, DRII, and 18watt tmb.