Telecaster Guitar Forum - View Single Post

stagefright · October 12th, 2009, 10:09 AM

I handpicked a 50's Roadworn Strat right off the GC display as they were setting them out. 2 50's Strat's ,2 60's Strats,3 Teles (2 sb,1 B-scotch). I played them all and one was great the others so-so. Another guy was there with me at the same time and we took turns A/B-ing them. As soon as I played this one 50's Strat I set it beside me so I could grab it quick in case anybody came near cause I knew it was a winner.Turns out the other guy knew too so I picked it up and headed to the counter and he followed me saying...you gonna buy that? I'm like...yeah. He followed me out to my car and made a final request but I wasn't handing it over.

The same thing happened to me in another town at a more of Mom/Pop store and I wouldn't have given a wood nickel for any of them. Heavy,poor set-ups,...crap.. and that's been my impression of the majority I've seen since. However if you find a good one which I and a freind of mine did (he got a 60's body with 50's neck,factory mistake?)then you have a great Strat.We compared a whole roomful of our vintage and custom shop Strats Including a real 61,Rory Gallagher,Robert Cray,Pink Paisley RI,custom Nash-a-like,Hiway 1,etc. and the Roadworns hung in there so close it was amazing.

I'll say this,I like the body look on the RW's. In some cases they are more authentic looking than custom shop. The necks however...not so much. It's the only thing I don't like about mine. I don't care if the fingerboard is worn or not. I don't care for the bigger frets and neck size...a bit too small for me.I'm in the minority there as most guys who play my RW like the neck. I'd love to get a replacement neck and keep my RW but I might put it up for sale at $650. BTW,who's paying $950 for these? I got mine for $700 +tax and that was my absolute max I'd pay for a new one.I had to do some haggling to get that.I hear some guys are getting them for $499 now? Somethin sounds fishy bout that. I'm wondering if the ones at that price are dogs or returns/repos/damaged/2nds,etc..Or, is Fender reeling from slow sales in their retail system and giving dealers the go ahead to blow these out as they seem to be doing on other Fender products as well.

Finally, guitar players who don't like relics are weenies.Now, I agree that looks account a great deal to most players...condition,color,hardware,etc. but a good guitar has to stand on it's own merits as a musical instrument. I'll take a great guitar under any circumstances. To reject a guitar purely on your own bias of what a guitar "should" look like or if doesn't meet your standards of construction or country of origin is well....weenie-esque.Play great guitars and SHOP WISELY! If you don't like the price don't pay it but sharpen your haggling skills and do research.

October 12th, 2009, 10:09 AM	#60 (permalink)
stagefright TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: DuBois,PA Posts: 58	I handpicked a 50's Roadworn Strat right off the GC display as they were setting them out. 2 50's Strat's ,2 60's Strats,3 Teles (2 sb,1 B-scotch). I played them all and one was great the others so-so. Another guy was there with me at the same time and we took turns A/B-ing them. As soon as I played this one 50's Strat I set it beside me so I could grab it quick in case anybody came near cause I knew it was a winner.Turns out the other guy knew too so I picked it up and headed to the counter and he followed me saying...you gonna buy that? I'm like...yeah. He followed me out to my car and made a final request but I wasn't handing it over. The same thing happened to me in another town at a more of Mom/Pop store and I wouldn't have given a wood nickel for any of them. Heavy,poor set-ups,...crap.. and that's been my impression of the majority I've seen since. However if you find a good one which I and a freind of mine did (he got a 60's body with 50's neck,factory mistake?)then you have a great Strat.We compared a whole roomful of our vintage and custom shop Strats Including a real 61,Rory Gallagher,Robert Cray,Pink Paisley RI,custom Nash-a-like,Hiway 1,etc. and the Roadworns hung in there so close it was amazing. I'll say this,I like the body look on the RW's. In some cases they are more authentic looking than custom shop. The necks however...not so much. It's the only thing I don't like about mine. I don't care if the fingerboard is worn or not. I don't care for the bigger frets and neck size...a bit too small for me.I'm in the minority there as most guys who play my RW like the neck. I'd love to get a replacement neck and keep my RW but I might put it up for sale at $650. BTW,who's paying $950 for these? I got mine for $700 +tax and that was my absolute max I'd pay for a new one.I had to do some haggling to get that.I hear some guys are getting them for $499 now? Somethin sounds fishy bout that. I'm wondering if the ones at that price are dogs or returns/repos/damaged/2nds,etc..Or, is Fender reeling from slow sales in their retail system and giving dealers the go ahead to blow these out as they seem to be doing on other Fender products as well. Finally, guitar players who don't like relics are weenies.Now, I agree that looks account a great deal to most players...condition,color,hardware,etc. but a good guitar has to stand on it's own merits as a musical instrument. I'll take a great guitar under any circumstances. To reject a guitar purely on your own bias of what a guitar "should" look like or if doesn't meet your standards of construction or country of origin is well....weenie-esque.Play great guitars and SHOP WISELY! If you don't like the price don't pay it but sharpen your haggling skills and do research.