Best American Strat for $1500

My buddy wants to buy a new guitar but with so many different choices he doesn't know where to start. He knows he wants a stratocaster and he has $1500 to spend so I figured I would ask the opinions of my fellow musicians. I'm more of a tele guy so I don't know much about strats, however my friend has a couple of requirements...

* has to be an American made strat

* Neck scale has to be 9.5 or 12 (NO VINTAGE 7.5 NECK SCALE)

* preferably medium jumbo frets


So if you guys could give me a couple different strat models that you guys feel are the best for what money he has to spend. It would be greatly appreciated. I know ultimately you have to sit down and try them out but we're just looking for a place to start instead of trying every single strat out there.

Oh and in case it matters... his style of playing is blues (SRV) or classic rock (rolling stones or hendrix).

If your friend can look under the couch cushions and scrounge up another $100 he might consider the Eric Clapton Stratocaster (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratECBLK/). It's got 9.5" fingerboard radius. The downside per your requirements is it has vintage frets. It's good enough for Pete Townshend, at least.

Play a bunch of American standards and pick out a good one.

my choices- New american standard. Under budget, amazing guitar. But for that price, a used Eric Johnson could be found. A really clean, like new one. Fabulous guitar, whether you like ej or not. Could also get a used srv, or mayer. Both are amazing, and would meet all requirements. Outside of sig. models, I would hit www.davesguitar.com and check out the current crop of thin skins. Awesome vintage reissues with full nitro thin skin finishes, and the required fret size and radius. A little over budget, but not much, and theres nothing Id rather have for that price.

Vintage Hot Rod 62...GC price $1699.00 and you can get 10% off or better depending on your haggling skills. Nitro, med jumbo frets, 9.5 radius, vintage case etc.

Buy used and you can get more or less any USA Fender you want, period. MYy Am Std Tele was 700 so think....you could probably get an Am Std Tele AND an Am Std Strat for $1,500!

You can get used first version (maple neck) Eric Johnson Strats for about $1500.
They get my vote for the best "thought out" non Custom Shop models.
I'd like to find a used blue (either color) RW EJ model.

You can get used first version (maple neck) Eric Johnson Strats for about $1500.
They get my vote for the best "thought out" non Custom Shop models.
I'd like to find a used blue (either color) RW EJ model.

I thought the nitro on the EJ's was always sticky on the neck...too much neck drag...?

Vintage Hot Rod 62...GC price $1699.00 and you can get 10% off or better depending on your haggling skills. Nitro, med jumbo frets, 9.5 radius, vintage case etc.

Come to think of it, this is a better choice than the Clapton strat I mentioned.

Most of the higher-end non-custom shop models like the AVRI and the vintage hot rod models seem to sell used for about $1100 or so.

Vintage Hot Rod 62...GC price $1699.00 and you can get 10% off or better depending on your haggling skills. Nitro, med jumbo frets, 9.5 radius, vintage case etc.

Used one of these would be my choice.

Like Dave's, Wildwood (http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/fender/avts/61strat/le01395/le01395.php) also carries special run thinskins with 9.5" boards for $1600. They have some nice ones...

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/fender/avts/61strat/le01395/le01395_f.jpghttp://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/fender/avts/61strat/le01395/le01395_bf.jpg http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/fender/avts/54strat/se07078/se07078_f.jpghttp://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/fender/avts/54strat/se07078/se07078_bf.jpg

I shopped for quite a while for my Strat. I tried low priced imports and high priced custom US models. The one that did it for me was a 2005 American Series. Now they are calling them American Standard again.

I can only suggest that you take your time and try as many as possible. Spending more does not mean you will get a better Strat. There are a lot of components in a Strat that have to come together just right and each one is different. Along the way I found a few US made Highway Ones that played and sounded really nice. If you like the finish you could pick one up for much less than you would think. The new Standards are really nice too. I think you can find the perfect Strat for you for less than $1500 and save some $$$ for a nice amp.

+1 on the Vintage Hotrod-have one and love it. You can probably find a used one within your budget. Good Luck!

I played an American Deluxe v neck at GC today and that was pretty nice. 1499...

2000 Clapton "Blackie" Strat and wouldn't even think about another, this one does it all..........JH in Va.

I try never to buy "new".
Anyways I'd take My Time...
And look for a Used American Standard Late 80's Early 90's with a Rosewood Board in "Midnight Blue".

Of course I'd NEVER actually do it because I have reached the conclusion that I look Like a Total Dork with everything except Single Cutaways. :mrgreen:

Thanks for the info guys...

Alex W.... Thanks for the heads up on the Eric Clapton strat but we already tried that prior to me posting and he just can't go for the vintage frets. Thats how he got the dough to look for a new guitar because he sold his old tele with vintage frets because he just couldn't handle the vintage frets. I dont blame him either though cause they just feel really weird to me.

well we tried some of the guitars you guys suggested... personally I liked the American Deluxe strat with the S-1 switching (I hate the S-1 switching but I love how the guitar sounds and plays minus the S-1) but my buddy likes the 62 Hot Rod the best so far...

Thanks for all the advice and help guys...

If your looking for some sweet Custom Shop Fenders give me a holler!:wink:

'62 AVRI Hotrod

$1500 will get your freind into the used Fender Custom Shop market on Ebay , CL and elsewhere. Heck, you might be able to two nice used MIAs if you dig around a little..

I'm in the market too. And looking in the same price range now... I was at 1K but desided to wait and save up a bit to get to the $1500 mark.

I've played a few of the Eric Johnson Strat's and REALLY like them! All the "Goodness" of a '57 with some modern upgrades. The TONE was really impressive! It's a single coil and there is some hum but the TONE. ;-)

I'll have to go try some of the specials people listed here as well...

But in in my shopping - A new EJ can be had for $1500 "ish" new - 1899 less 15% easy - I've had a 20% off from MF once before and when I get another it will be NGD! :cool:

edit: Forgot to say - I was pretty disappointed with the EC "Blackie" Strat - Good playing guitar but a "one trick pony" Tone wise. Yes! It's a great trick but I like a guitar with more tone options and no batteries. :wink:

1987-1994 Strat Plus. Easily the best of all the Strats ever made, nice and quiet Lace Sensor pickups, right frets, radius and they were made when Fender just moved to the new Corona plant and they had something to prove because most before them were really lacking. So, they were really paying attention then. They've let up again. So, there's my vote. I've had a few hundred Strats and these are the kings of them all.

1987-1994 Strat Plus. Easily the best of all the Strats ever made, nice and quiet Lace Sensor pickups, right frets, radius and they were made when Fender just moved to the new Corona plant and they had something to prove because most before them were really lacking. So, they were really paying attention then. They've let up again. So, there's my vote. I've had a few hundred Strats and these are the kings of them all.

I knew there was a reason I keep my Ultra & Tele Plus. :P

I knew there was a reason I keep my Ultra & Tele Plus. :P

Good man, gotta love the Lace Sensors. Plus the quality of them were much better than what they are doing now. Good call on keeping them.

Good man, gotta love the Lace Sensors. Plus the quality of them were much better than what they are doing now. Good call on keeping them.

I might contest a little, it's not that the new deluxes are THAT much lower quality, I'm just not digging the features of the newer Deluxes....

I have an Eric Johnson strat that is just amazing.. the finest strat I've ever owned and played. Its too bad I'm such a tele guy these days that I never play it anymore.. but wow! I'm going to sell mine soon cause I need the $$ but IMO the EJ wins hands down.

I have a friend with an old strat with the lace sensor pickups.. not sure what year or model. But I was blown away at how nicely that strat plays and sounds. Before, I had some bias against LS pickups but not anymore. ITSGOTQUACK is correct, those guitars sound excellent too.

take care.. Allen

Erlewine stated in a interview that the Lace Sensor's sound "sterile"..meaning they didn't have a lot of distortion and noise...but people took it to mean "dull"...but they are amazing...they don't sound exactly like vintage...to me they are kinda in between a single coil and a humbucker with a lot of compression---but I got vintage strats too---so , I want something that sounds different from the other's. I think everyone will be looking for them one day, . But he might consider playing one and seeing if it might be what he is looking for...........Cheers! JIMO

Eric Johnson or Eric Clapton. He could save some money and buy a Mexican Classic Player. It's just as good as any sub $1500 Strat.

If you are willing to spend about 1200 ish, you should just go to Warmoth.com and piece together your own guitar. You don't even have to know how to solder. You can go to toneshapers.com and buy solderless kits, and there are pre-wired pickguards out there, etc. I see no compelling reason anymore to buy off the shelf unless there is something UNIQUE on the shelf that you can't build yourself. I think strats are quite generic and about the easiest guitar to duplicate in a build. If you can operate a drill and a screwdriver, and otherwise know what you want, you can assemble a guitar you like better than anything you can get off the shelf. I'm slowly replacing my off-the-shelf guitars with self-assembled ones. They are heads and shoulders above the store-bought guitars, and for similar or (usually) lower price. Which means they're WAY cheaper, because I'd have to swap out parts on the store bought to even rival my Warmoth builds which is more $$$.

You specifically talk "non-vintage radius" on your neck. Well, check out the "Warmoth Pro" compound radius necks. They are AMAZING. They go from 10" at the nut to a flatter 16" at highest fret and they additionally have a side of neck truss adjuster. You can't buy anything that cool off the shelf. Not to mention a chambered body if you want something semi hollow, etc., pretty much anything you can imagine. Contoured heel, you name it.

For that money, I'd easily go with a Music Man Silhouette Special in an SSS configuration.

+:
Great craftmanship, easily on par with FENDER CS
22 medium jumbo frets
9,5 radius
Silent circuit (e.g. hum cancelling) if You want it
Amercian made, great hardware parts
Sounds strat and then some
For 1500 You probably would even get it with a piezo installed, which is sweet
unfinished neck - very comfortable

-:
Not the exact strat shape

And as a second suggestion, if Your friend has nothing against its shape, I'd strongly recommend a Music Man Albert Lee - total strat quack killer with added tele twang.

So many options. AVRIs are great too, IMO. Sounds like your friend would like a 62 more than a 57. Find a nice used 62 and use the extra cash to put a set of Lollar Blackface pickups in it. My best guess.
Edit : just read your "no vintage radii " rule. Oh well. That's what I would do anyways...

My suggestion? Take a little time, try a lot of guitars, and in the meantime save a few dollars more. Then buy one from Ron Kirn.