Time for a new strat, or...

Hello all,

A few years back I reduced my guitar "collection" to one instrument - my first guitar, a mid 90s Squire Stratocaster. I've upgraded some parts (pickups and bridge) in some cases inexpertly (the trem block sticks out the back a bit :oops: ). It plays fine, and I have a certain sentimental attachment to it.

Anywho, I'm in a position now to buy myself a nice guitar, and I'm torn. On the one hand, I get on well with the strat, and it's tempting to buy myself a nice one now that I can afford it. On the other hand, I already have a strat, albeit not a great one, so it's also tempting to buy something else - I've got my eye on a jag or jazzmaster, for example.

I know that the best advice is just to go out, play a bunch of instruments, and see what floats my boat, but I'm interested in what some of you have to say - diversify, or put all my eggs in the strat basket?

if its what works i dont see why not get a strat. strats always been good for me, but i still enjoy teles, LPs, and various other guitars, but i amass them over time

I know how you feel. Any time I get the cash to buy a guitar(or anything else), the options will just about blind me.
It seems to me you really need to ask yourself a couple of questions.
1) are you a "strat man"? Does it feel like home to you, or can you see yourself with any other type of guitar as your "go to" instrument? If you come to the conclusion that the strat's where it's at for you, you have your answer.
2) Putting aside the sentiment for your current strat, have you spent several years longing to "step up" to a "better"(whatever that means for you) version of your old favorite? If the answer to that is yes, then you probably would end up still wanting to do that, even if you got your Jazzmaster or Jag. In that case, buy the strat.

Probably won't be the last guitar you buy, so have some fun deciding. You can buy what strikes you now & try something completely different next time you get gas.

Cheers,
kev

I have no interest in building up a large collection. I know a lot of guys want a tele, a strat, a 335, a jag, a jazzmaster and all the rest, but even if budget were not an issue that would not interest me. In the past I've overcome GAS by horse trading, and I've owned some nice guitars that way. For now, though, I'm looking for one guitar to cover a lot of ground for me. BTW, I'm mostly into surf, spaghetti western/instrumental music, and rock/pop that is inspired by those sounds (Chris Isaak with our own Wicked Gtr, the Raveonettes, etc).

Oh, and I will absolutely have fun deciding! ;)

Retire the Squier.

Buy the best Stratocaster you can afford. You obviously get one well with that design already.

Then I'm biased as I've wanted a Strat for a long time, so I'm likely to tell anyone to buy one.

I am most assuredly a Strat guy. "The one" in my collection (I have four at the moment) is an HSS setup. Any tone, any gig, anytime. That one will get me through.

Number five is going to be a parts hardtail. Never had one before, it is an interesting sensation, playing it (I fully assemble and set up before finishing). Think I may like it.

There are no set rules, go out and play a bunch. If you have a good store near you plan on spending the day looking at what they have in your budget, and play them all. The only person that can decide on what you like is you! Have fun, enjoy.

Go play an fall in love with one. You will know when the right one is in your hands. The neck feels perfect then get that one.

Don't forget about knockoffs, got a yamaha ssc500 setneck hardtail and last week stumbled on a cheap used carvin dc135 neckthrough, stringthrough hardtail hss that is plays better than any highend strat I've tried...just fits my hands great and love the flatter radius ebony and stainless steel frets....crazy good guitar imho.

All depends if you are going for sounds or looks.
Jags look cool, but, I have no use for them sonically.
YOu mentioned all the major food groups
(strat,tele,335,lp)...not the (gretsch,ricks,etc)

I've had a few Rickenbackers over the years. Love the look and (surprisingly to some) the feel, but I don't find them versatile enough to be "the one." Similar story with Gretsch, plus the hollow bodies feel huge to me. Make me feel like I should be playing in AC/DC if you know what I mean!

BTW, I'm mostly into surf, spaghetti western/instrumental music, and rock/pop that is inspired by those sounds (Chris Isaak with our own Wicked Gtr, the Raveonettes, etc).
That's strat territory all day long. I'd step up to a nicer strat. MHO.

Why not try out a fender pawn shop strat? Still a strat but with a nice twist. I quite fancy trying one myself...

Go out and try some guitars :)
For versitility i recommend Bill Lawrence pickups the same which i have :)
L200SN (neck) L200SM (mid) L298SL (bridge) with Q-filter ;)
The L200 is great for cleans and surf stuff such as you play and the L298SL has more power and with the q-filter on a clean setting with tone turned to about 0 it sounds like an acoustic steel string guitar :)
Now that´s some great versatility :)
The L200 and L298 are stacked pickups, here´s a link http://www.wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_NF_Singles.html

I actually put keystones in my squire a couple years back! Fantastic pickups. That's what has me thinking that the squire sounds as good as it's going to right now. Feel and playability are another issue, though.

Get a Jazzmaster. I'm desperate for one but I cant buy anymore guitars but I'd still like to see the pics....

There are no set rules, go out and play a bunch. If you have a good store near you plan on spending the day looking at what they have in your budget, and play them all. The only person that can decide on what you like is you! Have fun, enjoy.

This.

I'm not really a strat guy, but from my own experience strats can be very different from one another almost to the point of being a different type of instrument.
If the strat shape and vibe do it for you then go find another one.

If you like strats, as I do, then check these out. I have the original, but this is the new version.


http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1188&ParentId=116

Here's a demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LvujJPAql8

a first guitar is a pretty sentimental thing- I wouldn't sell it if I were you. My first was an Epi les paul custom- I couldn't refuse the offer I got on it- but I miss that guitar, even after upgrading to the 68 RI historic Gibson les paul custom. You should check out the hot rod series strats- I love my '62 RI hot rod-best neck I've ever played, and it sounds great. I've A/B'd it against a wall of custom shop and masterbuilt strats- mine came second only to a Fessler masterbuilt and a Cruz masterbuilt SRV.

that guitar can be had around $1200 used if you keep your eyes open.

Based on your tastes, look at fender '54 thin skins...

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/products/se11385.php?CategoryID=389&n=0

Get an American made Strat. The difference in quality is immediately apparent.

It is overwhelming. I own 4 Stats and 4 other LP and Tele design guitars. I have one Strat I play 80% of the time. The rest set in their cases. The one Strat I play 80% of the time is the one I've owned the longest (18 years). The more I play it the more I like it and I find myself adjusting my other guitars to sound like the one guitar I play all the time. I still like the idea of having a backup guitar though so I'd never own less than 2 guitars.