Here's my new Robert Cray

[riggergreg]

Gas got the better of me, and I had to order one. Just got it all setup and played it for about an hour. So far, I have nothing bad to say at all. Feels great, plays sweet,and these pups are to die for. I'll review more after I get more time playing it.

[Mark Davis]

Looks great!

If Fender was smart they would sell the Cray pickups seperate. The Cray MIM pickups are as good or better than any of the most expensive aftermarket brands, Fralin, Duncan, Van Zandts etc

[Roel from Holland]

Wow....what a great looking guitar. This must be Fender's ultimate bang for buck guitar....even if the price was twice as high.

[Bluesgtr20]

Congrats I knew you'd love it :)

[Dana]

That's a hardtail, right?

I always wondered if the strings on a hardtail are harder to bend then a Strat with a trem. I would thing the hardtail would not allow the strings to 'give' a little.

Any opinions?

[Mark Davis]

A hardtail Strat is just like a Tele the strings are actually easier to bend.

[riggergreg]

I changed out the strings from 9s to 10s. Bends are easier and you don't have to worry about the trem putting it out of tune. The 10s really make for a more solid tone

[Raul]

on your Cray strat is the saddles. I have two of these strats and both stock sets were junk. I replaced them with the Vintage Fender saddles and noticed a big improvement in tone.

Can't say enough about the rest of the guitar though. I love the necks on these guitars. Nice and chunky profile. The pickups are as calibrated a set of pickups as I've ever played.

I do plan on adding a pickguard shield to mine and maybe some Callaham saddles, not because they need it but just as an upgrade to an already great guitar.

I have a Inca Silver and a Violet model. If I see a used sunburst, I'm buying it. I don't miss my '61 strat with these around.

[Bluesgtr20]

Originally Posted by Raul

on your Cray strat is the saddles. I have two of these strats and both stock sets were junk. I replaced them with the Vintage Fender saddles and noticed a big improvement in tone.

Can't say enough about the rest of the guitar though. I love the necks on these guitars. Nice and chunky profile. The pickups are as calibrated a set of pickups as I've ever played.

I do plan on adding a pickguard shield to mine and maybe some Callaham saddles, not because they need it but just as an upgrade to an already great guitar.

I have a Inca Silver and a Violet model. If I see a used sunburst, I'm buying it. I don't miss my '61 strat with these around.

Do they really compare to a '61 strat? Let us know the differences in tone & feel :D

[Raul]

Do they really compare to a '61 strat? Let us know the differences in tone & feel :D

I don't miss my old strat because IMO, the Cray is everything a great strat should be. It has all the features I would want in a vintage strat. Great chunky C-neck profile, lightweight body, thin finish, excellent pickups, CTS pots and if I remember correctly, cloth wiring throughout. The only thing missing is the aluminum pickguard shield, which I'm going to add to both of mine just because I'm used to seeing it under the pickguard.

The Cray pickups are a great toneful and balanced set. It has the first bridge pickup I can use, right out of the box, without modding to try to tame some of the harshness that some strats have in that position.

I hate to use the cliche, "best bang for the buck" but I really think the Crays are all that and more. Especially when you look at the price.

[weelie]

Originally Posted by Dana

I always wondered if the strings on a hardtail are harder to bend then a Strat with a trem. I would thing the hardtail would not allow the strings to 'give' a little.

When the strings or the briodge give a little, you need to bend more!

[GuitarJonz]

The Cray assembly has cloth wires only on the pickups. The wires at the switch and pots is plastic covered. I parted out my Cray a while back, and kept the pickguard assembly for a future project, they are great pickups, cool light green guard too. I think it would look cool on a Mary Kay trans-white strat body.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by weelie

When the strings or the briodge give a little, you need to bend more!

Funny, I have a tele and a strat, and of the two I find it harder to bend strings on the tele because there is no 'give' to it.

[stantheman]

Those Cray's are an UNREAL DEAL. The only thing
stopping me from getting one is the reality of facing
the wrath of the "she beast" who has laid down the
"conjugal gauntlet" in regards to ANY purchases other
than domestic crap. I hate domestic crap....there are
times when I wish I lived with just the cats and the
highly aggressive and carniverous furry guy and then
the sun goes down. What can ya do?

[Bluesgtr20]

Originally Posted by Raul

I don't miss my old strat because IMO, the Cray is everything a great strat should be. It has all the features I would want in a vintage strat. Great chunky C-neck profile, lightweight body, thin finish, excellent pickups, CTS pots and if I remember correctly, cloth wiring throughout. The only thing missing is the aluminum pickguard shield, which I'm going to add to both of mine just because I'm used to seeing it under the pickguard.

The Cray pickups are a great toneful and balanced set. It has the first bridge pickup I can use, right out of the box, without modding to try to tame some of the harshness that some strats have in that position.

I hate to use the cliche, "best bang for the buck" but I really think the Crays are all that and more. Especially when you look at the price.

Great post. The Cray definitely does have all the features I wanted. The only exception is the signature on the front of the headstock. Why can't they always be on the back like the JV strat?

[Mark Davis]

The Sigs dont bother me. Just tell people the RC stands for REAL COOL

[Bluesgtr20]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

The Sigs dont bother me. Just tell people the RC stands for REAL COOL

hahahaaha. Good idea

[John R.]

Originally Posted by Bluesgtr20

Great post. The Cray definitely does have all the features I wanted. The only exception is the signature on the front of the headstock. Why can't they always be on the back like the JV strat?

I love everything about my Cray strat. The signature doesn't bother me, even though it looks like someone squashed a spider on the headstock, rather than a signature. Just more of the charm of this strat.

[WallyArms]

and these seem like the best thing going for the price, especially since I have no use for a "swizzle stick". But... have any of you had to adjust your neck yet?

[Mark Davis]

The neck on mine was as stable and solid as could be.