What Strat copy?

[highwayman]

Is there a decent Strat copy out there ? I dont like the Xaviers and dont trust sx or Agiles from some bad reviews i read.I fully expect to change pups but I dont want to get into changing out everything.Anyone????

[JDRNoPro]

Don't be afraid of the SX's. I say that as an owner of 5 American Fender strats - AmSe to CS. Sure, there are some not so good ones but same with any brand. Lots of love for the SX - do som more research. The $80 SST SE in an incredible bargain - great for modding, too. Another bargain is this weekend's call in special @ Musicians Friend (see telecaster forum) - Fender MIM std. strat for $299, I think. The Squier Classic Vibe strats are excellent - everyday discount price is around $350.

[rangercaster]

Yamaha, Peavey, Samick all are good ... Squier is Fender ...

[Stratotwanger]

I'll vote for the USA made Peavey Predators. You can find them on Ebay for next to nothing and they pretty much smoke all of the other copies.

[tele12]

Originally Posted by Stratotwanger

I'll vote for the USA made Peavey Predators. You can find them on Ebay for next to nothing and they pretty much smoke all of the other copies.

Another vote for a USA Predator. The only downside is a lot of the parts aren't dimensionally the same as Fender so if you want to mod it it isn't the best choice. But they are great out of the box, really no need to mod.

[AnthemBassMan]

-The early Samick/Valley Arts SSM-1 copies are pretty good guitars. On par and some are better than the MIM Standards that were out during the same time. I have an early SSM-1 that I bought in new '95, I think. That guitar is the last guitar that I'd ever get rid of. This is the headstock design to look for.



L8R,
Matt

[andrew_o_o]

how bout finding an old japanese lawsuit model? or is that out of the question?

[djinn1973]

Used G&L's can be had on the cheap and are all kinds of cool

[barkley]

I used to have a real nice epiphone strat. It had a humbucker in the bridge but in all other regards it was a strat. Great sound, great feel , great looks- Bright yellow! Not sure how much it cost new, I got mine second hand. I didnt feel like it was a 'cheap copy' due it being an epi. Should never have sold it :(

[still_fiddlin]

If you're going to change PUPs why not just get a nearly new MIM (one with full size tremolo block)? Or are you looking for a $100 guitar?

[photoweborama]

SX are the only strat clones I buy anymore. and I've owned or worked on just about all of them. SX's are better than any Squire, or any clone I've ever touched.

The necks are like Fender Japan necks, smooth as silk, and glassy. I'd take an SX hands down over any other low end guitar. In fact, if I had to, I take an SX strat over my American Series Fender Strat.

[bo]

Get a 25 year old Tokai!

[Octave Doctor]

If you want cheap, and don't feel like a hunt--get a Predator. Otherwise, put some money aside and see what turns up.

I've had my Predator since about 2003, it's been stable, and so far all I've done is put Grovers on it and a 250K volume pot. Eventually, it'll get some GFS pups.

[olaftheholy]

i just this morning bought a Squier classic vibe 50's strat...
Out of the 14 strat's i played (including some very stiff custom shoppers) this one was the most 'live' and strat-sounding i.e. instant Stevie Ray tones...
I'm amazed...even very good sustain on this one... it has a small block wich i'm about to exchange for an old MiM classic player block for even further sustain.
I am absolutely awestruck with this strat...
Out of the two 50's Cv strat it was the lightest and most vibrant...
Setup is spot on, apart from 0.10's actually perfect... 0.11 this afternoon.
Nice fat ringing tones from those al3 pickups, almost too good to be true actually.
I'm not easily satisfied with guitars, been a luthier for over ten years and have high standards, those of you who have seen my builds know...
There is a 57 original strat in my collection and a 68 they both are very classic strats and have the tone...
The classic vibe strat certainly stands up to both... i won't go as far as saying it destroy's em but it sure stands up brave!

I say "one vote for the CV strat's 50's"

[414driver]

+100 on the Samick Valley Arts. 1 piece slab maple necks that have a great feel.....nice translucent finishes. Can be had on eBay for $100-200. The stock electronics are OK...but if you upgrade the pups and electronics you've got a guitar that will hang with anything Fender makes under $1500. I've personally purchased and upgraded 6 of these for my students, and gigged with my personal one for 6 years. Nary a problem!

[musicalmartin]

Originally Posted by photoweborama

SX are the only strat clones I buy anymore. and I've owned or worked on just about all of them. SX's are better than any Squire, or any clone I've ever touched.

The necks are like Fender Japan necks, smooth as silk, and glassy. I'd take an SX hands down over any other low end guitar. In fact, if I had to, I take an SX strat over my American Series Fender Strat.

+1 .My SX Strat is very good .I changed the pickups to Keystones mainly to see how good they are .They are .The necks are very good .like Photoweborama I prefer my SX to the American series and I have played several recenty to compare them .It even has a steel trem block, best 79 quid I have ever spent, apart from the 29 It cost me to get married .

[fezz parka]

G&L or an old Tokai.

[jbmando]

I like my GFX strat for 69 bucks on eBay. I think the ones they have now are Crescents. I don't know about them but the GFX rocks.

[ficklepie]

Don't be afraid of the Agile! Just bought the $269 semi-hollow TC-730 Tele and it's a very fine instrument. A tweak of the truss rod and a slight raising of the saddle and the thing feels like butta in your hands. Went to the local Guitar Center and -- though I could only spend a minute with the Teles in the store before having to fend off too many over-eager salesmen -- I was able to compare the Agile to the MIM and the American Fenders. The Agile surpasses the MIM and is cheaper. The switch and pots, action, fit and finish felt indiscernible from the American Teles. Wish I had more time to play around with 'em at the store, but after telling the salesman that I was just there for strings, he picked up the $1400 American Std Tele and said it makes for a very nice string holder.

Oy vey.

Anyway, slap a set of $65 Keystones into your SX, Douglas or Agile and you would have a guitar far nicer sounding than any stock American Tele could be.

I would describe the SX as a good guitar needing all the basic upgrades (nut, maybe a new bridge, new pickups and electronics); the Douglas is a very good guitar, but my friend's TL-100 still needs a better set of tuners and maybe a new nut. The Agile is a great guitar. It really only needs new pups, a basic setup and you are there.

[AnthemBassMan]

Originally Posted by 414driver

+100 on the Samick Valley Arts. 1 piece slab maple necks that have a great feel.....nice translucent finishes. Can be had on eBay for $100-200. The stock electronics are OK...but if you upgrade the pups and electronics you've got a guitar that will hang with anything Fender makes under $1500. I've personally purchased and upgraded 6 of these for my students, and gigged with my personal one for 6 years. Nary a problem!

-Exactly! I played mine stock for about 5 years before I tinkered with changing the electronics. I have older Carvin S60 singles in the neck and mid spots, and a Bill Lawrence L-500XL in the bridge. Yeah, she's a screamer. But the S60s can get me quite a lot of useful tones. The L-500XL does some too, but not as much diversity as the singles.

L8R,
Matt

[ROADMAN]

Originally Posted by AnthemBassMan

-The early Samick/Valley Arts SSM-1 copies are pretty good guitars. On par and some are better than the MIM Standards that were out during the same time. I have an early SSM-1 that I bought in new '95, I think. That guitar is the last guitar that I'd ever get rid of. This is the headstock design to look for.



L8R,
Matt

+ 1... I had a guitar exactly like that and a patio cushion as well...

[AnthemBassMan]

-Yep, I snagged your pic because I couldn't find a clear one of the headstock on mine. Oh, thanks by the way! This one is actually mine.



L8R,
Matt

[Headshot]

a big +1 for the Peavey. I have one that with its 500k pots and hot single coils plays everything from neck-pup-only jazz to sweet blues to anything else you want to play. I have another Peavey strat with only humbucker in the bridge hardtail that I am thinking of adding a Bigsby and changing the humbucker to either a TV Jones or a Lace Alumitone for some rockabilly twang.

Whenever I am in a GC I always look for a USA Peavey....it will come home for TLC....ok, some serious hotrodding....

[jefrs]

If you want cheap but decent, my vote goes to the Aria STG-003, about £70-00! You can pay a lot more and not get as good as these. Two piece alder, nice neck and f/b.

[highwayman]

Thanks for all the help ! I Think i will go with the Agile or the Samick if I can find one cheap.....

[olgluefoot]

Benford!

[uOpt]

If you want a cheap good Strat alike guitar, look for an early 1980ties Ibanez Blazer and some Roadstar models. I like the later versions with the 21 frets neck better than the earlier 22 fretters.

Be warned that many are hardtails and a hardtail sounds very different from a tremolo Strat even if the tremolo is on the deck and blocked.

[Guinness]

There are a lot of really nice, inexpensive guitars out there. Here are a few of my favorites:

- Yamaha
- G&L Tribute
- Squire
- Carvin (they even have a kit you assemble)

Of course buying used is a wonderful thing, as guitars usually age well, and are normally less expensive than buying new.

Good luck with your search!

~Randy

[Teleblaster_1]

Originally Posted by Stratotwanger

I'll vote for the USA made Peavey Predators. You can find them on Ebay for next to nothing and they pretty much smoke all of the other copies.

I had to purchase and ship out several of these last year. The owner and I went into the warehouse to cherry-pick out a few. After just a couple minutes of opening boxes, it was obvious we were wasting our time. Every one had a perfect neck. Every one. I'm really blown away by how good their entry level stuff is.
IMO their top tier guitar quality has slipped but the offshore Predators are unbelievable considering the price. Best value Strat style by far.