What would you choose.

[purpletele]

Here's the story. For the past couple of months I've been trying to find a strat. I've owned a few in my past and have never quite bonded with one yet enough to keep. So now I'm on a mission.

First, I've decided the specs that I want are a nice C or soft V neck. Has to have a maple fingerboard. I would REALLY like to have a sunburst model. I perfer medium jumbo frets, but vintage frets aren't so bad on a fatter neck.

Here's what I'm considering and why:

-used 98' American Deluxe Strat, Teal Green Transparent. Played it a few times, LOVE the neck and overall feel of the guitar. VERY well taken care of and comes with original case and case candy. I like the Noiseless pups. $650 out the door. Cons, not Sunburst.

-used 96' Tex Mex Strat, Candy Apple Red. Bigger V neck than the American Deluxe. Very comfy. Decent shape. Pickups sound good, but it has a humbucker in the bridge..BIG turn off for me, but an easy upgrade. Needs set up like no body's buisiness. but not in bad shape. A little TLC a new set of pickups and a greenguard would be very nice. $270 out the door + whatever I spend to upgrade it. Still not a sunburst.

The Jimmiy Vaughan sig Strat. Very close to what I'm looking for, and comes in Sunburst.

50's RI. The sunbursts are Beautiful, but I've heard mixed reviews. Vintage frets always scare me if I've never felt the neck.

-Highway one. good middle of the road option. I've played better, I've played worse. I owned one with a Rosewood board. Sold it and later decided that it was a nice strat but maybe the reason I've never bomded with a strat is because I'm not too fond of the feel of rosewood on thier necks.

and finally the Deluxe players Strat. Liked the ones I've played. Comes in sunburst, but I'd have to buy a new pickgaurd for it cause I'm not a fan of turtle shell. Plus the two I've played are a little on the heavy side. Alot on the heavty side actually.

any input would be appreciated?

[Kevin]

I'd go with the JV Strat.

Better hardware (tuners and bridge) and the neck, alone, will sell for a good portion of your purchase price if you decide to go with a different neck. People love those necks, though....

[maestrovert]

out of those you've enumerated, i'd go with the Jimmie Vaughn.....
'course i'm biased......just partial to mine is all !

[Stratosaurus]

I'll have to agree. The JV is nice. Three for three.

[Sarge]

98 American Deluxe would be my choice, I can only see it retaining it's value thru the years.

[snakesoup]

J.V. has a killer neck and is the best bang for the buck IMO.

[purpletele]

well the JV is definately at the top of my list, but there's a MIM Standard Sunburst at a local shop that I LOVE the feel of. It's SUPER light and the neck is increadible. The Pickups are ok, not bad, just not great. So I'm thinking a new set of pups and a mint green pickgaurd on this one may make it a keeper. The price of mods would be about the same as a new Jimmy Vaughan. So, anyone had any luck with the MIM Standards?

[skepticult]

Originally Posted by purpletele

well the JV is definately at the top of my list, but there's a MIM Standard Sunburst at a local shop that I LOVE the feel of. It's SUPER light and the neck is increadible. The Pickups are ok, not bad, just not great. So I'm thinking a new set of pups and a mint green pickgaurd on this one may make it a keeper. The price of mods would be about the same as a new Jimmy Vaughan. So, anyone had any luck with the MIM Standards?

It's definitely easier to replace pickups than to play a guitar that doesn't feel quite right while wishing that you had picked the other one...

I'd go for the one that feels like a fit.

[Hey Joe]

Originally Posted by purpletele

there's a MIM Standard Sunburst at a local shop that I LOVE the feel of. It's SUPER light and the neck is increadible.

Sounds like the obvious choice to me.

[Mark Davis]

The Jimmie Vaughan Strat has all the same hardware as the the most expensive fenders same pots switches tuners and bridge.

Thats what I would get it has a really comfortable soft v neck and you can find used ones for $350.

Its the best deal in the whole Strat lineup.

[JoeAArthur]

Play them all, listen to what sounds good, feel how each one plays, then make your decision.

There is always the option to move on to the next guitar.

Each guitar is an individual. Doesn't matter what the year is, doesn't matter if it is new or used, doesn't matter if what the decal or name on the headstock is, doesn't matter if it is a custom or named model or not.

Never accept someone else's recommendation on what you will buy, especially if it is based solely on an unseen model or name.

Do you like it and can you live with it? Only real choice there is. If you are not buying it for yourself, then the best advice is not to buy it.

[gtrman911]

prob too late 2 comment, but.......

my 1st choice would be the Dlx Strat...<<<!!! [i had a dlx tele in that color, and the neck was superb....sold it, and missed it so bad that i had to get another...8]

my 2nd is an equal tie between the JV, the Standard, and the 50's strat (mine has an extreme V neck and is a beautiful amber tint)

see tagline.....8]

[JoeAArthur]

Isn't the JV strat a Squier? There is one that he autographed hanging in a restraunt here... which has been there about 10 years at least.

Did he upgrade to a Fender?

[Telemaniac]

Have you looked at the CiJ/MiJ 54 RI? These don't seem to get much coverage here but I love mine, nice soft Vee neck, electrics are naff but I swapped out mine for new and upgraded the p/us and now I wouldn't change it.

[purpletele]

After much trying out and playing different strats, it came down to two.

A daphne blue 50's RI and the aforementioned American Deluxe. I figured it's not gonna be that hard to find a 50's RI if I want one, so I got the AM DX. I don't regret it one bit. It's a 98' Teal Green Transparent with maple fretboard. Not a scratch ANYWHERE on this thing either. Got the original case too. Great player AND a real looker. Definately a keeper. Anyway..

thanks for the input.

[dangerine49]

Nice choice. I must have missed this thread somewhere and never put in my 2 cents. I would have voted for the MIA Deluxe. I picked up a '98 myself in Crimson Transparent with a rosewood board a while ago and it is a dreamy guitar. Outstanding neck and sounds terrific. Plus I got it for a price I couldn't refuse.

Enjoy...