Where are the Hardtail-Strats?

[wutzdog]

Hello everybody! This is my first post and I need some help!
I really like Strats for their bodyshaping. But I also like Hardtail-Guitars. So where are the Hardtail-Strats?
I only find the American Series and it’s too expensive for me and the Robert Cray MiM Strat. But the RC is strange to me, vintage-look that I don’t like and no truss rod adjustment on the headstock.
Where are the Hardtail-Strats? Are there any other Hardtail-Copies out there? Maybe something else than Fender? So many manufacturers and no Hardtail-Strats? Please help!
wutzdog

[Sarge]

I have some of them at home in my studio. Seriously, you can make most strats a "hard-tail" by blocking the trem. I also prefer the hardtails over the trem models, I don't know know why they are so expensive, maybe cause most folks like the trems and Fender has to make a specific run hardtails. There are alot of really good guitars that don't have the F word on the headstock that are excellant hard tails.

[dogman]

You can build a nice (maybe nicer) "strat" for less money. I'm putting together a strat project right now using parts from www.usacustomguitars.com and using Callaham hardware.

[GUITARmole]

Yeah, you can't beat USACG and there are some nice hardtail body examples in their WebSpecials section!

[wutzdog]

Hello!
Thanks guys for the answers!
@ Sarge: I know, blocking the trem. But I will soon buy a new guitar (that’s really exciting) and buying a trem which I’ll never need and just to block it is not the thing I want. But I really searched for those hardtail-strats without the F-word. I can’t find them! I mean really lookalike Strats with this pickguard and easy to modify and of course a hardtail. I only found the PRS SE EG but this isn’t a strat for me, no 25,5 scale, wrong body-form etc. I see only copies with vintage or Wilkinson trem. And for the hardtail, I mean string through not a tune o matic bridge. Ok, the Squier 51, a toploader but sure a hardtail-Strat for me. Really cheap, any other alternatives?
@ dogman and GUITARmole: Yep this is a good option. I know USACG. The problem is my location. It’s the Pfalz, the nicest part of Germany (that’s the reason for my strange writing). And here in Germany we have only a few part-sellers and no hardtail-body for me, except an unfinished one from www.rockinger.com But I want a body with paint on it. And shipping from the US? Oh it’s too expensive and Dollar to Euro exchange, no too much money. So I need a Hardtail and can’t finde one. Help!

[Joe-Bob]

I've played one of those strat-o-sonics with the P-90-ish pups. Blocked trems don't have the same snap to them that that hardtail does.

[singlecoilheaven]

If it doesn't have to be a 'real' strat, take a look a the Carvin Bolt. It comes standard with a hardtail , and a Wilkinson is optional. And it has a 25.5" scale. I own one Carvin, a DC135, and have played many. Carvin has exceptional workmanship with their guitars. You can even select between several different fretboard radius options. Recently they've added a see-through vintage white and surf green to their colors. They also sell it in kit form for the truly budget-conscious. Iknow my sig. line says I'm a tele man all the way, but I play in a classic rock band as well as a country band, and when I'm playing rock I'll step out with the Carvin (doesn't seem to make the tele jealous).

[KBR]

I have 2, love em!
no trems wanted, adds and extra lb to the Guitar.
Hard tails wail!

[wutzdog]

Thanks again for the answers!
@ Joe-Bob: strat-o-sonics a great. I love them! But the price! They are more expensive then a MIA-Strat. No guitar for me.
@ singlecoilheaven: This is a really good option for a hardtail-strat. I know the carvin bolt. But again: It's difficult to order from Carvin when you are not in the US. There are only a few Carvin sellers in Germany and the price on these stock-modells is quite high here and I haven't seen the Bolt. If I were in the US I would take the Carvin for sure.
@ KBR: Hardtails are the best! Never trust a trem! I only wish I had one my own :? Where are the hardtail-strats :(

[J-man]

Surely it's just much easier for you to buy a trem fitted strat and lock the trem to the body? You don't even need to block it (only kahlers, floyds etc actually need blocking), just loosen the six (or sometimes two) screws which hold the trem to the body till it lies flat, then tighten them up as much as you can, instant hardtail.

I always set my strats up this way, it lets you have a hardtail without having to put effort into finding one or effort into modding a trem fitted guitar.

[thunderbyrd]

i know you mentioned the mim r. cray, but i didn't understand exactly why you don't like them. i just bought one back in the summer and i am sold on it, one of the best bargins out there, it's sounds great and has awesome sweet pick-ups. far as i'm concerned, this is the best buy in guitars today.

my only complaint is i wish mine was sunburst instead of inca silver.

[art027]

You might want to take a look at the Musicman Albert Lee model.
Best Strat style guitar there is and available as hardtail.

Really the AL sounds like every Strat wishes it could sound :D
Playability is out of this world as well,

Michell

[wutzdog]

Thanks for the answers!
@ J-man: Yes it’s a good idea, to put a tremolo into a hardtail. But I don’t want to buy a tremolo-guitar just for don’t using the trem. For me it’s kind of ironic: Buying a trem because you don’t need one. Btw I like the solid feeling of a string-through-body-guitar.
But what I do like is Snoopy, I think he’s cool.
@ thunderbyrd: I agree with you the Robert Cray MIM-Strat seems to be a very good guitar. I’ve read only the best reviews about it. The only thing I really don’t like about it is the truss rod adjustment. How do you adjust the truss rod? Loosen the neck screws because there is no posibility for adjustment on the headstock. And this is really bad, I can’t understand why Robert Cray wants this sort of truss rod adjustment, it’s not my choice.
@ art027: Hello Michell, the musicman guitars are great. I played the SUB1 in a shop, what a fantastic guitar! But no body-shaping like a strat, it’s a shame. Sure the Albert Lee is even better, but hey: Look at the price, more than 1.700 Euro!
So there is no hardtail-strat for a good price?
:(

[art027]

You're right about the Albert Lee's price but there's always the used market.
I took advantage of the fact that the Albert Lee is considered an ugly strange looking guitar. What i mean to say is that they don't sell very well. I bought mine for $600 used, beautifull 3tone sunburst and in perfect shape.
I've seen them sell here in Europe for 800 euros, they pop up on ebay Germany every once in a while.

Michell

[daddyopapa]

Originally Posted by wutzdog

Thanks for the answers!
@ J-man: Yes it’s a good idea, to put a tremolo into a hardtail. But I don’t want to buy a tremolo-guitar just for don’t using the trem. For me it’s kind of ironic: Buying a trem because you don’t need one. Btw I like the solid feeling of a string-through-body-guitar.
But what I do like is Snoopy, I think he’s cool.
@ thunderbyrd: I agree with you the Robert Cray MIM-Strat seems to be a very good guitar. I’ve read only the best reviews about it. The only thing I really don’t like about it is the truss rod adjustment. How do you adjust the truss rod? Loosen the neck screws because there is no posibility for adjustment on the headstock. And this is really bad, I can’t understand why Robert Cray wants this sort of truss rod adjustment, it’s not my choice.
@ art027: Hello Michell, the musicman guitars are great. I played the SUB1 in a shop, what a fantastic guitar! But no body-shaping like a strat, it’s a shame. Sure the Albert Lee is even better, but hey: Look at the price, more than 1.700 Euro!
So there is no hardtail-strat for a good price?
:(

Robert Cray plays early 60s strats and his Custom Shop copies of those guitars - the Cray CS models. They have the adjustment screw at the heel (butt) of the neck. Fender just copied the 61C neck for the MIM version. It isn't that hard to adjust, loosen the strings, loosen the neck screws but bot all the way, tilt neck and adjust. Tighten up. Your not supposed to move the truss rod more than 1/8 turn a day anyway. You could by a Cray and stick a Warmoth neck on it. That way you get what ever truss rod you want and you don't need the vintage finish.

[Charlie Bernstein]

- the placement of the truss rod hex hole shouldn't be a deal-breaker. yes, headstock holes are easier to get at, but it's not something you'll touch very often. and it sounds like that's the only thing you don't like about the cray.

get it.

[eddiewagner]

it is a midseventies fender hardtail. i would always prefer tele to a hardtail strat, because the middle pickup is always in the way when doing my little "pick and fingers-thang". the guitar is almost like a tele, as far a the fat nice neck goes, but not as twangy. the guitar is nice but not killer. i guess you know what i mean....
that is what i am thinking, does not mean that i am right.
eddie