R Cray vs J Vaughan Strats,

[maxwidmer]

anybody played both?

what is your opinion?

[weelie]

Only played the JVs but I for one would love a JV with a hard tail and some vintage but strong pups, as per the RC.

[GuitarJonz]

Personally, I like the JV body and neck better, as I prefer to have a trem to add a little effect occasionally, and really like the fat-V JV neck, and like maple necks way better than rosewood. But the RC pickups are miles better than the JV. I always ended up swapping pups on the JV, but the RC pups are great. Slapping the RC pickup assembly on a nice JV strat would be the ultimate strat for me.

[Tom P.]

Both nice quality, but we're talkin' hardtail vs. trem, maple vs. rosewood, different pickups/hardware.
You would do well to spend a little time with each.

[PhatBoy]

Wouldn't part with either one! Both are sunburst and from Music One. The RC is stock, but the JV has Fralins.

What Tom P said is right; 2 different animals!

PB

[Mark Davis]

I owned a JV and still have my Cray. The Jimmie Vaughan Strat has the best neck Fender makes period end of contest at least for me. The Cray has the best stocl pickups ever placed in a modern Strat they are just amazing.

The ultimate for me would be the Cray body and pickups mated to a JV neck. Or to have 2 Strats one a stock Cray and the other a JV with the Cray pickups in it.

Either way you look at it the JV and RC sig Strats are the best bargins in the whole Fender lineup and also the best Strats they make at any price.

[tjalla]

... and I was astounded. Really. This is to me one the best offererings Fender has brought out. Kudos to them! Better, IMO to the JVs I've tried - better wood (med-light alder vs JV's poplar), better pickups - the reports are not exaggerated - and very nice medium C neck, with more shoulder than the JV. The finish (violet, 3TS or Inca silver) and fretwork (med-jumbos) are very well done, and comes with a tasty mint green 3-ply guard! YUM!

If I didn't already own a very similar strat (hardtail/alder/Fralin 54s/fat neck) I'd have put a down payment on the RC there and then. I put it back on the rack (to alleviate GAS), wandered around the store, and 10 minutes later the RC had walked out the door:) Just as well I suppose. 8)

I'd pick the RC anyday over the JV, MIM reissues and even the MIA reissues - the difference in price for what is essetially just a nitro (topcoat) finish is not worth it, IMO. The store even had it cheaper than the MIM 50s Classic! Very highly recommended.