Conference napalm::guitar

    Get Kubriki parts if possible, I had heard they were not longer
    making them but if you can these are the best..
    
    The EMG pickups sound good, a friend of mine was up two weekends
    ago with a kramer that had these on it and they really do sound
    nice, or duncans if you want battery free operation.   
    
    I replaced my Fender tuning keys with schallers and recommend them
    
    Kahler seems to be the best tremelo bar, as evidenced in this notefile.
    
    what else is there?
    
    dave (have fun building this!!!)

	I bought an Ibanez strat about 6 years ago.  When I was looking
	I looked at Fenders also, but liked the Ibanez better.  I had
	better action, fingering and sound as far as I was concerned.

	Ditto on the Schallers.  I replaced my originals with Schallers.

	-gary

	P.S.  I don't know if Ibanez makes the strat anymore.

    		Well, I'm one from the old school.  If it don't say
    	Fender, it just *looks* like a strat.  The other Gutiarist
    	in the band I work with used alot of the *near strats*  The
    	only one I kind-a like was his Washburn, which really is nice.
    	He has had J.B. players, (not bad) Kents, (Gag me with a bass
    	drum !) Fames, (yuck) Hondos ("You've got to be kiddin !") and
    	anything else he tought he could buy for under 175 dollars.
	He's junked all of them but the washburn.  Again, a nice
    	ax.
		
    		I had a 73 Sunburst strat, and I yell at myself at
    	least once a week for dumping it.
    
    		Do yourself a large favor.  Buy a strat.  Take it to
    	bed with you, offer it only imported beer, etc..etc...

    
    /ray

    Check out the NEW revamped line of Ibanez `Strats'...they're so
    HOT!!!!!  Serveral students of mine just bought some and I'm 
    considering a purchase. They have ebony fingerboards and a bare
    maple neck. The redesigned the pickup arrangements so you get more
    edge out oh the bass & middle, and put a humbucker up front (with
    a tap, of course) for those manic leads.Also, floyd rose trem's
    are standard on these things. This is not meant to be *like* a Strat,
    but moreso what a Strat should be like in the first place.
    
    The prices range from $365 to the upper 5's. Ibanez has su**ed in
    the past, but you gotta give these a try, for the money, they can't
    be beat.
    WJB

    DITTO!!!  Those new Ibanezes kick ass! The ones down at EU Wurlitzers
    for about 739 are *Beautiful*  Wood grain bodies, nice pu's, only
    if they'd trash the floyd.  I have kind of deduced that kahlers
    on an Ibanez (mass produced) would be a pain, cos the lock goes
    behind the nut which gives you about 3/4ths of a cm. space to try
    and negotiate a low e into a small hole. not easy, but on the whole,
    worth it.  The esp's give a tone as not to be believed. if you're
    looking for the guitar equivalent of a buzzsaw, there you are.
     

    RE:4 AND 5
    
    		GLAD TO SEE IBANEZ IS COMMING BACK OUT WITH SOME GOOD
    	STUFF.
    
    	

	re .4,.5,.6

	When I bought my Ibanez strat several years ago, I'd say it was
	as good or better than what Fender was selling at the time.  There
	was a period that a lot of Fenders were being built in Japan also.
	I don't know about any of the other Ibanez models being made at the
	time.  Mine cost ~$400 (with case) and was about $100 cheaper than
	Fender strats at the time.

	I still have it and never plan to get rid of it.

	-gary

    re -.1
    
    Exactly.  When I bought mine in 83', in my opinion it was better
    than the fenders.  Better pu's, nicer neck, better sustain, etc.
    From other fenders it seems that my single coils are at least 10
    times stronger than theirs.  I also, never intend to give it up.
    It's me baby!


          

    Well, I bought a JB Player Strat last night. Great guitar. Three
    Hundred bucks including case (and a free pick!) at Metro Music
    in Leominster. As has been stated elsewhere in this file, don't
    look exclusively for the name or the price tag - look for what
    feels and sounds best for you. The days of el-crapola copies are
    for the most part gone. 
    
    -Happy Dave

    I've got to put in a plug for the Kramer line of Strats, if you
    want to call them that.  I've got a Focus 3000 with a bridge humbucker
    and 2 single coils.  Everybody and their brother is putting guitars
    out now with this pick-up configuration but I think it's a good
    combination.  It has a Floyd Rose wiggle stick assembly too.  I
    like it a lot, not as much as a Jackson, but for under $500 you
    can't beat it.
    
    				- Jerry -

    Re: Near-Strats-
    
    How 'bout the "Squier" seires? Some salesman (I don't trust any
    of 'em) told me that ALL Squier series Fender guitars have plywood
    bodies, but are otherwise "real" Starts, Tele's, etc. I bought a
    	Squier Tele 2 yrs. ago, after being told (by a different sales
    person, in the same store as salesman 1, above) that the Squiers
    were exactly equal to "real" Fenders. ANyone know the REAL story?
    
    Bill
    

    Fender Squire series guitars are definitely NOT made from plywood. The 
    bodies are alder and the necks are maple. I have one. If you replace
    the pickups, these guitars are as good as any "real" Strat.

    re .12
    
    yeah, IMO some squires are better than some "real" strats

    Hi Stratfreaks,
    
    I just bought the best Strat ever made, a Levinson-Blade (swiss
    made). It has a builded-in active amp. which has a fantastic sound,
    although the passive sound equals the vintage Strat. Besides that,
    it has a formidable finish, making it easy-to-play. The vibrator
    system is a quality unit of a new design, very impressing.
    On the back side of the body three pots are builded in to control
    the sound of the active filter - I miss some info about good
    suggestions how to set it.
    Anybody know that one??
    
    Guitar-Poul from Denmark
    

    Does anyone own one of the strats being made by Mr. Fender's
    new company (Forgot the name, I think its two letters), such as the 
    Skyhawk?  They look very much like the original strat (neck,
    pick-guard, etc.), very nice guitars.  Before I decide on a purchase,
    I'd like to get some opinions.....  Thanks!
    
    		Steve

    I think his *new* company is G & L ... I haven't played any of 'em
    but I would guess that if a rose by any other name smells as sweet
    then the same goes for Fender's ... if ya like Fender's that is!
    
    
    			Jerry - who doesn't ...
    

    Naw, G&L's been around for a long time...  I saw an add for some
    start copies called Force 10.  The add was very pleasing to my eyes
    too...  Anyone who has seen this add will concur...
    
    ;^)

    Yeah, it's definitely G & L.  So no one has actually played one,
    or better yet, owned one?
    
    			Steve

    I've played a number of G&L's, I never bought one (there may be
    a message there). They are similar to fenders but not the same.
    Leo did come up with an innovation on the G&L's that stuck, the
    knife edge fulcrum for tremelos that Floyd rose etc. use was an
    original on G&L's...I'd buy a real strat personally, but G&L's are
    still a good guitar.
    
    dbii

    I've played several G&L guitars over the past few years.  Some of them
    I liked and some I really disliked.  The necks seem to feel different
    on different instruments even the same model (gee, what a surprise! :-)
    ).  If appearences are important to you, the pickups they have look
    really cheezy IMO (put play ok, if you like ones that sound about like
    Fenders). 
    
    The one I played and liked the best was an Asat (looks like a Tele). 
    
    Greg

The Daddy's Junky Music in Peobody, MA has a G&L Superhawk that I
have been looking at for a little while (although finances dictate
that it probably won't be mine...).

I really like the neck on this guitar - similar to Strat, but maybe a 
little more V-shaped. Since I really couldn't afford it, I haven't
plugged it in yet, so I don't know about the sound.

BTW - the price on it was $349, if you're interested.

Alan S.

    
    Hi all, I have a question,How good are the "made in Japan" Fender
    strats?? My wife is buying me one for an early xmas present..
    white on white left handed....for $275..new is that a good price??
    and any further info welcome...
    
    
                             Kevn

    Exactly which model (re: 67.22) is the strat?  I've seen the Japanese
    made Squire Bullet Strat for $179 (on sale). I think $275 for the
    model from Japan that is called "Stratocaster" (no squire, no bullet
    nicknames) is a fair price. Anyone else?
    
    P.S. the quoted price was from Clark Music, Atlanta, GA.
    
    Steve

    HI all.
    
    
    Does anyone care to tell me the strat story.  My main question is,
    why do the 'vintage' ones go for $1500-$2000, the late 50s reissues
    go for around $600, and the Japanese jobs go for the least.  I'm
    asking exclusively about Fender now.  Thanks.
    Mike

    Has anyone tried out one of the Fender Heavy Metal Strats?

>    < Note 67.25 by VLNVAX::ALECLAIRE >
>
>
>    Has anyone tried out one of the Fender Heavy Metal Strats?
 
    Yep, I've had one for about a year, and still think it's a great
    guitar. I'm particularly impressed by the whammy/locknut system;
    I use the whammy extensively but rarely have to retune (and then
    only using the fine-tuners on the bridge - the lock nut only gets
    undone for a string change). 
    Only gripe; the numbers on the controls wore off very quickly which
    is a shame 'cos the rest of the guitar is immaculate. 

    It's hard for me to comment any further as the only other guitars I've
    owned/played-extensively have been cheapo les paul copies.
                                                                      
    Andy
    

    Yuck Nuck Nuck !
    
    I saw the new line of "Strats"...
    
    They look like Ibanez to the TEE including the spear shaped 
    headstock!  Yo Bulldawg, Gibsons next I hear....
    
    jc                                              ;^)

 >   They look like Ibanez to the TEE including the spear shaped 
 >   headstock!  Yo Bulldawg, Gibsons next I hear...
    
    Ack!
    
    8)

    Naw, those fugly single cutaways will never get pointy headstocks.
    
    ;^)

         <<< Note 67.29 by ASAHI::COOPER "Blackened is the word..." >>>
                           -< I'm kidding, okay ?? >-

   > Naw, those fugly single cutaways will never get pointy headstocks.
    
    There must be a God.....8)

    Bulldawg, your killin' me !!
    
    ;^)

    OK, I saw something last nite that I haven't seen before. I saw a
    genuine full blooded Stratocaster outfitted with 2 dual coil
    humbuckers. Now this guitar is stock and hasn't been modified. I didn't
    know Fender made these. It's a Jap job so its got to be Mid to Late
    80's issue (the guitar I saw is used, but in excellent condition,
    they're asking $349 for it).
    
    This guitar has a master volume and tone control and a three way
    selector. It's black with black hardware, looks really sharp. The only
    other difference (I guess when you think about it 2 dual coils is
    radically different) is that the output jack is on the bottom side of
    the guitar.  
    
    Anybody got any info, experience, or any sort of knowledge
    about these? Could this be a collectors item 20 yrs from now?
    
    "sakman"    Oh yeah - I've seen the guitar called the "Strat". This
     ain't it. This is called a "Stratocaster".
    

re:-1

Yeah, I saw one of those in Shrewsbury a few years back..

I couldn't believe it was stock...

Dunno much more about other than I know you're not nutz cuz I seen
one too....

Also saw one at the same place that had  Les Paul style edge work with the
white strapping...  What stranger things than that!?

I've never seen one with two humbuckers, but it seems like a lot of the new
Japanese made Strats have one in the tail.  Seems a popular combination with
the Squire models too.  I've seem some of these with Floyds too.

Greg

Glen Tipton from Judas Priest played a Strat with humbuckers for years.
I don't know if it was a custom job though.  It was sharp, and Priest
definately has "the sound", imho.

jc

    
    Are y'all referring to the "Heavy Metal" strat that Greg Howe endorses?
    

    Don't know if it's the "Heavey Metal" Strat, at least there's no markings
    on it to indicate such a model. I have seen customized Strats, and
    there is a new series from Fender called the "Strat". But this is
    neither of these. As it turns out, I got bitched out last night cause I
    went and bought the damn thing. But, I think it's gonna work out nicely
    between my other Strat in this band I'm working with. As a matter of
    fact, we even play a Judas Priest tune "Don't Go".  I'll use the
    traditional Strat for traditional tunes that we do like "Bo Diddley"
    and the other one for the heavier tunes. Should look good too since the
    traditional Strat is off-white and the other one is all black w/ black
    hardware. 
    
    "sakman"

'Don't Go' is a killer toon !

    I'd like to buy an American Standard Strat, but the neck seems to big
    too big for my small hands to play easily. One possiblity I've been
    considering is to buy a Standard Jap Strat and add good hardware (e.g.
    classic stacks) but the resultant guitar will be pretty expensive, a
    lot more than an American. Do you have any suggestions as to alternate
    brands with thinner necks that play well and have that strat sound with
    decent hardware?

    hey Bob! 
    
    You can get a 'custom' strat made for you with a thinner neck. 
    Companies like Warmoth and Stewart MacDonald make a variety
    of necks (and other guitar parts) for which you can
    choose from a variety of thicknesses, fingerboard widths, etc.
    It might cost you a little more (maybe an extra $150 or so) but
    you will get what YOU want. One thing to consider; resale value
    on such an instrument might not be a high as on a 'real' Fender
    Strat.
    
    - Dave

    The Fender Custom Shop will make you a guitar with any neck profile,
    width, fretboard radius, fret size, that you want!  I don't have any
    idea how much extra they'd charge to make you one with a thinner neck,
    but it might be worth checking into.
    
    Greg

    I played on a Squire II (made in USA, right Greg?) that had a NICE neck
    on it.  
    
    This from an Ibanez 550 player.  The RG550 has the worlds fastest 
    (read: thinest) neck.  Try one TODAY !
    
    jc

    I played on a Squire II (made in USA, right Greg?) that had a NICEneck
    on it.               ^^ 
                         !!
     
    Not a Squire *II*, those are all made in Korea.  All the Squire IIs
    I've played have felt like total junk.   What you played was a USA
    series Squire (no II) Strat.  Confused yet?
    
    Anyway, yeah, it felt good!  They dumped that nasty sticky lacquer
    finish on the necks that Fender has always used and replaced it with a
    satin finish that feels really nice.  They were set up well too.
    
    Did you notice that they sold all of those that they had real quick?
    
    Greg

    
    
      Hey - here's the (a) Strat topic. I've been wondering where it was
    since I made my last purchase! I was surprised not to see anything
    in here in the newer top-of-the-line USA made Strats. These models
    have a traditional appearance (headstock, pickguard, body shape)
    but incorporate a lot of the new technology that Fender has developed.
    These models are designated - the Stratocaster Plus, Deluxe, and
    Ultra. All of these use the Wilkenson nut, American Standard trem,
    and Fender Lace Sensors (FLS). I have used a lot of friends strats
    but always thought they sounded thin and were sorta cheesy. I was used
    to either my Les Paul w/EMGs (talk about fat!) or my custom B.C. Rich
    ST-III. Compared to those the Stratocasters didn't cut it!
      A friend who was in an opening act for Ronnie Montrose had me come up
    in stage and check out his new axe a few months back. It was a 
    Stratocaster Deluxe and had a lot of features, but above all it sounded
    real nice (he was playing through a Marshall Jubilee FWIW). Made me
    wonder.
      Last week I stopped in a music store over lunch and fell in love (tell
    my wife that) with a Stratocaster Ultra. I'd seen the ads on their new
    flagship Stratocaster but never saw one in a store. I tried it out
    without an amp , whoah - nice neck, ebony fretboard too! Hey, let
    me plug this sucker in an amp. Talk about impulse purchase! After
    wailing on this axe for hours this weekend, I really think it'll get
    a lot of stage use (even with the stiff competition). 
      These guitars a fairly easy to distinguish. The Ultra is the only one
    with two Red Lace Sensors at the bridge and the wood is a flamed maple
    so it looks real sharp! 
    
    							-B()()M-

    Wow! nearly 5 year have passed since I wrote the base note!
    
    Anyways, here's a question for Strat player ...
    
    How can I EQ my Strat so the neck pickup sounds like the neck
    pickup on a Les Paul or 335? I know it won't sound perfect, but
    in general what frequency bands should I boost/cut?
    
    thanks - Dave

    
    Dave (.45),
    
    Me think you should boost the mids.
    
    Poul
    

    Hi Dave,
    	Long time no hear/read...    start by rolling off the tone pot
    for your neck pick-up, max out the bass control on your amp and
    trim off "alittle" of your treble and boost your mids slightly.
    A clean Gibson tone will probably be an impossibility to achieve on
    a Strat (due to your single coil p/u's), but to get a dirty/distorted 
    tone might give you something close by setting your neck pickup tone
    to almost "0"...  maybe 1-3 on your tone pot.
    
    	Good luck,
    		Fred (who plays a Gibson for a Gibson tone...
    
    
    
    			...but would rather play his Strat anyday)

    re last few
    
    thanks ... I'll give it a try.
    
    - Dave

    
    
    I'd add that installing a "rhythm pickup" no matter what switch.. 
    Selection of the back and front pickups together (without the middle)
    seems to yield a nice Gibson "middle position" tone.
    
    Blair Unit... waz happanen..
    
    Gree Vee

	My wife just got me a Hohner "Strat" for our anniversary, my
	first usable electric guitar. It's fun so far (got to get
	some distortion, though), but I have one problem - with the
	way the strings go through the neck, when I break a string,
	there isn't enough sticking out on top to push the end out,
	and it won't fall out the hole on the bottom on its own. The
	best I can do is poke at it with another string until it
	drops out. There must be a better way, something simple and
	obvious I'm missing (because "don't break your strings":-).

	Mike

    Hi Mike,
    
    I had the same guitar two years ago...and the same problem! I always
    used a thin nail or a needle to get the string out, works fine. 
    
    Btw. The Hohner Strat is a fine Strat for the Money, I had one for the
    first three years, before I got me an American Standard. 
    
    Sascha_from_Munich
    

     I condensed this from an article titled "Different Strats
     For Different Cats", in EU Wurly's very own publication called
     POWERHOUSE (much stuff for musicians to read) Issue #3.

     Neal
     .................................................................

     Here goes FWIW...........

     Fender has factories all over the world. Places like India,
     Korea, Mexico, and the US.

     	The Squire Strat

     The Squire Strats are made in India, Korea, and the US.
     The US model comes with either a rosewood (dark) or maple (light)
     fingerboard, and a choice of three colors.
     The Korean model is the same, but comes in four colors, and is
     less expensive. The Indian model is the Squire II, come only
     in a maple neck and three colors. The cases are extra.

     	The Standard Strat

     These were made in Japan, but are now made in Mexico. The neck
     comes in maple or rosewood, with a satin (not gloss) finish on
     the back of the neck, and the standard strat tremolo setup.
     Once again, the case is extra.

     	The American Standard Strat

     All American made Strats offer higher quality tuners, pickups,
     electronics, finishes, and wood. They come with maple or rosewood
     necks, a choice of 8 solid colors plus sunburst, and the standard
     tremolo. A hard case, strap, and cable are included with all US
     made Fenders.

     	The Super Strats

     These are the Strat PLus, the Deluxe Strat Plus, and the US Strat
     Ultra. These guitars come with Lace Sensor pickups, locking keys,
     and a roller unit. Each model offers a different combination of
     Lace Sensors, body wood (alder, ash, or maple), finishes, and
     fretboard wood (rosewood, maple, or ebony).

     	The Vintage Reissue Strats

     These are the '57 Reissue, and the '62 Reissue Strats. The Strats
     of old you can buy new. The '57 comes with a maple neck, the '62
     with a rosewood neck. They come with standard tremolo setup, a
     variety of finishes, including Daphne Blue, Ocean Turquoise, and
     Sea Foam Green, and a tweed covered case.

     	The '50's and '60's Reissue Strat

     These are made in Japan. They have similar qualities, but are less
     expensive than the Vintage Strats.

     	The Signature Series Strats

     These include the Eric Clapton model, the Jeff Beck model, the Yngwie
     Malmsteen model, and the Robert Cray model. All are made in Fenders
     Custom Shop by hand. Comes with tweed case.

     

    Well I just purchased one of those "Super Strats",, and all I can say
    is "ITS GREAT".  Mine has a blue, red and gold lace pickups and I have
    never played a guitar that has as much dynamic range.  Once I find my
    volume level, I leave it pretty much untouch even through my leads.
    
    The locking tuner are great!!!  Simply pull the string through the
    post (no wrapping around the post), lock it down, tune to pitch and it 
    stays there.
    
    The finish is stunning.  It is black with a red starlike sunburst that
    sparkles under bright light.  White pickguard.
    
    The neck is a little thicker than I would like it but less than some I
    have seen.  I'll get used to it.
    
    I was one of those who played a strat look alike and enjoyed it for two
    years.  But this guitar is clearly a much superior to my old Guit. 
    This one stays in tune.  
    
    Now I just have to learn to play :)
    
    Bruce May
    
    
    
    
           

    re .54
    
    Bruce,
    
    How much did you throw and to whom? Details my man, details!
    
    "sakman"

    Got a music store wantin' to sell me a Strat +, maple neck, hardshell
    case.  Guitar has been modified with EMG pickups.  Is this actually an
    upgrade frome the Fender "upgrade pickups that come on the Strat + ?
    
    Curious....
    
    Steve (his askin' price is $450..it's a '91)
    

    re  "upgrade pickups that come on the Strat + ?
    	
    	you're kidding right?
    
    	Ask them if they will knock off $200 if you take it without the
    EMG's?
    
    							Rick
    

    
    Keep looking Steve.  The Strat plus came with Lace Sensors - like Ray
    Willey's.  That price seems out of line for a modified axe.

EMG's are pretty happenin' me thinks...  But whats a strat if it doesn't
buzz on the lead and middle pickups ??

Pat talked me out of it - and I owe him.  Go for a strat-strat, and use
position 2 and 4.  :)

jc

    I generally like EMGs, but I don't really think they're any better or
    worse then the Lace-Sensors that come in the Strat+.  I don't think
    they affect the value either way.  We're not talking about a vintage
    guitar here, and changing pickups is very common and easily reversable
    on these guitars.  
    
    Last I recall, the Strat+'s were going for $550-$600 new, so $450 for a
    used one in nice shape doesn't seem too bad.  I think $400 would be
    better though.  8^)
    
    Greg

    
    I'd keep looking.  The pickups are a significant component of the strat
    sound.  It's pretty amazing that the Lace Sensors didn't change the
    characteristic sound too much.
    
    I haven't looked at the EMG upgrade kit for this guitar (pretty obvious
    why not, huh?), but the EMG kit I put into my squire P-bass replaced
    ALL of the electronics.  Does this axe still have the TBX tone control?
    

    RE: -1
    
    Dunno, I'm gonna check it out this afternoon....I think I'd really like
    to get a new American Std...any input on the "mexican" Standard?
    
    Steve

I beleive ALL the latest strats have TBX tone controls in 'em
(including the "pluses", "deluxes" etc...)

jc (Who likes his American Standard, but avoids flourescent lights :)

    I went on the phone blitz shopping spree....visited two stores and made
    cash offers equivalent to 45% off of MSRP....they all let me walk.  I
    called Atlanta where I bought my last strat and they said I could have
    an American Standard with case for $550.  I went BACK to Hot Licks in
    Waldorf, MD and walked out with a brand spanking new American Standard
    sunburst strat, with case, strap, extra set of strings and a stand for
    $509...the equivalent of 40% off MSRP with the strap, strings and stand
    thrown in....maybe not the best deal in town, but it was the best deal
    I was gonna get today!
    
    I love it....the sunburst is gorgeous, and the strat "bite" is there as
    expected...maple neck with white pickguard....looks great next to my
    Les Paul...they're buddies, now.....
    
    Steve (who's collection now needs an nice acoustic/electric)  8^)

    Anna rack !!
    (sorry!)
    
    jc

    
    	Wow..a sunburst Strat and a Les Paul...wow...
    
    	Steve, I am proud of your negotiating skills!  I think you got a 
    	fabulous buy on a great guitar.  Hey, for variety, keep the trem
    	operable.  That will make the contrast between the LP and the 
    	Strat even more fun.  
    
    	Hey, what's with all this guitar buying in here?  Maybe I *need*
    	a DC135?
    
    	;^)

    Lesse...a sunburst Strat and a Les Paul Deluxe...
    
    You're trying to copy Alan Starr's setup, aren't you??
    
    Greg

	I picked up an American Std 2 weeks ago and I'm REAL happy
	with it. I only managed to beat the local dealer down to $550
	with case but figgered that was good enough to take it. I'd
	say you got a great price.

	Mine's Midnight Blue, white pickguard, rosewood board. It was
	the GP article that did it to me. This guitar's clean tone is
	too beautiful.

    re: >>Hey, what's with all this guitar buying in here?  Maybe I *need*
            a DC135?
    
    I was thinking about one of these beauties too until just recently.
    What turned me around was that I was thinking maybe I'd get one more
    guitar and retire from lusting/salivating/buying any more guitars. then
    I figured I just couldn't see me in twenty years playin anything but
    traditional time honored guitar like a Strat. So I kept my Strat amd
    modified it H,S,S.
    
    "sakman" 

RE: .69

Sounds like the clone to mine !  Isn't midnight blue purty as hell !?!?!

jc (Who likes blue axes)

    My other choice was Midnight Blue (in this store, anyway)...I looked at
    it long and hard...it IS a nice looking axe, but the sunburst is "me"...I
    like it's vintage look.
    
    RE: cloning Alan Starr's collection...is Alan's Les Paul a wine red
    deluxe?  Alan?
    
    Steve

>    RE: cloning Alan Starr's collection...is Alan's Les Paul a wine red
>    deluxe?  Alan?
    
    Actually...
    
    
    
    
    
    IT *IS*!!!!!!!
    
    
    Scary stuff here, kids!   
    
    Greg

   Yo, ChasB:  What's this?  Thorogood lyrics in your p_name?  I never woulda
   thought...  :-)

   -- Sam (a real happy Amer. Std. Deluxe owner of two years now...  Antique
           white with white p-gaurd and maple neck/fingerboard, in case you
           were wondering.  -  Thanks, TomG!)

    So lessee, Alan and I have a wine red LP deluxe and a sunburst strat, and
    now he has a used Carvin; Alan, does this guy have any more used
    Carvin's for sale...this coincidental matchup is too scary; I'm afraid
    to break the chain....might tick of another L.A. quake 'er sumthin'!
    
    "honey, I need to buy ANOTHER electric guitar...if I don't, California
    will fall into the ocean....."  yeah, that's the ticket!
    
    \^)
    

Knowing Steve-a-reno, I have to concur that he is definately a sunburst man.
And Fender bursts are purty too.  :)

>    So lessee, Alan and I have a wine red LP deluxe and a sunburst strat

Very scary indeed!!!!

But - do you have an acoustic? I have an Ovation Balladeer......

alan

     This is my "one note per week". ;^)
    
     Alan's strat is a '57 vintage series guitar and is "only"
     2 tone sunburst.
    
     Re: American Strats
    
     Maybe it's just me, but I *hate* the necks on these guitars. I
     much prefer the neck on by Japanese Tele. My dislike of the
     neck is the primary reason I sold the Strat (much to Sam's
     good fortune ;^)).
    
     
    Tom
    
    ---
    Dictated with Dragon Dictate.
    

     Re: American Strats
    
>>     Maybe it's just me, but I *hate* the necks on these guitars. I
>>     much prefer the neck on by Japanese Tele. My dislike of the
    
    
    It's strange how our individual preferences differ.  I much prefer
    the neck on my Am Std over the one that was on my Japanese Strat.
    
    Jim

    RE: back a few....
    
    gues I'll need an Ovation, too...my acoustic is an OOOOLD Harmony with
    terrible action and a great tone!
    
    Stev-a-reno (my Am Std is 3 tone sunburst....dark brown edge to
    reddish-orange "stripe", to firey orange mid section...purty, indeed!)

    
    Oooooh, antique white is about the only color I'd rather trade mine
    in for.  Or possibly that baby-shit yellow (with white pickguard of
    course).
    
    p-u-ter  pat

    RE: Necks ...
    Pat's standard and mine have different feeling necks (to me anyway).
    His seems flatter, where as mine seems more like the stereo-typical
    "strat baseball bat".  I guess each strat has it's own "fingerprint",
    eh ?  8^)
    
    Jerry

Yo Sam - That's not George

	Strat necks are like snowflakes. I love the neck on my '90
	Japanese Strat. It's thick enough so that I know it means
	business but it's nowhere near as thick as some of the vintage
	reissues or the Jeck Beck Slugger. It will support .011's

	When I went in shopping for the new strat I played about 5
	different ones and picked the one that felt the most like my
	other strat. The color's just a bonus - boy does it look like
	a Leaf brand Grape Gumball. Yum.

    the neck on my new strat is thinner and lighter (in color) than my
    previous one.  I love maple neck/fretboards!
    
    Steve

    
    	Steve's new tobacco sunburst is darn right purty.  I noticed the 
    	new molded cases have improved a lot too with a better shape and 
    	lock down clasps.

    I was playing my strat last night, and after the repeated attempts to
    lower the action without any buzzes, I settled on a setup that I
    percieved to be a "little" higher than my les Paul's action, but
    like-able.  Then I blew the dust off my les Paul (choke, cough) and 
    realized that, not only do I still LOVE my Gibson, it's action measures 
    no lower than my strat's! It still 'seems' like the strings on the
    strat are a little higher....must be the shape of the fretboard.  The
    Gibson is really FLAT, while my strta seems to have a little curve
    across it.....
    
    Dawg (loving his collection that's still missing a Takamine
    acoustic/electric)

    
    Remember that strat plus I bought a couple of months ago?  I'm having a
    weird problem with it.  If I let it sit for a couple of days (in a
    guitar stand, out of the sunlight) the action mutates.
    
    The first time it happened I hadn't played the guitar for almost two
    weeks.  I started to do a warm-up and the B and high E strings were so
    close to the neck that I got nothing but buzz on the first 5 frets.  I
    didn't have time to do a complete setup on the guitar, so I just raised
    the string saddles.  A buddy of mine came over and I played the rest of
    the evening with no problem.
    
    A couple of days passes, I pick up the guitar, and the damn thing is
    exhibiting the same problem!  Except, this time, the G string is
    buzzing, too!
    
    California is going through a very unusual bit of weather this summer;
    we actually had some humidity (too much!) and even rain in July.  I
    don't know if that's relevant data, but I sure could use some clues as
    to what's going on with my favorite guitar.  Help!
    

        Sounds like a quarter turn out on the truss rod is needed...
        
        Andy
            

    re .87
    
    Well duke, there are some variables at play here. Its difficult to nail
    down the problem on this end some 3Kmiles away. But I will tell you
    that I don't do anything whatsoever to maintain the neck/action on my
    strat. I sometimes leave it resting against a wall. I keep it in the 
    cellar which is always humid, especially in the summer, and always cool 
    especially in the winter. But I have had a problem similar to your
    description with my bass. I solved the problem by hanging the bass by
    the headstock on a wall. 
    
    Look down the neck of your guitar to see if it bows, bends, or twists.
    If so, you probably need to tighten the truss rod. I'd tighten it about
    a 1/4 turn at a time until the neck was straight. Don't be worried
    about a slight bow, like about the thickness of a d string, That's
    normal.The variable here is that you may have the action set too low. 
    Perhaps raising it a bit would help also.
    
    If you've any doubt, take it the dealer or someone whose judgement you
    trust and get their advise. But don't worry thinking that you got a
    lemmon for a guitar. I've heard many stories about new necks.
    
    
    "sakman" 

    Maybe is a combination of not enough tension on the truss rod and
    varying humidity that's causing your neck problems.

>    Look down the neck of your guitar to see if it bows, bends, or twists.
>    If so, you probably need to tighten the truss rod. I'd tighten it about
>    a 1/4 turn at a time until the neck was straight. Don't be worried
>    about a slight bow, like about the thickness of a d string, That's
>    normal.The variable here is that you may have the action set too low. 
>    Perhaps raising it a bit would help also.
 
    No offense, but if the strings are bottoming out on the first few
    frets, then the truss rod probably needs to be *loosened*, not
    tightened.  Think about it, tightening the truss rod will remove the
    natural bow the strings induce in the neck, so the tighter you get it,
    the more the headstock end of the neck will move back.
                          
    John, it's probably the humidity changes that are triggering it. 
    Definately check out the truss rod adjustment (there are well defined
    procedures in here somewhere).  If your humidity is all over the place,
    you may need to adjust it periodically.
    
    Greg

    You keep yer strat in the freakin' basement!!???  My basement has a
    de-humidifier running almost constantly just to protect my furniture and
    stereo equipment...and that's my OLD stuff leftover from the bachelor
    days.....my guitars are upstairs in the carpeted study...resting
    comfortably....8^)
    
    Seriously, my basement was a mildew factory before I put a Sears
    de-humidifier down there....you might try keeping the strat in a dryer
    environment.....
    
    Steve

        Referring to a Strat:

        Dunno about  tightening the truss - the symptoms sound like too
        little relief to  me  and  tightening  the  truss will decrease
        relief even more.   The  truss  is  there to counterbalance the
        pull of the strings -  ease  off on the truss increases relief,
        ie. allows the headstock to be pulled "forward" by the strings,
        which  gives  a  slightly  greater distance between  frets  and
        strings along the length of the neck.   Lack  of relief usually
        manifests  itself  by low (below 5-6) fret buzzing which is the
        problem described.
        
        FWIW
        
        Andy
        
        PS.  Any adjustments to the truss rod should  be  made  in very
        small incrememnts (1/8th turn or so) with time allowed for  the
        neck to settle.

    
    
    Hey, you guys are full of good advice!  Well, most of you anyway...I
    don't know about keeping a strat in the dryer...I hate lint on my
    strings.  *8')
    
    Thanks for the suggestions, I'm off to hunt down the truss rod
    adjustment note.
    

    I don't think humidity is John's problem.  The L.A. area (where he is)
    and even Phoenix (where I am) are some of the driest parts of the
    country.  We average less than 20% humidity.
    
    Mike

    
    Actually, the humidity has been extremely high here, Mikey, just like
    livin' in the friggin' Midwest.  Things are getting back to normal now,
    though.  Think I'll head down to the music store, get some new strings,
    and do the complete setup on this beast...
    
    You know, it's funny how these note threads go.  I read 1577.* start to
    finish and only about the first 6 replies had anything to do with truss
    rod adjustments.  Now if I could just figure out what topic(s) modulate
    into truss rod adjustment discussions I'd be all set.
    

	Fresh out of the box with my new Am. Std. It covers truss rod
	adjustments.

	Tune to pitch.
	Place capo on 1st fret.
	Fret string at fret where neck joins body
	Check string clearance at fret 8, if < .010", add relief. If > .010",
		tighten the rod.

	Like Andy said - a little bit will go a long way. Use 1/8 to 1/4
		turn on the rod. Never use force.

	After adjusting the rod, check string height and intonation.

	Living in New Hampshire I do truss rod adjustments usually twice
	a year. In June/July, the wood swells from the humidity. In
	November/December the heating system dries out the house and the
	wood shrinks.

    
    
    Sounds pretty clear...but do they really mean one one-hundredth of an
    inch?  What the H. E. double hockey-sticks do you measure that with?
    
    

 Anybody have any info similar for bass truss rod adjusts?

  - Bob

        Same principle  Bob  -  I just did Sandy's 5 string a couple of
        weeks ago (Peavey TL5).  She was playing it and complained of a
        buzz on the B  and  E  around  the  4th fret.  Truss cover off,
        socket onto truss nut and 1/8 turn _out_ (ie.  unscrew) and she
        was all set. It's nice and stable now. 
        
        Andy
        

    
    Use a (fender) medium pick or feeler guage to measure the string height. 
    I think a truss rod adjustment will help, but I'd have the neck checked
    for warpage/twisting.

    re: back a few.....
    
    
    Yes, I meant a "drier" environment....I saw the word dryer as I punched
    the YES on the reply...figured I'd get a zinger back....well done.
    
    8^)
    
    Steve 
    

    Pat's suggestions on measuring tools are good.  Another thing you could
    use is an old high E string clipping.  Most people use strings from
    .009-.011, so that should getcha into the ballpark.
    
    I usually just eyeball it, works for me.
    
    Greg

	For Bass setups I use an old Dan Erlwine article that appeared
	in Bass Player magazine about 2 years ago. I think this article
	also shows up in his Guitar Player Repair Guide book.

    
    
    
                    So, how thick is this article????
    
    

    
    ok, my Ovation can't play at the 14th fret.  the next from body has
    a slop such as
    
    		|------__________  over dramatized but the whole neck
    archs down (evenly) from the point where it joins the body out to
    the head stock.
    
    It seems to me this requires some relief action, no?
    
    And, shouldn't you loosen all strings before making adjustment?
    
    bob

    Speaking of near-Strats, there's a fairly new one on the market, the
    G&L Legacy.  I tried one out a local paternally named music chain.
    Pretty nice.  This guitar got eliminated from the recent GP shootout
    because it's list price was a tad over the $750 requirement, but said
    chain is selling em for $500 w case.  At that price, it competes head
    to head with the American Standards.  Actually, this guitar looked and
    played very much like an American Standard.  It's pretty much a dead
    Strat copy cosmetically, except for the G&L headstock shape.  It
    features a modern 2 bolt non-locking trem, like the newer Fender
    designs.  And it's also "American made".
    
    So why buy one of these instead of a Fender?  Well, one unique feature
    is the pickups; they look and sound like standard Strat pickups, but
    supposedly feature a patented hum-cancelling design.  Sure enough,
    they seemed quieter to me than those on a normal Strat, and they had
    all of the glassy tone of standard single coils.  Don't know what Leo
    did, but it seems to work.
    
    Anyway, these seem like a cool alternative to the Fenders.  A nice axe.
    
    /rick

    
    If you look around you can probably find a strat+ (which has the Lace
    Sensor pickups) for $500.  Wanna bet which one will be worth more in 5
    years???
    
    The G&L guitars are good pieces (I bought an ASAT a couple of years
    ago) in general, but why go with a clone even the original is in the
    same ballpark?
    

    I've always felt as though I should get a G&L if for no other reason
    than out of respect.

    I think I put in a note awhile back about a G&L Legacy I played awhile
    back.  An *excellent* guitar!  Lively, good action and looked great
    with it's satin finished maple neck and surf green body.
    
    The store I tried it at also suggested that the price would be "around
    what you'd pay for an American Standard Strat".
    
    Greg

    Why buy a G&L when a Fender is about the same price?  
    
    One reason might be because it's a nicer guitar.  The one I played both
    looked and played better then most of the Strat's I've seen/played
    lately.  The maple on the neck was truly superior looking and the
    finish was primo.  Not that Fender's bad in that respect, but this one
    was great.
    
    I don't buy a guitar thinking what it'll be worth in 5 years anyway...
    
    gh

    And perhaps a reason to buy one of these over a Strat+...
    
    The Fender Lace sensors may be technically superior, etc.
    but to me they don't quite have *that* sound.  It's a matter of
    preference of course; for me, I'd probably go with an American
    Standard or a G&L over the Strat+, because of the pickups.

    >> Why but a G&L when a Fender is about the same price?
    
    Well Greg, I'll tell why *I* might. I wouldn't begin to suggest that a
    Strat is the best guitar in the world. In fact I think it can be pretty
    pricey considering what it is you get in terms of materials and
    workmanship (I'm thinking the Strat Ultra for damn near $1200 hwere all
    you get is an extra pickup). I will suggest however that it is a
    versatile guitar and if its good enough for Stevie Ray, Eric, Robert
    Cray, and a million others of their caliber, its good enough for me.
    
    Now that doesn't mean that the G&L isn't a better guitar or a better
    buy even. Its just for me, these days I seem to like the recognition
    factor of replying "Strat" when someone asks what kind of axe I play.
    
    "sakman"

>    The Fender Lace sensors may be technically superior, etc.
>    but to me they don't quite have *that* sound.  
    
    I've had that feeling too.  The gold L-S's seem kind of "wimpy"
    sounding to me.
    
>    Its just for me, these days I seem to like the recognition
>    factor of replying "Strat" when someone asks what kind of axe I play.
    
    I'd probably call it a "Strat" if I were playing a G&L...  But that's
    just me.
    
    I'm not saying name recognition is a bad reason for having an
    instrument.  Hey, if you were to go up to my house, you'd find a
    gen-u-wine FENDER Stratocaster in a case up there.  It's a great guitar
    and I'm not planning on replacing it.  I don't play it a whole lot
    these days 'cause I'm on a Gibson kick, but I'm definately not getting
    rid of it.    
               
    But...it's an older model.  If I was shopping for a new one, the G&L
    would *sure* give a current model Am.Std. a run for my money.  I think
    I'd probably end up with the G&L.  Name or no name, utility,
    playability, and sound are the prime things for me right now.
    
    Greg

    I jammed with my sister (drummer) and brother-in-law (bass/keyboards)
    yesterday, and she had a guest over who had a sunburst strat Ultra. 
    This thing had an extra lace sensor in the bridge position, laid right
    next to the normal bridge pickup...a side by side deal.....that coupled
    with the rollers at the neck nut, was bascially the diff from my Am Std
    strat.  It retails for $1500!!???  He paid $900 and I'd rather have my
    standard...I could hear NO enhanced sound quality, and my maple
    fretboard definitely ruled his rosewood!  His lace sensors were kinda
    smooth....missing some of that glassy bite...might have been his
    fingers, too.....oh well....to each, his own, I guess.
    
    
    Steve 8^)
     
    
    

    OK, I give up... which one _will_ be worth more in five years, 
    the Am Std Strat or an equivalent G&L?  I am personally not sure of the
    answer.  Is it that obvious?
    \Gary (in the market)

    re: -1
    
    
    the strat
    
    
    
    of course!  8^)

    re: Gary
    
    Steve's right, the Strat will probably be worth more, unless the G&L's
    acquire a collector's value now that Leo's gone.  They haven't held
    their value especially well so far.  They are, however, great
    instruments and well worth checking out if you're looking for something
    like that.  If you can find a used one, I'd think that would be an
    especially good value.
    
    re: Steve
    
>     -< an obwhat;s the big deal over lace sensors? >-
    
    They're not my favorite sound, but the "big deal" is increased
    resistance to hum and decreased magnetic pull on the strings (yielding
    better intonation and better sustain).
    
    Greg

  >>  They're not my favorite sound, but the "big deal" is increased
  >>  resistance to hum and decreased magnetic pull on the strings (yielding
  >>  better intonation and better sustain).
    
    Thanks, Greg,
    
    The thing is, however, I couldn't here more sustain, and less hum in
    the same room with the Ultra....he was playing thru a Twin, and his
    comment to me was: "gee, that standard strat and that little Dean
    Markley really scream!"  Is the difference really subtle, or is it a
    sales hype?
    
    Steev

    re .-1
    
    	Sustain is also a function of technique,.. maybe you're better than
    he is! ;^)
    
    							/Billy

>    The thing is, however, I couldn't here more sustain, and less hum in
>    the same room with the Ultra...
    
    Well, there are such a huge number of things that seem to come into
    play in terms of sustain.  I personally think one of the biggest is the
    wood in the guitar's body.  I've played guitars, same make and model,
    with the same pickups, which had monstrously different sustain.  
    
    Anyway, that's the claim.  That the magnetic pull on the strings is big
    enough to affect the sustain.  I'm sure that has to do with how close
    you get your pickups to the strings too...
                                              
>    Is the difference really subtle, or is it a sales hype?
    
    My opinion:  Subtle, at best.  The Lace-Sensor's I've heard did seem to
    hum less then other single coils though.
                                 
    gh
                                            

    re: last few....
    
    The guy with the ultra was a 60's kinda surfin' guitar type dude.  He
    used pickup switch positions 1 and 3 mostly while I live on 2 and 4. 
    My ability/technique would affect sustain somewhat as you say.  I don't
    really hear any hum/noise tho, maybe I need a bigger amp....yeah,
    that's the ticket!  "Honey, I wanna see if my standard strat pickups
    are noisey....can I buy a new Marshall?"
    
    8^0
    
    Steve

    A bit off the track here, but since the question of sustain on a Strat
    was brought up...
    
    I had sustain problems with mine for a long time.  After trying lots of
    things to rectify the problem with little success, I had begun to think
    that, as Greg suggests, the problem was just in the wood.  But one day
    I discovered the real problem; a poorly set up tremelo.  The screws
    holding the bridge plate to the body were a little too high.  Note that
    this wasn't at all obvious.  Under tension, the bridge plate rode up on
    the screws so that they looked like they were screwed down all the way.
    The screws weren't up that far either, but just a little seemed to be enough
    to throw the thing out of whack.  This guitar had been through a couple of
    pro setups as well as me tinkering around with it and no one noticed the
    problem.  The way I fixed it was to take off all the strings and
    springs and start setting the thing from the ground up.
    
    The difference in the guitar is amazing; it sings now.  It's incredible
    how much difference a tiny adjustment made.  If you're having sustain
    problems on a tremelo equipped Strat, my suggestion before you try
    anything drastic is to check that trem.
    
    /rick

    Good advice, Rick.  (not for me, though, my Strat's a hard-tail)
    
    Greg

    I have a Squier strat (Fender), instead of a "modern" tremolo system
    (say, Floyd Rose, Kahler, locking trem, etc.) it has a raised bridge
    connected to the through the body to the back by a couple of springs. 
    
    Does anyone have any idea if this is safe to use as a tremolo (It can
    take a bar, but I don't know how trusting I am of the whole
    contraption).  It's not particularly flexable anyway, so the tremolo is
    somewhat limited.
    
        Chad

You can put a bar in a fender standard tail peice, but if you use it,
you have to immediately:

a) Stop playing the song to tune (kinda inconvenient).
b) Grab a WHOLE bunch of G string to stretch it back into tune
   (nut binding).
c) Change guitars.

:)

The best Fender trem of all times stays in the case, and the springs are 
tightened so that the tail sits on the body of the guitar.

Wanna do whammy dives from hell, pinched squeelies and stuff ??  Buy an Ibanez
"Edge" trem and be done with it.  JMHO of course...
jc

    C'mon, it's not *that* bad!  
    
    The only guitar with a standard non-locking trem that I had those kind
    of severe tuning problems with:
    
    1) was not set up right
    2) had a plastic nut which was badly worn (grooves in it held the string)
    3) generally didn't get a lot of play, so it almost always had ancient
       strings on it
    
    A Fender guitar with a good quality nut in reasonable condition will
    allow a fair amount of messing with the bar and stay close to being in
    tune.  It's not going to do as well as a locking tremelo setup, but
    it's certainly useable for many whammy bar effects.  However, if your
    thing is slacking the strings to make motorcycle noises and dive bombs
    every other measure, then you're better off getting a Floyd (or clone).
    
    The trade-off is setup/tuning time.  The floating, locking trem systems
    invariably take a lot of time to get strings changed on and then even
    longer to get them into that delicate balance where they stay in tune.
    
    Greg (down to one guitar with a locking trem now, and not playing it
          much)

    Thanks for the info... If I do dives with it I get a sort of "ping"
    noise from the strings, I'm assuming this is them slipping around the
    tuning peg or whatever.
        Think I'll just stick with the hyper-bends I've been doing!  8^)  
    I don't use the whammy much anyway!
    
       Thanks,
         Chad
                    

    Chad,
    
    	I'd guess that that "ping" noise is the string slipping (or not
    slipping easily enough) through the groove in the nut,.. which Greg
    alluded to as a possible problem (worn nut).
    
    							/Bill
    

Sorry.  Okay, I over-reacted (never happened before, it got away from me!).

Some tricks to make fender style wiggle sticks work better:

1) Graphite nut
2) Use a graphite "lube tube" on the nut and string trees.
3) Better yet, ditch the string trees and get some locking tuners)
4) When you put on your strings, be very careful to get nice tight windings
   on the tuning peg; don't do too much, or too little and don't let the
   windings overlap.

These actions combined may yield *acceptable* results, however, as Greg pointed
out - if you abuse the bar, it'll abuse you.

jc (Whos stratoblasters bar sits in the case where it belongs)

    RE .131
    
    I have a Strat Ultra with locking tuners and the Owners manual says not 
    to wrap the string around the post at all.  Simply pull the string
    through the hole, while the guitar is standing strait up turn the tuner
    so the loose end is pointing at 9 oclock (or 1/4 revolution), pull the
    string tight and lock it down.  Works great!  stays in tune, sustain is
    exceptional.
    
    Bruce

    re: .132
    
    That would be the correct procedure if you have locking tuners.  I
    think .131 was talking about standard tuners.
    
    gh

    I picked up a used Hondo Strat yesterday and after ascertaining that
    someone had rewired the controls, I opened it up and found a small
    preamp board mounted to the second tone pot.  No battery inside, though
    so it obviously is not working!  There are no markings on the board so
    I can't identify what it is...any ideas?
    
    							Brian

    EMG made one of those, I have one in my Strat.  I seem to remember
    seeing ads for onboard preamps from a couple of other venders that had
    'em too.
    
    Greg

    There was a company back in the early 80s that made those kinda things
    and sold them in blister packs for $30 or so. Can't remember their name.
    mmmmmm...M-something? Module? I dunno.

    
    	I'm just about to march down to the music store and buy myself
    one of the new "Mexican" Strats. Before I do, I wanted to get a few
    opinions...
    
    
    	What would you (the collective "you") consider a good price for
    these Strats? I know Daddy's Junky Music in Nashua NH has them for 
    $350 w/out case. How's that compare to other stores? I know Ted
    Herbert's in Manchester carries Fenders-- do they have any of these
    in stock & how much are they there?
    
    	Daddy's has signs on these guitars that say someting like "Mexican
    Fender/Ibanez Strats"... what's Ibanez got to do with these guitars? 
    Are they manufactured in an Ibanez plant or something?
    
    
    	Does anyone happen to have a Strat they'd like to sell for around
    $300?
    
    
    
    
    
    Brad Page
    

    I almost bought a Mexican Strat last month...the store (in
    Fredericksburg, VA) quoted me (on the phone) $300 w/o case.  I ended up
    with a new American Std Strat for a little over $500 WITH case....save
    up yer dimes and get the American model....
    
    steve

    >>save up yer dimes and get the American model
    
    Stevie m'boy. I wouldn't have expected to hear such bias come from you.
    How come (the bias that is)?
    
    "sakman"

    
    Hi Brad - long time, no note....
    
    I bought one them thar' Hecho en Mexico Strats and so far I like 
    it really well.  I bought it here in Burlington, VT for $389.  It
    came with a gig bag.  I don't have a golden ear or anything, but
    to me it's a fine guitar and sounds as good as the real thing.  The
    workmanship is also excellent - I've had it now for about 3 months
    and haven't noticed anything wrong with it in all that time....
    
    FWIW,
    
    guy
    
    P.S.  How's the family doin'?

    >>save up yer dimes and get the American model
    
    >    Stevie m'boy. I wouldn't have expected to hear such bias come from
    >    you.
    >    How come (the bias that is)?
    
    sak,
    
    didn't realize I was cumin' across as biased......I'm just really in
    lust with my new American Standard, and the price diff of $150 to $200
    seems like it's just not worth it....just my opinion....if he buys a
    Mex/Strat and likes it, great!
    
    Dawg
         

    My advice is this - if you play it, and you like it, scr*w where it's
    made, it's how *well* it's made.
    
    Case in point - for $120 (cash) I can get an Epiphone tele copy -
    natural finish/maple board, with case.  It's got a pointy headstock
    though.  Sounds as good as real tele, plays *almost* as well too.  But,
    since it's a spear, I keep passing on it.  Why ask why ?  
    
    If you're looking for collectability, leave the refried strat alone. 
    If you're looking to *play* the thing, grab it.
    
    Scary (who collects old coins, but not rare ones, in case he needs to
    make a phone call ...) 

    Steve, 
    No offense taken kid. bias doesn't = something offensive. Bias just means 
    preference. I woulda thought that you'd go with a guitar you liked
    rather than where it was made, given the same make and model. But then
    again, maybe you did. 
    
    As for me, I gotta go with what I like. A strat made in Mexico, or
    Japan, or California, is all the same to me. They all sound the same,
    that's for sure. The workmanship is largely (but not always) a moot 
    point here since we're talkin Strats with 3 single coil pickups and a 
    bolt on neck, not some extravagant, finely crafted instrument. I gotta
    go with action, features, color and bounce that against the cost.
    If I'm lookin at a Nacho Strat, and its identical to the Hamburger
    Strat, but saves me $$$, I'll go for south of the border vintage.
    
    But then again, I admit I am feeling a patriotic need to buy American
    if given a reasonable choice these days. 
    
    "sakman"

   Well, given that the American ones in this case use different wood, better
   hardware, Lace Sensors, etc, etc, I think you _do_ get a different instrument
   by buying an American guitar instead of the import.

   -- Sam

    IMHO, it's all in HOW you play it, than WHAT you play.
    
    
    I mean, look at the junk strats Van Halen used to play...or Hendrix
    for that matter.

    
    	Here's my situation:
    
    
    	I've got a Fender James Burton Signature Telecaster; that's the 
    axe that comes with 3 Lace Sensor pickups & the groovy gold-on-black
    paisley paint job. It's really half-Tele/half-Strat-- but it sounds
    like neither.
    
    
    	What I want to do is get something that's going to give me that
    great traditional Strat sound-- no funky tone controls, no special
    pickups... my Burton Tele gives me all that stuff. I just want that
    Strat sound.
    
    	
    	As far as the American Standards go, I've played them and they
    sound great, of course... but I didn't find much difference between
    them and the Mexocaster as far as playability. The Americans have
    a nicer bridge-- that was about the only difference that mattered
    to me. I guess the pickups are somewhat different, but I didn't
    hear much difference. In this situation, I'd be happier to choose
    the cheaper of the 2 and use the money I saved to buy something else!
    
    
    	By the way... anyone know where I can buy a Tele body real cheap?
    
    
    
    Brad Page
     

    re: Brad
>         	By the way... anyone know where I can buy a Tele body real cheap?
    
    How "real cheap" do you need?  Stewart Mac-Donalds has 'em for about
    $80 (unless you want a figured maple top, that's about $100).
    
    Greg

	I'm really gald I bought my Standard Strat when they were still
	being made in Japan. I paid $275 with gig bag NEW in 1990 and the 
	workmanship peels the skin off these Mexican jobs. I can't beleive 
	what a drop in fit-and-finish with a price hike to boot. But what 
	do you expect from people that get paid $35.- for a 50 hr week by
	their Steeenking Reeech Greeengo bosses. :-(.

	If you need a strat cheap, check out a used Tokai or Hohner in the
	$175 - $200 range. At least the Hohner has all 22 frets.

    RE: back a few....
    
    Sak,
    
    I suppose I'm coming across as a brand snob, but it's really this
    way....I'm 40 years old, I've been playing guitar for over 25 years,
    I've worked pretty hard to get where I am today, I suppose I "percieve"
    the Mex and Jap models as a "quality notch" below the American models,
    I'll probably hang on to the guitars that I buy now, and I just did not want
    to invest in something that I felt like I "settled for" just to satisfy
    GTS.  Pat Blair reminded me of all of this when he said: "Dawg, if yer
    gonna buy a strat and keep it, get the one ya want!"  I felt that if I
    had wanted to buy a knock around strat style guitar for jamming, I
    would have bought the cheapie.....this axe is part of my collection, I
    like it, I'm proud of it, I saved up to buy it, it's damn good looking,
    and the difference in price between it and the cheapies is negligible
    to me.
    
    That, in a big nutshell, is why I bought the American Std....I guess it
    *is* bias, eh?
    
    8^)
    
    Stevo

    One thing to remember about imports is that they are made overseas to
    keep costs (both labor and materials) down and have a more price
    competitive guitar.  The assumption about quality is that cheaper means
    inferior and that is not necessarily the case (witness the sorry state
    of Fender and Gibson guitars in the late seventies/early eighties).  
    
    However, if the only difference between two guitars priced $100 apart
    was country of origin, it'd be tough to sell the more expensive one, so
    other features have to be factored in to make the more expensive model
    appear to be worth having, i.e. putting Lace Sensors only on US made
    Strats.
    
    
    						Barfbaghead

    However, another consideration is that the country of origin seems to
    determine how well the instrument will hold it's value too.  I've seen
    those Strats made in Japan selling for almost nothing used because
    people perceive a difference.  Whether there really is or not probably
    depends on the individual instrument.
    
    I've played a couple of Strats made in Japan and I can assure you they
    weren't even close to the quality of my late '70s Strat made in the US. 
    They felt like a cheap toys!  On the other hand, I've played Squier
    Strats that felt great.
    
    Greg

    point of order     to avoid confusion
    
    Lace Sensors only ship on HIGH END US-made Strats, 
    NOT on the American Standard Strat
    
    The Am Std Strat comes with 3 single-coil pickups, as do the imports
    	(although I can't say whether they are identical units).
    \Gary

    re  Gary's last
    
    Yeah, I thought so. I was getting confused reading the past few notes
    that seemed to be comparing apples to oranges. 

    
    	Just in case you wanted to know how it all turned out...
    
    	I ended up going to Daddy's Junky Music and checking out one of
    their Fajitacasters; it felt & sounded good to me. $350 was their
    price on it. I talked to one of the guys there, who I've known for
    a few years now, and he quoted me a price of $290.
    
    	I showed up they next day with $275 cash in my pocket and walked
    away with it. I think I got a pretty good deal. (I have a couple of
    old guitar cases & gig bags floating around the house, so I didn't need 
    to buy one.) 
    
    
    	A few notes back I mentioned I was looking for a cheap Telecaster
    body. There's a sad story behind it all, but the gist of it is that
    I have a Telecaster Custom (they came stock w/one humbucker & a single
    coil-- Keith Richards, Todd Rundgren and Peter Buck of REM have been
    known to play them) that is missing it's body... I'd like to get it
    back together, but i don't want to spend a lotta bucks on it. If I
    could find a body for $50 bucks or less, that would be great. Someone
    mentioned a price of $85... that's more that I'd like to play, but it's
    not bad-- what are the details on that?
    
    
    
    Brad Page
    

    
    Congrats on the new Burrit-o-caster (seriously)!  
    Remember Blazing Saddles?
    
    	"Sensors?"
    
    	"We don need no steenking Sensors!"
    
    -pat (stock strat p/u's and Sam Adams beer is all I need)
    
    	

   There are also so many variants of the Strat around these days its almost
   impossible to keep 'em seperate.  I have an American Standard Deluxe that
   does indeed have FLSs (gold), as well as the TBX tone control.  Does this
   mean it's a "high end" Strat?

   -- Sam

    My personal experience:
    
    I traded in my Japaneese Fender Strat for an Am. Std. and am VERY
    happy.  The J-strat was a very good guitar for the money, the
    Am Std is a great guitar.
    
    Both played well, but the Am. Std. has much better tone.  I don't
    know if its the pickups or the body, but there is a definite 
    difference.
    
    Jim

    Jim,
    
    I have been debating on and off for weeks whether or not to trade my
    J-strat for an Am Std. possibly even a strat plus.  Can you tell me
    where you did your business and what the dollar figures are?  This
    will give me an idea of what this upgrade will cost me.
    
    Thanks,
    Mike

	rent it if you can....


	Congratulations, Brad. Enjoy it. You made out OK.

	Sam - your guitar is an Am Std Deluxe. That's the one between
	the Am Std and the Strat Plus. Don't see too many like that
	in the stores but I know two people that have 'em. It's basically
	as Am Std with gold sensors. (the am std has TBX).

re: .149 (I think?)  Left handed guitar shop....

There is a place called the Lefthanded Guitar Shop in Virginia.  I believe
it's in Norfolk (sp?).  I've still got a t-shirt from them kicking around
somewhere with the address if you want it.  I believe they are still around.

Anybody ever hear of a Grand-Prix strat copy?  I saw a used one in a music
store for about $100.  It seemed to have nice action and played real well.
It looked almost just like a 1960s or 1970s Fender except for the headstock
which was pointier...  Candy Apple red..

_gary

    
    
    	... a waze back there someone said something about a Jap
    Fender/Ibanez start,.. or some such,.. and they asked what if
    any was teh connection between Fender and Ibanez,..
    
    	Now I don't even know if such a thing (Fender/Ibanez strat)
    exists,.. but if it does,. i"m also curious and surely someone
    must knoe what if any the connection is between Fender and Ibanez..
    
    
    	Anyone?
    
    							/Cat
    
    	PS Buck,... I'm right heeyah! :-)
    
    

re:    
>    	... a waze back there someone said something about a Jap
>    Fender/Ibanez start,.. or some such,.. and they asked what if
>    any was teh connection between Fender and Ibanez,..
>    
>    	Now I don't even know if such a thing (Fender/Ibanez strat)
>    exists,.. but if it does,. i"m also curious and surely someone
>    must knoe what if any the connection is between Fender and Ibanez..

	
	I have an Ibanez Strat from around 1978, they only made them
	for a short time as far as I know.  Looks just like a strat
	except for the name on the headstock.   Don't know anything
	about connections though...

	_gary    

>>    I have been debating on and off for weeks whether or not to trade my
>>    J-strat for an Am Std. possibly even a strat plus.  Can you tell me
>>    where you did your business and what the dollar figures are?  
    
    I bought my guitar at Music Villa, in Livonia, MI (metro Detroit).
    I traded the J-strat, a cheap Fender acoustic 12-string, and $300
    for the Am Std with a hardshell case.  Certainly not the greatest
    deal of my life, but not too bad.  I had paid $275 for the J-strat
    a couple years ago, and I had owned the 12 string for years.  
    I figured that I probably could only get about $350 for selling the
    two guitars myself, and didn't want the hassle.
    
    Jim
    

    Is it fair to call my Squier "strat"  a *Strat*?  Just curious...
    I like the sound, plays nicely, too...  8^)
    
    Chad

    It's a 'strat-style' guitar fer sure....

    What does *three* leads out of a Strat pickup mean?  There are signs of
    major surgery inside the control cavity of the Strat clone I picked up
    last week, and the pickups have three wires exiting rather than two as
    I would have expected.   ??????  I can't find any identifying marks on
    them and since the wires have been spliced I assume they are not the
    originals.  
    
    							Brian

    Hmm, one lead could go to a TBX control or something ... I can't
    remember how mine were last time I was in there.  Maybe it's for the
    ice maker ... 8^)

    Brian,
    
    They could be humbuckers in disguise -- two coils sharing one lead in
    common, with the windings stacked one over the other.  Same effect in a
    single-coil size package.  I'd have to see the wiring to make a more
    educated guess about the purpose of the third wire, though.
    
    chuck

    OK, here's wot I got:
    
    One white wire, one red, one black.  The reds are the hots and go to
    the usual spots on the 5-way switch.  The whites *and* black are tied
    to ground.  ????  Still trying to dope out what the little preamp was
    supposed to do (no signs that ther was *ever* a battery inside the
    cavity!).  I expect I'll just rewire it as a stock Strat hookup.
    
    							Brian

    Hmm, maybe a stacked humbucker with a coil tap?
        
    Greg

    
    	Regarding the Fender/Ibanez connection...
    
    
    	When I bought the Mexican Strat from Daddy's, I asked about the
    "Fender/Ibanez" signs that they had placed on them; what I got out
    of the conversation is that the Mexican Strats are manufactured by
    Ibanez to Fender's standards... I guess that means that Ibanez has
    the plant in Mexico.
    
    	Anybody else know any more about it?
    
    
    Brad Page
    

    Ibanez is the name of an importing company here in the US.  The
    Japanese company that makes the guitars is Hoshino. I haven't heard
    anything about Ibanez owning any Mexican factories.
    
    							Brian

I don't recall these ever coming up for discussion here in notes.  I've always
been kind of curious about em, and last week I ran across one and got a chance
to check it out.

The Malmsteen is another in Fender's signature line, supposedly made to the
endorsee's personal specs and actually used by them.  The body seems like a
normal American Std with the newer style trem.  The first thing worth
mentioning is the neck.  It's one piece maple, with just about the *perfect*
50's Strat style profile; slightly clubby, with a subtle "V" spine.  This
is the kind of neck vintage Strat enthusiasts rave about and pay huge bucks
for; the Malmsteen nails it dead on.  I suspect the custom shop used their
special neck lathe to copy one of Yngwie's own vintage axes.  It's also got
a satin finish and a nice aged-lacquer color; very cool.

Pickups are Yngwie's choice, Dimarzio HS-3's in neck and bridge.  Yngwie
doesn't use his middle pickup, but they provide an American Standard there,
screwed flush to the pickguard.  I was surprised by the HS-3s; they sound
amazingly Strat-like for hot-stack type pickups; a little dark, but definitely
Stratty.  With the middle pickup raised to a more normal height, you can get
all the great Strat tones, and the added benefit of the quiet HS-3s in 1 and
5 position.  I was thinking they should have put an HS-3 in the middle as
well, as the reduction in noise between these and the Am Std pickup is quite
noticable.  But then again, that middle pickup may be why the tone on this
axe "sparkles".  Electronics include Fender's passive TBX circuitry, which
I find fairly useful.  In fact, this may be one of my favorite modern Strat
electronics setups.  I'm personally not a big fan of the Lace Sensors; they
just don't have the vintage vibe.  The Yngwie setup seems to strike a nicer
balance between modern appointments (added boost and quiet in the 1 and 5
positions) and vintage character.

Of course, the main event in this show is Yngwie's trademark scalloped
fingerboard.  As with the pickups, I was pleasantly surprised.  I thought
this would be weird to play on and hard to keep in tune; on the contrary, it
felt great the moment I picked it up.  The scalloped board encourages rather
than demands a light touch; you seem to naturally want to fly on it.  Yes you
can push down the strings out of tune, but you have to want to do it;
intonation didn't seem hard to control at all (btw, it was equipped with
.009s).  Another advantage I noticed is that bends never seemed easier;
there's no fretboard friction to contend with and you can really dig and
get some meat onto the strings.  So rather than a gimmick, I found the
scalloped board an intriguing and useful feature.

There were a couple of vintage appointments I could've lived without;
repro Kluson-style tuners and the old-style truss rod adjustment near the body.
I guess Yngwie wanted it this way, but I can't imagine why; modern locking
tuners and an adjuster at the nut would be clear improvements to this axe.

But bottom line, I was surprised and impressed by this machine.  I suppose most
of the people who even give these a second look are Yngwie wannabe's; that's
too bad, because rather than the screaming metal beast you might expect, this
is a great vintage style Strat with some interesting modern appointments.
That neck profile alone is worth the price of admission.  I don't know what
these go for new, but I've seen them used for around $600.  Certainly this
isn't the axe for everyone, but for someone with a little extra cash to spend
on a Strat and a taste for something a bit beyond...

The only real problem with them I can see is figuring out how to get that
Yngwie signature off the headstock :-)

/rick

   Thanks for the writeup.  Just out of curiousity, does the scalloped fret
   board extend all the way up the neck?  I've seen some guitars which are
   scalloped only above the 8th or 10th fret.  (Similar to basses I've seen
   which have frets up to the 7th fret, but are fretless beyond...)

   -- Sam

    Every fret position is scalloped.  At first, it looks as thought the
    lower positions are shallower than the higher ones, but I think it's
    an optical illusion.  Because the width between frets is larger in the
    lower positions, the slope of the scallop is less radical, but all the
    scallops are the same depth.  The neck is quite striking visually.

    Hey Rick,
    
    I can fathom an advantage of single note runs offered by scalloped
    necks, but what about chording? Any impressions?
    
    "sakman" 

    Well, I'm no chord-meister, but it seemed to work pretty good for me. 
    The key is the light touch; it makes your hands more nimble, shifting
    positions quicker, sliding chords and hammered chords easier.  Not
    radically so, but enough to notice.  You do have to be a bit more
    careful as it's easier to press too hard when multiple fingers are
    involved, but it didn't require a lot of effort on my part to keep
    the chords in tune.  My impression is you'd probably get spoiled
    by one of these boards after living with it for awhile.
    
    Hey, anyone ever see a scalloped board on a bass?
    Hmmmm..... (he says contemplating an unspeakable act involving power
    tools on an old, trusted friend...)
    
    /rick

    Scalloped board on a bass??  All I see are visions of a horribly warped
    neck?!

    Hmmm, it occurs to me that this this scalloped neck is not an all
    purpose type of thing, but might be a nice feature to have within a
    collection of guitars.
    
    "sakman"

    I'd like to have an YM strat, although the 21 fret neck would really
    bug me (unless beinding to a high e was easy.

    
    
    I have a Japanese Strat & case I bought in '88 or '89.  How much should
    I sell it for?  It has a rosewood fretboard and is in perfect
    condition.
    
    Thanks!
    
    -Ed
    

    $50.00, and you should sell it to me!
    8^)

    I had a Jap Strat that I sold last summer for $325. It was outfitted
    with some hot rod pickups that I hoped would enhance the sale. For many
    reasons, I think it'll be good money if you get any more than $300,
    more likely closer to $250 or even less I'm sorry to say.
    
    "sakman"

    Before I bought my Am Standard in May, I went to one of my local shops
    and worked a deal for a Japanese strat (new, with a case) for under
    $300.  I'd say your axe could sell in a reasonable time period for
    $200.......not good news.
    
    I'll up Buck's offer by $5  !!  8^)
    
    Steve

    OK, question from a whammy virgin...
    
    On my fake Strat, when I screw in the whammy arm, it's really loose
    until tightened all the way down, which is of couse at some oddball
    useless angle...is the arm supposed to have a range of angles where it is
    relatively tight (i.e. doesn't flop about) but not totally tight.  Is
    there any way to adjust this (doesn't look like it to me)?
    
    Second question: Checking the springs, I see where there is space for
    five, but two have been removed.  Despite this, the amount of force
    needed to use the whammy is very high.  Is there a way to "lighten" the
    whammy?  Other Strats I've messed with had a much lighter touch.
    
     						Brian

    Pull more springs for a lighter action...  Also loosen the pivot
    screws...
    
    Strats have a itty-bitty spring that goes in the hole where you screw
    in the arm - it's probably missing.  It's intended to keep pressure
    against slack when the arm isn't screwed in all the way.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    jc

    Re: .188
    
    What keeps the "itty-bitty spring" from falling out when the bar is
    unscrewed (like when it's in the case)?
    
    						Dopey

    In addition to the springs on the Trem cavity on my Strat, there is
    some sort of tension device with a nut on it. This rests between the
    springs in the middle. Is this a "trem setter"? What exactly do I do
    with this, to improve my quality of life and standard of living?
    
    jim (another *blush* trem virgin)

>                             -< Whammy Questions >-

Brian,


e...is the arm supposed to have a range of angles where it is
>    relatively tight (i.e. doesn't flop about) but not totally tight.  Is
>    there any way to adjust this (doesn't look like it to me)?

I saw the next reply... I have never had a small spring.

Here is what I do to mine....wrap a piece(es) of cotton around the arm screw 
thread hold in place using a little plastercine (Play-Dough). Screw it in and 
it will keep stiff while still being able to be moved around.

Your springs question has already been answered.

Dave

    
    re: .191 (I think...)
    
    That sounds like a trem-setter.  I just bought one and installed 
    it in my Mexi-Strat.  It seems to work pretty well for what I wanted
    to accomplish - which was not to have to tune the thing 3 dozen times
    through.  
    
    The band I'm playing with wants to tune their A strings down to 430 Hz.
    This is usually after I've been practicing with tapes at home with the
    A tuned to 440+ (somewhat dependent on the speed of the various cheap 
    tape decks I have access to).  When I would get to practice it would 
    take a long time to tune up.
    
    Now I just tune once (occasionally twice) through and I'm ready to go.
    I'm now really psyched to have a roadworthy Strat....
    
    One drawback though.  The tension on the whammy is now a bit much.
    It comes back to the right place now, (barring string slippage) but
    it requires a bit too much force.  I may have to remove one of the 
    springs....and I'm not sure if I've adjusted the trem-setter properly.
    I haven't had time to mess with it.
    
    I only use the whammy in moments of severe anguish anyhow...;-)
    
    guy

    dog, I've heard of tuning down to D or Eb but never to frequency. I can
    just hear the banter now with "Dude...your way off..tune that thing up
    eh? You're sharp by at least three whole cycles..."
    
    "sakman" 

    re: 188
    
    Say wha???? Itty-bitty spring where? I've had my whammy apart many
    times and I don't have any such thing. Maybe it's just different
    and old, but since I rebuilt the whammy in 1986 the only thing
    I've noticed is that it's looser than when I first repaired it.
    Originally the bar broke off inside the bridge block (by the 1st owner)
    so I had the hole filled (welded actually) and then redrilled/retapped 
    the hole to match the replacement whammy bar I bought. Using the bar as 
    much as I do at a gig (standard/stock Fender whammy which stays in tune 
    believe it or not) it is alittle looser now than it was in 1986, but 
    internal wear is what I believe the reason is for this. Fender whammys 
    are suppose to "sha-wing" back and forth anyway Brian! It's part of the
    look  ;^)
    	Springs; rule of thumb (what works for me) 3 springs for .008" and
    .009" strings. 4 springs for .010" and 5 springs for .011" - .013".
    I found that using only 3 springs with .010" gauge strings put too much
    tension on the bridge so when I would bend strings I could hear my
    guitar go out of tune. Adding the 4th spring fixed the problem. Keep
    in mind, the more springs/tension added to the tailpiece/bridge the
    more pressure you'll need on the bar...  and that adds to more wear
    on the threads and sooner or later Fred Abatelli's gonna need to weld
    that bridge/whammy bar hole shut again, then redrill and retap. So?
    When the time comes, I'll fix it and it'll last another 7 to 10 years.
    
    Who knew? It works for me and I like that way!  ;^)
    
    
    Rock on,
    	   Fred

    Since I changed strings to a set of .010's I'm thinking I might like to
    try and add another spring too. Where can I get one?
    
    "sakman"

    At the music store...
    
    							/Bill
    

    
    	Coop is right.  Newer Strats come with a little spring.  Ever
    	notice that at the guitar shop, they have a little orange 
    	circle of sticky paper covering the whammy hole?  Keeps the
    	spring in there until you lose it at home.
    	

    
    re: .194  -  "sakman"
    
    Well, these guys are a little more than 3 cycles off dead center,
    if ya know what I mean.  I just nod my head and say "yeah".
    
    When I asked where they got the band's name ("Zeus") an argument
    broke out.  "I came up with it!"...."No, *I* did!"  
    
    Finally an explanation came out:
    
    "I got it from a book my girlfriend had about Greek mythology.  It
     had definitions in it."
    
    me:  "And just what is the definition of Zeus?"
    
    "God of all gods."
    
    me:  "Pretty deep.  Don't you think that's a bit pretentious?"
    
    "What do you mean pretentious?"
    
    
    What do I care? - I'm just the rhythm guitarist...;-)
    
    
    guy (dog)
    

    Ummm, yeah BUT...
    
    Pat and I have American Std strats - your mileage may vary on the
    little spring...  I lost mine on the first trip into the case.
    No big deal, cuz I lost the whammy too (never use it on the blues
    machine (errrr, strat).   :)  :)
    
    Gee Pat - My guit won't fit in the case with the whammy on it !!
    (I read those instructions too.  :)
    
    Another point is, if you use the whammy for a wiggle, vibrato, or
    tremolo and it's a little loose, it'll make noise.  I like the idea of 
    using paper, silly putty, play doe, flower pot stuff to muffle the
    irritating racket.  Not only is the noise annoying to hear, but at high
    volume, your guitar will break up into a squeel faster...  A lot of
    people take the back plate off for that reason (so the 3, 4, or 5)
    springs will cause a harmonic breakout (for the metal doods who use
    strats).
    
    jc (Who's been playing his strat a lot, cuz his current band is doing
        everything in E phlat)

    Dan Erlewine (sp?) suggested the listtle spring in a column about 5
    years ago. Fender probably heeded the advise. When I read the reply
    suggesting cotton I thought about using teflon tape that plumbers use
    on threaded fittings. I got some and I'm agunna tryit.

    Just saw the latest down in a R.I. music store: the official "Waynes
    World" Strat!  It's a Japanese made Squire Strat in vintage white, with
    vintage style trem and hardware and a "Waynes World" logo on the neck
    plate; sort of a copy of the '64 Strat in the movie.  It seems to be a
    typically decent Squire, rosewood board, and the neck had a nice oiled
    finish that felt real good.  We demoed it side-by-side with some
    regular vintage re-issues and American Standards; damn if that Squire
    didn't seem the best of the bunch.  Pickups are cheesey of course, but
    cheese just seems to work on these.  Best part of all was the price -
    $250 (without case)  Cowabunga!
    
    /rick

    We are not worthy!
    We are not worthy!

    {insert picture of bowing and groveling}

    "if you spew and she stays, she's yours, if you blow chunks and she
    hits the road, it was never meant to be...."
    
    " I was not aware of that....were you aware of that?"
    
    My kids LOVED the flick..I, of course am much too mature for such
    dribble..............NOT!
    
    Steve_I_refuse_to_grow_up_D'Andrea   8^)
    

    But on SNL, Wayne played a Washburn...
    
    gh

    
    The Strat that Wayne buys in the movie ("Excalibur") is almost
    exactly like my Mexi-strat....white, rosewood fretboard, etc...
    
    I feel guilty if I play "Stairway.." on it...;-)
    
    
    guy

    >...exactly like my Mexi-strat
    
    Tacocaster?
    
    Edd

    
        >...exactly like my Mexi-strat
    
        >Tacocaster?
    
        >Edd
    
    El Burrito-caster!
        

    
    more options:
    
    guacamole-caster
    fajita-caster
    salsa-caster
    dorito-caster
    frito-caster
    hecho-en-cheapo-locatio-caster
    
    
    guy

Menudo_caster

    Guidocaster

    The I-had-too-many-beans-caster, more commonly known as...
    
                  "The Blastercaster"...
    
    Or the My-bean-dip-is-all-dried-up-cater...
    
                  "The Plastercaster"
    
    Or the My-guitar-is-retired.....
    
                  "The Pasturecaster"
    
    Or Any-guitar-placed-in-Edd's-hands...
    
                  "The Disastercaster"
    
    Edd

    
    Gee guys, now I don't feel so bad about *my* jokes...;-)
    
    
    guy

    re: Guy
    
    Put some out here, they're *bound* to be better then that last
    string...
    
    Greg

    > ...they're *bound* to be better then that last string.
    
    Hey, I'm ofFENDERed by that....
    
    Edd
    

    
    Greg,
    
    Unfortunately, I was part of that string! ;-)
    
    guy

    > ...they're *bound* to be better then that last string.
    
        Hey, I'm ofFENDERed by that....
    
    regarding being better than that last string.......NOT!
    
    8^)

    Yeah, Edd was part of that last string too...
    
    ;^)

    re: last few and bad jokes......
    
    I shouldn't talk, I know I'm guilty of a bad joke or three....guess we
    oughta be PUNished, eh? (cymbal crash here......)
    
    ;^)
    
    

    
    Geez you guys....my 4-year-old makes better puns than you do! ;-)
    
    Maybe ya'll should take some lessons from him....;-)
    
    
    guy

    Just to keep everybody confused, the latest Fender mini-catalog
    published in their "Frontline" rag shows some changes to the Squier
    line, namely no more Squier II, these are now just Squier, and what
    used to be Squier is now Fender Squier series.  There is a pic of a
    Squier series Strat on the back cover and it does have a Fender logo,
    the Squier logo is in small print roughly where the "custom body" logo
    used to be.  Whew...
    
    						Marshall Stax

.22   - SURE ... I DUNNO HOW TO DROOL LIKE THAT ;-0



	as fer Mexistrat jokes ..... howzabout Pende#ocaster ;^)


  Nik.

    
    Sure, you can say that....'cause I don't know what it means
    anyway...;-)
    
    
    guy

    
    I thought this had already been covered but can't remember if it was
    deemed offensive.
    
        Mex-strat => TACO-CASTER
    
    Chris
    

    
    
    
       Yesterday at lunch I was at Hurberts in Manchester.   Cruising
    the Fenders, the salesdude said he would do me a real good deal
    on the Mexican made Strat.   I was standing in front of a Tele at 
    the time and said I didn't want a Taco-Caster.  He looked at me like 
    I was wacked and said;  No, *that* is a Telecaster. 
    
       Yes, <duh> I know.   I said I didn't want a TACO-Caster. Thanks
    anyway.
    
       He thought it was a riot.   (...and I thought the ENTIRE world
    called them "taco"-casters.    Goes to show what great wit youz guyz
    have.)  
    
      

    
    So did you buy the Taco-caster?
    
    
    guy

    
    
    
       Nope.   I wasn't shopping for a guit.   For that matter, I wasn't
    shopping for anything.  It just seems I can't go past a shop without
    going in and having my wallet catch fire.  <sigh>
    
       I did get a  R E A L  good price on the amp that I want.  I am 
    going to buy it - a Fender Super 60.  It turns out that I know the wife
    of one of the people who works there, Gary.   It was an offer I
    couldn't refuse.   (So it's an offer that I cannot post.)   From
    monitoring this file on prices, it *IS* a good deal.  
    
       Now all I have to do is let Deb know that it will cost me soooo
    much more later, if I do not buy it now.   (Think that'll work?)
    
    
    
       Rick.
       

>>Now all I have to do is let Deb know that it will cost me soooo
>>much more later, if I do not buy it now.   (Think that'll work?)
    
    Depends on the moon, the tide, and all the other stuff that could
    affect ones' spousal units' mood....you might consider buying the amp,
    telling her when you give her the flowers, and offering to return it,
    if she wants you to.....8-}
    
    Steve  

    
    
    
       I've already started "testing the waters".   While doing the 
    required spend_time_with_me_and_let's_go_for_a_drive_to_look_at_
    the_leaves thing, (which I really didn't mind at all) I told her
    about my trip to the music store...
    
       My story was greeted with a suspicious stare.   
    
       [Fall back and regroup]
    
       "Oh,  I didn't give him any MONEY!!!  I said I would be back."
    
       The next look was worse than the first.  It was the...
    
       You think I'm gonna buy that after knowing you for ten years stare!
    
       [To hell with fall back and regroup -  RETREAT!!!]
    
       "Nice day for a drive."  [Christ, what have I done.]
    
    
    
    
       Rick.
      

    
    
                   You married guys just crack me up...
    
    
    
    
    If you want to be a big winner on this, buy her something that costs
    more than what you're after...
    
    

    yeah right!!!
    
    	Gee honey I just bought a 58 Strat......
    
    	I happened to pickup a 55 MG TD for you.... :^(
    
    
    						

    
    Re: .232
    
    You're obviously not married. That tactic doesn't work. Nothing works.
    
    You've just got to spend the money and take what's thrown at you,
    literally.
    
    The best effort I've heard about is a friend (very brave in my opinion)
    who buys all his guitars of the same colour. His wife doesn't realise
    until it's too late to do anything about it.
    
    Chris

    RE: married life logistics.....
    
    My deal with my wife is; we both make the same income (within about
    5%), so we both put away the same amount each week in a "toy" account
    to be used at our own discretion.  Works pretty good...I saved up to
    buy the strat, she bought an antique, I bought a dirt bike, she's still
    saving hers.  Mine burns a hole in my wallet, hers accumulates.
    
    8-}
    
    Steve 

re: Dawg

   We do the same thing.  Been working great for 10+ years!

re: a couple back ("all the same color")

   A friend always keeps an empty gig bag in the trunk of his car.  That
   way he bring whatever he wants thru the door and the better half doesn't
   even know!  :-)

   -- Sam

    
    
       Well, I did go out and buy her a snowmobile...
    
       After a heart to heart last night, the Super 60 will be allowed
    to enter the house.  
    
       I booked a room at the Boston Marriott Long Warf, top floor. Deb gets 
    a major, tear up the place, night on the town along with two of our 
    friends.  I get a bill for 250 so I can lay my drunken-hammered head 
    on a pillow.  Check the news on the 23rd, Friday night.  I'm sure the
    State and the Boston police will be involved in a joint effort to curb
    the hell that will break loose.   
    
    
       Rick.   
    
       PS: Watch for the made for TV movie!   
    
    "Drunken Idiots on the loose while the wives sit back and scowl - Part 2."
    

    Lessee,
    
    Snowmobile probably runs $2K to $3K (just guessing here), hotel room
    runs $250 (including recreation), Fender amp runs, what, about $250 to
    $300?  Just how bad did you *need* this amp?
    
    :-}
    
    

    
    
    This should probably go into a "Getting $$ for equipment" note, but...
    
    
    One idea I thought of (but would never use myself 8-)....the next time
    you need to get the house painted, bathroom added, roof done, whatever,
    add in some $$ to the cost for toys.  
    
    If you are going to do the work yourself, just over estimate the
    materials cost for the job.  What's another couple hundred in a big
    job?  If you are having someone else do the job, have them bump the
    price and hand you back the $$ on the side.
    
    
    kevin
    
    
    
      

    I love the some of the "survival" tips in here.
    
    >> The best effort I've heard about is a friend (very brave in my
    >> opinion) who buys all his guitars of the same colour. His wife
    >> doesn't realise until it's too late to do anything about it.
    
    I actually used this a couple of times, it works!  Kinda limits your
    purchase options though.
    
    My wife is one of the those who doesn't care (or maybe she just can't
    keep track of em all).  She never hassles me about instruments, and I
    make sure I NEVER hassle her about (what I consider) her frivolous
    purchases.

    I highly recommend the "Toy account" idea - I put $20/week in my DCU
    share account, that I get to spend on toys.  Plus I get to spend gig
    money on my gear too - Not that I'm "even", but I'm close.   :)
    
    I'm also working a trade deal for a motorcycle that I restored and 
    this fellow wants to trade a MINT LesPaul Custom for it.  Make one
    hobby pay for another.  :)
    
    Now, I'm not that experienced with spousal units, but I *am* fortunate
    to have a spouse that tolerates my need for toys. :)

    >>Now, I'm not that experienced with spousal units, but I *am* fortunate
    >>to have a spouse that tolerates my need for toys. :)
    
    indeed!
    

    
    
    
    
       Oooooooh Kevin.  That's good.  That's REAL good. 
    
       However, I would be found out in the end.  I go 
    with the honest approach.   Plus the wimper approach,
    along with the hold_breath_til_blue approach, with
    the, once in a while, yes_I'll_clean_the_entire_house
    approach. 
    
    
    
    
       [Standard disclaimer incase Deb EVER sees this file!]
    
       Just kiddn'.  Deb is as cool as they come.  MAYBE even 
       more cool than CJ!   Though I can't imagine ME acting
       up more than Coop!    Aaahahahahagagagagagagag!
                         8^)   
      
      
       Rick.
    

I have my studio in our "guest house" and all new items go in via the electric
garage door which she can't see from the main house.  The guest house also gives 
me a great place to sleep when she does find something new :-)

Actually I just work a second job for toy money and let her spend the DEC 
paycheck....works most of the time...

dbii

    >as a part-time Naval officer, I'll be spending all day this Sunday in a
    >mandatory Navy-wide "Sexual Harassment Stand-Down" day at my friendly
    >local neighborhood reserve center (140 miles from home).
    >
    >They're gonna teach me to be good.
    
    
    and justly so ... sexual harrassment is NOT a joke!

    >                     -< Everyone has an opinion on this. >-
    
    Is that some means of justification on your part??

    
    The equal spending ploy is a bit heavy on one side, ie. the wife gets
    to spend 1000 pounds (dollars for most of you) and I get about 250.
    
    Re: Gig bag in boot, he does that too.
    
    Myself, I'm for the easy life and do as I'm told, most of the time :-).
    
    Chris

	ummm must've learnt the secret. I have incomes in two countries.
	Amazing the amount of money that gets lost in the exchange rate :^)

	Recently though, it did cost me 300 quid for a "weekend break" to
	soften the blow of 250 on skis ( there was _no way_ that I could
	have got decent stuff for the same price in the UK )...



		Nik ( T.S. junkie ).

    Stopped by Elderly Instruments in Lansing yesterday (my first mistake).
    ;7)
    
    They do not have a Fender franchise, but sell used Fender instruments
    and have a CUSTOM SHOP franchise.  As a result, they now stock about 8
    or so specially-ordered Custom Shop strats in various configurations.
    
    The one that caught my eye yesterday is a kind of "seafoam green" and
    maple-neck/fretboard Strat, a 57-style reissue, with a 5-position
    switch, Texas Special pickups, and no TBX, and old style truss rod
    adjustment.  It lists for just under $2000 and they are selling at
    -30%, or $1372 with the tweed case.
    
    I was already in the market for an American Standard Strat, new
    production, list $850, selling in the low $500's or so.
    
    The things I like about this axe are:  COLOR (unavailable except thru
    the Custom Shop or on a real vintage), 5-position switch, and Custom
    Shop pedigree.
    
    The things that give me pause are: old-style truss-rod adjustment and
    no TBX (minor considerations), and the extra $800 (major
    consideration).
    
    At some point, I have a hard time believing that any new production
    Strats are that different in playability or tone, because the basic
    deisgn is not labor-intensive like an LP.
    
    QUESTION for the TONE BRO's
    
    Any thoughts on buying a "spec-built" Custom Shop strat versus an
    off-the-shelf line model Am Std Strat or Reissue?  Is the fact that it
    is allegedly hand-built and not line-built worth anything in its
    eventual worth either as a musical instrument or as an investment?
    Would a professional guitarist spend the extra $800?
    
    THANKS and have a great holiday (the 'murican Thanksgiving),
    \Gary

    re: -1
    
    depends on what *you* want...ya wanna play it or just *own* it?  I
    think the percieved "extra" worth ($800) would go down the drain when
    you tried to resell it and recoup your investment...your ad plugging
    all the custom extras may not get much interest if yer asking price is
    higher than the price of a new Am Std.  I say buy the Am Std and hot
    rod it if you wish.....even then you'll lose some of the money you
    spent upgrading.....
    
    BTW, do shops really sell $1300 strats?  It may be my simple tastes,
    but I can't imagine a strat that is $800 better than mine in feel and
    tone...!  I guess some people just have too much money, or I'm getting
    older and more stubborn.....(shaddup Coop)
    
    Dawg

    Re: would a pro
    
    I work with pro players pretty often and a lot of them don't have the
    budgets for expensive gear.  What they *do* buy is stuff that will do
    the job reliably night after night.  At least the guys I work with
    would save the $800 because they don't have that kind of money; they
    could easily buy another guitar or an amp and have some pocket change
    left over, eh?  
    
    						Brian

    I don't know about its investment value, but if you're buying a guitar
    to *play*, the question is, "Does it play that much better than a Std.?"
    And since you can change all the hardware relatively cheaply, for me it
    would come down to the neck - is the neck worth it? - and the overall
    feel of the instrument.  If you want it for other than musical reasons,
    it's a different question, but if you want it for its sound and
    playability, it sounds overpriced, to say the least.
    
    I can't imagine spending $1300 for a new Strat, no matter what color,
    unless it was signed by Jimi and Stevie Ray - yesterday!  JMO, natch.
    
    Dave

    Well, the sad reality is that the Fender Custom shop is backed up
    several months so plenty of people ARE buying these.  The rule of
    thumb I heard is, you start by paying double what the equivalent
    production instrument would cost, and then start adding bucks for
    further special custom niceties you want.  So the price you're
    seeing is right in line.  My vision of the typical custom shop
    customer is someone who always wanted a Strat when they were a
    kid but could never afford one.  They're grown now, probably a
    professional with a good paying job, probably still can't play
    (hey, sounds like me!), but they still want that dream guitar.
    And they don't mind disposing of a little income to get it either.
    Fender is raking it in on these deals.
    
    My opinion?  I've played several custom shop Strats as well as all
    the production jobs.  The difference is not that significant. 
    Workmanship on Fender production stuff is pretty high right now;
    the custom shop might be a tiny bit better, not enough so you'd
    notice imo.  Most of the difference I've seen between custom shop
    and production instruments is purely cosmetic; fancy colors, a little
    birdseye action in the neck, etc.  They feel, play, and sound pretty
    much the same.  You could upgrade to Texas Special pickups on your
    own, and even have a pro refin done by someone else for less than
    the difference in price here.  I personally don't think they're
    worth it.
    
    /rick

    btw, I don't consider the old-style truss rod a minor thing.
    They're major pains-in-the-butt if you have a Strat neck that
    likes to wander (and most do, sooner or later).

    GREAT NOTES FILE ---
    I really enjoyed reading today's replies.  Right on target, no BS.
    Thanks,
    \Gary

    No BS?  Must be the wrong notes file...
    
    Dave

    Gary,

    If you like that surf/seafoam green color, like guitars designed by Leo
    Fender, and aren't particular about the name on the headstock, I'd
    suggest looking into a G&L.  They make a Strat-style guitar that fits
    your description to a "tee", and sells in the same ballpark as the
    Fender Am. Standard Strat.

    I believe the one I played was a Legand model.  It had an absolutely
    marvelous maple neck/fretboard, in surf green.  A wonderful feeling and
    playing guitar (but I didn't plug it in, that would have been *tooooo*
    much temptation).  IMHO, it's definitely worth consideration if your in
    the market for this type of instrument!

    Greg

    Greg -
    
    That's funny, my guitar coach* has been trying to get me to audition
    a G&L strat as well, for exactly the same reasons you mention...
    I just need to find a dealer.  BBE just bought out G&L.
    
    I also may opt for a Fender '50's Reissue Model (list $679.99 as
    opposed to Am Std $850).  It has a 5-pos switch, maple neck, std
    tremolo, and they offer it in Sonic Blue, which is close enuf to the
    lite green for me.
    \Gary
    
    * what yuppie guitar players call the dude that other people call their
    guitar teacher; also, I no longer take "lessons", I now "study blues
    forms"  ;7)   

    
>>I now "study blues forms"  ;7)
    
    So, what's a blues form; is that like a 1040A or the 1040EZ?  Those
    forms give me the blues......
    
    8^)                                      

    
    One overwhelming preference I have for the later Strats is that they
    more room on the fretboard for the little 'E'.  The American Stds, etc,
    are easier to play for me.  I'd probably change my mind if I had a 
    '62 blonde in my hands (don't let my wife hear that!).

   > I'd probably change my mind if I had '62 blonde in my hands 
   > (don't let my wife hear that!).
    
    Forwarding this note to:
    
    decuac::ampakzo::jblair, as we speak!
    
    ;^)

    You referring to the 22 frets on the newer strats as opposed to the 21
    on the Reissues?
    \Gary

    I think he's talking about fretboard width; the Am Stds are slightly
    wider than the re-issue boards.  This was even mentioned in Dan
    Erlewine's recent GP column on Fender necks.  

    Could also be the fretboard radius.  I know that 7" radius on the
    reissues feels pretty weird to me.
    
    Greg

    Sounds like I need to try one of these '50's Reissues out for size...
    
    Jim Allbery - if you out there - could you mail me some dealers in
    the FHO area/Wayne/Oakland that carry Fender (or G&L as well)?
    \Gary

Speaking of strats, after seeing Bryan Adams last night I remembered everything
I ever liked about my strat...I guess it's time to take it out of the closet

dbii

    re: -1
    
    Does his lead guitar guy still play a Tele?
    
    Steve

No he played mostly strats but the occasional PRS and Gretsch made  it's
way up to the stage, along with a Les paul on a couple of numbers. But he
shined through with  awesome tone when the strats were being played. Not a
major riff-master but one hell of a tasteful lead player, or course I forget
his name, but I was longing for a set of new strings on my strat...sigh

dbii tone-away

> Not a major riff-master but one hell of a tasteful lead player, or course 
> I forget his name, 

Keith Scott.... 

Definitely a nice player, reminds me of other lyrical players like Lindsey
Buckingham or Peter Frampton.... just nice and smooth, they tend to play
just what is right for the song!

alan

The following is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) posting I got from the
usenet newsgroup "rec.music.makers.guitar", discussing Fender Stratocasters.
It also has a neat little section for dating your Strat.

----------

Article 1618 of rec.music.makers.guitar:
Path: sousa.tay.dec.com!nntpd.lkg.dec.com!news.crl.dec.com!deccrl!enterpoop.mit.edu!ira.uka.de!math.fu-berlin.de!news.netmbx.de!Germany.EU.net!mcsun!sun4nl!nikhefk!templon
From: templon@paramount.nikhefk.nikhef.nl (Jeffrey Templon)
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar
Subject: Fender StratoFAQ Posting - about Stratocasters
Summary: strats rule
Keywords: fender stratocaster guitar faq
Message-ID: <1993Jan28.161956.29636@paramount.nikhefk.nikhef.nl>
Date: 28 Jan 93 16:19:56 GMT
Organization: NIKHEFK
Lines: 541

Now, a second try - the first bounced due to lack of disk space locally!

This is the Fender Stratocaster "FAQ" posting with answers.  New sections have
been added about the woods used in making Fenders, about tremolo setups, and a
BIG section about how to date your Strat (i.e. find out its age - Fender is
still working on the Laura Dern Model, so the other dating option is still a
little uncomfortable ...).  Thanks to Christian and Pasi for putting this date-
a-Strat section together!!

As always, all contributions and comments and corrections and free beer, etc.
are welcome.  Have fun and jam out!!

				JT
			for the StratoFAQ crew

[P.S. - I read somewhere that the US Vintage series have ASH  bodies which
 seems to be different than in the Frontline (which is where we got our info).
 Anybody have a definitive  answer on this??]

------------------------------------------------------------

This StratoFAQ was composed by Jeff Templon (templon@paramount.nikhefk.nikhef.
nl) and Don Tillman (till@lucid.com).  We used the Fender _Frontline_ Catalog,
as well as information gleaned from magazines and our vast experience.  Other
net people have contributed pieces, and their names are displayed alongside
their contributions.  We welcome any corrections or additions.

Stratocasters

This FAQ explains about the different models of Fender Stratocasters, why they
exist, what the difference is between them.  Last check showed forty different
models (that's forty models with the name "Strat" in them, with separate model
numbers, not counting colors), and they do not always look very different at
first glance, so be careful.  Above all, let your fingers (or maybe those of a
trusted player-friend if you are a beginner) be your guide!

We're going to be splitting them up by country of origin, not because we really
care about where they were built, but because Strats from different countries
use different materials and are of different designs.

Also we're not going to list prices; these are already available on the
internet.

Finally: if you want EVEN MORE information, there is a sort of "definitive book"
on Stratocasters.  It is called "The Fender Stratocaster" by A.R. Duchossoir,
paperback, 48 pages, $9.95 (ISBN 0-88188-880-X).

Disclaimer: We come down hard on the "Hot Modern" sort of Stratocasters, since
they aren't really true to the original Stratocaster concept.  Your mileage may
vary.  As always, you should listen to your fingers first (if YOU like 'em, then
buy 'em!)  Actually, one of us [-jt] sort of objects to the Plus and Ultra
models too.

U.S. Stratocasters
------------------

U.S. Stratocasters are intended to be the deluxe, "proper" Stratocasters.  The
bodies are made of Alder just like the originals.  Top quality hardware through-
out. 

   U.S. Vintage 1957 Stratocaster
Maple fingerboard, single layer pickguard

   U.S. Vintage 1962 Stratocaster
Rosewood fingerboard, triple layer pickguard

Both models: Alder Body, Nitrocellulose lacquer finish; "medium" neck, 21 small
frets, 7.25" radius; pickups have lacquer-coated windings, staggered polepieces
and cloth-wrapped wire; 3-position pickup switch (with kit for 5-position
operation); nickel plated hardware, vintage tremolo unit and tuners.

These models are intended to be pretty close to exact replicas of the '57 and
'62 models.  I have played a '62 reissue and found it to be really nice [-jt]. 
nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu tells us that the above statement about the neck
(from the Fender catalogue) is misleading; the necks are actually quite
different from each other.

   [USA] American Standard Stratocaster [Rosewood fingerboard]
   [USA] American Standard Stratocaster [Maple fingerboard]
   [USA] American Standard Stratocaster [Lefty, Rosewood fingerboard]
   [USA] American Standard Stratocaster [Lefty, Maple fingerboard]

Block style saddles, satin finish neck, TBX tone control, satin finish necks,
9.5-inch neck radius, Fender-Schaller tuners.  I have one of these and like it a
lot [-dt].  I have one too, and ditto [-jt].

   U.S. Strat Plus [maple fingerboard]
   U.S. Strat Plus [rosewood fingerboard]

The Plus's have Lace pickups, Wilkinson nut and heads, hipshot tremsetter.

   U.S. Deluxe Strat Plus [maple fingerboard]
   U.S. Deluxe Strat Plus [rosewood fingerboard]

The Deluxe Plus's additionally have Ash body laminates top and back, multicolor
Lace pickups.

   U.S. Strat Ultra 

The Ultra additionally has an Ebony fingerboard, figured maple body laminates
top and back, bridge pickup is a pair to emulate a humbucker sound. 

   [USA] Set Neck Stratocaster 
   [USA] Set Neck Floyd Rose Stratocaster 

Mahogany body with figured maple top and back laminates, ebony fingerboard. 

   [USA] Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster [maple fingerboard]
   [USA] Floyd Rose Classic Stratocaster [rosewood fingerboard]

Trendy heavy metal abominations.

   [USA] H.M. Strat Ultra

Basswood, trendy heavy metal abomination.

   [USA] Eric Clapton Strat
   [USA] Malmsteen Strat [maple fingerboard]
   [USA] Malmsteen Strat [rosewood fingerboard]
   [USA] Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat
   [USA] Robert Cray Strat (no tremolo)
   [USA] Buddy Guy Strat

Signature series.  Intended to be like the ones played by the artists who have
their name written on them, but it sounds like this is usually not the case.


Japanese/Mexican Stratocasters
------------------------------

The Japanese and Mexican Stratocasters are intended to be the best value for
the money.

It seems that the Japanese instruments are made with Basswood bodies and the
Mexican ones are made of Poplar.  I don't know much about Basswood, but it
appears to be much lighter and less resonant that Ash or Alder.  It's also used
by most of the other Japanese manufacturers (Ibanez, Yamaha, Charvel, etc.) 
[see more wood info in the Q&A section.]

It could be argued that Basswood or Poplar are inappropriate woods for
Stratocaster bodies, making the instrument not a heck of a lot different from,
say, an Ibanez Roadstar.  But certainly the use of Basswood is completely
incorrect for an instrument that claims to be a "Reissue" model.

Questions: Are the Japanese and Mexican factories actually owned by Fender or
are the instruments built by other companies?  I don't know [-dt].  I don't know
either [-jt].  It probably doesn't matter too much, but do these factories also
manufacture other brands of guitars?

   [Japan] Reissue 50's Stratocaster
v-shaped maple neck, single-layer pickguard,

   [Japan] Reissue 50's Hardtail Stratocaster
as above but without wang bar.

   [Japan] Reissue 60's Stratocaster
u-shaped neck with rosewood-slab fretboard, triple-layer pickguard

These "reissue" models are intended to be "good deal" reproductions of old-model
Stratocasters.

   [Japan/Mexico] Standard Stratocaster [Rosewood fingerboard]
   [Japan/Mexico] Standard Stratocaster [Maple fingerboard]
   [Japan] Standard Stratocaster [Left handed]

These are the ones you typically see on sale.  I have heard that the Standards
are no longer made at all in Japan [-jt].  The Mexican Standards that I have
played seem to be very nice guitars, especially for the money [-jt].  I have had
professional player friends tell me the same thing.

   [Japan] HRR '50's Stratocaster [maple fingerboard]
   [Japan] HRR '50's Stratocaster [rosewood fingerboard]

Trendy heavy metal abominations.

   [Japan] H.M. Strat [maple fingerboard, 1 humbucker, 2 single coils]
   [Japan] H.M. Strat [rosewood fingerboard, 1 humbucker, 2 single coils]
   [Japan] H.M. Strat [maple fingerboard, 2 humbuckers, 1 single coil]
   [Japan] H.M. Strat [rosewood fingerboard, 2 humbucker, 1 single coil]

More trendy heavy metal abominations.  17" neck radius.

   [Japan] Malmsteen-san Standard


Squier, Squier II Stratocasters
-------------------------------

Very inexpensive Korean instruments made with cheap plywood bodies and cheap
hardware.  They can be had new for around $180.  There are some people (a "cult
following"?) who prefer these guitars to the Fender models, once the pickups
have been replaced.  I have no idea what the difference is between the Squier
and Squier II.  [-dt, jt]

The Squier name comes from a manufacturer of strings that CBS bought in the
late 60's.  Fender uses it for their cheap instruments, so as to cash in on
the low end of the market, but keeping the business somewhat separate from
their main market.  (The phrase "Plausible Deniability" comes to mind.)

Questions: Is the Korean factory owned by Fender? Does this factory also
manufacture other brands of guitars?  Toasters?  Motorcycles?

   [Korea] Squier Standard Stratocaster [maple neck]
   [Korea] Squier Standard Stratocaster [rosewood neck]
   [Korea] Squier II Standard Stratocaster
   [Korea] Squier II Standard Stratocaster [trendy pickup option]

12-inch neck radius.

Some Commonly-Asked Questions About Stratocasters:
--------------------------------------------------

Q: How can I tell if they are "American" Stratocasters?

A: Look on the headstock, underneath the Fender logo.  It will state in which
   country it was made.  You can also tell by the first few digits of the serial
   number.  As of a few years ago, "E" meant made in the USA [is this still
   true? -- jt]

Q: What is the difference between a rosewood neck and a maple neck?  

A: Actually, both versions have a maple neck; the rosewood fretboard is added
   on top of the maple piece.  There are two important differences: first the
   maple is usually smoother and harder due to the fact that there's a finish
   over it while the rosewood fingerboard is bare, so there is a different feel
   when you play the guitar.  Secondly, the woods have different physical
   properties, so the way they carry the vibrations is different, which gives
   the guitar a different sound.  Most people say the maple-neck models sound
   "brighter" and the rosewood-models "smokier".

Q: Why the difference in the neck radii?

A: Leo originally designed the curved neck to be easier to chord, while more
   recently a less radical curve is in demand to allow more extreme string
   bending without "fretting out".  The original and reissue models have a
   7.5-inch radius while the HM models have a 17-inch radius.

Q: What's a TBX tone control?

A: Fender claims that the TBX tone control is an advanced design tone control
   that can not only roll off the highs, but boost them as well.  Specifically,
   between full counter clockwise and the center detent it acts like a normal
   tone control and between the center detent and full clockwise it boosts the
   highs.  Actually at full clockwise it's effectively out of the circuit, as
   you turn it toward center it shunts the pickup with an 82K ohm resistor, and
   from center down to full counterclockwise it shunts the pickup with a capaci-
   tor like a standard tone control.  So it doesn't boost the highs at all.  I
   don't like the TBX myself; being a double ganged control it's more difficult
   to spin with your pinky, and the interesting part of the adjustment range is
   all cramped between 2 and 3 or so.  Next time I open up my Strat I'll
   probably replace the TBX with a normal tone control.  [-dt]

Q: What's the out-of-phase position?

A: A misnomer, the pickups aren't really out of phase.  The original Stratocas-
   ter had a 3-position pickup switch that would choose only one pickup on at a
   time and folks eventually discovered that they could get two additional neat
   sounds by rocking the switch in between positions 1 and 2 and between
   positions 2 and 3.  (This is because Leo correctly chose a make-before-break
   switch.)  Soon 5-position switches were readily available in the parts market,
   and soon after that Stratocaster came equipped with 5-position switches as
   standard equipment.
		
These two addition positions soon became known as out-of-phase positions because
the nasal sound of two pickups on in phase and physically located a couple
inches from each other is superficially similiar to the sound of the neck and
bridge pickups on a two pickup instrument on out-of-phase.  And the name has
stuck.  [-dt]

Q: What's the deal with the middle pickup?

A: The middle pickup on current model Stratocasters (with standard pickups) has
   its magnets mounted oppositely to the other two (north pole up vs. south pole
   up), inverting the polarity of the signal, and is wired with its electical
   connections swapped, inverting the polarity back again.  Doesn't sound too
   useful at first, but when the middle pickup is on at the same time one of the
   other pickups is on (positions two and four on the selector switch), hum and
   noise from external sources will cancel.  This is the humbucking principle.
   Most guitars with two single coil pickups also do this (ie., the Telecaster,
   Jaguar, Jazz Bass, etc.).  [-dt]

Q: What's a Lace Sensor Pickup?

A: Fender claims that the Lace Sensor pickup "is not a pickup at all, but an
   Audio Emission Sensor (AES)".  Pure marketing drivel.  Insulting too; AES
   actually stands for the Audio Engineering Society, a professional organiza-
   tion.  Anyway, it's a standard single coil pickup that, because of its
   design, is less sensitive to hum and noise than typical single coil pickups. 
   It sounds similiar, but not exactly like, standard Fender single coil
   pickups.  They're available in four models (Gold, Silver, Blue, Red) with
   different amounts of high-end rolloff.  The Lace Sensors only come in one
   magnetic polarity, so the middle pickup hack mentioned above doesn't apply. 
   [-dt]

Q: What's the deal with the tone controls?

A: The original Stratocaster and current reissue model have the first tone
   control connected to the neck pickup (and thus in effect only when the neck
   pickup is selected), the second tone control connected to the middle pickups
   (and in effect only when the middle pickup is selected), and the bridge
   pickup without a tone control.  Modern Stratocasters have the second tone
   control in effect for both the middle and bridge pickups.  [-dt]

Q: Isn't the phrase "Current Reissue Model" a triple oxymoron?

A: Yes indeed, these are very rare.

Q: Does the wood used in the guitar matter?  Which wood is used?

A: [courtesy Christian Sebeke <cseb@frodo.lfi.uni-hannover.de>] Woods that have
   been used to make Stratocasters include ash, alder, poplar, and basswood.
   The alder-bodied guitars are the "normal" stratocasters, ash having been used
   in some early models and poplar or basswood in some of the Japanese/Mexican/
   Korean versions.  [note - any more information from wood experts is welcome]
   In the opinion of some luthiers, poplar is close to basswood.  The basic
   sound of a guitar made from Alder is warm with a good amount of presence without
   being too extreme in the top.  The Poplar is not as popular as the name might
   suggest. The sound is not characteristic, but a bit more bright than bass-
   wood.  Poplar is quite soft.

Q: What is the difference between changing string gauges, tightening the trem
   screws (accessible on a Strat from behind the guitar), or adding more springs
   (also accessible from behind) in trying to set up your Strat's tremolo
   system?
   
A: I'll not write up the physics details, but ... in this situation, the
   difference between adjusting the number of springs vs. adjusting the screws
   is that the fewer springs you have, the "spongier" your trem action will be.
   That is, it will take less force for you to change the pitch of the strings
   by a given amount.  This goes for both ways, either raising or lowering the
   pitch!  It is easy to see why this works with lowering the pitch (then you
   pull against the spring), but I was surprised about getting the same answer
   when raising the pitch.
   
   A related effect is that if you choose the few-spring option, then your
   guitar will be more apt to go out of tune when you bend notes.  I don't
   mean "lose tune" so that you must retune, I mean that if you play one open
   note and bend another at the same time, the open note will go out of tune
   because you've moved the bridge by increasing string tension with your bend.
   
   The effect of the string gauge is to increase the string tension; thus if
   you have your trem setup and you put on heavier strings, you'll either have
   to tighten the trem screws or add more springs to keep your same trem setup 
   position.
   
   A final note: the number of springs may affect your guitar's tone!  You are
   changing the way that the string vibrations are transmitted to the wood of
   the body when you add or remove springs.  A professional player told me [jt]
   once that's why he doesn't use a non-tremolo strat, even though he hardly
   ever touches the tremolo bar ... "you've got this hollowed-out area in the
   wood with all this metal in it ... that's why a Stratocaster sounds like it
   does."

Q: How do I tell when my possibly valuable Stratocaster was made?

A: The below part of the FAQ has been contributed by Christian Sebeke and Pasi
   Korhonen, and answers ALOT of these questions.

Version 2.3.2 , 27.01.93, 9.00
FAQ: Please date my Strat.

Introduction

Stratocasters were built since 1953 and it is quite difficult to exactly recover
the birthday of your guitar.  The manufacturing dates of the parts for the
Stratocaster and the final assembly may differ significantly.  Necks are usually
stamped with their manufacturing date on the end that fits into the body and
faces towards the pickups.  Bodies were also stamped, but the digits are usually
hidden under the pickguard and covered with paint.

For a first idea we would call it convenient to hang on to the serial numbering
scheme to determine the manufacturing year of a Strat although it is easy to
exchange neck plates.   You will have to disassemble the axe to find the
definitive (neck) age.  If you want to know a bit more, there is a book that
deals with nearly all details on Strats, it's called "The Fender Stratocaster"
by A.R. Duchossoir (see reference above.)  One could also recommend Tony Bacon
and Paul Days book: "The Fender Book", A complete History of Fender Electric
Guitars, Balafon, London 1992 (We don't have it yet, so no comment).

If you really want to dig vintage guitars of any kind, try George Gruhn and
Walter Carter: "Gruhn's guide to Vintage Guitars", GPI Books, SF, 1991.  Not so
many pictures, but more numbering information.  Also "American Guitars" by Tom
Wheeler is a good book for the guitar lover.  He has several sections and tons
of pictures on all American guitar manufacturers along with some information on
dating Fenders and Gibsons. ISBN 0-06-273154-8 paperback, revised and updated
edition, Harper Perennial, NY 1992.

The authors [cs,pk] think that it is a pity that old Strats are getting sold to
people who don't use them to enrich the world of music, but to enrich
themselves.  There may be talents that would have grown to a better playing
using an old but well crafted reasonably priced guitar. So be aware of your
instrument's value and think twice before giving it away to someone who does not
know how to play it. We don't include prices here, but if you buy or sell a
guitar be aware of the following facts: Every modification lowers the price,
also refinishing.  Special models and original custom colors may raise it
significantly.


Note

ALWAYS USE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT!!! THERE MAY BE INCONSISTENCIES.

IF YOU DATED YOUR STRAT PLEASE SEND A NOTE TO THE AUTHORS ALONG WITH AS MUCH
INFORMATION ON YOUR GUITAR AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE SUBJECTS MEN-
TIONED BELOW.  WE WILL COLLECT THEM AND MERGE THEM TO THE COMING VERSIONS OF
THE FAQ.

pkor@phoenix.oulu.fi
cs@frodo.lfi.uni-hannover.de

Questionnaire (We would appreciate at least the first three items):

* Serial-Number
* Neck-Date
* Patent Number(s) like 61,62,...,76
  Color (refinished?)
  Neck (rosewood/maple)
  Micro-Tilt (y/n)
  Staggered PU's (y/n)
  Scratchplate (alu/plastic/laminated)
  Scratchplate Color
  Headstock/Logo


Serial Numbers

To give you an idea of the age take the following table of serial numbers.  It
shows the range of numbers and the respective time when they were used.   Note
that the periods overlap significantly sometimes.   Credits should be given to
Jim Werner, a collector from Iowa, who collected a neck date/serial number
table from more than 800 Fender instruments.  His table is reprinted in the
Duchossoir.  Our table is a compilation of the Werner list and Duchossoir info,
which comes from Fender for later (70s) periods.

Period                   Series                                      Comment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1953-1954           2 or 3 digits       maybe prototypes until start in 1954
1953-1956           4 digits through 1111                        mainly 1954
1955-1957           4 digits starting with 7 or 8
1954-1957              08999 ... 14514                           mainly 1956
1957                   15054 ... 22647
1958                   28250 ... 30747
1959                   30892 ... 43125
1959-1960              44606 ... 48490
1960-1962              55045 ... 71331                           mainly 1961
1961-1964              76281 ... 90745                           mainly 1962
1961-1963              91954 ... 98691                           mainly 1963
1963-1964            L 00186 ... L 33650                            few 1962
1964-1965            L 34983 ... L 99809
1965-1966            100 173 ... 124 061                         mainly 1965
1964-1969            125 115 ... 195 270                         mainly 1966
1966-1969            195 663 ... 215 825                         mainly 1967
1966-1968            217 602 ... 240 407                         mainly 1968
1966-1972            250 025 ... 293 692       exceptions through late 1970s
1968-1972            303 802 ... 375 967                         mainly 1972
1979-1980                 25  +  4 digits                  Anniversary Strat
apr 73 - sep 76            4  +  5 digits
sep 73 - sep 76            5  +  5 digits
aug 74 - aug 76            6  +  5 digits
sep 76 - dec 76            7  +  5 digits
aug 76 - apr 77           76  +  5 digits                       on headstock
mar 77 - aug 78           S6  +  5 digits                       on headstock
jan 77 - apr 78           S7  +  5 digits                       on headstock
dec 77 - dec 78           S8  +  5 digits                       on headstock
nov 78 - aug 81           S9  +  5 digits                       on headstock
jun 79 - jan 81           E0  +  5 digits                       on headstock
dec 80 - jan 82           E1  +  5 digits                       on headstock
dec 81 - jan 83           E2  +  5 digits                       on headstock
dec 82 - jan 85           E3  +  5 digits                       on headstock
dec 83 - early 88         E4  +  5 digits                       on headstock


Patent Numbers

Another source of information in the range from 1961-1976 are the patent
numbers.  Those numbers are fixed numbers (i.e. the same number on EVERY Strat
made during a certain period) and written on the headstock until 1976, when the
serial number moved there from the neck plate.

1961  2 numbers                                    PAT 2,573,254 2,741,146
1962  3rd added in spring                                        2,960,900
1963  same 3 numbers
1964  4th added mid-'64 with transition logo                     3,143,028
1965  5th added mid-'65                                          2,817,261
1966  after Jan '66 only 3 numbers     PAT 2,741,146 3,143,028 DES 169,062
1967  same 3 numbers
1968  after mid-'68 2 numbers                      PAT 2,741,146 3,143,028
1969  same 2 numbers
1970  about mid-'70 one number                                   2,741,146
1971  same number
1972  about mid-'72 one number                                   3,143,028
1976  last time with PAT number, first time with serial# in the headstock


Misc.

-  The 5 - digit serial numbers were preceded by a dash from late 1956 to
   early 1958 and between late 1957 and late 1958 some neck plates were double
   stamped, 6 digits outside and 5 digits with dash (different number) on the
   underside.

-  First scratchplates were anodized aluminum, then white plastic.  Laminated
   scratchplate from 1959 on.

-  Early Strats show a "spaghetti"-logo (thin, quite simple letters).  From
   July '64 it changed to a more modern looking gold "transition" logo and
   mid '68 until '77 they had the black "CBS"-logo. Then it got the gold
   outline, and mid-1983 the smaller silver logo appeared.

-  Three color sunburst was used from mid-'58.

-  Large F on the plate since CBS-takeover in Jan. '65, until late '76.

-  Wider headstock generally from December '65. The new small headstock
   appeared  in fall '81. In addition to these, a medium size headstock was
   used on special  models (The Strat, Walnut Strat and Gold Stratocaster)
   in early 80's.

-  3 bolt Micro Tilt adjustment from fall '71 to Anniversary '79, std.
   Strats till fall '81.

-  Staggered Pickups appeared in 1954 and vanished in late 1974. Reappeared
   late '81 along with the smaller headstock, when Dan Smith took over the
   design front (Smith Strat).

Remember to send your dates to the authors.
Thanks for using this dating sceme.

[end of the Date-A-Strat section!!]

Does that mean I can go thru the conference and blast the 300 Strat related
topics ??  :-)

jc

    re: -1
    
    Whatchya waitin' fer?  Buy one now and put sum more notes in the
    zillion other strat replies.......hmmm, these muz be popular axes.
    
    steev

    Y'all may have heard about the book called The Fender Stratocaster by
    A.R. Duchossoir. I bought a copy of the second edition back in '87. 
    Recently a 3rd edition has been released. Having spotted it on a book
    rack at Wurlitzer's last week I flipped through it. Not only does it
    have a nice color photo section in the middle but it seemed to have
    considerably more info.

    Sold. After going through it at home I feel compelled to broadcast that
    this book now contains truly a wealth of information. Much MUCH better
    than the earlier version and goes right up to 1988 on a lot of
    information. Lots of the data from Dan Smith of Fender. Things like
    tables of neck dimensions, pickup parameters, etc. from '54 to '88.
    What's not covered from 1988 to now is covered in his brand new book
    called The Fender Telecaster (it goes up to 1991 actually). This one
    even has Lace Sensor cutaway views. Between the two you got the whole
    shootin' match.

    One interesting little section is on the neck profiles. Contrary to what
    I believed, neck profiles -- although obviously changing over time --
    were apparently very consistant on the production line up until '69 when
    he says the necks you got depended on the worker that made it and the
    production schedule. Neck variances hit their peak during the 70s.

    Buy 'em both. ($11 & $17 or cheaper by mail order)

    Got to (finally) check out an SRV signature Strat the other day.  This
    is advertised as being a direct copy of Stevie's #1 and was authorized
    and under development before his death.  Random impressions:
    
    The neck is pretty substantial, not overly wide but very thick; a real
    baseball bat.  The neck on Stevie's is supposed to be from a '63; I've
    played several '63 Strats myself and this one is an excellent copy. 
    I thought it felt great, but that's a matter of personal taste.
    It's funny, I think the necks on Fender's vintage re-issues are
    terrible and don't really feel like any real vintage Strat I've ever
    seen, but the necks on the three signature Strats I've seen (Cray,
    Yngwie and SRV) are dead on, meaning they can do it when they really
    want to.
    
    The Texas Special pickups sound okay; not great but good.  Someone from
    the custom shop recently said in GP that Stevie's pickups were wound
    extra hot and the Texas Special's recreate that.  Bull.  The TS's are
    probably hot compared to their wimpy standard vintage re-issue pickups,
    but pretty average in the realm of real vintage Strats.  Still, for new
    pickups, they're about the closest your going to get to the real thing.
    As I recall, the Cray pickups I tried (also a custom wind) were a
    little nicer, with a sweeter tone.  Wonder if you can get these
    separately?
    
    All of the fingerboards on these I've seen have a really light colored
    rosewood; not exactly great looking imo, but I guess with general
    situation with exotic woods these days this is to be expected.  Oh
    well.
    
    General playing impressions: thought it was a really nice vintage copy,
    certainly better than the normal vintage re-issue stuff.  The action
    on this was set way too high (clerk: "Stevie liked it that way"
    translation: "I was too lazy to set it up") and you had to fight it
    somewhat, but it still felt and played good.  Frets are jumbo, and that
    big neck really gives you something to grab onto.  You almost WANT to
    bounce it on the floor by the trem arm :-).
    
    If I were in the market for a really good vintage Strat copy, I'd grab
    one of these in a minute (and change the pickguard of course).  You're not
    going to do much better.  At around $1000 or so (depending on where you shop),
    these are a pretty reasonable way to satisfy an attack of vintage GTS.
    
    /rick

	Daddy's Junky Music in Shrewsbury has a 50's series Strat
    (Made in Japan) which has a Shoreline gold finish and gold-plated
    hardware. I've seen the custom shop version of this guitar which 
    was issued about 2 years ago, but was unaware that Fender ever 
    built this model in Japan. The sales-dude at Daddy's quoted me
    a price of $850 ????!!!!  for a Japanese-made strat ????!!!!
    This particular guitar is not even new (it has a noticeable scratch
    on the top), and it comes with a soft gig bag ????  I'd like to
    know what these guys are smokin' over at Daddy's.

	At any rate, I was surprised to learn that Fender built this
    model in Japan. If I could find one for a down-to-earth price, I
    wouldn't mind adding it to the collection. I could use another
    Strat. I'd set one up for playing slide and keep the other set
    to standard tuning. What would a new/used 50's series Strat be
    worth (figure a premium for the gold finish/plating). I'd say about
    $500 but for that much it would have to include a hardshell case.


	Mark 

    	The 50's and 60's reissue series guitars are supposedly 
     reproductions of guitars of those eras, not reproductions of 
     a specific year. The Vintage series guitars are reproductions of 
     specific guitars, such as the '57 Vintage strat. 
     
    	The reissue series is/were Japanese models. The vintage series 
     are USA manufactured.
    
    	That price is *way* too high for that guitar. But then again 
     that's typical for used prices at that particular chain of music 
     stores. They always seem to mark up used gear pretty high, and 
     at least in the Nashua store, are willing to negotiate. 
     
     
    Tom
    
    ---
    Dictated with Dragon Dictate.
    
    
    

re: .284, hey rick, did they have the mondo strings on it, like a 14 guage
on the high E? Figure that and that high action = no wonder Stevebo tuned
down a half. Awesum.

    Butchaka, yer back!
    
    Naw these were relatively light gauge strings, 010's I think.
    Hey Butch, you NEED one of these Strats...
    
    /rick

    According to the latest Fender Frontline magazine/advertisement, the HM
    series Strats and basses are gone from the line.  The Heartsfield
    guitars will now be just Fenders, probably to pick up the slack.  Seems
    the current direction of Fender is towards vintage style gear to track
    the current blues scare.
    
    						Derek Claptoe

This guy I've been jammin' with has a Heartfield...  Pretty sharp axe that
should probably just say "Ibanez" on it.
:-)

    They are incredibly similar to the Ibanez 500 series instruments.  I
    played one when they first came out and it felt real nice, but I've
    gotten more used to thicker necks since then and I think it'd probably
    be uncomfortable for me (like my Ibanez is) now.
    
    Greg

    Another item spotted at my favorite music haunt, Cambridge Music -
    new 60's vintage Strat from Japan with greenish tint guard and
    aged/yellowed knobs and pickup covers.  They have a glass display
    case that's usually reserved for the better pieces in the house
    and it had one of these in it.  I was totally fooled and thought
    at first someone had dropped off a nice 60's Strat to sell.  Up
    close the color on the pickguard isn't perfect but still very good;
    the yellowed knobs and covers are excellent.  These have always been
    great axes, more authentic playing for my money than the American
    made re-issues, and now they even look more like the real thing.
    Real nice.
    
    /rick

    Why pay for the "aged look"???? Place a few burning cigarettes in an
    empty closet with your new Strat and the smoke will age all your white
    plastic pieces to that aged yellow look...   ofcourse you may burn the
    house down...   and stink up the guitar alittle...  maybe the house
    too, but heck to get that aged "look" it's worth it right? NOT!
    
    Fred (who's white knobs and covers have yellowed well from playing in
          all those smokey bars over the years)

    >>Why pay for the "aged look"????
    
    
    EZ for you to say, Fred......you've invested 20 years and have the
    authentic "old" look...belt buckle scrapes and all!  Besides, the old
    look only *really* counts if you have years and years of experiences to
    that go along with each fade, scatch, dent, etc.....like the time that
    sweet little waitress in...well, I'll let *you* tell it!
    
    8^}
    
    dawg 

    Fred isn't so far off.  One of the guitarists from the band Kix claims
    that cigarette smoke is the key to the vintage thing; not only looks
    wise but playing wise as well.  As such, he's got an old barn where
    he keeps cigarettes burning constantly and when he gets a new axe he
    hangs it out there for a year or so to age and voila, it's
    vintage-ized.

    Any particular brand of smokes?

    Re: .295
    
    Now this is wonderful logic.  Think I'll start dropping my amps down
    stairs so I can get more of that vintage tone out of them  8^)  8^)
    
    						Tony Yomommi

    I'm sure Camel filterless would speed up the process.....of course you
    could just build a bonfire with a huge pile of tobacco leaves and hang
    yer axe over it.......
    
    |*}

    
    	re: the yellow on Fred's Strat - the truth is that Fred always
    	plays with his zipper down...
    
    	

    
    	But don't you remember what you did to me at that DECjam ??
    
    	

    RE: .300
    
    
    hmmmm, that would explain all the chips in the finish on the back....I
    thought those were belt buckle chips.......
    
    >8*}

    RE: .300
    
    Its's a good thing that plastic cover wasn't removed.....
    something might have gotten caught in those springs....
    That would hurt.
    
    :):):)
    RJ

    Just to put this subject to rest...
    
    Picture this...  Tom Desrochers is getting ready to play with his
    band and he looks alittle nervous...  so Fred being the "brat" that
    he is at times goes and walks up to Tom Desrochers and says, "hey Tom...
    your flys unzipped"! You should have seen the look of Tom's face as he
    turns around really quickly to check...  then to find out I was only
    kidding him! It was priceless!
    
    So Tom, you've actually waited this long to get me back? Alittle slow
    are we?  ;^)  Not to mention that before this nobody knew about that...
    now EVERYONE knows! 
    
    Ya know...  I think someone videotaped that right? Must have been in
    the SpringJam "out-take" video. Available at K-Mart for $5.95!!!!
    
    
    ;^)

    > the truth is that Fred always plays with his zipper down...
    
    Yeah, Fred's going to make a special appearance on MTV:
    
    			"Abatelli Unzipped"
                                               

    re : "Abatelli Unzipped"
    
    AKA : "the O.E.T.S. from the Black Lagoon"
    
    
    Joe Hollywood (write E-mail for O.E.T.S. definition)

    Does D.B. Wilfred cover the Humble Pie classic "Trouser Snake Rhumba"?

    There's a read only noter in here who just bought one recently in new
    Orleans.  I cna't remember the exact price but I think he paid about
    $700 and change.  
    
    Call Leo Ginn at dtn 436-2218
    
    Steve

There's one in this week's WantAds for $650, says it's brand new.

alan

    
    
    I paid $450 for mine - used, but definitely not abused.  Why buy new?
    
    

    My gosh, Steve told me he was an )*(! Best price for strat plus deluxe
    I could find was $750.00 + Alabama sales tax  of $52.50 = $802.50
    
    
    /Leo

    >>My gosh, Steve told me he was an )*(!
    
    No Leo, that's (!)......
    
    8^}

    >>Interestingly, the guy told me that on the "American Made" strats,
    >>only the necks are made in U.S.A...is it true?
    
    I've heard many stories about the American Std strat as to their point
    of assembly.  The latest story I was told had mexico as the final
    assembly of the axe with American made components.  Frankly, I don't
    really give a moose turd where they are made.  My American Standard is
    one of the best playing guitars I've ever owned, and I truly love it.
    It feel like it's a higher quality instrument than the Japanese strats
    and Squiers I've seen, but I set mine up for me and I'm biased anyway.
    
    8^) 

    RE: $699. + shipping...
    
    This is cRaZy! 
    
    BUY USED!

    re: BUY USED!
    
    Yeah, Fred, sell him that beat-up old thing you've got.
    
    Dave

    
    
      I just loaded in a MESS-O-STRATs in the "Coming to Boston from 
      the UK and want to steal a guitar to piss off my friends back 
      home" note.
    
      Take a look. 
    
     -Rick.
    

    
      The Wilkinson nut on my Strat Ultra seems to do what it's supposed
    to do (reduce friction). I was going to keep that guitar totally stock
    and then I found (and ordered) a red mirror pickguard for my
    crimsonburst Ultra. Chandler makes it. I knew you could get them for
    regular standard strats, but didn't know they had a cutout for the
    Ultra double lace sensors in the bridge, until a friend of mine with a
    "blueburst" Strat Ultra ordered a while pearloid pickguard. If I wanted 
    to go back to the *plain* white pickguard, I could.
    
    								-B{}{}M-

    Re Wilkinson nut
    	I pulled out the top pins out of each string in mine and it works
    better, apparently that was a fender mod.
    P.K.

	Well, I finally broke down and traded my Blade for a new American
	Standard strat! Here in Denmark, the Am. Std. lists for around
	$1000...I don't know yet how much I get for the Blade, the owner
	of the shop is one of my friends and he's looking at it for a
	couple of days...

	This guitar is beautiful! It's in natural finish with a Rosewood
	neck - looks beautiful, has a perfect finish and plays absolute-
	ly wonderful. At the first time I grabbed it, I strummed only
	once, and strange enough, even when it was out of tune, I could
	still hear the intonation was perfect!

	And I swear gentlemen, when I connected it to 'The Twin', I got
	that 100 lb. violin tone!!!

	The funni thing is that I've tried so many standards (american
	made), and not two are alike - this one has the _real_old_Fender_
	sound_ that I've been searching after for years...I've been a
	happy owner of the Blade, and it has other qualities, such as a
	looong sustain, but when I picked up this strat, I *knew* it
	was *my* baby...and I'm sorry to say that I can't afford both of
	them...

	Poul (who now owns the perfect combination, an LP goldtop and
	      an American Standard Strat)

    I agree, no 2 Strats are the same, even within the American Std. subset. 
    Some are a lot heavier than others (mine, for example, seems to be
    about 2 pounds heavier than those of some friends). Which types of
    wood make for this heaviness?
    
    - Dave

    The ash bodies are way heavier than the alder bodies.  I think ash is
    used for natural finishes.
    
    							Brian

	>>Poul (who now owns the perfect combination, an LP goldtop and
	>>      an American Standard Strat)
    
    
    Congrats Poul!  I've always liked the natural finish strats.  I
    'settled' for the 3 color sunburst when I bought my Am Std a few years
    ago.....they had no natural finished in stock and I HAD to buy a strat
    THAT day.   I do like the sunburst, tho....alot! 
    
    Steve (happy owner of a wine red Les Paul and Am Std strat)  

    
    I don't know if this is true, but my friend (who owns the store) got
    the information that Fender stops producing natural finish strats now,
    and he won't be able to get another one like mine in the future. If
    true, what could be the reason for this? Can't they sell it, or any 
    other reason? I'm a bit skeptical about it, he also told me that the
    special PVC case it's delivered with (and which I never have seen
    before), comes from the Fender custom guitar department (is there any-
    thing like this?), but I learned by reading in here, that this is in
    fact just a cheapo case for it...
    
    Poul
    

    
    My wife likes the natural finish strats 'cos they go better with our
    furniture (Danish furniture may I add!) than my red and white one!!
    
    Richard

    
    I second that! I must admit I have swedish furniture, but as much as
    the danish, they're made of beech, which goes fine with an axe with natu-
    ral finish! I don't have a wife, but it's a good point if I ever get
    one!
    

	I've been playing my new strat - and I keep getting black
	fingers!

	They seem to have treated the rosewood fretboard with oil or
	something at the Fender factory - never seen this before (my
	LP goldtop also has rosewood fretboard, and I had this one
	from new).

	Anybody heard of this? What is the best thing to do about it?

	Now I can really do some dirty playing ;-)..

	Poul

    
    Am I the only one who have seen this? I wonder if the factory has
    failed something with the finish of this guitar - I wouldn't consider
    it normal to get black fingers (and they get REALLY black!) just be-
    cause of playing a new guitar...
    

    I think it's the strings, I get black fingers now and then.  I always
    figured it was reaction of the oils on my fingers with the metal of the
    string.
    
    							Brian

    yeah, this just happened to me last night.  After playing on an old
    guitar I hadn't touched for several months, the dreaded black fingers
    appeared.  I figure it's some kind of oxidation.
    
    Another possibility in your case is that the fretboard is dyed and
    some of that is rubbing off.  I think it's common practice to dye
    rosewood and ebony on low-to-medium end instruments.

    The only time I've ever gotten black fingers has been from playing on
    either very old strings, or very new strings of certain brands.  It's
    like they put something on the strings to preserve them or something
    and it gets on your hands.  I don't like that real slick feel of new
    strings anyway, so I generally wipe 'em down with alcohol when I put
    'em on to try and minimize this.
    
    Greg

    
    It's the strings and has little to do with your guitar. Oils and skin
    "ph" will increase, or decrease the amount of "black" you'll get.
    
    	New stings, old strings...  the only guitar I don't get black
    fingertips from is my hollowbody "flying Vee" air guitar.  
    
    ;^)'s
    
    	
    A little soap and water after playing should work.
    
    	
    			Rock on,
    				 Fred

>    A little soap and water after playing should work.
    
    Ewww!  But what are us bass players supposed to do?  %^)
    
    Dave

	I tell you guys, it's not the strings - I use the same as always:
	Ernie Ball Super Slinky. And I've already changed them once, with
	no change (regarding black fingers). And my fingers get VERY 
	black, not just on the tip, but about 1 cm. up from it as well.

	They must have treated the fretboard with something unusual. I've
	never seen anything like this before (and I've had hundreds of new
	guitars in my hands)...

	Poul

    re .-1
    
	>>They must have treated the fretboard with something unusual. I've

    	melanin :-)

    There's a small item in the new GP about Was-big Al Anderson. He sez
    that for the new NRBQ album he used about a $250 rig for most of it. A
    Squire "Wayne's World" DST and his Squire practice amp. He sez nice
    things about the guitar.

    I _thought_ it sounded like a Strat on a few tunes, but I thought "Al
    play a Strat? Nah." But there it is. There's even a picture of him
    playing it. Anyone know what a Squire DST is?

    
    	My brother just told me that Al quit NRBQ.  He got fed up with
    	a token 2 songs per album (kinda like George Harrison).
    
    	Damn - the early 70's at the George in Misquamicutt catching
    	the Wild Weeds...
    
    	Tom
    

>    	Damn - the early 70's at the George in Misquamicutt catching
>    	the Wild Weeds...

    Hey, my band played there a lot around '70. Open up for J. Geils a few
    times in the big room and played the smaller room a bunch. A happening
    place. The Wildweeds were a happening band. I think we'll hear more from
    Was-big Al now. It's true about his separation from the band -- 22 years
    is a long time to be in one band.

    --Ron