Conference napalm::guitar

    I tried out one of the new Fender M8x amps the day I bought my Ibanez. 
    Those are real nice amps!
    
    Mike

    Oh no, not ANOTHER Strat note!!!  Sorry guys, these are gettin moved
    soon!!
    
    Buck, CO-Mod

    RE: .2
    
    >> Oh no, not ANOTHER Strat note!!!       ;^)
    
    You mean there *is* another guitar???  ;^)  ;^)  ;^)  ;^)  ;^)
    
    If there is a (so called) "OFFICIAL STRATOCASTER" note...  I'll
    place it there. If not...  delete this one Buck.
    
    No problem.
                    Rock on,
    			    Fred

     Oh its a Fender Strat......
      These are better than Strat copies 'cause they sprinckle
      magic dust on them at the factory.
           seriously though Fred, were they AMERICAN made?
                                   Jon

    No, Fender Standard Strats are Japanese made. *American* standards
    are American made and sell for ~$550.00
    
    If you don't mind Japanese made, the 50's series and 60's series
    instruments are pretty nice. There is very little differance between
    these and the "reissued" instruments made in USA. Someone told me
    that Fender bought the Tokai factory, and is making all their Japanese
    instruments there. Suppossedly, you can't buy Tokai instruments
    state-side anymore but you can buy them in Europe. I'm not sure how
    accurate this information is. 
    
    I also heard that Fender tried to by Fernandez, but the owners wouldn't
    sell. Since Fender has introduced all the low-priced inports they have
    hurt companies like Fernandez, and the market for direct Fender
    knock-offs is dwindling.
     
    I'm sure they are hurting the THD company that makes the 4x10 Bassman
    copy. The Fender version is about half the price of the THD, and
    actually bears the Fender name.
    
    Moderator dudes, how about moving this entire discussion to note 1791 ?
    
    Mark
    

    
    
    
    	hmmmmm... places around here sell standard (jap) strats and teles
    for 300-350.. i bought my ex-tele for 319

    
    a mosrite..??  you mean the offical guitar of the Ventures...
    
    
     got a couple of Venture music books and on the back of one that's what
    it sez....
    
    
                              Kevin

    
    
    
    	Righto, Kev. Nokie Edwards, I think, was the stud guitar dude with
    the Ventures... I had a ton of their albums.... cool music on the
    inside, beautiful weeemen on the outside!
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

	Lake Placid Blue is a nice color. I took the one with the rosewood
	board. It had been out of the store so he knocked off $75. I get
	guitar + warranty + tags + bag for $275. Doesn't sound like a
	forn guitar when these hands get ahold of it!

	
	

    I have a question about American Standard Strats, not import...
    
    Local music shop sells them for $670 (says $800 is list)... that's 16%
    off, which doesn't sound that great to me, considering that Martins,
    for example, are usually sold for 40% off list.
    
    All of a sudden, a buddy of a DEC co-worker goes to work there, says he
    will sell me one for $560 plus tax including case... if list is $800,
    that makes it a 30% discount.
    
    My question is... how much does a new Standard American Strat go for
    these days?  Is $560 a beatable price?  What IS a good price?  
    Is 30% off a good deal or should I expect anyone to go that low  
    (or lower --- how much lower)?
    
    Thanks in advance for your answers.  I could use some specific $$$s and
    <*please!*> not a general discussion about bargaining, etc...
    
    \Gary

        Hi Gary - no bargaining lessons! %*)
        
        Last Friday,  I  paid $500 (Amex, not cash!) for a new American
        Standard Strat with case and assorted goodies, such as a couple
        of sets of strings (my choice), Strat book (around $10), Fender
        strap, 15 foot cord, etc.,  so  your $560 can be bettered.  The
        guitar was listed at ~$800 and  tagged  at ~$650.  I could have
        bought a Strat + for around $625,  but  the  Standard  was  the
        colour I wanted, sounded right, and felt right.
        
        Sounds great through my 63 Vibroverb reissue.
        
        Andy
        

    Thanks, Andy - 
    
    Wow... now you've really got my attention!  
    The exact guitar, last week, great price..... no kidding!?
    I figure you beat 40% by the time you figure in all the goodies.
    You get 1000 Bonus Credibility Points!   :7)   (inside joke)
    
    Was this a small shop, discounter, mail order, or what?  Where?
    And what magic words did you use?  
    
    \Gary

        No kidding Gary - I can fax you the receipt! :^)
        
        This is  a  typical  local  (Manchester, NH) music store, not a
        chain and not  mail order.  The sales guy is not a 'contact' or
        buddy, in fact I've  never  dealt  with  him before, but I have
        bought some stuff from the  store  in the past from other sales
        folk.
        
>   And what magic words did you use?
        
        See "Bargaining 101" (inside joke returned) ;^)        

        Andy
        

    Yeah Andy, great deal!  Give us some bargaining lessons...
    
    Greg

	I've watched Andy during many a bargaining session, and believe me
	he's *good* (ok, I know I'm biased) :^}  He got a wicked good deal
	on my J-bass too.  During one haggle session, another customer was
	watching.  After the deal was concluded, he came over and asked
	Andy if he could take him along next time he was shopping for a
	guitar.

	For the right price, I might rent him out ;^}

	Sandy

    
    	If you can find a friend who also wants one it would help.
    	I got me and Bulldawg 2 American Std Strats for $415 each
    	with plastic credit.  They both came with hardshell case, 
    	strap and cord.  I got a decent Dean Markley leather strap 
    	and Bulldawg got a tube stand thrown in to sweeten the deal.
    	We got them at Clark Music, but also had the same offer from
    	Rhythm City.  They are in Atlanta.
    
    	-pat

    re:  .16   ('lanta)
    
    Was this recently (the 2 @ $415) ?
    
    Do they do mail order?
    \Gary

    
    	re:-.1
    	
    	About 2 years ago, I believe.  You'd have to call 'em about
    	mail order.  I think just about any joint will ship.  I can
    	dig up the number if you like or you can try information
    	@ (404) 555-1212.
    
    	-pat

    Hmmmm...
    
    Looking in my Atlanta phone book, I see:
    
    	Clark Music	404-377-2647  (Decatur)
     	Clark Music	404-876-0011  (Atlanta)
    	Rhythm City	404-237-9552 or 237-8526
    
    I've talked to the Rhythm City folks before and I believe they do
    mail order. Let me know If serious negotiations take place. For
    the right price, I might be interested in a STRAT as well and maybe
    a better deal could be had on two.
    
    jim (in HOTlanta)

        Re .last few...
        
        So, are  the prices better in Atlanta on Strats?  Anyone manage
        to get firm prices? Gary?
        
        I just traded  my  American Standard back to the store (for the
        $500 I paid for it) and left with a new Made in USA Strat Plus.
        
        This is nice!  Lace sensors (no noise!) Fender-Wilkinson roller
        nut,  Spertzel  locking tuners with staggered height posts, all
        maple 4  bolt  tilt  neck  with  walnut  skunk  stripe, body in
        tobacco sunburst. I'm a happy camper.
        
        Andy
        
        PS.  They  have  a Clapton "Blackie" for ~$950 - more than $300
        more than I paid for the Plus, standard tuners but I think it's
        hard-tailed and active - I  saw  the  price and didn't look any
        closer! %*}

    
    	Them Sperzels are a nice touch, although I'm happy with the noisy
    	stock p/u's.  How much did the plus cost?  

        $625 - ie. my American Standard + $125. I also got the "goodies"
        thrown in, (strings/Fender strap/cord) and an additional set of
        strap locks.
        
        I forgot  to mention that the Plus has the Tremsetter installed
        and between the Spertzels, the Wilkinson Nut and the Tremsetter
        it can be dive bombed and won't  go  out of tune.  Sounds great
        through the Vibroverb.

        Andy
        

What is a dive bomb?

Jim (a hardtail)

        Jim,
        
        Dive bomb :== maximum wiggle stick excursion.
        
        Andy
        

    kinda like what Pee Wee Herman did...

    
    
    
    
    	Heiser Unit... nyuk... I giggle, therfore I am!  [;^)
    
    I just converted my deluxe standard (strat plus without the sperzels
    and wilkinson nut) back to a ummmmmmm..... 57 re-issue, I guess,
    original Fender Saddles, re-issue single coils.. bass frets (ha..) love
    it... getting tons of twang... I guess it's like a 57 in every way
    except that it has that newer bridge design.. and of course, the
    re-issue pickups don't have anywhere near the volume that the real
    mcCoys have... wonder why!!
    
    I have to agree with the Fraser Unit, though, that strat plus is a
    really nice axe.
    
    I'm also converting my squire to a hard tail 62 re-issue with a
    Stew-Mac body.
    
    
    Gree Vee King 
    
    

    re:  last few...
    
    Nope, I'm still in the market, I guess.
    
    Can't decide between a "standard" American Standard and one of the
    "yuppie" strats (and the endless upgrade path).   :7)
    
    Haven't played the new ones so I really can't say, but someone I know
    just upgraded twice in the last 6 months.  Ouch!
    \Gary

FWIW - You can always upgrade a strat by adding the roller nut, locking
tuners, FLS's hipshot etc...

jc (Who thought about doing it before he bailed his last strat)

        Can't be me Gary - I'm 4<mumble>, so the "y" word don't fit. %*)
        
        Trick is when you upgrade is to play  both, make the choice and
        then finesse them into giving you your entire money back on the
        original  buy, keep the goodies pack from the original buy  and
        then  talk  them  into  a  good discount on the new guitar  AND
        another goodies package to sweeten the deal.
        
        Andy
        

>FWIW - You can always upgrade a strat by adding the roller nut, locking
>tuners, FLS's hipshot etc...
    
    ...and by the time you've bought all those (expensive!) pieces, you've
    spend *almost* enough to buy a used Strat+ with 'em ALREADY INSTALLED!
    
    Greg