Conference napalm::guitar

    Non-Technical information:
    
    I ended up buying an 'American' Strat 2 years ago.  I liked it better
    than the Japanese model, basically due to the sound and also the
    quality of some of the equipment (ie. pots, tuners, etc)
    
    The Japanese model has a locking tuning system, but I prefered the
    standard, and have had good luck keeping it in tune. (keep the nut lubed)
    I didn't pay much attention to the reissues because they were more
    than I was willing to spend.  
    
    Also check out the Squire series.  Although inexpensive, they do
    have some qualities that I really enjoyed.  I believe that Fender,
    has an 'Eric Clapton' model also.  There are other manufactuers who 
    make very good Strat models, keep them in mind.
    
    I haven't been in a music store for some time, but I am toying with
    the idea of adding to my meager collection.  Perhaps something with
    a little more muscle?
    
    Steve                

    re: base note
    
    More non-techincal.....
    
    I bought a '62 reissue from my friend about 4 years ago and it's
    really nice. Everyone who has played it really liked it and I 
    do too. Several people have offered to buy it from me, but I keep it
    for blues stuff. Solid body guitars have never thrilled me much
    so I don't know much about Strats, and therefore can't say whether
    it is "as good as" a real '62. I did play a '66 once which played
    really well, but I wouldn't say that it was better than my re-issue.
    
    Go to a music store and play a bunch of 'em. 
    My friend has a Squire and it's pretty nice too, can't beat the
    price either.
    
    Phil
    

    Our lodger has a Strat Plus, the one with locking machine heads
    and the 'Lace Sensor' pickups. I'm not sure why, but I am not overly
    impressed - the action is pretty high and doesn't seem to like being
    set any lower (not that I'm too fussed about being able to play
    fast) and it doesn't seem to quite have 'that' sound. Had it been
    my choice, I think I'd have gone for a more basic model (but then
    I prefer Telecasters anyway....)
    
    Bob

    I own a "jap" strat. I bought it stock out 'o the box. I have replaced
    nearly everything replacable:
    
                   o The 5 pos switch (which was making noise)
                   o The nut locking device (upgraded to best Kahler)
                   o All of the pickups (they were all noisy as hell)
                   o Finally, the bridge itself (to the best Kahler)
    
    It's now a great guitar !! I should have simply bought a better
    quality instrument. I would not suggest buying a "jap" strat.
    
    -BAP 

    RE -2   I BOUGHT A jap strat and it plays great ,maybe you 
    should try a few other instruments before condeming the whole group
    ps,did you try this instrument before you brought it home,and
    is it really a Fender strat still,I dont think so.  ;^}
          JT

    RE -1 : I'm sorry, I should have clarified that the reason I had
    to have the Jap STRAT (yes, I can read and it clearly reads
    Stratocaster on the headstock) modified is that I play 4 to 5 nights
    a week in a top-40 rock act that plays LOUD on-stage. I simply cannot
    put up with a guitar that is not quiet (in all phases) or wil not
    withstand the rigors on heavy gigging. 
    
    The guitar would have been great for home. 
    
    I modify my suggestion that I do not suggest buying a Jap Strat
    for heavy gigging (it doesn't withstand the punishment, and the
    electronics are slightly less than average IMHO) 
    
    ps. I BABY a guitar (when I'm not playing it).
    
    Hope this clarifies my point.
    
    -BAP
    

    I have bought a jap strat recently. Only criticism is the tremelo
    arm is loose when raised to the playing position. When released it
    rests nicely out of the way sort of level with the bottom tone control
    and is firm in its socket here.
    
    I'm afraid to take the tremelo round another turn for fear of damaging
    the tremelo unit.
    
    The result is a less than positive action when using tremelo. I've
    noticed this on a number of other Fenders (inc US ones) and it
    seems to vary from instrument to instrument.
    
    Anyone any suggestions?
    
    Richard
    Basingstoke,
    UK.

    >I'm afraid to take the tremelo round another turn for fear of damaging
    >the tremelo unit.
   
 I'm not sure what you meant by this but...

I've taken the trem on my strat sort of out of the action since the stock trem 
hasn't a chance of staying in tune. I opened up the back and tightened the 
springs as tight as they would go, closed the back and tightened the screws
at the front of the bridge, readjusted the action and intonation and had greatly
improved tuning stability on the guitar.

dbii

    re: .3  Bob,
    
    That's funny, I played a Strat Plus recently and thought it played very
    nicely.  The tone from the Lace Sensor pickups was good (and a lot more
    quiet then the old Strat pickups).  The action on this one was not
    high, like you described at all.  All in all I thought it was a pretty
    nice guitar.
    
    Greg

    about the wang arm being loose..
    
    I think it's a lot to do with technique whether you notice it or
    not. If you wang it both up and down (argghh), you'll notice the
    looseness. Down only and it's probly o.k.
    
    I think most standard arms will have a loose thread. You need
    to pay a lot for a setup that's loose enough to drop out of the
    way, but still solid when you grab it.
    
    Richard.

    
    I think the situation with Jap Strats is that you can get a good
    one or a disaster.I bought one in early '87,and I find it great.
    I lowered the trem action for more control, and surprisingly it
    stays in tune despite a lot of use.
    	I did find,however that there was no poke in the pickups if
    I was using distortion. I replaced them for EMG Actives which did
    the job beautifully.
    	I gig it 3-4 nights a week and it has'nt let me down yet.
    
    Kev.
    Dublin.
    

    re .10
    
    Greg, perhaps this one was a one off then. Although it is admittedly
    very quiet, and the sounds on position 2 and 4 are very nice, it
    somehow seems to lack something. Maybe I just can't get into the
    feel of it (too long enjoying fighting against cheaper guitars,
    maybe!)
    
    Bob

    	.12
    
    	I bought a 'Nippon' strat in 87' as well and agree with Kev, the
    stock pickups are very weak at best but I was pleased with the action
    and feel of the guitar. The guitar stays in tune very well even though
    the tremelo gets alot of use. I would also recommend that one try 
    'many' strats before choosing one. They are as bad as Gibsons in that
    there can be great variations from guitar to guitar of the same model.
    
    DonH
    
    

    I have a Strat Custom Body which according to the serial number
    on the neck plate is a '69/'70 model. It has no trmelo arm, and
    originally only had a three way switch. Is this a rare model or
    did Fender make a lot?
    					Alan.

    
    re: .15
    
    Non-tremelo Strats were listed in the catalog for many years, although
    I'm not sure how many of them they sold.  They are easily spotted
    by the smaller bridge and the lack of a spring plate on the back.
    
    Three way switches were standard until sometime in the late seventies
    or early eighties, when Fender realized that replacing the stock switch
    with a 5-way was the most common mod being done on Strats.  In the old
    days, guys like Clapton used to get their sound by leaving the switch
    "in-between" settings.  Guess Leo never figured anyone would ever want
    to use more than one pickup at a time. 

    						Brian

    I've got a pretty old "jap" fender bullet. It reminds me of a strat
    only smaller. I replaced the pickup next to the wammy with a humbucker
    for a bit more byte, which I got and everything else is stock. About 
    a year ago I thought I might like to upgrade so I went git-shopping 
    for about two weeks and tried all kinds of nice guitars. Funny thing 
    is that after every trip to the music stores I would go home and play 
    my bullet. After a while I just gave up the shopping. I came to the
    conclusion that I was comfortable with my bullet and diddn't feel it
    needed replacing then and even now, I wouldn't replace it...Ah like it
    and it stands up to the best of them...
    
    
    
    Rj