Looking for a new Strat

[trackman]

Looking for a Strat style in the $400-$600 range. I want single coils, but could go with an HSS setup also.

GO!!!!

[Fenix]

Well...

Why not try your standard MIM Strat? I had a cream one a while back and it was HSS. Plus it was about $359 or thereabouts.

[jlynnb1]

any of the highway 1's, roadhouse, lonestars, classic players should get you where you want to go...all can be had in that range....i'm selling my Roadhouse right now as a matter of fact...

[funkStrat_97]

I hear great things about the higher end Squiers.  Try a Vintage Modified, Classic Vibe, or Deluxe Strat.  Other than that, I'd reccomend the Deluxe Player Strat or the MIM version of the Lone Star.  The MIM Standard Strat has recieved a few upgrades over the years, but you may (or may not) want to evenutally upgrade the pickups.

[gtrdave]

If you're willing to look at used guitars, I've found 3 different "Strats" that are at the top of your price range ($600), but were so far superior to most American Fenders that I've played:
ESP Vintage Plus - a late-'90s model, stock w/ Duncan pickups, Sperzel locking tuners and a comfortable slanted neck/heel joint.
Hamer Daytona - another '90s model, made in USA, beautiful finish, excellent sound.
G&L S-500 - a couple years old, I just played this one at a local store and wow, what a great guitar.
All of them: $600

[jivejong]

If you're willing to look at used guitars, I've found 3 different "Strats" that are at the top of your price range ($600), but were so far superior to most American Fenders that I've played:
ESP Vintage Plus - a late-'90s model, stock w/ Duncan pickups, Sperzel locking tuners and a comfortable slanted neck/heel joint.
Hamer Daytona - another '90s model, made in USA, beautiful finish, excellent sound.
G&L S-500 - a couple years old, I just played this one at a local store and wow, what a great guitar.
All of them: $600

All of those are amazing guitars, and even more amazing values. Hard to go wrong with any of those.
Love to get my hands on a Daytona again.

[funkStrat_97]

If you're willing to look at used guitars, I've found 3 different "Strats" ...

 Fender™, Floyd Rose™, Strat™, Stratocaster™ are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corp.

 

[JLT]

You guys have it made, (I assume you're all righty's) you can just walk in a store and find a buffet of options. As a lefty at best, maybe at a GC there may be 4 lefty guitars right next to the restroom or something... 

Curious to see what you turn up with.

[JayP5150]

JLT, check this out, a guy a used to play with, and still jam with from time to time is a lefty, but plays strung right handed. So, he buys LH guitars, and strings them backwards.

He just learned that way, and he actually rips! It's hilarious to watch. Kinda like Doyle Bramhall II, I guess.

[funkStrat_97]

JLT, check this out, a guy a used to play with, and still jam with from time to time is a lefty, but plays strung right handed. So, he buys LH guitars, and strings them backwards.

He just learned that way, and he actually rips! It's hilarious to watch. Kinda like Doyle Bramhall II, I guess.

I've seen a couple of bass players do that and they be tearin' it up!

[JLT]

JLT, check this out, a guy a used to play with, and still jam with from time to time is a lefty, but plays strung right handed. So, he buys LH guitars, and strings them backwards.

He just learned that way, and he actually rips! It's hilarious to watch. Kinda like Doyle Bramhall II, I guess.

Yeah - I've seen that done before. Actually my first guitar was actually a right handed guitar but I played it upside down but strung lefty. To each his own.

[JLT]

So Trackman, which Strat are you leaning to???

[trackman]

I'm looking at getting the Deluxe Players Strat. I tried it at GC and I fell in love with the neck! It was really comfortable in my hands. Right now, I have a Epi Les Paul and an Epi SG... I have the GNX-3, but I'm looking to get rid of it for analog stompboxes (see soft rock distortion thread).

I love the humbuckers, but I think I really need the single coil in my arsenal...

[JLT]

Nice... If it is the Squire Deluxe you are talking about, that's a little over $100 less than your range... So no more multi-effects pedals for you?

I hear so much about the GT10 and M13... I definitely plan to check out that Visual Sound stompbox you recommended.

[funkStrat_97]

Nice... If it is the Squire Deluxe you are talking about, that's a little over $100 less than your range...

The Deluxe Player Strat is a different model than the Squier Deluxe.  The Deluxe Player features Vintage Noiseless pickups and has special wiring that enables you to get 7 pickup combinations - it's a real looker of a guitar too.  The Squier Deluxe is MIK or MIC (not quite sure).  It's a well enough made Strat that feaures a set of Duncan Designed single coils that I've heard good things about.

[trackman]

The Deluxe Player Strat is a different model than the Squier Deluxe.  The Deluxe Player features Vintage Noiseless pickups and has special wiring that enables you to get 7 pickup combinations - it's a real looker of a guitar too.  The Squier Deluxe is MIK or MIC (not quite sure).  It's a well enough made Strat that feaures a set of Duncan Designed single coils that I've heard good things about.

So which one would give more bang for the buck? The Squire or the Fender? My purchase date is coming up soon...

[gtrdave]

For the price of a Deluxe Players Strat, I'd look at a Highway 1. It lacks the look of the DP and does not have Noiseless p/u's, but it's got a nitro finish and (possibly/probably) better overall materials. Plus, it's got a 22 fret neck, unlike the PD's 21 fret, and it's got the same C-shape neck (w/ large headstock) as the DP.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Highway-One-Stratocaster?sku=512768

[funkStrat_97]

So which one would give more bang for the buck? The Squire or the Fender? My purchase date is coming up soon...

The answer to this question is highly subjective.  If you want a good solid Strat, without all of the extra amenities, then I'd recommend the Squier.  But here too, you still a choice among a group high-end Squier Strats including the Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe models.  The Deluxe is pretty much Squier's interpretation of the modern Stratocaster (American Standard) while the Classic Vibe is more or a less a vintage reissue (it should be pointed out the CV's are not intended to be an accurate recreation of a vintage Strat).  The Vintage Modified is probably best described as a blend of the two with both vintage and modern features.  Squier guitars have come a long way and they can certainly be a fantastic value. 

The nice thing about the Deluxe Player Strat (the whole Deluxe Series actually) is that it offers features that either are, or were, found on American Fenders at a lower price.  The Vintage Noiseless pickups were once featured on older American Deluxe Strats.  The hardware on these is either American or otherwise of higher quality than the Standard line - which isn't a bad guitar in its own right.  Personally, I would probably go with the Deluxe Player.  But bear in mind that it's just my preferences.  All of the Strat models mentioned here have something to offer.  In fact, you can thank the people at Fender for making life so difficult.  Used to be that a Stratocaster was a Stratocaster.  Now you have so many flavors of Strats that it can seem overwhelming.

[jlynnb1]

i'd go with the highway one. to be honest, i think the noiseless pups in the deluxe series are terrible.

[gtrdave]

i'd go with the highway one. to be honest, i think the noiseless pups in the deluxe series are terrible.

They are missing the sparkle and bite of real single coils, imho. At least in the couple of DP Strats that I've played that's been the case.