If You Were Gonna Buy An Expensive Strat

MrBump

 - what would it be?

I'm curious about the SSS config, Fendery market.  

The more I play, the more I'm coming to the view that I love single coils more than anything else, and that I'm more comfortable with Strats than anything else I play.

But there are annoyances - the 3 rotary controls have no real value to me, I much prefer the more modern single Vol/Tone set up.  With Strats, I find the volume too close to the pickups for my playing style.  Fender electrics can be a little primitive with regard to hum cancelling - not a big deal to me, but it's another thing about the more expensive Fenders that I'd struggle to justify.

Are Schecter/Eggle/Suhr making much better Strats than Fender?  I love the look of the new Origins Strats, and I guess ~£1500 is reasonable for a US made guitar.  I doubt I could really justify 2 grand plus to the wife for that high end market.

Musicman Cutlass looks good.  So does the Blade RH4.  And I've always loved the Schecter Sultan model.

Jonathanthomas83

A Suhr. 

For my tastes anyway.

crunchman

Just get a Fender.

It would be a bit of work but you could replace the scratchplate with one that has single volume and tone pots.  I'm sure you would be able to find a ready made one somewhere, but if you can't then you could spec one from Warmoth:

http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/StratPickguard.aspx

If you untick the boxes for the volume and tone then you could drill them where you want.

Strat54

Tom Anderson make great Strats (its not mine btw)....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tom-Anderson-Classic-Stratocaster-Guitar-Tobacco-Burst-Serial-07-16-03N/112862382349?hash=item1a471f490d:g:VGcAAOSwT-9aibit

impmann

One of these... I played all of Coda's Custom Shop Strats before walking out the door with my one of these.

MrBump

impmann said:

One of these... I played all of Coda's Custom Shop Strats before walking out the door with my one of these.

Ooh, not sure about that.  Something strange about SCs in that shape.  Perhaps the new John Mayer sig?

Handsome_Chris

A Vigier Excalibur

Collings

The John Page strat a likes seem to get high praise and comes with a single vol and tone - They are Japanese made I believe.

Link below to a new one but coda also have some SH

https://www.coda-music.com/special-offers/john-page-classic-ashburn-pelham-blue-maple.html

StuartMac290

I'm neither a PRS guy (having owned six) or particularly a strat guy (having owned God knows how many) but if I was in the market for one now I'd be checking out the new PRS Silver Sky.

I thought it looked a bit of an abomination when it first emerged, but that 40 minute John Mayer video sounded phenomenal.

Fifty9

I have 3 strats including my ideal custom shop. if i were buying anything now i'd go for the silver sky i think. but if i didnt already have the custom shop it'd have to be that top of my list as i know i'd always be hankering after one. 

Fishboy7

But there are annoyances - the 3 rotary controls have no real value to me, I much prefer the more modern single Vol/Tone set up.  With Strats, I find the volume too close to the pickups for my playing style. 

What about a Tele?  

MrBump

Handsome_Chris said:

A Vigier Excalibur

I've played one before, and didn't like it much.

However, just seen this, and it looks and sounds awesome:

https://www.guitarinteractivemagazine.com/issues/issue-20/reviews/vigier-expert-retro-54#

sweepy

Or buy a nice Journeyman  lightweight ash body with S1 switching   etc  

DLM

Suhr Scott Henderson model. For that thing he does with it.

Some other Suhr, probably, for other things one can do with a Strat.

MrBump said:

 I doubt I could really justify 2 grand plus to the wife for that high end market.

I'm afraid "expensive" kinda starts at £2k plus for top level instruments (which is what I think you mean by expensive). Just look at all the "cheaply made" Korean and Chinese imports for well over a grand.

One can be lucky with the second-hand market: people on here are always saying that Suhr/Anderson/Tyler(phear the headstock!)/etc. don't hold their value. I've yet to snaffle a bargain myself... 

stickyfiddle

Fender CS or a custom-order Danocaster. 

MrBump

Fishboy7 said:

But there are annoyances - the 3 rotary controls have no real value to me, I much prefer the more modern single Vol/Tone set up.  With Strats, I find the volume too close to the pickups for my playing style. 

What about a Tele?  

Yep, got a Tele, love my Tele.

TimmyO

Anderson droptop type, or Suhr would be high on the list for me

Or an SVL

Or a Michael Tuttle 

guitars4you

Hell of a choice today - Fender Custom Shop is an obvious answer (not just because I sell them) - But the large slice of their market is making guitars in the old traditional way, which includes all the goodness of a good old 'un, but the 'faults' as well - like you mentioned 'hum' - Not a vintage replica if they cure it

Modern builders like Suhr, Anderson and others have not re-invented the wheel - more of an approach that has smoothed out the edges with a serious attention to detail  - Generally find a more slick approach with them regarding the playing performance - But many will question if such an approach has taken away some character and left you with a guitar that is a touch 'o pure' - a matter of taste and opinion

Agree with @impmann about PRS influenced models like the 305, DC3, NF3 - I've not played the new PRS yet, but I seriously dis-like the headstock

lukedlb

I would buy a strat type guitar from one of the builders from the forum.
What about an old Blade Levinson built in switzerland? Who was the member with a large collection of them?

guitars4you

lukedlb said:

I would buy a strat type guitar from one of the builders from the forum.
What about an old Blade Levinson built in switzerland? Who was the member with a large collection of them?

Never built in Switzerland - Gary had his workshop there with regards to design - But never built there - All MIJ

MrBump

lukedlb said:

I would buy a strat type guitar from one of the builders from the forum.
What about an old Blade Levinson built in switzerland? Who was the member with a large collection of them?

Yeah, the Blades really interest me - not least because I used to drool over the ads in Guitarist Magazine when I was a kid.