Fender Stratocaster Fans - If You Had to Choose Only One

[nbarts]

My first guitar was a cheap Stratocaster knockoff (under 50$) & I have to admit that their shape & neck is very comfortable & fast. After that I've been playing strictly humbucker based guitars due to the nature of music I play. Right now I have a bunch of LPs, but I want to pick up one Sunburst SSS Fender that I've always wanted since I was a kid. Now what would you recommend to look at for one and only Stratocaster, cause I'm not planning to get another one? I don't shy to get one used, price range is really flexible, let's say from 500-1500$. I can wait and extend the budget if it's worth it. I was checking some & see bunch of different strats: Standard American, Deluxe, 57, 62, 70s......., I see some older (90s)custom shop Stratocasters that look killer, but since I have no experience with any of them I could use some advice. I'll be playing mostly blues & clean stuff on this guitar, maybe sometimes crazy Malmsteen crap to remember my childhood

 

[Mudder]

IMHO the best strat for the money is a G&L Legacy. You can find them used right in your wheelhouse for $$$. They are simply great guitars.

Of the Fenders, around a grand could land you a Robert Cray sig, very nice Fender. For about half that the Jimmy Vauhgan is a killer Mexistrat.

 

[jonny toetags]

The only one i would have no problems buying right now is the 62' Vintage Hot Rod.
That thing is sweet.

 

[Marshall Freak]

I'm primarily a Les Paul Player, and the only Strat I've ever liked enough to keep is my EJ strat. Some don't like the Nitro paint but I'm used to it from Les Pauls, the neck is damn near perfect IMHO.

 

[itsme]

Jimmie Vaughans can't be beat for the money

 

[MrDan666]

I love the 69RI Custom Shop Strats.. they sound so damn fat!!

The YJM is a killer strat too!

 

[nbarts]

Could you add a few lines, what you like, why you like, what you compared it to?

 

[1big1]

i think one of the first questions you have to ask yourself is "which neck profile would i like?" strat necks vary quite a bit both in radius and cross section shape as you probably know. anything with a radius 12" and under would probably be a good bet for blues. the earlier vintage strats had a radius of 7.5" then went to 9.5".. then 10" etc. so it helps to know what your radius preference is.
same with neck profiles. the earlier strats had a very thick "C" shaped neck.. then a "V" shaped neck.. then a softer "C" shaped neck.. etc.
it's funny.. but before i started playing and reading up on strats i was under the false assumption that they were all alot alike and hadn't changed much over the years.. but a 50's strat is quite a bit different than a 70's strat. so if you're looking at some of the vintage re-issues that's something to keep in mind before you shell out your hard earned cash.
same thing with pups and vibratos. lots of variety there as well. do you have a specific blues player whose tone you're looking to emulate? if you're thinking srv then you might want to look at something with texas specials in it.. though he used heavy strings when he played.
if you do some homework you should come away with something that fits you well.
btw.. you mentioned you like lp's. most gibsons have a 12" radius.. so it seems like a strat with a 12" radius would be a good starting point.

 

[Bad Brad]

I play both Gibson Les Pual Classic and an Eric Johnson Strat. If you are looking for a great strat the EJ is a must have it's custom shop quality. Quarter Sawm maple neck great sound.

 

[Duolos]

I am new to playing strats but the EJ strat is fantastic. I picked up a couple of them and I really like them. Out of all the ones I played, the EJ seemed to be the best for me.

 

[van hellion]

an anderson is the way to go for fender style guitars, no question

 

[Phishphood]

Too easy

 

[turmoil]

that fender V shaped neck on the american deluxe strat was the most comfortable neck i've ever played. i wish i still had it

 

[Strat+Marshall]

Too easy

Most of the EJs I have played were complete turds, I have no idea what all the hype is about. I would pay the extra for a CS reissue or buy an yngwie if you don't mind the scallops.

 

[Phishphood]

Most of the EJs I have played were complete turds, I have no idea what all the hype is about. I would pay the extra for a CS reissue or buy an yngwie if you don't mind the scallops.

The yngwie left me unimpressed. The pickups were better than standard but nothing else about it was special except the scalloped frets, which I didn't really care about

 

[nbarts]

Most of the EJs I have played were complete turds, I have no idea what all the hype is about. I would pay the extra for a CS reissue or buy an yngwie if you don't mind the scallops.

I don't mind scallops, but I do mind the yellow color. Also EJ strat drops off to, because they don't have rosewood option, other than that looks killer. I don't pay that much attention to how the guitar looks usually, but this one needs to be exactly the way I want it. I've just checked their artist series, none of them qualifies.

Does this mean I'm stuck with CS?

 

[Phishphood]

Most of the EJs I have played were complete turds, I have no idea what all the hype is about. I would pay the extra for a CS reissue or buy an yngwie if you don't mind the scallops.

I don't mind scallops, but I do mind the yellow color. Also EJ strat drops off to, because they don't have rosewood option, other than that looks killer. I don't pay that much attention to how the guitar looks usually, but this one needs to be exactly the way I want it. I've just checked their artist series, none of them qualifies.

Does this mean I'm stuck with CS?

Rosewood on a strat, its just not right

But they are supposedly working a new version of the ej strat that has a bound rosewood fretboard, no idea on other details or dates though

 

[nbarts]

Rosewood on a strat, its just not right

Explain, please???

 

[Strat+Marshall]

Most of the EJs I have played were complete turds, I have no idea what all the hype is about. I would pay the extra for a CS reissue or buy an yngwie if you don't mind the scallops.

The yngwie left me unimpressed. The pickups were better than standard but nothing else about it was special except the scalloped frets, which I didn't really care about

My yjm strat rings like a bell and is put together better than any EJ strat I have played.

 

[Phishphood]

Most of the EJs I have played were complete turds, I have no idea what all the hype is about. I would pay the extra for a CS reissue or buy an yngwie if you don't mind the scallops.

The yngwie left me unimpressed. The pickups were better than standard but nothing else about it was special except the scalloped frets, which I didn't really care about

My yjm strat rings like a bell and is put together better than any EJ strat I have played.

Yes, I'm sure the fender factory is making sure to assemble the yngwie strats much better than the EJ strats. (closest thing to rolleyes smiley here). I chose the EJ strat because it had a better bridge, refined headstock design, thin finish, and better sounding pickups (to my ears). If you prefer dimarzios and scalloped frets are more important than any of the things I mentioned then by all means enjoy it, but don't mislead someone making a purchase with baseless conjecture about how you're guitar is so much better than everything else just because

Rosewood on a strat, its just not right

Explain, please???

Nothing to explain, I just prefer the aesthetics and extra snap of a maple boarded strat