Stratocasters

[Axewielder]

I love stratocasters! Well, I'm not crazy about the single coil at the bridge. I need a humbucker there. Also, the 12" fretboard radius is kind of outdated. Other than that though, the strat represents perfection! Well, unless you factor in minor details like "staying in tune". Mojo for days though. Myeah. Now I will say, hard poly finishes on a neck suck balls. So...I guess what I'm trying to say is that strats suck.

[DonP]

I love stratocasters! Well, I'm not crazy about the single coil at the bridge. I need a humbucker there. Also, the 12" fretboard radius is kind of outdated. Other than that though, the strat represents perfection! Well, unless you factor in minor details like "staying in tune". Mojo for days though. Myeah. Now I will say, hard poly finishes on a neck suck balls. So...I guess what I'm trying to say is that strats suck.

Yep. Once you get rid of the bridge single, the crappy radius, the crappy vintage frets, the poly finish, and Floyd the sucker, it's a pretty descent guitar

Of course by then it's not really a strat any more.




Here's what I'm trying to come to grips with. I play Metal and only Metal. Will that change in the future? Doubtful. I bought Number of the Breast in 1982 and Maiden is still my favorite band. So for 28 years nothing but metal. I want to be buried to Hallowed Be Thy Name and Fade to Black.

But I just don't know what to do with these three "vintage" strats.

1. I've never really played the one I bought new in 1998 (Indigo Purple with Maple FB white pickguard). It stays in the closet because of the vintage frets and radius. It's still brand Fricken new.

2.The next one I purchased over a year ago was the "Blackie" with the Texas Specials. I'm in the process of taking steps to hack this up into a Dave Murray. I've already bought a loaded pickguard, but it didn't look correct (colors) so I'm making my own. I've ordered rings, a single ply white guard (it's an S-S-S so I'll need to cut it), but this will require routing the neck pickup area larger...and I don't completely "love" the neck...so now I'm thinking of getting a Black ProMod with Maple fretboard...

3.The most recent one I purchased is the sunburst rosewood. It's a 2008 so it has all the upgrades, and the rosewood looks great. I'm real picky about my rosewood. I hate the stuff on my 2002 LP so much I'm tempted to have an otherwise perfect guitar re-fretboarded

I don't know. Sometimes I'm tempted to just sell of the whole lot of them.

I will say this. I've managed to pick up two HM Strats and I absolutely Fricken LOVE them. The jumbo frets, flat radius, shredder neck, shorter scale..., just nails the Maiden tone to a TEE!!! And they do Jake and do Vivian, Phil Collin...They just ROCK. But they don't look like a Murray

I'm afraid that if I build a Murray (either modding the 50's Classic or build from a ProMod) what if I don't like it as much as the HM Strats?

Willl I ever like a vintage Stratocaster?

[Grandturk]

Sell! Sell! Sell! DonP - honestly - it doesn't sound like:

A - any of the strats are anything special

B - any of them do anything for you

Also - I think you should just buy a Dave Murray model Fender and be done with it because it is going to be worlds better than any MIM you hack up just to look like one.

[Axewielder]

I forgot about the crappy frets!

If you've owned three and haven't gelled with one yet, I'd say it's time to move on. Of course, I'm always waving the "Jackson Strat" flag. Greatest guitar evar! I do like the HM Strats, but you really wouldn't want that to be your main axe (hard to find, obsolete trem, quirky electronics, etc). Give the Jackson Strat a shot if you haven't already, unless you are hung up on the DM/strathead look.

[Grandturk]

I think the clock is slooooooooooooooow... seems dead around here - how about some Strats!

My Mutt-0-caster:

MIJ '54 RI neck off a Foto-Flame 54 RI - sold the body (not during the Foto-Flame height) - had it refretted with "monster jumbos" - bigger than the wire Jackson uses. Warmoth ultra light Ash body in Vintage White, tortoise PG, Custom Shop '54 pickups. Master tone - neck tone only - and I think I wired it wrong. I want to switch back to a regular V-T-T setup because I think it looks better.

Dave Murray Strat

'nuff said.

My Strato-Bastard

MIJ '69 RI Alder body in "off shite white." MIM 60's Roadworn neck. Had it routed for H-S-H, R2 Floyd nut, MIK Floyd from a ProMod. Tone Zone in the bridge, YJM middle (sucks) and Blue Velvet neck (awesome). I think I wired the tone controls wrong on these too - that or shitty pots.

[toejam]

I bought Number of the Breast in 1982

What size did you go with? ( . ) ( . )

[DonP]

Give the Jackson Strat a shot if you haven't already, unless you are hung up on the DM/strathead look.

No, but a question.

I have that 1988 Firecrackle. Would you call that close enough, or do you mean a full size strat body, pickup config, etc? i.e. Does a Dinky count?

[Grandturk]

Dinkies don't count! Also they suck! And I like boobies!

(.)(.)

[DonP]

Boobies?

I thought they were M(an)oobies

[toejam]

Hey, you said Number of the Breast, that's why we're wondering what size. :ROTF:

[Grandturk]

I like large Numbers of the Breasts.

[DonP]

Hey, you said Number of the Breast, that's why we're wondering what size. :ROTF:

Dang, didn't catch that.

[GCSHREDSHED]

Leo did alot right the strat, but after working in a music store for over a decade, rarely do I ever see a strat come in that I think is cool. I am probably just desensitized to them. Hell we have 112 in stock........and I still say so what.

[DonP]

Hell we have 112 in stock........and I still say so what.

You must work in a Guitar Center where you Shred and Shed

[straycat]

Can't say anything bad about this one brass hard tail and DiMarzio's.
Nails 80's Maiden and Priest.Love the big headstock too.