Tweet
So I've been dying to try out a USA Strat Deluxe. But no stores in my area have had any stock. I've been considering getting something more "traditional" like this, but am a stickler for tuning stability. I figure the locking tuners and LSR roller nut might be a decent compromise to a Floyd.
Well, I just happened to stop in a GC last night, and they finally had a couple. HSS Deluxe models, LSR nut, locking tuners, but NOT the locking bridge variety. One of the two had a cherry mahogany body, too.
Man, was I DISAPPOINTED! They were nice enough guitars for the price. I liked the necks - kind of reminded me of an 80s Kramer. Decent tone from the PUs. But the tuning stability was horrendous! Simple string bends were making them go out of tune big time. I couldn't go 30 seconds without having to mess with the tuners. Using the trem was even worse. The slighest warbles sent everything out of whack. And the intonation on one was horrible, too. The other was only so-so. I REALLY did not get a good vibe, and was disappointed.
Thinking back on it:
- The factory set-ups were obviously horrible.
- What's the real "juice" on the locking tuner / LSR set-up? Maybe properly intonated and with stretched strings, it'll hold tune decently? (I had a vintage trem Charvel Reissue with Sperzels that held tune WAAAYYY superior to these puppies.)
- Maybe I just tried a couple of bad examples and, like Les Pauls, you've got to look through many to find a "good" one?
- Maybe tuning stability is significantly better with the Floyd-style locking bridge version?
- Anyone own one and have an experience they can share?
Man, I really wanted to like these. But just can't really say that I actually did. I'm holding out hope that they were just bad examples and/or a bad set-up experience. Can anyone share their own?
Well, I just happened to stop in a GC last night, and they finally had a couple. HSS Deluxe models, LSR nut, locking tuners, but NOT the locking bridge variety. One of the two had a cherry mahogany body, too.
Man, was I DISAPPOINTED! They were nice enough guitars for the price. I liked the necks - kind of reminded me of an 80s Kramer. Decent tone from the PUs. But the tuning stability was horrendous! Simple string bends were making them go out of tune big time. I couldn't go 30 seconds without having to mess with the tuners. Using the trem was even worse. The slighest warbles sent everything out of whack. And the intonation on one was horrible, too. The other was only so-so. I REALLY did not get a good vibe, and was disappointed.
Thinking back on it:
- The factory set-ups were obviously horrible.
- What's the real "juice" on the locking tuner / LSR set-up? Maybe properly intonated and with stretched strings, it'll hold tune decently? (I had a vintage trem Charvel Reissue with Sperzels that held tune WAAAYYY superior to these puppies.)
- Maybe I just tried a couple of bad examples and, like Les Pauls, you've got to look through many to find a "good" one?
- Maybe tuning stability is significantly better with the Floyd-style locking bridge version?
- Anyone own one and have an experience they can share?
Man, I really wanted to like these. But just can't really say that I actually did. I'm holding out hope that they were just bad examples and/or a bad set-up experience. Can anyone share their own?
Comment