Best Tobacco burst import strat

[442w30]

Long story short;
"Someone" has been eyeing my American Deluxe Strat in sunburst.

For a beginner, what would be the best quality traditional, sunburst strat to be a "fake" american deluxe?

I am thinking MIM Fender standard, squier Affinity, G&L Tribute, SX

Is there another decent one i should consider? Really leaning toward the affinity. That is a 1000X better starter guitar than what i started with. plus the headshape is a reasonable facsimile of the american.

[quiksilver]

How about a Highway One? It's not an import, but it's close, price-wise. You can get one in sunburst, too, and it's a nice, thin finish that lets the guitar resonate and should age very nicely.

Otherwise, that Koa-topped import Strat looks pretty nice, doesn't cost too much, and has SD pickups and a birdseye neck, too.

Another option is to get a used MIJ '62 reissue. They are regularly available on eBay.

[data187]

how much are you looking to spend?
i see alot of mim in the $350 plus dollar range on the use market.
for a little extra money, i would search the boards and try to build a parts strat.
i'm currently doing that and have spent $260 on a nice trekker neck, usa fender body and trem and schaller tuners. all i'm missing is pickguard/pickups which i can't imagine it being more than $150.

[Final Sacrifice]

Isn't a highway one basically a MIM assembled in America? I have a mexican strat the plays and sounds as good or better than a number of USA strats I've played, including my guitar teacher's very cool '70s one. Just play through a few and you'll probably find a decent one.

[markD]

my MIM strat is killer. it has a nice burst and was 379.00. it is one of my favorite guitars and NEVER gives me tuning troubles or anything. it is one of the BEST guitars i have....and it is the cheapest guitar i have. i would strongly recommend one for a starter guitar because it will YEARS before it needs to be upgraded.

[Racerx2k]

I have a Squier Standard Strat in a two-tone burst that plays very well. I think it cost me $190 at the time. I dropped in a JB jr., and a white pearloid pickguard. Really nice bang for the buck.

[rjohnstone]

I have a Squire Affinity Special.
Great guitar for $149.
I love the neck. Those Chinese CNC machines work pretty damn good.
A little fret end work and a pickup swap and it was ready to go.
One of my regular players now.

Crappy pic.