Fender strat nuances

[mhalsey]

I've been playing the shit outta my new Fender MIM strat lately and find it to be an excellent guitar for the price, although I've already got parts on-hand to upgrade it and make it a lil' better. However, one thing I've noticed is that it seems you need to be a lil' aggressive with it for it to really reach tonal goodness which was also true with the Fender American Deluxe I had. This is out of my norm cuz I normally play with a rather light touch/picking technique. The neck profile and radius is no problem - very comfortable. The size of the frets took some getting used to cuz I'm hooked on jumbos so I'm thinking about replacing the neck with one that has larger frets and a nice birdseye. My other upgrades will certainly help as well which include Texas Special pups, quality electronics and locking tuners.

Anyone agree/disagree with my observations?

[markD]

i totally agree. you have to "play" harder to get a fender to sound good. i spent about a year only playing strats and i feel that my technique improved drastically after i did that. i have always thought that it takes a real man to rip it up on a strat.

[Bengal65]

Get a Jeff Beck Custom Shop Strat. It's the best of all attributes IMO, when transitioning from a jumbo fretted, humbucking metal guitar! It's my favorite Strat out of all that I've played.

[sonicsamurai]

my mexi fender was hard to play, my american fender isn the opposite..dunno why, i don't have to fight my american anywhere near as much

[Mr Metal]

A Warmoth neck with compound radius (called Warmoth radius, it is 10"~16" progressive radius), Standard Thin profile, with Jumbo frets (I like 6100s) would be the way to go IMHO ..........

[mhalsey]

A Warmoth neck with compound radius (called Warmoth radius, it is 10"~16" progressive radius), Standard Thin profile, with Jumbo frets (I like 6100s) would be the way to go IMHO ..........

Been looking at that exact option but the neck itself would cost almost as much as the strat itself so I've been looking at some Mighty Mite necks as well.

[danastas]

Custom Shop 54s.

Yeah, I know, low output. But they are amazing pickups. They blow the Texas Specials away.

[bonghits]

Custom Shop 54s.

Yeah, I know, low output. But they are amazing pickups. They blow the Texas Specials away.

I agree with the 54s but my favorite are the Lollar Blackface or Blondes. Awesome Strat sound plus it has that "quack" on 2 & 4.

[Strat God]

Strats are unforgiving bitches, but if you coddle them just right they are the best guitars in the world.

[Joe_Steeler]

I read something about Clapton talking about how much more difficult his Strats were compared to play as opposed to his early day Gibsons. The interviewer asked how come he kept playing them and he replied that the Strats made him be a better player. The challenge of playing them made him focus more.
I thought that was crazy, but now many many years after I truly understand.

My fav CS pups are;

1- 54's
2- Fat 50s
3- '69s

[Joe_Steeler]

Strats are unforgiving bitches, but if you coddle them just right they are the best guitars in the world.

Ain't that the truth, just like most women I've met.

[DonP]

My MIM strat is in mint shape because it sits in the closet.

I think if you are going to replace so many things, just start off new and make a parts mutt. Unless you need to sell the parts to fund the new ones, but here's the rub - what if you don't like what you end up with? It would be better to keep this axe as is, make a parts mutt, then if you like the parts mutt better, sell off the MIM strat.

[Metaled1020]

The best deal going on a Strat guitar are the 90`s USA made Peavey Predators that can be had for under $200 on ebay! Just got one myself last week and it blows the MIM Fenders away! Heck,it`s probably better then any MIA Fender Strat i`ve had also and i`m a big Fender fan!! Amazing quality!

[ADR]

I had a MIM 60's Classic Players in Pale Sonic Blue, it came with CS 69's believe it or not.. .signed by "Abigal Ybarra"
It sounded great, however I couldnt get used to the narrow spacing on the MIM,it had a 9.5 radius too. It had a 2 point vintage tremolo.
I was so hard to do certain chords,So I traded it in for my San Dimas.
My 2 fav Pups are the 69 CS and whats in my Relic (Custom wound) and not avalible over the counter, next Fat 50's than probably the 54's,the Fat 50's & 54's are similar. . the Relic's pickups are bell like.
I liked the med jumbo frets,but the darn spacing got to me.

[Mr Metal]

I read something about Clapton talking about how much more difficult his Strats were compared to play as opposed to his early day Gibsons. The interviewer asked how come he kept playing them and he replied that the Strats made him be a better player. The challenge of playing them made him focus more.
I thought that was crazy, but now many many years after I truly understand.

I remember reading the same sort of comment from Ritchie Blackmore, comparing the strat to his earlier Gibson ES335. He basically said that Gibsons (with their wider flatter necks) are much easier to play, but playing a strat well is more rewarding from a player ability point of view, and your unique sound and style comes through a lot better.