Fender strat nuances

[Twisteramps]

I have an easier time playing a strat than a Gibson LP... which is one reason why my LP is for sale! My #1 strat right now is an Eric Johnson signature, it's the best sounding/playing strat I've ever had, and I've owned and played a ton. Couple of ideas for the original poster...

Get a Maple boarded neck. Adds spank to the tone. While you're at it, get jumbo frets and if you're ordering a neck, pay a few bucks more for the stainless steel frets. Put staggered sperzels on it so you don't need the string trees (will help the guitar stay in tune MUCH better) and then get a graphite or bone nut. Have the nut professionally cut by a luthier, this is going to affect the playability of the neck more than you realize. Get a neck as big/thick as you can stand, it WILL have a better tone. More mass in the neck = beefier tone. Besides, thin necks are for weenies. If your guitar has one of those modern super-thick finishes, consider wetsanding it down a bit... this may be kinda dangerous depending on your skill level, but the thicker the coat of poly they glop on, the more dead/dull the guitar is going to sound. It seems like the less expensive guitars put an incredibly thick coat on to hide flaws. If you play through a cranked high gain amp all the time, a lot of this 'tone' stuff isn't going to make a lot of difference, but if you play clean or semi-distorted stuff it's night and day.

Only bad thing about putting a lot of upgrades in an inexpensive guitar is that you very rapidly are going to find yourself 'upside down' if you sell it.

[Bengal65]

I have an easier time playing a strat than a Gibson LP... which is one reason why my LP is for sale! My #1 strat right now is an Eric Johnson signature, it's the best sounding/playing strat I've ever had, and I've owned and played a ton. Couple of ideas for the original poster...

Get a Maple boarded neck. Adds spank to the tone. While you're at it, get jumbo frets and if you're ordering a neck, pay a few bucks more for the stainless steel frets. Put staggered sperzels on it so you don't need the string trees (will help the guitar stay in tune MUCH better) and then get a graphite or bone nut. Have the nut professionally cut by a luthier, this is going to affect the playability of the neck more than you realize. Get a neck as big/thick as you can stand, it WILL have a better tone. More mass in the neck = beefier tone. Besides, thin necks are for weenies. If your guitar has one of those modern super-thick finishes, consider wetsanding it down a bit... this may be kinda dangerous depending on your skill level, but the thicker the coat of poly they glop on, the more dead/dull the guitar is going to sound. It seems like the less expensive guitars put an incredibly thick coat on to hide flaws. If you play through a cranked high gain amp all the time, a lot of this 'tone' stuff isn't going to make a lot of difference, but if you play clean or semi-distorted stuff it's night and day.

Only bad thing about putting a lot of upgrades in an inexpensive guitar is that you very rapidly are going to find yourself 'upside down' if you sell it.

+1 Good stuff Pete!

Have you played a Jeff Beck Custom Shop Sig. Strat? I immediately returned my new Eric Johnson Strat to the store where I bought it Don't get me wrong a really liked the EJ as many do, but the JB blew my socks off!

[straycat]

All good points Pete,but don't leave out a good electronics upgrade kit the EJ's smoke with an .........You know what kind of kit.

[mhalsey]

All good points Pete,but don't leave out a good electronics upgrade kit the EJ's smoke with an .........You know what kind of kit.

Already got one on-hand ready to go in, bro!

[Bengal65]

All good points Pete,but don't leave out a good electronics upgrade kit the EJ's smoke with an .........You know what kind of kit.

Stray,

Hmm, what kind of kit? Could it start with a R........?

[Endrik]

Pete is absolutely right... a real strat has a fat neck and a maple board

[mhalsey]

1. Get a Maple boarded neck. Adds spank to the tone. - Check (the only way to go IMHO)
2. While you're at it, get jumbo frets - Check
3. Put staggered sperzels on it - Check (got a set of locking tuners)
4. Get a graphite or bone nut - Almost check (will get graphite nut with new neck)
5. Besides, thin necks are for weenies. - Check; I'm a weenie - gonna stick with the 9.25" radius
6. If you play clean or semi-distorted stuff it's night and day. - Check; using it for SRV & bluesy stuff
7. Only bad thing about putting a lot of upgrades in an inexpensive guitar is that you very rapidly are going to find yourself 'upside down' if you sell it. - Check; not really a concern, though.

Thanx for all the info, Pete. I'm basically using the opportunity to satisfy my urge to own/play a strat while also satisfying my urge to tinker and expand my knowledge and building skills.

I bought this strat so soon after selling my Fender American Deluxe due to sellers remorse. I hadn't played it for so long and then when I got it out of the case to give it the once-over before shipping I realized I was making a mistake. But by then it was too late cuz I had already accepted someone's offer.