Dave Murray Strat nearly in my grasp

[Grandturk]

So I played a Dave Murray strat for the first time at GC in NYC when it first came out, and I didn't like it.

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90693&highlight=dave+murray

Then they got another one in and I played that a week ago and it comepletely ripped - I loved it.

Since that time I am completely re-GASsing for this guitar, so...

So I'm in negotiations to trade my 78 Les Paul (black) straight up for a new Dave Murray - not at GC - @ another place.

I haven't played my Les Paul in 3-4 years - I mean, I took it out and played it for 15 minutes, but it doesn't really make me want to play it - that said, it sounds great, plays great - I'm just a strat-guy.

So, anyone here got opinions on the guitar itself? I know we've heard from Flatpicker.

I'm not looking to hear that I should keep the Les Paul, or that I should save up and buy the strat - rules of the house: one guitar enters, one guitar leaves and I'm at my limit with an Adrian Smith Jackson currently on order.

[Flatpicker]

Outside of saying I still enjoy mine, I'll let the rest of you talk it up.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I'll be honest here... I really don't get the appeal of this over any other Strat, and that's coming from a guy who likes Strats.

[DonP]

You should keep the Les Paul and you should save up and buy the strat

Seriously, I don't think I could part with my '77 Custom. LP's with maple necks are few and far between.

I'd love to get the Dave Murray, but I think I'd just find a good playing MIM strat with a maple neck and just hack it. It would be truer to the original

[Dreamland_Rebel]

...but I think I'd just find a good playing MIM strat with a maple neck and just hack it. It would be truer to the original

Don's got a point there. you'd get to keep the LP and spend half as much making your own. ebay seller, banjomikes, has great deals on pickups. i'm sure he'll have a cream SD and the new 36th anv. PAF for well under retail. Our own Budman can make you some pickup rings @ www.fretsonthenet.com .

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

I think I'd just find a good playing MIM strat with a maple neck and just hack it. It would be truer to the original

Totally agree! If you want a nice 2H Fender Strat it's not hard to come by one at all, for a hell of a lot less money. The newer American Standards I've are already H-S-H routed. The one I had in the 90's was a swimming pool IIRC.

I'm not much of a Les Paul guy but... Isn't a '78 LP worth more than $1500? I mean to one of those Les Paul nuts, not to you or me.

[Grandturk]

I'm not much of a Les Paul guy but... Isn't a '78 LP worth more than $1500? I mean to one of those Les Paul nuts, not to you or me.

It is and it isn't. 1500-1800's about as much as you'd get in a private sale. Market picks up, may $2K, but that's stretching it. Point is - opportunity's knocking and money isn't an issue (besides, I really want a goldtop).

Now, I had considered taking my 54 RI MIJ Strat and doing exactly what you're suggesting.

The neck is currently being refretted with jumbos as we speak - that's $300+
I'd need a black strat body HSH or uni routed - $300-$400 (no one here's got one)
Pickups $140
pickguard, rings, pots, etc - $50 (some of which I already have)
Plus time and effort - scratching and poking around ebay to find what I need - then waiting - and oh shit, I stripped the trem post screws, etc...

So excluding the neck, I'm in 500 - AND I'm out a "regular" strat. AND - it would always be a halfway there kind of thing.

[Grandturk]

Totally agree! If you want a nice 2H Fender Strat it's not hard to come by one at all, for a hell of a lot less money. The newer American Standards I've are already H-S-H routed. The one I had in the 90's was a swimming pool IIRC.

And the Am Std bodies all have the two post trem. The highway 1 would work, but it needs to be routed in the neck hum spot and buffed to get rid of that ugly matte finish.

Time and effort, time and effort...

[Grandturk]

Outside of saying I still enjoy mine, I'll let the rest of you talk it up.

How's the nitro finish holding up - are you wearing into the neck finish at all?

[Flatpicker]

How's the nitro finish holding up - are you wearing into the neck finish at all?

No, but, It's not my daily player either. I only use it about 1-2 times a week.
I have a Suhr that stole it's thunder.

The only thing I can bitch about is the 3 way switch. I would have liked a 5 way from the factory.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

And the Am Std bodies all have the two post trem. The highway 1 would work, but it needs to be routed in the neck hum spot and buffed to get rid of that ugly matte finish.

Time and effort, time and effort...

There's absolutely nothing wrong (despite what some of the varnish-sniffing vintage freaks will tell you) with the American Standard's 2-post tremolo, except... it's not like the one on Dave's guitar...

Which made me realize, I totally misunderstood what you were after here. You want a black Strat "just like Dave Murray's", not just a nice 2H black Strat, similar to Dave Murray's.

You're right, it would be kind of a PITA to reproduce the guitar down to the last detail. I get it now.

[Grandturk]

There's absolutely nothing wrong (despite what some of the varnish-sniffing vintage freaks will tell you) with the American Standard's 2-post tremolo

Agreed - they are fantastic trems, stay in tune and sound fine - and I don't like them at all - won't even pick up a guitar with one on it.

You want a black Strat "just like Dave Murray's", not just a nice 2H black Strat, similar to Dave Murray's.

Oh yeah - you get it now! (picture time) Besides I already have this:



Which absolutely nails that Maiden tone (Super D in the bridge).

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Agreed - they are fantastic trems, stay in tune and sound fine - and I don't like them at all - won't even pick up a guitar with one on it.

Um... If you don't mind my asking, why?

Aesthetically I do prefer the 6-screw but I'm guessing that's not the reason, because I don't think you're as weird as me about that kind of stuff.

Functionally, I use either one as a hardtail so I guess given my preference I'd pick the 6-screw but I don't really care much either way.

[Grandturk]

Um... If you don't mind my asking, why?

No logical rationale - just don't like them. They completely sour me on the guitar they are mounted on - and I'm talking Fender Am Std 2-post, Wilkinsen, Gotoh, whomever.

Probably the same reason I don't like:

- Hardtail strats
- Tune-o-matics on strats
- flame maple tops on strats
- Bigsby's on anything (that's not precisely the same - I really don't like Bigsby's at all)
- Roller nuts
- locking tuners

[84sups]

Find the old 80s Fernandes DM sig or find the Fender Japan version. WAY better guitars and cheaper too. I almost had a Fernendes a couple years ago but it sold before I could get the 600 bones for it, the Japanese one is the same but has a Floyd like what he really plays. It also sells for 800 less.