I used to own a really nice strat, the first relic that ever made it to the UK. It was lovely had a great big fat birds eye maple neck and just sounded exactly like a vintage strat should. I sold it a few years ago as I 'm mostly a HB player and it was too much money to have invested in an occasional guitar.
I bough a tokai to still have a strat but I've never been happy with it, it just wasn't as good - of course not why would it be.
I'm now thinking is selling a few little uses guitars to fund a better strat and can probably raise about a grand, but the range from fender these days is just overwhelming.
Ay tips on what's good and what's not, I don't mind going second hand but unless I can get something that feels and sounds a little special for the money I won't bother.
I'm not really a snob I don't think my main guitar is a burney les Paul despite having 2 gibsons in the rack.
Sorry for the long post but there isn't too many new threads at the moment so I thought I would write an essay
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The EJ strat for sale though should be on your list. Great price for a really great guitar. The flatter radius board will make the gibson to strat transition a bit easier!
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G&L might be worth a shout(possibly second hand though) if you can't find a regular Fender Strat with a spec you like.
Tis what I did
This is the result
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Axe_meister/blingmachines002.jpg
I borrowed a friends Classic Player 50's for a few months. That neck was to die for ...(this is coming from a staunch Gibbo man) and I really got to like it.
I had my head set on an Eric Johnson and my local (Peach ) had two S/H in store. All the spec's added up and they looked the real biz....but I don't know why they just didn't gel.
Peach also had two 2012 American standards in S/H and they were just right ! I bought the one in my Avatar , in totally mint condition for £699 .
It has become my "go to" (when I can get it away from my daughter). My duaghter plays but does not care about what it is , or the name , but she has really fallen for the Strat. I asked her why and she says she does not know ..."It is just right".
Though that said I A/B'd it with the Classic Player , and yes it is better , but the CP is a really fine instrument.