Despite having an HSS Squier Bullet as my only guitar for many years in my distant youth, I've never really been much of a Strat person. They don't particuarly do it for me visually, and I've always tended to gravitate more towards the rawk stylings of LPs, humbuckers etc.
However,
@GJK1959 has recently lent me his much abused Strat of unknown model (think it's a Squier in fibber's clothing) which has made me think that whilst they still look like the acceptable face of an utter lack of rebellion, they may have a purpose.
Plus no guitar is ever going to make me look cool anyway.
So ... at the budget end, what's the sweet spot for being Stratty without breaking the bank (new or secondhand)? The Squier Affinity look to be so ridiculously cheap new I can't imagine anyone ever sells them secondhand, Then there's the assorted Classic Vibe 50/60/70, and the Vintage wossname one. And presumably some of the low-end Fenders start to creep in too.
Come the freedom to actually go to a shop I might spend a happy afternoon at Coda, but as part of the teasing research phase ... lay your wisdoms upon me.
Comments
The old MIJ Squier Silver Series is nice yet affordable. The Hank Marvin signature model is the pick of the bunch.
Before Covid-19 lockdown, I had a cunning plan to buy the unloved/discounted NOS Squier Surf Stratocaster at my nearest dealership, ditch the stock pickguard and electronics assembly then, apply my own upgrades.
Consider a Squier 51, a Tele-Strat mashup with a splittable humbucker in the bridge and single coil in the neck. Super playable and people who replaced the original pickups ended up putting them back in because they are so good. £200 should do it. And as you say there’s sundry Classic Vibe and Vint Mod stuff out there which all look cool.
The lowest budget stuff like Affinitys it’s hard to recommend. For a bit more you could have a Strat for life.
In the circa £500 price bracket I’d keep a look out for something Japanese, maybe a 1980s Fender or a Bacchus or similar. My Bacchus 62 reissue set me back about £600 and it’s difficult to see how it could be better.
I had a mid 90's Mexican Fender at one point which wasn't brilliant, be aware of what you're buying if going second hand!
As with all Fender types I like the parts route if you enjoy that sort of thing, know what specs you want and aren't concerned about resale. I don't think anyone makes an off the shelf model of what I really want from a strat other than the Charvel Pro Mod H-S which is pretty expensive and doesn't have any finishes I like.
or if if you want a HSS, this looks pretty nice https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/squier/squier-stratocaster-guitars/squier-classic-vibe-70s-stratocaster-hss-laurel-fingerboard-walnut
If memory serves, the first run bodies were proper wood and the later production was laminate, mdf or some such. (Might suit slide players!)
The best option of all is the MIJ Pawn Shop ‘51. The humbucker and the selector switch need upgrading. Everything else is fine. IMO, a tone pot would be desirable. Just need to decide where to relocate the selector switch.