Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Mr. Air on October 12, 2010, 07:59:09 AM
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I am really interested in buying a strat, but at the time my budget is very limited. What do you recon is the best bang for the buck strat on the marked?
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Squier Vintage Vibe, perhaps?
I've never tried one, but I hear they're very well made.
(Ooops, that's Classic Vibe, not Vintage. :oops: )
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i would think about a MIM with rosewood board. it will be easy to sell on with the fender logo, and also the hardware is pretty decent. i don't like poly finish on maple boards, which is why i've suggested rosewood
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Bang for buck I'd say are the Roadworns (as long as you're ok with the finish!). However, I suspect they're out of your budget, as would be most US (MIA) stuff.
Of the ones I've played, the other Mexican models seem pretty good value. But I'd definitely want to try every one available to me before choosing one.
MIJ/CIJ are superbly made - and 2nd hand might well be in budget?
One word of warning though - MIJ/CIJ Fender seem to have a slightly different feel/vibe/tone than MIM, and then another slight difference for MIA. All of them are good, but people seem to have a preference for one vibe or another. Some strat anoraks don't like any MIMs (including the Roadworns) because, apparently, their bodies aren't quite the authentic shape on the rounding of the edges and the tummy tuck. However, and I'm almost an anorak, although there is a difference to my CIJ strat, it really doesn't bother me :lol:
If you're not worried about "Fender" on the headstock, and the thinner neck grabs you, the Squier Classic Vibe series are superb value for money. The ones I tried felt and played very much like my early 80s JV Squier did when it was new. I'd rate the CV's "guitar per £" up there with the Roadworns, the only reason I didn't get one is that I like my strats to feel a little more substantial nowadays.
I think the Squier CVs are probably the cheapest option out of all these. With any strat, cheapie all the way up to Custom Shop, try before you buy if you can - they are incredibly personal instruments. One man's dog is another man's "omigod!" guitar...
If you want to move outside of Fender/Fender-licensed, I don't know much about it all - but there's other folks on here who know plenty. My gut feeling is that the better non-Fenders will be outside budget (unless you're happy with 2nd hand). If you want a decent strat at low end, I reckon you need to try as many budget Fenders as you can - your guitar is hiding there somewhere!
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Squier Classic Vibe or Vintage V6 would get my vote!
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Squier Classic Vibe or Vintage V6 would get my vote!
+1
That's what I was talking about over "non-fender", I knew there was something I'd seen in the last few years that had tempted me (made me think "now that probably sounds/responds like a strat") but I couldn't remember what it was.... thanks Dave :D
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No probs!
I've played a Thomas Blug signature V6 and while the setup was shocking (it was used, and probably abused) the core guitar was very nice. And they're cheap as chips!
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Thanks for your quick answers, gentlemen, which makes me think: Aren't threse guitar guys at work??? (that would include myself :D)
Yesterday I tried out several different strats (only unplugged though) in a local shop. A 60's roadworn, MIA standard, a highway one, a MIM and a used Tokai goldstar.
None of the guitars truely spoke to me, but that might be because I'm not used to playing strats. I think the roadworn was the one i preffered the most as it had the best feel to it.
I got no problem with buying a second hand guitar and from time to time a check up on the local Danish second hand website to see if there's anything of interest. There was a Squire CV a few weeks ago at a reasonable price, but know it's gone :(
I would like to try out the vintage v6, but I think think I can find them anywhere in Denmark.
I tried a VGS roadcruiser a week ago. Felt quite good considered the low price tag. It was their reliced model and I must say that it looks MUCH better and realistic in the photos that in the flesh/wood.
Seems like this turned out to be a semi "AndyR" post regarding length :D
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Bang for buck I'd say are the Roadworns (as long as you're ok with the finish!). However, I suspect they're out of your budget, as would be most US (MIA) stuff.
Of the ones I've played, the other Mexican models seem pretty good value. But I'd definitely want to try every one available to me before choosing one.
MIJ/CIJ are superbly made - and 2nd hand might well be in budget?
One word of warning though - MIJ/CIJ Fender seem to have a slightly different feel/vibe/tone than MIM, and then another slight difference for MIA. All of them are good, but people seem to have a preference for one vibe or another. Some strat anoraks don't like any MIMs (including the Roadworns) because, apparently, their bodies aren't quite the authentic shape on the rounding of the edges and the tummy tuck. However, and I'm almost an anorak, although there is a difference to my CIJ strat, it really doesn't bother me :lol:
If you're not worried about "Fender" on the headstock, and the thinner neck grabs you, the Squier Classic Vibe series are superb value for money. The ones I tried felt and played very much like my early 80s JV Squier did when it was new. I'd rate the CV's "guitar per £" up there with the Roadworns, the only reason I didn't get one is that I like my strats to feel a little more substantial nowadays.
I think the Squier CVs are probably the cheapest option out of all these. With any strat, cheapie all the way up to Custom Shop, try before you buy if you can - they are incredibly personal instruments. One man's dog is another man's "omigod!" guitar...
If you want to move outside of Fender/Fender-licensed, I don't know much about it all - but there's other folks on here who know plenty. My gut feeling is that the better non-Fenders will be outside budget (unless you're happy with 2nd hand). If you want a decent strat at low end, I reckon you need to try as many budget Fenders as you can - your guitar is hiding there somewhere!
Am also a strat anorak :D
And from everything you're saying there, i would tend toward the MIJ/CIJ for "best bang for buck"
MIA are great but pricey and i really think the MIJ guitars are just as well made
Nothing wrong with MIM at all, i mean they're mostly U.S made anyway, and assembled in Mexico i believe.
But for the same money or less as and MIM start the OP could have a second hand MIJ/CIJ strat. which as stated IMO are as well made as MIA
things to watch out for with MIJ and why buying second hand on a budget is better:
a lot of MIJ are basswood, so if you want an alder body be sure to ask if it is. the vintage premium models are alder bodied
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-res&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fenderjapan.co.jp%2Ftop.htm&lp=ja_en&btnTrUrl=Translate
also, like it or not and against all logic given japan was the electronics capitol of the world a while back, the swithces are cheap. if you buy one, and it hasn't already been done, i would get a tech to rip everything out of there and replace all switches, pots and cabling with CTS etc. and some good hookup cable too. especially the jack. minimal cost to this, especially if you buy second hand
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Another thing to think about, in playability terms, is fretboard radius - nearly all MIJ/CIJ Strats have the vintage 7.25" radius and tiny frets. Some of the MIM ones do too, but there's a wider choice.
Might be an issue if you're used to flatter necks and bigger frets.
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Can anyone inform me of the differences between alder and poplar. Quite a few of the Vintage range of strats have poplar bodies. I read somewhere that poplar is considered the poor mans alder...
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Another thing to think about, in playability terms, is fretboard radius - nearly all MIJ/CIJ Strats have the vintage 7.25" radius and tiny frets. Some of the MIM ones do too, but there's a wider choice.
Might be an issue if you're used to flatter necks and bigger frets.
am nearly sure mine is a 9.5" . thats one aspect of them thankfully that isn't so vintage. If it is 7.25" i certainly havent noticed any choking, and my other guitars are much more modern styles.
but yes, you will get a wider choice with MIM, the japanese def have a thing for vintage styles
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Warmoth is a pretty good place to start for body wood info:
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BodyWoodOptions.aspx (http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BodyWoodOptions.aspx)
I think poplar and alder are pretty similar, in weight and tone. Poplar looks worse so it's not great for transparent finishes. I once had a Fender Jimmie Vaughan Strat with a poplar body and it sounded fine.
Poplar is definitely cheaper - presumably because it's more plentiful and/or grows faster (I'm guessing). The cheapest bodies in the Warmoth Showcase usually turn out to be poplar!
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Posted this view before but...
Personally the best 'bang for buck' I have come across in the MIJ E Series (early-mid 80s) Strats - they do have a vintage feel (radius, frets etc) but construction is excellent.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190455138622&category=33039&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619&_trkparms=1876%3A1
Good luck in your search
Mike
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Coolest thing I ever read about USA Standard vs Mex strats went something like
"You can buy a Strat assembled in Mexico by Mexicans or pay more for a strat assembled in the USA by Mexicans" :? :lol:
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Coolest thing I ever read about USA Standard vs Mex strats went something like
"You can buy a Strat assembled in Mexico by Mexicans or pay more for a strat assembled in the USA by Mexicans" :? :lol:
Ain't that hillarious!!! :D
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I would also check out the G&L Tribute series, great guitars at any price point.
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I recently did a fret dress on a Squier Vintage Vibe strat and once done it was the best strat I have ever played
Something about it just screamed "strat" in a good way - it was just so right!
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In all seriousness I would set your budget, forget about whichever one is considered 'best' for the budget and play as many as you can in your price range and buy the one that suits you.
Strats are so sensitive to the sum of their parts that you can get quite noticeable variations in tone and playability between two identical models. Some are brilliant and some not so. Likewise, what I consider great you might consider rubbish.
Classic player MIM are really good and classic vibes as others have said.
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Strats are so sensitive to the sum of their parts that you can get quite noticeable variations in tone and playability between two identical models. Some are brilliant and some not so. Likewise, what I consider great you might consider rubbish.
Except for MIJ which are all awesome :D
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In the non-Fender-league. The Thomas Blug Vintage Icon is interesting, as is the Canadian-made Godin Session, which has a humbucker in the bridge-position (push-pull on toneknob to split). Both around 450-500 euro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8g56r-5Dzw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQYV6y261MA
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Strats are so sensitive to the sum of their parts that you can get quite noticeable variations in tone and playability between two identical models. Some are brilliant and some not so. Likewise, what I consider great you might consider rubbish.
Except for MIJ which are all awesome :D
Not true, I'm afraid. At one point I had an MIJ '62 type, a USA '62 reissue, an MIM Jimmie Vaughan and an American Standard or two (all now sold).
The MIJ was put together as well as, if not better than, any of the others - but it sounded by far the worst. Totally dead acoustically. On the other hand, the MIM was crudely made (they're much better now) but sounded great.
I'm not criticising Japanese craftsmanship, but guitars are strange things. You can never take it for granted that one will be better than another just because of where it's made.
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:D i was just ribbing philly, i have a love affair with MIJ fenders. had the opposite experience, to yourself but i will say that you should never buy a guitar unseen/unplayed. not saying you did, just mean as a general bit of advice for the OP
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Yeah, I know your comment was light-hearted, I wasn't taking it too literally. :wink:
It just prompted me to mention my experience which I'd almost forgotten about TBH, it was quite a few years ago.
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I'm not criticising Japanese craftsmanship, but guitars are strange things. You can never take it for granted that one will be better than another just because of where it's made.
Agreed - I've got a 50th Anniversary Jap Tele and a Blackpoole Tele (kit assemble). I've tried every combination I can think of with the Jap Tele - maple/rosewood neck, new pots, piledriver/black guard BKPs, brass/nickel/rolled steel/stainless steel bridge saddles but it just does not sound as good as the Blackpoole.
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I'm going through the same thing with my CIJ 62. It does sound good once I get dialled in, but I prefer my Roadworns straight off the stand.
Like I tried to say earlier, CIJ/MIJ have a "feel", MIM have another, MIA have another again. I read somewhere (probably tdpri - I think that's where Afghan Dave probably saw the hilarious quote above) that different people like the different feels, usually based on which one they fell in love with in the first place.
I found that, for me this can change. A year or two I was raving about Japanese Fenders. Now, I still think they're good, but right at the moment I suspect I wouldn't buy the ones I own if I tried them now - my tastes have changed slightly.
More importantly, this is a fine fine piece of advice:
In all seriousness I would set your budget, forget about whichever one is considered 'best' for the budget and play as many as you can in your price range and buy the one that suits you.
Not sure any of us is capable of following it to the letter and then remaining happy with the purchase, but.... this is exactly how to do it :lol:
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Best bang for buck, if you can find one, in my opinion, is a JV Squier.
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Best bang for buck, if you can find one, in my opinion, is a JV Squier.
I'd agree with that , but failing that the recent Vintage Vibe Squiers get my vote!
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Best bang for buck, if you can find one, in my opinion, is a JV Squier.
I'd agree with that , but failing that the recent Vintage Vibe Squiers get my vote!
I don't get my hands on much new gear, but I'll have to check these out.
I know the guys in Regent Sounds think they are very good quality too.
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Best bang for buck, if you can find one, in my opinion, is a JV Squier.
I'd agree with that , but failing that the recent Vintage Vibe Squiers get my vote!
I don't get my hands on much new gear, but I'll have to check these out.
I know the guys in Regent Sounds think they are very good quality too.
With a bit of upgrading the Classic Vibes are a real steal.
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I think the Classic Vibes are the ones to get - they have Tonerider pickups as standard, good necks and unlike the old JVs, the strats have alder bodies rather than basswood.
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I was amazed by the Classic Vibe Strat I tried. I was trying guitars out with a friend who was going to start learning and wanted something cheap(ish) to practice on. The Classic Vibe, aside from having a slightly too skinny neck for my taste (YMMV) was an absolute knock-out. I left the shop muttering like an old man about how it weren't like that in my day and in my day when you wanted to learn guitar you got something with an action about an inch off the fret board that wouldn't intonate and sounded like it was covered in a blanket etc. etc. Budget guitars have come on a massive amount in the twenty odd years I've been playing and the Classic Vibes seem at the current zenith.
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Thanks for all the input. You have been really helpful.
Tomorow I've decided to go on a strat run and try out as many as possible. I'll be sure to get my hands on some Squire Classic Vibes.
My reasons for wanting a strat is that the classic strat tone has grown on me. To reach a classic strat tone like Hendrix should I go for a rosewood or a maple board or doesn't this really matter?
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My reasons for wanting a strat is that the classic strat tone has grown on me. To reach a classic strat tone like Hendrix should I go for a rosewood or a maple board or doesn't this really matter?
The great man used both so I'd just follow your ears.
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One thing about the CV strats is the necks are pretty slim.
Does anybody know if a standard Strat neck fits on a Squire body? I'm tempted to get one and put by Warmoth boatneck on it.
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Does anybody know if a standard Strat neck fits on a Squire body? I'm tempted to get one and put by Warmoth boatneck on it.
Fender neck heel/pocket dimensions are pretty standard - I'd be surprised if it didn't fit.
That said, I've never owned a (recent) Squier so it's possible they're a fractionally different size.
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How stratty do you want your strat? This is what I use as a "strat" and it's hard to get better bang for buck http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cort-G290-Electric-Guitar-Quilted-Maple-Body-GC-/140465186030?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20b460a4ee
Swampash body, mine's got a nice birdseye neck as well, sperzels and a wilkinson (mine's set to float and is completely problem free) and branded pickups. While I don't like the JB as a humbucker much, split it works really well. Neck's not too thin either.
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Thanks for all the input. You have been really helpful.
Tomorow I've decided to go on a strat run and try out as many as possible. I'll be sure to get my hands on some Squire Classic Vibes.
My reasons for wanting a strat is that the classic strat tone has grown on me. To reach a classic strat tone like Hendrix should I go for a rosewood or a maple board or doesn't this really matter?
Hendrix used both. Just choose what you prefer. I personally like the feel of rosewood.
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This one seems a bit pricey and opinions on them vary, but I stole one of these from the wifes uncle and was very sad to see it go back to him.
Weighs a tonne and I thought it was absolutely superb to play (although I would have sanded the back of the neck).
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How stratty do you want your strat? This is what I use as a "strat" and it's hard to get better bang for buck http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cort-G290-Electric-Guitar-Quilted-Maple-Body-GC-/140465186030?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20b460a4ee
Swampash body, mine's got a nice birdseye neck as well, sperzels and a wilkinson (mine's set to float and is completely problem free) and branded pickups. While I don't like the JB as a humbucker much, split it works really well. Neck's not too thin either.
Hmmmm. I think a prefer a more stratier looking strat. It might sound daft, but I don't think I'll get along with a guitar that I really doesn't like the look of even if it's a good player.
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It might sound daft, but I don't think I'll get along with a guitar that I really doesn't like the look of even if it's a good player.
Not daft at all, looks count for a lot!
(Anyone who says they don't care what their guitars look like is a liar)
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It might sound daft, but I don't think I'll get along with a guitar that I really doesn't like the look of even if it's a good player.
Not daft at all, looks count for a lot!
(Anyone who says they don't care what their guitars look like is a liar)
+1
I've told many music shops that they ought to have a full length mirror (or any mirror) like a clothes shop does. Some give me a funny look, some get it immediately. But I've never found one with a mirror in :lol:
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It might sound daft, but I don't think I'll get along with a guitar that I really doesn't like the look of even if it's a good player.
Not daft at all, looks count for a lot!
(Anyone who says they don't care what their guitars look like is a liar)
+1
I've told many music shops that they ought to have a full length mirror (or any mirror) like a clothes shop does. Some give me a funny look, some get it immediately. But I've never found one with a mirror in :lol:
Angel Music has a mirror in it!
"Does it pass the mirror test?" is a very common question here.....
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It might sound daft, but I don't think I'll get along with a guitar that I really doesn't like the look of even if it's a good player.
Not daft at all, looks count for a lot!
(Anyone who says they don't care what their guitars look like is a liar)
+1
I've told many music shops that they ought to have a full length mirror (or any mirror) like a clothes shop does. Some give me a funny look, some get it immediately. But I've never found one with a mirror in :lol:
Angel Music has a mirror in it!
"Does it pass the mirror test?" is a very common question here.....
I fear that often the guitar will pass that test but the player may feel that they themselves don't (having a bad hair day etc)
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My MXG Customstrat doesn't look like a vintage one. The headstock is not for purists. Plays and sounds briljant and stratty though.
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It might sound daft, but I don't think I'll get along with a guitar that I really doesn't like the look of even if it's a good player.
Not daft at all, looks count for a lot!
(Anyone who says they don't care what their guitars look like is a liar)
+1
I've told many music shops that they ought to have a full length mirror (or any mirror) like a clothes shop does. Some give me a funny look, some get it immediately. But I've never found one with a mirror in :lol:
Angel Music has a mirror in it!
"Does it pass the mirror test?" is a very common question here.....
I fear that often the guitar will pass that test but the player may feel that they themselves don't (having a bad hair day etc)
AH... yes.. makes sense...
(I can feel/hear Philly revving up for some sort of comment even as I type...)
Alas, I'm the sort chap who looks at himself in passing shop windows and sees nothing wrong with that at all... (and feels no fear/pain even when it is a bad hair day - and there's been many recently! :lol:)
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I fear that often the guitar will pass that test but the player may feel that they themselves don't (having a bad hair day etc)
AH... yes.. makes sense...
(I can feel/hear Philly revving up for some sort of comment even as I type...)
Alas, I'm the sort chap who looks at himself in passing shop windows and sees nothing wrong with that at all... (and feels no fear/pain even when it is a bad hair day - and there's been many recently! :lol:)
I don't know about "bad hair days", but I certainly never have "good reflection days"....
"Wow, cool guitar............................... Quasimodo!" :|
So no, no mirrors in guitar shops for me. I'm happy for the guitar to look good on its own. You can't make a silk purse.... etc.
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The best VALUE strat might be the one that you assemble yourself...
I assembled my Tele for about 500 quid, and it's the best sounding tele I've ever played.
Self build doesn't mean paying Warmoth prices - there are other suppliers of decent necks and bodies. I used Axes R Us, and a couple of years on my tele is getting better and better.
Mark.
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It might sound daft, but I don't think I'll get along with a guitar that I really doesn't like the look of even if it's a good player.
Not daft at all, looks count for a lot!
(Anyone who says they don't care what their guitars look like is a liar)
+1
I've told many music shops that they ought to have a full length mirror (or any mirror) like a clothes shop does. Some give me a funny look, some get it immediately. But I've never found one with a mirror in :lol:
Angel Music has a mirror in it!
"Does it pass the mirror test?" is a very common question here.....
I fear that often the guitar will pass that test but the player may feel that they themselves don't (having a bad hair day etc)
Very true!