Can anyone recommend a hardtail strat-a-like

[MDV]

Dean vendettas, ibanez S and RG, jackson dinky and soloist, LTD horizon and M, Maverick F, yamaha RGX and plenty more all have 2HB hardtail versions kicking round. I forget all the various alpha-numeric pseudo-names, but they're out there in great number.

If I had requirements (well I do have very similar requirements, but I got customs to satisfy it with greater specificity) I'd pay special attention to the jackson SLSMG, maverick F1 hardtail version and the RGXs.

[SRChrono]

Here is a Yamaha
http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-Telecaster-Rare-Humbuckers-Fender-sj-550hr_W0QQitemZ220398102476QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item220398102476&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Squier
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Korean-Made-Set-Neck-Tele-Double-Humbuckers-Nice_W0QQitemZ250340045431QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item250340045431&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Similar to what you want

[SRChrono]

Hahaha, I just noticed that Squier is lying in the dirt!

[Philly Q]

I like that Squier!  :D

[dheim]

Here is a Yamaha
http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-Telecaster-Rare-Humbuckers-Fender-sj-550hr_W0QQitemZ220398102476QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item220398102476&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Squier
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Korean-Made-Set-Neck-Tele-Double-Humbuckers-Nice_W0QQitemZ250340045431QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item250340045431&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Similar to what you want

they're teles!

[noodleplugerine]

Go for an ESP Horizon :D

No really, for cheap stuff, there are options.

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/10852-fender-custom-telecaster-fmt-hh-rosewood-black-cherry-burst.html/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=base

Although its a tele, I bet its lovely to play etc, possibly worth a look.

Schecter C-1s are great too, but they've got curved top, no scratch plate etc, more superstrats than strats.

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=9674

Am I right in saying you're after a TOM style bridge, rather than a hardtail style bridge? Because the Ibanez RGAs are meant to be very good. The 121 is built in Japan (I think)...

While I hear the 42 and 32 are also good guitars:

http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Guitars/Electric_Guitars/Electric_Guitars/p6140.aspx
http://www.dv247.com/invt/60865/
http://www.giggear.co.uk/p/Ibanez-RGA32-Mahogany-Oil/

If you want LTDs, I wouldn't buy below the 400 series, the 400s and up are really quite good, but rather expensive.

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/67812

Again, alot of these are superstrats rather than trad strats, try Yamaha, or one of the replica type makes?

[SRChrono]

I know they're teles but they were the closest thing I could find :[

[Prawnik]

I'd offer to sell you the 1969 hardtail Strat clone I built, but it has single coils and I happen to like that guitar.

Nice, but no good for swapping out for BKP humbuckers.

MDV, if there are millions could you let me know a couple? For a more accurate spec, I guess I'm after a guitar that's comfy to play sat down, but has the HBs and fixed bridge of an LP, not too "metal", in a perfect world the looks of a 60s strat with big headstock, cheapish and easy to modify with new BKPs. Most strats have a tremelo, which I could technically remove, but would rather not. SGs are OK, but not that comfy (strats are really, really good in this regard).

I realise there are a lot of strat clones out there, but am just asking if anyone would recommend any, with the specs I've detailed. I know I could google around, then drive to various shops and play them, but this is a pretty slow process, it seemed sensible to ask if anyone had a recommendation first.

[marantz1300]

The Hello Kittys are hardtail and string through. Cheap and you can always spray one.

[dheim]

The Hello Kittys are hardtail and string through. Cheap and you can always spray one.

and ruin its best feature?  :?

[marantz1300]

The Hello Kittys are hardtail and string through. Cheap and you can always spray one.

and ruin its best feature?  :?

Well ,I think they came in black as well as pink.

[morgasm]

i really like the prs se guitars, very very good for the money. would be perfect with some bare knuckles lol. saying that i don't remember the stock pickups being bad at all...
morgan