Author Topic: The dreaded Fender (Read 7849 times)

Jonesy76 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2007, 02:36:36 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: Jonesy76
I've owned a Rory Gallagher strat after one of my friends had one! They don't get much better, but I simply didn't play it

What, the Custom Shop tribute model? :o That's the only Rory Strat I've heard of. Serious money!

Yep :D
I got it for silly money from a long standing friend who had a GAS attack for a 59 Historic Les Paul that was a "buy-it-this-weekend-or-its-gone" mega bargain. I had savings for a PRS CU24 at the time, and I simply went for the Rory Gallagher instead as it was a bargain, and I knew how good they sounded after my friend had got his. Sadly though it spent most of its time in the case when even my Flying V was getting more play time. It sounded inutterably amazing, but it simply didn't flip that little switch inside my head that says "You're not going to sell this one". Vanity didn't help as I never was that struck on the trashed look of it! Yes the tone was wonderful, and yes it is an accurate representation of Rorys actual Strat (even down to the single replacement Gotoh tuner), but I'm not one for relics. I like to naturally relic my guitars myself! :D

Found this though which might be an option
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_necks,_wood/Electric_guitar:_Bodies/1/Flametop-S_Front-routed_Guitar_Bodies/Pictures.html#details

Warmoths prices are just that little bit too steep.

FernandoDuarte · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2007, 02:43:27 PM »

Quote from: Jonesy76

And I've had a luthier build something for me Fernando.......check my Avatar!! :D The only thing is there is no way I would get a luthier to build something for me, with a hefty price tag on it, if I was only going to grow bored of it, even if it was built to my exact specifications.

I know, I saw the pic of your double-necked LP :D

And I know there in Europe and USA the price of a guitar hand-built is more expensive than a Fender/Gibson... Don't worry, sell a kidney! 8)
(here in Brazil, when is a luthier without a company (something like Wez) is usually less expensive, if is a company, like Feline, it get a little more closer price, but still less than a Gibby... Here it's unpayable... he have a several problem with taxes)

38thBeatle · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2007, 02:48:40 PM »

I was going to suggest the assemble by parts idea but took your original post literally, i.e. you specifically wanted a C A R guitar and them to pimp it. Buying the bits and putting it together as you go would be a good option.You sound like you know what you want and how to go about it though. One of my neighbours has a son with a Squire and I have played it a few times-very well put together guitar.Tuners are not too clever though on his but playable. They paid around that amount I seem to recall.

FernandoDuarte · « **Reply #18 on:** December 02, 2007, 03:10:41 PM »

Quote from: Jonesy76

Warmoths prices are just that little bit too steep.

Yes... The price of this body from StewMac is the same of the price of a finish job from Warmoth...
But I heard they get the best quality in this "bodies/necks stores"
I can't say if it's truth or false...

WezV · « **Reply #19 on:** December 02, 2007, 03:52:25 PM »

the stew-mac stuff will be alright - maybe not quite warmoth quality but still pretty good... and they have the best customer service in teh world if there is a problem with it

stratguy23 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 02, 2007, 04:58:39 PM »

I love Strats. It is a Squire so don't feel bad about modding it. If you like it, I say try it and mod what you don't like. Personally, I would add a Callaham Bridge, Sperzel tuners, and some new pickups/electronics (so basically everything, but then again, I do that to all my guitars). I have an '80's Squire Tele that is good that is.

Henk · « **Reply #21 on:** December 02, 2007, 06:17:13 PM »

I have found an old fender Alder body from the seventies with backplate, pretty messed up and cheap. Maybe it would be a perfect opportunity to put a replacement neck on it made to my hands and preferences. Gonna try and get a price estimation tomorrow.

Probably wont be cheap after all is done, but i do like the idea!

38thBeatle · « **Reply #22 on:** December 02, 2007, 06:41:03 PM »

I just happened to be checking out a site of a company in a nearby town and if you check it out, you should see a Tokai C A R Strat for sale in the used gear section.

http://www.bedrockmusic.com/

Jonesy76 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 03, 2007, 03:30:47 PM »

Thanks 38th..........
Would have been great but it's got the rosewood fretboard when the little part of me really wants Maple :oops:

Looks like I might be going down the line of a Partscaster though after talking to a couple of guitar shops today about the Squiers. Looks like my best bet might be to either save my money for a Highway 1 USA Strat, or go down the line of buying up a body and a neck and then building my own Strat from bits

WezV · « **Reply #24 on:** December 03, 2007, 04:22:53 PM »

Quote from: Jonesy76

Thanks 38th..........
or go down the line of buying up a body and a neck and then building my own Strat from bits

do it!!!

Mr Ed · « **Reply #25 on:** December 03, 2007, 04:29:07 PM »

Strats are, to me, THE most comfortablr guitars in the world. My dream one - a proper stoptail and locking tuners for stability and a pair of humbuckers for unmistakable power.

To anyone that says "but it's not worth owning a Strat if it doesn't have a trem and singlecoils"... shuttup, yes it is.

gwEm · « **Reply #26 on:** December 03, 2007, 04:33:11 PM »

heres a suggestion:

why not try a squier or fender 'cyclone'?

i brought a squier one and have been gradually doing it up. it feels very gibson-y for a fender, but has that look and sound. very keen on my one, looking forward to fitting decent pickups on it.

Henk · « **Reply #27 on:** December 03, 2007, 06:38:46 PM »

I have been checking on strats today, have tried out some different necks and i actually need a D shape neck (largest neck shape) which cannot be made to fit a C body. I did have a choise to have the chunky D shaped as a 'soft V' or 'strong V' like clapton used.

So the new neck and old body deal is off, the bill for a very basic handmade strat would be about 1200 euro, but ill have a perfect neck for that. Still dont want to spend that much on a strat really.

So ill go back to my original plan and keep looking for a chunky standard C shaped neck. Ill be looking for an old squire, 80's like, so Korean or Japan made. The Korean standard squire models of that time have a decent enough reputation.

I also found some info on Pro Tone Korean squires(ash body!) which have been cancelled by Fender due to their build quality. Anyone every had/tried one of these?

pagan7 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 03, 2007, 08:37:54 PM »

The reissued Fender Jaguars with twin humbuckers had good reviews when they came out a year or two back. Small and short scaled and just over 500 quid if that's in budget ?

Philly Q · « **Reply #29 on:** December 03, 2007, 09:47:54 PM »

Quote from: Mr Ed

Strats are, to me, THE most comfortablr guitars in the world. My dream one - a proper stoptail and locking tuners for stability and a pair of humbuckers for unmistakable power.

I had a hardtail Strat with a pair of humbuckers (the Fender Double Fat Strat). Sold it just a few weeks ago.

Don't shoot me, but I never really liked it that much - I do prefer single-coils (or hum-cancelling "single-coils") in a Strat. But with you all the way on the hardtail.