Looking to buy a strat - suggestions?

[hhcave]

Hi,

I've got my birthday coming up soon and im looking to get myself a new guitar! I currently own a Gibson Les Paul Custom (with MMs) which is fantastic but im looking for a different tone and ive recently been listening a lot to strat players and really want a similar guitar!

I will be  using it mainly for jazz fusion/instrumental rock stuff (think eric johnson/scott henderson) and the only requirements i have at the moment are: S/S/S, maple neck & fretboard (preferably lacquered)... the rest i'd prefer to be classic (vintage spec_ but i dont really mind too much

My budget is anything up to say... £1800 at most but i wouldnt mind spending less for a great instrument :)

Ive been looking at the Suhr classics, Fender american strats and the Eric Johnson strat but out of these i've only really played the american strats - please advise!

Thanks

[Stevepage]

If your budget is that high, I'd really recommend the Eric Johnson Strat. It must be one of the best Strats ever produced. Just amazing, the tone, feel, everything.

[tomjackson]

If you are not too bothered about the finish or name you could go for a partscaster from allparts or USA Custom Guitars. Add BKP's, Callaham hardware and you would have a top quality Strat for less than a grand.  You could then either finish it in Nitro from Manchester Guitar Tech or True oil, either way you would have a thin resonant finish.  Or you could buy a ready finished one and still come in around a £1K all in.

I think that is the best way to go for the most quality/£, but if you don't want to go that route G&L would be the best option.  For the best 'Vibe' it would have to be Fender Custom Shop.

[mikeluke]

I have tried an Tom Anderson Strat (rosewood board not maple) which was great.

[DeanS]

No brainer- Suhr classic!

[Lew]

Im in love with Suhr so I'm biased :P
Check out Melancon too.

[hhcave]

I've had a look at the Melancon website and they seem like the type of guitar im looking for... Is it possible to order direct from them and specify? (eg. woods, colour etc.) Also, could someone tell me roughly how much the Pro Artist costs? There is a guitar shop i can check out which stocks Melancons but i won't be able to go until next month or so...

Thanks

Also, is the Suhr PBSSC System worth getting installed as well with the single coils? It seems useful however i really don't want the tone to be affected much...

[mikeluke]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tom-Anderson-Hollow-Classic-Tobacco-Burst-Guitar_W0QQitemZ310081884318QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item310081884318&_trkparms=72%3A1298|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[dave_mc]

i'd say at that amount of money try everything you can, even things quite a bit below budget, but also a bit above too (not much point in setting an arbitrary limit of £1800 if, say, your perfect guitar can be had for £1900)...

i'd be trying all those boutique guys like melancon, rahbek, suhr, etc., also fender custom shop, G&L... also stuff like musicman if it doesn't have to be the exact strat shape...

can you get a tyler for £1800? i really liked one of those i tried, but it was £2700 ( :lol: ) and also HSS rather than SSS... but if he does a more vintage strat, it would presumably be worth a try...

if you have very precise specs, and you're willing to wait, a custom-build would be worth considering too... :)

EDIT: i would also say, take your time, there's no rush. when you're spending that amount of money you want to be sure it's what you want...

[Jonny]

Go Custom. I wouldn't think twice about it. And Stratocasters are easy customs.

[Ted 'N' Leo]

Like some of the guys before have said, partocaster, you could get a fantastic Warmoth built body and neck and do whatever you want with the rest (its what i plan on starting with some of next months pay).

As for ready built, I know the Eric Johnson one is supposed to be the best 50s Fender you can get (from Fender), but another one i would consider is the Vintage Hot Rod 62, thin nitro finish, medium jumbo frets and a flatter 12 radius, with a thick C contour. Which might be good for you if you're coming from Gibson territory? It also sounds the business.

[FernandoDuarte]

Yes, go custom!
And if you enjoy DIY: Warmoth...

[Simon D]

I've played a second hand Tom Anderson in a store, and I wasn't very impressed. It had a needlessly fiddly pickup switching system, and was very difficult to play - it fought back too much. I've also played a Johnson Strat, which was a lovely guitar. Sounded great and played very nicely indeed. I found the neck a bit sticky, because it's nitro-cellulose gloss finished, including on the fingerboard, but that's what you're after so it's all good.

For true flexibility, and if your budget will allow, it's worth exploring the custom route, and also having a good look at Warmoth guitars - there are literally thousands of different combinations of options, and the quality is excellent. You could even do what I did and cheat - have a tech put it together for you!

[FernandoDuarte]

Just to add information:
Warmoth does not make nitro/lacquer finish, just poly... as you want it, you would have to dyi or ask somebody to do it...
But the quality is top notch, guys more experienced than me said it's at least at Fender Custom Shop standard... As I've never GOT CLOSE to a custom nor vintage, I only quote it :lol:

[Jonny]

How much would a Warmoth be, in £? Finished body, neck, few custom bits here and there, no parts however.