Who makes the best strat?

[PPPMAT]

Interested in all your opinions guys - who makes the best modern production strat type guitar. The criteria is that it must be three single coils and 25.5' scale length and NOT a relic finish. Is it Suhr? Tom Anderson? or..........Fender? Price irrelevant, value for money irrelevant whats the best?

Maybe its someone else - I'm really getting down with my strat tones at the moment and would be interested to know of any views

Cheers

[Twinfan]

Depends how you define "best" I think:

Most vintage accurate?
Most slick to play?
Most modern features?

etc etc

[martinw]

Well, for me, it's me.  :)


If not, I would say Fender. Custom Shop if necessary.

Posh, blingy Strats always look wrong to me.

[Matt77]

I'm with the top end Suhr or Fender Custom Shop stuff based on what I have played

[Philly Q]

Since you've ruled out relics ( :( ), I would say Tom Anderson, purely because I like the look a bit more than Suhr.

Or Tyler, possibly.

This is all speculative, I haven't tried this high-end stuff and would be too embarrassed to go into a shop and ask to.



Alternatively, with some nice Warmoth (or similar) parts, some quality hardware and pickups, a bit of luck* and a pro setup, I genuinely don't see why a home-build bolt-on shouldn't be as good as a big-bucks one.

(* that you chose a body and neck which sound as good as they look!)

[Ratrod]

Squier. The standard to be exact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM7cj680eSw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbT7WVrY700

[Ian Price]

Fender Custom Shop.

I've not tried many others though, it's just that I like the vintage shape. The relics from the CS are great to (most of them that is)

[PPPMAT]

Ok a bit of a wide ranging question. Ruling out relics is unfair, you can have them in a NOS finish anyway. I suppose I am concentrating on build quality and playability...........

[Twinfan]

In that case there is no best when you get up to the top end brands - just "different".

[Philly Q]

OK, if relics are back in, I would go for a Fender Custom Shop (Heavy) Relic every time (or a Bravewood!).  Again this is based entirely on looks and general vibe, but they do have a vast number of different neck shapes, finishes etc.  I don't want to start the relic debate all over again, but the idea of having a top-quality, highly playable guitar and not having to worry at all about "babying" it appeals to me enormously.  

On the other hand, the NOS/Closet Classic Fenders don't appeal to me at all - the glossy finishes look like they'd feel a bit "sticky", and I'd have my age-old problem of being petrified of scratching the buggers.

[bucketshred]

Who makes the best Strat?

Fender. For sheer MOJO.

Paddy

[Ian Price]

Looks like Guitar Village have had some new stock in from the Custom Shop recently. And I can't afford any of it  :(

Thye have some more of the white over sunburst, my current favourite relic  :(

[Philly Q]

They have some more of the white over sunburst, my current favourite relic  :(

Yeah, I love that look too. 

But £2.5K is enough to put me off and, I think, will continue to be!

[PPPMAT]

Interesting...........lots of love for the Fender custom shop stuff. They are great guitars no question. Ive tried many a custom shop strat but never really found one that 'fits'.

Never tried any of the more modern stuff like suhr and Tom Anderson and their respective classic ranges look pretty cool and are more or less the same price as a custom shop strat.

So it appears there is no definitive 'best' strat just different flavours.

[d1dsj]

I've had some Fenders, tried some fantastic Suhrs, Tylers and Custom shop Fenders and ended up keeping one of the 4 G&L Legacys I've owned. It's the most comfortable Strat type I've ever played and it fits me. I'd still love a Tyler, there a beautiful burst in GuitarGuitar Birmingham that looks like the sea, a beautiful Turquiose sea that's moving BUT I wouldn't sell my G&L to get it I'd have to have it as well as. Yes I love my Legacy.