Who makes the best strat?

[bucketbot]

Wow - I like that. As said on Martin's thread I don't normally like natural strats - I'm getting to like them now!

Managed to beat em down to £1000 too!

[hunter]

Most remarkable "special" feel I ever experienced was a James Tyler Classic. I don't know how he does it, but his guitars fall in your hand and feel like they'd been there for years. On top of that the craftmanship and components are top drawer. So James get's the crown from me.

[Zaned]

Most remarkable "special" feel I ever experienced was a James Tyler Classic. I don't know how he does it, but his guitars fall in your hand and feel like they'd been there for years. On top of that the craftmanship and components are top drawer. So James get's the crown from me.

They scallop the edges of the fretboard, that's probably one contributing factor  8) I'll probably end up buying a Tyler some day. They don't come around here too often though..

-Zaned

[Telerocker]

Fender makes beautifull strats, but you have to select carefully. A lot of Fenders, even CS, don't do it for me and the quality/features/price is out of balance. The cheaper Eric Johnson-strat, which has a great quartersawn neck, is the better choice. I think Suhr-guitars give the most bang for the bucks. Even the Pro Series are highquality and they have the Buzz Feiten-system. I myself play an Patrick Eggle-made swampash/maple neck/ebony fingerboard MXG-strat with Crawler/Irish Tours. Bought it for 750 euro and can compete with some Suhr-guitars. When woods and playability are good, upgrading is easy and not too expensive. I invested in Sperzels and a Fender-rollerbridge for better tuningstability. So, somewhere between 800 and 1500 euro you can find your ultimate strat. Above that you pay the brandname and I often wonder why I don't hear the extra 2000-3000 euro's? 

[MrBump]

Most remarkable "special" feel I ever experienced was a James Tyler Classic. I don't know how he does it, but his guitars fall in your hand and feel like they'd been there for years. On top of that the craftmanship and components are top drawer. So James get's the crown from me.

... but don't you find their headstocks really ugly..?

[Elliot]

his guitars fall in your hand and feel like they'd been there for years.

So its not a Strat then - because the feel of a Strat is something you have to fight with to bring under your command -  :)

[Telerocker]

Quote from: hunter on August 20, 2010, 09:10:33 PM

Most remarkable "special" feel I ever experienced was a James Tyler Classic. I don't know how he does it, but his guitars fall in your hand and feel like they'd been there for years. On top of that the craftmanship and components are top drawer. So James get's the crown from me.

The headstock is. yes different.... But the multicoloured 'smear' bodies are badass.

[PPPMAT]

Well I 'may' have found the answer in a PRS 305. I have looked and looked and looked at the upper end strats and fender just do not make one that suits what I want. Amazing I know but they don't - the main issue is the necks are just too big for me on the guitars that I like (like the custom deluxe).

I am also unsure on 2 point trems - opinion is divided as to whether it affects tone.......Also the Tom Andersons have stainless steel frets which I have found to be a bit bright for me.

The 305 ticks pretty much all the boxes, its Alder, its maple and rosewood, it has a 6 point trem that works, it has excellent build and in the anniversary colours looks great. Also the single coils are overwound and beefy.

The DOwnsides, you CANNOT swap pickups and whilst not being overly blingy for a PRS its still a bit 'jewellery'.

Also it represents pretty good value in my eyes - it is considerably cheaper than a custom shop relic, its a set neck and built to top drawer standards

[Philly Q]

So have you bought one yet?  :P

PRS have a special offer of a "£250 Care Package" which runs out at the end of this month.

http://www.headlinemusic.co.uk/news.aspx

(3rd item on that page)

[Frank]

Well, for me, it's me.  :)


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

Posh, blingy Strats always look wrong to me.

I'd agree with this, just drop a BKP set in a US strat and there's nothing to beat it.

[PPPMAT]

Yes  :D total gamble, ive never played one but ordered one in sapphire smokeburst (blue) from Peach. I trust John there totally and if its not right then it can go back. I get the free care package and uber showoff white case!

By coincidence its reviewed in guitarist and sounds exactly what I want - a strat but super playable and meaty. Didn't realise that they are limited to 305 of them so quite pleased. I really wanted something other than a PRS to be honest but there you go.

Ill let you know how it stacks up against my roadworn strat (with irish tours and steel block etc). Might sound an unfair comparison but that guitar stacks up against any of the fender CS stuff (in tone not build)

Should get it next week

Matt

[Philly Q]

Hope you like it!  :D

(I'm also pondering a PRS purchase while the care package offer lasts - might as well take advantage of it - but I'm having big trouble deciding what to buy!)

[Stevepage]

SVL (Simon Law) guitars.

http://svlguitars.com/gallery/sixtyone

Matt Schofields been using them recently. They looked gorgeous when I saw him at the 100 club a few months back.

[PPPMAT]

Hope you like it!  :D

(I'm also pondering a PRS purchase while the care package offer lasts - might as well take advantage of it - but I'm having big trouble deciding what to buy!)

Well, the choices are endless............I like some of the anniversary models, and my interest is piqued in the narrowfield humbuckers which seem to sound great. I have a soft sot for the 57/08 pickups too which are very vintage PAF sounding. SC245 is a great guitar, customs are great (particularly the 22) they are all great

[Philly Q]

Hope you like it!  :D

(I'm also pondering a PRS purchase while the care package offer lasts - might as well take advantage of it - but I'm having big trouble deciding what to buy!)

Well, the choices are endless............I like some of the anniversary models, and my interest is piqued in the narrowfield humbuckers which seem to sound great. I have a soft sot for the 57/08 pickups too which are very vintage PAF sounding. SC245 is a great guitar, customs are great (particularly the 22) they are all great

I'm not after anything with a maple top.... which makes things a little simpler.