Help choosing guitar

[Gizmo]

I need some help. I know strats are a bit like marmite on this forum as are relics, plus there is plenty of gas and regular changing of gear but i'm looking for the perfect strat which im hoping to be a keeper forever (in theory).

I know this probably doesnt exist, but i heard of something almost perfect coming into stock on back order and been waiting 5 months and it just came in. I tried it yesterday and if It had been the only guitar there i would have walked away happy.

Its a Custom shop strat Relic. Black with RW board, based on 1963 but modern radius and Abbey 65 custom pickups. Looks 10/10, playability 9/10, sound 8.5-9/10 (compared to other) but still great. I compared to plenty of other custom shop and it really is a good one.

However, they also took delivery of another guitar with the same almost same spec (both dealer select guitars) so same hardware, pickups, etc, Both Black and RW board. The same thing essentially but this one is a NOS and a master built guitar. Looks great for a NOS with nitro finish etc but not relic and not got the vibe of the other from appearance. The relic is stunning and more of a "play me" vibe. However, the NOS's playability (plays its self) 10/10 & sound 10/10. The relic has more mid range and almost like its tone control is on 8. The NOS version has wider frequency and more alive and sounds even to my inexperienced ears better. The NOS costs lots more being MB.

Whats makes the guitar a keeper, perfect sound + good looks or great sound + perfect looks?

Thanks

[Philly Q]

Looks are important (in many walks of life, but let's stick to guitars....).  I wouldn't be interested in a guitar in the first place if I didn't like the look.

But "perfect" sound and playability are rare things indeed (that's assuming it sounds/feels great acoustically and it's not just down to the pickups).

From what you've said, I'd go for the NOS, even though I love relics.  It'll turn into a relic itself..... eventually.

[darkbluemurder]

That is a very personal preference. On some guitars I don't care for the looks and on others I do. On some guitars I accept lesser playability for a special tone. On a stage guitar I want 100% functionality and can live with only 80% tone - most of the tone is me anyway.

There is no such thing as "perfect" in the sense of "perfect forever and all situations" IMHO.

I second Philly with going NOS in your case and do the relicing yourself by playing the heck out of it.

Cheers Stephan

[Philly Q]

I meant to add that, of course, this is all totally subjective.... your "perfect" - whether it's looks, sound or playability - will be totally different from my "perfect". 

Maybe there are a few guitars which genuinely have some "magic" that 99% of players would appreciate, but it's more likely that you'd think my favourite guitar is nothing special, and vice versa.

And another thought about the looks thing - I've sold dozens of guitars over the years, but even though I do care about appearance, I've never sold one because it didn't look right.  Always because it ultimately wasn't "special" enough to be a keeper.

[Twinfan]

From what you've said, the NOS is the one for you.  Looks are important, but as long as you like the look of the NOS guitar you can relic it yourself by playing the snot out of it.

To be honest, I'm not 100% sold on the look of my blue PRS Private Stock Signature but it plays and sounds like an absolute dream so I'm not worried about dinging it (which I already have) or it getting play wear (which it is).

Buy the NOS, enjoy it and make it "yours".

[Gizmo]

Thanks for the replies. The pickups are good and are the same model in each guitar.  Abigail Ybarra: Custom ’65s in the middle and neck, with a slightly hotter version at the bridge. I guess being hand wound they may vary a bit but most of the sound difference must be the woods.

I reserved them both and am going back to try again Monday so I'll post a pic of which ever i get.

Thanks for the advice.

[Frank]

I don't see the problem here. Buy them both.

[Mr. Air]

I'm looking forward to seeing which one you end up with  :D

[Frank]

This thread makes me want to buy  a strat

[shobet]

This thread makes me want to buy  a strat

Again! ;)

[Telerocker]

Choose the NOS: best sound and playability!

[Philly Q]

This thread makes me want to buy  a strat

Strat threads make you want to buy Strats, non-Strat threads make you want to buy Strats.... 

[gwEm]

go with your heart. no point in analysing this with numbers or anything. buy the coolest one!

[38thBeatle]

Sounds like the NOS will be the one to me. I have an old Strat that I have had for years. I must have played hundreds of gigs with it and I feel at home on it. It isn't the prettiest Strat ( being Walnut and all) but the feel is superb and its that what matters to me. In your case the choice, if I were choosing, would be the NOS.

[d1dsj]

I too would go with the NOS and just play it and never look back. Looking forward to seeing which one you go with.