Upgrading the pick ups, so which strat should I get?

[.50 Caliber Bob]

Okay, here is the story:

I wanted to get a spanking new super cool Fender Strat, initially I was looking at getting a Deluxe American Series, costing about £900,

Then I decided that I wanted a set of Bare Knuckle Apache pick ups to go with it, which are £165. This negates alot of the extra money for the Deluxe version, as if I am going to get new pickups, I might as well stick with a standard American series. £680

This is my question, how different is the standard american series, with say, a top of the line Mexican strat? If I bought the Deluxe player strat (£480) and upgraded the pick ups is that comparable? What is the rest of the hardware on the mexis like (like is there a big difference in quality of the necks, what about the tuners, etc). Since I can upgrade the deluxe mexi and still be £50 in profit compared to a non-upgrade USA standard.

Then again, the deluxe mexi strat has the same p'ups that the deluxe american one does. So is the deluxe mexi just a standard mexi with special pick ups, coz if thats the case how does the standard mexi compare? What hardware is actualy different? And how big a drop in standard is it?

I want something with a decent neck, and I dont wanna be thinking a year or two down the line "man, wish I has shelled out a bit extra for the USA model" but equally I dont wanna spend money if I dont have to.
All comments welcome.

Bob

[DeanS]

As this is subjective, if it were me I'd go with the genuine article and you'll probably appreciate the decision in the long run.

I remember buying my first decent electric and with what money I had the choice was a Gibson LP deluxe-second hand (lovely mini humbuckers) or an Aria PE-R 60 which played very very well. I still have the Aria and still play it however I know which one I'd rather have now as part of my collection!!

[willo]

I wanted to get a spanking new super cool Fender Strat, initially I was looking at getting a Deluxe American Series, costing about £900,

Then I decided that I wanted a set of Bare Knuckle Apache pick ups to go with it, which are £165.

In that situation, I got a custom build. There are plenty of luthiers who will build you exactly what you want for around the £1000 or under, mark.

[indysmith]

if i were you i'd go to the shop and try them - and judge for yourself if the upgrade is worth it. :)

[Chris1974]

My humble advice would be to consider a Fender Japan reissue strat.

New they're about £475 - £500 depending on the spec.   If you patiently wait on ebay you can pick up the highly aclaimed early 90's "made in Japan" model strats for about £300 - £475 'ish depending what the bids go up to on the day

I got a 1992 made 57' reissue Jap strat - maple neck sunburst body for £475 and its an amzing guitar - amazing build quality, spec. , looks , sound and playability.  My strat. is so resonant unplugged, it sounded spot on even with the stock american vintage pickups, but with my irish tours installed its a tone machine !!  i also fitted a custom wiring harness to make the tones available more flexible.

Stick some BK pickups in one and you have an axe capable of holding its own against an over priced custom shop job thats been kicked around the workshop to look old !!

[jordan]

I was going to post this in a few weeks when I've fitted some Apaches, but  you might like to read it now:
http://creationoffrank.blogspot.com/

It's a blog following the upgrade progress on my 50s reissue mexican strat. Even without the BKP upgrade, it has already replaced my Peavey Wolfgang (standard deluxe) as my main guitar.

Enjoy,.....

[Twinfan]

+1 on the Jap Strat idea.  They are the best Strats/Teles I've played apart from the Custom Shop Relics.  One of those with BKPs will be pro quality.

[Johnny Mac]

I think the Mex stuff is generally a lower quality woods ect. Jap strats are good as has been pointed out. Charlie Chandlers in Hampton Wick do them i think

http://www.guitarexperience.co.uk/

[Jp.]

I went for the deluxe when I went looking. In short (sort of) heres why.

They come with Locking Tuners standard.

Stainless steel saddles in the bridge.

"S1" switching system. Which is essentially frenders answer to the people around the world modifying and adding mini switches to their Strats. (So i wouldnt have to - I planned on doing this style of mod to any strat I bought)

Rolled edges on the neck. which made it feel SOOOOO comfortable in my hands from the moment i got the guitar.

Strap locks.

Contoured heal. Which beleive it or not does make a difference to how comfortable the 14th frett and upwards is.

I went for the Ash body, Not one person I've shown it to doesnt take a second look and stare at the grain for a while.


I will put some Irish tours in it eventually but for now I'm just playing with different coloured pick guards. (hence the dodgey lookin holes in the pick guard).



One thing I will say about the Alder body strats of today is that they play and weigh what a strat should feel like. The ash strats are HEAVY, bloody heavy. My Ash strat is as heavy as my mates Les Paul standard. No exageration.

It doesnt have the Indy rocker look but then again neither does a Gretsch white falcon till you see it in the hands of a Punk rocker or someone like John F of the RHCP. I like it now and I'll like it when I'm a conservative 60 year old git.

[Crazy Gra]

I went for the deluxe when I went looking. In short (sort of) heres why.

They come with Locking Tuners standard.

Stainless steel saddles in the bridge.

"S1" switching system. Which is essentially frenders answer to the people around the world modifying and adding mini switches to their Strats. (So i wouldnt have to - I planned on doing this style of mod to any strat I bought)

Rolled edges on the neck. which made it feel SOOOOO comfortable in my hands from the moment i got the guitar.

Strap locks.

Contoured heal. Which beleive it or not does make a difference to how comfortable the 14th frett and upwards is.

Yep it's full of good features!

Unfortunatley mine has the SCN pick ups...................

[_tom_]

Wow Jp that grain is amazing  :o

[azn_guitarist25]

Jp. how much did that strat cost you. bloody nice guitar though its a 2 tone sunburst

[Jp.]

I went for the deluxe when I went looking. In short (sort of) heres why.

They come with Locking Tuners standard.

Stainless steel saddles in the bridge.

"S1" switching system. Which is essentially frenders answer to the people around the world modifying and adding mini switches to their Strats. (So i wouldnt have to - I planned on doing this style of mod to any strat I bought)

Rolled edges on the neck. which made it feel SOOOOO comfortable in my hands from the moment i got the guitar.

Strap locks.

Contoured heal. Which beleive it or not does make a difference to how comfortable the 14th frett and upwards is.

Yep it's full of good features!

Unfortunatley mine has the SCN pick ups...................

Mine has the same pickups, for the moment, I dont hate them. I just think they could be better.

azn_guitarist25.... It cost me $3300 Aus. 'Bout 1200 pound.

I waited 4 months for it to come from the States. I ordered it sight unseen. Now dont get me wrong, the guitar has grown on me and now my mates couldnt picture me without this paticular strat.

But... Heres what I ordered from the Fender Frontline magazine

http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0101400752#

Now you tell me that they are the same colour!!?

After waiting months and handing over more than three grand, my jaw dropped. "are you sure you ordered the right part number?". I was gutted.

Yup it was right. The difference comes in the fact that what you see on my images are actually downloaded photos. What appears on the website is a printed picture that has been scanned/uploaded to the website. (and yes i made sure i deffinately ordered a maple neck.) .

[Elliot]

I think yours looks better than the Fender picture - how drastically does the S1 switch affect the tone - and is it reliant on the SCN pups or could you put some new ones in?

[azn_guitarist25]

for an extra 300 you could of have gotten a fender custom shop 'Custom Classic' strat in a 3 tone sunburst with rosewood fretboard