Road-worn Strat

[sunvalleylaw]

I think if I did not already have my strat with these pups, and I liked the feel, I would go for this strat. I love the sound and feel of mine and I bet this one is similar. As far as the relic stuff, I guess I would not seek out that look. But if I liked it, I would look at the relic job as a start toward my own nicks, scuffs and etc., and would relax about those types of marks. I tend to really be careful of dinging my strat (or any of my guitars).

[Duffy]

Actually, looking at the Road Worn strat, I think it could make a real nice looking strat if the yellowed, cheap looking, pickguard was replaced with a nice aged white pearl pickguard or black pearl pickguard, gold, tortoise, or whatever new color goes good.

The rest of the relic job looks sort of good actually, in a obviously fake type of way, but a new guard would make it look partly restored and really sharp I think.

But for almost 900 dollars I don't think it is a bargain at all. I could get a Jimmy Vaughn strat for way less that's brand new and looks brand new and has tex mex pickups. Or a Roadhouse, or Lone Star, or Deluxe Players strat.

Also, for a couple more dollars you could get an American standard strat. So it doesn't really make a lot of sense to get this guitar unless you - just have to have it, like Tig was saying. In that case, who cares what it looks like?

I'd rather have one of those "Santana" SE series PRS'es.

[ZMAN]

Duff: There were a couple of issues of the M-III. One had kind of a strat body style and had a trem and 3 single coils with a "pointy" head stock
The Studio Lite M III was one of the first chambered LPs and came with two HBs and a Single. There was another M III Called the Stealth. It has made of Korina wood and had the Strat style body, pointed headstock and dual HBs with a single. Circa 1991 and 1992. Fairly rare.
I have looked at the road worn series and they looked as if they were painted, sanded then coated with a satin finish. Vintage guitars makes some of the nicest relic guitars I have ever seen for really low $.

[NWBasser]

Maybe my perception of this guitar is colored by the fact that I primarily play Les Pauls and this was the first strat that I've touched in many years.

Perhaps someone here with more strat miles on their hands could try one for better perspective? Duffy? Steve?

I'd like to know if this is an exceptional instrument or just another sample of the breed.

[sunvalleylaw]

Heck, NW, if you like it, that is good by me. I bet I would too. Next time I get to Boise I will see if they have one at GC. That won't be for a few weeks though. Like I said, I have the same pups in my guitar, and I absolutely love it. They are also the same pups as in the JV strat also. So if you like the feel, sounds like a winner to me.

[NWBasser]

Well, it seems it wasn't really only the RW strat that charms me. I just hadn't played many strats for a very, very long time and the newer ones are much better in nearly all aspects than what I was used to. Although some of the MIMs I recently tried were just meh. Fret ends weren't finished very well. The MIA Std. was super-sweet.

And now, I just got back from trying out a CV50's Squier and was quite thrilled with it. I guess all the glowing reports are not hype at all - it's a fine guitar and I nearly walked out of the store with it. Darn thing felt just right and sounded sweet too. It was a hard one to put down. It seemed much better than the few MIM's I tried.

Oh, I hope Santa is going to be good to me this X-mas.