Fender Stratocaster

[thearabianmage]

Good question. I think the whole professional relicing thing is nuts, but what do I know. Basically Fender charges the prices they do because they can. That's not to say that they don't make some fine instruments. They do. But you get to a point where you say, "This is dumb." I took my Floyd to a guitar shop and A/B'd against a number of Fenders, including a Clapton one and an American Standard. I would have taken my Floyd every time. I only wish it had 24 frets. Not that I use the 23rd and 24th that often, but it makes access to the 20th-22nd easier I find.

When you say 'you took your Floyd' do you mean one of those sweet Floyd Rose speedloader guitars? My guitar teacher at Bridgwater (only 1 'e') had one of those. They are pretty sick'n'slick. But yeah, 'antiquating' or whatever it is they call it. . . Brilliant business tactics I guess, because they get to bang up a guitar and charge more for it. I guess you are absolutely right: they charge so much because they can. But I still want to buy a Standard Strat in plain white. Can anyone recommend a Standard Strat (they are the 'cheapest') or is there another Strat that is better (but not £500 more expensive for a pickup that is over-wound)

[marnold***]

When you say 'you took your Floyd' do you mean one of those sweet Floyd Rose speedloader guitars? My guitar teacher at Bridgwater (only 1 'e') had one of those. They are pretty sick'n'slick.

Yep, listed in my sig below. It's a DST-3. Here's my review of it and here are some pictures. The single coils are now black, having been replaced by Dimarzio Area 61s. I got the guitar on closeout for $149, so even with replacing all three pickups and a bit of rewiring, it's still cheaper than a MIM Strat.

[thearabianmage]

Yep, listed in my sig below. It's a DST-3. Here's my review of it and here are some pictures. The single coils are now black, having been replaced by Dimarzio Area 61s. I got the guitar on closeout for $149, so even with replacing all three pickups and a bit of rewiring, it's still cheaper than a MIM Strat.

Dude, that is almost exactly like Jule's FR!!! Except his, I remember him saying, cost a helluva lot more (went to the US to get it). . .it looks a bit more like this one here:

http://shredguitars.com/collections/...dium/body2.JPG

$149? Fair play! These are really nice guitars - as you've mentioned in your review. Definitely one I have to keep an eye out for - even though they don't sell them in the UK (I don't think so, at least.)

[marnold***]

Dude, that is almost exactly like Jule's FR!!! Except his, I remember him saying, cost a helluva lot more (went to the US to get it). . .it looks a bit more like this one here:

http://shredguitars.com/collections/...dium/body2.JPG

$149? Fair play! These are really nice guitars - as you've mentioned in your review. Definitely one I have to keep an eye out for - even though they don't sell them in the UK (I don't think so, at least.)

They stopped making them. Nobody was buying them. Musician's Friend was blowing them out for quite some time. I don't get it--other than the fact that people hated the headstock. I really wanted to get one with the "fly" pick guard like the one you pictured, but I couldn't get one. I could have gotten a second-hand DST-2 (two humbuckers) in black with that pickguard, but he wanted >$100 more than my DST-3 was new. They pop up on eBay every so often, if you can get someone who will ship it to the UK.

The only place the name "Fender" really matters is if you are trying to get a session gig. Otherwise, as has been pointed out, there are plenty of Strat clones out there.

Lest I get accused of hypocrisy, yes, I have a Fender as well, although it's about as non-traditional as you can get: one humbucker, fixed bridge, 24 frets, flat fretboard, thin neck, set neck. That one is one of their Korean models. It originally retailed for $899 but I got it for $249 IIRC.