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FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / I'll probably get flamed for even thinking this...
Les Paul Custom history from Gibson
(This message was last edited by BrentD at 01:32 PM, Feb 17th, 2012)
Best Strat I've Ever Played/Owned
(This message was last edited by 6L6 at 09:46 AM, Mar 16th, 2012)
Best Sounding Electric I've Ever Played! 1960 harmony Meteor
FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / I'll probably get flamed for even thinking this...
Previous 20 Messages
strayedstrater
Contributing Member
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Garland, TX
vintage RCA output transistorsFeb 16th, 2012 11:44 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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"... but Strats were also five times the price of a Les Paul Jr., right?"
Yeah, but a Les Paul Custom was like 6 times the price of a Jr. Juniors are great guitars, but they were originally marketed as student/beginner guitars. The Strat was a premium "professional" grade instrument that offered more features for a bit less money than other makers' premium "professional" instruments. It wasn't meant to be "cheap", just to offer more bang for the buck.
Alderandash
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QLD AustraliaFeb 16th, 2012 01:23 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Interesting subject.
In 1954 average weekly wage was US$ 61
In 2010 average weekly wage was US$ 814
So if we accept $249 for a strat in 1954 it was approx 4 weeks wages.
Today 1 weeks work should get you an American standard or the best part of it.
Two weeks wages will get you an Am Deluxe and a Mex model for practice.
4 weeks wages puts you well into CS territory.
They are cheap as hell now by comparison - and some might say better.
Modal Magic
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MBJ, Highway Hound.
You Can't Bend It Aussie!Feb 16th, 2012 05:00 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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"Modal , did you ever pick up the CS Rory Gallagher?"
No, I have never played one. I'd love to, but Custom shop Strats are far and few between here in Australia.
When I played the CS '58, the salesman was very antsy about it. He straight out accused me that I played low end guitars and had know ideas about Strats, that I wouldn't get the sounds I get at home so it was know way to judge the Dyna Comp I was testing. What an arrogant dork. I played the CS '58 for about half an hour, and then he took it from me.
jay1vinton
Hawaii, USA
Perfect is the enemy of good enoughFeb 16th, 2012 05:57 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Man, Before I got guitar wise many years ago, I was one that was guilty of walking in the store and looking on the wall and saying, "I'll take one just like that one". I never picked up one to play or get an idea and it was stupid of me.
The only luck in that is that what they brought me was what I would have chosen and still have..but it could have been alot worse had I not wised up.
Playing for years sometimes doesn't equate to gear knowledge...
avsalesman
Australia
'scuse me while I kiss the sky.Feb 16th, 2012 06:42 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Hey Modal,
Good to see another Aussie on the forum.
I too have a HWY1, mines a 2007 wine red. I recently upgraded her with Fender Hot Noiseless PUPS and while I was tinkering, put on aged pearl pickguard knobs levers and trem tips. Man what a site she is now. Looks the goods, plays like a dream and def a genuine strat tone. Combined with my Vox AC15C1, sonic ecstasy!
Cant imagine any CS would be worlds apart from mine in any Dept.
otisian
vancouver
One guitar Otis (but it has 10 settings)Feb 16th, 2012 07:29 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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@ Winter isn't that the 101 highway not the "1"?
Fistfull of Clams
Wales
Bethesda, Land of SongFeb 17th, 2012 05:08 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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"When I played the CS '58, the salesman was very antsy about it. He straight out accused me that I played low end guitars and had know ideas about Strats, that I wouldn't get the sounds I get at home so it was know way to judge the Dyna Comp I was testing. What an arrogant dork. I played the CS '58 for about half an hour, and then he took it from me."
Unbelievable!!!!!
I'm lucky enough to own a lot of fine guitars that I'm really grateful for - one of these is a CS Rory Gallagher. However, my main gigging axe is a fairly beat-up, used, bone stock '92 SRV Sig that cost me about a third of the cost of the Rory.
The Rory's a fine beast - don't get me wrong - but the SRV just sort of "fits" somehow.
I've heard lots of good things about the HWY 1's. Glad you like your HWY1, Modal - its a great feeling when you find a guitar that fits like a glove.
BrentD
Contributing Member
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Lansing, MIFeb 17th, 2012 01:31 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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strayedstrater, thanks for being patient with me. Your point is what I was getting at - a Strat may have been a good value as an alternative to another professional instrument, but I don't get the feeling it was designed to be "cheap". It was made for professionals.
Maybe it's an issue of semantics - cost vs. value and all. I just never thought of Strats as "cheap" guitars, especially when they were *almost* as much as the Gibsons of their day.
The page linked puts a 1954 Les Paul Standard at $225 (in the middle column), which would be cheaper than a Strat at $249. Not sure I buy all of that, but that's what it says.
fredocaster
USAFeb 17th, 2012 08:08 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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All is well said here. I have several non-CS that sound really good, and one time I even picked a production strat over two cs strats. It was an EJ vs a 56 and an MB 54. This was a really close call by the way.
I have played a number of really nice cs strats, however. The 56 is my favorite of these. Of course they vary, but I think the odds of getting a good one are higher with the CS stuff. My Nocaster is the best tele I've ever played, maybe even the best guitar, period.
jay1vinton
Hawaii, USA
Perfect is the enemy of good enoughMar 15th, 2012 02:22 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Regardless of vintage and price, it's my experience is that lots of players of strats, while they may be competent players, don't really understand how to play a strat to achieve the tones they desire.
Yet, with all that technical info floating around and opinions, one thing is highly overlooked when playing a strat, any strat.
Most of us already know the 5 way switch intimately, but many cannot nor have figured out that where you strum on a strat in relation to the setting of the 5way, decides a lot of "stratiness".
If your choosing the neck pickup, sturm over it, and continue on through the combinations and strum where that combination is. The 4, strum between neck and mid, the 3, directly over the middle, the 2 between middle and bridge, etc...
Many wonder why they cannot achieve that strat tone when they are in one setting yet are strumming completely away from where the combination exists.
BrentD
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Lansing, MIMar 15th, 2012 02:53 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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That's a really great thought, Jay. I don't know if I naturally do that or not, so I'll have to look.
I don't complain about a lack of "Stratiness", though.
6L6
Contributing Member
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Lago, CA
Kick the tires, Light the fires! Mar 16th, 2012 07:28 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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The first guitar I ever bought was a new '63 Candy Apple Red (Custom color in the day) Strat.
I paid about $285 for it if I recall correctly. LOTS of paper route/lawn mowing/snow shoveling/caddying effort spent to acquire that kind of dough.
Since that time I've owned a half dozen Pre CBS Strats and seven different CS Strats. They are all gone...
I found my ultimate Strat in the form of my '08 MIM Classic 50's. When i walked into "B Street Music" that day of purchase, I wasn't looking to buy anything.
However, I loved the look of this Surf Green Strat and decided to give it an acoustic strum...
WHOA!!!!!
I could not believe the sustain and acoustic tone of this block of wood! I purchased it immediately, dropped in a set of Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot pups I had laying around, and I've never looked back.
Without a doubt, the finest playing/sounding Strat I've ever owned!
And, it's the least expensive Strat I've ever owned.
Here's a pic:
6
6L6
Contributing Member
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Lago, CA
Kick the tires, Light the fires! Mar 16th, 2012 07:48 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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All that said...
My all-time fav electric guitar is my 1960 Harmony Meteor w/Bigsby. The FAT FAT FAT TONE from that hollow body and the DeArmond Gold Foil pups just can't be beat!
6
budg
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ohio
Home of the Goodyear blimpMar 16th, 2012 09:51 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I wonder how the HWY 1 would compare if both setups were the same.I have yet to find a guitar that plays well right out of the box, after a setup,yes,but not out of the box.Even a lower end strat with a good setup is a good guitar.
Modal Magic
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MBJ, Highway Hound.
You Can't Bend It Aussie!Mar 16th, 2012 05:19 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I've never done a set-up on my '03 HWY Strat. I've checked the dimensions occasionally out of curiosity and it has never changed. The thing is pretty well close to Fender specs and has stayed that way.
When I bought it, I had two issues. One was the truss rod rattled, so a slight tighten of the nut fixed that, and two, the G string had fret buzz up and down the neck. I adjusted my playing style to suit because the action was perfect and I didn't want to change anything if I had to. Once I got used to it, the G-string has never buzzed since, even if I try and make it.
In all honesty I rarely adjust guitars straight out of the box. If they feel good I leave them. The majority I have measured have being very close to Fender specs (the one I did have to set-up was my AmDlx. It had zero relief and buzzed like crazy. It was very difficult to play cleanly- I’m certain the shop I bought it from did the set-up because it was the first out-of-the-box Strat I’ve purchased that was no where near Fender specs).
Jeepguy
USAMar 18th, 2012 07:18 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Did you A-B them side by side? That's where you can tell a lot of differences. The Highways I've played have never had a great strat tone. I go for more the classic kinda tone. I've looked because I like the 22 fret with six screw setup they have, just haven't found one through the years that rocks. Glad you found one that sounds good to you.
Modal Magic
Contributing Member
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MBJ, Highway Hound.
You Can't Bend It Aussie!Mar 18th, 2012 05:55 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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No, I didn't A-B them directly, but the CS was super slick and easy to play. When I got home I was surprised how the memory of playing it felt very similar to my HWY Strat and how similar they sounded. I'm sure if I directly A-B'd I'd notice differences.
I consider my 2003 HWY1 the "Strattiest" of my Strats and have for a long time. It sounds like an old school Strat in every way. Time, experience and plenty of opportunity to compare with other Strats have reinforced this.
Previous 20 Messages
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