So, who are the Strat guru's around here?

SpiderWars said:
While I agree for me and some people…I always say don’t build a guitar to HAVE the guitar. Just go buy a guitar to HAVE a guitar.

Only build a guitar if you really desire to BUILD a guitar. So many people have built a guitar to the exact specs they thought they wanted only to not like/love it.

That said, partscasters can be killer deals but I’d only buy one if I can play it.
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I had great results with mine, but being fair, I LOVE doing setups and working on guitars, sometimes more than playing them and when ‘issues’ pop up, I don’t see them as issues but chances for me to prove to myself I know what I’m doing, despite having never built one before.

Shit’s pretty easy if you pay attention when ordering to ensure necks/neck joints match up and if you get the trem screws drilled by the builder (I wouldn’t wanna fuck with that on my first build). I just realized last night that my Gilmour Strat gets more action than any other guitar I own, the only thing I’d do differently next time is get a bigger neck made, but I didn’t know that until after I got a 1” AllParts neck and fell in love with fat necks.
 
RevDrucifer said:
I had great results with mine, but being fair, I LOVE doing setups and working on guitars, sometimes more than playing them and when ‘issues’ pop up, I don’t see them as issues but chances for me to prove to myself I know what I’m doing, despite having never built one before.

Shit’s pretty easy if you pay attention when ordering to ensure necks/neck joints match up and if you get the trem screws drilled by the builder (I wouldn’t wanna fuck with that on my first build). I just realized last night that my Gilmour Strat gets more action than any other guitar I own, the only thing I’d do differently next time is get a bigger neck made, but I didn’t know that until after I got a 1” AllParts neck and fell in love with fat necks.
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I agree with this. I am an ape, but I had fairly standard parts made by reputable manufacturers, and a guitar I assembled from parts while in college (2011) is my best playing and sounding guitar. It went together easy, and was fun. Its a good way to try any odd specs you may not get otherwise. My next neck I order will be 1 3/4" nut width because of this.
 
 
napalmdeath said:
I've seen some of those really cheap on the used market. Too sleek and curvy for my tastes. Certainly good deals on them out there.
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They were going for $600 from Franklin Guitar Works on Reverb around Christmas. They still have a few models, but the price went up $50. I bought four of them as gifts that were all marked as mint, and they all arrived brand new in unopened boxes.
 
Purpleibby said:
With Strats you really have to go out and play a bunch and find one that has the slinky feel and tone that speaks to you, so much variance even between the same model....you have to try a bunch and find one that you bond with......even if you find a SSS that checks those boxes, they're routed for humbuckers so it's easy to upgrade it(and fun!) You can always deck a trem if need be if you're willing to do that..

I feel you, Yngwie, Norum, Moore(metal era)...I'm there! I like the American series from 2000-2007(it has the micro-tilt).....easy to tweak to your liking! Good luck!



Had a blast tweaking, Air Zone(no tone pot), Area 61, Injector neck(500k push pull tone on M/N)....500k pots, blower switch, bridge series/parallel on the push pull)...got that fuckin' volume pot moved back that hugs the bridge pickup(only thing that drives me nuts about stock strats)

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I have a 3 tone sunburst 2003 American strat with HSS factory config and two point trem (much more stable than he traditional 6 screw). It's a great guitar ! Sounds great, super comfy, I can get the action super super low without any buzzing. Can be had for cheap anytime. It's the one to get IMHO.
 
Jack Luminous said:
I have a 3 tone sunburst 2003 American strat with HSS factory config and two point trem (much more stable than he traditional 6 screw). It's a great guitar ! Sounds great, super comfy, I can get the action super super low without any buzzing. Can be had for cheap anytime. It's the one to get IMHO.
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Yes indeed they are NICE....I also prefer the 2 point trem and those saddles.....was a much better transition from a FR if you're a floyd guy like myself.... That guitar is super resonant, slinky bends, low action and easy to play, damn good guitar...stays in tune good...a KEEPER!
 
The HWY 1 strata are very nice for the money. I tend to like the 2010 era strats with the fat 50s pickups.
 
I’m not a big traditional Strat guy but I like having it around and play sometimes. I’ll second the American Professional II. To me, when I was looking, it kind of the real deal so to speak, American made good quality, not a substitute, etc… satisfied the itch so even if I got a different brand I know I’d always wonder about trying an actual American made fender. I have one in vintage yellow with a solid rosewood neck that plays great. You can find good prices on used ones too. I added extra springs so it’s pretty much a stop tail.

Biggest issue for me is that volume knob right next to the bridge pickup, just can’t get used to it. So I ordered pickguards from Warmoth that moved the volume knob closer to the 5-way and put a set of Seymour Duncan YJM pickups and it’s fun to play. I also picked up an early model Yngwie Strat and did the same thing with the pickguard with only 1 Vol and 1 Tone located where the 2 Tone knobs would normally be and that’s fun too.
 
@napalmdeath , if I remember, you like some of the schecter stuff? Have you looked at the nick Johnston strat they have? I don't know anything about them, just a thought...
 
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