Question for any guitarists out there

[DaFunkyUnit]

Ok, i'm thinking about getting a new ax (guitar). I decided to get a Fender Strat. Now, if my wallet was infinite, I would get a Les Paul (but it isnt). So a Strat it is (hell no I aint getting a Squire. ewww!) My question: is there much difference if it was made in Mexico, USA, or Japan? other than the price, of course. Also, do they make Strats with skinny necks, or is it always fatty ones? I have an Ibanez SG standard thats kinda messed up (fret board's warped, nut kinda worn, etc...) I havent had time to go to my nearest Guitar Center So any opinions would be much appreeched.

[Burzhui]

dude, here be the difference

http://www.amug.org/~a249/comp.html

[DaFunkyUnit]

thanks burzhui. Obviously, the quality of construction of the US model is far superior. <sigh> time to work and earn the clam$...

[attgig]

DOH!!!
you just missed out on a $100 rebate on the american strats!!

but yeah, definitely worth getting american..

I'm more of a Tele person than an strat person...

[mojo]

you may not want the thinner neck. go for a wider neck or a standard neck if bends mean anything to you. the srv model is da bomb

also the les paul deal shouldnt be much more than the strat if you're talkin real strat. but you can get a top of the line epiphone (US made, solid top, etc, etc) les paul for less than the gibson-gibson. i have played some of the es335s that i quite liked by them.

but if strat is your bag, you may just look for used somewhere if you can find the US made....pre CBS would be great too. leo fender has a line of "copies" (if you can call the original designer to be able to copy his own line) out there that may be worth checking out.

if you just want a strat body, then you can also get a good ibanez or paul reed smith (pricey). i have a hamer, and i know they have some higher end strat bodies out there.

maybe if we knew your price range we would be able to help more.

[attgig]

Originally posted by mojorisin
also the les paul deal shouldnt be much more than the strat if you're talkin real strat. but you can get a top of the line epiphone (US made, solid top, etc, etc) les paul for less than the gibson-gibson. i have played some of the es335s that i quite liked by them.

epiphone les paul???
that's like getting a jasmine, or a squire, or an applause, or a sigma....

[xsiled]

never buy at guitar center they rip you off and none of the people know anything go to rainbow they rock. strats are cheap as hell there

[Jpeace121]

I love my American Standard Strat, even though I don't get to play it as much as I would like. I looked around and tried a few other axe's before I went with the AS. I would definitely go with it above a Mexican built strat.

And it's just personal preference, but if you went the Gibson route I think you'd be much better off with a SG. Fabulous guitars. One day, it will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.

Of course, you could hold up a bank and get the money for a PRS. Those things are d@mn fine pieces of work. My friend has a custom built one. Amazing guitar.

[mojo]

Originally posted by att gig


epiphone les paul???
that's like getting a jasmine, or a squire, or an applause, or a sigma....

i guess you didnt realize that epiphone was a company long before gibson bought them out. while they tend to be the overseas repros like those you mentioned, many are made here in the states....to much better specs than the overseas counterparts. in short, no, it's nothing like getting a jasmine, squire, or applause. if you find a quality instrument, then it's quality no matter what name is on the headstock. look around a bit, play some of them, and you wont be limiting yourself so much

[Burzhui]

Originally posted by xsiled
never buy at guitar center they rip you off and none of the people know anything go to rainbow they rock. strats are cheap as hell there

well it depends who u know there for example my ex-boss, my present friend is in cahoots with the manager of guitar center, he introduced me to the manager who said dude when you want to buy a guitar see me. I went and bought an acoustic, the sales dude was like yea plus i'll give you a little discount blah blah blah... and then i see this chick who i used to get high with and she is like dude, and i'm like dude.. so to make a long story short i get a bigger discount... and then i call the manager dude and magically i get 100$ off a free case, free tuner and a set of pics, all in all i made out rather well

[attgig]

mojo, yeah...i know epiphone's are a lot better in quality vs that other junk I mentioned...but the concept is still there...
IMO, I'm not a constant guitar buyer, so if I'm gonna get something, I'm saving up and getting a good one...so if i'm looking Les Paul, I'm going for the Gibsons...(at least the les paul model, I'm pretty sure that he started out w/ Gibsons, not with Epiphone)

oh, and Guitar Center is SOOOOOOO overpriced...
my personal fav is Sam Ash...
I also like Victors house of Music for any of you's living in north Jersey...

[DaFunkyUnit]

epiphones have nice sustain... thats all i can say about that. The reason i want a fender strat is just so I have a guitar thats bright sounding and with good attack (think funky rhythm guitar ) The most I wanna spend on a guitar is ~$400 (i dunno... list price for new Fenders can go to the 4-digit range..WOW!)

For my "heavier" sounding guitar, i'd probably get an Ibanez 7-string (such a trendy, i know )

o, btw, wat do you guys use for effects? I have coupla boss pedals, and some random others. For Boss, i have a TurboOverdrive, a ChorusEnsemble, a DD-5, and a CS-1. I also have an Aria Phaser, and a DOD chorus. (I'm also looking for a deal on a Vox wah...)

[mojo]

i don't generally use effects. my main axe is my nylon string cheapie because i dig the tone. i play my hamer through an old sears tube amp, so i get good "natural" gain. if i wanted to use effects, i would go for the hendrix wah. there are some decent multi-effects dilios that i am thinkin about going for as well. i am green in that area so maybe someone else could come up with some names on those.

[mojo]

Originally posted by chosenfool


im almost afraid to get a Les Paul of my own, since those buggers are HEAVY m*rf*ckrs! sure the tone is amazing, but man, after the gig is over, my shoulders are sore! can never get used to it.

there is that strap that has the double crossover dealie that would help with that. i am getting one ASAP

[Jpeace121]

I know that Les Paul's are great, but it seems crazy to me to have to put on a special strap for a guitar. You'll look like an old man going off stage, because you'll be hunched over from having that cinder block of an axe slung on you for an hour.

Chosenfool: Sounds like you put a lot of work into that old SG. I was teetering when I bought my strat. I wanted the SG, but it was about $100 more, and I just couldn't afford it at the time. I just love those guitars - sound and feel are perfect for me. But I love my strat too. The sound from it is just wonderful.

As far as effects go, I have three stomp boxes - a Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion, a Boss PH-2 Super Phaser, and this old, old Applause Super Distortion. All the knobs but one are broken off, from a fierce night of playing. It's old, which means I get a little dirtier distortion out of it. Nice and crunchy, I love it. I also have a Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q. Great pedal. Considering its just a wah, no volume control or anything, I love the range of sound I can get out of it. As for multi-effects floor units, I have played with the Digitech RP2000 a couple of times at my local shop. Some crappy effects, but some that you can have lots of fun with.

As for amps, my practice amp is this old, old Premiere Twin-8 with a built in tremolo. I think it's at least 30 years old, maybe more. My large amp is a Fender Blues DeVille 2x12. I love this amp. The only problem is that the sound starts to break up a little early. It's kind of hard to get sound that is both clean and loud. However, if you're looking to shatter glass, as I often am, it is the one to have. It's only 60 watts, but it is by far the loudest 60W amp I have ever heard. It will take the pepsi challenge with any 60W you put up against it.

[Cheesypuff]

I have a ovation

[DaFunkyUnit]

chosen: I'm going for the brite, hi-end, sharp attack-y sound. So that when i play undistorted rhythm guitar riffs, it doesnt sound all dull. But then again, I would like it to have some crunch potential when I do put distortion on. I'm thinking 2 single coil/1 humbucker setup. Is that ok?

Eh, the dunlop crybaby is ok, but you cant really control the sound. I guess the pedal feels too "chunky"

Yeah, my friend has a Les Paul SG, jet black. Man that thing weighs a ton! As if it was solid wood....o wait...

As for amps, err, i have an Ampeg BA-112 and a Fender Champion 110. Nothing too spectacular. The Ampeg is more of a bass amp, but I use it to get a more "chum chum chum" sound.

[hoey222]

I fyou want a killer amp for not too much green. Look for an ampeg v4 or v2. I have one. 100 watts of tube death. Theses things are loud. And actually pretty clean. By themselves the can get pretty bright and loud without breakin up. I usually use it with a Big Muff distortion. I also use crybaby, ibenhad delay, Phase90, boss flanger.

I get most of what I want without it sounding too digital.

I'm also a strat guy too, SRV customized, MIJ squire (1989). If you can find an older (80's) made in japan, get it. They're not American, but they're alot better than some of the Mexican stuff.

[mojo]

as for amps....trace elliot. nuff said