Fender Strat Opinions...

[SearedAhi]

I'm looking for opinions on some of the Fender Amer. Dlx. options.

1.) Alder vs. Ash bodies
2.) Maple vs. RW fretboards
3.) Standard pup config. vs. FAT config. (humbucker at bridge)

I've been looking at them for awhile now but would like to hear what your opinions are.

[jeffrey]

I have an American Deluxe hardtail, Alder body, Maple fingerboard.

I love it just like it is. :)

Especially the hardtail.

I wouldn't do the humbucker (unless you're getting it for more of a heavier sound) because they don't sound very "stratty" at all. ;)

[boogiebill]

I made the decision about ten years ago to go with G&L guitars, and I do not regret that one bit!!!!

I currently own 15 G&Ls, so you could say I'm a bit fanatical about them, with eight Legacys, two Legacy Specials, two S-500s, two Comanches, and one of the ASAT Deluxe models.

My bona fides are that I'm 53, been playing since I was 16; and made a living solely from music performance income for over ten years. I still have a band that does all kinds of music, from classic rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass, and country. I usually take three electrics, a DanElectro 12-string, my Taylor 710CE, and my 5-string banjo to every gig.

For amps, I have used Mesa Boogies for the last several years. I can choose from the 35 watt DC-3 112 combo, a Mark III Simul-class 112 EVM combo, a Mark IV 112 EVM Combo, or a 200 watt Mark III Coliseum Half Stack.

The Legacy is probably my main guitar, as its alnico pickups give the vintage sound that is so usable for so many types of music. I'll use a twin humbucker guitar (Les Paul 1960 Classic Premium Plus, Ibanez Ghostrider, Ibanez Artstar AS-120) for 10-15 songs per night. If we are doing heavier rock songs, I'll move to a guitar like the Comanche, S-500, or a Legacy Special--all of these have high output pickups, yet have definite sonic differences.

I owned a really great 1960 Strat from 1972 until I sold it in 1991. I was going thru a divorce and it was time to let it go. I had decided to replace it with one of the '62 Vintage Series Strats, but made the mistake of comparing it to a G&L Legacy, and found there was no comparison. Not only was the Legacy better than the new Fender, it was better than the old Fender, and that was a real surprise.

Tuners were better, frets were better, the PTB (Passive Treble and Bass) tone controls were better, the vibrato and bridge were better, fit and finish were better, the truss rod was better, ...on and on and on. Even the strap button was re-designed to be a marked improvement over Leo's original Fender design!

I just picked up the new Fender Frontline and ogled the new 50th Anniversary model--and surprisingly it has many of the same design features that Leo Fender put into his last guitar--the G&L Legacy. Everyone knows how Leo sold out to CBS in the 1960's. After a few years, he started a new company with partner George Fullerton (the G in G&L--L is for Leo).

The guitars they produce today are the quality you'd get if you bought a Fender Custom Shop Master Built guitar, but you won't pay those prices. These guitars are a tremendous value--if your ever looked at Suhr, Anderson, Grosh, DeTemple--you know what custom made strat-style guitar can cost. So with G&Ls quality, you can easily see what a great value they are. (I wish Gibson could build me a Les Paul as well made as my Legacys--but then I wouldn't be able to afford it!!!!)

And actually each G&L is custom made, as the dealers order the guitars they want. Each model is available with choice of finish, body wood, vibrato or hardtail, fingerboard radius, fingerboard wood, etc. Lots of options.

Fenders are good guitars, and they have that wonderful catalog that must cost millions to print and distribute. Lot of great players play Fenders, and they have a lot of endorsers (that they pay!) and that all goes into the price of the instrument. If I didn't have the G&Ls, I'd probably have a Fender or two. But I don't play something just because so-and-so has one.

I buy a guitar--it has to work for me. In some respects, it's just a tool. In other ways though, a guitar is a work of art. For me, there's something about the G&Ls that just feel right, the perfect blend of form and function. And like Taylor guitars, their technological innovations and obsessive Old World craftsmanship make for great value.

So before you buy your Fender, you owe it to yourself to try a G&L. If you buy one, be careful though--you'll be wanting second one before you know it!

Bill

[franchelB]

THOSE kinds of opinions...
IMHO, I have yet to find a Strat/S bodied guitar that I have to HAVE...
I realize that it's the most popular electric guitar in the world, blah, blah, blah...but it doesn't impress me in the least.
I guess I'm just weird that way...

[ELK]

I have an American Standard, natural ash body. I put a Seymour Duncan little 59 in the bridge position, but kept the other two original single coils. The bride position humbucker lets you get a sustained, distorted sound that you can't get with a single coil, and the bridge position in a strat is so sharp and trebly that you can use a humbucker there and still get the classic strat bite and "quack." As for ash v. alder, if you want a natural or translucent finish, it has to be ash, because alder does not have attractive grain. Ash is also harder, which I believe gives you better sustain, and resists damage better. It does cost a little more though.

[lefthandman]

Take your time a pick out a good one. The strat is an excellent, versatile guitar that can be used for a variety of playing styles. As for alder or ash bodies, I have 2 alder bodied strats and maple fret boards. The workmanship has never been better on Fender Strats. They are a good solid guitar. The tone on these guitars just keeps getting better with age.

The maple fret boards tend to give you a more brighter tone, where as the rosewood is supposed to give you a warmer tone. Personally I would buy whatever sounded the best to my ear. As for Ash or Alder, I have Alder bodies, but a friend of mine has an ash strat that has a monster tone to it. His guitar has very good sustain.

Pickups are a highly subjective thing. I still have the stock pickups on mine which sound just fine. I will never mod my american strat; I might upgrade my standard with a set of noiseless Kinmans. I tend to like the very "straty" sound of the 2nd and 4th position of the pickup selector with the standard 3 pickup strat. A good example of this is the song "Lenny" by Stevie Ray Vaughan where he used the 4th position. You will get the 4th position tone but not the 2nd with a "Fat Strat". Also there is not a guitar anywhere that can match the sound of the neck pickup of a strat IMO.

Bottom line play a bunch of them, each one will have it's own charachter. Pick one that suits you.

[Steve314]

I've got five Strats, and love 'em all. But, I have to agree with BoogieBill on this one. Check out G&L. I sold a G&L ASAT CLassic a few years ago, and I've regretted it ever since...

Steve

[RDuke]

Hey guys...what makes a Deluxe a Deluxe and a Standard a Standard, beyond the price?

Rick

[ELK]

Originally posted by RDuke
Hey guys...what makes a Deluxe a Deluxe and a Standard a Standard, beyond the price?

Rick

The deluxe has noiseless pickups, a different pickguard, locking tuning keys, polished saddles, and "highly detailed fret and nut work," whatever that means. I guess it means that Fender doesn't think it's worth the trouble to do "highly detailed" work on a standard. In short, the deluxe just has a few upgrades.

[gdgross]

I bought a robert cray strat last october, I really like it. I went with the RC becasue I definitely wanted the hardtail, but the next step up was the american standard series, which was more than my wife wanted me to spend at the time... :roll:

The only thing is that the neck is a bit thick (not wide). I'm getting used to it though. Also, it has the older stlye neck, which makes truss rod adjustments a royal pain. On the normal necks, I think you can access the truss rod from the headstock, but on mine, it's in the neck pocket... Why fender went back to this design is beyond me...

[Rider]

Note also that the "standard" is Mexican made whereas the Deluxe is American, for what that's worth. I have a 62 Vintage Reissue that I got last week new. I also have a Mark Knopfler signature model. The 62 is alder and the MK is ash. I find the ash more resonant. Say what you want about Fender QC, but the quality of both of these examples is superb.

[bing4sons]

You really should check out Ernie Ball Music Man guitars. Here is a thread, where one guy is offering to trade 2 of his G&Ls for one MM Albert Lee Model.

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1781

Most of the folks on this forum have played Fenders in the past and found the Music Man guitars to be superior.

I have an Axis Super Sport myself. The Silhouette body is closer to a Strat.

[ELK]

Originally posted by Rider
Note also that the "standard" is Mexican made whereas the Deluxe is American, for what that's worth.


I assumed he was talking about the American Standard vs. the American Deluxe, but you make a good point. I guess not everybody knows that you can get a "standard," made in Mexico, or an "American Standard," made in USA. The American version costs almost twice as much, but it's worth it.

[JRGill]

Originally posted by SearedAhi
I'm looking for opinions on some of the Fender Amer. Dlx. options.

1.) Alder vs. Ash bodies
2.) Maple vs. RW fretboards
3.) Standard pup config. vs. FAT config. (humbucker at bridge)

I've been looking at them for awhile now but would like to hear what your opinions are.

Going back to the original questions...

I currently have an alder-body American Standard strat, but I had an ash-bodied strat for a while (had the translucent white finish). The ash model was noticeably heavier. Can't compare tone quality vs. alder, though; they just sounded "different" mainly due to different pickups (Texas Specials in the ash, 57/62's in the alder)

I tried maple necks on several occasions, never could warm up to the way they feel. Always played rosewood or ebony fretboards on acoustic. I like to feel the wood, not the shellac-over-maple. Just a personal preference. You need to go try both at the store.

Can't comment on #3, never had one with humbuckers in it.

I like my strat really well - it was a special edition sold by Musicians Friend with a flamed maple top veneer with cherry burst finish - but lately I have been ignoring it in favor of my Taylor acoustic ;)

[keyglass]

Since we are on the subject of G & L guitars, did Leo Fender and fender guitars have any relationships. Did he start Fender and then sell out..what is the history. The G & L website does not address this little bit of history.

[SearedAhi]

Originally posted by JRGill
Going back to the original questions...

Thanks
Originally posted by keyglass
Since we are on the subject of G & L guitars, did Leo Fender and fender guitars have any relationships. Did he start Fender and then sell out..what is the history. The G & L website does not address this little bit of history.
Here's a link Leo Fender (http://www.blamepro.com/fendertone/history_leo.htm)

[Taylor Poor]

I have had a few Fenders in the past and currently I have a 2002 Am Std Sunburst strat. If you're looking at a strat, I'd say stick with single coils, I beleive the body is already routed for a humbucker so with a new pickguard, you'll be set. I had a Big Apple strat a while back (2 humbuckers) and while it was nice, IMO it really wasnt a strat with the dual hums.

I did own a G&L George Fullerton model and I regret trading it. It had a nice "V" profile neck and the playablility was smooth. It was overall a very tight guitar. G&L's are definitely worth while to take a look at.

[trpullen]

Originally posted by SearedAhi
I'm looking for opinions on some of the Fender Amer. Dlx. options.

1.) Alder vs. Ash bodies
2.) Maple vs. RW fretboards
3.) Standard pup config. vs. FAT config. (humbucker at bridge)

I've been looking at them for awhile now but would like to hear what your opinions are.

I LOVE talking strat.

My personal choice would be....

Alder, Rosewood, Standard pickups. I know it is pretty generic but will yield the most "stratty" tone.

Any reason you are looking at the DX?

I am playing AmStd with locking tuners and they stay in tune great. I prefer the old nut over the LSR roller. I am also using EMG SAVs in one guitar and ordered a set for the other. They are cool. All that for less than the cost of a Dx.....and really not a different guitar.

[SearedAhi]

Originally posted by trpullen
I LOVE talking strat...

...Any reason you are looking at the DX?


The reasons I'm looking at the Dlx. are:

1.) S-1 Switch (5 additional pup configs.) is standard on the Dlx. and is not standard on the Std. Amer.

2.) Noiseless pickups

3.) Locking tuners.. although I prefer the satin finish ones and might just buy a set anyhow, which would make buying the dlx. (for the tuners) a moot point.

4.) The price difference is only about a buck fifty between the 2 and the resale on Plus or Deluxe Series Strats seems to be at least that much.

Anyhow, now I'm looking at the Std. Amer. as a possiblility (I will buy the locking tuners if I go this route).

[Bobalouie3]

I have an American Deluxe Fat Strat, ash body with translucent crimson finish and maple neck. The guitar looks and sounds awesome, but it is heavy.

I like the wider tonal spectrum the humbucker gives me with the 5 pos switch. Only nit is the difference in output level going from the noiseless singles to the humbucker, which is understandable. When you go from pos 1 to pos 5, you better be dialing the volume down at the same time or watch out!

It also has the floating trem (with removable arm) and the LSR nut. I don't use the trem much, but the times I have, everything stayed in tune.

The locking tuners are really nice, first time I've used them, but like them much.

ciao,

[red00ecstrat]

i have a fender clapton signature strat (old model), a very nice guitar as u guys know it was equipped with gold lace sensor pickups with alder body and maple neck. the sound is crystal clear. if u want some wild screaming? just plug it into a overdriven tube amp and turn it's 20dB mid boost knob all the way up.
it's my number 1 electric guitar now!
infact i m looking for another strat. it will be great if there is a strat with all the clapton signature strat spec. along with 57/62 pickups! coz i love the classic strat tone as well.

[Tahitijack]

I don't recall the body wood of my Am Dlx Strat, but I went with redwood fretboard because I was an acoustic guy and it felt familiar and looked better. My teacher and other players influenced me to go with standard p/ups because "you can make single coils sound fat, but its hard to make humbuckers sound like single coils.

[utah]

Count me as another G&L player. ASAT Special is what I play.

My buddy, who owns the shop where I purchased my special has the most amazing Legacy Special. We used to play together in a band, and I have to tell you....his guitar had incredible tone.

he played it through a Peavey Classic 50 ( 4 x 10 ) and it was amazing sounding.

As for G&L quality, you can't beat it.

If you are in the market for top end Tele's or Strats it's worth your time to check out G&L. I'm not knocking Fender. I like Strats and Teles a lot, and I play a Fender bass guitar.

I just think it's worth it to check out G & L before buying one brand or the other.

[RDuke]

Originally posted by utah
If you are in the market for top end Tele's or Strats it's worth your time to check out G&L. I'm not knocking Fender. I like Strats and Teles a lot, and I play a Fender bass guitar.


I just visited the G&L website (http://www.glguitars.com/frameset.htm). Man, I absolutely love the audio clip tones of the ASAT Semi-Hollow. What a versatile guitar! I feel GAS setting in...

Rick

[plexipunk]

I like the hardtails better, they seem to sustain better and I never use the trem anyway.

[keyglass]

Thanks for the article about Leo Fender.

[stratokatsu]

I have 5 Strats and while I love all of them, it is really hard to decide that I love one most because they are all different in some way or the other. I even have one Strat clone I assembled myself from second market parts. There is nothing genuinely Fender in it, but the combination just comes together by design and turns out good.

Tonally, I suppose the one I like best is actually my Mexican made Jimmy Vaughan Strat. The Tex/Mex pickups just have a tone that turns me on.

To find a Strat you like, you just have to decide what your dollar range is and play everything you can find within it.

As for the G&L's, I agree they are great guitars, but I think recent improvements in the American Series line gets them a lot closer to the G&L's than the Fenders used to be.

[aggie182]

Originally posted by jeffrey

I wouldn't do the humbucker (unless you're getting it for more of a heavier sound) because they don't sound very "stratty" at all. ;)


my strat has a massive humbucker. i think its the invader. but duncan. it sounds bada$$.

[trpullen]

Originally posted by aggie182
my strat has a massive humbucker. i think its the invader. but duncan. it sounds bada$$.

Yep....and it does not sound very Stratty.

[aggie182]

Originally posted by trpullen
Yep....and it does not sound very Stratty.

what does it sound like?