Which Strat should I keep?

[Chedeng88]

Decided to get into electric again. Last time I've owned/played one was ages ago. In my search for an American Standard Strat, I ended up acquiring these two 2014 60th anniversary editions. They both play and sound great. If you were in my shoes and can pick only one, which one would you keep based solely on looks?

[FrankHudson]

Well of course the contrarian would say you should sell the one that gets the most votes, as it will sell quicker or perhaps for a higher price.

On first look I voted for the black bodied one. I kind of like black guitars, the crushed moto pickguard catches the eye. Looks like the white one has aged plastic parts, which I don't mind or consider a plus.

[raysachs]

I know Clapton has his classic old Blackie and black strats look awesome, but to me there’s nothing classier than an Olympic White strat with a maple board. I love a strat’s lines (tele’s too) and white just looks right to me. Maybe it was Hendrix at Woodstock, or Jimmie Vaughan, but to me that’s how a strat is supposed to look. Oddly, I’ve never owned either. I had a puke mocha brown mid-‘70’s strat for about 25 years a sunburst for a while, and now a silver Robert Cray hardtail with a rosewood board. The current silver one is the first strat I’ve seen that I thought was anything to look at and it looks a lot better with its original rosewood board - I tried a maple Jimmie Vaughan neck onit for a while but it didn’t look or play as well, and I generally prefer maple...

-Ray

[Dru Edwards]

The white/cream one looks great, especially those cream pickups and knobs.

That said, if one felt more comfortable in my hands or had better tone I'd stick with that one.

[jazzguy]

Olympic white. Does one inspire you to play more than the other?

[KevWind]

Personally I would try my hardest to keep both I am not much into white or cream so I would consider a custom paint job on Whitey ( think Clapton's Strat)

[Chickee]

“Whitey” the Olympic White beauty if one is the only option.
But really, how many acoustics are in your stash?
It’s just me though. I can’t bare to part with guitars.
I love them all.
Good luck with this dilemma.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Chickee

“Whitey” the Olympic White beauty if one is the only option.
But really, how many acoustics are in your stash?
It’s just me though. I can’t bare to part with guitars.
I love them all.
Good luck with this dilemma.

Same here, Chickee. In fact I never have.

[Tone Gopher]

Since I think Blackie and Whitie are both silly monikers, I’ll vote for Oly.

Sell them both and get something in surf green or daphne blue. Are those still available?

I used to prefer brown two-tone, aka sunburst or brown burst, but I sold my ‘65 sunburst Strat a long time ago, and now play a ‘84 Tokai in Olympic white that I’ve had for the last couple decades.

[Watt]

Olympic white if the guitars are otherwise equal. But if the black one plays or sounds better, I would keep that one but replace the pickguard with a plain white.

[Chickee]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Same here, Chickee. In fact I never have.

We’re doomed Dru!

Originally Posted by nkatsonis

Olympic white if the guitars are otherwise equal. But if the black one plays or sounds better, I would keep that one but replace the pickguard with a plain white.

I think a BWBWB beveled pickguard is in order. Keep them both as yin/yang, comedy/tragedy, good twin/evil twin.

If Chedeng88 goes through the Electric threads he is going to come across the black on black 2016 American special I just hot rodded to compliment my Olympic White ‘97 American special VooDoo strat.
I am certainly not an unbiased observer to this thread! Bahahaha

[Chickee]

I forgot I have Tapatalk now and how easy it is to post pix!!!

[Dru Edwards]

Yea, and I'm running out of space in my guitar room

Originally Posted by Chickee

We’re doomed Dru!

<<snippet>>

[Chedeng88]

Thanks for the input guys! Wow, Olympic White leads 18-9!
I actually prefer the white one too by a smidgen. It has a more classic/vintage vibe to it, but all the people here (friends and family) prefer Blackie. I started to wonder if I was in the super minority, so I started this thread.

Chickee, that black on black Strat looks sweet! If ever I do decide to keep the black one, I'll definitely get a spare black pickguard for it.

[Steel and wood]

Yep, Olympic White for me also, although the black would look better with a plain whit pickguard. (My opinion only of course).