Fender American Stratocasters

[Chickee]

Originally Posted by KevWind

I really like the American Elite Strat in fact it was what I had thought I was going to get as my first electric.
But ultimately I ended up with a PRS CE 24, which I realize is completely different.


Having lived with it for over two years I have decided it is a keeper..

So now if I decide I still want a 3 single coil guitar, I will try to be able to audition a Fender Elite Strat and a PRS Silver Sky at the same time

I can see this, KevWind. They(elite and sky) are both elegant guitars.

[Chickee]

Originally Posted by perttime

There's way too much wood in those huge headstocks
I much prefer the slimmer style, like on my hardtail Stratocaster

Bahahaha!!!!

[maxtheaxe]

Funny about those headstocks...back in the late 70's early 80's, most of the Strats one ran across were the larger CBS-era heads; then a lot of custom builders such as Boogie-Body, Charvel, et al started making guitars with the "vintage-style" smaller headstocks. I remember being relieved because they felt so much more balanced and wieldy to me. Now they're putting out the large headstocks as a "vintage" feature again.

And so it goes...

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by perttime

There's way too much wood in those huge headstocks
I much prefer the slimmer style, like on my hardtail Stratocaster

Nice to read your point of view. Welcome aboard!

[muscmp]

while the "extra" wood may mean a minimal amount of more weight, it is much more of a subjective looks thing.

play music!

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by muscmp

while the "extra" wood may mean a minimal amount of more weight, it is much more of a subjective looks thing.

play music!

Agree. I find in appearance it’s much more balanced (subjective). On the other hand there are some like Y Malmsteen who believe there is an increase in sustain, and I’m inclined to agree from experience with my Tele Deluxe.

[muscmp]

Originally Posted by Jaden

Agree. I find in appearance it’s much more balanced (subjective). On the other hand there are some like Y Malmsteen who believe there is an increase in sustain, and I’m inclined to agree from experience with my Tele Deluxe.

some people used to attach brass to the headstock to increase sustain. they don't anymore so must not have worked or, added too much weight making it unbalanced.

play music!

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by muscmp

some people used to attach brass to the headstock to increase sustain. they don't anymore so must not have worked or, added too much weight making it unbalanced.

play music!

Interesting. Neck dive would be a problem.

I’ve found it interesting in this subforum among electric guitarists the lack of discussion re the significance of neck wood and sustain.

[ghostnote]

I've had my American Standard Strat since '89, and it's still a beauty today. A nice Strat is a lifetime keeper, IMO. My other Strat was the real surprise, however, since it's MIM and has an HSS configuration: a Lone Star Strat. The two single coils are USA-made Texas Specials, and the humbucker in the bridge is a USA Pearly Gates. I bought it on a lark, and what a great guitar it turned out to be. Incredibly versatile and it plays and sounds great. I use it quite a bit more than my Am Std.
Based on this thread, I think I'm going to check out some of the new models.

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by ghostnote

I've had my American Standard Strat since '89, and it's still a beauty today. A nice Strat is a lifetime keeper, IMO. My other Strat was the real surprise, however, since it's MIM and has an HSS configuration: a Lone Star Strat. The two single coils are USA-made Texas Specials, and the humbucker in the bridge is a USA Pearly Gates. I bought it on a lark, and what a great guitar it turned out to be. Incredibly versatile and it plays and sounds great. I use it quite a bit more than my Am Std.
Based on this thread, I think I'm going to check out some of the new models.

Let us know your impressions of the American Performer and the others if you can. That’s great about your HSS Strat, must be a powerful and ultimately versatile axe!

[bsman]

Originally Posted by ghostnote

I've had my American Standard Strat since '89, and it's still a beauty today. A nice Strat is a lifetime keeper, IMO. My other Strat was the real surprise, however, since it's MIM and has an HSS configuration: a Lone Star Strat. The two single coils are USA-made Texas Specials, and the humbucker in the bridge is a USA Pearly Gates. I bought it on a lark, and what a great guitar it turned out to be. Incredibly versatile and it plays and sounds great. I use it quite a bit more than my Am Std.
Based on this thread, I think I'm going to check out some of the new models.

Your situation isn’t too terribly different from mine - I have an MIM standard HSS and a new American Pro SSS - both with maple FBs. I really like them both - and I guess I’ll work out which more when I’m over the honeymoon period with the AmPro...

[perttime]

Headstocks: yep, appearances are subjective. One likes a blonde ... blondes are a dime a dozen where I live....

Neck wood and sustain: talking about Fender style guitars, you have a bolt-on maple neck. The main difference is how much maple there is. I could swear that my chunky necked partscaster sustains better than my slim(ish) necked Stratocaster - the old neck-through Ibanez (thin neck laminate with 3 pieces maple, 2 pieces walnut) probably sustains even better.

If more weight in the headstock is desirable, locking tuners are surely the only way to go

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by perttime

Headstocks: yep, appearances are subjective. One likes a blonde ... blondes are a dime a dozen where I live....

Neck wood and sustain: talking about Fender style guitars, you have a bolt-on maple neck. The main difference is how much maple there is. I could swear that my chunky necked partscaster sustains better than my slim(ish) necked Stratocaster - the old neck-through Ibanez (thin neck laminate with 3 pieces maple, 2 pieces walnut) probably sustains even better.

If more weight in the headstock is desirable, locking tuners are surely the only way to go

Nice post. As good as my CV 50s Tele is, the chunkier neck on my Fender CSL 50s Tele provides even more sustain.

[Davis Webb]

The American Special, to me, is the best value for money in the electric world.
The tone from those pickups...very Eric Johnson.

Originally Posted by Davis Webb

The American Special, to me, is the best value for money in the electric world.
The tone from those pickups...very Eric Johnson.

Post deleted.