Please help me choose a Strat style guitar

[Markusv]

Folks

I hope this is the right section for this question.
I am in the process of selling some cheap guitars and some homebrews to fund a Strat style guitar that I can grow old with.
There are so many GREAT options. My Budget is about $2200 max.

I would like to get all your opinions on what guitar has really impressed you.

Thus far I`m considering:
1. A strat (Nice Vintage Japanese one from the 80`s or an anniversary model US)
2. G&L ( are they really better? (Did Leo really improve the magical strat?)
3. John Suhr ( You can get ones for about $2300 if you search)

Now - I know: some will say "If you want a Strat, - buy a friggin' Strat." And I realize that feel, tone, necks, action, vibe etc is highly subjective
All I would really like to hear is - Tell me about a guitar that really impressed you and why.

I thank you all in advance. This forum has always been phenomenal in the members' knowledge and willingness to share

Markus V

[Ripthorn]

I don't own a strat, but have played several. The one thing that I dislike about most strats is the neck feel is all wrong for me. I played one strat that I liked and it was an American something-or-other. I have played a G&L I believe and didn't notice a huge difference tonally, though the playability was better. I have never played Suhr, so I can't comment there. Hope that helps somewhat.

[Markusv]

Ripthorn

Thanks for the info-
I'm intrigued by the G&L's

[oldhousescott]

Some choices in Strat style guitars:

Fender Eric Johnson
Tyler
Anderson
Suhr
Don Grosh
Callaham
Zion
Melancon

[ampdan]

In '01 I bought a custom shop '60 Relic that was/is so nice, I sold my "real" one..

[Structo]

I like putting my own Strats and Teles together.

That way you can choose the neck profile you like and other features such as pickups and switching possibilities.

I buy the raw bodies and necks and the paint them with nitro lacquers.

Lot of fun to play a guitar you built and play it through an amp you built.

I think anybody that can build a complex tube amp should be able to handle a guitar.

Here's a few I have built.

[IMG:457:640]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... a122dc.jpg[/img]
[IMG:457:640]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... edencu.jpg[/img]
[IMG:800:640]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... loseup.jpg[/img]
[IMG:640:480]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... G_0033.jpg[/img]

I just finished this one the other day.
It has a Allparts TRO-C neck.
Tonerider Hot P90's.

[IMG:800:600]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/ ... G_0230.jpg[/img]

[Markusv]

Those Guitars will make me gently weep!
Very beautiful!

Could you talk me through the process of constructing one myself?
That's an option I have not really considered

Markus V

[Markusv]

Where do you get your parts?
Warmoth?

Markus V

[dobbhill]

http://www.nashguitars.com/timewarp/tim ... eries.html

These retail in your price range....

Never played one, but heard some good stuff..

D

[Zippy]

My favorite strat-types are my '80s Tokai "Custom" and a G&L Comanche. The Tokai is among the best vintage style Strats I have played and the Comanche is the best modern style.

[10thTx]

I'm with Structo & prefer to build my own.

I make the bodies from scratch. Buy Warmoth compound radius necks & then get parts from StewMac. Been using DiMarzio and StewMac pickups which I'm happy with. I use Deft Clear Wood Finish which is a lacquer and have had nothing but success with that product.

Guitars are costing me about $400-450 in parts.

With respect, 10thtx

[Structo]

Very nice 10thtx!

Some day I want to start making my own bodies and necks.

I have most of the tools but no where to really set up a wood shop so to speak.
I have a double car garage but I have to park the vehicles in it at night to avoid low lifes.

But it sure is enjoyable to build them.

Markusv there are quite a few places you can buy unfinished bodies and necks.
Those two tele bodies are from A & D guitar company that sells on Ebay.
I paid around $155 for the quilt maple one.

Really depends what you are after and how authentic you want them to be concerning the cavity routes and profiles.
Bernie Hefner makes some excellent 50's and 60's profile strat bodies.
http://edenhaus.com/stratbdy.htm
He used to get some bad rap about delivery times but has worked on that and is pretty reliable nowadays depending how busy he is of course.

If you want lower priced bodies, I have used several Mighty Mite swamp ash bodies.
They have the HSH pickup routes so you can do just about any pickup configuration.

Then of course the higher end bodies by Warmoth and USCG.
http://www.warmoth.com/
http://www.usacustomguitars.com/index.html

Also KNE Guitars sells unfinished bodies.
http://www.kneguitars.com/vint_bod.php

I've had really good luck with Allparts necks. They have a lot to choose from and you can usually find the profile, frets and or vintage or headstock truss rod adjustments.
I like the SRO-C strat necks and the TRO-C tele necks from them.
I think they are the best bang for a buck necks out there.
And, you can usually find a dealer that will knock off about $50 from the retail price.

Finally, if you are really interested in finishing your own guitar especially with lacquers, you can't go wrong by joining the Guitar ReRanch forum.
I've been a member there for years.
The owner has an online store that sells all the popular Fender custom colors along with a few Gibson colors in nitrocellulose lacquers in spray cans.
He uses high quality McFadden's lacquer for all his paints.
All those guitars I showed were finished with spray cans.
You get a bit more orange peel with a spray can but that all gets removed when you wet sand and polish.

There are also several Allparts dealers as well as other brands that can save you money by ordering through them.

http://reranch.com/reranch/index.php

Hope this info helps you.

[Markusv]

I'm with Structo & prefer to build my own.

I make the bodies from scratch. Buy Warmoth compound radius necks & then get parts from StewMac. Been using DiMarzio and StewMac pickups which I'm happy with. I use Deft Clear Wood Finish which is a lacquer and have had nothing but success with that product.

Guitars are costing me about $400-450 in parts.

With respect, 10thtx

10thtx

Would you say that with all the parts of your choice and a total cost of - say- $500-$600 one can build a guitar that rivals the really high-end jobbys from Fender custom shop or G&L & others?

Markus V

[10thTx]

I would NOT say mine rival other guitars. I have made a mistake on every build I have done although I don't know if anyone has ever noticed and pointed out a mistake?

I have played some awfully nice production guitars, but simply prefer the ones I built and play. I think maybe I've made 21 guitars total and 2 basses. The Tele's are hollow with no f holes. Also have made two acoustics. Only own two guitars currently.

It's just a fun hobby.

I don't have workshop either. Just some tools and I set up on my driveway and then put everything back up.

With respect, 10thtx

[Markusv]

Tom and 10thtx

Thanks so much for the info! 10thtx - I think you are too humble; your work is something to aspire to as is Tom's!

I will join Guitar ReRanch and also save the websites you provided

Thanks to everyone else who answered- sorry if I did not get to you personally, but I really appreciate all the input!

Markus V