Choice of a strat

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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby Iain Purdon » Tue Mar 24, 2020 2:09 pm

I don’t think we can tell you what you should do. Prices are only one thing. It really boils down to how much you both want to do the swap.
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby Gruntfuttock » Tue Mar 24, 2020 2:44 pm

MIJ Strats are very well made guitars - I have one and it’s a lovely guitar!
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby RUSSET » Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:56 am

Hi Richard,
I have had the MIJ 'Marvin' Strat since the '90s from new, & am very pleased with the quality of it. The only criticism I have is that my copy is rather on the heavy side & the neck is so chunky & fat that it probably doesn't represent what Hank had in his '59 original. I added the gold hardware, & some Fender CS 54 pickups, & it sounds good & does the job very well. It cost me £375 at the time.
I also have a Mexican made Classic series '56 Strat special edition inc. a Tweed hardcase, that is also a great quality guitar, but cost quite a bit more (about £738), but that's Fender price inflation over time. This one already has the Gold hardware installed, & is also a great guitar, as the Mex guitars all are.

I am very happy with both of my guitars & would not sell either of them.

Tony.
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby RUSSET » Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:19 pm

Yes, that Mex model was heavily advertised by Guitar Guitar some months back. The Guitar Guitar price was £699. It looks & sounds a quality instrument, as you can hear, & I would guess it's probably worth the shop price. It came with a C neck profile & Fender Custom Shop Fat 50s pickups, which I have in my USA Standard Strat, & they are fine.
Link :
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/ ... ed-edition

Tony.
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby dave robinson » Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:58 pm

I briefly had one of those Strat when they were released,they were a 'special run' and came with a tweed case.
I got it from Gear4Music because there's a return option should you change your mind.
It a is a good guitar and the reason I returned it was simply that I already had three red Strats and it didn't add to what I already had at my disposal. That said, had I not had my existing guitars I would have kept it.
It has the 57/62 pickups which I use on other Strats - recommended. It was also a good guitar to play and at the price a good deal.
Would I have swapped it for my CIJ '62 fiesta red Strat ? I have to sit on the fence because mine is almost as good as my USA AVRI and I like it a lot, though in 2004 I paid £375 for the CIJ. :)
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby leddo » Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:41 am

I think wires have been crossed a little on this issue.
The guitar Dave is talking about was released as a Fender special run in 2016, I think, and was available from most UK dealers. It had the USA vintage pickups, gold fittings and came with a tweed case. It cost around £740 if I recall.
The GuitarGuitar red strat with the Fat 50s pickups is special run made for themselves. There is also a black strat with maple board. Both are £699 but do not come with a tweed case. The easiest way to tell them apart is the 2016 model has vintage style tuners whereas the GG red/back strats have the modern style of two pin tuners. They are all good guitars.
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby dave robinson » Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:15 am

I was indeed speaking of the FSR and genuinely believed it was the same instrument. However I can now see that it may not be so my comments need to be taken with caution.
I do apologise if this has caused confusion but each of these guitars though having different but equally good pickups will surely have their merits. :)
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby Uncle Fiesta » Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:32 pm

I once owned a '96 MIJ HankStrat, and was dismayed to discover it contained a set of ceramic pickups. So unless someone's changed them, that's what you've got.

I currently use a MIM Classic 60's with a set of 57/62s fitted and think it's perfect. Although the steel sustain block and heavy strings may have something to do with that too.

(I can't pretend it's my virtuosity ...)
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby dave robinson » Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:06 pm

If those pickups are indeed as described by Steve then they could be the problem, though I find it strange that a Japanese Strat would be fitted with inferior pickups. I must have led a sheltered life.
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Re: Choice of a strat

Postby C-C » Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:40 pm

Hi,
I bought one of the Fender FSR (Fender Special Run) "special edition" Mexican Classic 50s gold hardware,
They were release in late 2017
The stock Pickups are fender 56s.
Its a good all round guitar.
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