What you think of the Fender American Vintage '62 Strat?

Hendrix89

Hi, ive realised that guitars (at least strats) are so cheap of the American websites so ive decided to get my new strat from the states. Ive found this american vintage 62 reissue strat and its at about 1100Eu! I just wanna know a bit about this guitar and is it a good buy at this price? Just to let you know im looking for a Hendrix sound/vintage sound. thanks

Doctor J

Bear in mind that a more authentic reissue will have a 7.5" radius (ie very curved fretboard) and tiny frets, in keeping with the original. If you're into the Hendrix thing then you'll need a large CBS style headstock. Take Fender Japan into consideration, the likes of these could give you the same standard of guitar for less €€€

http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/body/?wb_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ishibashi.co.jp%2Fwebshop%2Fguitar%2Ffender-j%2Fkanda%2Fst66-90tx.htm&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2

http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/body/?wb_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ishibashi.co.jp%2Fwebshop%2Fguitar%2Ffender-j%2Fst6885tx.htm&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2

http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/ubox.cgi?T=syosai&sline=585&print=1&keys2=shinsaibashi%40ishibashi%2Eco%2Ejp&tid=list3

http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/ubox.cgi?T=syosai&sline=1544&print=1&keys2=umeda%40ishibashi%2Eco%2Ejp&tid=list3

Hendrix89

Hmm... im not sure if the strat im looking at has a 7.5'' radius fretboard cause it doesnt say but i could call them up and ask i guess. Ive talked to them before and they do seem very reliable and they are a licenced fender dealer. I will take a Japan made strat into consideration but tbh id just prefer to get an American one as i have heard more about them and would just simply feel more comfortable buying one. As for the large 'Hendrix' CBS headstock, i dont really care if my guitar doesnt look exactly like the Hendrix model, however i do care about the sound. Also the guitar im looking at getting is Vintage which is very important to me as i do not like the modern day Strat sound at all and want a proper made one... Now the '62 Vintage Strat is made to the spec of the original early sixties strat so that means it should sound like they sounded back then, right?

Ancient1

Hendrix89 wrote:

Now the '62 Vintage Strat is made to the spec of the original early sixties strat so that means

That means it's a 7.5" vintage radius.

Chris had one or two Hendrix "tributes" recently.

sei046

did you remember tax and import?

Doctor J

Hendrix89 wrote:

Now the '62 Vintage Strat is made to the spec of the original early sixties strat so that means it should sound like they sounded back then, right?

Not necessarily and, in truth, there isn't a huge amount of difference between the contemporary and vintage reissue strat tones and even then, there are enough custom pickup makers who specialise in getting the strat tone you're looking for out of any strat. Modern strats have hotter pickups but are fundamentally similar to their older counterparts. If the reissues sounded the same as the originals the vintage market wouldn't be so over-inflated. Wood and electronic aging and even the differences in the metal used for the fretwire contribute to the tone of the vintage instruments and reissues can't account for that.

In my opinion, if the looks aren't an issue and you're determined to buy US made, you'd be better off getting an American Series strat from the likes of chrisguitars.com and spending the savings on a set of Fralins, Kinmans, etc and working on your tone that way. Vintage reissue design doesn't mean better made by any stretch of the imagination. A US made vintage reissue strat is made in the same factory as the AmSe using the same woods and the same people building it. They'll be built the same, just the AmSe will have a few refinements that a reissue won't have, such as tuners that really stay in tune. A 62 reissue strat isn't going to give you Hendrix's tone by the sheer fact that it's made to 62 specs (Jimi played strats made in his time, 67-70), you'll need some vintage Marshalls for that too and a lot of magic in your fingers. There are plenty of people who believe the larger headstock played a significant part in the tone of the late 60's strats that Hendrix used too.


Edit -> just bear in mind that if you haven't played a vintage radius and vintage sized frets, it can be quite a shock, compared to modern guitars (flatter radius, bigger frets). You might end up buying a guitar which you find uncomfortable to play based on seeking a tone which it may not have to start off with and which is acheivable with guitars with more ergonomically friendly enhancements.

If you can, get into town and play as many reissue guitars as you can and get an idea of what you're thinking of buying, if you play bendy blues music, maybe smaller frets and a greater potential for strings to choke won't be your thing.

david

You're U-box links arent working right J

Doctor J

Just some CBS style strats for less than 60000 yen. There are plenty of them up there

Doctor J

Ooops, sorry Ancient1 - GAS alarm on

Ancient1

Ravelleman

Funny.

I tried a '62 RI while in New York in June. I thought it was a nice player but I wouldn't pay that much for it. With the stuff they're producing in Japan and to some extent Mexico these days I could never justify paying that much for the American version.

Johnny Storm

Also the 62 reissue would be pre-Hendrix surely.

I have a '68 reissue from Ishibashi (looks like the white one in Dr Js post) I find the 7.25 inch radius to be no problem but personally I dont really like the vintage frets. They are just not as playable as modern frets to my mind. The tips of your fingers press on the fretboard too much. Didn't stop Jimi though
Also watch out for strats with the truss rod adjustment in the heel end of the neck. A pain because you have to take the neck off to adjust the truss rod. What were they thinking of ? :rolleyes:

For whatever reason it v difficult to cut and paste a link to a translated Ishibashi page

Doctor J

Johnny Storm wrote:

For whatever reason it v difficult to cut and paste a link to a translated Ishibashi page

Copy the link in the page which lists all the guitars, copying the address in the actual page doesn't seem to work.

Hendrix89

Doctor J wrote:

A 62 reissue strat isn't going to give you Hendrix's tone by the sheer fact that it's made to 62 specs (Jimi played strats made in his time, 67-70), you'll need some vintage Marshalls for that too and a lot of magic in your fingers.

Yeah im aware of the fact that a '62 strat is before Hendrix's time but the '65-69 strat reissues are twice the price (around $2500) for some annoying reason, although if i could i would have a '69 strat... Also back earlier when i said that i dont care about the look of a strat at all i wasnt exactly thruthfull, wasnt thinkin straight. I do actually like the basic vintage look, for example the old school tremolo, the truss rod access below neck, old fender logo, the slightly tanned maple, old Gotoh Vintage style Tuners... and so on. I had a thought... If i was to buy the '62 RI and didnt like it i could sell it over here for way more than i got it new for... This way i may be able to manage to shell out for a '69 (US) strat, if i am not happy with the '62. What do you think? I know you guys probly think im ignoring your advice on getting other types strats but im not, im taking in all your advice and considering my options (keep it comin by the way), although at the moment i am still insistant on having a vintage strat for reasons ive mentioned. Anyway like i said i can always sell on my strat (with a profit) if i am not happy with it and go with another option, right? Aslo id like to point out that the mex strat i have at the moment has really thin frets (like the vintage) so i am used to them.

Johnny Storm

All good points and of course there's no point buying a guit if it's not the one that you want.

As regards selling it for a profit - if it was that easy we'd all be doing it. :rolleyes:
Did you take on board SEI046's post re tax and import duty? Thats 25.5% on top of the cost of the guit plus cost of shipping.

Hendrix89

Hi ppl, yeah so i ordered my '62 vintage strat today and im actually looking forward to getting a proffessional guitar sound for the first time! I probably will get hit with the tax and import charges but i can accept that cause i cant get the '62 strat here anyway. Here's the strat http://www.gguitars.com/fe_av62_strat_rw_3tsb.html i obviously got the last one as they took it off the site when i finished the order.. So what ya think? The guy is throwing in a hell of alot of extras. High quality Fender hardshell case, strap, lead, polish, Fender super bullet strings (on my request) and more! I did some research on Hendrixs guitars and i found an early 60's strat that he owned here; http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000290.html Its says 60/61 Strat so it seems similar enough to mine!

Oh and a general question about Strats... When did the Fender Stratocaster start being manufactured with the modern Large Frets?

Creamy Goodness

that's a nice guitar you bought. i have a jap '62 vintage and tbh they are an absolute joy to play.

ancient1 will back me up here.

me awaits hungus to come in with the "strat, pfft ibanez ftw" defence :D

Ravelleman

I like Strats. We've been bonding.

fish-head

Anchient1 you broke my side.

Hendrix89

Cremo wrote:

that's a nice guitar you bought. i have a jap '62 vintage and tbh they are an absolute joy to play.

ancient1 will back me up here.

me awaits hungus to come in with the "strat, pfft ibanez ftw" defence :D

Yeah i cant wait. Too bad i have to wait till next week to play it! Sold my previous (mex) Strat too soon and now im without a guitar for two weeks!...except for my acoustic, but i cant play blues solos on that:D I have itchy fingers!

It wasn't me!

Doc, that natural finish strat was not fair to inflict upon me...

Ancient1

Yum yum yum.

Congrats on the new purchase, Hendrix89. Don't forget to post pics or we'll ban your ass!

Ravelleman, that's a beauty man, wasn't aware you had a Strat actually.

deaddonkey

Doctor J wrote:

Just some CBS style strats for less than 60000 yen. There are plenty of them up there

CBS style strats still have the 7.25 inch radius and vintage frets. Modern radii and fret sizes is a mid 80s thing I think.

Doctor J wrote:

If the reissues sounded the same as the originals the vintage market wouldn't be so over-inflated. Wood and electronic aging and even the differences in the metal used for the fretwire contribute to the tone of the vintage instruments and reissues can't account for that.

That's what vintage dealers want you to believe. That way they can justify their prices. They'll be pissed when the bubble bursts.

The reason that the vintage market is so overinflated is because people want guitars from the early days of rocknroll - they're rare and collectable which drives the price up. Nobody's paying 25k for a burst 64 strat to play it. Sorry, but it doesn't happen. It's not worth that as a player. you're in lala land if you really thing musicians are digging out 75k for a 54 that plays real nice.

I challenge anyone to tell me they can hear the difference between an old strat and a new one with the same specs..

a 62 RI will sound pretty much like a 62. Every 62RI and every 62 will sound different too.

a 62 will sound different to a 68 or so (very few in existence) in theory anyway, maple cap fretboard and all that, but at the hendrix volumes through a fat marshall nobody can hear the difference...

truth is, hendrix could pick up any strat and he'd still sound like hendrix, and you'd never know if he played a 62 or a 69.

IMHO, etc.

Hendrix89

Ancient1 wrote:

Yum yum yum.

Congrats on the new purchase, Hendrix89. Don't forget to post pics or we'll ban your ass!

Ravelleman, that's a beauty man, wasn't aware you had a Strat actually.

Thanks Ancient. Dont worry i'll let you guys know how the Strat sounds and post some pics of it when i get the time! The amp i use is a Marshall MG 50DFX so i really hope it doesnt ruin the sound:( I get to use my rhthym guitarists 100DFX marshall when he's not around though so its not all bad;) I will eventually get a 100watt of my own but just not for a while.... I'd love to go for a Marshall stack but they're just so unbelievably expensive:mad: Anyway ill let you guys know how everything turns out (sound wise).

david

A 100dfx is no better than a 50 btw. Get yourself a blues jr. or something instead, 15w all valve is all you need.

It wasn't me!

You need yourself a nice 1959 SLP now, so you may as well take out that student loan now.

fish-head

What freakonaleashx said!

david

W00t me for president! I actually owned an MG at some stage, im not a valvewhore for no reason!

Speaking of 62 RI's, its all about the tele

fish-head

That Tele is unbelievably good. The binding is sinful.

david

I know she's beside me now. The binding is the best part.

Doctor J

deaddonkey wrote:

That's what vintage dealers want you to believe. That way they can justify their prices. They'll be pissed when the bubble bursts.

We'll differ on how much a difference we believe wood makes to the sound of an instrument, but wood changes over time and I believe that is a factor in the sound of an instrument. Subtle maybe but a factor nonetheless. Pickups age too, they demagnetise slightly, the likes of Seymour Duncan have "cosmetic and sonic aging" processes trying to (cosmetics aside) replicate the sound of old pickups. Regarding fretwire, I recall an interview from the late 80's, long before the vintage boom got really stupid, with Eric Johnson (I know ) going on about the difference in fretwire metal between 50s fretwire and the many difference fretwires Fender had him try out at the time, none of which sounded the same to his ears, even though it might not make a difference to the rest of us normal humans. I don't for a second think I'd find 20 grands worth of mojo in a 62 Jazz over a new one, but I don't think the effect of time can be discounted either on instruments which were of a high standard to begin with. 40 years of breaking in is a factor too, some of those battered instuments just look so comfy, it's the mint ones you need to be wary of

The bubble isn't going to burst. 70's Fenders and Gibsons have gotten stupidly priced and pretty much everyone accepts, at this stage, that quality during that era was patchy at best. There are some great ones, but a lot of turds too, yet noone seems to care and the prices keep going up over the aura of having a vintage instrument.

There was a report on the news yesterday that 1 million guitars were sold in the UK last year, that's one guitar purchase per 60 people. Crazy. Vintage instruments are looking exceptionally good as investment pieces right now but it goes against everything I believe in Thankfully, I've read enough accounts of people who've bought vintage instruments to play which makes me belive there is still some good in the world.