Fenders....I need opinions!

Must Have Music

I'm getting a new guitar, and I definitely want it to be a Fender as i think they have the best sound, but I'm no kind of guitar expert...what type would anyone recommend, based on personal experience? I've only tried out strats and telecasters, and i'd def prefer the strat of those two, but id like to hear anyone's opinion on jags, mustangs etc - or other guitar makers, just not gibson cos i dont like em!I'm in a band who play a lot of 80s style rock, mixed with a kinda razorlighty type sound, so that's the kinda guitar i'm lookin for lol :P

feylya

What sort of budget do you have? Why do you definitely want it to be Fender?

For your rock sound, a humbucker in the bridge is going to be pretty important - strats tend not to have humbuckers

Dord

Must Have Music wrote: »

I'm getting a new guitar, and I definitely want it to be a Fender as i think they have the best sound, but I'm no kind of guitar expert...what type would anyone recommend, based on personal experience? I've only tried out strats and telecasters, and i'd def prefer the strat of those two, but id like to hear anyone's opinion on jags, mustangs etc - or other guitar makers, just not gibson cos i dont like em!I'm in a band who play a lot of 80s style rock, mixed with a kinda razorlighty type sound, so that's the kinda guitar i'm lookin for lol :P

I know you said you prefer Strat's but check out the Telecaster Deluxe. A lot of guys in Indie bands use them. They're kinda like a mashup between a Les Paul and a Fender. I just bought one recently and I'm really loving it.

Doctor J

I'd echo what the lads have said, when I think 80's rock I visualise a luminous green charvel with a Floyd Rose but I don't think that's what you're after.

All the Fender models you've mentioned sound different to each other and play differently too. You know the sound you want, you need to play all of them to see what fits. Personally, I think the Strat is the most versatile of the ones you've mentioned, but you might need to consider getting a humbucker installed, if we're thinking the same thing when you say 80's rock.

OK-Cancel-Apply

If you play 80's style rock, you might prefer a guitar with a flatter neck, but if you have your heart set on a strat, then it should really be a fat strat.

Quattroste

Get this.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Special-Mahogany-HSS-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=511165

Nahguavkire

Trust me mate, you need one of these two if you want and 80's style rock strat

http://cgi.ebay.com/Richie-Sambora-Fender-Stratocaster-w-Floyd-Rose-USA_W0QQitemZ180245017011QQihZ008QQcategoryZ156025QQcmdZViewItem

or

check out Wayne guitars, handmade by the founder of Charvel, Wayne Charvel and custom painted by his son

http://www.wayneguitars.com/guitars.html


Your other alternative is to get onto Warmoth (www.warmoth.com) and build one yourself from all the parts, you'll get exactly what you want and it'll cost about the same as an american Fender for a nice one, also because Warmoth make Fender style necks under license you can actually get it with the Fender logo so basically you're just designing your own signature strat or whatever model you choose. the quality of Warmoth's parts is fantastic too, I've got wo friends who have Warmoth Jazz bass necks and one has a whole bass made from Warmoth parts and they're beautiful to play and feel really solid so I'd advise you to at least take a look.

Doctor DooM

Going out on a limb, I would say you have never played a Gibson if you are looking for a rock sound if you think Fender's the way to go, unless you are looking for that jangly retro tone doing the rounds at the mo. They have a good name but I don't really see the appeal for the harder end of the rock spectrum.

Strats do sound chunky with a humbucker on them though.

Doctor J

Nahguavkire wrote: »

because Warmoth make Fender style necks under license you can actually get it with the Fender logo

Not true. It just means they can make parts with the distinctive Fender headstock and refernce Fender parts and dimensions against their own and not be sued. The only people who can put legally put Fender logos on anything are Fender.

Nahguavkire

SDooM wrote: »

Going out on a limb, I would say you have never played a Gibson if you are looking for a rock sound if you think Fender's the way to go, unless you are looking for that jangly retro tone doing the rounds at the mo. They have a good name but I don't really see the appeal for the harder end of the rock spectrum.

Strats do sound chunky with a humbucker on them though.

Ahh....yes and no....I mean so many wicked rock and metal guitarists used them in the 80's and even now....Andreas Kisser....Richie Blackmore....Adam Dutkiewicz (before the Caparison endorsement)...Basically there's a lot of good metal and rock to be had from a Strat, personally I find it hard to beat a PRS for a rock/metal sound, it's the best of both worlds literally!! It depends on what you like yourself....

Doctor DooM

Nahguavkire wrote: »

Ahh....yes and no....I mean so many wicked rock and metal guitarists used them in the 80's and even now....Andreas Kisser....Richie Blackmore....Adam Dutkiewicz (before the Caparison endorsement)...Basically there's a lot of good metal and rock to be had from a Strat, personally I find it hard to beat a PRS for a rock/metal sound, it's the best of both worlds literally!! It depends on what you like yourself....

PRS FTW. Strats tend to only do one sound and one alone. Maybe I've played bad ones (I'm a lefty, so I don't have the vast range of guitars to mess with you lucky buggers do )

Doctor J

SDooM wrote: »

Strats tend to only do one sound and one alone.

I don't even know where to start with that one :rolleyes:

Nahguavkire

SDooM wrote: »

PRS FTW. Strats tend to only do one sound and one alone. Maybe I've played bad ones (I'm a lefty, so I don't have the vast range of guitars to mess with you lucky buggers do )

FTW?? Fair enough then, you're missing out on one of lifes pleasures...it's unfortunate that PRS only make right handers but hey, I'm not complaining:)There are some really nice Strats out there and some really mediocre ones, just have to shop around, the Mexican reverse headstock one that's out at the minute is lovely though, I've played five different examplpes and they all play and sound great!!

Karl Hungus

Ah seriously lads, a Strat can be about as versatile as you want. As was said, just stick a humbucker in it and you've go an instant rock guitar.

No good recommending PRS or anything until we see what kind of budget the OP has, they might be good, but could be way out of his price range.

Nahguavkire

Doctor J wrote: »

Not true. It just means they can make parts with the distinctive Fender headstock and refernce Fender parts and dimensions against their own and not be sued. The only people who can put legally put Fender logos on anything are Fender.

Ah fair enough, thought it was so, anyway having a Fender sticker on my headstock isn't going to be the highlight of my day, Warmoth quality is just as good and you get more options......I know which I'd choose

Nahguavkire

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Ah seriously lads, a Strat can be about as versatile as you want. As was said, just stick a humbucker in it and you've go an instant rock guitar.

No good recommending PRS or anything until we see what kind of budget the OP has, they might be good, but could be way out of his price range.

Well if his/her price range isn't so high then they shouold really check out the SE range, I have three of them and they're absolutely phenomenal!!! If they can get their hands on one of the Santana SE models they're amazing but discontinued, particularily the older one's, I've one about 10 years old and it's my favourite guitar I own, big deal when you've also got a Custom 22, Ibanez RGT 220a Prestige, Collings OM2H, Taylor 754CE and Custom takamine Classical guitar in there, the Santana SE is just brilliant!!!

darrenw5094

I have a collection of PRS made in USA at this stage.....
Can't believe most people on this stage don't like them.....does a better axe exist???? Maybe....maybe not.

You could get a used USA PRS for about €1100 on ebay at the moment from the UK. That might be out of the OP price range....but that would be the buy of a lifetime.....a keeper.

OP what is your budget????

Must Have Music

My budget's around 800euro...I just love fenders, I haven't really liked any other epiphones I've tried and I'm not crazy about gibsons. Was also considering a dean, but I dunno - thanks a mill for the tips guys, I'll definitely look for somethin with a humbucker or get one installed!

Doctor J

For that money you could pick up a second hand USA strat, a Seymour Duncan hotrail humbucker and have it installed.

You should get a great guitar for that kind of money at the moment.

Dord

Doctor J wrote: »

For that money you could pick up a second hand USA strat, a Seymour Duncan hotrail humbucker and have it installed.

You should get a great guitar for that kind of money at the moment.

Yup, or he could go for one that has already had some nice pickups installed.

Like this one on chrisguitars.com :pac:



Seymour Duncan Trembucker in the bridge and a Vintage Rails in the neck position.

$829 with a case

5th guitar down on this page > http://www.chrisguitars.com/fender.html

Karl Hungus

Nice budget, you can really get an excellent guitar for that, especially considering the dollar/euro exchange rate, and I too would recommend www.chrisguitars.com as I've dealt with him a few times, and he's a sterling guy.

Doctor J

Spending a few hundred quid on shipping and taxes might not yield the best result out of €800 though. There are plenty of great deals to be had second hand here or even new from the UK or Germany at the moment.

Karl Hungus

Doctor J wrote: »

Spending a few hundred quid on shipping and taxes might not yield the best result out of €800 though. There are plenty of great deals to be had second hand here or even new from the UK or Germany at the moment.

Well, $800 translates to roughly €500, so there's plenty of wiggle room for shipping and customs on top of that. But certainly, I do agree that there are a lot of great second hand deals out there, be it from the US or over this side of the pond.

Doctor J

Last time I checked he was charging almost $200 for shipping with USPS, $350 with UPS. Add 25% import duty onto the cost of that plus the guitar and things aren't so wigglesome, no?

I'm not saying there isn't a good deal to be had from Chris, just that the way ye have posted is somewhat misleading to the OP as to how much it will actually cost.

Karl Hungus

Doctor J wrote: »

Last time I checked he was charging almost $200 for shipping with USPS, $350 with UPS.

Jebus!? That's a little suprising, I've gotten guitars and even a bass from him before and it didn't cost nearly that much to ship. Yeah, it might be prudent for the OP to get a shipping quote from Chris before deciding.

Do you suggest any alternatives?

Doctor J

Not for 800 quid. The percentage of the €800 taken up by shipping and taxes pretty much negates the exchange rate benfits. If the OP is looking at strats he can get a strat as he wants it within his budget here, or most other American Fenders. Other than that, the UK webstores are the places to hit, cheaper than Thomann on a lot of things.