Help me understand these Strats(wtb one in future)

IrishGrimReaper

Hey guys!

Been looking to get a strat for the past few weeks, in search of that 'stratty' sound or whatever people refer to it as.

Fender Standard Strat 2011 MN LPB

Fender Classic Series 70 Strat MN NT - Love natural colours

Fender Deluxe Player Strat MN SBT - Love this colour too

Going by the thomann sound samples the first 2 sound identical, slight difference in the last one(actually like it the most). But what is the main differences between these and which one would you buy? I have about €400 at the minute, and I don't mind saving more. So help me out to get the best deal, I don't have the luxury of going to guitars shops in Ireland to try various ones.

I'm a newbie guitar player so the abbreviations in titles are a mystery to me.

My amp is just as Roland Cube 15w XL.

Squidgy Black

The Classic Player series and the Deluxe series tend to play nicer than the standards and have nicer pickups and trems most of the time.

For your budget though, look on adverts.ie and pick up a used mexican standard. You should get one that plays nicely for your budget as of now, then save and swap pickups if needs be. Rarely does though.

goblin59

you'll get all these in waltons.
You should head in there to try them all out and see which one sounds best to you.

That famous strat sound comes from the single coil pick ups.

Elysian

Firstly to explain the abbrevations, MN means the guitar is Mexican and the rest of the letters are the colour of the guitar (NT=Natural etc etc)

I have played all three so hopefully my observations are of some use to you:

The Fender Classic Series 70 is a gorgeous looking Strat that sounds great, however it has a 7.25" vintage neck radius which I don't like (radiuses are explained here if you are unfamiliar with them http://www.ratcliffe.co.za/articles/radius.shtml) and the truss rod is accessed from the base of the neck which while not a deal breaker can be annoying when doing setups. If you have never played a guitar with a vintage radius and wont have the oppurtunity to do so prior to ordering I'd avoid this model.

Fender Standard Strat. I find the stock pickups in this model to be a little bland, but if you're willing to upgrade them these are great guitars. Compared to the Classic Series 70 guitar these have a more modern radius which I find a lot more comfortable.

Fender Deluxe Player Strat. I'm very torn on this model, there are somethings I love about it (the aesthetics, ash body, comfortable neck) and somethings I don't (noiseless single coil pickups, for me the hum is part of what makes a Strat sound like a Strat). My biggest issue with this guitar though is the price, for €800 you could pickup a second hand American Standard Strat which, imo, is a far superior guitar which also comes with a really good hard case.

IrishGrimReaper

Appreciate the replies, if I was to get the standard strat what sort of pickups should I be looking to get?

darrenw5094

The Custom Shop Fender pickups can be bought on eBay for around €100 including shipping from USA.

My strat fav's are David Allen Pickups, shipped from the USA for €135. Full range of Strat single coils here.
http://www.dallenpickups.com/default.asp

Ravelleman

Elysian wrote: »

Firstly to explain the abbrevations, MN means the guitar is Mexican and the rest of the letters are the colour of the guitar (NT=Natural etc etc)

Good post but the MN part refers to the 'maple neck', although it really should be 'maple fretboard' since almost all Fenders produced since they began making guitars have had maple necks, regardless of fretboard wood.

Ravelleman

I wouldn't discount the Classic Player series either, especially the 60s model. I have my reservations about the 50s model since the locking tuners are muck.

MetalDog

I would agree with Elysian and Goblin59 - try them all and see which one suits you best in terms of neck profile, pickups, overall feel etc. I wouldn't rule out savin a few quid and getting a secondhand American Strat either.

darrenw5094

I wouldn't rule out going Japanese. Although they are not quite as cheap as they used to be, still great value.

IrishGrimReaper

Thanks guys, I'll continue saving and think about the options. If anyone comes across any good adverts for any of these let me know.

Elysian

IrishGrimReaper wrote: »

Thanks guys, I'll continue saving and think about the options. If anyone comes across any good adverts for any of these let me know.

Keep an eye out on the Waltons sale here: http://content.waltons.ie/Content%5CBanners%5Cnewsletters%5Csummer-madness-sale.html, They had a Standard Strat going for €251 which has been sold but if it's anything like last year there will be new deals every week.

IrishGrimReaper

One more question, I am curious to you strat owners. I've often read about them going out of tune frequently(due to the nuts/bridges used or something). And I've heard of people replacing the nut/bridge with other alternatives. Things like:

Fender Hardtail Bridge Chrome

Fender Roller Nut LSR

Anyone any views on this? Thanks again.

madmax2

IrishGrimReaper wrote: »

One more question, I am curious to you strat owners. I've often read about them going out of tune frequently(due to the nuts/bridges used or something). And I've heard of people replacing the nut/bridge with other alternatives. Things like:

Fender Hardtail Bridge Chrome

Fender Roller Nut LSR

Anyone any views on this? Thanks again.

Hi was just wondering if this is your first electric guitar as you said you new to playing. If so I'd just buy a secondhand strat and get use to it first, everyone has different opinions on guitar from string trees, nuts, bridges , pickups and on and on.

My strat is 22 years old and I only recently changed the pickups to Fender vintage noiseless as I don't like the hum from the standard pickups, but that's just me some people like that hum and that's their opinion.
As for going out of tune frequently I haven't had to many problems but a friend has a newer Highway strat that does suffer from tuning problems but he's a very aggressive player.
I wouldn't go replacing anything at first just see how you get on with it first.

Squidgy Black

Just block off the trem if you're afraid of tuning problems. Remove the springs and stick a big block of wood between the body and the bridge. As for the roller nut, it's not necessary.

Sofaspud

I have the deluxe players strat you linked, same colour but with rosewood neck.
It doesn't quite have the classic stratty sound, as it's not quite as warm (I find) but a slight adjustment to the tone knob will sort that.
This is because of the noiseless pickups that take away the natural hum sound. What I like most about it is the versatility, because it has the switch that activates the bridge pickup in the neck / middle positions, so every possible pickup combination can be used. This can get tones that are warm and twangy at the same time.

darrenw5094

Sofaspud wrote: »

I have the deluxe players strat you linked, same colour but with rosewood neck.
It doesn't quite have the classic stratty sound, as it's not quite as warm (I find) but a slight adjustment to the tone knob will sort that.
This is because of the noiseless pickups that take away the natural hum sound. What I like most about it is the versatility, because it has the switch that activates the bridge pickup in the neck / middle positions, so every possible pickup combination can be used. This can get tones that are warm and twangy at the same time.

Fender Noiseless pickups suck round objects. Why do Fender use pickups is their Strats that make the Strat sound un-Strat like.:rolleyes:

population

I had the Deluxe Players Strat and sold it which was a massive mistake. No guitar I have had before or since felt better in my hands. Great trem and zero tuning issues. I did change out the Noiseless PUPS for a Hotrails in the bridge and Texas specials in the middle and neck. Agree with the above statement on the Noiseless PUPS. They do a job in the studio, but live meh.

bluesteele

stetyrrell wrote: »

Just block off the trem if you're afraid of tuning problems. Remove the springs and stick a big block of wood between the body and the bridge. As for the roller nut, it's not necessary.

i find it easier to screw to screws in tighter that hold the springs and add an extra spring.

IrishGrimReaper

Hey guys, I eventually just bought the Players Deluxe, I had trolled adverts to maybe find a second hand american one like suggested but got tired of waiting, and the comfort of buying off thoman is hard to resist. I love the guitar and it feels great to handle.

I'm posting about what might be a slight issue but I'm not sure, I have pics to try show you. Basically the high E string when it comes out of the bridge the little nut thing is a few millimeters below the other ones so that string is closer to the fretboard than any of the others, it doesn't buzz or anything. But I'm new to this whole guitar setup stuff, so does anyone know if it will cause problems or should I get it looked at by someone able to correct it? (unless it's ment to be like that).







I changed the strings right away when I got it, so it's possible I did it, or it could've came like this I'm not sure. Suggestions? Thanks again!

Edit: Will re-upload the pics they're huge in size, and will break the screen.

noby

Have a read of this: http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/tutorial1.htm , particularly the 'String Height and Bridge adjustment' section.
Of course, if in doubt leave it alone, or ask advice - especially things like the truss rod.

euddue

To be honest there isn't much damage you can do in your situation that you'd need a professional to fix.Get yourself a little Allen key and raise it a little until it feels comfortable,or lower the others as far down as you can without getting buzz.Don't be afraid to tinker with your guitar a bit,I've found on many forums on the internet,people are almost afraid to play their instruments in case they tweak something and run to a luthier instead of learning themselves.

I'd also suggest locking the bridge down,but thats my preference.

Try get your strings in a gradual rise from the E to D string about 1mm in difference with a decline from G to e.a triangular shape I suppose.

population

Looks fine. Also those guitars have really nice trems so I think it would be a shame to block it off tbh

martinedwards

tinker away.

the only thing I would suggest you leave well alone is the truss rod (in the neck)

this takes a little more time and delicacy and if you go at it too heavy handed it cold snap, and replacing a truss rod can be a BIIIIIIG job!!

look at Fender's website, they have an excellent set up section which takes you through all the fun & games about intonation and string height etc.

one of the joys of a strat is the trem.

they go out of tune more than a hard tail guitar, but then that's part of the instrument.

I LOVE strats but despise trems with a passion so I'm a five spring kinda guy.

one of lifes great lies is that swapping tuners will improve tuning stablilty. In my humble experience (and hey I've only built 90 guitars, mandos, basses bouzoukis etc been playing for 30 years and bought and sold amybe 30 guitars as well as the ones I've made) tuning issues come from old strings, binding in the nut, trems (I HATE trems!!) and strings slipping at the tuner because the windings arent right. it's a lot cheaper to look at the excellent frets.com and learn how to wind a string on a tuner post than spend a fortune on a set of locking tuners you don't need.

Strats are made in a cheap construction technique (compared to Gibsons with their arched tops and set necks) so they are born to mod.

pickups can be bought and switched easily, just get a new pickguard and the world is your oyster..... keep the original for the day you decide to sell it on......

buy pups used on ebay and sell 'em on if you don't like them...... but always leave the cables as long as possible!!

I have a strat that I've owned since 88 or so. over the years it's had all sorts of pup configurations, but it's settled now for a pair of DiMarzio PAF Pros, each with a switch to split the humbucker coils, and a piezo bridge so I can get fairly good acoustic sounds out of it too.

a strat is a VERY versatile guitar........

IrishGrimReaper

Thanks guys, I always wondered what the little alan key I got with the guitar was for, I've raised it up a bit now to a comfortable level and it feels better now.

Also found a nice video on youtube about setting up intonation which was slightly off, now it's pretty much spot on. Thanks again!