Decisions, decisions...on a strat

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr. C
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Mr. C

Mr. C

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I've been wanting to buy a strat lately and found the one I "think" I want. I want to get an Am.Std. in Siennaburst. An $1100 git. I've never made a purchase this big for just myself. I've tried the Am. Std. and liked it, but to tell the truth I like other strats, even a mexi 60's reissue. My wife asked me, not knowing how much the git I want really is, if I couldn't find something less expensive. Well yes, and no. So what's my question...is it really worth it for me to purchase this strat? I'm thinking that it will hold its value and that would be a plus, but why not just get a cheaper strat? I know this is my own decision in the end, but would like some opinions. (Also I'm set on new, mainly because GC has a financing deal that will help me get it now not sometime down the road.) Thanks!
 
Thanks Muttley, I think that is what I was looking to hear to some degree.
 
If you're worried about resale value, by all means, buy used. If you have buyer's remorse you'll get every cent back. Additionally, you'll find that siennaburst for $7-850 next year or so, or something in the same league a lot sooner.
 
ermghoti said:
If you're worried about resale value, by all means, buy used. If you have buyer's remorse you'll get every cent back. Additionally, you'll find that siennaburst for $7-850 next year or so, or something in the same league a lot sooner.
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OTOH, "holding its value" is ONLY important if you plan to sell it. If you plan to keep it until death do you part (like I am about my Strat that I've had since 1978), not so much.
 
Why not go for a G&L? Fender Custom Shop quality for 1/3 of the price.
 
Mr. C said:
I've been wanting to buy a strat lately and found the one I "think" I want. I want to get an Am.Std. in Siennaburst. An $1100 git. I've never made a purchase this big for just myself. I've tried the Am. Std. and liked it, but to tell the truth I like other strats, even a mexi 60's reissue. My wife asked me, not knowing how much the git I want really is, if I couldn't find something less expensive. Well yes, and no. So what's my question...is it really worth it for me to purchase this strat? I'm thinking that it will hold its value and that would be a plus, but why not just get a cheaper strat? I know this is my own decision in the end, but would like some opinions. (Also I'm set on new, mainly because GC has a financing deal that will help me get it now not sometime down the road.) Thanks!
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No strat made in the last 10years will hold it's value as Fender has watered down the guitar with like 1,000,000 variations. Like Les Pauls of today, what the hell is a real strat? For that kind of dough. I would look at older used ones that will retain their value. There are plenty of vintage shops selling older strats.
 
I bought my MIM strat around 2000. It was a great starting point - but I've ended up changing everything but the neck and tuners over time (I even added mother of pearl dot inlays).

The original guitar was about $325. The electronics upgrade ran about $175 (pups, pickguard, etc.). Then the graphtec saddles another $35 or so? The thing was getting to heavy for my back, so I ended up doing another major upgrade to an Am Standard body (3 pounds vs. the 8 pound original) and new blade style trem, plus a couple of other things - another $400?

So my $325 MIM strat turned into a an extremely nice custom job for just under $1,000.

I can't say I would not have been happy with an off-the-shelf $1,000 MIA strat - but it did let me spread the cost out over time and end up with pretty much exactly what I wanted in a strat (which doesn't exist as a stock item). Plus I was also able to build a baratone with the old parts ;)

Not to mention gaining the experience on working on this stuff.

So if you don't want to work on it yourself, but do have the money to buy it - I'd say audition a boat load of the $1,100 strats and get the one that meets your needs.
 
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