I'm saving up for...

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheGuitarMan
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64Firebird said:
The best of the Jap Strats (and likely the best guitars with the Fender name sense the early 60s) were the 60s reissues of the early 90s. They have the Made in Japan sticker on the heal of the neck and it's under the finish. They were made in the Fugi Gen Gakki factory. All other MIJ Strats are about as bad as people think. So, keep your eyes open.
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Which is the guitar i'm looking for...
 
TheGuitarMan said:


Which is the guitar i'm looking for...
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Have you tried ebay? I've seen a few of them going there for about $350.00. That's about what I paid for mine at wal-mars.
 
I'd rather not buy a guitar from e-bay. I've heard some horror stories.

I'd be more comfortable buying a guitar I can get my hands on first.
 
I think ebay is a good place to buy. You should look at the seller's feedback though and ask about anything that isn't clear. I've bought several things on ebay and only been screwed once (I've been screwed a lot more in music stores). I think it was the fault of the seller because he packaged it poorly and he thinks it was my fault because I didn't pay extra for insurance. Well, I was buying a brass kicker pedal for my Harley and I didn't see a need to insure a hunk of metal.

At any rate, if you know what your looking at and know what to ask you can get some good deals.
 
the guitar that i saw go for 375 was a jap 60's re-issue that hade the "made in japan" on the heel of the neck. The only problem is that it was pink....i never really got into pink guitars.
 
TheGuitarMan said:
I've decided to buy a Japanese Stratocaster and i'm going to modify the crap out of it.
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What!??? :eek:

I thought you were a "Heritage man?"
 
"the guitar that i saw go for 375 was a jap 60's re-issue that hade the "made in japan" on the heel of the neck. The only problem is that it was pink....i never really got into pink guitars."

I would have bought it. You can get an unfinished swamp ash or alder body for under $100.

"What!???

I thought you were a "Heritage man?"

There aren't any places around here where I can pick up a used Heritage. I'd be more likely to find a MIJ Strat. And i'm kinda iffy about online shopping. You never know what the guy before did to the guitar. I'd feel much better digging out the guts of a Strat than a LP type guitar. Plus it's a bolt-on so I could put on a new body if I want.
 
So why don't you just buy one of those do it yourself kit guitars? They're on ebay too.
 
Gosh, I thought it was al in the fingers.

(Edit) I'm starting to sound like Blue Bear.
 
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A pile of crap in the hands of a guitar god is still a pile of crap.

Words of wisdom from TheGuitarMan...
 
I must disagree, I've heard great players that sounded great on any guitar and I've heard poor players that sounded bad on any guitar. Unlike Blue Bear, I don't think it's all in your fingers, but a lot of it is. A good example is Hound Dog Taylor. He used to play the cheapest guitars he could find and plug them into an amp from sears. He was seldom in tune, but he always sounded fantastic.
 
Think about it this way. If EVH decided to play a guitar made out of rubber bands and a milk carton, it would still be rubber bands and a milk carton. How well somebody plays has nothing to do with the quality of the guitar. I don't want a guitar that plays like ass.

Can somebody make great music with an el cheapo? Yes, but it's still an el cheapo.
 
jap strats

as with anything,you have good and bad,I own own 2 early 80's jap strats,a small headstock 60's RI, and a big headstock,70's RI With van zant"blues"pick-up's.I love them both! paid $200 for the 60's,and $150 for the 70's.From what I've read,there wasn't any real american production at the time these guitars were made,and even the american factory workers were knocked out by them.I work in a small music store, and as with anything, some sound great, some suck. I'm sure they have a mexican or two working in the Fender factory,Or should I say an american or two?
 
TheGuitarMan said:
Think about it this way. If EVH decided to play a guitar made out of rubber bands and a milk carton, it would still be rubber bands and a milk carton. How well somebody plays has nothing to do with the quality of the guitar. I don't want a guitar that plays like ass.

Can somebody make great music with an el cheapo? Yes, but it's still an el cheapo.
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I'd say that guitar Eddie V used on his first album and tour was a cheapo, just a hunk of junk that he wired up and painted with red bicycle paint, but he made it sound pretty damn good. Maybe your not old enough to remember it, but I saw them play that year at the Texas world music fest in the Cotton Bowl. I Think it was about 79.

freddy2.jpg
 
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Eddie put that guitar together for about 150 bucks. It was in his own words a pile of crap. He used it on the first 3 albums I believe and tours.... A Jap Strat cost a guitar shop about 300 bucks new. Dont let em bs you. Yeah they will tell you but it goes for such and such on ebay...Im now spitting... I bought one a few years ago from a guitar shop that a buddy worked at. That was his cost. Unfortunantly the guitar got stolen!!! It was a great guitar. I like seymour Duncun PU's myself.....
If the guitar shop guys think your cheap, they are going to rip you off, cause they dont expect you to buy much anyway.... Don't go into a guitar shop unless your ready to buy. Don't let them know your on a limited budget. If they think your going to buy a lot of stuff from them in the future, they will cut you great deals and roll out the red carpet.... Just my experience..
Myx
 
At the local Guitar Center, I always try to talk them down and I don't stop until the salesman says "well, let me ask my manager" then I know I've got the best deal. At Mars on the other hand, the sales staff doesn't work on commission, so they don't make deals very often.

Pawn shops are good, if you can figure out their codes. Then you can just offer them what they have in it plus about 10% cash and it's yours.
 
For those of you that prefer "Made in America" and the Fender sound check out G & L. It doesn't get any better than this IMHO. Of course you won't be picking one up for $350 either.
 
Sky Blue Lou said:
For those of you that prefer "Made in America" and the Fender sound check out G & L. It doesn't get any better than this IMHO. Of course you won't be picking one up for $350 either.
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G&L does the same bath tub routing job on the body as Fender. In the 70s and 80s G&L made some fine guitars, but not anymore (IMHO).
 
I worked at a place in 91 that did the fender bodys. It was junk poplar laminated with about 5 pieces glued together and holes filled with wood putty. I think these were for the american made strats-lol. So G&L went south also huh. It figures. Once the big money steps in and the master of puppets pulls the strings, even the boys in Metallica drop to their knees......Its all about profit and quality is secondary.....
Myx
 
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