Korean, Mexican, or American Strat?

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jndietz

The Way It Moves
What are the differences? I have an Epiphone Thunderbird bass I am going to sell or trade in for it... so probably a spending limit of about $500. Any suggestions or reccomendations?

~jndietz
 
My suggestion? Buy a Japanese lawsuit strat, Toaki made a killer one, so did Greco. $500 and it'll smoke nearly anything out today save the American custom shop.
 
jndietz said:
What are the differences? I have an Epiphone Thunderbird bass I am going to sell or trade in for it... so probably a spending limit of about $500. Any suggestions or reccomendations?

~jndietz
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Maybe a bit more and you can land a used american strat in very good condition. Most of the G & L legacy's are fine strats (and cheaper used) but the neck has a different feel than a Fender. I would go for a used american fender.

Oh yea, what's with the newer strats? They feel pretty sissyfied to me. Anyone else?
 
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hungovermorning said:
My suggestion? Buy a Japanese lawsuit strat, Toaki made a killer one, so did Greco. $500 and it'll smoke nearly anything out today save the American custom shop.
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+1
Those things shred like nothing else.
 
Go to the store with the biggest selection and play them all. You may find a really good korean one for $199 and be surprised at the shittiness of the $799 ones. But if you order a korean strat from musician's friend, chances are it's gonna be 14 karat trash. That is, luck of the draw, I'll pick the mexi or USA. If I get to try them all and pick a winner, I'll play the cheapo asian ones, too.

My squire strat bullet thing is chinese and it was a total shit piece when i bought it for $75. But I had fun replacing the bridge and tuners and pickups and now it's almost not shitty at all. :D
 
Yeah, go play as many as you can. With that said, I would also like to hear some constructive comments as to the choices as I too am looking to buy another strat/strat style gtr.
 
I'd look for a used MIJ (Japanese) strat.

I have a MIJ "60's Strat" from the early 1990s and its rock solid. Far better than the current MIM (Mexican) "standard" line today. Many argue that the MIJ Strats are even better than the current American-made Fenders.
 
Being an owner of all four I think it is wise to say that there is no good way of choosing by this criteria. I have a Jap Tele, Korean and Mex Strat and a Custom Shop Beck. They are all hand picked and they are all great guitars. I think you have to play them as I have also owned other "name" gutars that were dogs (Martins, Taylors, Gibsons).
Try 'em out, take 'em for a ride, see how they feel, sometimes one guy might love what you hate.
 
toad said:
I'd look for a used MIJ (Japanese) strat.

I have a MIJ "60's Strat" from the early 1990s and its rock solid. Far better than the current MIM (Mexican) "standard" line today. Many argue that the MIJ Strats are even better than the current American-made Fenders.
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I have been told that my late 80s '62 R.I. is japanese and I agree that it is a really nice guitar (or was). It does indeed seem very different from current made in USA or Mexi guitars. Mostly I like it because it's blue.
 
Ny advice is go play them and see what you like, no two are alike. One of the guys I work with just bought a new Mexi-Strat for around $400 that's pretty nice. I have played supposedly "identical" guitars to his that were awful shit.
 
If you want new or almost new you owe to yourself to test drive a Highway 1.
It has a very nice neck and decent body. Then replace every piece of hardware on it. I suppose if you don't use the whammy bar you could keep the tuners and block the bridge, then all you need is some decent pickups.
I like mine but then again I like my own Chinese strat. There is something i like about those thin skinny necked squiers.
 
toad said:
I'd look for a used MIJ (Japanese) strat.

I have a MIJ "60's Strat" from the early 1990s and its rock solid. Far better than the current MIM (Mexican) "standard" line today. Many argue that the MIJ Strats are even better than the current American-made Fenders.
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i had a mij strat and i hated it. oh god i hated that thing.
 
Gee. I just did a little research. I always thought my guitar was japanese. It turns out it was made in Corona, CA.

According to this auction, they are collectible. Too bad mine looks like it was in a rock tumbler for a few hours.
 
cephus said:
Gee. I just did a little research. I always thought my guitar was japanese. It turns out it was made in Corona, CA.

According to this auction, they are collectible. Too bad mine looks like it was in a rock tumbler for a few hours.
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No, no, it's a "relic!" :D
 
I have had them all and they all played fairly well. I would go with the American just because but wouldn't be afraid of a Mexican at all..
 
I'm actually going to head out to the music stores to play a few. Thanks for tips guys...
 
Play whatever feels best. I've had several over the years and I wound up keeping a an 96 Jap strat, a vintage American with a Jap Squire neck (long story), and my HM Strat which is Jap.

The problem with the Mexicans is their weight. I always found them to feel rather dry and light, but that was just in the models I was looking at. Maybe others are more friendly.

I have a Stratocaster VII sitting by me right now that was made in Indonesia lol!
 
best quote ever

alien said:
The problem with the Mexicans is their weight. I always found them to feel rather dry and light, but that was just in the models I was looking at. Maybe others are more friendly.
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I love taking quotes out of context.
 
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