From: gpr@midiline.la.ca.us (Gary Richardi)
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar
Subject: Re: Beater Strats ?$$$?
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 92 16:52:37 PST
Organization: MIDILine BBS - Altadena, CA - (818) 797-3285

npstewar@eos.ncsu.edu (NATHAN PHILLIP STEWART) writes:

> 
> I'm in no position to buy now, but I went to a guitar show a few months ago, 
> was flabbergasted by the prices. Someone wanted $775 for a tweed covered ash
> tray that doubled as a Fender Deluxe. :-)  For the most part though, the guit
> were fairly pristine looking, but a friend said much of the merchandise was
> doctored enough discredit the 'Collector' price tags... Is a '54 strat worth 
> if the pickups aren't original or is it work 'a mere $6k' because the pickups
> aren't original?  (Maybe it was $4k, I can't remember.)
> 
> What I wondering is how much do pre CBS strats cost that are in 'Players'
> condition.  I'm talking about ones that look like what Hiram Bullock plays.
> I really don't care about collectible value, just an incredible tone and kill
> feel.  If anybody has seen prices for such instruments, let me know please.
> I doubt it makes a difference when we're talking about $xxxx give or take $50
> type prices, but just in case, I have a fairly strong preference for Maple 
> boards, and really don't care about finishes(If it still has one, but Tobbacc
> sunburst is really cool.)
> 
> npstewar@eos.ncsu.edu
> Nate Da Great
> 
> ps. If anyone has any '57 stashed away under the bed, I'd be happy to pay $50
> and let you skip the yard sale when your spouse/parents/etc. sells it while
> you're away on business.

Okay, I'm going to say this then duck! Back in the late '70, a friend 
lent me his Strat (CBS, completely blond non-trem) for about a year. I'd 
never really liked Strats, preferring the Les Paul-type neck and 
humbucker arrangement. However, I fell in love with the thin maple neck 
and wonderful, out-of-phase tone (which I had to work to get since it had 
the original 3-position type of switch and my friend wouldn't let me 
replace it with a new, 5-pos one). I finally gave it back when I got my 
YAMAHA SG2000 (SANTANA-designed) 10-pounder. Until a few years ago, I 
pretty much forgot about the feel of a strat then I got the bug again and 
hinted to my wife that a cheap off-shore FENDER Squire Strat. would be a 
nice Christmas present. Well, I like my Squire strat better that my 
friend's 70's model. The tuning stability is WAY better. The neck is just 
right for my taste, nice and thin (maple). Yes, its made in Korea and the 
5-pos switch was noisy (but easily replaced) and the shielding could be 
better (also easily and cheaply fixed). I've since put a Duncan HOT RAILS 
pu in the bridge position (wired out-of phase) and the added sounds are 
great with no loss of stock, signature Strat sounds. Anyway, logn-winded 
though I may be, the bottom line is that you should try these guitars 
out. They're made well where it counts and are cheap enough to replace 
the few things that aren't. I think the vintage Strat market is BS. It 
for suckers or people with too much money. If you don't care about how 
old it is and who played it before you, then the only thing that counts 
is how a guitar feels/sounds to your hands and ears. 

OK, you vintage hounds, fire away!   ;-)      ---- Gary ----


-----
gpr@midiline.la.ca.us (Gary Richardi) 
MIDILine BBS (midiline.la.ca.us) - Altadena CA - (818)797-3285