Good short-scale - long radius - Strat-ish guitar --- Any good ones out there?

[Notes_Norton]

OK, I'm a Gibson guy. I like the 24.75" scale (it's touch and go and keeps my injured little finger from screaming at me) and the 12" radius on the neck makes it easy to bend the strings.

 

But I have always been attracted to Strats and to a lesser extent Jazz Masters

 

I tried a Kramer-Faux-Strat guitar, and although I liked the tone, I just couldn't get used to the longer scale and shorter radius. I like the looks of the Strat, and the sound of the pups -- but I just don't want to deal with that neck scale and radius.

 

I also might have to do some flying, and I know a non-angled headstock will have a better chance of surviving (besides I'm not going to put my ES-330 or my Casino on an airplane). The gig is very "iffy" so I don't want to buy yet, but I'm looking at options just in case it comes in.

 

Any good short-scale, long radius strat looking guitars out there? Especially for a bargain price? (it will never replace my Gibson as my main guitar so I can't justify spending a lot on it, but I can replace pups on a cheaper axe).

 

I also like a lighter guitar, since I play sax, wind synth, guitar, flute, percussion controller, vocals and sometimes keyboards on stage. Hefting something like an LP 20 - 40 times a night would make my right arm bigger than my left

 

All suggestions will be looked at as long as:

 

Thanx

Notes

[Finch88]

Well if you like the Jazzmaster style, you could get a Jaguar which is a 24" scale. Warmoth also makes 24.75" conversion necks that bolt right on to Strat bodies. I also think Tom Anderson makes a 24.75" Strat-like guitar.

[cardinal]

Godin redlines look pretty nice, but I think they have angled headstocks.

[Bubbluz]

Godin Detour is a strat style double cutaway with 24 3/4" scale.

Non angled headstock,2 HB,12"radius FB.....$425 at MF right now

 

[Bubbluz]

 

+1 for Warmoth. They'll do exactly what you want, you get the choice of frets, fingerboards, radius etc (I suspect you'd like their 10-16 compound as much or better than 12" straight, but maybe not).

 

 

Not for $400 bucks they won't.

 

On the airplane thing..get a gigbag,you can store it in the overhead,you won't have to check it.

[Bubbluz]

 

Haven't priced the conversion-scale necks... but the last two Warmoth necks I bought were $135 + 30 for the installed nut (that was for a "Pro" series, their most expensive, and a 1 3/4" nut), and "Vintage Modern" I bought for $140.50 second-hand but mint/unused, nut installed. Here's a conversion-scale Warmoth neck you can buy right now for $193 if you don't want to bargain-hunt. That includes your choice of nickel-silver frets. BIG YMMV on that, depending not only on the airline but on the plane. I've seen flight attendants literally yelling at passengers for carrying bags that were "too big" onto a local 727 in Hawaii, even though those same bags easily fit either overhead or under the seat on both previous legs of the same trip. The only firm rule with any airline is that they're right and you're wrong.

 

 

I was just going by the Warmoth site and the best I could do was about 300 for the cheapest body and cheapest neck...then you need hardware and p-ups etc,

 

The plane thing you are probably right about,I don't fly a lot,but I have buddies that do and they don't seem to have a problem carrying on a gigbag...they say the secret is to just act like you do it all the time.Quite often they can store it in the little closet and don't even have to put it overhead.

[darkmonohue]

Valley Arts makes Strat-style guitars in both Fender (25.5") and Gibson (24.75") scale lengths; I can't seem to find the info on fretboard radius and weight.

[Notes_Norton]

The Valley Arts guitars are too expensive for a second-string guitar, thanks anyway. I have to split my GAS money between guitar, sax, wind synth, flute, keyboards, synth modules, and PA set so I was really looking for something inexpensive that I could perhaps put better pickups into.

 

The Warmoth necks are interesting, would they work on a Squier body? Seems I could probably get one cheap on fleabay and then put some better pups in it.

 

Would I need to have a luthier or guitar tech adjust the neck? (I've never done that before)

 

What about a shot-scale Rondo? like http://www.rondomusic.com/product904.html?

 

Anyone have any experience? But then 24" scale might be too short. I wish I could try one out without paying shipping.

 

PS. If I fly, I'll probably get a flight case and ship UPS "hold for pickup" near the airport. I've done this with saxophones and they arrive in much better condition than on the commercial flights.

 

Notes

[Notes_Norton]

Well if you like the Jazzmaster style, you could get a Jaguar which is a 24" scale. Warmoth also makes 24.75" conversion necks that bolt right on to Strat bodies. I also think Tom Anderson makes a 24.75" Strat-like guitar.

I thought about the Jag, looks good, sounds decent, but the neck has a short radius (9.5")

I suppose Warmoth could fix that as well

Notes

[Dave L]

I would definitely take a look at the japanese Jackson Fusions. 24.75", 12-16" compund radius, light bodies, can be found at around $400.

[nwtsnma]

the 2hb jag with the TOM is 24.75"/12". also the toronado

[mwatty]

I'm not sure how much they go for second hand, but a Fender Cyclone might do the job, or a Toronado (as pointed out by the person who posted above me). Or a Squire Jagmaster.

[Frets99]

 

http://www.godinguitars.com/godinsdp.htm

[Notes_Norton]

That's one nice looking axe, frets99!

This isn't as easy as picking out a new saxophone especially since it will only be a back-up instrument and my budget is limited.

But then, if the gig comes through, I'll have another guitar to play with, and that is always a plus.

Notes

[Bubbluz]

http://www.godinguitars.com/godinsdp.htm

 

I should have mentioned that one too,I guess I was thinking more body shape than electronics.