Are American Strats worth the money?

[Fersnachi]

I turn 21 in a few months and Ive kinda decided to start saving up for an American Standard Strat.

 

Ive never owned an american (Nor have I played one I try to avoid playing guitars I can't afford)

 

Is this the type of guitar that would last me a lifetime?

 

 

And I know buying new is stupid but is it wrong to kind of want a brand new one?

[tiltsta]

I think there was a nearly identical thread from yesterday on this subject. It might be down on page 2 or 3 by now, but it was titled something like 'American standards worth the money" or something.

 

General summary, some say yes, some say no, but there is some good content in that other thread.

[slodge]

I assume you have played or owned a non-American Strat.

 

So go play some US ones. It's okay, you're doing research for a future purchase. You can spend as much time playing it in the store as you like without feeling guilty.

 

Then you can answer your questions yourself.

 

Because my answers are mine, and yours may vary.

[sleewell]

yes. yes they are. i'd buy a used one though, not a fan of new guitars for some reason - no mojo plus its saves money for new gear.

[Edward]

I can understand wanting a new one, and if it's a 21st birthday thing, I can understand wanting to go all out for the US model. I wouldn't nowadays, but I'm not 21 any more... I did go MIA when I was 19.

[AVisme]

Splurge and get yourself one now, while you're young and don't have a wife cracking a whip on you (like a lot of these guys ).

[BoneNut]

I assume you have played or owned a non-American Strat. So go play some US ones. It's okay, you're doing research for a future purchase. You can spend as much time playing it in the store as you like without feeling guilty. Then you can answer your questions yourself. Because my answers are mine, and yours may vary.

 

Very good and if you don't mind, I'll be using part of your answer as my sig for a while.

[Poltergeist]

honestly, these days, for the ssame price i'd buy like a Squier CV Tele, Strat, and Jazzmaster, have 3 great different guitars and be happier with that

[Skyforger]

I say go for it. If it's going to be important to you, do it. Though if you want to save yourself some money, go MIM. The reason being that in Fender's Californian factory, most of the labourers are in fact Mexican.

[magentaplacenta]

I think a used American strat is one of the best guitars you can buy. I personally wouldn't pay more than $700 and would really try to get one at $600. Some may balk at these prices, but I still, on occasion, see someone selling an American strat on Craigslist in the $500+ range. Those are exceptional buys, IMO.

[Cephkiller]

I paid $550 for mine new about a year ago. It was a once-in-a-lifetime deal for sure, but I wouldn't take twice that for it if someone offered it.

[BlueSky1963]

Can someone explain to me why this never gets asked in reference to a Gibson Les Paul? No one ever asks if a Gibson Les Paul is really superior to an Epi Les Paul. And rarely does anyone suggest that someone should not buy a Les Paul but should spend the same amount on 9 Epis. (Which you can do with what you'd spend on a Les Paul.)

 

It's almost like people think that US Strats are really MIM Strats that have been re-labeled and the price jacked up. (Which is not the case.) Why is that?

[Ratbatblues]

I see Highway Ones (like new) in the $400's

[BoneNut]

Can someone explain to me why this never gets asked in reference to a Gibson Les Paul? No one ever asks if a Gibson Les Paul is really superior to an Epi Les Paul. And rarely does anyone suggest that someone should not buy a Les Paul but should spend the same amount on 9 Epis. (Which you can do with what you'd spend on a Les Paul.)

 

I actually have a really solid theory about that but it was a long day at work today and I don't want to argue with all the fan boys. You have although heard the phrase... "Only a Gibson is good enough"?

[parrotheada1a]

I turn 21 in a few months and Ive kinda decided to start saving up for an American Standard Strat. Ive never owned an american (Nor have I played one I try to avoid playing guitars I can't afford) Is this the type of guitar that would last me a lifetime? And I know buying new is stupid but is it wrong to kind of want a brand new one?

 

Look at it this way. It's your money, spend it any way you like. In my own case, I bought my Strat new in 2005, after trying out perhaps 100-150 instruments over the course of a year. I avoided trying out Les Paul types.... simply because I had owned one before and got to disliking the neck on it. It was like the big end of a baseball bat. Price was certainly a consideration. I had just a little saved, so using a credit card/ plan was on the table as a means to an end. I wanted to pay it off in under a year, and could easily afford about a hundred bucks a month. A lighter payment was better, and meant that I could have more of a monetary cushion if I needed it. Coming up with a hundred a month was kinda easy at the time, but I wanted a minimum payment of no more than 50 or 60 just in case something else came up. Again, this is my own scenario. Yours will be different.

 

So I heard this radio ad for GC having a mid-summer blowout. I went to 3 different GC's in my area looking for something to take home. If I scored a deal, great. If not.... it meant that I had some fun. When is guitar shopping not a good time, right? I brought a freind along who knew what was a good deal, and what to walk away from. That really helped. Anyhow, I finally found a great guitar for me. I bought a 2004 American standard HSS Strat, with the S-1 switching. I've said it before on these forums, it's a damned tone monster. It fits in my hand like a glove, and the price was right. An added bonus, and definately helped me pull the trigger... at the time, the credit company that GC uses had a 12 month 0 % interest payment plan. Meaning that if I paid off the bill in under a year, it would not cost me anything extra. I paid it off in about 8 months. I read somewhere that the bank's officers got totally pissed about those kind of credit offers through GC because they didn't make any money off of 'em, and lost a lot of profit. Their loss was my gain, I guess.

 

Is it worth the money? For the years of enjoyment I've gotten out of it so far.... absolutely. I love how it sounds, although the amp I have is a big part of that. But that's another story.

 

[arrowhen]

 

No one ever asks if a Gibson Les Paul is really superior to an Epi Les Paul.

 

 

Are they?

[DaleH]

Now that you are in a postion to and are thinking of buying one, go and start playing as many MIA Stndards as you can. That's the fun part about finding your guitar.

There not all the same someting you will notice pretty fast.

[kayd_mon]

 

Can someone explain to me why this never gets asked in reference to a Gibson Les Paul? No one ever asks if a Gibson Les Paul is really superior to an Epi Les Paul. And rarely does anyone suggest that someone should not buy a Les Paul but should spend the same amount on 9 Epis. (Which you can do with what you'd spend on a Les Paul.) It's almost like people think that US Strats are really MIM Strats that have been re-labeled and the price jacked up. (Which is not the case.) Why is that?

 

 

I started a thread about Epiphone once, and it turned into an argument about whether Epis are just as good or are Gibsons worth the price.

 

I have an MIA Strat and an MIM Strat. I also have an Epi Les Paul and a Gibson Les Paul. There seems to be less of a difference between the Fenders and the Epiphone/Gibson, though it's not by much. Granted, the price difference is much smaller. Brand new, I don't think you'll really overpay for a USA Strat, but you will overpay for a Gibson. On the used market, it evens out somewhat. If you can afford it, go for the USA Strat. It is a little nicer, IMO.

[Gas Hed]

What's worse, spending a grand or two on a guitar for yourself or a grand or five on a diamond ring for some crazy chick that will make your life difficult forever??

 

Bottom line - buy the {censored}ing guitar man - enjoy it.

 

Really, I'm not bitter.

[kayd_mon]

 

What's worse, spending a grand or two on a guitar for yourself or a grand or five on a diamond ring for some crazy chick that will make your life difficult forever?? Bottom line - buy the {censored}ing guitar man - enjoy it. Really, I'm not bitter.

 

 

Yeah, definitely pick the guitar. She'll sing for you the rest of your life.

[mikesr1963]

Buyers market at the moment.

[70's Strat]

I have a 2004 American Strat (SSS) and it's still as good as new. With a standard amount of care they would definitely be an investment. Very well made, play great, sound great etc.

 

If you're after a strat, you can't go wrong with this particular one

[Alecto]

IMO, the American Standards are worth it, especially the ones made since 2008. I'd say go for it. Save up your $$$ so you can jump on a good deal, get out there, try a bunch and go with someone who really knows their guitars. Hopefully you'll find a Strat that really sings. Good luck!

[sonda01]

used american strat ftw!!!!!

[billybilly]

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2766106-Are-American-Standards-REALLY-worth-it

 

Was just 5 posts below yours.