New Strat -- Squier or SX?

[Sblack]

Seems like a lot of work to go through. You do know that one of the reasons a Strat sounds the way it does is because of the cavity and springs?

Still it should be a fun guitar to play.

You are right, Spud! And considering this (and the work involved in filling guitar cavities), I may just convert the trem to a vintage bridge (or keep the two-point), block it, and call it a day. Thanks for the reminder about Strat tone. From what I remember, vintage bridges have that Strat tone that the two-point fulcrum sometimes lacks. Obviously, I don't use a trem in my playing and am partial to hard tails.

 

[Spudman]

I use my standard tremolos less myself and as a result don't use the trems on my locking guitars much either. I guess I've come to be more of a hardtail type guy myself but I still let my Strat type trems float.

 

[pie_man_25]

I've been looking at the affinity series strat because of the alder body, I'd just take the neck from my telecaster copy (better neck finish, and thicker-not wider- headstock) and replacing the pickups with black covered seymore duncans, I think that woul make a pretty good guitar. And when I feel artistic, I could sand off the finish and refinish it with something unique, something that would say "this is pie_man_25's guitar, and noone else's"

 

[Sblack]

It has been a while, but I am ready to finally take the cheap Strat plunge. I have a $10.00 coupon and am headed to my local Guitar Center to hunt down a cheap Strat. I am not coming home until I find one. Here are my options:

It has to be less than $200.00 out the door.

• Squier Affinity Strat
• Squier Standard Strat
• Yamaha Pacifica (I really want a bridge single coil, but if the Pacifica speaks well, I'll jump on it)
• Jay Turser Strat (they occasionally have these in stock)
• Any Strat-like substitute < $200.00

Let me know if anyone has cheap suggestions on what might be offered in the store. I need to play the guitar before I buy it, so an online order is out of the question -- I am really picky with neck feel and body resonance.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to this post in the past.

 

[Spudman]

Hopefully you'll try some of the Vintage Modified Strats and not think twice about spending just a little more. You'll end up with a really nice axe.
The Affinities feel nice but don't stand the test of quality over time.

 

[Robert]

For a bit more you can get a Fender Standard Made in Mexico. Much better guitar I think.

 

[oldguy]

Hopefully you'll try some of the Vintage Modified Strats and not think twice about spending just a little more. You'll end up with a really nice axe.
The Affinities feel nice but don't stand the test of quality over time.

Ya, what he said.......
Remember, the thrill of a few dollars saved..... is quickly lost once the realization of poor quality sets in.......or something like that.:messedup:
Hope you find a nice one.

 

[stingx]

If you don't find anything, I have an old Ibanez Roadstar II RS140 I was thinking of parting with.

Three singles and a coil-split bucker.

 

[Sblack]

I Bought a "New" Squier Bullet Strat

I did a lot of comparison playing and was almost liking a used 2006 MIM Strat with a maple board. However, the MIM's neck was just not the right feel and roundness for my hand. I was eyeing a 2007 Bullet Strat (the new ones with the trem and basswod body). The Bullet actually sounded more "hot" and Strat-like, and the neck and frets were much better than all four of the MIM standards I played, including the used MIM w/maple that was marked $319.00. Hands down, the Bullet felt better and sounded hotter and rounder than the Squier Standards, Affinities, and MIM Standards. I will give a more thorough review in the upcoming days. I have attached pictures of the new Strat.

$99.00 minus $10.00 coupon = $89.00

Color: Brown Sunburst

Body: Basswood, slim profile (42mm)

Neck: Maple

Fingerboard: Rosewood 9.5" radius (241mm)

Frets: 21 Medium-jumbo

Scale length: 25.5" (648mm)

Width at nut: 1.650" (42mm)

Hardware: Chrome

Machine heads: Covered tuners

Bridge: 6-screw tremolo with six block saddles

Pickguard: 1-ply white

Pickups: 3 Single-coil Strat pickups

Pickup switching: 5-position blade

Controls: Master volume, tone 1, tone 2

Strings: FENDER® Super 250L, (.009 to .042)

View attachment 1354

View attachment 1355

 

[oldguy]

Congrats on the new axe! I love that brown sunburst, nice!
I used to prefer maple fretboards, but I've found rosewood to be nice after playing on it for some time now. I always keep rosewood lemon-oiled thoroughly, it really seems to make it work for me.

 

[pes_laul]

I'll defer to Robert or another SX Strat owner on that one, but I can tell you that I've played a couple of Affinity Strats and found them to be cheap & flimsy feeling. Didn't like the necks at all, and the thin profile body made it feel like a toy to me. If you go with a Squier Strat, I'd strongly recommend saving another $50 and getting one of the "standard" models. Just one man's opinion....

BTW, I still have a heckuva deal available on a Squier Tele! Didn't get it posted on eBay yet....

really? I know my squire affinity strat plays and sounds pretty good (though it was made in the late 80's)