seeking a strat

[Grahaml]

Hi - I'm new to this forum. I have been playing a long time - since I was 12 (1969) on and off. I have always been a Hank Marvin fan.
I've had three strat's, a mexican bought new in '92 then I decided I NEEDED a USA strat and bought a Strat plus which was great - fiesta red too!!

But I really wanted a standard one and noticed that the prices were climbing for the plus so I sold it about a year (probably not even that) after buying it to try and get a more standard one!! But then this nice deluxe turned up and I bought that.

I had a few other guitars too and sold the deluxe earlier this year and I've been down to one guitar (a nice Gretsch) for much of this year. The plan was always to get another strat but I have been busy with other stuff - and most of the money has been used up too!!

The plan is to get a Hank Marvin type strat - Fiesta red, maple neck, USA model.

Problem I now find is- I just don't see any at a reasonable price. I was thinking I should get one for probably less than £500. But is this (still) possible? Are there any lurking out there?

Thoughts please?

Thanks

Graham

[RUSSET]

Hi Graham,
Welcome to the site. I don't think there are any USA Standard Strats made in Fiesta Red at the moment. In any case they are well over £1,000 brand new now. The Vintage Reissue series are very good & the specs are the same as original '50s/'60s instruments, but retail at over £1,400.
The Fender 'Made in Mexico' ones are just over £500, & you can buy a Fiesta Red with Maple Fingerboard in their 'Classic' series. They are a very good version of a '50s Strat, like the one Hank started out with. They have Alnico magnet pickups & a 7.25" neck radius as you would have had on a vintage guitar of that era.
There are Fender Japan versions, but they are not usually found in stores over here these days, & cost over £700.
The budget versions are made under the Squier brand, & they offer two in their 'Classic Vibe' series currently. One '50s version with a Maple board, & one '60s version with a Rosewood board, both in Fiesta Red. They retail for around the £300 + area. They also have Alnico magnet pickups & are very good quality for the price you pay, even though they are Chinese made. The quality from that country has really improved over the past five years. I have two Squier Strats from there & find few faults other than one or two little niggles. I also recently bought a Squier 'Jazzmaster' for £265 brand new, & it is great.
Check a few of these at your local store. Or, there's always Ebay, of course, for second-hand ones.

Happy shopping, Tony.

[ecca]

Build your own.

[keithmantle]

Hi Graham, I have a 1991 Hank Marvin Signature Squire, these where made in the Fugijen factory and were considered at least as good as USA made guitars (Google it), comes with a hard oblong tolex case,new strings and proper set-up, £575, pm me your email add and I'll send photos , I live Nr Wolverhampton mobile 07711800227. Have been told these are beginning to be a collectors item. I also have FORSALE a 2004 50th Anniversary (mint) check fosale section.

[Grahaml]

many thanks fr replies.

I will pm you Keith

I know strats pretty well as I said - having had one since 1992. Also a couple of USA tele's and other stuff.

I have seen all the new ones available but they are mostly either too expensive or not USA. I know it's not really logical but I would really like to get a USA made strat. I liked my mexican strat fine - but it's just that "thing" I always felt it wasn't the real thing. I told you it wasn't very logical!!

I think I refer a used guitar too so I am mostly looking at second-hand. there's one on eBay at the moment but its a Highway One or Californian (can't recall exactly) and it has different pickups on it. It will go for probably around £400 I reckon (it did before but was relisted due to timewaster)

I may well end up with something different but I'd like to explore all my options first. I had even thought it might be worth getting a USA strat that wasn't Fiesta Red and getting it resprayed. Does anyone know how much that is likely to cost?

I might end up spending ore than I should here....

The idea of building one appeals too - but maybe later as I rebuild my little collection?

Anyone else got a USA made FR/maple strat for sale?

Thanks again - I'm on a mission though so I will have something soonish!!

Graham

[Uncle Fiesta]

Hi Graham, I have had a fair few Mexican Classic 50's and 60's Strats and can assure you there is nothing wrong with them. Possibly the pickups are a weak point but these are relatively easy to change. I would suggest Fender 57/62 as the pickup of choice although I've also used Seymour Duncan SSL-1's (the 'California' set) which are just as good when it comes to producing the authentic 'vintage' sound.

On my latest Mex Strat, I have also fitted a Callaham steel trem block, a slightly shortened arm (also by Callaham) and a set of 12-52 strings. Currently wondering whether I should go the whole hog with the next set of strings, and use a wound 3rd.

[Billyboygretsch]

I bought a MIM fiesta red strat with a beatiful maple neck changed the claw tremolo block and arm also kinsman pick ups looks sounds and plays great. Almost a build your own. I recently had a great respray on a vibra artist so blown in neck etc and it cost me £350. The guy had just completed a fiesta red telecaster and bass V1 which looked great. £300 for a respray seems excessive as you seem on a restricted budget. MIM seems a good start and upgrade

[Tone]

Hi Graham
You may be interested in this US Strat although it's not FR:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fender-strato ... SS:GB:3160

You'll have to be quick, though!

Cheers.

Tony

[Grahaml]

Thanks Tony -wrong colour, wrong neck unfortunately.

There is another I'm watching - but it has the wrong pups. Same model of guitar (California Series) as the one you linked to. I can't do the link (work PC) but its eBay no. 281184208612. It "sold" a few days ago for a little over £400 but the buyer never followed through. Might be worth it - although the California Series is one of the lower end USA models. I had a Tele like that and it was fine. I will see...

Thanks

Graham

[Detailed Infinity]

Hi Graham
You may be interested in this US Strat although it's not FR:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fender-strato ... SS:GB:3160

You'll have to be quick, though!

Cheers.

Tony

Please don't go there with this seller. 'She's' constantly selling guitars to be passed on only in a public place in Hull. This person was selling an Epi Sheraton 2, then a Fender Tele a some months ago with the same story. However I have a 1997 USA Standard Stratocaster for sale which sports the neck tilt mechanism for neck adjustment. She's a 2 tone sunburst however which in my opinion is easier to sell to a wider set of buyers.

Bri

PS Hull's in East Yorkshire and the item description is very suspect.