[Fender_man]

Just curious, which out of these 4 or 5 guitars would the one YOU would personally choose? And why (of course) would you be choosing this guitar?

1. Fender American Vintage '57 Strat

2. Fender American Vintage '62 Strat

3. Fender American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster

4. Fender John Mayer Stratocaster

5. Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster

I'm asking because I'm researching users for really nice Fender Strats. However, there are so many around! I'm looking for the typical Fender sound, play a bit of blues-rock, just getting into the Hendrix/Mayer stuff now but I'm struggling to narrow my choices down. And I do have to narrow it down because there are only so many local guitar shops that offer only so many high-end Fender Strats. So what's your opinion?

[Huey]

yo man, welcome to the boards. This could be a subjuctive thread. Ask 5 times and get five different answers.

I like #3.

The Fender American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster is, of course, great for blues, R&B and a bit of classic rock. Other strats, like an older American Std with 50's Fat Strat pups or a 62' Strat with Lindy Fralins and the tone from this guitar is at least equal with the added advantage of greater tonal variations with the S1 switching. Try it with a reissue Deluxe with a Carl Martin Hot n Boost pedal, and you fall in love. Also this makes for a light weight, compact rig that delivers all the tones.

Also, I'll mention Good sustain and bright (opted for the maple fretboard). If a darker tone is needed you may want a 2nd (or3rd :P) strat but you can more than likely tweak the settings on the guitar. As most of us know, there is a broad variance in tone from strat to strat (ie rosewood fretboart vs maple) but this guitar makes it quite easy to cover the spectrum. I played it through a twin, hot rod deluxe and a Mesa Boogie Lonestar. The guitar performed well with all though I'm partial to the blackface deluxe. I read very mixed comments regarding the new pickups on this guitar but honestly I don't find a problem.

Good Luck!

[flyguitars]

I like the ones with the bigger headstocks. Hendrix's strats were mostly like this. Sound wise - I haven't played even a small proportion of the variations... is there much variation? Obviously maple boards sound a little different from rosewood, but i'm not sure that there is thousands of dollars difference between the cheapest and most expensive strats...

[indytruckboy]

If you are still shopping, the new American Strats. A grand and you get a really sweet unit. With a new SKB destroy-all-of-mankind-but-the-case-still-lives case. Check out the details at Fender.com. I played one at GC and it was beautiful. And I had to come home with it. I tried a half dozen other units/models. But this thing was sweet. Especially for the price.

[jackal]

If your having trouble picking one, its always fun to make it a hard choice, lol have you tried any Hellacasters?? they might suit your playing style too

But if i would have to pick from them... i would probobly get the Clapton Signature model in the Vintage cream color. smooth guitar..

[Monster]

they are all great i say go try each of them out first then buy.. if you are not sure...

but Clapton i would say.

[senor_penguin]

John Mayer FTW. Seriously, amazing feeling gutiar.

[indytruckboy]

I heard the Mayer is different for this year.

[MrSandMan]

I had a USA SRV. Wasn't that impressive.

[floydmoline]

the older mayer model was nice, nice color, interesting neck, i've had a mexican strat, and played numberous american strats, i don't get off on the strat sound, but if i had to choose one of the listed i'd go with one of the first run mayers, i like the feel of the neck seriously, different from any strat i've played before and i liked it, plus the muddy color with tortise is a nifty color i dug.