64' strat, 64' strat or 64' strat?
- Thread starter Mr Grumpy
- Start date
Sérgio
Ambassador of CaliZilian Affairs
Why do you say they were built by retards, and what didn't you liike about them tonewise and playwise? What exactly do you think is better about the old ones?
I have played a few and yes, they were pretty good, and had a bit more of that "handmade" appeal when I touched them, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that no modern guitar could blow them away.
67plexi
Ambassador of Amps
Sérgio
Ambassador of CaliZilian Affairs
No insult taken by me. None at all, I actually like your posts and ain't disagreeing, not exactly at least. Just stating a different point of view based on my own experience, which is of course different.
OP
Mr Grumpy
Ambassador of Comings and Goings
The unanswerable question. If I had double the expendable $ I have now then I'd probably be willing to spend more money on guitars.
It is nice when you have a guitar that good. Price isn't particularly relevant when you find a guitar like this - particularly for a musician such as yourself whose livelihood is at stake.
I agree. You can a Mexican that'll blow CS guitars away, but you've gotta reckon that more CS guitars are jewels than at lower price points. Having said that, we know that the Squire Classic Vibe guitars are great bang for the buck; you can get great Mexicans, the 'normal' US guitars seem to be really good... It's probably generally agreed by most folks that at most pricepoints (certainly the lower price points) guitars are consistently better than they've ever been.
Yeah, I'm sure you're right. Having said that, I don't know about strats much, but a single pickup guitar with sensitive tone and volume controls, picking strength/placement, etc can get very many sounds. We probably don't need half the guitar equipment we have - we could get such a variety of sounds by just improving technique.
I still like old guitars that have style and history. &, I still like CS guitars too. There's a $3000+ CS SG Special for sale up in Seoul, so I might get myself up there and have a look at it (I'm not gonna buy it, but it'd be interesting to see, and maybe play if the y let me - same place as I paid $1500 for my junior, so they might).
67plexi
Ambassador of Amps
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
'sUOTE="Sérgio, post: 123321, member: 24"]I knew that Fender’s CS was light years ahead of Gibson’s but didn’t know that it was SO much better[/QUOTE]
Oooh, I wouldn't say that, at least in my experience. I've owned a couple of both and they are on-par in terms of build quality and value for money. Actually, If I had to give an edge it would probably be to Gibson CS because the quality of the finish is better than Fender CS.
I think the problem with both Custom Shops is they are always looking the in rearview mirror and trying to recreate the past instead of improving the flaws in 1950's designs (for the most part). It's the reason that I don't own any of the CS guitars any more - I get much more bang for the buck from Gibson USA (Or Fender) because at the end of the day they play and sound just as good as the CS guitars for what is often a fraction of the money.
Oooh, I wouldn't say that, at least in my experience. I've owned a couple of both and they are on-par in terms of build quality and value for money. Actually, If I had to give an edge it would probably be to Gibson CS because the quality of the finish is better than Fender CS.
I think the problem with both Custom Shops is they are always looking the in rearview mirror and trying to recreate the past instead of improving the flaws in 1950's designs (for the most part). It's the reason that I don't own any of the CS guitars any more - I get much more bang for the buck from Gibson USA (Or Fender) because at the end of the day they play and sound just as good as the CS guitars for what is often a fraction of the money.
Sérgio
Ambassador of CaliZilian Affairs
G, this rearview mirror complex is exactly why I deem Fender’s CS a better shop.
Gibson mostly recreates the old guitars, while Fender’s master builders make some outstanding unique creations like John Cruz’s strats... the woods used are wonders themselves.
Well, at least for the people who are into CS. I ain’t. I own and play only Standard instruments, and they serve me well.
Gibson mostly recreates the old guitars, while Fender’s master builders make some outstanding unique creations like John Cruz’s strats... the woods used are wonders themselves.
Well, at least for the people who are into CS. I ain’t. I own and play only Standard instruments, and they serve me well.
Exactly That!
Hey, Plexi...
Last night at practice - raining like hell - I have my Gibson Les Paul tuned standard and my 1987 Squirecaster (Gibson 500T/496R) tuned down 1/2 step to E-flat. I'm running my 1997 VS265 with a single SM-57 into the Tascam. You can feel the moisture in the air in the rehearsal studio. I am having trouble with the plain strings on the Gibson, which is very noticeable playing open phrases. Finally, I just grab the cheapo 1987 squire, tune it STD and go. Not only did it sound better live than my stock 2016 Gibson Les Paul did through that rig, it stayed in perfect tune throughout a 3 hour session....Go figure!!!
To be honest, I have never seen locking tuners improve tuning stability over a factory Fender or Gibson (or Schaller Gotoh) tuner. I have seen them improve tuning over open geared tuners or no-name imported tuners.
However, a great deal of tuning instability comes from the wood's reaction to moisture and temperature...
Sérgio
Ambassador of CaliZilian Affairs
Actually, that works for some people, for other it's not exactly so.
Me, I feel differently. No matter how much money I had, there's a point from which I wouldn't spend more. In my own experience, it's the standard U.S. made guitars.
You mentioned Mexican strats. Well, apart from the newer player's series which I haven't tried yet, I haven't come across any MiM strat that was as well built and loaded (pots, pups, wiring, tuners) as a standard US one (I am NOT saying the Mexican ones weren't good enough to own, gig with, and love, but there certainly is a difference).
The American ones, on the other hand, are like the "essence" of the brand's product. The flagship. The "standard" guitar. So, it's good enough for a professional or an artist, as it has always been. So, can you get better/finer stuff from the brand's Custom Shop? Definitely. But IMHO they can't be THAT much better to cost about 3 or 4 times more. That's my point...
Actually, my main job is being a lawyer. When I say I play professionally I mean that I gig regularly as a professional musician, I'm in the local music scene and get paid to gig and record. So, I could buy much more expensive gear, but I don't need it, the standard stuff is good enough for the job.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
I was mostly speaking to the build quality and relative value of the two. In that they are pretty much even. The Gibson CS used to make a lot of really interesting guitars too but lately it seems all they crank out is the same ol' same ol' everything-has-to-be-based-on-a-late-50's-Les Paul blandness. I get that in part most of the people who can afford the things are guys of a, ahem, certain age, that can indulge themselves in their high school and college fantasies and play blues wank in aloha shirts at Sunday brunch, but there is nothing in the current CS catalog that is going to get me to open my wallet when they are making so much great stuff at Gibson USA. Kudos to Fender for at least mixing it up a bit, but kind of the same thing - they are worth the money for build quality and value retention but not really better for playability and tone than a Fender American model so they won't be getting my money again any time soon either.
In both cases though, I had to find out. I'm glad I had the ones that I did but really don't miss them.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
Lockers , to me, are about quick and easy string changes, not tuning stability. That's going to be 99% the nut IMO.
Sérgio
Ambassador of CaliZilian Affairs
I think exactly so. None of my guitars have locking tuners and I never felt the need for them. All have normal tuners (Fender and Schaller).