Tele (Edwards) or Strat (FGN)???

[Mr Grumpy]

...advice, please, my friends.

I'm in a buying kinda mood and there's an overnight sale at a local guitar shop (I've bought blind from here many times and they return guitars I don't like - PRS SE One Korina, for example). Two guitars peaked my interest as good value and quality made in Japan guitars.

My question is, which would you go for (and why?):

Edwards tele (US$850):

스쿨뮤직 - [단종] Edwards - E-TE-98ASM BLD / 에드워즈 일렉기타

www.schoolmusic.co.kr

FGN strat (US$600):

스쿨뮤직 - [단종] Fujigen - J Standard Odyssey / 후지겐 일렉기타 (JOS-CL-R/AWH)

www.schoolmusic.co.kr

I'll also be picking up this Gator case for US$67 - seems like a great price for a case I can take the SG Special home by plane in...

스쿨뮤직 - Gator - Deluxe Molded SG Case / 게이터 SG 타입 하드케이스 (GC-SG)

www.schoolmusic.co.kr

 

[Mr Grumpy]

&, much as I've been thinking about this one for a couple of year:

스쿨뮤직 - Gibson SG Special Reissue VOS Faded Cherry(SGSPRVOFCNH1)

www.schoolmusic.co.kr

(2010 CS Special at US$2560)

I won't be buying that because the SG Special I have is getting better and better for me, I'm really enjoying playing it. I bloody love that CS '61 though, and I think it's a very good price. The new Gibson Special '64 is not as nice, imho, and US$1000 more...

 

[Cadorman]

Well, they are going to sound completely different. The Strat is going to be much more versatile sound wise. The Tele will give you a very distinct twang sound. Really depends on what kind of sound you are looking for. I sold my Tele and still have my Strat, so that is what I would do. However, if you already have any kind of a Strat style guitar the Tele would give you more range.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Well, they are going to sound completely different. The Strat is going to be much more versatile sound wise. The Tele will give you a very distinct twang sound. Really depends on what kind of sound you are looking for. I sold my Tele and still have my Strat, so that is what I would do. However, if you already have any kind of a Strat style guitar the Tele would give you more range.

My SG is the go to. MY Epi LP Special doesn't really rock my world, so I'll change to a different second guitar (I think it's good to play different types of guitars and Fenders are great...). Everyone needs a tele! I've had a couple, a MiJ 70s custom in red which didn't rock my world and my first ever guitar which was a black Gloss Fender with cream binding with two humbuckers (may have been P90s?) that looked lovely, but was my parents attempt at encouraging me to play guitar before I ever wanted to... I don't remember much about it - now, I wish I did! I've had several Squire strats when I was young and learning and never liked them (but those were the days of horrible Squire strats...). I like to attempt to play hendrix!

I need a tel or strat - it's rude to be Gibson only, isn't it?

 

[Mr Grumpy]

You know, what I really want is just an American standard tele/strat that's lacquer, like maybe half a dozen years ago...

Nowadays, a Fender of just an American standard that we grew up knowing is called a deluxe/elite/limited edition and costs US$2500...

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Soooo, strat because they are more comfortable to play and I can stick a stacked SD '59 in the bridge position down the road if I want to... &, I wanna practice my Hendrix stuff on a strat, as you would.

Now, a new question: Edwards or Fender Japan?

Specifically:





Or





Both are specs and colours I like. The Edwards has a maple board which I have a slight preference for, has the aged orangish neck colour which I have a slight preference for, also I like the standard vintage tuners which I have a slight preference for. The Fender has a flatter neck which I have a slight preference for, probably is a nicer colour (?), and the 2-point bridge is supposed to be better but that doesn't matter much to me, the vintage locking tuners are fine too. They both have decent pickups, I don't know which are "better"?

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Ol Leo when he designed the Strat made it a pickup swappers dream guitar. Teles take a Little more finess to beat into shape.

 

[Cadorman]

I would go with the Fender. The flatter finger board radius is key. Plus it is always going to have a better resale value being a Fender. The Fender Japan stuff seems to be much more popular than Mexico made items.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I would go with the Fender. The flatter finger board radius is key. Plus it is always going to have a better resale value being a Fender. The Fender Japan stuff seems to be much more popular than Mexico made items.

You make two good points. I agree with both.

Having said that, I had a MIJ Fender and wasn't impressed. I believe that the MIJ Fenders are over-rated, they seem to have an aura which, in my limited experience at least, they (it...) didn't live up to.


(Played left-handed back in those days...)

Another thing I haven't talked about: finish; I much prefer nitro or satin(wax) finishes to poly finishes. The Edwards isn't sold as a nitro finish, I have checked on many websites (including the Edwards website) and seen no mention of anything other than gloss finish. But, Edwards have conventional naming such as "S" for strat, "TE" for tele, "LT" for lacquer taste and "AL" for all lacquer. The Edwards has "AL" in it's designation code, so I am hopeful it is lacquer which is a big deal to me. Also, I'm pretty sure from previous experience that this Edwards will be better made a finished with better quality parts than a Fender; the SD pickups and Gotoh hardware are all good quality (however, the MIJ Fender seems very good too, so...). I am leaning towards the Edwards. I've looked at as many reviews as I can, and they all pretty much say that Edwards at this pricepoint are the level of Gibson/Fender USA made guitars. MIJ Fenders probably are not (although these limited edition hybrid models do have many of the USA features (the hardware is probably made by Gotoh Japan too).

They both have the typical Japanese Fender style guitar trussrod at the neckplate which is a pain in the arse...

Comparing these with the American Professional, it seems the American Professional is very very expensive nowadays - double the price of these guitars while I prefer the pickups and hardware on these guitars.

 

[Cadorman]

I think you have made your decision.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

That's true, I did order it, but my sale never went through (I don't understand Korean websites...), so I'll call them on Tuesday when the shop opens to see where we are.

Some of my pedals that I never use and my yellow guitar are being sold, so this strat should just end up a gear change rather than costing me money (he said...).

 

[gball]

You make two good points. I agree with both.

Having said that, I had a MIJ Fender and wasn't impressed. I believe that the MIJ Fenders are over-rated, they seem to have an aura which, in my limited experience at least, they (it...) didn't live up to.

View attachment 37532
(Played left-handed back in those days...)

Another thing I haven't talked about: finish; I much prefer nitro or satin(wax) finishes to poly finishes. The Edwards isn't sold as a nitro finish, I have checked on many websites (including the Edwards website) and seen no mention of anything other than gloss finish. But, Edwards have conventional naming such as "S" for strat, "TE" for tele, "LT" for lacquer taste and "AL" for all lacquer. The Edwards has "AL" in it's designation code, so I am hopeful it is lacquer which is a big deal to me. Also, I'm pretty sure from previous experience that this Edwards will be better made a finished with better quality parts than a Fender; the SD pickups and Gotoh hardware are all good quality (however, the MIJ Fender seems very good too, so...). I am leaning towards the Edwards. I've looked at as many reviews as I can, and they all pretty much say that Edwards at this pricepoint are the level of Gibson/Fender USA made guitars. MIJ Fenders probably are not (although these limited edition hybrid models do have many of the USA features (the hardware is probably made by Gotoh Japan too).

They both have the typical Japanese Fender style guitar trussrod at the neckplate which is a pain in the arse...

Comparing these with the American Professional, it seems the American Professional is very very expensive nowadays - double the price of these guitars while I prefer the pickups and hardware on these guitars.

Totally agree. I've had two MIJ Fenders, the first was a Tele I had in the late '80's. It was solid but nowhere near as good as the comtemporary US-made ones. I got it because it was less money.
Then, I had a MIJ Strat a while back and I really could not understand the hype after that one. - It wasn't even as good as the MiM's in my opinion.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Totally agree. I've had two MIJ Fenders, the first was a Tele I had in the late '80's. It was solid but nowhere near as good as the comtemporary US-made ones. I got it because it was less money.
Then, I had a MIJ Strat a while back and I really could not understand the hype after that one. - It wasn't even as good as the MiM's in my opinion.

That's what I've experienced and repeatedly heard. Now, brother, send me over that MB...

I have good news on the new guitar front; better than I thought although it's not finalized yet...