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Killer Deal on a new standard Strat

finnbow

finnbow

The Dude Abides
I just picked up a new Fender Standard Stratocaster (made in Mexico) for my left-handed son (15 y.o.) for a truly great price. - $349. He's been playing acoustic guitar for a year or two and has shown quite a talent, having learned about 200 songs. He's dying for an electric guitar for Christmas and wants a Strat. Thinking it might be a bit extravagant, I looked and almost settled on a Squier Strat (Fender owned Chinese clone) for somewhere between $180 and $250, depending on model). I was poking around on the Web and found a music store in Michigan (an authorized Fender retailer) that had a new leftie Fender Standard Strat for $399. This was $100 cheaper than anywhere else, so I called. I inquired about the piece and the gentlemen said said that the price was $349 (shipping included, no tax) in that they wanted to move it out of the shop as it's been there for over a year. They would also inspect and setup before shipping, although that's not really important as I have a close friend that would do so anyway. Not bad, eh?

He's gonna sh_t when he opens this on Christmas morning.:yes:
 
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Excellent move...it will spur him on no doubt...Schecter also makes some great, not horribly expensive guitars.....if he stays with it for a few years, reward him with a PRS :thmbsp:
 
Good price and great gift. The electric guitar my mother bought me when I was 16 was the most influential gift I've ever received.
 
That's a real nice price and a great guitar!! I'm a lefty and have many guitars my favorites are my USA Strat & Tele. I also have a PRS McCarty bought right before they stopped building lefties. But I think the Fenders have more mojo. I actually like my Tele more then my Strat. So when his B-Day rolls around he might enjoy one of those too!! :D

You didn't mention what color it is?
 
Cactus Bob said:
You didn't mention what color it is?
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Black with a white pick guard. If he gets into playing Pink Floyd, I may have to replace the pickguard with a black one.:yes: BTW, he's been keeping on eye on this particular guitar on the Web (and I've been spying), and he just came to me a little dejected saying that a Strat he's had his eyes upon for a good price is no longer available.:D
 
finnbow said:
Black with a white pick guard. If he gets into playing Pink Floyd, I may have to replace the pickguard with a black one.:yes: BTW, he's been keeping on eye on this particular guitar on the Web (and I've been spying), and he just came to me a little dejected saying that a Strat he's had his eyes upon for a good price is no longer available.:D
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sweet..perfect setup for Xmas...what do you have in mind for an amp for him? lots of decent, reasonably priced SS options out there....Crate, Roland, Fender, Vox...I'd steer clear of newer Marshalls...gonna need a few stomp boxes...DAD!!! LOL I've been here, done this...loved it too
 
finnbow said:
Black with a white pick guard. If he gets into playing Pink Floyd, I may have to replace the pickguard with a black one.:yes: BTW, he's been keeping on eye on this particular guitar on the Web (and I've been spying), and he just came to me a little dejected saying that a Strat he's had his eyes upon for a good price is no longer available.:D
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It's amazing how expensive Fender's are compared to a few years ago . . . he's gonna be one happy camper!! Like kneeOhFight said It's time to accessorize . . . come on dad I need a tube amp & some stomp boxes!!!! :yes:
 
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A three ply black guard would look great on that guitar... just a little white outline on the pickguard. That's what I put on my black Tele. Love the look!
 
Finn: If you'd want to give him a neat birthday present later, you could do what I did and hand build him a distortion box. Customize it anyway you like (paint, stickers, etc) and because Dad made it, it's going to be a lot more special than anything store bought. The whole thing was pretty simple too, it only took me about a day from beginning to end. I can solder pretty well, but I'm a complete klutz when it comes to most tech things.

Anyways, just a thought.

Great Christmas present BTW...
 
kneeOhFight said:
sweet..perfect setup for Xmas...what do you have in mind for an amp for him? lots of decent, reasonably priced SS options out there....Crate, Roland, Fender, Vox...I'd steer clear of newer Marshalls...gonna need a few stomp boxes...DAD!!! LOL I've been here, done this...loved it too
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I haven't decided on an amp yet, but I've been perusing this forum and the Epiphone Valve Junior sounds like a distinct possibility - uncertain whether the combo or head amp w/speaker . I'm definitely open to suggestions. I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to electric guitars and amps. Fire away please.

I was thinking about starting a thread to ask for suggestions, but I'll let this post serve that purpose. If possible, please provide any rationale along with your suggestions. Thanks in advance.:thmbsp:
 
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finnbow said:
I haven't decided on an amp yet, but I've been perusing this forum and the Epiphone Valve Junior sounds like a distinct possibility - uncertain whether the combo or head amp w/speaker . I'm definitely open to suggestions. I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to electric guitars and amps. Fire away please.

I was thinking about starting a thread to ask for suggestions, but I'll let this post serve that purpose. If possible, please provide any rationale along with your suggestions. Thanks in advance.:thmbsp:
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I have both the Valve Junior Combo & Head with matching 12" Cab. The Combo is quite boxy sounding, ok for practice but the head/cab combo are pretty darn nice sounding and upgradable. Either can be quite loud.
 
I second the DIY stomp boxes idea.

I have built a few myself, and with a minimal effort, and financial input you can get some seriously cool stomp boxes.
custom paint, custom circuits...custom sound.

its even more fun if you etch the boards yourself.
 
I play my Tele primarily through a Fender Bass amp, a BXR Sixty...sounds damned good. I also use a Peavey 112 Express that has a decent reverb. Both amps were used and relatively inexpensive (about $60 for the Peavey and about $200 for the Fender).
 
I have an Epiphone Valve Junior head. I am playing it through a pair of 12" speakers and it is FUN! I have a rack effects unit as well. I do intend to mod the Valve Junior - they do have some known problems, such as an incorrecty spec'd transformer (cheap) from Epiphone. Aftermarket transformer solutions are a tried and true upgrade, for sure. Tube rolling is also a simple, effective upgrade. I got my head, new, from CL for $80.

I will say this. If I were to plunk down money on a brand new amp, I would probably look at the Tech 21 offerings. They have a great name in the amplifier world, starting their reputation with a fantastic stomp box called the SansAmp. They developed their amplifiers from the very effective SansAmp.

Tech 21 does modeling in a completely different way. Most modeling amp manufacturers (Line 6, Fender, Roland, etc) use DSP chips to emulate the sound of many famous tube amplifiers. Tech 21 uses discrete components, point to point wired, in a matrix. Switching in different components and circuits and adjusting the tone/volume/gain controls will achieve an amazing variety of tones and characters. They are solid state as well, which holds the cost down and improves longevity. Check 'em out!

http://www.tech21nyc.com/

Oh, and congratulations on the fine guitar! Your boy is going to have a great Christmas. Also, check out what Godin has to offer for a second electric.
 
The stock Epiphone Valve Junior head amp is nice.
Upgrade the OPT, and add NOS tubes, and it's beyond nice.
You have lots of speaker flexibility with 4, 8, and 16 ohm speaker outputs.


Steve
 
i go with tubes for an amp, a marshall jcm 600 or 800, you'd need a 4x12 cabinet too and he'd freak if you got him a halfstack with that guitar. great find btw.
mike
 
I found my first electric (about 10 years ago) at a driveby yard sale in my wife's hometown. It was also a Mexi strat circa 1992 or so. Paid $300 for it at the time. It's a great guitar and I still favor it over some much more expensive ones that I have. Great choice to learn on because its more versatile than say a Les Paul IMO.

I don't think it matters too much what you play it through. The Valve Junior sounds like a great idea.

I played mine through an old beat up, beer stained, 1970 Solid State Ampeg (that I found in an old barn) for years. The thing crackles until it warms up and everyone who has come within 5 feet of it has gotten a shock. Playing through an 11 tube Fender Twin these days. Good things come to those who wait I guess. Your son sounds like he's off to a good head start.
 
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