Yes yes....Strats...meh....It’s not like any good music ever came out of one ...And of course a Charvel/Jackson being the definitive “Superstrat” naturally makes it far superior! (well maybe not...OK definitely not. Strats do indeed rock ;)
I’ve played a couple and they just aren’t for me. Not a big single coil fan (my 5 actually has a HotRail bucker in the neck - I couldn’t handle the noise of the stock single) and the standard Strat neck just seems too small/thin for me. Never played a boatneck Strat though. BTW, I’ll see your Candy Apple and raise you a Firecrackle and a Gold Floyd!
I remember when the announcement came on Fender. The C/J board was split. We thought it was either the end and C/Js would get the ‘bargain Walmart guitar’ treatment or that they’d do ‘something’ great with the brand. Thank God they did something great. Of course they price them just as great...but the quality is most definitely there.
But the old Model series is still out there on Ebay and every bit a Jackson Soloist clone. And that ani’t nuttin’ but good if someone likes shredder guitars on the relative cheap.
My first was actually an 85-86ish Squire Tobacco P bass. Wish I still had it actually. Had a Gibson Firebrand LP that was my “Damn fool” guitar. Damn fool sold it!
For Christmas I bought myself a new present, guitar #7 -- the Fender Blacktop Jaguar HH and has a 24" scale length neck, and is now my 'favorite' (I keep my Strat mostly away and safe). When I saw that new Jag, it took me back to 1964 and the Fender 'student models' and Surf Guitars. And the Music Store where I was taking lessons and they had a Tobacco Sunburst Strat and a 'student model' Mustang in the case. So I just *had to* have it. With its short scale and two "Hot Vintage Alnico Humbuckers" it's *almost* like a Strat and Les Paul mated and had a baby ;-). And that puppy sounds great, plays great, and is LOUD even with my crappy Amps(1).
And then there's always the 'great' Strat vs LP battle which may never end. But I don't discriminate, I recently saw by chance the Epi Widkat and drooled when I saw that Bigsby Trem, and Dwayne Eddy's Twang started playing in my head. So I may get that after the Amp.
And I bet we all have that Damn fool guitar. My Barber who plays, he's an LP guy, said he was sold one of his early ones and kicks himself for doing it as it's worth a small fortune today too.
(1) New, better, Amp is next. A Vox Valvetronix+ VT40+ (60Watts), Fender Mustang II (40 Watts) or maybe the Mustang III (100Watts). Not sure if I need 100 Watts though.