Stratocaster

The American Spectator ^ | 5/4/2007 | Lawrence Henry

[wideminded]

I own 6 Strats.

I have a question. My son owns a Stratocaster. I noticed that the action seems kind of high on it, so that one has to press quite hard to fret the strings, much harder than on an electric guitar I own. IIRC this is even after the action was adjusted by a luthier at the guitar shop. Is this an issue with the particular guitar or are many Stratocasters built this way?

Another reason I am asking about this is that I once read an article by someone who tried out a Stratocaster owned by Jimi Hendrix and he said that he realized that Hendrix must have been very strong.

[Drew68]

Steve is a great guy, and he'll build you one to your specs for less than a Mexican Strat or Tele would cost.

Nice! He's got some sharp-looking instruments over there!

[Terabitten]

Yeah, his strat is way more popular than he is. I’m not a big JV fan at all, but I had one of his strats. It was really nice, just not my cup o’ tea - I’m a LP guy.

A sunburst JV went on ebay last week for $350. That’s a ridiculously smokin’ deal.

[Terabitten]

There’s no reason his strat shouldn’t play like buttah if everything is adjusted properly.

Go buy the book “How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great” by Dan Erlewine. After reading that, your son will never need to take his guitar to a tech again, unless it’s for major repairs. He’ll also learn how to set the guitar up the way *he* likes it, not the way a tech *thinks* he should like it.

[Drew68]

Is this an issue with the particular guitar or are many Stratocasters built this way?

Stratocasters tend to have a little higher action (compared to, say, a Les Paul) by the nature of their design. The neck is not angled in relation to the body (unlike Gibsons) and when the guitar is tuned, the string tension causes a slight bow which raises the action on the lower frets. Some players use a thin shim between the neck and the body to give the neck a slight angle.

Stevie Ray Vaughan's Stratocasters were virtually unplayable to any one else who picked them up. The action was very high due to the extremely heavy guage of strings that SRV used. In fact, his strings were so heavy that he had to tune his guitars flat in order to play them.

[B-Chan]

Chicchi. She was nine when this video was recorded. Not bad!

P.S. I am a drummer and don't know crap about guitars. Sorry!

[Drew68]

A sunburst JV went on ebay last week for $350. That’s a ridiculously smokin’ deal.

I just came back from Guitar Center and they had a used white JV in decent shape for $449. The only problem was that the neck was just a little hefty for my liking. I guess I have just gotten used to the thin neck on my Les Paul Classic.

Then I saw a brand-new blonde Highway One Strat with a rosewood fretboard for the giveaway price of $519. It was on clearance as GC is getting rid of their stock in that color. All the other Highway Ones were going for $749. Then neck was slim like my Les Paul and the guitar just resonated beautifully in my hands.

I picked it up, played it and walked out of the store to smoke a cigarette.

I returned, picked it up, played it and, again, walked out of the store to smoke another cigarette. ...And do some thinking.

I returned a third time, picked it up, played it, and walked out of the store with $519 (plus tax) subtracted from my bank account.

Damn Guitar Center and those "ONLY ONE TIME THIS YEAR!!!" sales! LOL!!!

[Fintan]

 

Howsabout Duane Allman with two Les Gibson redtops?

[Drew68]

Howsabout Duane Allman with two Les Gibson redtops?

I'll take the Tobacco-burst on the right! ;-)

[Fintan]

I'll take the Tobacco-burst on the right! ;-)

 

If I could play like him, I think I'd take either one.