“I have a thing against expensive guitars — not the least of which is lack of discretionary capital. “
Street price on a new made-in-Mexico Strat these days is around $450-500. Quality varies, but the good ones play every bit as well as an American-made instrument, and the remaining flaws aren’t that hard to remedy. BTW, the bodies and necks on these are made in the States, and for the last few years they’ve been using alder bodies on the MIM Fenders (my Strat has a poplar body).
that makes me think that I used to want a Tele Nashville. For some reason I have a thing for Tele's. I like the body and a fatter neck.
btw, on the way to the March For Life last week, the bus stopped at a rest area on the highway that must have been very near to Baltimore, as there were likenesses of Frank Zappa on various appliances.