The most perfect guitar, in your opinion

[ELVIS]

They float mine!

I have 10, I think...

[jhale667]

One thing you guys need to remember as far as swapping parts on Squiers...which you have to because the hardware is still crap (sorry- FACT)...most replacement parts will not fit without dowelling/redrilling holes...standard vs. metric stuff...
And while I admit the newer Squiers look cool(er), the bodies are still made of Agathis or other shit woods.

[ELVIS]

Not all are crap wood but it's impossible to tell whats what...

For instance, the quilt top is maple on alder...

I would never buy a Squire anything, I was just pointing out that they are good starter guitars, miles ahead of what I had to settle for when I was a kid...

Good point about swapping parts on the Squires though...

[MERRYKISSMASS2U]

jhale667...

That's totally true. I needed to get a new whammy bar for the Squire, and the exact replacement part was a shitty fit.

I ended up taking the bar off, since the thing can barely stay in tune without all the divebombs anyway.

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by jhale667

And while I admit the newer Squiers look cool(er), the bodies are still made of Agathis or other shit woods.

BTW, Agathis doesn't automatically equal bad sound...

I forgot, I do have a lefty Squire P-Bass Special that really sounds nice. My only complaint is that it's too lightweight...

I like a bass to have a nice heavy body so it stays put...

My Squire is neck heavy...

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by jhale667
One thing you guys need to remember as far as swapping parts on Squiers...which you have to because the hardware is still crap (sorry- FACT)...most replacement parts will not fit without dowelling/redrilling holes...standard vs. metric stuff...
A

Dude, metric is the standard almost everywhere! If metric, all I have to do is call Schaller and I´ll get the best hardware there is!

[jhale667]

Originally posted by kentuckyklira
Dude, metric is the standard almost everywhere! If metric, all I have to do is call Schaller and I´ll get the best hardware there is!

True, it's just a pain in the ass...you can't even swap American and Mexi Strat parts.
And yes, newer Squiers are fine for beginners. The older ones with the non-enclosed tuners and whatnot...wouldn't even give one of those to a kid I HATED...

[ELVIS]

Originally posted by jhale667
you can't even swap American and Mexi Strat parts.

Yes you can. Mexican and American necks and pickguards are interchangable but neither fit Japanese fenders...

Some Japan necks and bodies will mix with American but it's trial and error...

But a Japanese pickguard is shaped differently and the holes are slightly off compared to an american version, but an american pickguard is identical to a mexican guard...

I've got a living room full of this stuff, trust me...

[jhale667]

Me too.

I'm talking more about hardware...especially bridges. And what comes standard on Squiers and Mexi's is crap IMO.
Of course the necks and bodies could be interchangeable for the most part...same scale length, might have slightly different neck pocket sizes on the bodies?

And as for your Agathis comment, you already know I'm a wood snob. C'mon, I don't even like Alder...

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by ELVIS


I've got a living room full of this stuff, trust me...

Me too, so educate me!

I just spent 15 Minutes comparing my 1985/86 Japan Collectable 50s Strat with detailed pics of the original (sadly don´t have an original ). All I could find was a slightly off radius on one curve of the pickguard. Plus, the "original contour body" bit of the decal is not slightly slanted as it should be. Everything else is placed and looks like the original.

[kentuckyklira]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Well said Kentucky...

And I might add that I can take any one of the lesser 70's or early 80's Stratocasters and turn it into a fantastic guitar unless there is something really wrong with the neck or the body...

Besides the sound and the look, the other reason I like the Fender design is it's servivceability...

And it's no secret that mixing and matching necks and bodies can create a very special guitar...

Some of those late 70s Fenders were just dead. Heavy as hell with tone as thin as a crack baby. The neck would not stay put and the pickups would feedback at the sight of an amp. But, those were the worst of the worst and it was probably just as much some shopowner´s fault that they got sold instead of sent back to Fender. Plus, there weren´t nearly as many of those around as some would make you believe!

[Hardrock69]

Originally posted by ELVIS
No where did I say an American Stratocaster is $200

I don't know....where? I never said you said that....

Where did I say you said an American Strat was $200???