My new toy...

[Jawn]

So I decided to treat myself to a new toy as part of me getting outta hospital.

You Cheney fanboys have your Gretsch's to salivate over, my Buddy Guy/Clapton fanboyism has Strats.

Anyways, I can't find the exact model, but it looks identical to this. Its the 50th anniversary strat, this seems to be a newer model. Oh well, I can't be bothered taking a real picture of it. So just pretend the back plate has something saying 50th anniversary on it. Use your imagination people.

Specs and pictures and shizz (http://www.magdonmusic.com/guitars/Fender/AMHSSS1SSB.html)

I love everything about it. At first I was apprensive about the Humbucker pickup because Im a bit of a purist and think that a strat has 3 single coils. But the humbucker fucking screams so much. It has some neat little S1 switching thing that means I have more tonal options, but I haven't really played around with that yet. It has stacks of tone variations as it is to keep me busy. Its gonna take me days of sitting down playing with knobs to see every tone I can get hahah.

Its also got a beautiful neck, nice low action and it just suits my hands perfectly.

Overall, very happy with it. It came with a whole heap of wank too. Like stickers and straps and a cloth. I like my little trinkets haha.

[Julian]

Very sexy guitar! Any reason you went with a MIA one? I remember you saying how there was not much point getting one with the MIMs or something

And i'd generally say i'd prefer a strat with 3 singles but I can't really judge cause i've never played a higher end strat.

[Jawn]

what do you mean by MIA or MIM? haha.

I must say, when I first saw it, I was immediately attracted to the finish, but the Humbucker put me off, but when I plugged it in and actually had a go at it, I was converted. That one pickup alone has stacks of tonal variety. I can get a deep muddy type tone or a real high screamy tone just from that humbucker.

You just know when its your guitar. I had it in my hands for like 10 minutes, played a very basic scale and a simple chord progession and thought "yep... thats the exact thing I want".

[Julian]

Made in Mexico/Made In America. Sorry..

[Jawn]

ah thats cool.

It is an american strat, just with that tex-mex pickups thing. Its got made in U.S.A on the headstock on it. The only reason again why I wanted an American over a Mexican is because I'm a bit of a purist, but hell, if they make pickups that nice over in Mexico, they can supply me with both tacos and pickups.

[Julian]

Fair enough. Though I didn't think you were much of a purist when you said this
Why should I look for a USA strat?

The whole "mex strat sucks" thing may have been true some time ago but now the mexican models hold up to their own. Quite frankly the "US Strat" elitism thing is a bit tired.

Anyway, have fun with your new toy. What are you doing on here :p

[Jawn]

yeah... I wasn't much of a purist then. I just got back from playing a very sweet Mexican strat back then, I nearly bought it haahah. But I got thinking one day, "sure... the Mex is a great guitar and all, but you will always be looking at it thinking but its not American." Sorta like buying a cheaper model car. It maybe a great car (and because I don't care about cars, cheaper model cars don't bother me), but you will always be looking at the next model up thinking "why didn't I just spend that little extra and get the proper big thing?"

There isn't really any rationalle to it. That mexican model I played was great (although no where near as good as the one I got. I think from memory the mexican was 400 bucks cheaper, and this is well worth the extra 400). But there is just something about having a US strat in your hand. There is no logic to it, just what you prefer.

And im not playing it at the moment, it needs a rest and im about to sleep and everyone is in bed so I can't really crank it haha.

[too cool for hyphens ed]

haha, you pulled the old switcheroo.

[Caity]

I'm glad you got your toy Jawn - I remember you telling me you were goign to get one!!! YAY!

[Marv From NZ]

Hell yeah dude! That finish is bloody beautiful!