does it matter?

[polyal]

i have a japanese strat which i use for gigs and recording...i am led to believe they are quite sort after?
whats the difference between strats made on different continents ( disregarding price )

i thought the american strats ( usa ) were the bees knees...i bet in a dark room no one could tell
a 'dogs bollx' strat from one made in any 4th world country if it was set up right

and in my opinion things dont sound any better or worse they just sound different

else nobody would ever play a banjo

[Instructor]

i have a japanese strat which i use for gigs and recording...i am led to believe they are quite sort after?
whats the difference between strats made on different continents ( disregarding price )

i thought the american strats ( usa ) were the bees knees...i bet in a dark room no one could tell
a 'dogs bollx' strat from one made in any 4th world country if it was set up right

and in my opinion things dont sound any better or worse they just sound different

else nobody would ever play a banjo

I actually replied to your same question on the Songwriters page.

Instructor

[polyal]

i thought it aught to be a new thread..its gone off at a tangent to the original post
can you cut ( copy ) and paste to this thread..you make some interesting points

i think i read it somewhere that the original strats were made on production lines using
immigrant workers

[Instructor]

A lot of people think that they (USA Strats) are the bees knees, actually. It's something that quickly disintegrates under closer scrutiny.

The earlier J-Strats prior to about 2000, were actually not that bad, they enjoyed what I'd call a "quality" revival, and were quite well done, the earlier the better. Companies such as ESP and Schecter sprang up in part due to the demand for after market quality Strat replacement parts which were way better than the OEM, after Fender was sold.

The difference is quite profound. You have to consider the cost, versus what you get for it. In some rare cases I have come acoross MIM's that were not that bad, in terms of set up and for the money. The problem is the consistency of that happening. Its like "getting lucky". The Japanese tend to be much more precise, less money driven to scrimp on the quality of components, and in general have a certain pride about their standards of work. The same can be said for Korean made mid lines, although that has shown some decline over the last 5 years. The Korean Showmaster Strat by Fender with its Seymour Duncans, was an attempt to match the quality and features of their Korean Counterparts, and were actually not that bad, but these didnt last long, I suspect because the cost points were such that they couldnt maintain the quality levels to compete.

If you brought in an Affinity, or a Starcaster, I would most likely expect to find a ton of issues with it, from the soft die cast tuners to the intonation and adjustment screws. I had a client bring be a USA Tele with Birds Eye Maple neck that was flawless, and had Swamp Ash and sweet Seymour Duncans. It was set up perfectly and yet played terribly, and to me that epitomizes what I generally find.

I had a running offer where I am, come plug in your stock Fender Strat, next to my stock G&L Legacy, same amp same settings. Plug your Tele, next to my ASAT. If you beat it, you get $100.00 no questions asked. That has been 6 years as a standing challenge, and guess how many have won? (I've been challenged 6 times).

Instructor

[jamesd74]

I think you should send me one of these ASAT so I can be the Judge.

I am not gonna pay for it and wont send it back.

[Instructor]

It's already in the mail James...keep watching for it.

Instructor

[jamesd74]

Thanks.

However on a serious note I am looking for a telecaster body I am gonna build my own. I will start a thread with pics so watch out. Already got a lot of parts and because of my disability I have ordered and paid for neck to be manufactured in the "D" shape. My left hand limits me to what guitar I can buy.

I love My ESP with its thin U neck but its beefy and I desire a twang.

[polyal]

neck to be manufactured in the  "D" shape.

whats the d shape ...is that a thicker neck?????

[jamesd74]

No its thinner.

[polyal]

ive never seen a ' hard v '...which is the most common?

[jamesd74]

Don't know, the man claimed to do a lot of "D" he said it was what modern players wanted. Plus it only coast £85 with ebony fret board, jumbo frets, and a satin finish.

[polyal]

and a satin finish.

??