Best bang for your buck strat

[Tuscan777]

I've neveer had a decent strat, just some cheapo copies that were a bit poor in my opinion.

So, I may well be looking to get something half decent soon but want to avoid spending 1000s if possible. In this case I thought the best thing to do would be to get advice from you lot to confuse myself some more....

In your opinion, what is the best strat (copy or otherwise) in the value for money stakes? Any price range and my main requirements are a maple fretboard, pups that are single coils in the classic look but not too thin and take OD well and, erm, I think that's pretty much it. If and when I do buy one it will be heavily gigged, so 'dependability' will be an issue also.

Thanks ain advance!

[stickyfiddle]

Used G&L Legacy if you can find one.

Otherwise a Fender CP50's is always a good bet

[JayGee]

Squier Simon Neil signature maybe?

I don't know if it's "the best" but it's a certainly a heck of a lot of Strat for the money...

[Rox]

G&L Legacy Tribute. Bargain price at just over £400 new, whilst they're manufactured in the East, the hardware, electrics and pickups are the same as the USA models. I bought one off Tenebrous on here as a bit of a punt, and I was immediately converted. In fact, at £400, buying the hardware separately from G&L (which you can on their website) will cost more than the entire guitar. The pickups are amazing, and have a proper Strat sound.

Actually I found the one I bought from here:

http://forum.musicradar.com/showthre...at-in-Sunburst

I really couldn't be happier with it, and can't recommend these highly enough.

[thomasw88]

Levinson blade by a country mile.

[ianpdq]

Classic Player 60s by a country mile

[Rox]

If I had the money, this looks a cracker:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/G-L-Tribut...item1e76806219

[guitargeek62]

If you use a trem, then I'd echo sticky's recommendations (Thomann have some great deals on Tribute G&L's btw).

Otherwise check out the Squier Classic Vibe series, or the VM's, but the CV's are a little more traditional sounding and are very slightly better made overall. The stock pickups in the CV's are Toneriders with plastic wiring instead of cloth, they have full size pots & switches too which are perfectly usable and not in instant-need of an upgrade to CTS/Oak as usual! The trem on the CVs is okay, but has a zinc block (iirc?) so a lot of people end up swapping them out for a wilkinson/gotoh/callaham/bladerunner.

[Rox]

Now you've got me gassing for another G&L. Damn you, Tuscan777 - DAMN YOU!!!

[Tuscan777]

Ha! Just do it, you'll regret it otherwise...

Had the same conversation with our bassist last night who has finally got £700+ together to get a Geddy Lee model Fender. He is worried that he should put it towards a new kitchen instead....weirdo.