Found my Strat

[Sarah93003]

I have been looking for a Strat for a very long time. I love their classic looks but could not find one that I just fell in love with...that I could afford anyway. I'm not a fan of the maple fretboard so I wanted a Rosewood model. I played a 1998 Strat Delexe Plus with Lace sensor pickups that I just loved but they wanted $1,400 which was out of my budget at the time. Rarely did I find one that just fit my hands and made me give a heavy sigh.

For a purest this might not be exciting, but I am totally tickeled with it. It is a 1981 S3 USA Bullet body with a 2008 USA Signature Series neck. The pickups are Fender Tex-Mex and it has Wilkinson vintage tuners.

It sounds awesome through a tube amp or SS and is a wonderful neck to play. It's a little bit beat up in some places but that does not bother me in the least. The other examples I've seen have the input jack on the pickguard below the tone button. This one happens to be a sidejack which is fine with me.

All in all, I am very delighted with this one and it is a keeper! It stays on a stand near the sofa and is within an arm's reach whenever I just want to noodle a little bit. No, it does not stay in front of the fire. I just turned the fireplace on for the photo.

[bakeoboy]

looks like an old friend !

[Dennisthe Menace]

Sarah, me like-eee!!! Forget about what some people might say, I get ribbed for owning my only Japanese guitar in my collection.
Mine is an '86 when Fender was going through their transition after breaking away from CBS. Out of the 8 or 9 Strats I have owned
over the years, the Japanese model won me over. Like you said, you just know when it's meant to be YOUR guitar.... . I like
the finish on your guitar, as it gives character to it, and you know what?? Just remember that Fender is making Tele's and Strat's
to look like yours under the Relic, Closet Classic, etc, etc, badges. But would I pay 3 or 4 Gs for a relic or replica? Me no t'ink so.....

[MWaldorf]

Congrats Sarah. A cool guitar and not just another Strat!

[Veenture]

You can do "Dire Straits" now with those TexMex pickups Sarah!
Yeah, what the others have said...and indeed, as Mel states..."not just another Strat"
Congratulations and enjoy!

[Strat-o-rama]

Glad you found the Strat that was right for you, Sarah. Some of the most famous Strats were "Parts-o-casters" or "Frankenstrats", such as EC's Blackie and SRV's Number One.
Have fun twanging out the rockabilly and blues!

[rog43win]

Congrats, Sarah! That is a beautiful guitar.....looks great in front of the fireplace too.... .....just for the photo, of course..
So nice you found one that you fell in love with....awesome!

[oigun]

Very nice!! I like the natural relic, hope you didn't have to pay extra for that

[Sarah93003]

Thank you, everyone. Mel, you're right. I think one thing I like about this one is it is a little different than any other I've seen. Mostly, I love the neck, the sounds and it's size. It suits me.

[stl80]

Congratulations. I think its nice if a serious guitar player can have a Strat, a Les Paul, and a Mosrite.
Jim