benxiwf
03-18-2012, 04:37 PM
I went to Guitar Center today knowing full well that I didn't need another guitar but I tried out one of their special run Tele's the last time I was there with the noiseless pickups and mid-boost control. I liked the sound but only had time to play for a couple minutes last time. I don't own any tele's so I thought I'd go back and maybe pick it up since it was pretty cheap. I am primarily an old US Reverend player and have 5 of them. I especially am into the Slingshot (p90 model).
After playing the tele for about 10 minutes and realizing it had a really bad time staying in tune, I decided not to get it. I couldn't decide if it was just the tuners or the nut too. I think it could be turned into a very nice player with some work but the gloss neck finish was not very nice and turned me off a bit too. It is hard to get into a guitar that just isn't set up to play right there.
I was ready to get up and leave and just get my mini Polytune which is what I came there to get in the first plays when I saw a used sonic blue Squier Deluxe Strat for $179. I thought it looked cool and heard they were great for the cost so I decided to try it out. I was pretty amazed by the playability of these things. The two point tremolo which allows for up and down bending seems far, far, far superior to the standard strat trem to me. Does anyone else agree with this? I always hate strat trems and almost always buy hard tail guitars. This thing wouldn't go out of tune. I did extreme bends in both directions and the guitar came back to pitch repeatedly. I couldn't believe it. I had just played a couple deluxe player strats and they definitely could not do that. I was about ready to grab it for the hell of it to mod it when the salesman showed me a MIM standard strat and I spotted a MIM standard fat strat with EMG's. I decided to give them both a go.
The MIM standard played better than I expected but the neck had been pretty well loved, I could feel the skunk stripe noticeably even so I decided to pass on that. The one with the EMG's also has some cool chrome knobs with pearl centers and straplocks installed. I found myself enjoying the clarity and sustain that the active pickups had even though I really don't like the bridge pickup. It doesn't sound like a humbucker and is just really bright. I believe the second tone control is the EMG mid-boost control that they sell separate for about $40. I think it is a steal whether I decide to keep it or not, but it plays really great and I am definitely enjoying it. It is nice to find some cheap guitars that play so well. A beginner could own either of these guitars and have something that would not limit them. I am often turned off by Fender's quality and setups upon leaving the shop but these two examples are definitely super nice players and pretty to boot!
Squier Deluxe Strat:
http://www.beneasler.com/Ben_Easler/Blank_files/shapeimage_3.png
http://www.beneasler.com/Ben_Easler/Blank_files/DSCN0317.jpg
MIM Standard Fat Strat with EMGs and Mid boost control:
http://www.beneasler.com/Ben_Easler/Blank_files/DSCN0313.jpg
http://www.beneasler.com/Ben_Easler/Blank_files/shapeimage_2.png
After playing the tele for about 10 minutes and realizing it had a really bad time staying in tune, I decided not to get it. I couldn't decide if it was just the tuners or the nut too. I think it could be turned into a very nice player with some work but the gloss neck finish was not very nice and turned me off a bit too. It is hard to get into a guitar that just isn't set up to play right there.
I was ready to get up and leave and just get my mini Polytune which is what I came there to get in the first plays when I saw a used sonic blue Squier Deluxe Strat for $179. I thought it looked cool and heard they were great for the cost so I decided to try it out. I was pretty amazed by the playability of these things. The two point tremolo which allows for up and down bending seems far, far, far superior to the standard strat trem to me. Does anyone else agree with this? I always hate strat trems and almost always buy hard tail guitars. This thing wouldn't go out of tune. I did extreme bends in both directions and the guitar came back to pitch repeatedly. I couldn't believe it. I had just played a couple deluxe player strats and they definitely could not do that. I was about ready to grab it for the hell of it to mod it when the salesman showed me a MIM standard strat and I spotted a MIM standard fat strat with EMG's. I decided to give them both a go.
The MIM standard played better than I expected but the neck had been pretty well loved, I could feel the skunk stripe noticeably even so I decided to pass on that. The one with the EMG's also has some cool chrome knobs with pearl centers and straplocks installed. I found myself enjoying the clarity and sustain that the active pickups had even though I really don't like the bridge pickup. It doesn't sound like a humbucker and is just really bright. I believe the second tone control is the EMG mid-boost control that they sell separate for about $40. I think it is a steal whether I decide to keep it or not, but it plays really great and I am definitely enjoying it. It is nice to find some cheap guitars that play so well. A beginner could own either of these guitars and have something that would not limit them. I am often turned off by Fender's quality and setups upon leaving the shop but these two examples are definitely super nice players and pretty to boot!
Squier Deluxe Strat:
http://www.beneasler.com/Ben_Easler/Blank_files/shapeimage_3.png
http://www.beneasler.com/Ben_Easler/Blank_files/DSCN0317.jpg
MIM Standard Fat Strat with EMGs and Mid boost control:
http://www.beneasler.com/Ben_Easler/Blank_files/DSCN0313.jpg
http://www.beneasler.com/Ben_Easler/Blank_files/shapeimage_2.png