Played the Holy Grail - a '54 Strat

[WordMan]

Serial #72. It had been refinished decades ago, but otherwise appeared all original. I was pleasantly surprised at how obviously special it was. I am fully prepared to play a vintage dog - and have. This one was great - incredibly worn neck, medium in size, but the tones - wow. The middle pickup was the first one where I wanted to just hang out there and play it. It was so spanky and responsive with in all settings - through a tweed it was a gained-up, saturated-yet-articulated thing of beauty.

All in all, a great time and a great guitar. Just thought I'd report in - sometimes you just might not be sure. I'm hear to tell you - this one lived up to the hype.

[fakeox]

pretty cool..

[DC1]

A lot of 'em are just old guitars. I played a whole wall of 50's strats in Norms years ago. ho-hum

One however had a ghost in it. There is no other way to describe how music just jumped out of it. flippin' amazing.

I didn't buy it because I couldn't stand the little neck. Yes, it was a standard strat neck, but once I played a wider/flatter neck I could never go back.

DC

[n.j.]

..One however had a ghost in it. There is no other way to describe how music just jumped out of it...
Very nice, very apt description of certain special guitars, both old and new.

[bynt]

I hear you. I played a 57 a couple of years back that was just amazing. The guy that let me play it was the original owner who loved and cherished that guitar. He had no idea what it was "worth" and didn't care because he'll be buried with that guitar. At least I hope. It was truly amazing though. I guess it was "non hangover" made model infused with this old guys years of playing. Really was special.

[Red Suede]

I have a friend who has a 54 strat. I had two 65s a 61, a 58, and the 54 was the best sounding strat i've ever played or owned, bar none.

[avincent52`]

One however had a ghost in it. There is no other way to describe how music just jumped out of it..

I've got a 1929 Martin 00-28 that's haunted, too. Nothing like an old ghost.

best
Allen

[TNJ]

I've played a '59 ES-335 that was just special. Resonant, toneful, easy to play. Haunting is an apt description. AND depressing, because I doubt I'll ever play one that fine again.
S.
j

[CudBucket]

A lot of 'em are just old guitars. I played a whole wall of 50's strats in Norms years ago. ho-hum

I agree 100%. I'll go as far as to say, MOST of them are just old guitars.

[johnny q]

I played one at a local Guitar Center a few years ago, it was $12,000 bucks. Low serial number, all original except for medium jumbo frets. Played/Looked about as nice as a fender relic.

JQ

[CudBucket]

Very nice, very apt description of certain special guitars, both old and new.

+1. This is true too.

[Snakum]

I agree 100%. I'll go as far as to say, MOST of them are just old guitars.

I would agree, based on my own experience as a budding young player in the late 70s. I've played quite a few '60s era Strats, SGs, and Les Pauls and even owned a '63 Strat and '69 LP Gold Top Deluxe before these guitars were so hotly collectable. Most of the old Strats I owned or played felt, and sounded, hmmmm ... not so good. And most old Gibsons were merely adequate, decent guitars. No real mojo. My old LP Deluxe, however, played like butter. Maybe there was a ghost in it. :hiP

[HHB]

I've only briefly strumed any 50's strat, I'd really love to own one someday

[Don L]

The best strat ever for me was a '55. That one was possessed!!

[stratzrus]

I played a '59 years ago and it is still the best guitar I've ever played bar none. The tone was spectaular and it just made you want to play without end.

I'll probably never own one due to the ever rising prices, but it was a memory of a lifetime.

stratzrus

[RickC]

Mmmmm... yeah, I love your description. When you find a guitar like that, it makes most everything else feel like a toy.

/rick

[GuitarsFromMars]

I own a 'haunted' Martin 0-15,but I know a guy who has TWO 1954 strats and one of them is possessed-big a$$ V neck and the 3 original pickups that are loud,clear and pristine...it IS the best sounding example I have ever heard with original pickup units in it.The funny part is that the other strat is very nice,and it is also a very nice example,but the darn thing does NOT have 'it'.

[Kelsey]

I played a low SN 54 Strat, and it was superb as well. It was strung with .011's but played like butter. The neck was surprisingly small, but had a really nice soft-V profile. It was refinished and had SD replacement pickups that sounded great. It was the only Strat that I have played that could give my Wildwood 10 50's relic Strat a run for its money.

[morlll]

I agree 100%. I'll go as far as to say, MOST of them are just old guitars.


I agree with that, because it's true. I had a 57 strat in the 60's that was really nice. A few of my friends had late 50's and early 60's strats that were not nice. Not just regular guitars, we are talking crap.

Old doesn't make them better. Collectors just mess up the markets.

My 68 Tele is nice but not a vintage. My friends brother had a 60 335 that was one of the nicest guitars ever. An old friend had a 59 (I think) Duo Sonic that was one of the nicest.

[Fuchsaudio]

I had a 58 hardtail that was as loud as an acoustic unplugged and was truly amazing. My Real Guitars relic is the first "new" guitar to come close. http://www.realguitars.de/git/rgvw1feb.JPG

[morlll]

Mmmmm... yeah, I love your description. When you find a guitar like that, it makes most everything else feel like a toy.

/rick

That is so well put.


It doesn't have to be old though. I have a 96 Goldtop LP LE that does that for me. It still blows me away. There are lots of nice new ones.
You have to look for them though.

Some of the old stuff just realy shines. When they had a good day it really showed.

[jezzzz2003]

My old man has the "54" 2004 guitar, it plays, fells and looks unbelievable, it would wanna for the price.:drool