Guitar dilemma....What would you do?

[albuht813]

So I've purchased a John Cruz '62 strat several years ago in sonic blue and took it in for a setup. I go over next door to kill some time at a guitar shop and one of the guys shows me one of their dealer select strats.

The first thing that goes through my mind is how similar this guitar is compared to mine. After careful inspection, I see that it's built by Cruz and find out it's made of the same wood as well. I'm thinkin..."that's cool, let's check this thing out."

First impression: it's a Cruz. It's resonant and really loud acoustically. Fit and finish are great (extreme relic'ing) and I'm loving the candy apple red. I plug it in and "WHOA!!" I couldn't believe how different it sounds compared to mine. I was in shock...and I the GAS was hitting me hard.

After messing with the guitar for an hour, I went back to pick my sonic blue strat and compared these strats side by side. Let me tell you, I couldn't believe the differences acoustically and plugged in. I even had the same gauge and brand strings on my strat and still....a HUGE difference.

My strat had more low/mids and less bite on the top end, a bit more suited for a smoother sound or rhythm. The red strat had some serious teeth...I mean, the bite on this thing was incredible! This strat had SRV in the bag.

My question is this: Would you buy a strat that was made of the same exact wood/specs? I like diversity in my guitars and never thought I would be at this point. I mean, the guitar is different in its sound, but I never imagined I would be hearing this much of a difference.

Opinions? thanks!

[WyrmCracker]

Yes. Absolutely.

Ebay your current guitar. Dont look back.

[Southern ILL]

Keep em' both....don't over think it too much....options baby.....OPTIONS!!!

[Thwap]

Yep, I'd get it.

[bluesjuke]

Reardless of specs and wood no two are ever the same.

[Reeltarded]

Always keep the good one.

[albuht813]

Reardless of specs and wood no two are ever the same.

After today's experience I am a true believer in this statement. I had to place the guitar on hold because I needed to make sure I wasn't crazy.

[Thwap]

After today's experience I am a true believer in this statement. I had to place the guitar on hold because I needed to make sure I wasn't crazy.

If you don't get it...it will always haunt you...what if?????:rotflmao

[albuht813]

If you don't get it...it will always haunt you...what if?????:rotflmao


hahahaha!! that's what kills everyone on this board!!

Another thing I was considering was the price hike on Fender stuff in 1 week. This guitar would certainly be less appetizing after that point.

[Thwap]

hahahaha!! that's what kills everyone on this board!!

Another thing I was considering was the price hike on Fender stuff in 1 week. This guitar would certainly be less appetizing after that point.


Another great point!!!!:D

You're thinking this through just the way I would.

[Boris Bubbanov]

Get the red one right away, no excuses.

Now, give the guys here on the board 6 months to forget the details on the blue one, then sell it. ;^)


****

You know there's more than just a few guys who might flip for the sonic blue one - everyone has their own path through life.

[albuht813]

Get the red one right away, no excuses.

Now, give the guys here on the board 6 months to forget the details on the blue one, then sell it. ;^)


****

You know there's more than just a few guys who might flip for the sonic blue one - everyone has their own path through life.

TGP is a sick man's paradise!

The blue one is a sick sounding guitar for sure. It's got the low end growl like Sayce's blond "mother" strat. Big, big balls and will run you over on low end riffs. The open E chord at 1st position is outstanding.

I'm just still running this concept through my head and trying to sort this out!

It's true..I could see someone switching the red for the blue.

Is there anyone out there that thinks differently?

[Gasp100]

I don't know. You've had the blue one for a while. You know it well. You also had the luxury of comparing it directly in the shop with another guitar (post setup) and clearly the other guitar has something that really, really hit you hard. If a question of getting the second one and keeping the Blue, I would definitley go for it.
If it's a question of having to flip the Blue to be able to pay off the red it's a tough decision... but like I said, that's the perfect testing scenario in my opinion and the Red one sounds like a winner.

[lakehaus]

You'll regret it if you don't get it. Just get it. Sort out the details later.

[gkoelling]

At one point I owned three Am Std Strats. but they all had different pickups.

Buy the red, give yourself about 6 months to be sure you like it and by then you will have absorbed the cost so you won't have to sell either.

Done.

[HoboMan]

Get the red one and keep the blue one. Keep them both for at least a month. Then you'll know for sure which one to keep.

[Drowned Rabbit]

If I read your post correctly, your not saying that
your blue strat sounds bad compared to the red
one, but that they both sound amazing in different
ways. Is that right?

If that's the case, you should definitely buy the red
one and keep them both. Do whatever you have to
do in order to make that happen. The really special
ones don't come around all that often.

[albuht813]

If I read your post correctly, your not saying that
your blue strat sounds bad compared to the red
one, but that they both sound amazing in different
ways. Is that right?

If that's the case, you should definitely buy the red
one and keep them both. Do whatever you have to
do in order to make that happen. The really special
ones don't come around all that often.

Yep. I wrote the first post rather quickly and you have interpreted it correctly. I love the blue strat and it's been my #1. They're both phenomenal in their own right. It feels like these two are fraternal twins: the good (blue) and evil (red). weird.

I'm starting to be able to justify this purchase thanks to you guys. I had one guitar get away from me several years ago...I won't ever forget that moment.

[BrentB6]

I love the blue strat and it's been my #1. They're both phenomenal in their own right. It feels like these two are fraternal twins: the good (blue) and evil (red). weird.



It doesn't get better than that. Like another poster said...do whatever it takes to hold on to both of them. You're a lucky person.