62 AVRI Hot Rod vs RW

I own both, for me it's the RW. For the price and the feel and tone of an old strat it's a no brainer. If you want a more modern strat with thicker finish the 62 HR is the way to go. The RW just has the tone and feel of an old friend. My .02

 

Having owned a '62 VHR for several months and having tried a RW on approval for a month, I like both guitars. But, in the end, the chunky neck of the '62 VHR tipped the scales so I decided to stay with it.

I really liked the worn in feel of the RW but its somewhat slender neck was cramp city the first time I gigged it for a few hours. The only other real complaint I had about the RW was that the fretwork was a little rough out of the box, but that was an easy fix. However, the '62 VHR did need a Don Mare pickup swap to bring out its best.

 

I played a couple of Road Worns. They were nice.

I happen to think the '62 AVHR Strat is one of my favorite specs ever. It's so personal with Strats though; only you can decide.

 

Myself, I'd go for the hot rod. A used one will only be a few bucks more than a RW. Unless you prefer a thin neck like on the RW. Both have nice beefy frets, but I'd prefer the 9.5" fretboard radius of the hot rod as well.

The hot rod has a nice finish that will wear nice and look like a classic, and that appeals to me too, as well as a nicer bridge and tuners. The RW has a flat, primer style finish like on the highways. It even has that flat, primered look on the neck. That's cosmetics and totally subjective of course. It's up to you. They're both nice strats. I think the main determining factors would be neck size, radius and cost.

and of course, most important.. sound, if you can play both and compare. every strat is unique.

 

Hot Rod is the better value.... I have one of the limited run Thin Skin's which is pretty close - and it's a great guitar.

 

Limited Run Thin Skins? I thought the hot rods were thin skins to being with?

 

So your the one! J/K to each his own, I actually really like the Road Worn, but would prefer the 62 Hot Rod.

 

What's the difference between my AV Thin Skin '59 and the Hot Rod?

I like the RW guitars, but IMO, the above Strat I picked up recently is in another league.

 

I sat at the store for 3 hours comparing both (I was in the same predicament as you were!) but ended up going with the RW. Sound wise, not TOO different. Playability wise? Radius on the RW was a lot more comfortable and the thicker neck on he AVRI Hot Rod didn't do it for me as they do for some many others.

At that time, I didn't feel that paying an extra 900 bucks was worth it for a guitar that had slightly better hardware and pickups when I would probably be changing them one day anyway. I ended up with the RW.