Stevie Ray Vaughan Discussion

59strat · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 50

HEy guys i'm looking to be a strat and right now i am torn between a fender classic 50's strat or a classic 60's strat (the mexican made reissues) i was wondering which do you think would be better for getting stevies tone? ans which would be more true to a strat that he would use? thanks new member

Vaughanabe13 · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 161

Between the reissue Fender guitars, I would say the 1962 Reissue would be the closest to a blues rock tone ala stevie. I assume you're getting a mexican because of the price difference? If price doesn't matter I would definately go for the American counterpart.

MikeST · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 6

Hey guys...seems like a pretty good group on this forum.

Anyway...every strat will feel different to every person.
Also sound too.
I have 4 in different stages of re-building or whatever.
You can sort of customize and mix and match also on a strat till you find what you like. I have stock ones and then a few mutts.
Personally ...the 62 re-issues are one of the coolest necks out there. But stay away from the american necks. Go with the japanese. WAY better.
I think they were made in Japan for most of the nineties.
There is a HUGE difference between the Japan re-issues and the American ones.
You won't be dissappointed.

59strat · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 50

i have played the american 62 reissue strat and the mex 60's and to me it is not worth the price diff at all. the american one might have "better" pickups but a real old 60's strat would not have the kind of pickups that are considered modern. I'm just wondering which you guys think would be best for stevies look and tone , thanks

59strat · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 50

btw im comparing the mex 50's strat and 60's not the american and 60's

TTrahan · Joined: 06 Nov 2004 Posts: 287

Sooner or later you'll get sick of that poly finish and wish you didn't have a SHELL on your guitar, lol.

I have the SRV sig guitar and damn, that finish is THICK. I'm in the process of finishing my refin job on my other strat. Fiesta Red nitro baby!

I would save up the extra cake and get a good nitro finished strat. I know its not a huge difference, but you'll be happier you spent the money down the road.

59strat · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 50

yeah but dont i want my guitar to wear down faster? please explain the to me better , thanks

TTrahan · Joined: 06 Nov 2004 Posts: 287

I guess I should have said, "Get a nitro finished guitar"...LOL.

MikeST · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 6

It might be too much work than you guys want to do ( I'm a better wood worker than Guitar player )
and actually ...if you want to do it right...it will cost you more to put together or re-finish a great guitar.
But its really cool when you get it done and you did the thing yourself.

There's a great web-site for re-finishing that walks you through . Its a forum that has a bunch of really cool guys. I've finished two nitro-strats based on this forum.

Plus ...when you're putting together your own; you can pick everything...
I always will go with a 62 re-issue japanese neck....you can get them on e-bay....way better than the american strat necks.

I put custom vintage wound pick-ups in from a guy that makes them in Florida. There's a whole bunch of guys who are re-producing custom vintage pick-ups.The tone can be huge compared to stock Fender pick-ups.

Anyway.....well worth the effort to build your own.

59strat · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 50

ok , i am going to get one of these strats and you guys give your thoughts on the best one. 60's strat (mex) robert cray sig strat (mex) jimmie vaughan sig strat (mex) or 62 reissue strat (japan).

please reply it means alot to me

MikeST · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 6

Do yourself a favor.....
Go to a guitar center or wherever ...and play them all.
Like , right after each other also. Keep switching back and forth.

You can do a lot with amps and pedals and whatever to switch how a guitar sounds.... but you have to have one that feels GREAT in your hand.

Go with whatever FEELS the best to you.
Even within the same model...some will feel good and some just OK.

I played a Jimmy Vaughan Strat at a store and didn't like it at all. But thats just because I'm used to the 62 necks. The vintage profile necks are much thinner. Go to Warmoth guitar neck website . You'll be surprised at how many different strat - neck profiles there are, and different curves to the back of the necks.
Stevie played a much thicker neck also...but he also had giant hands.

Just trust yourself and what feels good when you lick it up.

59strat · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 50

thanks mike , so is there a difference in quality between japan strats and mexican strats or are the both about the same?

MikeST · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 6

Big difference.
Go on e-bay and look for "62 Strat" or startocaster or whatever.
Any of the Jap ones from the 90's are really cool guitars.
I bought 2 off e-bay over the past few years and both were great.
I think they were about 450-500.

And the listings will usually tell you if its a a japanese re-issue

59strat · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 50

would you reccomend a japan made 62 reissue if it was made in the 90's? thanks

MikeST · Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 6

Definately great strats.
I even had some mutt strat that never felt that great and I bought a re-issue japanese neck and put it on. Plays great.

Its funny, because I always thought, you know " buy american"
They always advertised "american made strats" like that made them so much better.

I think the Japanese re-issues were some of the best Fender put out.
Good luck.

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