Strat player looking for a humbucking guitar

[Synchu]

Get yourself a nice Gibson.
If you ask me, everyone needs a Strat, Tele and a Les Paul/335.

I am strong believer in VOS Gibsons - the last one I played few months ago was a VOS Gibson SG, I am still in love with (can't afford it though for the foreseeable future at least).
It was one of these rare instruments where the moon must have been in whatever right phase it was, the tree was grown on the right side of the ridge and fairy dust was strong this time of the year.
We compared it in the shop with a very nice SG Standard, '61 reissue owned by a friend and a number of other SGs through a cleanish set Mesa Lonestar and the VOS just killed every other SG there. Attack, dynamics, sustain, nice fat neck .... all the goodies. All great, except the price :/

Niki

[ValvElectric]

I can definitely understand the love for historic and VOS Gibsons, having loathed after many myself.
On the other hand, I wouldn't consider the studio to be a POS and I can't agree with the assertion that replacing pickups "little or no return on tone". While I understand the cynicism towards the "mojo" that some pickup manufacturers claim, I know first hand that you can get a set of humbuckers for $200 that will have a huge impact on tone, not to mention the value of a good setup.
Which brings me to wonder, if replacing cheap import pickups doesn't warrant a few hundred dollars, what might you find to justify a $6000+ overall price difference?
I've been considering saving up for a Gibson traditional pro, as I remember enjoying the few I've played and they can be had for around $1500 used.

[Reeltarded]

I couldn't play a studio based on rubbery feel and clunky dimensions..

The epiphone copys aren't as rough, and they are as cheap as a new Custom was in 1980 if you buy one used and played.

lol

not lol

[vibratoking]

I can definitely understand the love for historic and VOS Gibsons, having loathed after many myself.
On the other hand, I wouldn't consider the studio to be a POS and I can't agree with the assertion that replacing pickups "little or no return on tone". While I understand the cynicism towards the "mojo" that some pickup manufacturers claim, I know first hand that you can get a set of humbuckers for $200 that will have a huge impact on tone, not to mention the value of a good setup.
Which brings me to wonder, if replacing cheap import pickups doesn't warrant a few hundred dollars, what might you find to justify a $6000+ overall price difference?
I've been considering saving up for a Gibson traditional pro, as I remember enjoying the few I've played and they can be had for around $1500 used.

I don't know what you mean by loathed, but I'm guessing not loathed.

In my experience, if you've played a great LP, you will find the Studio to be a POS. Thin body. Many are alder bodies and necks. Neck shape is wrong. Poor fitting and cheaper than normal plastic in pick guard and pickup ring. Lousy Kluson tuners. Shallow neck tenon. Sound is ehhh. Feels like a toy in comparison.

As I stated, YMMV with replacement pickups. If the pickups being replaced suck, then you might experience a big difference. IME, the difference between a decent production pickup and almost all 'high end' replacements is negligible. A lousy piece of wood will make 'great' pickups sound not great. But go for it if you think Shemptone's will solve a problem.

Quality wood and construction make a huge difference in sound and feel. I came to this conclusion after owning quite a bit of average to bad wood.

What I find to justify the price difference is quality and resale potential. By a great used guitar smart and you'll always walk away in good shape. A late mode Epi, or whatever, resells like one.

[Synchu]

In my view, there are exceptions, though, within the Studio range.
I got the Joe Bonamassa sig Studio from the first batch Gibson made and it is one of the heaviest and nicest Gibson guitars I played (not that heavy and nice are necessary related, it just happened so).
This has nice fat neck and great, great feel.
I ended up changing the pickups since the Burstbuckers it came with are not my thing. Great tone now.


Niki

[norburybrook]

Gibsons have a shorter scale length so always feel different anyway.

Do you want a 'different' feeling guitar or sounding? or both?

you can always get a telecaster with say a P90 neck and stick a little 59 humbucker in the bridge and you'll have a very different sounding guitar that will feel familiar. I have such a tele and it's great, I also have a '92 , '59 reissue 335. I tend to use the Tele more



Marcus

[ValvElectric]

vibratoking your right, I've found that my late night typing can quickly become incoherent...

norburybrook, I think I've narrowed it down to something Gibson or similar. I actually also had a little 59 in the bridge of my tele for a bit but it always seemed a bit dull, but I later gave it to a friend and it seems to work really well in his. But a tele with a p90 in the neck does sound tempting

[Buschman]

Find you a used PRS bolt neck. Put you favorite humbuckers in it. Mine goes to almost every gig with me and the LP stays home. They can be great players guitars especially if you are a strat player.

[rp]

Hamer ~mid '90s Studios.

[gui_tarzan]

I'm not a real good guitarist but a friend of mine is, and I had him play my Epiphone LP Jr. after I dropped a Duncan SH-1 and a separate tailpiece and bridge in it and he was blown away by the tone considering it's an inexpensive guitar.

I bought it new as a scratch & dent from GC for somewhere around $80, total cost around $150.

[ValvElectric]

I agree, if you can find one those 90's Hamers are a great bang for the buck.
gui_tarzan, I've also seen many friends have similar experiences with various squire models, it seems to really be the luck of the draw with budget QC.

[Bob Simpson]

+ > 1 on the Hamer Studios.
Pre Kaman is my favorite.
Definitely pre fender.
Good luck

Bob