Bass recommendation

ken · Post by **ken** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:05 pm

Probably not. I would keep my eyes open for a $250 used Mexican Strat.

Where are you located anyway?

Ken

Kill Me Sarah · Post by **Kill Me Sarah** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:12 pm

Georgia, not too far outside of Atlanta.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:57 pm

You're in Peavey country, son.

Get yourself a T60.

I'm mostly kidding. Mexi strats are neat and all, but if you personally want an american strat, then you should get an american strat. Used, they can come down to the $600 range. Much lower than that, and it's pretty safe to assume there's something wrong with it.

If you want something really cool, get a Japanese strat. They were made in the 80's and early 90's, and they're fricking fantastic. They don't have the resale value that USA gear does, so you can get them a lot cheaper usually. Ask your friendly GC salesguy to fish up a japanese strat for you.

Getting a guitar is all about deciding what it is you really want, and then being able to pay for what you want.

Tex Beaumont · Post by **Tex Beaumont** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:21 pm

The Sober Irishman wrote: Getting a guitar is all about deciding what it is you really want, and then being able to pay for what you want.

That's not just getting a guitar - that's life.

Kill Me Sarah · Post by **Kill Me Sarah** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:48 pm

Tex Beaumont wrote:
The Sober Irishman wrote: Getting a guitar is all about deciding what it is you really want, and then being able to pay for what you want.
That's not just getting a guitar - that's life.

Wise words Tex

So basically there's not going to be enough of a perceptible difference between a Mexican strats and a Squier strat to make it worth the switch?

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:06 pm

WOAH.

The difference is drastic. The wood, the electronics, the hardware, and the overall craftsmanship on a Mexi strat are far superior to a Squier. They're only similar in appearance. The real difference is that the mexi strat is a guitar.

Now, you seemed interested in an American strat. If that's what you want, that's what you should get. Don't compromise, but at the same time, don't forget your goals. If you want a USA strat, and you get a mexi right now because you can afford it right now, you'll be pissed off in six months because you won't have a USA strat. If a Mexi is what you really want, then get that for god's sake.

Märk · Post by **Märk** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:08 pm

Let me once again remind everyone that a 'USA Strat' is highly over-rated.

jack · Post by **jack** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:13 pm

jack wrote:i've got a mexican p-bass that frankly sounds as good as the american version, which is like $500 more expensive.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:48 am

Sven wrote:Let me once again remind everyone that a 'USA Strat' is highly over-rated.

Let me once again remind everyone that Sven's opinion on guitars is highly over-rated.

Kill Me Sarah · Post by **Kill Me Sarah** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:02 am

Ok, well here was my thinking, and let me know if you all agree or disagree.

If I sell my amp, axe, and a Tascam Portastudio I have, I might be able to scrounge up like 3 or 400 bucks. With that I could afford a Mexican strat possibly. However, if I do sell it, there's no way I'm going to be able to scrounge up another 400+ bucks to buy an American strat, nice as that might be. But, at some time in the future, I might be able to sell that Mexican strat for close to what I paid for it (particularly if I get it used), right? And possibly sometime in the future when bills are paid and I'm making a decent wage, I might be able to save up enough that, w/ the money from a sold MexiStrat I could buy an American, which would be righteous. It's kinda like a work in progress plan.
What I'm wondering is, is that a good plan? Or am I better off just keeping what I have and waiting until I can save up enough for an American Strat, however long that may take?

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:02 am

I'd say go ahead and go for the mexi for now. Anything to get off of the Squier. And you certainly don't need that porta. Find a used one. With plenty of dings and scratches. They sound better when they're all scratched up.

Dan-O from Five-O · Post by **Dan-O from Five-O** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:16 am

kill_me_sarah wrote:Ok, well here was my thinking, and let me know if you all agree or disagree.

Hahahaha. Like that will ever happen. Getting us to all agree or disagree with anything would be a miracle of sorts.

That said I agree wtih Sober on the Mexi, but not the dings and scratches part. (See what I mean about a consensus?)

Kill Me Sarah · Post by **Kill Me Sarah** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:20 am

Dan-O from Five-O wrote:That said I agree wtih Sober on the Mexi, but not the dings and scratches part.

Actually, I think that was in reference to my Portastudio, which, incidentally IS nice and scratched up w/ lots of character...but I don't need it cuz I have my TonePort now.

Dan-O from Five-O · Post by **Dan-O from Five-O** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:58 pm

kill_me_sarah wrote:
Dan-O from Five-O wrote:That said I agree wtih Sober on the Mexi, but not the dings and scratches part.
Actually, I think that was in reference to my Portastudio

No, you just need to learn how to separate statements. Just take out the porta refrerence and put it at the end where it should have been.

The Sober Irishman wrote:I'd say go ahead and go for the mexi for now. Anything to get off of the Squier. Find a used one. With plenty of dings and scratches. They sound better when they're all scratched up. And you certainly don't need that porta.

The other way you're implying Sober said the Porta sounded good. And that's just ridiculous.

jack · Post by **jack** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:24 pm

just stay away from the freakin squire brand. my guess is that they (guitar center et al) make the most margin and profit from these by selling to the cheap noobs. i'd guess they cost maybe $5-10 to make in production.

just remember, although he managed to get some righteous sounds from his (with a POD and his talent thrown in), hoblit got $20 for his on resale.

if you're buying a guitar, buy it to keep for awhile.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:00 pm

Guitars have little margin in general, Squier included. The only brands that have any margin worth wanking to are in-house and exclusive brands. Guitar Center has the ultra-shit "Mitchell" guitar, and those make ridiculous profit. Brook Mays has "Sonata" which makes great profit and is actually an ok guitar (!), of which I own two.

As far as exclusive brands, in my area, Brook Mays has exclusive selling rights on Seagull guitars (and Peavey electronics), and therefore there's a healthy markup on it. The only competition I'd get on those was from other Brook Mays employees, the bastards. I think Parkwood may be a GC exclusive. Whether they are or they aren't, they're way overpriced for how they perform. Seagulls, on the other hand, are the best <$500 guitar you could ever buy, without question.

I guess what I'm rambling about is that Squier doesn't have a big markup. It probably does for Fender, but they certainly don't pass that along.