by RUSSET » Sat Jun 04, 2011 10:12 am
Hi Geoff,
The Fender Mex 'Classic Player' range only lists four versions of the Strat. Two '50s ones with Maple neck in either Gold or Two-Tone Sunburst. Also there are two '60s ones in Sonic Blue or Three Tone Sunburst, with Rosewood boards.
However, the Mex 'Classic' series does include a Fiesta Red bodied '50s model with Maple neck. I guess you will be able to get a new one for around £450. Check prices on the Web for best deals.
Another even cheaper alternative worth checking is the Squier 'Classic Vibe' series from China. They make a Fiesta Red 50s Strat with Maple neck& Alnico V pickups & also an F.Red '60s Strat with Rosewood board called the 'Simon Neil' signature Strat.
You can pick these two up new for around the £300 mark. Don't be put off by the Squier logo & the Chinese manufacture; they are excellent & I would say they are virtually equal in quality to the middle range Mex guitars. The only thing that needs to be upgraded on them is the trem block, which is a typical Far East soft alloy one, which tends to wear quickly & the trem arm gets quite loose. I have the '60s model & have replaced the block with a full thickness Steel one. The pickups are great & to my ears, for the price you pay, it sounds like an typical vintage Strat Tone.
Cheers, Tony.