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Thread: The Old Standby

  1. #1
    Forum Member Jkbarnes's Avatar
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    The Old Standby

    My #1 just turned 31, and it’s as extraordinary as ever. Still plays and sounds like a dream!



    ‘89 Deluxe American Standard
    At what point does my 31 year old Strat become “vintage?”

  2. #2
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Very nice. Black is just a classy color on a strat.

    When did you put in the Lace Sensors? I used them and was "meh" about them, but I listen to stuff I recorded with them, and they sound great really.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  3. #3
    Forum Member Jkbarnes's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Quote Originally Posted by ch willie View Post
    Very nice. Black is just a classy color on a strat.

    When did you put in the Lace Sensors?
    I didn’t put them in. The Lace Golds came stock on the guitar. When I got this, my only reference point for pickups was my previous guitar, an Aria Pro II RS Wildcat. Needless to say, the Lace Sensors were a big step up!
    At what point does my 31 year old Strat become “vintage?”

  4. #4
    Forum Member S. Cane's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    That's a series of guitars I just LOVE.

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    Forum Member DanTheBluesMan's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    I had a Strat Plus with Gold Lace sensors. I really liked the tone of the pickups but not a whole lot else about the guitar.

    A couple years ago I built a partsocaster and got a loaded pickguard with Gold Lace. Last year I put a maple neck on the body and now it's my #1 Strat.
    "Live and learn and flip the burns"

  6. #6
    Forum Member Jkbarnes's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Quote Originally Posted by DanTheBluesMan View Post
    I had a Strat Plus with Gold Lace sensors. I really liked the tone of the pickups but not a whole lot else about the guitar.

    A couple years ago I built a partsocaster and got a loaded pickguard with Gold Lace. Last year I put a maple neck on the body and now it's my #1 Strat.
    I’m curious what it was you didn’t like? Specific aspects of the model or more like simply not bonding with that specific guitar?

    I’ll admit to a bias for the Lace Sensors and the late 80s, early 90s American standards simply because this was my first really high quality guitar, so it became my reference point.
    At what point does my 31 year old Strat become “vintage?”

  7. #7
    Forum Member DanTheBluesMan's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    I wasn't a fan of the wilkinson roller nut or the locking tuners, to me they were solutions to problems I wasn't having. I also didn't bond with the neck profile. The problem could have been remedied by changing the neck but this was back in my pre-tinkering days. I didn't turned a screw on a guitar back then, never mind changing a part. It was also my one guitar at a time phase, and I was still searching for what I wanted.

    Now I know better. If I don't like something, I'll change it. I also have embraced my inner guitar slut and have a bevy of guitars at my beck and call.
    "Live and learn and flip the burns"

  8. #8
    Forum Member Jkbarnes's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Quote Originally Posted by DanTheBluesMan View Post
    I also have embraced my inner guitar slut and have a bevy of guitars at my beck and call.

    At what point does my 31 year old Strat become “vintage?”

  9. #9
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Did you buy this guitar new? I bought a new Strat Plus in '88. It replaced an American Vintage '57 Reissue Strat that I was kind of a dog.

    The Strat Plus in the blue one in this pic from '89.


  10. #10
    Forum Member Jkbarnes's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Quote Originally Posted by Don View Post
    Did you buy this guitar new? I bought a new Strat Plus in '88. It replaced an American Vintage '57 Reissue Strat that I was kind of a dog.

    The Strat Plus in the blue one in this pic from '89.


    Purchased new in Jan. ‘91 when I was 20 and still going strong 30 years later.
    At what point does my 31 year old Strat become “vintage?”

  11. #11
    Forum Member jrgtr42's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Quote Originally Posted by Don View Post
    Did you buy this guitar new? I bought a new Strat Plus in '88. It replaced an American Vintage '57 Reissue Strat that I was kind of a dog.

    The Strat Plus in the blue one in this pic from '89.

    Nice upholstery on that couch...
    Not that I can talk much. The couch in my profile pic was a similar pattern but green. I think I threw a blanket over it to arrange the pic. That couch is now a par of furniture history.
    ********************************
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    "It is if you don't drop it."
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  12. #12
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Quote Originally Posted by jrgtr42 View Post
    Nice upholstery on that couch...
    Not that I can talk much. The couch in my profile pic was a similar pattern but green. I think I threw a blanket over it to arrange the pic. That couch is now a par of furniture history.
    The couch in my pic is long gone as well. I think it was a few couches ago.

  13. #13
    Forum Member DanTheBluesMan's Avatar
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    Re: The Old Standby

    Quote Originally Posted by Jkbarnes View Post
    My #1 just turned 31, and it’s as extraordinary as ever. Still plays and sounds like a dream!



    ‘89 Deluxe American Standard
    I finally scrolled down far enough to find your introduction. I didn't see that your #1 didn't have the roller nut or locking tuners, the things that basically didn't endear my former Strat Plus to me.

    it's got me wondering if I can find one now. I'll be keeping an eye out (oof, pun not intended, as i have a prosthetic orb ) for one.
    "Live and learn and flip the burns"

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