Yamaha Pacifica to Fender Strat - worth it?

hungryhungry123

hungryhungry123

hungryhungry123

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16 Oct 2005
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187
Hi
I started playing guitar about a year ago, and bought a pacifica 112 after loads of recommendations, and loved it. The thing is, ive managed to damage it and so its going to cost quite a bit to repair.

Do you guys think it would be worth getting a whole new guitar? I'd spend up to £300 if it would be noticeably better. Friends have recommended something like the Fender Stratocaster as an ideal upgrade, can anyone give any advice? I like to play a mix of rock and indie, bands such as David Bowie, Wolfmother, Bloc Party, Velvet Underground, Hendrix (well, attempted hendrix), We Are Scientists, Oasis... You get the picture. Thanks!
 
I'm interested in this aswell.

I've currently got an epiphone les paul special, which although it was fine for a start guitar, i'd like to move onto something a bit better.

I'm looking at getting a mexican stratocaster and messing around with it a bit (change the scratchplate and maybe just put some straplocks on it for now). I'd like to know what the build quality of these are like, and do they vary? I've played a few squire strats, and they feel cheap and nasty, would be gutted if I got a fender strat only for it to feel like this. And how much difference is there between mexicans and usa's?

Other options i've been looking at are telecasters and epiphone les paul standards.

Also i've got an orange crush30r amp, i'm thinking about selling it for a more versatile amp. Although it's okayish, it doesnt make a wide range of sounds, so i've been looking at something like a Vox AD50VT.

If anyone could enlighten me or make an suggestions as to alternatives, cheers.
 
I've had an AD50VT since summer, its a really good amp, much better than the Rowland Cube or Line 6 amps. It doesnt sound like its a modelling amp if you see what I mean and you can easy use it as a standad amp to plug pedals etc in without it sounding rubbish because the speakers so good.

In regards to the guitar, if you have a pacifica going to a strat will be no problem, just remember as standard the strat comes with a single coil in bridge - you might want to go to the HSS like your pacifica. Indie music generally use telecasters which have single coils (2bfair after a bit of distortion its hard to tell between a strat and a tele) but the other bands u mention will be on humbuckers like your pacifica. Try them both out and see what you like, I would probably go for the humbucker as it'll be a lot more versitile, plus the humbucker in a strat isn't hugly hot so it'll sound fine for the indie stuff aswell (and can always turn down the vol on the guitar to 3/4 so the pickup output is lower).

Going from a LP to a strat would probably be a bigger move, gibson guitars which ive tried seem a lot easier to play!! I would try one down a guitarshop and make sure u like one first, you could hate it..
 
in regrads to USA vs Mexico, i've tired a few teles and couldnt tell much difference! Your probably just finding it wierd going from a LP to a strat cos strats are thinner and smaller and don't feel as 'solid'
 
Mexican Strats vary in quality from absolute dogs, to absolute gems. Make sure you check the neck pocket (last one i tried could have housed a family of 4), finish, and the ways it's setup before making a decision. If the first two are ok, but the setup is naff, or the strings are dead get the shop to sort it before trying it again. Get a good one, and it's a keeper for sure.

I used to own a MIM Floyd Rose Strat, and it was great. Now i have two made in Japan Strats ('62 and '72 reissues), both of which are amazing for the money. Both are "not for export" models, so have to be imported by you, or a third party.
 
It's going to cost any extra £50 to buy from a shop, so i'm not sure whether to take the plunge and just buy from a shop, or buy from the internet then get it set up by a shop.

And, any idea on the amp? Is there anything bigger/better that I could get for the money?
 
for around £200 i decided on the vox, depends what ** after, if its a versitile modeller i went for vox, tried line6 spider and roland cube - both were naff. My other choice was a fender blues junior, but its a lot more expensive and would require pedals etc for any kind of distortion and effects.

Id pay the £50 anyday, its worth it, online stores can send you crud, if your spending £300 wouldnt u rather get something decent? Guitars vary loads in quality, not worth the risk! Amp on ther otherhand i would try instore and buy online
 
Thanks for the replies. I think - think - im just about settled on getting the Mexican "Fat" Standard Strat (either HSS or HH, not sure about the differences right now) for around £370 - also I've decided to increase the budget a bit to the £400 area.

I visited a couple of guitar shops today and explained my situation, one guy was adament that an Ibanez (R350 i believe, at around £300) was my best bet - the other shops confirmed what I previously thought though, that the Strat would give me the better range of sounds, especially when clean... He also recommended looking into the Epiphone range, has anyone had any experience with these?

Finally - as im still a relatively crappy guitarist and dont fancy spending long trying them out in the shop, can anyone give advice on what to look for (especially in determining a good mexican strat from a bad one)? Bigpops already mentioned looking at the neck pocket.

Thanks! :)
 
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