Better Guitar

player opinions

Name: Gareth Bevan
Band: BRAINHORN
Model Year: 1988
Price Paid: $1500 (Australian)
Performance
OK, I should start by saying I love Strats. My main guitar used to be a customised 1976 Fender Strat with EMGs. It was a great guitar. I reviewed it on this site. Then some miserable low-life broke into my car and stole it. Oh the pain. Anyway, first of all, I bought another 1976 Strat whilst scanning the paper to see if the culprit was trying to sell it. It’s a nice geetar but I wanted some more modern, something I could bash around. I bought a Strat Plus. It is really easy to play, looks cool, sounds great. It has two Gold Lace Sensors in the neck and middle and a blue one in the bridge.
Performance Rating: 9
Sound Quality
It has a nice tone, although a lot smoother and not as sparkly as normal Strat pickups. The Lace Sensors are very quiet, good for playing with lots of gain/distortion. Great sustain. I am happy because I can get close enough to those classic Strat tones (think Jimi, John Frusciante etc.) but get more of a modern sound, and a beefer distortion sound. I run it into an old 70’s superlead Marshall and use a Rat and Big Muff.
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
Seems to be very strong, well made, not that heavy. It is a tough guitar.
Construction Rating: 9

Name: Saul Maduin
Band: Hour-Lilies, The Sometimes
Model Year: 1989
Price Paid: $650 used
Performance
I’ve has my Strat Plus for almost 5 years now. I’ve never found another guitar that sounds, looks, or bends itself to my specs as well. This thing will hold ANY tuning, most recently (low to high) C-F-Bb-Eb-G-C, the intonation is still pretty close too.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
My typical set up through a vintage DOD “phasor” pedal and a Yamaha SPX-90 is enhanced by the Lace Sensor pickups instead of befuddled. I can go from My Bloody Valentinesque tones, to Smashing Pumpkins clarity, to Nirvana roar, this is the most versatile guitar I have ever encountered.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
The ash body is solid as a rock, and has been my main guitar for years. I’ve played so hard my hand hurts for days afterwards, I’ve divebombed the trem, and it still keeps going.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Travis Norton
Band: REDLIGHTGO
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $1000 with case , NEW
Performance
I’d been through many guitars before I bought this strat in 1995. I really dug the sound at first but really missed that Les Paul sustain and warmth. But Strats aren’t meant to be warm Ii guess, They’re meant to BITE, and this one will definitely cut through the mix. It plays very easily. It is currently my main axe and has been for years. Before you buy one though check out Ed Romans website and READ THE STUFF ABOUT THESE STRATS! you may be surprised.
Performance Rating: 8
Sound Quality
Good tone, lacks sustain. I run mine straight through a 50 watt Mesa/Boogie and I’ve gotten many compliments from sound men to studio engineers. I don’t run a bunch of crap effects in the mix. Maybe a Wah if I’m feelin’ spunky. Pickups are Lace Sensors and they are very clean.
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
It has seen more gigs than I can remember and it’s still in one piece. The tremolo kinda sucks. When you return the bar from a big dive it really does a job on the tuning. I have worked on the instrument to try to remedy this but it ain’t worked yet. I don’t do too much of that stuff live anyway so it doesn’t really matter, but it would be nice to use the thing now and then! Again, before buying one of these guitars check out Ed Romans website and READ! READ! READ! you will be surprised at what you find... I guarantee it!
Construction Rating: 8

Name: Locky
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $599 w/hard case (new)
Performance
This guitar has killer tone, plays smooth, and is built to last! Looks stunnin’ with rosewood fretboard, sunburst paint and locking tuners.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
There is VOODOO in the thing, sounds GonZo when runnin’ through a Vox wah into my Prosonic tube amp. All the classic Strat tones are here, remember Jimi?
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
I have played her hard, and she still sounds sweet as cherry pie... bendin’ and dive bombing and tappin’... comes back for more. Slip in a new set of bullets (09) and she is good for another 100,000 miles.
Construction Rating: 10