Which Stratocaster for a beginner?

[esistgut]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the guitar world, having purchased my first electric just a year ago, a very nice Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster. I'm trying to push a couple of hours of study time every day, currently absorbed by the Leavitt method. I really like my Tele but she has one major problem: her weight. This may sound silly but as I work as a software developer I have to sit for many hours every day and now that a lot my free time is absorbed by the guitar I have to sit after work too because if I try to stand for a couple of hours with this guitar on my shoulder my back will hurt.
Long story short: I would like to get another guitar so I can play standing up and my current target is some Squier Stratocaster. Problem is there are way too many of them, I can't try them first hand because there are no decent shops within an acceptable driving distance and I don't really know what to look for anyway.
My current (probably idiotic) reasoning is the following: light weight is the first requirement. I already have two single coils on the Telecaster so maybe I should get something with at least one humbucker? As long as it is playable maybe a more modern neck (less curved) could be something nice to have. End game is jazz with some blues along the way so it has to have a decent sound for both.
As the target budget is ~400€ I'm excluding the lower level models but there are still way too many combinations: CV '50s, CV '60s, CV '70s, Contemporary. Some of them have multiple available pickups configurations: SSS, HSS, HH, HH active.
I'm leaning towards the contemporary HSS or HH but I have not really solid reasons.
Can you help me shed some light on this?
Thank you.

[rpjazzguitar]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the guitar world, having purchased my first electric just a year ago, a very nice Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster. I'm trying to push a couple of hours of study time every day, currently absorbed by the Leavitt method. I really like my Tele but she has one major problem: her weight. This may sound silly but as I work as a software developer I have to sit for many hours every day and now that a lot my free time is absorbed by the guitar I have to sit after work too because if I try to stand for a couple of hours with this guitar on my shoulder my back will hurt.
Long story short: I would like to get another guitar so I can play standing up and my current target is some Squier Stratocaster. Problem is there are way too many of them, I can't try them first hand because there are no decent shops within an acceptable driving distance and I don't really know what to look for anyway.
My current (probably idiotic) reasoning is the following: light weight is the first requirement. I already have two single coils on the Telecaster so maybe I should get something with at least one humbucker? As long as it is playable maybe a more modern neck (less curved) could be something nice to have. End game is jazz with some blues along the way so it has to have a decent sound for both.
As the target budget is ~400€ I'm excluding the lower level models but there are still way too many combinations: CV '50s, CV '60s, CV '70s, Contemporary. Some of them have multiple available pickups configurations: SSS, HSS, HH, HH active.
I'm leaning towards the contemporary HSS or HH but I have not really solid reasons.
Can you help me shed some light on this?
Thank you.

The Strat can produce a classic single coil sound which is great for lots of things. But, it may be that you'll want a HB in the neck position anyway, because the HB can, arguably, get closer to a classic jazz sound. There are, of course, players who seem to get classic jazz tones out of the single coil pu. But, based on my experience with a Yamaha Strat copy, the single coil middle pu is pretty close to a single coil neck pu's sound. So, I put the HB in the neck position and use the middle pu when I want a single coil sound.

I don't use the bridge pu at all. In fact, mine is disconnected. I prefer that to the chance of accidentally switching to the bridge pickup and using it.

Bottom line, HB in neck position, single coil in middle position. Sell the bridge pickup and cover the opening with a nice picture of some kind.

[KirkP]

Jens Larsen (a member of this forum) has a series of excellent lesson videos. His video on “jazz tone” features a Stratocaster so I’d recommend watching that before making a decision.
Jazz Tone – How To Make A Strat Jazz Sound | Jens Larsen

...I watched most of the video after posting the above. He’s right, Fender single coils can have a full tone if you cut the bass and treble and bring up the mids. That’s especially true for the Strat’s neck pickup, which I think is more mid-scooped than a Telecaster neck pickup. If you get a Strat, I’d recommend the conventional single coils. I prefer to disable (block) the tremolo. Use the heaviest gauge strings that you are comfortable with. Most importantly, get a good setup — especially if you increase the gauge a lot.

[rabbit]

One nice thing about 'Sweetwater' is that they list the weight of many of the guitars they sell, w/pictures.

I think this starts at about $300 & up.

Also I think the Squire Bullets (less than $300) are actually thinner than any other Strats.
Perhaps you could get one selected for you. Their personnel likely have the time these days.

I shun heavy guitars 'cause of shoulder pain incurred from my 'pro wrestling' days.

Good hunting!

[Marcel_A]

I'm a big fan of the pacifica serie by yamaha. This one is nice. There is a more expensive one available. Should be within your budget used.

[Doug B]

You won't notice much weight difference between a Telecaster and a Stratocaster. Try using a wider strap-that helps spread the weight on your shoulder.
If you want to use the guitar for jazz and blues, try a 335 type guitar. For the same shape as a 335 type, look at a thin hollowbody such as an Epiphone Casino or Gibson 330 type guitar.

[esistgut]

Hi again,
first of all before answering... thank you all for the whole lot of responses!

The Strat can produce a classic single coil sound which is great for lots of things. But, it may be that you'll want a HB in the neck position anyway, because the HB can, arguably, get closer to a classic jazz sound. There are, of course, players who seem to get classic jazz tones out of the single coil pu. But, based on my experience with a Yamaha Strat copy, the single coil middle pu is pretty close to a single coil neck pu's sound. So, I put the HB in the neck position and use the middle pu when I want a single coil sound.

I don't use the bridge pu at all. In fact, mine is disconnected. I prefer that to the chance of accidentally switching to the bridge pickup and using it.

Bottom line, HB in neck position, single coil in middle position. Sell the bridge pickup and cover the opening with a nice picture of some kind.

I'm not really into modding to be honest, as I am a beginner I prefer very much to use my free time to play.

Jens Larsen (a member of this forum) has a series of excellent lesson videos. His video on “jazz tone” features a Stratocaster so I’d recommend watching that before making a decision.
Jazz Tone – How To Make A Strat Jazz Sound | Jens Larsen

...I watched most of the video after posting the above. He’s right, Fender single coils can have a full tone if you cut the bass and treble and bring up the mids. That’s especially true for the Strat’s neck pickup, which I think is more mid-scooped than a Telecaster neck pickup. If you get a Strat, I’d recommend the conventional single coils. I prefer to disable (block) the tremolo. Use the heaviest gauge strings that you are comfortable with. Most importantly, get a good setup — especially if you increase the gauge a lot.

I watched the video. Larsen seems to use only the neck and middle pickups so I guess an HSS configuration could be a good one? Is there any specific reason you are recommending the traditional SSS one?
I would avoid heavier strings gauge at the moment as I'm a beginner, but it sure is something to take into account for future.

One nice thing about 'Sweetwater' is that they list the weight of many of the guitars they sell, w/pictures.

I think this starts at about $300 & up.

Also I think the Squire Bullets (less than $300) are actually thinner than any other Strats.
Perhaps you could get one selected for you. Their personnel likely have the time these days.

I shun heavy guitars 'cause of shoulder pain incurred from my 'pro wrestling' days.

Good hunting!

I'm in Europe and Sweetwater seems to be a North America only shop. The Bullets seems to be the absolute lowest tier and I'm not really confident buying this kind of stuff, from what I can read online it has not the best value/money ratio. Am I missing something?

I'm a big fan of the pacifica serie by yamaha. This one is nice. There is a more expensive one available. Should be within your budget used.

I looked into the Pacifica series, as far as I could tell reading online they are very consistent with quality control. I'm more oriented towards Squiers because while quality control seems to be a tie they looked a little bit better in my opinion. But you are now showing an H/P90 configuration which is not available on Squiers (I guess). Is there any specific reason for this? As I said I don't really know much about pickups types and sounds, just what I can get online.

You won't notice much weight difference between a Telecaster and a Stratocaster. Try using a wider strap-that helps spread the weight on your shoulder.
If you want to use the guitar for jazz and blues, try a 335 type guitar. For the same shape as a 335 type, look at a thin hollowbody such as an Epiphone Casino or Gibson 330 type guitar.

I'm already using a wide padded bass strap, it does spread the weight on the shoulder but my problem is in the lower back, a strap can't help with this.
Regarding the hollowbodies I can see there are multiple type of 335 shaped Epiphone guitars and Casino comes in two variants: Casino (at ~560€) and Casino Coupe (at ~460€). Which one are you recommending? What about lower levels like the "The Dot" at ~370€?

[Marcel_A]

There is no specific reason for the p90/humbucker cinfiguration. You wanted a humbucker and it has one. If you want a humbucker at the neck side i could recommend the mike stern by pacifica (the cheaper version that is).

[Doug B]

i could recommend the mike stern by pacifica (the cheaper version that is).

Cheaper version of the MS Tele? I thought that there was only the one expensive version?

https://ca.yamaha.com/en/products/mu...1ms/index.html

[rabbit]

esistgut,

Sorry that i forgot you're in Europe.

Coming from my own extreme sensitivity to excess weight I suggested the Bullet Strat.
I have one and it weighs 5 pounds, almost exactly.
Despite lousy tuners, cheap humbuckers and a hard tail it's got a good neck & frets
and is a great platform for the $100 I paid years back.

Good luck!

[rlrhett]

I don’t think that if you find a tele heavy (and I do too) that you will find much difference in a Strat. They are too similar, especially for a beginner.

Why not try something different? The Harvey Benton HB-35’s are a different beast, get good reviews (for the price), and gives you a chance to try something on the other end of the electric guitar spectrum for very little cash. If you don’t like it you can probably sell it easily for €50 or so loss.


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[KirkP]

I watched the video. Larsen seems to use only the neck and middle pickups so I guess an HSS configuration could be a good one? Is there any specific reason you are recommending the traditional SSS one?

For jazz you’ll probably never use the bridge pickup, so I guess SSS vs HSS doesn’t matter. I’ve never played an HSS. When I used my Strat for rock, country & blues I rarely used the bridge pickup alone, but I often used the bridge+middle. With an HSS that wouldn’t be available, or at least wouldn’t sound the same. I’d miss that.

[Marcel_A]

Cheaper version of the MS Tele? I thought that there was only the one expensive version?

PAC1611MS - Overview - Electric Guitars - Guitars, Basses & Amps - Musical Instruments - Products - Yamaha - Canada - English

i mean this one:

Yamaha Pacifica 120S - 90's Series | Horst's Gear | Reverb

[alexis mandy]

Hi mate,
I am also looking for some guide.
Regards.

[esistgut]

I don’t think that if you find a tele heavy (and I do too) that you will find much difference in a Strat. They are too similar, especially for a beginner.

Why not try something different? The Harvey Benton HB-35’s are a different beast, get good reviews (for the price), and gives you a chance to try something on the other end of the electric guitar spectrum for very little cash. If you don’t like it you can probably sell it easily for €50 or so loss.

A friend has a black hb35, I tried it and I don't really like the quality of the frets. I'm not really sure about quality control on Harley Benton stuff. If quality control and attention to details were a little bit better this one would have been on the top of my list Harley Benton CST-24HB Tortoise Flame – Thomann Ireland

[patshep]

Used MIM strat, you can get one for under $400 in the us easily, especially right now, when everybody is selling their stuff in desperation