The Best Strat Copies? Serious Alternatives to a Fender Strat

[@shanetx81]

Partscaster! I spent a lot of weeks idly scouring the discounts and specific targeted stuff on Reverb and came away with an insanely beautiful walnut top-on-alder body, roasted maple warmoth neck with a specific profile I was targeting (Clapton), stainless frets ( a Wilkinson trem and hotshot locking tuners came with the neck and body) for a combined $450. A fender pick guard and other hardware, and harness (customized for me by a wonderful guy on the gear page) totaled around $100. So you’re under 600 for truly great parts pre-electronics. I did spend ~$250 on pickups because I had a specific sound I was going for (Seymour Duncan SSL-5 “Gilmour” bridge, Texas hot Antiquities in the middle and neck) but I am still under a grand including shipping and it was a much beloved project. Finishing the body and neck with tru oil followed by gunstock wax (the music man neck treatment folks rave about) left everything looking and feeling extremely too knotch. This was by get the most frustrating and daunting part of the job for what it’s worth. I’m handy, but this was all stuff the average fellow could do. It’ll need a setup after if you aren’t confident in your abilities there, but for the price… I can’t say enough good things about this process and end result.

[@SamJ_M]

Second this! You can build a budget one, but if you go high end, around the 1k mark, you can build a guitar that any brand would charge 2k for. Just built myself a hardtail strat, Tele compensated barrel saddles (for cool cosmetics), fat 50's pickups. Tele bridge routing so I can fit a Tele sized base plate under the start bridge pickup, beefs up the start bridge sound nicely 🤘 Swamp ash body, left open grain with a thin tidepool nitro. Baked maple bound + block inlay neck

[@shanetx81]

@ sounds cool! Really dig the customizing. That’s my only regret with how I built mine, it’s very much a standard strat with a cooler body, but a hard tail / tele hybrid sounds awesome. I haven’t done the research yet, but I’d like to find a two saddle bridge like the PRS Vela has. I like my 3 saddle tele bridge but I know it doesn’t intonate 100% perfect and the PRS bridge can.

[@ScottsGuitar]

Right on

[@trevorjohnson8142]

Had an American Deluxe 2008. I love it. Got a PRS Silver Sky to have a well-made vintage style strat. It's the best guitar I've ever played. It's my #1.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

I have two fairly different MIJ Tokai Strats and I am very happy with them. I also own Fenders that gather dust.

[@ianwalker6453]

I own a Fender custom shop strat a FenderAm Pro II Strat and a PRS Silver Sky. All I can say is, I pick up the Silver Sky more than the other two. A beautifully made guitar, for the 21 st Century! Love the 7.25 neck radius, plays like a dream!

[@JBStreeter]

I feel like having an HSS Silver Sky would be quite the move for PRS

[@Fnnggjji]

I went with a Suhr at one point over the silver sky because I wanted this. I’d say the Suhr is an overall better guitar but I wish their pickups were as good as PRS’s

[@bobdelair02]

They have the Fiore !

[@JBStreeter]

@@bobdelair02 For $2,900? Lol. Yeah I’m good

[@jr0706]

I just finished a partscaster strat. I took the Allparts replacement neck off my ‘91 MIM (gonna put the original neck back on that), and put it on a GFS XGP body. I took the mint guard loaded with Benson Custom ‘63 pickups and a Benson harness from the MIM (I have another harness and Bootstrap pickups for that). It is a killer strat that rivals a great MIJ Strat.

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

Don't forget G&L both the US made ones (on Fender Ave in Fullerton) and the Indonesian Tribute series

[@Jeremya74]

Great guitars!

[@jackprice7828]

Wow those pickups sound fantastic on that Tokai!

[@gambitash166]

I was never into strats, I played a Silver Sky SE. It's now the guitar I play almost exclusively.

[@RyanBlue-z5j]

Ibanez AZ! There's a model for everyone's price point.

[@between2guitars331]

I’m primarily a Gibson player. My main guitar is a 2021 50’s standard, but the 57 Murphy Lab LPC I just picked up won’t leave my hands! I don’t happen to own FENDER strat. The reason for that is because I got Silver Sky SE last year. Before I got the guitar, I AB’d it against a few different strats including an American Pro 2. I liked the neck on the PRS better! The only problem with it now is that my son took if from me! Maybe if he doesn’t give it back I can get a Ded Spec?

[@jamesbeylik1]

I feel very confident playing a Fender Strat hard. That’s part of the Strat thing. With Silver Sky, I wouldn’t feel the same way. I haven’t played a Silver Sky, but with every PRS I’ve played, it feels delicate. It’s an instrument you’re compelled to be gentle with. It makes you play differently.

[@kellygreenii]

@@jamesbeylik1 That’s true of every guitar. Each has its own personality, and you play differently because the guitar sounds and feels different. I love strats. But the Silver Skye beats Fender IF you want a vintage Strat sound at an affordable price.

[@avjake]

Every time I watch Five Watt World, I'm reminded to come watch some of your Demos. I just love your unique, beautiful playing.

[@GarrettMaple]

In this context ‘Purist’ = Ignorant. The longer version is basically someone who is stuck in the past and paying too much to play sub-par heritage style instruments just because of a headstock logo.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Yes, brand conscious, almost to the point of blindness.

[@between2guitars331]

Not everyone who pays a lot of money for a guitar is ignorant. My Murphy Lab LPC (3 pups and a bigsby) is the best guitar I’ve ever played, and I’ve played a burst. Specifically the burst that used to live at Gibson Garage in their vault. My Murphy lab is a new 2021 that the dealer had for a while and gave me a deal. All that being said, my se silver Sky is such a good guitar that I don’t see the need to drop 4 to 5 grand on a custom shop strat anytime soon. But to your point, I did choose my se silver Sky over an American Pro 2. But let’s be real. The silver Sky se is NOT a custom shop guitar. My Les Paul standard isn’t either. Nothing to do with looks. It’s all materials and build quality.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

@@between2guitars331 good for you. It’s always a case of “if the shoe fits (which it GENERALLY does)…, else walk on by.

[@between2guitars331]

@@jimmcdougall9973says the person starting crap who’s not only too poor to afford a Harley Benton, but too stupid to realize that I was agreeing with you!

[@jaykuchera5058]

Great ! Could you do a similar piece on Tele's ? And you thoughts on split HSH mods? Thanks always, John

[@fredbloggs42]

I have a Godin Progression Plus. Made in Canada. HSS format with Seymour Duncan mini humbucker. Maple neck. Flatter radius than typical strat, but amazing quality, sound and playability.

[@southpaw335]

I finally got the chance to try a PRS Silver Sky SE (Lefty) just last week. At the price it is really very good. Honestly it was hard to fault, If i’m being picky the truss rod cover and tuner buttons are ugly that’s about it - for me the neck profile was a little too full for my preference but i know it suits a lot of people, if i find one 2nd hand one day i could learn to live with it (or have it slimmed down a fraction) My current favourite of my ‘strats’ is a mid 90’s USA G&L legacy with Fralin pickups in it (i reach for that one more often than my 2 x fenders these days)

[@moxy1972]

I have 3 American and 1 Mexican made fender Stratocasters, love them all, but my core silver sky is the best s type I’ve ever played. And my go to gigging guitar!

[@ToastandJam52]

I am in Canada where there is extremely limited choices of just about everything. Trying to get anything beyond the Gibson/Epiphone Fender/Squier is an uphill battle. Having said that I think a very good alternative the Fender/Squier Strat is the G&L Tribute series. Sadly, these are not available in Canada anymore and my enquires to G&L go unanswered. Another good option which I would like to try is the Sterling (made by Music Man) range of guitars. They start at $250 and go up to $800. At least on paper, they look a good alternative.

[@deandee8082]

no UPS or Fed Ex up there?

[@KaiserVonWilhelm1]

I have a Silver Sky SE, just got a full setup done on it recently after owning it about a year. It is a wonderful guitar. Best compliment I can give it, is that every single time I pick it up that I am inspired to play more. As someone with children, its hard to carve out time to sit down and play uninterrupted. Then when I do get the chance, it can be challenging to get into the "mood" or vibe to play and get lost in it. My Silver Sky does this well for me, just a few mins and I am grooving. Also just on the hardware side of things, I am definitely a rosewood fretboard snob and I didn't like how all the Fender offerings in that price range were not just Indian Laurel, but that crap orangy looking grainy Laurel that just is horrid to play in my opinion. Just applying that criteria at this price range, lead me to PRS as best value.

[@088Noir]

I’ve bought countless guitars and finally settled with one that can do both - Charvel GG but the main reason wasn’t sound: I live in a place that has humidity levels 😂 and the neck would change day by day so I sold my American Tele and bought the Charvel (roasted maple neck) 3rd position is a Tele ( it has a switch to do the coil split)

[@tbone2451]

What were your impressions on the silver sky se ?

[@Fawkes1978]

A little bit of love in the boutique section for MB Guitars...

[@TheJamieAbraham]

Have you tried Nash guitars John?

[@tristan6967]

Any particular reason for leaving out the Nick Johnston Schecter? Radius too flat?

[@bruwallbillich]

The 14 in radius probably put it in the super Strat category. But very cool guitar!

[@shanetx81]

I want to like this guitar. I love implying. Super thin neck, super flat radius are both strong no for my dumb old hands.

[@vpovince1001]

@@tristan6967 yeah I had a Nick Johnston recently and it was a touch too flat for me. I used to love the 14 to 16 inch radius. I use 12 now which is perfect.

[@akjl01]

Is there much of a difference between the American made PRS and the SE..? I have played the SE and it's a nice thing..

[@GarrettMaple]

Not as much as you might think, and definitely not £2k+ difference!

[@akjl01]

@GarrettMaple I don't even think the SE is worth £650. It plays nice but it's got a bit of £350ish about it. I suppose they've got to make some profit though.

[@GarrettMaple]

@@akjl01 Disagree on that, unless you can name an objectively ‘better’ S type guitar for £350 🤷‍♂️

[@kellygreenii]

@@akjl01 The pickups are better on the S2s and Core series guitars. I think the tuners are also higher quality…and there are more color and finish options. But the fact is that PRS SE’s are better guitars than many other lines at twice the price. (Or more if we start talking Gibson….) PRS’s are very consistent but you occasionally find that magical one. I picked up a used S2 Custom 24 that is one of my best-playing, best sounding guitars. I don’t know if the previous owner put Core series pickups in it…or if someone just caught lightning in a bottle with this thing. But if, God Forbid, there was a fire? That guitar would be one of the first I’d try to save.

[@JCleggy]

I dig my Momose from Japan

[@cyrildavid]

Same! Have an MT2-STD and an MC2/MV

[@ksharpe10]

Only way to get one of those tokai's is it gets shipped direct from japan to the usa. They just seized alot of Chibson's trying to enter the USA, so that is Chancy at best. They are on Reverb but ship from JAPAN.

[@pauljohnston1560]

That is an absolutely beautiful clean tone … wow👍

[@michaelschneider7590]

Suhr, among the pricey choices?

[@theystoleitfromus]

How is it that I read about Tokai in the Guitar Handbook a lifetime ago, then never heard about them again until now when everyone seems to be talking about them?

[@TCMx3]

the US core silver sky has had several different pickups, all with the same name and with completely silent changes. I like PRS but it's kind of a shitty thing to do IMO but not to a major degree. Anyway yeah if you can afford it there are lots of smaller shops making great guitars. K-Line, SVL, Lentz would be my top picks for traditional guitars since Nacho insists on using ash for everything.

[@martin_gemme]

For me having the logo on the headstock is owning a part of history , but i get that is not the case for everyone

[@ramencurry6672]

I don’t fully get on board with that. There are famous guitarists that break the rule and play Fender “knock off” style guitars and it actually makes them look more unique and less mainstream looking

[@johne.1011]

PRS SS has the very right headstock...the Fender Strat Custom Shop should be advertised as an alternate for a PRS SS...'cause the PRS SS is just a better guitar.

[@musiccreation1198]

Michael Tuttle and Shabat at the higher end. I've yet to play a Fender CS Strat I prefer to my Tuttle. The Silver Sky is a bargain...especially used.

[@juanmacaceres2702]

I have a 2011 mexi Strat. It is still the best guitar I've played, it just works for me. I like the neck shape, holds tune incredibly well, and I have it set up to play perfectly. I prefered it so much that I sold a Custom Shop Gibson, because this cheap strat played better

[@jamesmarkham7489]

The Vintage V6 and tagima models are both excellent for their price points

[@anthonymoore1705]

suhr and anderson, make great guitars too,

[@alenv360]

Greco strats from 76-82 are for me no1 for 50s 60s strat vibe, hand crafted vintage deep body contours, great necks, excellent Maxon pickups, made in fameous Fujigen factory that later just continued to make Fender JV and discontinued Greco Fender models ..unbeatable in my opinion.

[@areallyboredguy5825]

There’s also G&L, legacy, s-500. The USA made guitars aren’t terribly expensive and the level of build is custom shop. Mine was 1250 and I am eying another that’s 1650, USA made small team custom shop quality for that price is… unbeatable.

[@Youngster543210]

My no.1 is a G&L Legacy.

[@Colin-rg7gt]

About 30 years ago I bought a Yamaha Pacifica brilliant wile not a Strat or Square or Gibson on the budget I had and still have £129,00 was a good deal.

[@timcat88]

Have you ever tried a MB guitar from Mike Bowes from England? AMAZING S Style guitars...

[@mojo6778]

I have a Fender American Pro II strat, love the neck, but you can see body seams thru the Dark Knight finish, and the pickups seem a tad dark to my ears. Alternate S type, I have a G&L Tribute Legacy - Indonesia built, feels great and I have a Shijie STE Pro HSS with sst frets. The Shijie, my go to, is better build quality than the Fender and both the G&L as well as the Shijie sound more "Stratty" than the Pro II. Just my opinion....

[@sixstringoverdrive6837]

I have the same guitar. I swapped the pickups for a set of fat 50’s and now love it

[@Youngster543210]

Shijie guitars are amazing.

[@johnplaystheguitar123]

So many strat options. Sire. Harley Benton. G&L. K line. Suhr. Ibanez. Tokai. Schecter. Levinson. Artist.

[@stefangranberg9319]

Vintage, FGN

[@johnplaystheguitar123]

@stefangranberg9319 good shout. Fgn and vintage are great. Vola too but I don't think they have a vintage spec model. More super strat.

[@davidhdolan]

G&L are awesome alternative to Fender

[@robyates136]

Now do the same but teles :) just sold both my Fenders (strat and tele) because they tried to do more modern things and lost the essence of their unique tone somewhat. Kept my Silver Sky SE. Now I need the same in a tele. Off to Japan in January so if I'm really lucky I'll uncover a bargain Japanese-made potentially beat-up old tele to love and cherish and make my own like I've done with my two Tokai LPs. I'm also seeing early Silver Skys appearing on Reverb in the USA for $1500-1600. That is seriously tempting.

[@kellygreenii]

@@robyates136 Strats and Tele’s have always been the guitar equivalent of a “pedal platform” amp. Ever since Hendrix restrung a right handed guitar to play left-handed….and Van Halen put a humbler in the bridge slot. It sounds to me that you have a particular sound/tone that you’re hearing, and are chasing after that. Good! Hope you find it.

[@peterhall4852]

Fazley Sheriff Plus(the plus is important) £150 .Fantastic guitar-not just for beginners.

[@pedroleal7118]

Jet Harley Benton and Sire, are making killer guitars with incredible value for the price ! For non-brand snobs , but it's not about the gear, it's about the Music!

[@andrewbecker3700]

The MusicMan Cutlass isn't so much a copy, but an evolution of the Strat. The Sterling Cutlass CT50 HSS I have, is the only S type in my collection. I don't consider my PRS NF3 a direct copy, but another model thats derived from the Strat. Both of them are way more versatile than a 3 singlecoil layout. I have absolutely zero interest in any Fender products currently being built. They bore me. But I'm contemplating a DYI build kit of a Jazzmaster style guitar with a hipshot bridge and P90's. It's the only pickup type I'm lacking in any of my guitars. Might just buy a Harley Benton and upgrade some parts on it instead. Peace!

[@shanetx81]

I strongly urge the partscaster build route. I finished a strat recently that I’d put up with my most expensive guitars easily and it was a delightful project to do. I detailed the parts in a different comment, but a little patience and bargain hunting can wind you up with a guitar that is YOURS in a way the HB (only a little shade) will never be. I’m already idly planning my next build. I’m not a swapper on these guitars though. That would certainly change the math around.

[@adrianfarrugia9176]

Xotic XSC. Only strat I prefer to my Silver Sky.

[@zitfril]

I made my own Custom Shop Strat.

[@ecki3053]

LsL - but more comparable to the more expensive Fenders

[@ScottStieg]

i like the 'child-safe' round edges that strats and their clones have. It compliments their boring, uninspired shape. G&L are nice

[@sirhilaryflange]

For what it’s worth i have a Vintage brand V 6 icon and to me it’s far superior to any standard strat I’ve owned/ played in the past, be that American/Mexican. Build quality, hardware and electrics all spot on. I’ve sold on many strats in the past but the V6 is definitely a keeper. £500 so an absolute bargain.

[@Portekberm]

You should try a USA mustang btw

[@tomaslopez2940]

I'm guessing the reasons you didn't include Sire is also why you didn't include the Yamaha Pacifica? I think you're mixing up S-types with superstrats. When I think of superstrats, I'm thinking of going all the way with all the mods that were introduced in the 1980's like extra frets, slightly modified bodies, locking trem systems, and humbuckers. S-types may have one or a couple of these upgrades but not all of them. I like to have all three: the classic strat, the S-type, and the superstrat. For the first category, I would only go with the original Fender rather than pick up a knockoff like PRS makes (though I will admit I got and enjoyed their SE CE24 sandblasted after seeing your video on it).

[@jimmcdougall9973]

I think it’s more a case of how they’re categorised today, in which case John is correct. However, to me, along with the locking nut, a super Strat would have a Floyd Rose bridge.

[@guitargrandpa282]

Biases not withstanding as an owner of both two and six point fender trems and the PRS trem I can state without hesitancy that the PRS trem is the best of the bench. works best and stays in tune. In my experience at least.

[@guitargrandpa282]

Sorry for the typos.

[@jimmccall8030]

Harley Benton ST Modern Plus for under $400 plays and feels better than any Strat I have played

[@acemodean]

John page classic ashburn

[@tbluesboye]

Tokai

[@skateboardguy1095]

FGN!

[@bryantwalley]

You can always yell who is the best by looking at who everyone else compares themselves to.

[@vpovince1001]

One name VOLA !!

[@briandennehy6380]

Yes my Vola OZ TNC is awesome

[@lenwhatever4187]

"does it sound like a strat?" Which strat? really, does a strat "sound like a strat?"

[@robinjgill]

I've Heard good things about Schecter. Never played one.

[@joecarter-music]

Atkin guitars. Their electrics are killer!

[@tymanngruter1808]

The Tokai strats from about 1980 till 1984 are the first real good guitars instead of any American Fender stratocaster for me! Not easy to come by.....

[@tonyro1805]

What about the Schecter Nick Johnson ?

[@paulcrowder]

Are guitar builders ripping us off?

[@travgpeters1]

i thought you said you had a smelly telly ?

[@slimsantilli4476]

I had an SX strat that sounded more like a strat than a strat.

[@ToddNiven]

Greco strats are great!

[@worthmoremusic]

If you buy guitars with the intention down the line of selling it, then yeah probably having Fender on the headstock will most likely matter...otherwise the name on the headstock shouldn't matter nor where the instrument is made matter... Do you like the guitar, ? Does it play well, feel good in you hands, sound good, is not heavy, etc..?? ....then who cares about the name on the headstock...unless you have full intentions of selling it...sad but true. It's all so subjective anyway....

[@Jeremya74]

You didn't like the tele because you already had that color..it wasn't a one of a kind

[@brynjones7371]

Why buy something that sounds like a Fender when you can buy a Fender at a reasonable price and have that all important logo.

[@cyrildavid]

😂 did I detect saracasm?

[@povilasbanys]

Tokai ❤

[@10sassafras]

It’s hard to buy a good Strat from Fender. All their upper instruments are fantasy land relics or “signature” models. The ultra and ultra luxe models are extraordinarily ugly. Never has there been a better time for them to clear out the bogus guitars and rediscover quality, professional instruments. The American Standard is a 40yo lesson they could relearn.

[@robertodiferdinando]

Tutti bravi a copiare....la Fender Stratocaster e' unica e insostituibile!!!!

[@Jagermeistery]

Its funny PRS Silver Sky is more Fender than Fender itself..

[@edlicari3909]

Kiesel Delos all day!!!!

[@robertandre778]

Harley Benton

[@fleetadmiralsidiqi1941]

Is Fender/Squier no longer selling junk guitars? Second, are they no longer charging 2-5x more for features other American/Mexican/Asian builders offer at the lower price points? Meaning, is Fender/Squire no longer playing on people's emotions or low information purchasing impulses?

[@nuendo2496]

PRS.? Ahahahaha…nope….nice try though……

[@achill3usoverclocking874]

Do yourself a favour and try one :D

[@Neoma1999]

Why not PRS? They sound amazing to my ear!😅

[@kellygreenii]

Don’t laugh until you’ve actually played one. I’ve played Strats for years and was stunned the first time I played a Silver Skye. PRS managed to build a *new* guitar that sounds like a vintage Strat right off the rack.

[@BrianDonnelly68]

Wow..an authentic American guitar company that the owner is actively engaged in quality control, craftsmanship and innovation? I guess you only like the American guitar companies that are shells of what they once were and run by venture capitalists.

[@GarrettMaple]

Looks like we found the guy who comments on a video about guitars but doesn’t know anything about guitars 😂