Tom DeLong Strat

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I was thinking of buying the Tom DeLong Strat but was balking at the price. Now they've come out with a Squire version of the same guitar, at 1/3 the cost. I wonder what the difference is.

I sorta like the surf green finish, and "one pickup, one knob" is the sort of setup I can relate to.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

erik · Posted 27 Aug 2002 2:37 pm

b0b, are you fixin for a NCS rocker? LOL

I played a Squier Affinity Strat last week that played well. Not a tone machine but the neck was nice. Felt like a 9.5 which surprised me. I think the difference between the two you mention is where they're made and probably detail issues... maybe pick-ups. Read the reviews at HC.

erik · Posted 27 Aug 2002 2:44 pm

I just read my copy of the latest MF catalog. Seems the more expensive one has better paint, hardware, pick-up. It's probably made in NA vs Asia for the cheaper one.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Hey b0b,
I don't think I'd like that guitar as a main axe because of the sparse electronics. I like to switch between pickups and such to get a lot of different sounds. If I did have a TD strat I'd probably use it for only one type of music or maybe set it up for slide. I currently use an old Epiphone Genesis tuned to open E for that.

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney tuning.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I'm really not a good guitarist. I just want something that will get one sound - rock rhythm. That's the only thing I can do on guitar, and I even mess that up most of the time. One tone is fine.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I was able to get specs on both guitars, and here are the differences:

	Squire	Fender
Fingerboard	9.5" radius	7.25" radius
Tuners	die-cast	Fender/Ping Vintage Style
Bridge	synchronous tremolo	hard tail American strings-thru-body with stainless steel saddles
Pick Guard	1-ply	3-ply pearloid
Pickup	Duncan designed Detonator humbucking	Seymour Duncan Invader humbucking
Finish	Polyurethane	Polyester
Other	white plastic parts (?)	Pearl dot position inlays roller string tree bullet truss rod adjustment nut

What do you think? Are those differences worth $300?

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 28 August 2002 at 04:16 PM.]

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Why a would anybody care about that stuff? How about good tone, stays in tune, feels OK?

erik · Posted 28 Aug 2002 5:37 pm

Well, all i know is you can wear Polyester but not Polyurethane.

I think that comparison says a lot about quality and what you can expect. If you are just bangin' out chords chances are the Squire will work fine. Though they say it is easier to play chords on a 7.5 than a 9.5. I guess it all depends on your hands. I'm doing it with a 12. On the cheaper one you will probably have to either block the trem or crank down the spring claw to keep it in tune. The frets will most likely be better finished on the higher model.

One thing i'd like to add: Strat design guitars can have a problem with sustain... particularly the high E. I've picked up ones that sing and ones that are duds. This is one aspect to consider when buying sight unseen.

[This message was edited by erik on 28 August 2002 at 06:42 PM.]

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Earnest, that's what I'm trying to figure out from the specs.

Erik, what do those numbers 7.5 and 9.5 (and your 12) mean? My only guitar is a Harmony Rocket. Is there a way I can measure its radius for reference?

I don't think I'm worried much about sustain. I just chunka-chunka when I play guitar. It's not like I play lead or anything.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

ajm · From: Los Angeles

Bob, for what it's worth.....

I'd go for a Mexican Strat, or a Jimmie Vaughn, or an American Standard. I'd stay away from the Squires, but the next step up Mexican Strats may surprise you. These are "real" Strats, and there is a reason (actually many reasons) that they are so popular. You can probably get them for $250 up through $800 new depending on the model.

You say that you only need one tone for bashing, but I gotta believe that you wouldn't be happy for long. You'd walk into a music store one day, grab a multi-pickup "real" Strat, hear it clean with maybe a little chorus and/or reverb, and that would be all she wrote. Single coils versus humbuckers is not an issue: if you're using Boogies it's not going to matter when it comes to sustain :-)

The fretboard radius of 7.25" is like the older Strats from the early 60's. The 9 inch is a good new vs. old compromise, and 12 inches is obviously flatter. I personally would go with the 7.25 or 9.

Buy a real Strat.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

But it's not like I'm ever going to even try to be a guitarist. If I take it to a gig, it'll only get used on one or two songs. I really want a "one sound" instrument, like my old guitar but with a solid body so it won't feed back.

I still don't understand this fretboard radius thing. I'm used to my Harmony Rocket, which I've been playing for 40 years (without improving!). How can I measure what the radius is on it?

nick allen · From: France

b0b-
Some of the engineering types out there may have a better idea, but the only way I know of to measure the radius is to get a large piece of cardboard, and draw a circle with a given radius (take a piece of string 12 inches long, for example, hold one end down, hold the other end and a pencil, and draw the circle - you only need a small part of it, actually...). Then cut the cardboard along the line, take the piece of cardboard that was *outside* the circle, and see if it fits on your fretboard... Keep trying different radiuses (Radii?) until you find one that fits...
(I've read this - I have to admit I never tried it

)
I seem to remember the old Harmonys as having a pretty flat fretboard. I do think flat v. curved (like so many other things

) is *very* much a question of personal preference, and the physical make-up of your hands... I also find that the shape of the *back* of the neck makes a BIG difference for me... that's why I would never buy a guitar via mail order.
For your purposes, why not go the Lindley route and get an inexpensive Danelectro, or something on those lines...? (or time-share with Frank E on a Les Paul

)
Nick

erik · Posted 29 Aug 2002 12:11 am

If you want to "chunka-chunka" then definitely stick with a humbucker. Your Harmony is probably on the flat side for fretboards. In the world of electric guitars 7.5 is quite unique except for classic strats. Also, a Strat style guitar has a longer scale by 3/4 - 1 inch vs Gibson style guitars. If you have short fingers an open C will feel different. I guess you don't live near any major outlets, huh? I'm fortunate to be within an hour of 3. Given you criteria i wouldn't be afraid to buy the cheaper. The 9.5 radius is much more adaptable. But, it's ultimately YOUR decision.

Michael Holland · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Bobby,

You'd probably be happy with the Squier model for just plunkin' some rhythm. The radius refers to the curvature of the fretboard. Flatter radii are better for string bending because the note doesn't 'choke out' as it's bent. You won't notice much difference for just chording, and it will be fine to play lead, too. These are subtle differences and just for the record, the higher number is the flatter radius.

The Squire won't have any resale value, but then it hardly costs anything.

Steve Stallings · From: Houston/Cypress, Texas

You want a nice chunka chunka guitar that actually might sound good? Forget the Delonge then. Look for a Mexi Tele. New at MF $349.... but I'll bet you can find one cheaper. BTW, is something wrong with using your Rocket? I played one thirty years ago in a garage band and it worked just fine

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas
Emmmons/Mullen/Remington
Evans

Michael Holland · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Really, just the fact that this spike-through-the-lip, skateboard punk who considers "old school" to mean Green Day has his own signature model Fender indicates only one thing - IT'S SO OVER FOR ME!

Old Cranky Mike

I'd still wipe up the stage with his boney ass with my AMERICAN MADE Les Paul and Mesa. Ha!

Steve Stallings · From: Houston/Cypress, Texas

Mike... I am so with you! And just what the heck does "Blink 182" mean

psst... you get him from the right with the Paul, I'll get him on the other side with my Comanche..... He'll never know what hit him

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Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas
Emmmons/Mullen/Remington
Evans

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

To me, the appealing things about this model are:

Strat styling
One pickup
One knob
Surf green color

I don't like the idea of butchering a multi-pickup Strat to get it down to one pickup, one knob.

The only thing that really concerns me about the Squire is its tailpiece. I think that through-the-body tailpieces make a guitar feel a lot better because of the resonance.

The other feature I really like with the Fender is the pearloid pick guard, but it's really nut very important.

The fact that a 7.5" radius fretboard is "quite unique" (according to erik) is a strike against the Fender in my book. I don't want a guitar that would feel unusual to most players. I think that the 9.5 radius Squire will probably be more to my liking.

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback on this. It has helped me a lot.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

nick allen · From: France

Just one other thought - as Erik mentioned, the Strats have a 25 1/2 inch scale length. I'm not sure if "chunka-chunka" means the "Chuck Berry-E chord shape-barre with your little finger pumping up and down on the 6th note"... but if so, the shorter the scale length the better (OK, easier!) - I'm sure you must have someone among your acquaintances with a Strat or a Tele - it really would be worth trying one just to be sure you are comfortable with that aspect.
Nick

Alvin Blaine · From: Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA

If you can go to a music store that has both and A/B the two see what you like and if its $300 worth of diferance.
I love single pickup guitars, my absolute favorite guitar is a '61 Fender Custom Esquire. They are simple and perfect works of art.

If you like the Squire you can get some Gotoh Vintage tuners for about $33 from Stewmac , that will help stay in tune. And if you realy like the pearloid pick guard you can get a blank from stewmac for $32.45 and cut it to fit. And if you like the sound of the Duncan Invader P/U those run about $75. And the strings do run though the tremolo bridge on the Squire, just put at least three of the spings on and lose the arm for it.
If you like the way the neck feels on the Squire for about $140 you can make it look, sound, and stay in tune just as well as the Fender one.
Musicians Friend has the Squire at $180 if you add another $140 your at $340 and the Fender(made in Mexico)is $530 but comes with a gig bag.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

ajm-I've got a Squire Strat I paid 150.00 or something for, and it sounds good, stays in tune, plays like butter. Remember, we're talking about screwed-together planks here.
And Michael Holland-----YOU GO, BROTHER!!!
It chaps my butt to see guitar companies introduce "signature" models, from guys who can't play. Martin has come out models from people I've never heard of.
"Get yourself a guitar, get it in tune,
You'll be a'rockin'and a'rollin' soon."

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Nick, I never did get the hang of that little finger Chuck Berry thing. I just grab chords with a fist. Sometimes I do bar chords, but they wear out my hand real fast. Most of my chords are just on the middle 4 strings. Real basic stuff.

I've never heard Tom DeLong play, but I bet he's better than me!

Alvin, I think you just made the decision for me. The difference isn't worth $300 dollars.

Stephen, thanks for sharing your experience on a Squire Strat. It was encouraging.

I'll let y'all know if I buy the guitar.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Rainer Hackstaette · From: Bohmte, Germany

Bobby,

the 7.25 radius is not "quite unique", in fact, almost all of the old Teles and Strats before the American Standard series have that radius, as well as the current Vintage series. The 9.5 radius came later. (Go to the Fender/Squier site at [url=http://www.fender.com)]www.fender.com)[/url] A flatter (i.e. larger) radius makes string bending a little easier as you don´t have to push the string "uphill". For chord work, especially barred chords, the 7.5 radius is a little more comfortable IMHO.

I can understand the "no frills" attitude of "one sound only": plug it in and off you go. But you can do that with any guitar regardless of how many pickups and control knobs it has. Rotate all the controls to "10", select one PU, and you´re set.

You will have to equalize the guitar´s sound anyway. What sounds good for your Sierra will probably be too fat for rhythm guitar. With a the one-PU-Strat you will have to do ALL your sound-tweaking with the amp. With 2 or 3 PUs you can select a fatter or thinner or hollower sound with a flick of a switch or a turn of the tone control. Dial in the tone you want during the sound check and then leave it alone. A 3 PU Squire Strat gives you 5 distinct sounds that you CAN use, but DON´T HAVE TO. A one-PU-guitar leaves you no choice.

The only drawback with the non-signature Squier Strats is: I don´t think they come in surf green.

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Remington D 10 8+7, Sierra Crown D 10 gearless 8+8, Sierra Session S 14 gearless 8+5, Peavey Session 400 LTD

erik · Posted 31 Aug 2002 6:12 am

Rainer,
There are many guitar manufacturers. A 7.5 radius is unique to certain eras of Fender guitars.

Considering b0b is not a rhythm ace he is probably better off with a humbucker as the notes will sound louder, and longer, JMO.

b0b, have you looked at the the Squier Double Fat Tele Deluxe?

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Ranier - I wouldn't use my steel amp for guitar. The thing I like about 1 pickup, 1 knob is that it won't accidentally get set wrong. If it doesn't sound right, I'll just adjust the amp.

Erik - I don't know a much about guitars, but it seems to me that the Tele is mostly a country lead guitar. You don't see rock players using them very often.

I've played with a lot of Tele players, and they always have more bite than what I want for rock rhythm. The neck pickup on a Tele also doesn't thrill me for rock rhythm, and I'd probably keep hitting the pickup switch by accident.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

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