Hi fam,
Well… I’ve got a dilemma. I just bought a new (used) HM Strat reissue guitar, and I’ve reached critical mass as far as the number of guitars we can afford and fit in our apartment. I had one of the original HM Strats back when I was about 20 years old, and I regret selling it every time I think of it. Make no mistake, the most recent guitar I picked up is a total nostalgic mid-life crisis guitar. LOL. I also have a Fender Players Strat that really fits the bill for how a traditional Strat should feel and sound.
The most important part about a Strat to me is the tone of the neck pickup. I absolutely love players like Eric Johnson, Lincoln Brewster, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and they all played traditional sounding Strats. However, my second favorite electric guitar player of all time is Greg Howe. He is the one that made the HM Strat famous, and he is the reason I purchased my original HM Strat.
I’ve got to tell you, these two guitars may both have the moniker of Strat, but they are extremely different. To make matters worse, I got a great deal on both of these guitars, but the deal I got on the HM was pretty epic. Leave a comment below, and we will see what happens. :D
Chelsea and I agreed that I’ll only keep one of the Fender Stratocasters I currently have, so I need to make a decision. I made a video on the two guitars in question. Could you leave a comment to help me decide?
Have a great day,
Nate
I say keep both: Options-
Sell one of @Chelsea Amber’s guitars. 😂
Tell her the HM is an antiquity/investment not a guitar.
that said go with the HM. And yes the pickup is hotter and I think we both like the mellower/softer sound of the Fender Strat; find a setting on a pedal to give you that sound (if possible). And you haven’t touched the Fender Strat in 6 months.
Keep the Mexican strat. You're never going to get the HM strat to sound like the other strat. I think you would end up regretting selling the Mexican strat.
The Fender Strat would be the more practical choice but you seem a lot more excited about the HM Strat. I would go with the guitar you feel more excited and happy playing. Plus the HM Strat is limited edition and has sentimental value.
First, I agree with Chelsea. It seems like you're at a point with the variety of guitars that you have that a "one in-one out" rule makes sense. Think of it in terms of what you keep saying everyone should do to get better at playing...get focused. Anyway, onto my feedback.
What to keep...HM Strat.
Now for my why. While I liked the sound of the Player Strat better, in my opinion the HM is totally passable for the sound you're want. Putting sound aside, you'll kick yourself again if you don't keep that one. You said that if you don't play a guitar much for six months to a year you look at selling it. See how long…
Hey Nate, I also think you should keep them both. The HM Strat for nostalgia and investment and the Fender Strat for the feel and the sound. Just in the few licks you played with both, no other guitar has that pure bluesy sound than a Fender Strat. Those attractive wooden wall hangers for guitars are very inexpensive and give many more options for storage and display of your collection.