guitar question - is this a good deal?

Special K

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2000
7,098
0
76
I've been playing acoustic guitar for 2 yrs. now and was looking to get an electric sometime this summer. I went to a couple music stores to try out some entry-level models (mainly fender, squier, and ibanez) and decided that a standard mexican fender strat would be the one for me to get. Originally I was just going to buy a new one but I have recently been looking on ebay to see how much these are going for compared to a new one and found this:

link

I was just wondering:

1. Does the fact that it is a 2001 model matter much, since it's mint condition (according to the seller anyway)? Are there any significant differences between 2001 and newer models?

2. It has a maple fretboard, but all the guitars I tried in the music store were rosewood. Is this a huge difference? Will a guitar with a maple fretboard feel significantly different when playing than one with a rosewood fretboard, especially considering I've only been playing for 2 years? I would just go back to the music store and see if they have any maple ones to try but I won't have time to do that before this auction ends. If it's a big deal I'll just pass on this guitar, but right now the price seems pretty good, AFAIK.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Looks like a decent guitar to start on an electric with. The year doesn't matter at all (1959 Les Pauls are teh shiz :) ), so it's mainly what condition it's in.

I've played both maple and rosewood fretboards and I like the feel of rosewood better, as maple seemed to me like I was playing on glass for some reason. I guess it was just finished differently or something. If you can get it for that price, I'd say go for it :)
 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Looks like a good guitar. Years do matter because Fender was having quality trouble there for a while, but if it's a 2001 it should be ok. Year to year there are no major differences; Fender is not exactly what I would call an innovative company - they've been milking the basic Stratocaster design for 50 years with only a handful of real innovations along the way. Sunburst is nice. There's no major difference between maple and rosewood - I just like how rosewood looks. Some say maple sounds brighter, but I think you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
I basically had that exact guitar, just a different color. I can't tell the difference b/t the maple and rosewood neck (my cousin had the same guitar, his was maple, mine rosewood). Regarding feel - I couldn't tell one either. Only the really hardcore players who have played for years on massive stacks with vintage Gibsons will really be able to tell the difference. That guitar is good enough for a newb to electric.
 

Rudee

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
11,218
2
76
I'm currently shopping for an Ibanez JEM series guitar. I've narrowed it down to 10 models.
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
15,965
1
0
My old Jackson/Charvel has the maple fretboard and I like it better, but that's what I've played for years.