Beepster
(at 6'4") until my mid twenties

How tall are you now?

craigb

Beepster
 
I hear ya. I was 28" waist (at 6'4") until my mid twenties.

 
Yep, me too!
 
Even now, with my over-sized gut (that I'd love to lose), I'm still only wearing 34" waist pants...
 

Pfft. Both of my waists are still 26''.

Rain
I already have the right start. The first quality instrument I ever bought, it was my main and only guitar until a few years ago when I moved to Les Paul's and SG. It's the oldest thing I own, everything else has been left behind, given away or sold.
 

 
21 years of black strat. No mod, no nothing, although she is now in dire need of some TLC. Eventually, I suppose...

You should get blackie fixed up Rain. I love the versatility of being able to flip from my LP to ES335 to Strat, depending in the song and tone I'm after. I've learned to really appreciate the attributes of each.

I has a 1985 Japanese Black Strat with active electronics and a single space bridge humbucker.

I don't have a strat, would really like one.

Hi,
 
I think I would rather have the WRONG START!

I'm a Ibanez guy. Had a Jackson Custom from 92 and had to sell it to get more Ibanez's. The rest of my guitars i have owned and own today is Ibanez. Will newer buy others.

michaelhanson

Rain
I already have the right start. The first quality instrument I ever bought, it was my main and only guitar until a few years ago when I moved to Les Paul's and SG. It's the oldest thing I own, everything else has been left behind, given away or sold.
 

 
21 years of black strat. No mod, no nothing, although she is now in dire need of some TLC. Eventually, I suppose...

You should get blackie fixed up Rain. I love the versatility of being able to flip from my LP to ES335 to Strat, depending in the song and tone I'm after. I've learned to really appreciate the attributes of each.

I've often started planning to have it fixed. Then I start thinking about the things I'd want upgraded and before long I end up with an entirely different guitar in mind. Maybe someday I'll get it done. But it won't be cheap - actually, that's part of the problem.
 
For the same kind of money, I could probably get a brand new Mexican strat - which would also allow me to opt for a rosewood neck, something I'm more interested in at this point.
 
In fact, I suspect that besides the tuners and the bridge, pretty much everything else needs fixing or replacement. Not to mention that if I had the choice, I'd probably put a classic bridge on it. So that leaves me with tuners. lol

The only thing left original on mine is the body and the bridge. Everything else has been replaced overtime. I put a new neck on it last year, rather than do a refret. I’ve done all of the work myself though, so that helps. I mostly would watch for used parts in good condition off eBay or other sites.

Used is the way to go when it comes to modifying a worn out Strat or making a Pseudo Strat Partscaster .
A lot of people sink all kinds of money into " The Thrill Of The Chase " types of guitars they have bought and eventually went out and modded .
Once they get bored or if they have their eye on something else they usually find out that they won't be able to get back the money they sunk into their guitar ... some guys will sell them at a loss . Others guys may just put the guitar up for sale a separate parts ..ex ...neck w machines ,  empty body or with electronics ...pick ups only ...they may even sell off all the old stuff that came with the guitar ...
it takes patience to find the deals ...I have gotten some good deals off those type of sellers ...
 
The main Strat I have I bought new in 86 ..she is an E Series American Standard ...right around 91 my neck pick up went MIA and died . I was playing out a lot back then and I wanted to try something different ...
I went out and bought a new pick guard and threw a Gibson P 90 in the middle position , then added  a Hum bucking PAF for the neck slot and a Dimarzio prototype pick up I had gotten off Steve B in the bridge ...haven't  had a problem w it since 
 
If I ever decided to sell my Strat , since I'm still an unknown player w out a signature rig and set up  , I would be better off just getting another standard configed 3 single coil set up of quality and placing it on my guitar and keep my custom Start wiring / config for another Axe ..
Lollar , Don Mare , Dimarzio , Fender or what ever  would work nice and help me get a good price on my 31 year old Fender Strat
 
Kenny