Is it worth to get an upgrade?

Hey

I have been playing guitar for like 3 years. I have an cheap stratcoaster since 2.5 years. Lately I have started to take guitar more serious so I thought it would be nice with an upgrade but I have read that the guitar got little impact on your tone. So I am kinda confused now if I should keep my guitar and buy something else or just get a new guitar.
What would you recommend? :)

It depends on what you call a "cheap" stratocaster. If you are talking about a squire that came in a "strat pack", it may be worth upgrading. I've read where a lot of people are more than happy with their MiM (Made in Mexico) strats. Others swear by their Squire strats...it really comes down to a matter of preference.

Issues you may have with a cheaper instrument are poor action, inability to stay in tune for an extended period, switches and knobs get noisy and flakey.

If you like your strat, I'd say the best thing to do would be to go to a local music store that would stock higher end American made strats. Try some out and see what you think. You'll either be "OMG, why didn't I upgrade sooner, this is awesome", or you'll be "meh, it seems pretty much like my current guitar".

Could be sometimes your just ready for a "change" ... naturally you would use this urge to change as an opportunity to up-grade. If you think a change would re-ignite your passion for the instrument and maybe motivate you to play/practice more .... then absolutely do it. We didn't all marry our first girlfriend and don't drive the first car we bought. Your current guitar doesn't have feelings - it won't be sad. Provided you have the funds ...go get a new guitar! The economy will be grateful :)

Good Luck - let us know what you get

Originally Posted by: fretsmithYour current guitar doesn't have feelings - it won't be sad. Provided you have the funds ...go get a new guitar! The economy will be grateful :)

Good Luck - let us know what you get

I don't know, my strat jumped out of its stand when I was rearranging things to make room for my PRS. I think it was trying to take a swing at me. Silly thing put a small dent in itself. I think it was jealous :-).

On a serious note...you make a good point about motivation! It's part of what has prodded me to acquire gear over the years. Just don't let it get out of control...at some point you have to focus on improving your playing and all the new gear in the world isn't going to do that for you.

Sorry for the long sig ... I left it enabled to include appropriate info.

In addition to my Gibsons, I used to own a '98 Am Dlx Strat. I was recently longing for something different, so I picked up a Modern Player Tele Plus. 4 bills and this thing rocks!

A new era has dawned on guitars. Cost is no longer an indicator of quality. I've also had Epiphones that were very nice.

Play across all price points and pick what speaks to you. If The One happens to be the one you already own, then you can save munny and maybe buy an amp instead :)

Everything in the guitar chain effect your tone. Where you pick, how you pick, pick-ups, guitar wood, guitar structure, guitar settings, amp setting, effects setting. Even the space you are playing in.
Check out these tutorials.

http://www.guitartricks.com/search.php?search.x=17&search.y=10&search=Submit&query=tone

" Is it worth an up grade" if your going for a guitar with better play-ability then you can get from your present guitar, then go for it.

As for your old guitar, save it for experimentation, back up, guest, or some kid that can afford to buy one.
Just my opinion.. Good luck and hope you find the dream guitar.

Thanks for the help people, I am gonna go to a local music store soon and try out some guitars :)

So today I bought a new Fender MiM Stratocaster, and I have to say that is was a big upgrade from my last guitar. So I am very glad and satisfied that I bought my new guitar :)

Originally Posted by: AleezzzSo today I bought a new Fender MiM Stratocaster, and I have to say that is was a big upgrade from my last guitar. So I am very glad and satisfied that I bought my new guitar :)

Ha, I said the same thing 8 guitars ago !!

Originally Posted by: AleezzzSo today I bought a new Fender MiM Stratocaster, and I have to say that is was a big upgrade from my last guitar. So I am very glad and satisfied that I bought my new guitar :)

Good for you!!! I've heard lots of good things about the MiM Fender instruments.

Have fun with it!!!

What color did you get? I'm partial to the 3 color sunburst that Eric Johnson typically plays.

I bought a black one with maple neck so it looks like Eric Clapton's guitar

Excellent! That's my second favorite strat color.

The maple neck is fantastic. Back in 2000 when I bought mine, I got the maple fretboard because I thought it looked cool. Turns out it has to be the most comfortable fretbaord ever because it is soooo smoooooth!

Best of luck with it!!

I would like to know we're you read guitar doesn't have any impact on tone..I can tell you it most certainly does..".the kind of pick you use makes an impact on tone,and how you use it and were you use that pick can give you different tones....

He's probably referring to the line of thought that most of a player's signature tone comes from the player, not the guitar. Certainly the guitar has an impact, but it's only a small part of the equation.

David Gilmour could hand me his black strat connect to his rig and I would NOT have his tone...I'd have some of it, but I wouldn't sound like David Gilmour (as much as I'd love to!!). I could hand him my Les Paul (or PRS for that matter), connect it to his rig and his tone would be there. Not identical, but it would be there. You would know it was him playing.

Well ya I really can not find where I read this article but it was similar to what maggior described

Tone deos come from your hand but I'd like to amend that the hands (plural). How you fret, how you pick and when you pick and all of that drive the sound. Let face it, an unplugged electric guitar sounds almost the same whether or not it's a cheapy knock off or a really expensive Les Paul. Playing unplugged, you can tell the great player because their sound still comes through the playing.

I like to think of the equipment as a sweetener. Granted, I love me some sweetener!