Heh...I never saw it that way...but it makes a lot of sense...the guy   
   is a materialistic schmuck, isn't he. And yes, that's why real players   
   can't afford classic instruments - they're all hanging on walls in   
   Japan.   
      
   That said, you can buy a perfectly good American-made strat for a few   
   grand, slap some decent pickups in it, and have just as good an   
   instrument as a '54 (possibly better). Fender Custom Shop makes some   
   truly great guitars.   
      
   I've been playing a 1986 reissue of a '57 Mary Kay ever since I bought   
   it - with Seymour Duncan 'classic Strat' pickups - and I'm deeply in   
   love with it after literally thousands of gigs. Wouldn't trade it for   
   any model, any year.   
      
   Ultimately, it's not the guitar, it's not the amp, it's not the   
   effects, it's the player and, specifically, how his or her fingers   
   work on the strings.   
      
   On Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:36:46 GMT, "Karma-kazi"  wrote:   
      
   >   
   >> I think a lot of people treasure their Strats--including the   
   >> 54--because of the way they sound.   
   >>   
   >> love and kisses   
   >> diane   
   >   
   >   
   >OF COURSE!! But "mere musicians" who can actually pay them and get that   
   >great sound out them... cannot afford them..... because "collectors"... who   
   >can't even play.... like the guy in EMG.... are driving up the price.   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)