Reading what ya put up there about the Washburn being better than the Fender... I will gladly put up my WI-80 Custom to a Strat... I've played several Strats and even started on a Strat.. this Washburn I own is a smoother, better feeling guitar. With the Humbuckers on there also makes it easier to get those tones that I've been looking for in some songs too. Price tag on mine was $1.7k so it's not just going to be one you will jump right into unless you've got some throw away cash you can play with. I still play the Strat on some of those songs that I try to emulate though that has that CLEAN sound though with NO affecting tones to it.