Fender 60th Anniversary Standard Stratocaster (2006)

To celebrate Fender's 60th anniversary, they released this commemorative stratocaster. It's really not that much different from any other standard series strat, so it kinda makes me wonder what the point of it was. The guitar features an alder body, a one piece maple neck with a skunk stripe, 21 frets, dot inlays, two point tremolo, three single coil pickups, one volume, two tones and a five way switch.

UTILIZATION

The guitar is pretty much what you'd expect for being made in Mexico. The fretwork is generally pretty solid, although there are a few dogs out there. I'd put it roughly on par with the American series today, although the American ones tend to be a bit more consistent. The ends were nice and beveled, so I didn't have any issues with cutting my hand up while moving up and down the fretboard. The neck joint had a slight gap in it, but I've seen worse. The nut was cut correctly, so no issues there.

SOUNDS

The guitar had tex-mex pickups in these, and I'm not the biggest fan. To be fair, they're decent pickups for a guitar that costs around this much, but I was hoping to get some better ones for their 60th anniversary strat. The bridge is a bit noisy and bright. It can do gain levels up to rock, but after that, it starts to really lose clarity and bottom end. The in between positions are great for clean and funk lines. The neck pickup is pretty cool for clean tones, although I find myself struggling on it when it comes to playing leads.

OVERALL OPINION

The guitar is pretty decent, but it's really not that different from any other strat out there. You can save money by buying a cheaper standard on eBay or craigslist. That's the way I would go. If you do buy one of these, spend some extra money upgrading the pickups. You'll get much more out of the guitar this way.

To celebrate Fender's 60th anniversary, they released this commemorative stratocaster. It's really not that much different from any other standard series strat, so it kinda makes me wonder what the point of it was. The guitar features an alder body, a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard), 21 frets, dot inlays, two point tremolo, three single coil pickups, one volume, two tones and a five way switch.

UTILIZATION

The guitar is pretty much what you'd expect for being made in Mexico. The fretwork is generally pretty solid, although there are a few dogs out there. I'd put it roughly on par with the American series today, although the American ones tend to be a bit more consistent. The ends were nice and beveled, so I didn't have any issues with cutting my hand up while moving up and down the fretboard. The neck joint had a slight gap in it, but I've seen worse. The nut was cut correctly, so no issues there.

SOUNDS

The guitar had tex-mex pickups in these, and I'm not the biggest fan. To be fair, they're decent pickups for a guitar that costs around this much, but I was hoping to get some better ones for their 60th anniversary strat. The bridge is a bit noisy and bright. It can do gain levels up to rock, but after that, it starts to really lose clarity and bottom end. The in between positions are great for clean and funk lines. The neck pickup is pretty cool for clean tones, although I find myself struggling on it when it comes to playing leads.

OVERALL OPINION

The guitar is pretty decent, but it's really not that different from any other strat out there. You can save money by buying a cheaper standard on eBay or craigslist. That's the way I would go. If you do buy one of these, spend some extra money upgrading the pickups. You'll get much more out of the guitar this way.

Although these are great looking guitars the made in Mexico will turn down a lot of potential buyers. The American made one is only $200 more than this. So I would save your money and get the American made on and then you have a much better feeling and performing guitar. The tone is pretty much the same but the feel is where it lacks in the build department.

This guitar has three single coil pickups which are terrible and will need to be replaced. Neck the neck is just not right for playing. there is a balance or feel to this guitar that feels like a Squire or a cheap Ibanez. It just doesn't have that "it" feeling like most American made Fender Strats .

UTILIZATION


Series: Standard Series

Body: Alder Neck: Maple, Modern 'C' Shape, (Tinted Satin Polyurethane Finish)

Fingerboard: Rosewood, 9.5 in. Radius (241 mm)

No. of Frets: 21 Vintage Style Frets

Scale Length: 25.5 in. (648 mm)

Width at Nut: 1.650 in. (42 mm)

Hardware: Chrome

Machine Heads: Fender/Ping Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines

Bridge: Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo

Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment

Pickups: 3 Tex Mex Single-Coil Strat Pickups

Pickup Switching:
5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup

Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)

Colors: (355) Blizzard Pearl (Polyester Finish)

Strings: Fender Super Bullets 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-3250-003

Unique Features: Vintage Styling, 60th Anniversary Gig Bag, Engraved 60th Anniversary Neck Plate, Satin Tinted Neck, Blizzard Pearl Finish, Tex Mex Single-Coil Strat Pickups

Source: Mexico

SOUNDS

These guitars sound amazing in any format you put them in. They are an essential element of music and will be until judgment day. When it comes to the sound of a Strat there really is no other. I hear guys talk about finding a Strat sounding guitar and look to Suhr and Anderson and completely bypass the sound that started it all. The sound is everyone from Jimmy to John Mayor and in between.
This guitar has a feel to it that the others really don't

I play rock music and this guitar is great for my style. The only problem about this guitar is that it is made in Mexico. So any one worth their salt will not that the production is not as good as the American made. The feel of it just doesn't have the same soul. Even though the ones in America are made by Mexicans in Corona the standards of the build process south of the border are not up to our standards.

OVERALL OPINION

These guitars you can still pick up new even though they have discontinued them. It hasn't been that long since they have been marketing them so many guitar shop still carry them. They run about $799 which is a good price for a Fender STrat but you will still have to replace the pickups and then you are looking at more money. So I would buy a used American made one for less than asking price new for this guitars. Then replace the pickups and I'd be set.

made in mexico, but part of good series. 22 frets, 3 single coil pickups, in short, a strat. Maple fingerboard for more slamming, volume and two tones. A beautiful color, gray pulled slightly yellow, what does not seem cold.

UTILIZATION

The neck is super nice, the interface is well designed, like any strat since the 50s. The sound just comes if you know like a guitar should sound. Only deserves a good vibrato setting on pain of being wrong.

SOUNDS

This is a great guitar for the stage as for the studio. I played in a lot of amps, small silvertone with huge marshall, and found its identity, at the same time adapting to a gear that provides. Queen of crystalline clean tones, but not as snapping a Jazzmaster or a TV, very aggressive but sensible. It responds very well to spin. Even a beautiful chorus embellishes, while the fuzz will hoarse scream.

In short, a strat sounds better than many U.S. I had the honor to test. Perfect in its kind.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 7 years, and it never did me a trafalgar, despite touring. It is reliable, which is a quality for a guitar. Its value for money is excellent, since it is always at my side, and surpasses many U.S. two or three times more expensive. And yet it is compared with vintage gibson, a great Jazzmaster (ment more expensive) and more!

I bought when you want! Moreover, its collector side is a strat that does not go unnoticed (known anyway shape guitar the most produced in the world!)