All user reviews for the Fender Tom Delonge Stratocaster

I played this guitar in Sam Ash on Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, sometime last year. I think it was selling for $500.

In a word, nothing.

I don't like Blink-182's music to begin with, but that didn't necessarily have to mean the guitar was no good. Unfortunately, I think both Fender and Tom DeLonge had pulled a fast one on Blink-182 and punk fans with this one. In buying this guitar, you will basically be getting a Squier Bullet, a single-humbucker guitar devoid of tonal variety (no trem, no neck pickup, no tone controls)...costing four times as much as it should. The pickup on this is supposed to be customized (Seymour Duncan Invader, I believe), but you can buy this pickup for $80, so how in the world could this guitar cost $500?

The bluesier lead styles and chiming rhythms I usually play were entirely impossible to get out of this guitar, so I tried to play out of character to see how this thing fares as a punk rhythm instrument. It sounded okay, but still doesn't hold a candle to the power of the sound from my GIbson Flying V '67.


I honestly do not feel any difference between the neck and body of this guitar than that of my old Squier Stratocaster. Where exactly is the $500 going?

Perhaps there's a reason why this guitar was discontinued so quickly. Now DeLonge has somehow conned Gibson into giving him a signature model -- based on an ES-335, of all things. I haven't played this model yet, but just for being one of the ugliest guitars I've ever seen, you won't catch me within earshot of one. As for this signature Strat, once again I ask -- a hunk of wood, a single humbucker, one volume control. Sounds like you're paying $200 for the workmanship and actual materials, and $300 for the name. Truly one of the biggest ripoffs in signature instruments.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this unit because I am a major blink 182 fan and I love the thought of getting guitars for a great price. From what I read the Tom Delonge strat was just like the Fender but cheaper. In other words the only difference was money. it was about $216 with tax and everything at Guitar Center.

What I like about this unit is the simplicity. Only one knob and that is for volume. It is really great if you're looking into a real punk kind of guitar or a a really messy guitar in terms of sound. The Duncan Designed Invaders are really good as well because in my taste they are very messy and go well with distortion.

There are a few that I don't like about this guitar, even if I'm a blink fan. I play other music besides punk like alternative or even blues to plain out clean solos in which this guitar doesn't really meet the requirements. Once out of the punk/distortion level or in other words, "Clean" sound, this guitar is not meant for that. It might have been if there wer tonal knobs added on but that's not likely. Another thing that I don't like is that it is not out anymore. The day I bought this Tom Delonge announced that he had a Gibson...and well in my shoes Gibson is definitely out of your range.

Volume Knob falls off fast...very...plus the plastic gets annoying...take it off. The finish is sensitive too. I have a black one and I see the finish just tear off like mad.

This guitar I would give a four as you can see because I play mostly distorted songs...and rarely have clean channels. Other than that if you play blink or green day, this is your axe.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I really really wanted to buy this strat just becasue its different to any strat i already have! i got it from my local music shop just before it went out of production and i paid $600 for it.

i love the pickup. seymour duncan make amazing pickups and the invader is awesome for punk, rock, and metal! its a really simple straight foward design and you can just plug it in and play so its great for anyone who cant be fucked with pickup changeing. what really annoys me about fender is all there guitars have tremolos! unless its a locking tremolo theres no use in having it! this is a great guitar cause its a hardtail so you dont have to worry about the it going out of tune! also it has these really cool vintage looking tuners which are amazing casuse the guitar always stays in tune!

I love this guitar but becasue i play in a metal band i really need a 24 fret guitar for my solos! unless you just wanna play powerchord punk make sure you have some other guitars to suit your style first! i always play this live though even if its only for one song, i just love the look and feel and sound that pickup is amazing!

constructed so well! like all fenders it is practically invincible! its very solid! fender have always had a reputation for high quility craftsman ship!

this is an amazing guitar that i love to play! when my band goes to gig this is one of the first guitars that gos with me! they dont make these guitars anymore but if you can get your hands on one it wont let you down!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this gutar from my local Guitar Center. This is not a cheap guitar, it was either this or a car, but because I wanted it so much i bought it anyway. It cost me $2,800.

There is a lot to like about this guitar. The pickup is a Gibson Dirty Fingers, which sounds great. If you are interested in playing any kind of rock it is a great choice. The finish is brown with 3 cream colored stripes down the middle of the body. It looks great! One control(Volume)is simple and to the point.

The price is the biggest obstacle. At almost 3,000, this is a major purchase. The one single humbucking pickup also does not allow for much versatiliy.

If you have ever owned a Gibson you know that these are one of the best guitars that you can buy. Nothing is different with the Delonge. This craftsmanship of this guitar is second to none.

Blink 182 fans with a fat wallet will love this guitar. If you are interested in playing punk, alternative, or just like to rock out, the Gibson Tom Delonge is for you.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this guitar because I was looking for a simple guitar that didn't have 3 knobs. I never used the "tone" knobs anyway, so this guitar seemed like the perfect one for me. I am also the only guitarist in my band, so I wanted some pickups that could help deliver crunchy distortion.

I like this guitar because it's simple. No tone knobs or any switches...just volume. It produces a nice tone and produces a sound that suits my needs.

I don't have any dislikes. I know there are much nicer guitars out there, but this guitar still packs serious punch. You can't really go wrong with a Fender.

The guiatar feels nice and solid. I don't really know about durability, but I'm not the type of person that goes around smashing guitars. It's also very light compared to other guitars because it doesn't have all the other electronics installed.

Good Buy.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I havent bought the product yet, but i am going too.

everything about the guitar is awsome, whoever gave it a one and a bad rating seriouly should cut down on crack, that guy is a fag, the guitar is awesome, the distortion is unbelievably cool, and the model is a radical shape. blink 182 is the best band, and any queer that disrespects Tom should go to hell.

nothing, plain and simple

the pickups are good, and the volume and tone knobs work well.

the tom delonge guitar is awsome, a great choice for guitarists of all skill, levels, and made by the coolest guy in the world. F-u whoever gave it a "one".

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I played this at a local guitar center. I didnt buy it. Just played it. Im not really into blink 182 but i just wanted to see what it was like..its not worth my money anyways.

Nothing. Tom DeLonge or fender must be on crack. It has poor quality. I couldve made better noise with my ass. I couldve farted and played a g chord at the same time and you wouldnt tell a difference. I could go on and on. Tom should be sent to prison because of this. The humbuckers suck ass. I can play better music with a rubberband. IT SUCKS!

I dont like everything! IT SUCKS. CHILDREN: DO NOT GO BUY THIS PEICE OF CRAP. IF YOU WANT A FUTURE IN MUSIC DO NOT BUY THIS!!!!!!!!

What quality? The quality sucks. Its not even a guitar..Its like strings strapped to something looping around tuners. I dont know if i could call them strings..silver things!

I love this guitar! Everybody go out there and buy it! Its awesome! HAHA. I need to stop smoking! This guitar sucks. I will say it one more time. DO NOT BUY THIS. GO GET A SCHECTER!!!!!!!!!CHILDREN: DO NOT BUY THIS! They should put a Caution: PEICE OF CRAP sign on the side. IT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

i bought this guitar pretty much brand new from a local muscian he charged me only 200 bucks then a axtra 50 for the case

this guitar has been the best i have played so far .. the distortion on it is the best i would have to say, you get a really thick sound .. the clean is also pretty good . has a sound of its own .. also the tuners never slip it can go atleast a few days and not go out of tune

umm you cant use drop tunnings on it thats it

this guitar is rock solid .. the neck is very slick, you can prolly thorw this guitar and it wontgo out of tune or put a dent in it

if you play punk,emo,rock,jazz get this guitar if you play metal dont even pick it up

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Purchased at World Music in Nashville, TN. I paid $350. The people at World Music are great. The prices are comparable (and sometimes better) than on-line retailers.

This is a simple, yet elegant guitar. One hot pickup and one volume control knob. It has a very nice fretboard and the yellow finish really stands out. Plugged in the sound is huge!!! The SD-Invader pickup is wild.

It's a "one-trick pony." You don't get a variety of sounds as you would from a typical strat. But I knew this when I bought it. This guitar is intended for punk-style playing.

Excellent. The Mexican-made strats I have seen lately are really well-made. This guitar has one of the nicest fretboards I have ever played on.

I did not intend on buying this guitar. But at $350, I could not resist. It has inspired me to listen more carefully to Blink-182.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this from a music store in Shreveport, Shreveport Music, for about $480, I bought it because it is very easy to use and the Invader humbucker is perfect for the music I play.

This guitar is so awesome. It's perfect for blink songs, duh, and can play any kind of music. The Invader humbucker pumps out loud fat distortion and awesome clean tones. This guitar sounds awesome through my Marshall's distortion.

One thing I don't like are the vintage tuners, because it slips out of tune SO easily. I'm going to get some locking tuners soon.

It's a Fender so its awesome quality and construction. Awesome guitar with the 70's neck.

BUY THIS GUITAR!!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this super cool guitar in Denver Guitar World and brought it back to London, England. I paid $400 dollars and got a hardcase. And I got this guitar because the tone is rad and it looks so cool and Tom Delonge is such a cool guy and blink 182 is the best band.

Everything the tone,sound,colour(daphne blue), neck, scratchplate and the classic Fender design.

Nothing its a Fender

Exellent its a Fender it will last forever

Go out and buy one because its the best Guitar I have ever played and you should especially get one if you like punk rock music or blink 182

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I had been telling my girlfriend about this guitar for sometime, not hoping she would buy it, but something about it struck my fancy. Well she bought it at an in town music store. aprox. $600. i agree, a little too much but man, it plays better than planned!

This guitar, only having one pick-up, puts out crazy sound. yeah....more limited to punk/emo but with the right distortion/amp you can play different variaties of music. Tuning stays on better than people say. Overall, one nice guitar coming from squier. I'll probabl get a new one soon, but this one def. works for right now.

Not much I don't like. I wouldn't buy something if I felt there would be something not like-worthy.

Cheaper wood, but good enough for me.

Guys, your girlfriends do listen. Tell em' which guitar you like the best.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I Bought this at music123.com and it was $179.99.

My brother bought the Fender Tom Delonge Stratocaster and it sounded pretty good, so i checked out the Squier Tom Delonge Stratocaster and it was lighter and the squier, to me sounded better. And I'm glad I didn't waste my money on buying the Fender version.

The only thing i would change is move the humbuckers up and stuff. Other then that the squier is a good guitar.

Dont no because i only had the guitar for like 14 hours.

This Squier Tom Delonge Stratocaster is better the the Fender Tom Delonge Stratocaster. And it looks cool and sounds great and there's only one damn knob(volume control).

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this guitar from Sam-Ash in Westminster, $499, after tried many kinds of Strats.. I used to play pop-punk so I knew this one is the one. =)

1. Simplicity with only one volume-knob! - just need to worry about pedals. 2. Power with SeymourDuncan Invader humberking pick-up!!- this monster produces little higher volume than most of any pick-ups. 3. Great looks with 70's large head stock, bright color (I got a Surf-Green) and pearloid pick-guard! - Got the look!! 4. Great play-ability with medium-jumbo frets and settings!!- as a big strum-fan, this guitar is just perfect when you feel the harmony.
Not like other reviews saying, my strat keep in tune very well also.


Just one thing. As a STRATOCASTER, it cannot produces strat-clear sound. But you know when you get this guitar

Just perfect as a punk-guitar! Looks good, powerful, stay in tune, .. what else do I need?? uh.. strong too~

If you know what kind of music you'll play, this can be your guitar. Don't expect versatility like traditional Fender with this one.
Now I'm covering punk, hardcore, and modern-rock with it and not disappointed yet.
Just make sure the tuners are tight before you get it.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

After trying and returning a squire and Mexican Standard, I bought a surf green one at Guitar Center for $449 and it came with a Gig bag!

The simplicity of the single pickup and one knob..VOLUME! One of the things I disliked about the Mexi standard was fidgeting with the tone all the time and the 60 cycle hum. Both problems are cured with this Strat. I love the color and the Seymour Duncan Invader screams, lots of distortion but not muddy.

I can't say I actualy dislike anything, but better tuners would have been nice.

Costruction finnish and quality are great I am very pleased with it. It is put together very tight, I could find no flaws in the finish.

If you play Punk or just like a lot of sustain and distortion, buy it! It is great!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Blink 182 has been my favorite band for as long as I can remeber, and Tom DeLonge has been my hero as long as I can remember. When I read in my favorite guitar maizine that Fender was going to mass produce his guitar I was pumped. I went to Guitar Center and bought the guitar for 375$. I knew the dude there and he knew new my band so he gave me a discount.

I love the fact that when played (not only in a Mesa Boogie) it sounds remarkably like Tom playing. The Seymore Duncan humbucker is the single best pickup I've ever used in my life. The Alder body is totally durable too, when i play shows it gets knocked around pretty good but it's help up really well.

Really I have no complaints. It's the perfect guitar for what I do. The tuner is the only part I would change but like I said no complaints.

I don't go around bashing my guitar on stage like some guitar players we all know *cough* Good Charlotte *cough* so I wouldn't know if it would stand up to that, but, so far it's help up better that any guitar I've had.

I love this guitar and like Isaid before It's perfect for what I do. I just want the inlays that Tom has on his. :P

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I ordered this guitar via courier service from Merchant City Music in Glasgow (Uk). It is a great place to buy a new guitar as the prices are quite a bit cheaper than anywhere else i've seen in the uk. I ended up getting my Tom Delonge strat for £409 compared withit's normal selling price in most other shops of £535.
I had decided to buy this guitar after uisng a friend's. It seemed to be the best guitar i could get for punk rock without spending nearly £1000 or more.


The guitar comes fully loaded with a snarling Seymour Duncan invader pickup as standard. This is uncommon for a guitar of this price to come with such a good pickup, it is the exact one Tom uses himself.
Because the guitar has only one pickup and a very simple design you are definately saving cash on extra pickups an tone controls that if you play like blink do(and most other punk bands) you will never use anyway.

Sound wise the guitar has great tone with really beefey gain. When palm muting this guitar sounds great, it's got that thick creamy tone to to it.listen to a blink record and you'll see what i mean!!



The only dislikes i have about this guitar are the fretboard. The frets are quite chunky and producing chords without getting a rattling sound can sometimes be more difficult than other guitars.

The detail of the fretboard is not as good as some guitars but it matches the standards of mexican built fenders and given the prices of the guitar is not bad at all.
The constrution of the body and the guitar as a whole are very good indeed. It is really only the fretboard that singles out this strat from the higher quality american made strats.

Overall this guitar is a very good buy if you play punk rock or heavy rythm based guitar styles.

Again I mention this guitar provides better value for money if you only need a basic one pick configuration.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I decided to get this guitar because it was cheap, and i really liked blink182, but i couldnt afford the more expensive fender version. I heard that squier had just as good of sound as fender, but even in my 3 years of playing guitar, i never played a squier guitar. i bought my guitar from musicians friend, for 179.99$

What i was extremely shocked about, is the quality, and the sheer beauty of this guitar. its gorgeous, and feels exactly like the fender, of which i had played a few days before the squier arrived. I was expecting the worst, because i had not heard good things about squier. The duncan designed pickup BLEW ME AWAY. it had such a perfect, blink182-like sound.

In all honesty, there was nothing i found dissatisfying about this guitar. i sounded great, had great feel, played well, and was gorgeous.

as soon as i took it out of the packaging, i could feel its quality, it felt really sturdy, like i stated before, it felt like the fender version.

I would hightly reccomend this product to anyone and everyone, no matter how long youve been playing. it sounds perfect for all types of music, like punk rock, rock and roll, anything you want.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I paid $350 Canadian for this. I bought it from a shop run by a friend of mine. I got it for Christmas. WELL WORTH THE MONEY!

THIS IS A GREAT GUITAR!!!! The Duncan Desinged Detonator sounds awsome. I love the 70's large headstock and my colour: Surf Green. Ive had no major problems with my guitar. This is my first guitar ive owned and I love it. Its totally stripped down so it dosn't come with a bunch of crap i dont use like the: tremollo slot, single coil pickups, etc. The rosewood fingerboard is a nice touch to this great guitar. If your a beginner guitar player who wants a good guitar without selling a kidney, get this!!!!!!! This pickup's tone is perfect for punk or hard rock (mostly what i play).

Theres not much that I dont like about this guitar. Ive had a few minor problems. My volume knob fell off but i got that fixed up pronto. The strings rattled a bit against the frets but i replaced the strings with some Ernie Ball Regs. Thats about it. (:

It was made in China hopefully not in a sweatshop or else ill have a hot coal up Squier's a** before they can open their mouth. Anyhow the quality is probably as good as any standard fender(well maybe). Its well worth the cash. Its sturdy, plays great and reliable.

So Squier is an entry line fender company. It dosn't mean they aren't good guitars. Ive heard alot of people talk s*** about this but they are probably to sterotypical because its not fender. BUY IT!!! Don't be a fool, wrap your tool. Stay in school and off drugs. Use your mind and not your fist. Later.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I didn't buy it....i played it for a while.
(the prive tag was $790.00 at my local music store)

i liked the seymour duncan humbucker.

THE NECK! It's like trying to play a tree! i could barely fit my fingers around it. the action was kinda high. And only one knob? what the hell? i'd like a tone knob please....Tom, next time you design a guitar how about you put some THOUGHT into it.

It felt solid...kinda heavy. I guess the quality was OK.


I dont know about this one....i would'nt gor for it...you could get a wayy better Ibanez for cheaper, or a fender telecaster.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I picked this up close to my home town for $300.00 Canadian. I have always liked Strat's and wanted to to take the plunge without selling the farm.

I like it's light weight. I have a Fender Jazz bass so when I slip this on it's like a fresh breath of air. I love the sustain this guitar has. It sounds great and aside from a few minor adjustments I have had to make I'm quite satisfied. The thing stays in tune for me. I've heard people have had some problems with this. Mine is still new so maybe it's a wear and tear thing. If it becomes a problem I'll just put on a set of better tuners.

The sound is pretty 1-dimensional. Not really a dislike as I knew what I was getting when I bought this.

Seems to be on par for a $300.00 guitar.

Cheaper parts are used when compared to a Fender Standard for sure. But then that's why it's only 60% of the price.

No regrets buying it.

But I do think that next time I'd like something with another pickup at the neck. I'd bet a nice Telecaster pickup there would make this a very versatile guitar. Maybe someday I'll customize it and report back.

Maybe Fender is listening and would make one and ship it to me to demo for them.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

american music, seattle. $490 w/ gig bag and tax, fresh out of the box (guitar center would've sold me a damaged floor model w/o a gig bag and not the color i wanted [yellow] for the same price - THANKS, GUITAR CENTER!).

i'm a simple, low-tech player and this model is 99% perfect for my style.

the reissue vintage tuners. i had figured, even before purchasing, that i would, prob'ly, be replacing the tuners. the retro tuners were like steering wheels that had a lot of play and the third string tuner would constantly slip. there's, really, no way to adjust them like a higher-end machine head. i later read that tom delonge has his guitars built w/ sperzel locking tuners - which i had purchased before reading that. it's too bad that fender doesn't make the mass-produced version true to the guitar it's, supposedly based on. otherwise, i have no complaints.

solid - except as noted above.

if you don't need any bells and whistles and like a fender, look no further.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

It all started when I got a Squier Affinty Stratocaster. I owned it for about two years. The wiring inside kept snapping off the input. I paid, well let me just say I paid too much for something I could have done. Finally, the wire snapped off for the last time. I said to myself, "The heck with this, I've spent so much money on getting this cheap Stratocaster, that I could...that I could...BUY A DELONGE!". So, I went to my local music shop(Fred's Music www.fredsmusic.com) and went guitar hunting. To my suprise, I saw in the Fender section, right smack dab in the center, a beautiful monster. It's white perloid pickguard screamed to my ears, the vintage 70's Head Stock screamed all of Jimi Hendrix's solos, and, the humbucker. Well, the humbucker screamed my genre. PUNK ROCK! I thought,"Wow I am so lucky. They usually keep the American Series Stratocaster there. The DeLonge is just sitting there..". I asked a clerk if I could play with it a little bit on a Marshall VS2000 AVT100. He let me like any respectible music store should. After about five minutes of playing a mix of Blink-182 fragments and other Punk Bands, another clerk come to me. "Are you going to buy that thing bro, because uh dude, you play that thing like it is uhhh yours or something"(Yes, the clerk was a totally air head but understood what was happening). From that moment on, me and my DeLonge have had a bond. I've had it seven months. I always gig with it. It is one of the best guitars Fender has made contributing to music today without bands buying regular Stratocaster and getting costom pickguards for them so it is one High Output Humbucker and a single volume knob. Not only is the most convient Punk guitar made, but it is also the best for less. I paid $529.99 for my DeLonge, and it angers me a little that I can find it cheaper now, but I am still a proud owner of a Tom DeLonge Signature Stratocaster.

I really like how everything on the guitar blends. If you have ever seen a Fender DeLonge(not the Squier knock-off), it is really appealing to the eye. When you gig with this guitar, it is more likly to have people paying more attention to the band than talking to a pal. The vinatge 70's Head Stock is classy, appealing, yet original to the DeLonge. It give it a lot of it's flavor. The vintage tuners also give it spice. Personally, it would look horrible with standard tuners. It is a hard tail bridge. Meaning, it is very similar to the Telecaster bridge, only a Stratocaster Body. This helps keep the guitar in tune. On regular Stratocasters, the brige is supported with springs for the whammy bar. This can cause the guitar to go out of tune.

There is nothing that I do not like about the DeLonge. The only thing I do not like is that my DeLonge is black and the rosewood fret board makes it less appealing to the eye since roosewood is dark and so is the guitar body.

Everything that should be put here, is throughout the whole review. Please re-read the review for the wonderful details of this magnificent guitar.

Grade A Punk Guitar. Distortion is excelent, clean is excent. I recommend this guitar for Punk Rock, Metal, and Emo Core.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com