![Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster [2003-2010]](https://img.audiofanzine.com/img/product/normal/1/2/127133.jpg?fm=pjpg&w=300&h=218&fit=max&s=6ec597bcfd5ff57825eecba3836eaad0)
View other reviews for this product:
Hatsubai « My go-to strat »
Published on 06/28/11 at 14:45This is one of the higher quality USA made guitars that Fender has to offer. The guitar features an alder body with a maple neck, your choice of a maple or rosewood fretboard, 22 frets, dot inlays, SSS configuration, locking tuners, special neck heel, two point tremolo system, one volume, two tones and a five way switch.
UTILIZATION
These guitars are generally put together fairly well. The edges are nice and beveled. However, the main problem that I see is that the frets aren't crowned properly. If you look at them, you might see that they're a bit flat. It's because they didn't spend enough time crowning them, and it can affect action. Also, be sure to make sure the nut isn't binding or creating any odd vibrations. Mine needed to be reshaped because it wasn't cut properly. Every time I strummed an open G, the string would vibrate inside the nut causing a buzz. After some filing, I was able to fix it.
SOUNDS
I like the way the pickups in these sound. This one has SCN pickups in it. The bridge is extremely fat and powerful. You can do everything from classic rock to heavy metal with this thing. However, the clean tone and blues tones are kinda dull sounding because it's so high output. It lacks that character that some blues guitarists look for, in my opinion. The neck sounds amazing. It's high output, so legato and all kinds of shred techniques are very easy. Clean tones sound great in positions 2 to 4. I'm a metal player, so I think the SCNs are real killer. Some may disagree as they don't sound like true singles.
OVERALL OPINION
These are some of my favorite strats to play in the store. You can get them for under a grand, they generally sound good and are put together fairly well. Just be sure to watch out for fret and nut issues that may occur. The neck joints are generally tight on these, but be sure to check them to make sure as I've seen some with gaps.
UTILIZATION
These guitars are generally put together fairly well. The edges are nice and beveled. However, the main problem that I see is that the frets aren't crowned properly. If you look at them, you might see that they're a bit flat. It's because they didn't spend enough time crowning them, and it can affect action. Also, be sure to make sure the nut isn't binding or creating any odd vibrations. Mine needed to be reshaped because it wasn't cut properly. Every time I strummed an open G, the string would vibrate inside the nut causing a buzz. After some filing, I was able to fix it.
SOUNDS
I like the way the pickups in these sound. This one has SCN pickups in it. The bridge is extremely fat and powerful. You can do everything from classic rock to heavy metal with this thing. However, the clean tone and blues tones are kinda dull sounding because it's so high output. It lacks that character that some blues guitarists look for, in my opinion. The neck sounds amazing. It's high output, so legato and all kinds of shred techniques are very easy. Clean tones sound great in positions 2 to 4. I'm a metal player, so I think the SCNs are real killer. Some may disagree as they don't sound like true singles.
OVERALL OPINION
These are some of my favorite strats to play in the store. You can get them for under a grand, they generally sound good and are put together fairly well. Just be sure to watch out for fret and nut issues that may occur. The neck joints are generally tight on these, but be sure to check them to make sure as I've seen some with gaps.