All user reviews for the Fender Hot Rodded American Fat Strat Texas Special

Purchased from: Mass. Street Music, Lawrence KS

Price Paid: $950 U.S.

I needed a stage guitar that was versatile and fulfilled all of my musical tastes. My favorite music is the cleaner, more difficult rock (Think Red Hot Chili Peppers). So I needed a guitar with awesome clean, clear sounds, which demanded single-coil pups. I also play Foo-Fighters stuff, which demanded a guitar with good separation when driven, with plenty of sustain. I also play a LOT of classic rock, from Hendrix to Pink Floyd, up to Gun's and Roses. For this I'd need a humbucker. So here was the delimma I was facing, I needed killer clean tone, and a guitar that could really shred classic rock. The clean tone came first, so I turned to Fender. I knew I had to have a humbucker in the bridge, so the only real option was a Fat Strat. But at the time I was gigging with a band that played a lot of grunge music (Green Day, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins) and the such. It's hard to pull off authentic Nirvana with a humbucker, so I knew I'd have to find a Fat Strat with slightly hotter single-coils. Naturally, my requirements lead me to the Fat Strat Texas Special.


What impresses me most about this guitar is the combination of two things: The tonal range, and the integrity of the tone throughout every single configuration. Whether you want to get bell-like and silky-smooth, a fuzzed-up grunge sound, or vintage Clapton or Beatles sound, this guitar can do it, with the most immaculate tone you've ever seen. Most guitars can fatten or thin out their sound just fine, smooth it out or make it harsh, but few can keep the tonal superiority in every setting like this axe can. As a stand-alone guitar, it is the absolute best you can buy, at any price.

This guitar is also very well constructed. No gaps anywhere, and perfect playability. It has fast action and it's easy to really let loose. Top marks to Fender.

The only thing I can find to complain about would be the bone nut/ tremelo bridge combination, which makes tuning the thing a slight struggle, especially when the strings are new or very old. When the strings are in their "prime", however, tuning is no problem and during a performance, you can go for 45 minutes or more without worring about your tuning. I may make this sound a little worse than most people would think it to be, but that's just because I play a lot of clean, harmonic stuff, and I really notice if a string is even ever-so-slightly out of perfect tuning.

Like I said, this is a very well built guitar. It is an American series guitar, and it is much better than any of the Mexicans I have owned. The quality is about as good as it gets for guitars that aren't custom-ordered, and I should know.

For the money, I really don't think you could find a guitar with better tone and versatility. If your musical style is divers, and you need a lone guitar to carry you through an entire show, or if you could only have one guitar in your entire arsenal, this is really your only option. I would recommend it any serious musician. (This excludes death-metal retards and Metallica cover-bands, as well as Euro-pop)

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

I acquired my strat at Paradise Guitars in Beloit, WI for $700 w/ case used, but in perfect condition. Right away, its stunning looks and sound picked me up off the ground. The only adjustment that was made was to a tone knob that the previous owner had bumped.

I love it to death. It delivers everything I want from the hot SRV single coils, to the Seymore Duncan humbucker that will compete with a Paul anyday. Fender has served me well!

I truly do not have any complaints about it. The new Texas Special Fat Strats have only 1 string tree, and have a two spotted humbucker, whereas mine fits in a single-coil slot. Now, Fender gives a cheaper hardshell case, which disappoints me. Too bad you won't have the nice one I have. Why would Fender change such a beautiful thing?

No problems to date; precise tuning.

Whoa! If you can find a deal on one of these babies, jump on it. Unfortunately, although you're paying for everything that you get, it does get a little pricey. If this hits you hard, don't go near the custom-shop.

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

I bought this guitar new at Guitar Center for $950. They wanted more but you know you can always haggle em' down. Just threaten to take a ride down to Sam Ash and they'll hack down the price for you. I bought this guitar because I needed something better than what I had.

This guitar is the most versitile guitar I've ever played. It can go from mellow blues to raging metal and everything in between. It comes in a lot of colors but mine is black with a maple neck. The overall tone and tone control is amazing. I also like it because right from the shop the action is great, and it stays in tune. I play classic rock tribute songs and metal songs of my own. Thats why this guitar is great. You can go from Hendrix to AC/DC to todays metal easily.

It came with .090 guage strings. Other than that its perfect-no problems that cannot be fixed.

Three words: American Fender Stratocaster. This little honey aint no sissy Les Paul. The quality is top notch. You can throw this baby round' and she'll still make beutiful music. Of course I wouldnt swing mine around, but if you want to, gopher it. You cant buy a better Fender unless you get a custom one.

Before you buy that PRS give this guitar a try. I'm saying its better than a PRS but its less than half the price and only slightly unsuperior. I'm not kidding the great sound of this guitar is definetely comparable to that of THE top notch guitars. And to tell you the truth its better than any Les Paul in my opinion.

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

Musician's Friend $1049.00
It's a strat...that is why.

Years of playing my Fender Custom Strat have been wonderful but I was ready for a change. I ordered an American Fat Strat Texas Special after some serious consideration and I kicked myself for not getting one sooner. This is the absolute best guitar I have ever played, much less owned. To call it a "guitar" does not give it justice, it is an "instrument". By far the best neck I have seen, solid with the ability to have the lowest action I have played without any string buzz coming through the amp. The body is wonderfully balanced with a solid feel to it, evident in the tone you get without even plugging in! I have played guitars costing four times as much and I wouldn't consider playing anything else ever again. The pickup configuration is absolute perfection. The humbucker is just as strong as any PRS or Les Paul with the tonality and sweetness of the classic strat sound on the top two pickups. This guitar is the best of all worlds. By the way, the case is awesome also.

I wish it came with a Fishman powerbridge.. but, then again, I've never been easy to please.

Superb construction, top quality. Nothing else to say.

Go play one at your local store. You will put it on your list of essential gear.

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

I got it for christmas. Paid 900 or so bucks. Why? cuz it's the best guitar ever made.

Everything. it's a gorgeous guitar, pickguard shines, the pickups are Texas specials, great for Blues. Yes i know, they're not the real SRV pickups, but close enough.

Nothing. Everything is awesome.

Construction is, of course, like a tank. It's a strat--and American made! It would take 1000 or more years to make it look like Stevie Ray Vaughan's main axe!!

Excellent! I recommend any musician, who knows what they're doing, and who aren't wannabes, and who aren't showoffs, to buy this guitar!!

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

I picked this guitar up at a guitar center and managed to haggle the price down to 600 from 900. After 6 years in acoustic guitars I needed an electric able to play jazz for my band as well as rock for myself.

This guitar is hands down the best choice i could have made. It has far more range than any guitar I've heard, the neck is fast and the pickups are incredible, especially the unique humbucker perfect for rock sound. The strat has such a range that it can go from wailing blues to wailing rock.

Just a few problems; the only major one is that being a jack of all trades means the strat is master of none. It's best played in the mid range as opposed to the bassy sound of a Gibson or the wail of an Ibanez. Also, I've had a couple problems with the tone being too high even on a low setting.

The guitar is built like a tank, except even more durable. It's an American Strat and the quality shows; the guitar is beautiful to look at and impossible to destroy.

Get one. This is the best guitar a acoustic player switching to electric can buy, although not necessarily the best choice for a new guitarist. I love the guitar and for the price i got it at it's the best on the market.

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

I bought this at guitar center for 949$. (I tricked em because the color I got it in makes in 110 dollars more but they didnt charge it on the model untill after i bought it). I got the case for 80$ (discount) and a free strap, picks, strings, whammy bar, and pro cable.

I love this. Period. It has awesome pickups, and the seymour duncan pearly gates plus along with the texas special single coils SCREAM. The alder solid body, the maple neck, the 22 frets, the rolled neck, the better body, the better tuning pegs. the better electronics and pickup selectors. The finish is amazing. Sienna sunburst. I will never need another guitar again.

Nothing. I still havent gotten the reply from the company when I sent in the registration form (since october 4th). It is so awesome

The construction is amazing. It reaks with quality

You play guitar. You play well. You buy a strat. Period.

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

Picked it up brand new at a Guitar Center for about $800.

This guitar is basically everything wrapped into one. It has the staggered texas special neck & mid single coils along with the seymour duncan pearly gates humbucker in the bridge position. You can produce anything from the cleanest tone to the nastiest snarling distortion possible. The maple neck & fretboard are very smooth and play fast. It stays in tune very well and produces tone you wouldn't believe. I have very sweaty hands when I play and all of the hardware has stayed very clean and no replacement/lubrication has been needed for one year so far. All I can say is American made -- everything was perfect when I bought it, no flaws.

There's a few minor drawbacks with this guitar. For one, the finish is bubbling in a few small places, nothing major or noticable (yet) unless under close inspection and the nut is kind of cheap and wears fast.

Very good guitar, last a lifetime if cared for properly.

When I went out guitar shopping I was looking for the guitar of my dreams, something that would last me forever and I'd enjoy playing, and this was it. I loved the feel of the slicker Ibanezes with the low actions, and the jacksons with the wide fretboards, I tried PRS's and everything else inbetween but this was it. It's all of them wrapped into one -- you have the ability to play nearly every music style with incredible variations in tone and the ability to adjust it easily for your custom playing style. When I picked it up it had 8 or 9 gauge strings and it didn't take much effort to restring and set it up myself for 13's and then back down to 11's eventually. It also has a floating bridge and works very well with a slide and higher action. This is definatley a keeper!

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

Musician's Friend $900. I was looking for a versatile instrument with the classic strat sound and bridge humbuckers that could scream for hard rock / heavy metal types of music as well.

Very comfortable neck. Beautiful finish in Cherry Sunburst. Seymour Duncan's in the bridge are very hot and good for everything from Texas Blues to Death Metal depending of course on your amp & effects. Stays in tune like a champ and action is nice and low, but not too low so you can't bend strings easily.

The only thing I don't like is that my middle single coil just went out on me. It could be the pickup, the wiring, or the pickup selector switch. It's in the shop right now. Everything else is top notch and if it weren't for this small issue (the guitar is only a few months old), I'd give it a 5.

Extremely well built and high quality American made instrument. Frets are nicely rolled and polished, no burrs, etc. Fit and finish was perfect when new.

I would recommend this guitar to anyone who's starting to branch out into other types of music. I grew up on the heavy metal hair bands of the 80's so I still like to wail once in a while with high gain and scooped out mids. Now, I'm starting to enjoy clean tube sounds and jazzier chord progressions. This guitar can do either and everything in between.

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

Made in the United States (guarantee of quality!), It has a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gate Bridge in two Fender Texas Special for the rest. Channel standard for me. The plate is straw.
Rglages Cot: as a standard Start with 5 positions slecteur classic.
Fender Classic Easel ...
The head is standard (Strat forces) and are mcaniques floors.
For the strap: Systm Schaller
In addition it comes with: hard case, strap, strap Systm Schaller, cloth, key rglage.

UTILIZATION

Handle great! (What's a Start!), Trs soft touch, good Access in acute, no worries at the coating: it does not stick and trs is enjoyable even if you sweat a little finger, only BMOL: like all Strats the volume knob a little Gnant for Palm Mute! But then saw the sound who cares! Especially that allows for a toy with the volume fawn Hendrix ... So ...

SOUNDS

Extremely versatile, I use a Marshall Valvestate 8080: duo from hell!
We can spend the most velvety blues and more with a soft crunch trslger at Metal Maiden fawn no problem!
It has a dynamic of hell and you can have fun with a bit of the slap without being: the microphones are super dynamic.
I prfre positions are:
H alone: ​​super attack!
SS or S to handle sounds more bluesy and mellow!

OVERALL OPINION

The Start in all the splendor! A must for blues or any other style.
APRS year and a half of use I have not done the trick!
If c'tait again I would do with a mash may be but it's not rosewood sr ...
Cot price I touch less than 1400 euros ... say anything!