Fender American Special Stratocaster HSS [2010-2018]

The Fender American Special Strat was introduced by Fender to add a guitar that retained all the quality of their famed American Standard line, but came in at a slightly lower price point for those younger players who wanted a USA made guitar but didn't have the $1000+ that an American Standard sells for. They're made alongside other Fenders in the USA plant, and it features many classic Strat features such as an alder body, a maple neck, CBS style headstock, classic fulcrum Strat tremolo, sealed Fender tuners and some rad sounding Fender Texas Special pickups underneath the hood. Here's the full list of specs:

Model Name:American Special Stratocaster
Model Number:011-5602-(Color #)
Series:American Special Series
Colors303) 2-Color Sunburst,
(309) Candy Apple Red,
(Gloss Urethane Finish)
Body:Alder
Neck:Maple, Modern C Shape,
(Gloss Urethane Finish)
Fingerboard:Maple, 9.5 Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets:22 Jumbo Frets
Pickups:1 Texas Special Strat Pickup (Bridge),
1 Texas Special Strat Pickup (Middle),
1 Texas Special Strat Pickup (Neck)
Controls:Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Greasebucket Tone Circuit, (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass)
Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup), Greasebucket Tone Circuit, (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass)
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
Bridge:Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
Machine Heads:Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Hardware:Chrome
Pickguard:3-Ply Parchment/Black/Parchment
Scale Length:25.5 (648 mm)
Width at Nut:1.6875 (43 mm)
Unique Features:Large 70s Style Headstock,
Greasebucket Tone Circuit,
3 Texas Special Pickups,
Large - 70s Style Decal,
Parchment Pickup Covers and Plastic Parts,
Black Dot Position Inlays
Strings:Fender USA, Nickel Plated Steel,
Gauges: (.009, .011, .016, .024w, .032, .042)
Accessories:Deluxe Gig Bag, Polishing Cloth
Case:Deluxe Gig Bag

UTILIZATION

The American Special Strats that I've tried are generally great quality overall and are just as ergonomic and well made as their Standard USA counterparts. The contouring is there, and the body weight is generally light to medium weight. However, the guitar still feels great and is much closer to the feel of a USA Standard than the Mexican made Fenders are. The upper fret access is great on these guitars as well, no real complaints there.

Getting a nice tone out of this guitar isn't a problem at all. It's loaded with the Fender Texas Special pickups and some higher quality electronics, so the tones that are produced are pure and decidedly Strat in nature. It is a very versatile ax too, covering everything that a Strat should be able to do with ease. Really a wonderful guitar.

SOUNDS

I've tried this guitar with various Fender, Mesa Boogie and Hughes and Kettner amplifiers. The clean tones are really remarkable with this guitar. The Texas Special pickups provide a really clear and bell-like tone that makes me smile every time I hear it. The neck pickup has a wonderful glassy texture that just shimmers when mixed with reverb. The middle pickup IS that viscous blues tone that we all know and love, and the bridge pickup is a great pickup for country and other bright styles of music.

Overdriven tones are equally as good on this guitar too. The pickups take to gain really well, so the clarity and definition that I heard on the clean sounds was still there as I geared up to channel Eric Johnson or Yngwie. The tones with some dirt are thick and juicy, but still retaining that classic Strat snap that is so recognizable with these guitars and still remaining clear even at high gain levels whilst playing 16th notes at warp speed. Just an all round great sounding guitar.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I think Fender is onto a real winner with the American Special Series. They are priced at $850 new, a hair below the Standards, but enough to make me really think that it is serious competition for the old dog. What isn't there to love? It's got great vintage looks, great feel, great tone, and is built by good ol' Fender in the good ol' US of A.

Go out and try one today!