All user reviews for the Fender American Special Stratocaster HSS [2010-2018]

Made in USA, vintage vibrato, handle modern C and 9.5 radius, 22 frets jumbo, HSS pickups: 2 1 Atomic and Texas special in the bridge, Greasebucket circuit 1 vol, 2 tone for 2 years simples.Tête CBS / year 70, I would have preferred smaller but so be it.
For a complete description see here:
http://www.fender.com/fr-FR/guitars/stratocaster/american-special-stratocaster-hss-rosewood-fingerboard-black/

Very good finish, nothing beats!

For those who have questions about the differences USA, Mexico, China, Korea, Japan. In the very large majority of cases with USA you have a better violin, the best selected wood and really dry, the best pickups, a sleeve that slides better, better electronics.
There are also some good strato models. outside the U.S.: some Japanese 80/90 Lite Ash (2004/2009) of South Korea and the Mexican classic player and road worn. As for the modern player in China: its good but when is it reliability?

UTILIZATION

Handle very nice, easy, fine finish and satin finish provides good slip and easier to locate when you have the light in full face on stage. Easy to get the sound you want because versatility is the rendezvous.
For the rest it is a strat no need to expand.
The relatively light weight and balance of the instrument used to play long.
I chose a HSS configuration as the usual single coil in the bridge is not enough "guts" for my taste and a bit too loud.
Vintage vibrato, as usual, is very difficult to resolve and requires the sweetness! Use in moderation ... I use it in 2 directions. I had to redo the settings for these guitars are mounted 0.9 game originally and I use 0.10.

SOUNDS

The best of two worlds. It can play almost all the HB strengthens modern and heavy appearance. 3 pickups are very well balanced and have a good definition. With the Texas special, pêchus more than average, was the ghosts of SRV and J.Hendix. But the appearance is not crystalline fenderien left ... Mark Knopfler. 3 pickups are well balanced, musical, sensitive and respond very well to the nuances of the game HB has a good potato without unnecessary aggression. It is very "rock" but less round than Gibson. All the 5 positions have their usefulness but 4 is a bit confusing (middle / bridge) but usable.
If you like the sounds used on Fender!

OVERALL OPINION

Much more modern than vintage below the psychological barrier of € 1,000.00 U.S.. Fender has made an effort.

The +

Sounds
The versatility
Price
The current look
The handle

The -

"Say Uncle Fender you could not make us more efficient vibrato as Mr. or Mr. Hagstrom Ibanez?"
The gigbag provided a slight bit.

Manufacturing AMERICAN!

UTILIZATION

Handle rather pleasant end and super playable.

SOUNDS

Strat typed, its very stable.
I like the humbucker and attack.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a year. I bought it after to separate from the classic vibe squier. Nothing in common! Even beginners avoid Squier!

Beautiful finishes, nothing to say. The key is extremely enjoyable.
I love the difference in config microphones: it really offers a wide range of possibilité.Les pickups are really great.
Rather heavy guitar (weight) - but it does not bother me ....
Super choice: nothing to envy "deluxe" for the price.

Purchased from thomann, no adjustments to make, received in a double packaging, great delivery (quality German ...)

violin made in the U.S. of A and electronics made in Mexico aver a humbucker in position 1 (HSS).

UTILIZATION

Purchased via the Internet, the origins settings are not terrible: Height ropes too much noise so curls on a lot of freight and dynamic not terrible game even after a passage of medium gauge strings.
Finally: Forced to go through a luthier to see the strong irregularity of the handle (! Not right what) and after adjustment planimetry and tremolo, it finally feels punchy with a Strat and sounds good (in strings 10-46) .

SOUNDS

Attention to the versatility that miracle does not exist! HSS, we lose a part of its real strat (including position 1), but it also brings great sounds LP guy ... You just know.
With a Vox AC15, the normal channel provides clear sound and crunchy for the gain and master, which is the channel of choice for pedal board. In Boost channel you lose a little crunch to go instead to the "fat" or "mushy".

OVERALL OPINION

Finally: Good quality Strat to report good price and friendly versatility as long as you know where you put your feet in terms of sound.

Made in United States and purchased at Guitar Center in Los Angeles Holliwood!


Vintage vibrato bridge

Channel C-shape

22 jumbo frets

2 and 1 Texas Special Atomic Humbucker (HSS)

1 potadr volume and 2 tone

5-way switch

UTILIZATION

Channel Ultra Thin and well rounded (A strat what)!

Good ergonomics with a profile for the stomach and right arm!

Easy access to acute and I have small hands! (13)

SRV sound is unbeatable!

SOUNDS

Ultra Versatile: My playing styles are Jazz, Blues, Blues Rock, Rock'n'Roll, Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Reggae and Funk!

CLEAN: Crystalline in bridge and bluesy to handle.

Crunch: Perfect ...

DISTORTION: At Heavy Metal, The Edge! But no more.

I play a Peavey Vypyr 30.

I like everything apart the intermediate position mid / high (I do not know what it really is)!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 months.

I went to the Frankfurt Motor Show so I used many other models.

Sounds less like intermédières apart for the funk.

Ratio Q / P Unbeatable!

I would do this choice 99999999999999999999999999 times (if possible)

I absolutely love the Fender Stratocaster guitar because it has such a great deal and a great tone for pretty much any style of music. However this is the instrument that generally gravitates me mostly towards hard rock because for me just feels perfect within my hands. It has the right feel, tone, and balance for my personal style playing and it really allows me to express myself without having to worry about too much other things getting in the way of making music. It's a very comfortable guitar play and the neck just feels absolutely amazing as well.

UTILIZATION


Fender American Special Stratocaster HSS Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:
Body: Alder
Finish: Black, Gloss Urethane
Neck:Maple, Modern "C" Shape
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22, Jumbo Frets
Scale Length:25.50"
Nut Width:1.69"
Hardware:Chrome
Tuning Keys:Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Bridge:Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
Pickguard:3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups:1 Atomic Humbucking Pickup (Bridge), 2 Texas Special Strat Pickups (Neck/Middle) Pickups
5-Position Blade
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)
Case: Deluxe Gig Bag included

SOUNDS


The tone of these guitars are fantastic. Especially when you couple them with any type of high gain amplifier or even a medium gain amplifier. You get a great singing sustain that just feels good that is full of rich and warm tone. These guitars also sound fantastic in a clean setting such as a Fender Princeton or any type of Vox or clean amplifier. Basically what you're getting kicked is if you put the pickup selector in the next position to get a great soulful, bluesy tone that is very reminiscent of the old blues players. Basically no matter what you using whether that be your foot pedals, rack effects, your speaker cabinets speakers or amplifiers this guitars that sounds fantastic. The humbucker makes this guitar even more versatile as well.

OVERALL OPINION


You can find these guitars pretty much anywhere you look for musical instruments. They're very common and depending on which color or which reissue will determine your instrument of choice. They have a great feel and generally they come in new right around $1000 or so. This is a luxury guitar my opinion but even so it has a good price for even the budget musician. This is an American built guitar and at this price it is a great deal for an awesome instrument.

Fender Stratocaster is a great fantastic instrument for pretty much any style of music. Fender strats' balance guitar mixes very well with pretty much anything from blues rock all the way up to metal sounding guitar tones. This guitar features three single coil pickups and a line with a volume control knob and two tone control knobs. You also get a five way pickup selector that allows you to pick up each individual pickup or the positions in between. It's not that extremely versatile of the nutriment but hearing the different tones you get from the bridge all the way to the next gives you a variety of total options. But if you compared to some modern guitars with switches or push pull pots to split coils this guitar doesn't really do any of that. It's just pretty much a straightahead rock 'n roll instrument.


UTILIZATION


Fender American Special Stratocaster HSS Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:
Body: Alder
Finish: 3-color Sunburst, Gloss Urethane
Neck: Maple, Modern "C" Shape
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22, Jumbo Frets
Scale Length: 25.50"
Nut Width: 1.69"
Hardware: Chrome
Tuning Keys: Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Bridge: Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups: 1 Atomic Humbucking Pickup (Bridge), 2 Texas Special Strat Pickups (Neck/Middle) Pickups
5-Position Blade
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)
Case: Deluxe Gig Bag included

SOUNDS


No matter what amplifier setting or effects you have this guitar is going to sound great. If you using a load of effects to get an ambient type sound and this is could be a great guitar for that sound. If you using a medium to high gain amplifier than this guitar will give you the great sustained and feel for getting that every ay lead tones. The matter what you can use with this guitar is really get compliment your existing guitar rig quite nicely. Overall this is a very solid guitar and will be a instrument that will go great on any recording or live gigging situation.

OVERALL OPINION


You can find these guitars pretty much anywhere you find musical instruments. You can find them online or in most retailer shops around the world. Most of the guitars come in new right around $1000 or so. Depending on the features in the extras they come along can determine if you hundred dollars or so. But you can bet on this is going to be a great instrument that will have a fantastic feel and balance. I highly recommend this guitar to any guitarist out there because it is a very versatile instrument and as a fantastic tone for any stylus music.

The Fender Stratocaster has such a great tone and it is extremely solid to play. It has the perfect weight and balance for me, particularly because of the shape and feel of the guitar overall. My natural stance when playing has a certain feel and certain guitars really don't give me that comfortability that I'm looking for. All I want to do is focus on my guitar playing and dynamics and style and not worry about my guitar rig, amp, and certainly not my instrument it's self.


UTILIZATION

Neck Shape: Modern "C" Shape
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Jumbo Frets
Position Inlays: Black Dot Position Inlays
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm)
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Satin Urethane
Nut Width: 1.6875" (43 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Headstock: Large '70s Style
Neck Plate: Standard 4 Bolt
Truss Rod Nut: 1/8" American Series Nut
Electronics
Pickup Configuration: S/S/S
Bridge Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Neck Pickup
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
Special Electronics: Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit (rolls off high without adding bass)
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup) Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit, (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass) Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup), Greasebucket Tone Circuit
Hardware
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Bridge: Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Switch Tips: White Switch Tip
Tremolo Arm Handle: Vintage Style Tremolo Arm

SOUNDS


The tone of this guitar sounds absolutely fantastic. It has a nice mid range tone but if you give it a loaded distortion and maybe some boost from a pedal with an overdriven amp to get a nice thick meaty sustaining tone. It has to be one my favorite resonant frequency tones at any instrument that I've ever played. Whether you're playing with a clean amplifier or a really overdriven amplifier you're going to get a complete sound night after night of playing. Overall this is the perfect instrument for anyone looking for that one specific guitar that will last generations.

OVERALL OPINION


These guitars you can find pretty much anywhere you look for musical gear. They come in right around the thousand dollars or so depending on the model and the specifics. This is a great price for an American built guitar and a perfect instrument for gigging or reporting applications. I highly recommend this guitar to any guitarist out there looking for the perfect American built guitar.

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!

Guitar American alder body maple neck 22 frets, screwed, rosewood fingerboard, jumbo frets.
1 Atomic Humbucking micro in the bridge position, and in the middle and neck single coil of Texas Special.
5-way switch.
Vintage synchronized tremolo type.
Bought 816 euros in Musikia (as demo copy).

UTILIZATION

For me it is the handle (almost) perfect. Relatively broad and rather flat behind. Access to the highs is lower than that of a guitar shredder, but still easy. The strings are parallel to the handle even in the high (and I did not pay).
I like the principle of the spring which holds the stem of vibrato in place, but difficult to get it back (at least from below) because the jack blocks. Yet the vibrato was a bit of action back, which would be usable for the metal. Passing is ultra sensitive.
It is also in my opinion the weak point of the beast: it takes patience to switch to open tuning because a single rope tuning exotic means retuning the whole beast. Also I'm not completely sure of the place of understanding.

SOUNDS

Its level is quite immediate. Although not a pro sound you pass easily from Hendrix to AC / DC (not necessarily the playground but can do much pretense), and allows some slippage in humbucker sounds a little heavier. The sound is not as focused and defined than a typical metal guitar but it comes out of things quite dynamic.
Overall and quite expected, it is very good Fender sound but displays good versatility because of the configuration microphones. I felt no frustration with the choices on the dial.
on the other hand, we can do better sustain level.
I use it on a Marshall JVM 2000.

OVERALL OPINION

After two weeks of use, I can say that I love:
- Versatility
- The shape of the handle (but hey I guess it's matter of taste)
I like a little less sustain, even if it's nothing insurmountable, the balance of the vibrato for open tuning and I reserve my opinion on the holding of agreement.
In any case I think it's a very good mid-range guitar.

Fender is a great American classic guitar. They have been building guitars for over 50+ years now. They are just as an American icon as John Wayne or Elvis Presley. These guitars have been played y almost every musician in the world at one time or another. Fender has a reputation of soul and quality when it comes to there equipment. They have a great deal of respect by the brightest and the best in the business.

Details
Body Material Alder
Body Finish Gloss Urethane
Color Black
Neck Material Maple, Bolt-on
Neck Shape C
Scale Length 25.5"
Fingerboard Material Rosewood, 9.5" Radius
Fingerboard Inlay White Dot
Number of Frets 22
Nut Width 1.685"
Bridge/Tailpiece Tremolo
Tuners Sealed

UTILIZATION


Fender American Special Stratocaster HSS Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:

* Body: Alder
* Finish: Black, Gloss Urethane
* Neck:Maple, Modern "C" Shape
* Fingerboard: Rosewood
* Frets: 22, Jumbo Frets
* Scale Length:25.50"
* Nut Width:1.69"
* Hardware:Chrome
* Tuning Keys:Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
* Bridge:Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
* Pickguard:3-Ply Black/White/Black
* Pickups:1 Atomic Humbucking Pickup (Bridge), 2 Texas Special Strat Pickups (Neck/Middle) Pickups
* 5-Position Blade
* 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)
* Case: Deluxe Gig Bag included

SOUNDS

This guitar is one fine classic instrument. My two favorite wood combos are the Alder with Maple and the Alder with Maple and Ebony fret board. This fortunately has the first which is the best wood combination out there. I understand the need and desire for exotic woods and the allure for how beautiful they are, but when it just to straight players guitars needing to rock then there really isn't anything more simple and better than an Alder body and a Maple neck....perhaps a one piece alder body.

The tone from this guitar is very good. It can get beefy with the humbuckers and lighten it up for some single coil action. This is an extremely versatile guitar with the 5 way selector and humbucking and single coil operation. You will still need to replace all of these pickups in this guitar as they are garbage. I suggest using Seymour Duncans as I have found good use of those pickups in all my guitars. They aren't boutique but they sound just as good in my opinion.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these guitars come in right at around $849, which is even less than the three single hums. This is a great price for an American made Fender Stratocatser HSS guitar. You get a wealth of versatility with this pickup setup.