All user reviews of 4/5 for the Fender American Standard Stratocaster [1986-2000]

I didn't buy it. I'm just borrowing it indefinitely. But it costs $349.

It's a great all-around guitar. It plays anything you want from low-pitch rock to high Van Halen solos. It screams through with roughness when you want it to and smooths things out when you want it to. It has a 5-way switcher that helps with this feature. The neck is great. It slides like greased lightning, and has 21 frets.

Only that it doesn't quite have a deep, dark sound some metal heads want, because it only has single-coil pickups.

It has double-cutaway body, bolt-on neck, the works.

Over-all, this is a fantastic guitar. I would highly recommend it to any rocker out there, especially if you're into punk or even up to P.O.D. Just not death metal.

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

I bought the guitar and a Marshall 30 watt digital effects amp at a local music store (not a huge discounter)- around $200 for the guitar and $250 for the amp.

The Squire Strat is basic- a good beginner's guitar (my level). Despite other reviews here of Squire guitars, it plays well enough (and better than others I've tried) for what its designed to be. Don't expect it to be an $1,800 US made Strat, you're expecting the wrong thing. But, if you don't know whether you're ready to sink even $500 into a guitar, then you're quite well off with the Squire. It will teach you the basics of single coil sound and Strat feel, the fat frets notwithstanding. (leave the 10-guage strings at home- they're not for the Squire unless maybe you really are a Guitar God. Otherwise, the fretting will sound out of tune most of the time because there is too much bend in the string just to get it fretted. Also lock the bridge and lose the whammy bar- that will also help keep it in tune. You can add it back later if you want, but there is a lot you can do without it)

It's modifiable. When you're ready to spend some money, you can move up to a mid-level guitar or modify the Squire (which I intend to do). Since the basic difference between the Squires and the US strats is the quality of the electronics and hardware, change the electronics and hardware. You'll learn more about the instrument than you thought imaginable, and you'll end up with an amazing guitar. Good pickups, Alembic Strat Blaster, new pots/controls (maybe one with a midrange booster), new bridge construction and tuners- maybe a new neck, all for what you'd spend on a new guitar, but you end up with a custom built guitar that you would have coveted anyway.

The fat frets, but that's a matter of changing the strings for a heavier guage. The Squire Strat got me started, and I can experiment with it without tearing up an expensive guitar. I was less impressed with the Marhall, and traded up for a larger Fender. This wasn't a matter of the quality of the Marshall, but of the sound that I want (and it isn't solid state, no matter who makes the amp). As for one reviewer's comment on the lack of sustain- any single coil instrument needs more volume (and power in the amp) to drive it. A 15 watter is a basic learner's amp- nothing wrong there. Through the Fender Princeton I'm using, with the gain on and using the guitar to control volume, I get plenty of sustain. I also get plenty of sustain from the 40 watt Fender Deluxe (tubes again) at the local music store.

Basic, proletarian axe. No, it's not an Eric Clapton Signature Model, but it isn't supposed to be. For what it's supposed to be- good industrial strength beginner level instrument- it's great. And, as I said above, it's all modifiable (and you get to learn something in the process)

For the money, a more than decent guitar (Mom & Dad, keep that in mind when Junior discovers all your old Hendrix or Stevie Ray CDs and begs for a Strat). A few simple modifications (lock the bridge, take of the whammy, 11 guage or higher srings) and you're on your way. And yes, you really can hear differences in the pickup configurations. It will get you to the next level, and if you're that serious about playing you can trade up or customize.

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

i picked this baby up ages ago after christmas 1996 from a great UK gitar store and was a sweet £199 about 250$ i think!

ever since the day i started plaing the guitar, my strat has been the most loyal to me compared to some of the other rip offs from people like peavy. i would definitely recommend this to the beginner. it's not too expensive and easy to use. the neck isn't too thick which benefits those with smaller fingers. and a good set of fender strings will last you all year round. it's compatible with most effects and can take a lot of pounding for the price, but dont TRY and break it! or you will.

red isn't my colour! it requires a lot of maintenance i.e. change of strings! and i have found that the pickups always seem to come loose every now and then. there is a limited amount of colours available. black red and woodgrain i blieve.

again! the maintenance is a bummer! but if you are a dedicated guitarist, you wouldn't mind sitting down and repairing the pickups and strings!

but whatever you do dont buy the box set that includes the amp and cables. my cables broke and you can get a better amp than that! but for MAJOR beginners the books and video will come in handy!

the begginer's best buy! not too expensive and is a great introduction. at the price of £199 you won't need to be afraid of tampering with the pickups and readjusting the strings as you need to learn how to repair before moving onto a more expensive guitar.

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

Some years ago I was looking for a reliable and cheap guitar, since my budget was really low at the moment and i wanted to learn to play guitar at any cost, I choose the old Squire Strat. It looked good, sounded good and I had enough money to buy it. I paid 165€ for it, plus a little amp (nothing too fancy really). I ran home as quickly as I could, afterall, it's not everyday you buy an electric guitar...

Everything really! Since I was pretty much a guitar "virgin", at the time I couldn't say if the sound was good or bad: but at least it sounded right. The cheap Amp didn't help in anything, but it still sounded as it should. The sound doesn't amaze but it doesn't disappoint either really, and I can't complain since I got an extremely good product for the little amount of money I paid. It was extremely confortable, opposed to my accoustic, and i never had any trouble reaching the frets with my small fingers. The neck was extremely smooth (unlike many reviews state)and the body was also solid. I also like the guitar design, it looks and feels like the "classic" electric guitar we grew to love and worship in our younger days, looking at our heroes playing. The finishes are good, even though the guitar material isn't as high quality as it could be.

Nothing, probably besides the cheap material it is made of and the sound. It can easily get scratched even if you have a great care handling it. The sound isn't my main problem, mind you, but when compared to my friends Epiphones or Les Pauls it just fades. It still satisfies me, and it serves the purpose well. Aside these two minor problems, i don't think i can rant about anything more. Some things could have been better, as you may imagine...but we must remember this is a budget guitar.

As I mentioned already above, it can get easily damaged. But the production and construction was flawless, at least with my unit. Every screw was well tide, and every piece was were it should be. I bought it without a single scratch, and we must remember it came from a Japanese factory, probably by plane, and things like damaged parts are a common occurence. However, besides that and the fact the materials aren't the best around, I have nothing left to say.

Mind you it's nowhere as good as, let's say, the cheapest Gibson manufactured guitar, but it still offers an average quality guitar for a low price. Optimal if you're thiking in start playing. So resuming, I'm glad I bought one Squier Strat as my first guitar, and if I could buy another one I would do it without much thinking. I'm rating this guitar following the fact that it is a budget guitar made for beginners. And the best one around, as far as i can tell... So if you're thinking in buying one, just go ahead, you probably won't be disappointed.

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

Well, you see I bought this guitar from a music store called Giovvani's for around 300 dollars. I wanted a good beginer guitar that i could basically learn how to play an electric.

Let's see, I liked the way the guitar was put together, pretty durable (having dropped it a few times with nothing more than a scratch). The tone of the guitar was perfect, and I really liked the neck. It wasn't too fast or hard to move your hand around.

I didn't like the the tone controls...they really didn't have any sort of effect on the sound....Also, the neck was a bolt on, which i didn't like either. It didn't stay in tune very well, but like I said, I only bought it to learn.

The constuction was very good, not sloppy or poorly finished. VERY durable, because once my strap fell off while I was playing Fat Lip by Sum 41 onto the concrete floor and the only damage was, well, nothing!

If you want to learn how to play electric, BUY THIS GUITAR! It is easy to learn on and fun. But i strongly recomend that this guitar is not to be used for gigs or any of the sort. So, overall this is a great guitar to learn on, but once you get better i suggest a Gibson or a Fender. Peace.

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

I bought this guitar at a local store called international music for $500(aus), mainly because of the value for money

I have found this guitar to be very sturdy, it survives a constant thrashing and comes out alive. It has a good sound about it. You can choose between the type of sound, single coils, humbucker. And it looks mad when you're playing on stage. Like a real pro.

I have to agree with all of the other reviews, the guitar string hum, quite loud when only using a single pickup. Other than that i haven't had any other problems.

This is a real guitar, and based on the price a great buy, it features die-cast tuners, hardwood body, a single piece maple neck with 3 single coil pickup and a 5 way switching system what more could you possibly want.


Well i have said this numerous times and im going to say it again, for the money this is a great guitar, if given the respect and care it deserves it will last you a long time with little problems. Overall great unit!!!

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

Mine is: USD.
Color: Natural (varnish)
Neck: Maple.
Mcaniques: not great.
Electronics: All original
Finish: Okay, it Fidler. But good price could be better.

UTILIZATION

Maple Neck: Hyper acute lot of slamming, not bad for funk or rock aggressive English well. And then touch the handle is colder, harder than rosewood, less enjoyable after all.

Slecteur Micro: They still do not think the change of place. I may be clever but not trs Lorqui I play, I change rgulirement micro slecteur inadvertently because the microphone is in the race of my hand ... They may be saying that just that can quickly change if micro ncessaire ... but I find that teachers and stressful ... in concert ..

Weight: Legre, well, not heavy.

Fidler: It sounds live. There is no picture if the sound you want fender is l.

Pickups: Each micro his characters which gives it the versatility in sounds. If the amp are good you can really have great nuances of sound.

SOUNDS

RAS

It Fidler.

OVERALL OPINION

I am happy with this guitar trs.

I may change the handle Petre's really too slamming and lack of fullness in the sound.

USA
3 simple microphones
2 trestle bridges
2 volumes 1 tone
handle configuration C

UTILIZATION

Channel enjoyable trs
Good Access in acute
a little heavy for 5 hours prom
nothing but the rest is vintage not count

SOUNDS

By itself I can not find my happiness too mtallique. I fill with michael kelly (happiness)
I play a fender deluxe 90 dsp
is the queen of the shadows but warmer sound should change the pickups

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since 1996
lack of diversity of its
I possde a Yamaha Pacifica, a 1959 Les Paul Studio, a Michael Kelly, a Peavey Raptor and a Hagstrom Corvette 1966
The cast is overrated, it is worth half the other half is for the brand
yes like everyone else

Made in USA factory Corona Plant for 50 years stratocaster. Equipped with a Floyd bridge.

3 single coil pickups vintage, 5-way switch with 1 volume and 2 tones, maple neck 22 frets, painted black with white plate.

UTILIZATION

I bought it at the time in looking for a guitar has both versatile and fun to play. It exceeded my expectations. The handle is extremely well designed to play fast and flexible. The game is easy in the high and allows the flight at Gilmour.

SOUNDS

The sound is crisp and precise, biting. It responds very well to attack. The pickups are nervous. It's just a marvel that presents a default, a distortion a little weak compared to Gibson guitars for example. We can not have everything in one product. All those around me who were able to try have been seduced.

OVERALL OPINION

I use this guitar for 15 years. I bought it after scouring all the shops of Pigalle and I would do the same choice without hesitate, despite a purchase price a little high. You pay the brand. The Mexican, a little less expensive are very respectable, however.

Country of Origin-California (USA).
Flip-vibrato colon (modern).
-Maple neck.
-22 Frets.
-3 X single-coil (single-coil).
-2 X 1 x tone and setting volume.
-5-way selector pickups.

UTILIZATION

-The maple neck is nice but not for the "Shredding".
-The interface is ideal, it is the best point of a Stratocaster, the ultra-ergonomic.
-One easy access to the latest freight.
-The sound is correct, that of a Stratocaster what.

SOUNDS

Yes, for the funk there's nothing better.
-Clean or distortion, the sound is good.

OVERALL OPINION

"I have been using + / - 20 years.
"I am a collector, I tried many guitars, some of which I bought after trying.
"I adore the clean sound, perfect to my cheeks, funk.
"I've changed the pickups selector 3 times already, I do not know why but Fender parts deteriorate quickly, there is always a problem with the switch contact microphone after a few years, a problem I've never had with my Charvel and Gibsons.
-Although I bought it in California in '89 the price is high for the instrument it is.
"I do it again the choice, just because of its perfect for funk.

Mine is a red American Standard Stratocaster made in the USA in the early 90s. It has the traditional Strat single coil setup with a 5 position toggle switch. Strats of this era were the first to adopt the new 2 position pivot point bridge/whammy bar setup. Mine has an alder body and rosewood neck. The pickups were the standard pickups from the era that Fender was using. I have more to say about the pickups later. I have to rate it a 8 out of 10 because the Strat design is a classic if ever there was one but I'm not sure that these 90s era Strats are really the best.

UTILIZATION

When I bought it the neck played like butter. It couldn't have been better. It still plays well but I have had to make adjustments over the years to compensate for different string gauges.
I believe the 2 pivot point whammy bar works more smoothly and easily than the original design but also has its drawbacks which I talk about later.
The guitar has held up well over the years.

SOUNDS

Over the years I have had the opportunity to compare this guitar to two 70s Strats and one Mexican Strat from the 90s. The American Strat sounds smoother and better overall than the Mexican Strat in all positions except for the bridge treble pickup position which lacks bite and life in comparison to the Mexican. The 70s Strats sound stronger and glassier to me in a way I can't explain which brings me to the issue of the two pivot tremolo system on the new Strats. I suspect that this system robs the guitar of tone somehow and have read where others agree.
I have recently replaced the original 90s pickups with a set of vintage 57 reissue pickups and the difference is shocking! The 57 pickups sound so much smoother, sweeter, and more Alnico like but they lack the punch of 90s pickups and can sound mushy when the amp is distorting. The 90s pickups are punchy and modern sounding but also sound harsh in comparison to the 57s and respond differently dynamically to picking. I prefer the 57s. I'm still experimenting with other combinations including a 69 reissue pickup in the neck position.
The moral of the story is that even though they look roughly the same American Strats from different eras can sound quite different from one another so shop carefully.

OVERALL OPINION

I certainly recommend an American Strat because they are classic but my advice is to shop carefully and really compare the myriad of new and used models available because they definitely do sound different from one another. A novice may not hear the difference but if your ears have developed you can hear the differences easily if you do A/B comparisons. I also feel that new American Stratocasters have become too expensive at near $1,000.00 because they are actually quite simple assemblies once the precision parts are made so I would look for a used guitar.