All user reviews for the Fender American Standard Stratocaster [2008-2012]

The day I switched from playing an acoustic to an electric I took a trip to Guitar Center to see what they had. Through all the garbage they have hanging on their wall this beautiful sun burst Strat which was calling out to me. I took it off the wall and felt the neck which was amazing. The previous owner has taken off the lacker finish on the neck and it was just an oiled finish. It was so smooth and comfortable which sometimes can be a hit or miss with Strats. It felt like a guitar that had some play on it and it just formed into your hand. Much like the new Charvels it feels as though it gets better the more you play it.

This one has an Ash body and a Maple neck. I took out the pickups since the neck pickup died. So I went with some Dimarzios which are ok, but not great. I think I would want to try some Seymour's in there next time if I get around to switching.

UTILIZATION

The guitar is easy as pie. It has three controls knobs consisting of one volume and two tone knobs. One of them I don't use ever. I do roll off some of the highs with the back tone knob. I think it helps bring them down in this guitar. I heard another guitar player does this and it helped in his guitar and I have always complained about how bright the guitar can be. So rolling down the tone a by to around 6 or 7 helps quite a bit.

SOUNDS

When it comes to the sound of a Strat there really is no other. I hear guys talk about finding a Strat sounding guitar and look to Suhr and Anderson and completely bypass the sound that started it all. The sound is everyone from Jimmy to John Mayor and in between.

I use this guitar with an assortment of amps and cabs. Today I was jamming it with my Splawn Quickrod and vintage Marshall 4x12 with Blackback Celestion speakers. I had such a great tone coming from this setup. I love the tonal possibilities I get with this combination. It sounds so choice when I slap a Wampler Analog echo in the effects loop.

I play rock music and this guitar is great for my style. I love Charvels and will probably put this guitar down when I get one of those. I prefer humbuckers to the single coils.

OVERALL OPINION

This a guitar that I will have forever. Since it was my first guitar and very special to me I will never let it go. This guitar has such a great tone and feel that is hard to find sometimes. The neck is comfortable and just rips. My hands glide with easy with the bare oiled neck. If I ever buy another Fender Strat I will have someone take off the lacker on the back of the neck.

I would recommend this guitar to any guitar player. Everyone needs a Fender Strat in their arsenal. A great everyday guitar and a players dream. So many tonal possibilities that will accompany anything musical genre from pop to modern rock.

Fender American Standard Stratocaster Features:

* Color: 3-color Sunburst
* Body: Alder
* Finish: Polyurethane Finish
* Thinner Undercoat Finish for Improved Resonance
* Neck: Maple, Tinted Neck with Gloss Front/Satin Back
* Rolled Fretboard Edges
* Number of Frets: 22, Medium-Jumbo
* Scale Length: 25.5"
* Nut: Melamine, Width: 1.685"
* Hardware: Chrome
* Machine Heads: Fender Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Keys
* Bridge: 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with American Standard Bent Steel Saddles
* Copper Infused High-mass 100% Metal Bridge Block
* Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
* Pickups: American Strat Single-Coil Pickups
* Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade
* Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1.(Neck pickup), Tone 2. Delta Tone™ (Middle and Bridge)
* Case: Molded Fender/SKB Case included with TSA Locks, Glass Reinforced Nylon Trigger Latches, and Form Fitted Plush interior
* Accessories: Cable, strap, polishing cloth, trem arm, wrenches

UTILIZATION

Its a strat, you get what you get. It is easy to get at the top frets and really gets a great sound simply, its a plug and play guitar, very much a standard in the guitar industry

SOUNDS

I really enjoy this guitar and I don't even like strats that much, its a very simple guitar to use. I've used it with a bunch of amps but mainly with a laney GH50L, it does great RHCP type sounds and I totally recommend it for that, it even does some ok distorted sounds, but the SSS configuration kind of screws it over there. The cleans and slightly OD'd tones are definitely my favorite thing, and it does great "bell" type tones with a AC15 and a great grind with more marshall style amps.

I feel like this really isn't meant for anything overly distorted though, so don't go buy it if you want to play anything over classic rock really. Unless you plan on changing pickups.

OVERALL OPINION

My least favorite thing about this guitar is by far the pickups, I find them too noisy and thats why I don't own single coil guitars anymore really minus a different strat. Other than that I found it to be a very well crafted good looking guitar, I think the action was a little high out of the box, but that was fixed easily and some people may like it higher. I think its a bit overpriced and I'd personally never buy it new, but overall its a great sounding guitar and I'd highly recommend it to people looking for cleans and lightly driven sounds.

Fender Stratocaster U.S.

New American Standard
Maple neck, button pallisandre.


UTILIZATION

The handle is very nice, although it's very disorientating when you come from the world of classical guitar. The sleeves Paul me more familiar. Ergonomics standard, the trouble to prove that this move it to Leo was a real stroke of genius by drawing the shovel (not like the time he sold his box at CBS, eh Grandpa?).
"Yaka" plug and "Yaka" whining to the microphones.

Certainly, 1100 bullets for a guitar like that, it can hurt, especially after seeing the quality of Mexican (a friend has a Custom Shop Deluxe rise 69 which is comparable to mine). But for a few hundred € uros, was in the hands "the American Dream" (and more mundane: "the American workforce" and marketing), and a handle a little better off by me.

Regarding the year, and after reading the previous review, I am convinced that the Stratocaster are like Bordeaux, are good and bad bottle ... For my part, I think 2008 is a good year, and Fender was the slope (see there's the series of American Special: yum!)

SOUNDS

Do we really remember how a Start rings? Recognizable, even plugged into anything! A neck pickup to the permanent ratiboiser granny, a bridge pickup in dislodging the bridge of grandpa short the ideal tool for everyone, but then all kinds of music! I

OVERALL OPINION

since late 2008, and I never never part! It is certainly not given, but it remains a good investment for a queen like this one ... In addition, the Agus, the prices are very attractive, so I urge those who want to have a go through it, if the new one does not appeal.

(Originally written by checkzeflo/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Classic Fender Stratocaster made in the USA with all the legendary features...

As a reminder: three Fender single coils, rosewood fingerboard (you can also get it with a maple fingerboard), incredibly pleasant Fender neck (a bit wide and quite flat). Wonderful wood grain body and transparent varnish.

Standard Fender bridge with tremolo arm.

Ultra rugged case. Cable and strap are provided.

The finish is clean and looks and feels wonderful. It's a very good instrument!

I didn't want to buy a Strat (too common) but after trying out several Gibson, Telecaster, Gretch, Ibanez and others, I went back to this standard Strat with a real personal touch.

It should get at least 8/10 for its performance.

UTILIZATION

The neck is perfectly manufactured. It feels great but it's all a matter of taste. Guitar necks are like colors: everyone perceives them in a different way.

The guitar's weight surprised me because I expected it too be lighter.

The controls have a very sensitive response. The main advantage of this instrument is its overall manufacturing quality and its finish.

I give it 8/10 again although it's a subjective mark. This guitar is much better than most competitor products thanks to its performance and simplicity.

SOUNDS

What can I say...

It's a Strat: very versatile thanks to the 5 pickup combinations, lots of distortion sound nuances due to the sensitive volume knob, lack of punch with distortion (the guitar has only single coil pickups).

You can play with the tone control and use extreme distortions for solos with the neck pickup.

The bridge pickup sounds very metallic and I mainly use it with the center pickup to soften the sound.

The center+neck combination is wonderful for arpeggios.

I give it a 9 because 10 is unreachable with my fingers... But it's the best sound I've ever had as a guitarist. Lots of useful sound variations.

OVERALL OPINION

I love it.

As I plugged it for the first time at home I felt an immediate change...

It's the most expressive guitar. It's not a legend for nothing...

(Originally written by afrohair2004/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Fender American Standard

Finish: Olympic white

Maple neck and fingerboard, C profile neck, fingerboard with glossy varnish, neck with satin varnish.

22 medium jumbo frets

Three American Strat single-coil pickups

Alder body

Controls: Master volume, tone 1 (neck pickup) and tone 2. Delta Toneâ„¢ (bridge and center pickups)

5-way toggle switch

Bridge: floating tremolo (new 2008 model)

Made in 2008

UTILIZATION

I've wanted a US Strat for a long time. The new 2008 standard model had a good reputation especially regarding neck playability and pickups. I bought it.

I'm not disappointed... I'm actually very satisfied with the playing comfort. I immediately found it very comfortable when I tried it out at the store. Barre chords, bends, sound, everything is easy!

Perfect weight and balance.

The knobs feel very sturdy. They are sensitive and feel perfect.

SOUNDS

The Stratocaster is THE most versatile guitar. And this version is not an exception. Except for heavy metal, it allows you to play everything.

The clean sound is beautiful. The highs are sharp, the lows warm and the mids... in between. Positions 2 and 4 sound great and provide exactly the sound I was expecting from a Strat. Crystal-clear, clean, accurate.

All three pickups provide a good distortion sound but they generate noise when heavily distorted! Notice that my system is not grounded, which is a serious mistake!

As I already said, this guitar isn't made for modern heavy metal but I didn't buy it for that. For that music style, I would use a guitar with humbuckers. That's the reason why I also have a Washburn N2 and a Hagström Swede.

But the Strat is stunning for clean, crunch and rock distortion sounds. Everything is possible: clean sounds (Stevie Ray), rock sounds (Strokes), fuzzs sound (Purple Haze)! This instrument provides a wide and particular sound range. A lot of guitars produce a similar sound but none of them sound exactly the same as a Strat. This sound has an inimitable depth and soul.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been playing this guitar for only one week! I've wanted a Stratocaster for a long time and I never liked Mexican models especially regarding their playing comfort. With this American Standard I feel at home. Everything is easily playable, I have the impression of being able to play anything... or almost anything! This guitar has a strong personality, it's wonderful. Its finish is very good and I think it will sound better as time goes by. It was a purchase for life!