![Fender American Standard Stratocaster [2008-2012]](https://img.audiofanzine.com/img/product/normal/1/2/125266.jpg?fm=pjpg&w=300&h=218&fit=max&s=23ba7401c8b62890c96fead58c107390)
View other reviews for this product:
tjon901 « The Standard Stratocaster »
Published on 06/02/11 at 11:30The Stratocaster is an icon in the world of guitar design. It was designed by Leo Fender in the mid 50s as an evolution of the Telecaster. It has a classic double cutaway design with an extended top horn for better balance. It has a contoured alder body with a pickguard where all the electronics are attached. The stratocaster has tree single coil pickups and they are selected with a 5 way blade switch. The position most rearward on the switch selects the bridge position pickup. The next position right selects the bridge and the middle pickups. The middle position on the pickup selector selects the middle pickup on the guitar. The next position selects the middle pickup and the neck pickup. And the selector position closest to the neck selects the neck pickup. The neck is a maple neck with a maple fretboard and 22 jumbo frets. The neck is not too thick and not too thin. The headstock is the iconic Fender shaped headstock with 6 tuners in a line. The bridge of the guitar is the well known Fender tremolo system which is the weakest part of the guitar.
UTILIZATION
The strat shape is very comfortable. The contours on the body are perfect. This model has the rolled fret edges with make the neck comfortable as well. Some Fender Strats have a lot of gloss on the back of the neck which makes the neck sticky and hard to play on. The finish on the back of the neck on this guitar is just right. It has the dark color like a vintage strat without the sticky feel. Many guitarists do not like the large neck join that is on stratocasters. The neck is attached with four bolts in a large square joint. For some people this large square block may get in the way of their playing on the high frets. The radius on the fretboard is no super flat so you can still do large chords without hurting your hand. The American Standard Stratocaster incorporates bent steel Fender saddles. The original vintage-style Fender bent steel adjustable saddle is one of the components that give vintage Fenders their unique tone. Then Fender improved them, narrowing the spacing to afford more room (and complement the bigger frets and rolled edges), and also elongated the string slot to reduce friction and string breakage, while improving the string break angle over the primary contact point. The screws on the bridge can sometimes be sharp and get into your hand. The tone block is a special alloy that is blended with copper and is 100% homogeneous so it will produce a better tone.
SOUNDS
Fender Stratocasters are known for their twangy sound. This guitar is no different. The bridge pickup gives a twangy bassy sound that you will instantly recognize. When you combine the bridge and the middle pickups the two pickups cancel out each others noise. So in this position the guitar is quieter plus it has its own tone. The neck and the middle pickup also have the same feature. When you combine them the pickups cancel out each other noise. The neck pickup is great for solos and chord playing. For me single coil pickups are better suited for clean playing or low gain playing. With a high gain metal sound the pickups will be very noisy and will have a good tone. Under high gain single coils sound harsh and tinny. With a clean tone they sound great and have a good amount of clarity. With a clean tone a good single coil will get you a bell like tone. Single coil pickups because of their design will pickup back ground noise. They are not naturally hum cancelling like humbuckers are. Over the years Fender has made the pickups quieter and quieter but they can never be totally quiet like humbuckers with the design they have.
OVERALL OPINION
The Fender Strat is an icon in the guitar industry. It has been played for over 50 years by countless famous guitar players. Its classic design and tone means it will always be a benchmark in the guitar world. With its twang and bell like tone it will always find a place in music somewhere. If you are looking for a good solid guitar for country or light rock you can get the Fender American Standard Stratocaster. Once you start playing a stratocaster you join the group of many famous guitar players who have made their living with a strat in their hands.
UTILIZATION
The strat shape is very comfortable. The contours on the body are perfect. This model has the rolled fret edges with make the neck comfortable as well. Some Fender Strats have a lot of gloss on the back of the neck which makes the neck sticky and hard to play on. The finish on the back of the neck on this guitar is just right. It has the dark color like a vintage strat without the sticky feel. Many guitarists do not like the large neck join that is on stratocasters. The neck is attached with four bolts in a large square joint. For some people this large square block may get in the way of their playing on the high frets. The radius on the fretboard is no super flat so you can still do large chords without hurting your hand. The American Standard Stratocaster incorporates bent steel Fender saddles. The original vintage-style Fender bent steel adjustable saddle is one of the components that give vintage Fenders their unique tone. Then Fender improved them, narrowing the spacing to afford more room (and complement the bigger frets and rolled edges), and also elongated the string slot to reduce friction and string breakage, while improving the string break angle over the primary contact point. The screws on the bridge can sometimes be sharp and get into your hand. The tone block is a special alloy that is blended with copper and is 100% homogeneous so it will produce a better tone.
SOUNDS
Fender Stratocasters are known for their twangy sound. This guitar is no different. The bridge pickup gives a twangy bassy sound that you will instantly recognize. When you combine the bridge and the middle pickups the two pickups cancel out each others noise. So in this position the guitar is quieter plus it has its own tone. The neck and the middle pickup also have the same feature. When you combine them the pickups cancel out each other noise. The neck pickup is great for solos and chord playing. For me single coil pickups are better suited for clean playing or low gain playing. With a high gain metal sound the pickups will be very noisy and will have a good tone. Under high gain single coils sound harsh and tinny. With a clean tone they sound great and have a good amount of clarity. With a clean tone a good single coil will get you a bell like tone. Single coil pickups because of their design will pickup back ground noise. They are not naturally hum cancelling like humbuckers are. Over the years Fender has made the pickups quieter and quieter but they can never be totally quiet like humbuckers with the design they have.
OVERALL OPINION
The Fender Strat is an icon in the guitar industry. It has been played for over 50 years by countless famous guitar players. Its classic design and tone means it will always be a benchmark in the guitar world. With its twang and bell like tone it will always find a place in music somewhere. If you are looking for a good solid guitar for country or light rock you can get the Fender American Standard Stratocaster. Once you start playing a stratocaster you join the group of many famous guitar players who have made their living with a strat in their hands.