All user reviews for the Fender American Stratocaster [2000-2007]

USA 2000
Standard features

UTILIZATION

ras

SOUNDS

I'm posting this review because when I went on this site I saw some reviews "passion" against this instrument and it upsets me ...

let me explain:
I play the guitar for 26 years and am also a teacher. Note that I play on custom shop strat and also gibson custom shop. but since 2000, I have a standard strat and I'm always happy.

many users describe the following "defects":

- Low level of output:
this is actually a simple historical specificity of windings and it has a genuine interest. let me explain:
- When you play on a low power amp modeling type 15-30 W, we can see a lack of potatoes.
-But a "real" amp, makes it a "historic" all-tube amp guy, everything becomes different. low output power of a guitar is real asset because you are forced to turn up the gain (or master volume, depending) of your amp and there you have a lot more headroom (perception of sound filling) and dynamic , where a finer type of your "touch" guitar and the reaction carried out attacks, feeling of games to dgts ...

plus a vintage strat is or period (eg 56'S to € 65,000), minus the output level is high .... except for some microphones that were "on" by their owners voluntarily wound ... I the chance to play on a Rory Gallagher Signature custom shop and the output level is much lower than the U.S. standard "classic" ... the sensation is only better!!


- "Her" too acute, or perceived as being "too" sharp, hence described as not hot:

this is due to non-use of tone knobs by means guitarist .. actually a strat must casiment on all styles, be a little "off" in the treble. why put the tone knobs on 5-6 instead of the very common "very bottom": this is not going at all to it. Lots of great musicians use this technique.


- Lack of keeping the tuning:

then I think about it is the funniest finally notices on any guitar. it did, except for toys 50 €, have nothing with mechanical ...
it depends on the implementation of strings and Nut often hangs .. a good idea to put pen to paper (no I'm not kidding! lol) in the nut slots.

for info in utilization "pro" strats (of Squiers (very honest way) to master builds) are often décritent like guitars with the ideal and very stable tuning fork tuning stability.

my american standard 2000, I change her rope Granted, streche a bit string (pull strongly away from the top button) 4-5 times I retune, then it does not move for several weeks! !! 3 once I add a little pencil in the nut slots and go again!

to qualify as a little we can even say that the old vintage style vibrato are not the best in the light of agreement: the obligation to re-polish each bridge and carefully dig out the slots in the nut (more graphite - highly effective gel) under penalty désacordage two or three uses winded ... ultimately it is best to block against the table (either by tightening the two screws on the back or by adding springs) and it only works in one direction (it is no longer floating).


I hope I will not go to yet another preachy web ....


this instrument is absolutely great compared to the design feature and totally worth the approximately 1200 € requested. we must learn about these features and adapt accordingly (like everything ..)

OVERALL OPINION

after careful anyway at some versatility of models over the years.

a good strat is light or very light. more wood is heavy it will sound less. this should be your first criteria for in-store purchase.

(I note 9 for wood quality not always used top ...)

Manufacturing USA.
New American model series, 3-tone sunburst. Maple neck.
Bought in August 2006.
Everyone knows the Fender Strat, need to specify its characteristics.

UTILIZATION

Guitar perfect ergonomics unchanged since 1954. Needless to specify advantage ...

SOUNDS

I tried for the last 20 years almost all the Stratocaster, with the exception of Custom Shop.
At one point I even owned 5: a 96 American Standard, an American Texas Special, an American Deluxe, a Clapton and the American Series. Five is to the latter that is always gone my preference and it is logical that when I wanted to return to my first love, the Gibson Les Paul, I am separated from all my Strat except that above.
We all know that the beautiful American (from at Gibson and Fender) are not formatted by a fully automatic and digital manufacturing. As a result, for the same model and the same reference, there will often render the difference sound of a guitar in the other. So, my 2 LP Traditional sound different from each other. And same goes for the Stratocaster. I had tested a lot before making my choice on this beautiful 3 tone sunburst that really made the difference. And it was so much that was immediately became my favorite on the other four I had. I have not played the new American Standard so I will not speak. But the ones I had, though each had its own strengths, not simply made the match for the newcomer. Truly a miracle!
It sounds so beautifully! By itself, it focuses all the qualities you can expect more Strat: a strong character microphones, superlative gameplay, as always-finish Fender-without any fault and versatility. I can not say if it is enhanced over time as I toyed, there is still little so so regular that it is difficult to judge a possible sound change. What I can say in any case is that I have never owned a Stratocaster and as good as the one I will treasure.

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar-Strat-usually part of the legend of Rock. It was and is played by the greatest that have marked the history of our favorite music. It is no coincidence when it occurs, it is perfect and has been shown over the decades that very few changes. There were mythical years, during which Fender produced copies that are now worth a fortune. Maybe the beginning of 2006, when the Strat was made, is one of those magical moments that produce exceptional instruments.
The American Series is just exceptional.

I got this guitar from "The guitar shop" in Mississauga, ONT. I got it for around 1100 bucks canadian and that is a sick deal.

I love this guitar! It's amazing! It is so clear and the tone is right on! The neck is so fast and the finish is awesome! (Chrome Red)The pickups handle every note and the rods in the pickups are placed perfectly.

It doesnt come in lots of colors but oh well, who really cares.

Solid. Although the body is made of Alder wood, it is light and easy to play. Tuning keys hold stay in tune through some tough bends.

Sick guitar.... buy it now

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

I bought this beauty from a near by Guitar Center. I was searching around for a fender strat, american if i had the money, but if i didnt id start looking at the standard. After trying a few other stores,it looked like i didnt really have the $ for an american. I tried the last place in town (guitarcenter),and asked what they had. They came back, and i soiled myself. A 2003 Fender American Stratocaster. Sunburst, rosewood neck, singlecoils, beauty. I basicly stole it from them for a mere $700, (they usually go for $850-$1200)plus it came with a sweet case, and let me say... Best Buy Of My Life!!!

Where can I say. She's a beauty.The wood (alder) is unbelieveably beautiful, the sunburst color is breathtaking,..everything about it is beautiful. Other than the looks, it plays like a dream. The rolled fretboards are so easy to play on, the 3-singlecoil pickups have a supurb sound that gives me the treble i need to play my heart out.The 5way switch gives me the flexablity to play any kind of music. This is something you must get an american edition to have. The tremlo is great, the keys never go out of tune, what can i say. Everything about it is great.

Ya, right.

Other than amazing, fenominal! It is the toughest and most hardcore guitar available. Let me say right now, i am a cluts, and always accidentaly hit my fender on random crap, but do you see any battle scars, wounds, chips, none at all!
The quality of the wood and painjob is amazing. There is nothing better than this.

AMAZING,PHENOMINAL,BEAUTIFUL,OUTSTANDING, BREATHTAKING. I LOVE MY FENDER!!!

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

I bought my 2003 USA Fender Standard Stratocaster at the Guitar Center here in Sacramento, California for roughly $700.00 (including hardshell tweed case).

I am, unabashedly, a Strat man; always have been, always will be. My Strat is black/white/blonde and the paint finish is so smooth it looks almost poured on; just gorgeous. The neck and headstock, as well as the low heel at the neck joint, all make me think these are patterned after the '57 model specs. Balance, weight, feel are to perfection---it is a comfortable balance that will let you march all night and fight all day without the lower back grip that a heavier and less balanced axe will guarantee you. Completely standard, the model from which all other Stratocaster configurations are based on. Pure, quacky Strat tone that turns to a growl even with a little dirt in your signal chain.

There is nothing about this guitar that I don't like.

As mentioned above, construction, components, care and attention to detail are inargueable; a class act start to finish.

A little bit of Strat history: as Stratocaster sales began to slip once Buddy Holly was gone, Fender seriously considered cutting the Strat from its line-up altogether. It seems that, at the last possible moment, everybody got their jaws dropped by some new guy named Hendrix and the Strat was safe. Clapton "built" his "Blackie" Strat from the components of 3 Strats to make one good one (and by the way, "Blackie" was originally a three-tone sunburist [see Derek and the Dominoes cover]) that was later re-sprayed black. Clapton was hooked and the Strat has been his main axe ever since.
In the late 1960's Fender went "underground" when it began to advertise the Strat in a (then) little known, quad-fold newsprint we all call Rolling Stone magazine today. It (at least once) bought the center-spread advertising space that showed a white Strat with the hook "How to Purchase a Guitar". Want to slightly increase your Strat's "quacky" voice? Simply lower the middle pick-up just a hair and voila!, there it is!

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

Bought the guitar on ebay. I wanted another guitar in addition to my Carvin DC200. I paid 450 dollars for a 2000 year guitar that basically set in its original hard case. The guitar was mint.

Without a doubt this is one quality instrument. I played the Squiers, Mexicans and the new USA Strats. Found all but the USA guitars, when compared side by side to really lack in quality comparison wise. The pickups on the Squiers and Mex Strats really were less quality in sound. The woods also really set the models apart. The finish on the USA Strat was so superior it wasn't even funny. A side note. I looked briefly at the Gibson Faded Les Paul. I really didn't hate the guitar but a seriously quality difference between the Gibson and the Fender was obvious. The Faded was also so ugly when I actually saw it in person that I ruled it out immediately. A guitar should be beautiful in my opinion. The Strat is quite versital also with the selection switch. I also really like the Frets on this Strat. The Carvin has fat frets and I had never played until recently any Fender Strats and found the Frets to my liking. The finish is the traditional sunburst which is so beautiful.
The finish looks a quarter inch thick.

This is only about my personal setup expectations. I haven't had a chance to
put strings on the guitar I like. The set currently on it are BIG compared to my liking. Also I would like the strings lower and being aware of Carvins the lowering of the string height on a Strat is new to me.

Top notch construction and quality. The materials are so superior to a Mex or Squier. The cost is more but in this case you get what you pay for.

You can't go wrong with this guitar. Because I played some 2003 Strats I have to say that I saw a difference also between the 2000 model I bought and the 2003 models.
Perhaps it was just the individual guitars. Also one store I went to had Strats new but they had been played and dinged and still wanted full price.

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

I bought this Strat from the Guitar Center, in Harahan, Louisiana for $565.00 used. I cut my teeth on a Strat many years ago. For a long time I've played a Gibson SG and love it for overdrive, but I missed the Strat sound.

The feel and the sound. For my hands nothing feels so comfortable as the neck on a real Strat. Like I said I played a Gibson SG for many years but had to pay attention to my fingering. With the Strat everything just falls into place. The Strat twangy, punchy sound is great for the type of playing I do; R&B and Oldies Rock. It's natural sound doesn't need effects so much as other guitars. It stays in tune very well. When I really dog it may go slightly out of tune but still sound great anyway.

The Trem bar really sucks, goes out of tune right away. I know there are solutions to this; different nuts and bridges. I just took the handle off. Don't need it. The strings bend extremely easily.

It was like new when I bought it. Not a mark even on the pick guard. It looks and feel like quality when I play it. Fender's got the American Strat (as well as others) dialed in. Except for the tremelo, it's perfect.

My only regret is that I did without a Strat for so many years. It makes a difference in how I play and the level of pleasure I get from playing. I'll give it 5 even with the sucky trem. The rest of the guitar more than makes up for it.

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

Bought at www.thomann.de for about $600



It is very good to play as it has an excellent handling. The corpus is heavy and very balanced. The neck is u-shaped and has a very good feeling to it. Mixture of humbucker and single-coil (2)is interesting for a variety of sounds

The switch for changing between humbucker and single-coil seems to be in the way a bit and certainly doesn't look extremely robust.



Excellent constructin, except switch mentioned above.



I'd buy it again any day.



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

OK... Well I bought this instrument 1 year ago, I paid 650 USD for it (it was new)..


I was learning to play and I want a good instrument.... something that make me play more and more and something that inspires me to make music..... and I Found it !!


a Beautiful Black American Standard Stratocaster with Tremolo.



Well.. When you start to play a Original Stratocaster you feel something strange... You can fell the notes in your fingers... Maybe this is not the most expensive instrument in the world.. but this instrument have history, reputation, fame, etc etc...


When I plugged in to my fender amp I listen that classic noise that single coil pickups produce.. but hey!! this is a Strat!! a Real Strat!!!, I play mainly Heavy Metal and the single coils are not the perfect choice for that music, so I changed the pickups for a dimarzio fast track 2 in the bridge and neck position and a fast track 1 in the middle, they are noiseless and with more gain and better character in distortion.


But for a clear sound thats nothing like a strat with good single coils.



: I dont like the factory setup !! The strings are too high and the intonation is totally crazy, the pickup height are acceptable but not the best.


Personally I Dont like the stock single coils (delta tone).



HEY !! This is the American Version of the strat, the finish is beautiful, clean its like a mirror, if you look at directly you can see your face and your smile in the strat body.


The fretwork is exact, and the finish in the fretboard is wonderful, when you put your fingers there, you feel a very very relaxan position that inspires you to play, Its a very very gooood guitar...



Well this is the original strat, when you got it you got the same guitar that hendrix, clapton, srv !!..


you can feel like they felt with their guitars.. that inspires you to create more music and learn some more...


if you are a bluesman, the strat is a have to.



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

$700...Aurora music in Aurora Colorado.

I was looking to upgrade from my Korean stratVery comfortable neck and awesome tone from the stock pickups. Great setup from the factory (intonation ect)


Still minor tuning problems if you use the tremolo. Not equipped w/ a roller nut or graphite nut.

. Great finish and the neck is very smooth neck. Great tuners too.

An all round great guitar but needs some work to keep the tuning in place when using the tremolo bar. Nice SRV type tone.


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

Start the 't was manufactured in the United States, my MODEL is the latest issue (ie a means that this guitar is the last team in the Contents of Fender Start' amricaine STANDARD ...). Key (in Saddle for me, issue preferences ...) has 22 frets, and for over a year of intensive use they take the road! Like the handle Saddle! Question microphones are, as mentioned above, three single coil pickups MODEL Start 'amricaine standard, the bridge itself is also a standard MODEL (shame that Fender is not had the wonderful ide d install a bridge on the type vintage MODELS, look for a slap much !!!), unfortunately "fan of all kinds of vibrato" go your way! because the intensive use of it dsaccorde Whereas the guitar (no-strings block nut Obviously ...) but we are not in mtalleux so who cares!
As for the knobs: 1 volume + 2 tone and 5 slecteur positions to obtain a standard sound palette!

UTILIZATION

First the handle ... The grip is IMMEDIATE and enjoyable, allowing to easily stroll and web notes with great precision. However Access in all boxes dernires ncessitent "micro-fingers" and creates the possibility of "breaks wrists" over the sound of notes dernires boxes s'touffent quickly (but it's rare that we go looking for notes on the boxes ...). 22me
Stratodale form is very nice and perfect weight, allowing easy handling and some sheering scniques spectacular!

SOUNDS

Question the norm is that guitar! Extremely versatile, from blues to rock guitar is perfect, but refrain srnomtalleux ... The three microphones each have their own thanks to slecteur and 5 positions are reached every style, question the norm I repeat it! The sound is crystal clear (the strong point!), And another crunch or distos also come easily to achieve the heavy-metal in the bridge position ... Gnial!

OVERALL OPINION

As you can see this guitar is a Russianness! Question quality-price is fantastic for such a work 1200E is incredible! Fans of blues, rock, funk, heavy metal, hard rock this guitar is for you! Repel against it by fans looking for a big sound nomtal fat o only 4 strings are utiliss ... Superb!

My opinion on the latest models (mine is 2004), with small innovations like, adjusting the neck with micro-tilt button acute Delta Tone Tone, Schaller / Fender tages.La finish impeccable.La is Mine is Olympic White with rosewood in touch: too good.
Other features you know ...
Oh, by the way I feared the holding of the agreement because of the vibrato, but I j'trouve that a sacrament is good (p'tetre even better than on my LP).

UTILIZATION

Having always play on the sleeves Gibson type, it took me a while to adapt, but there is much vite.Pour trs, j'pourrais not say that I prfre.Pour stall the thumb on the low E (and even the la) is on, it mieux.Pour each access to acute, the better than on my LP, but it is not dur.Et the ergonomics, well it's better too (it's not hard either). on the other hand, it is not so lgre a, but I like heavy guitars (I'm not masochistic, but I like having something solid in good hands). ... And for the sound

SOUNDS

I would say it is more to my config, that I style.C is to say that in addition to an LP, great!
I used to be a blues junior (and the clean sounds are to die for: slamming a wish, crystalline, sharp, it's too good) or direct via the computer AmpliTube (and the same is all good, but cooler than the blues junior).
I like all the mic positions, especially the intermediate, while slamming (ideal for skanks, Kokot, funky and other plans). The neck pickup for solos and the bridge pickup for some rhythmic funk (very dry and sharp) or blues solos for "old school".
For distortion, the ben uh ....... my j'ressort LP ... even if the layer can have a sound distortion interresting, I would always prefer J'lui Gibson.Mais repeated 'em, I made this clear sound for its skyscrapers, which itself is perfect.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a month and I reckon that I'll never take me separer.Avant I tried the full range of models: the squier affinity to the stratum +, to by Southwestern, the highway, passing the deluxes.En I would say the mex and me deues highway (j'preferais still japanese squier). And the deluxe property is, but I find that the noiseless pickups, have a more rock and less flapping, less typical Fender what, even if they are excellent mics.
I would be probably a little frustrated in distortion if it was my only scratches, but is not the case then ...
Serious, too j'laime dipstick and dipstick not let go since purchased.
1150 euros for the flight, a belt, a jack, a set of strings, a stand, cloth, grip well on meds and all cls SETTINGS, I guess that I had for my money.

Manufactures in the United States (Corona, California), the guitar possde 22 frets, 3 single-coil Start pickups, synchronized tremolo 2 points. Question rglages, they are the three buttons control master volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. New Delta Tone

5 Pickup switching positions.

Maple neck and alder body.

UTILIZATION

The guitar is really enjoyable to play. I felt the first ds use it a comfortable guitar trs. Access in acute very easy. Trs weight reasonable, not heavy at all and when I heard the sound, I fell on my ass ... Its extremely clear and prcis. Its typical Fender Really high quality. This is one of the best guitars you can buy!

SOUNDS

I play in the style rock / blues as hard rock and another time it's the guitar that is best for me I find this type of music. All sounds are gniales is never a matter of taste at the end but nothing to criticize.

OVERALL OPINION

I have the guitar for 3 months now and I must say that I play more and more I like it. I played with a squier before and we talk about two worlds Different. I still had the opportunity to test some other guitars like Gibson Les Paul but still my favorite stratocaster.