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If you have seen one Fender Stratocaster you have seen them all pretty much. If you have heard a Fender Stratocaster you have heard them all. American made or Mexican made their tones are only hairs between he the two. Fender Stratocaster guitars have that classic look to them that countless guitar builders and makers have copied time and time again. These guitars stand out just like anything else in rock n roll history.


This guitar has a great sound and feel with the added humbucker and deep rosewood finished fretboard. The tone is darker as well much like any guitar that would have a humbucker in the bridge. These guitars do have a brighter tone so the the mix with the darker fretboard is a nice touch. It is not overly dramatic is tonal change but really subtle.

UTILIZATION

Body
Body Material: Alder
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Neck
Neck Shape: Modern "C" Shape
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Jumbo Frets
Position Inlays: White Dot Position Inlays
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm)
Fretboard: Rosewood
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: H/S/S
Bridge Pickup: Atomic Humbucking 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
Tuning Machines: Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Switch Tips: Black Switch Tip
Tremolo Arm Handle: Vintage Style Tremolo Arm

SOUNDS

Every Fender Stratocaster I have ever played needed the pickups replaced. So for every Fender Strat out there you are going to have to replace the pickups. It amazes me that someone like Fender who have build some of the world best guitars and amps completely and utterly fail at making pickups. Its not only Fender but Gibson pickups suck as well. Their pickups have to be the most horrible garbage sounding pickups in the world. I'm sure that someone out there has topped them but their pickups are just trash. The dark pick guard and the gray paint job give the impression that this is a badass guitar. So your attitude towards this guitar could aid it how you play it. I know this is far fetch but some guitars that have that cosmetic attitude lend themselves to making the user attack the guitar differently. I know I play a Tele different than I do a Gibson Les Paul.

OVERALL OPINION

If you look around you can find these new for right at around 999, that is a fantastic price for this very workable and versatile work. I believe that these pickups are not that great so I would swap them out for some Seymour Duncans real quick. This is a player's guitar and a very good gigging guitar. Not a showroom piece and not something for the collector.