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iamqman « Nice player's guitar »
Published on 07/17/11 at 22:16If 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.
UTILIZATION
Body: Alder
Body Finish: Poly
Neck
Neck Shape: Soft "V" Shape
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm)
Fretboard: Maple
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Gloss Urethane
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Neck Plate: Custom 4 Bolt Neckplate
Electronics
Pickup Configuration: S/S/S
Bridge Pickup: American Vintage Strat® Single-Coil Pickup
Middle Pickup: Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity American Vintage Strat® Single-Coil Pickup
Neck Pickup: American Vintage Strat® 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
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Hardware
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Bridge: Vintage Style 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Stamped Steel Saddles
Tuning Machines: Vintage Style Locking Tuning Machines
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Switch Tip: Aged White Switch Tip
Tremolo Arm/Handle: Vintage Style Tremolo Arm
SOUNDS
Every Fender Stratocaster I have ever played needed the pickups replaced. 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. 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.
So for every Fender STratocaster out there you are going to have to replace the pickups. That being said the rest of the guitar is sort if a wash. This is a decent guitar but not for not for the money. You will have to replace pickups like I said but the feel of the guitar is not what I you would expect. Once you have felt the difference between an American and Mexican made Fender Stratocaster then you know what I'm talking about. These guitars do not meet the same requirements that the American ones do. They feel cheaper and they the balance is way off. All that being said the tone isn't much different.
OVERALL OPINION
At new these guitars come in right at around $799. That is about $300 cheaper than an American made one. I would not buy one of these new and buy an American made one for about the same price and probably even less. You will still have to replace the pickups for some Seymours or Fralins or something but you'll have a much better guitar.
UTILIZATION
Body: Alder
Body Finish: Poly
Neck
Neck Shape: Soft "V" Shape
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm)
Fretboard: Maple
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Gloss Urethane
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Neck Plate: Custom 4 Bolt Neckplate
Electronics
Pickup Configuration: S/S/S
Bridge Pickup: American Vintage Strat® Single-Coil Pickup
Middle Pickup: Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity American Vintage Strat® Single-Coil Pickup
Neck Pickup: American Vintage Strat® 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
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Hardware
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Bridge: Vintage Style 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Stamped Steel Saddles
Tuning Machines: Vintage Style Locking Tuning Machines
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Switch Tip: Aged White Switch Tip
Tremolo Arm/Handle: Vintage Style Tremolo Arm
SOUNDS
Every Fender Stratocaster I have ever played needed the pickups replaced. 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. 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.
So for every Fender STratocaster out there you are going to have to replace the pickups. That being said the rest of the guitar is sort if a wash. This is a decent guitar but not for not for the money. You will have to replace pickups like I said but the feel of the guitar is not what I you would expect. Once you have felt the difference between an American and Mexican made Fender Stratocaster then you know what I'm talking about. These guitars do not meet the same requirements that the American ones do. They feel cheaper and they the balance is way off. All that being said the tone isn't much different.
OVERALL OPINION
At new these guitars come in right at around $799. That is about $300 cheaper than an American made one. I would not buy one of these new and buy an American made one for about the same price and probably even less. You will still have to replace the pickups for some Seymours or Fralins or something but you'll have a much better guitar.