I bought it new 6 months ago after reading great things about it. I have always been a Tele player and this is my first Strat. I paid about $925 with case. It's black with a maple neck, alder body, vintage trem/tuners, 5 way switching

The reverse neck shape and bridge pickup give it a more mellow mid-rangey sound and the string tension is different because the reverse neck headstock is 180 degrees out from the standard config. It has a real twangy feel

It came strung with extra slinky 9's (who plays with spider webs?)I put 10's on it and it had a nasty fet buzz so I took it to an authorized Fender dealer with an official Fender-certified repairman who told me it needed a fret mill to get rid of the buzz, $30. I had it done it was somewhat better but not buzz-free 100%. I submitted all receipts and records to Fender for warranty reimbursement and they refused to pay! I had no idea they valued their customers so poorly. I was on the phone with the Fender warranty guy, wearing my Fender T-shirt and looking at $5K worth of Fender gear in my living room and the guy wouldn't kick down $30! I am shocked, frankly.

Piss poor fret finishing, other than that it seems pretty together. There is a cool laser etched pic of Jimi on the heel plate. This model has been discontinued due to pressure from the Hendrix estate ( what ,Fender ripped them off, too?)and is now called a '68 reverse Strat

I will definitely think twice before I EVER purchase another new piece of gear from these greedheads at Fender

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