Fender American Stratocasters
I had the chance to visit my local GC yesterday and got to play the three series of American made stratocasters I have been reading about.
I was very interested in the Am. Performer series(previously the Am. Specials)-not expensive, entry level into the domestic line of strats. For me the real draw is that great big CBS style headstock. I feel that's the right size for a strat body and just so, so cool. Beautiful guitar with nice sounding Yosemite pick ups and that treble roll off Greasebucket design on the tone knob that takes out the shrill and leaves the volume. It works really well. I was running thru a VoxAC15(all three guitars were tried with this amp clean and gritty). Where it lost me was the new neck(modern C they call it) is much to fat front to back for me. I just couldn't get a good grip around the neck. Shame for me but someone with bigger hands and longer fingers will like this. The Am. Professional line has upgraded pick ups with Greasebucket tone knob, a very comfortable to me slimmer neck profile(which is confusing because it's called a DEEP C shape but is nowhere as fat as the Performer's neck) with a nice color line but still no hard case. I'm not knocking the built quality of this series at all because it is truly a well built and executed design of a modern strat, but no hard case was a deal breaker for me at that price point.*** Which leaves the Elite series of stratocasters. I know, you get what you pay for and I have to say this guitar was just wonderful all the way around. Slim compound radius neck from 10" to 14" that felt heavenly all over. Great sounding noiseless pick ups with clarity and chime like a real single coil should sound. S1 pick up switching and this "Passing Lane" button that just throws the electronics into clean overdrive nirvana. How cool. My only reservation is the small headstock. I'm so stuck in my ways. But honestly the Elite felt as good if not better than any stratocaster I have ever played and the electronic advancements just push it over the top. If you like strats you must try this one. ***CORRECTION-I have been informed that the Professional series strats do in fact come with a hard shell case. Please excuse my shoddy fact finding. Thank you nkatsonis for the true and factual information! frankie |
Great info, thanks so much! The American Professional without a hard shell case included would be a deal breaker for me too.
Also, I’m firmly in your camp. A Stratocaster *must* have the larger ‘68 headstock. Many entry level Squiers have it, and I wish Fender would offer more but they’re few and far between. |
The Professional series Stratocaster normally includes an Elite series hardshell case.
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Now if we can just get a big headstock on the Professional series me and Jaden are in!!! |
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The Performer line is matte finish rather than gloss? The beefy neck profile works for me, but non specific case purchased separately isn’t quite the same. I came very close to bringing a white on white Roadhouse home but it has extra electronics and being somewhat old fashioned would be beyond my interest. Thanks again Chickee, and nkatsonis |
I have an American Special strat, which has the Texas Special pickups, larger headstock, maple board, etc. I freaking love it! It's just an awesome guitar. I don't gig, so the soft gig bag it came with was quite fine for my needs.
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I'm seriously considering ordering a Squire ClassicVibe strat, and a neck from Warmoth(CBS headstock, maple, maybe even a lefty) and a loaded pickguard with noiseless single coils from Seymour Duncan and call it a day. It would come in a few hundred less than the Professional series even after buying a fender hard case. |
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I'm looking forward to trying out the newer Strat series. I have a couple of American Strats (2001, 2005) and I'd like to see if I can feel a difference with the neck.
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There's way too much wood in those huge headstocks :p
I much prefer the slimmer style, like on my hardtail Stratocaster :guitar: |
I really like the American Elite Strat in fact it was what I had thought I was going to get as my first electric.
But ultimately I ended up with a PRS CE 24, which I realize is completely different. Having lived with it for over two years I have decided it is a keeper.. So now if I decide I still want a 3 single coil guitar, I will try to be able to audition a Fender Elite Strat and a PRS Silver Sky at the same time |
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Put up a picture of you frankenstrat please, nkatsonis? |
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