Fender Standard Stratocaster 2012 - Like

Alexrkstr · #1 02-08-2013, 01:12 PM

For those of you who have tried Fender Strats and haven't yet found a nice sounding one, try out the new American Standard 2012-2013 strats. I just bought one last week ( NGD pending to when I receive it).

I had all the available Strats at GC lined up: Squire, MIM, MIM Deluxe, American Standard, Am. Deluxe, EJ, EC, JB, and some customs.

After a couple of hours of playing them, I was impressed by how good the Am std sounded. Then, I realized that Fender has changed two critical things (to me): 1) the neck is satin in the back (no stickiness) 2) they upgraded the pickups to Custom Shop Fat 50s. These pickups make a world of difference. Personally, it's the "strat tone" that I was hoping to get from the previous strats that I owned and those I tried. The only drawback was the thickness of the neck, I would have rather had an Eric Johnson, but for the price, you can't beat that American Standard strat. Crystal clear notes, no ice-pick tone, nice mids, great bottom, nice sparkles, fat middle tone. You just have to play one to feel the difference.

DavidE · #2 02-08-2013, 02:04 PM

[QUOTE=Alexrkstr;3349202]The only drawback was the thickness of the neck, I would have rather had an Eric Johnson, but for the price, you can't beat that American Standard strat. QUOTE]

What do you mean by thickness of the neck? Is it thick? Is it thin? I never tried an Eric Johnson, so the reference doesn't help my understanding. I prefer a larger neck myself.

Thanks

thunderlung · #3 02-08-2013, 02:10 PM

If memory serves, the Eric Johnson necks are a bit beefier but the OP will probably chime in and answer that one for you.

Alexrkstr · #4 02-08-2013, 02:24 PM

[QUOTE=DavidE;3349256]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexrkstr

The only drawback was the thickness of the neck, I would have rather had an Eric Johnson, but for the price, you can't beat that American Standard strat. QUOTE]

What do you mean by thickness of the neck? Is it thick? Is it thin? I never tried an Eric Johnson, so the reference doesn't help my understanding. I prefer a larger neck myself.

Thanks

Correct, thunderlung. The EJ has a 12 inch radius. It's thicker and wider.

lovetheclassics · #5 02-08-2013, 04:25 PM

Cool nice guitar. IMO the 'Strat' tone comes from the vintage 50's pick ups that come in the AVRI's

rosewoood · #6 02-13-2013, 12:26 AM

Couldn't agree with you more Alexrkstr.
So much so that I bought an Olympic White with the RW neck
this past Sunday.

Alexrkstr · #7 02-13-2013, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosewoood

Couldn't agree with you more Alexrkstr.
So much so that I bought an Olympic White with the RW neck
this past Sunday.

Congrats! Time to update your signature!

dwalton · #8 02-13-2013, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosewoood

Couldn't agree with you more Alexrkstr.
So much so that I bought an Olympic White with the RW neck
this past Sunday.

Was thinking of trying one out just like that soon.

bpayne01 · #9 02-17-2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosewoood

Couldn't agree with you more Alexrkstr.
So much so that I bought an Olympic White with the RW neck
this past Sunday.

I am with you, I am thinking of heading the the local GC to get the Black (White would be my second choice). I have been playing Acoustic for less than a year, but always wanted to play both for various genres of music.

410adam · #10 02-17-2013, 06:32 PM

Bought one a couple weeks ago. The knobs are also vintage coloured. I like the look with the white pick guard and yellowed knobs.

Alexrkstr · #11 02-17-2013, 07:30 PM

I finally got to take some pics of my new guitar (new from the dealer) - I only buy new when I plan to keep the guitar forever (e.g., PRS Signature Limited).

Tone-wise, the guitar is amazing every single position is usable. I am going straight to my Mesa TA-15 on the Top Boost (Vox) side and clean on the Fender side. The only pedal I'm using is a Keeley compressor (2 knob) and wow. I seriously wished I had bought it years ago.

Humbuster · #12 03-22-2013, 02:16 PM

The new 2012-2013 American Standards (Strat & Tele) are the best new production guitars Fender has offered in quite some time.
Hard to beat at their respective price points, IMHO.

Full disclosure: I recently added a new Am Std Tele to the herd.

LMNOP · #13 03-22-2013, 04:01 PM

The American stuff is starting to credibly, objectively surpass the Mexican stuff. For the longest time, the superiority of the American instruments was basically 99% placebo.

The last two 2012 American instruments I've handled were VERY high quality in terms of fit and finish. Noticeably. It takes a lot to tempt me into buying a new guitar (especially a new-new guitar), but Fender's definitely doing it.

Disclosure: The last Fender products I bought were a Big Apple Strat about 15 years ago and a 66 Tele at a garage sale about 10 years before that

muscmp · #14 03-22-2013, 04:58 PM

the ones you didn't try are great. those are the american vintage strats. even tho i was looking for, and bought, an american vintage tele 58, i tried a couple of the american vintage strats and they were fantastic.

yours is a real looker! bet it sounds great, too!

play music!

Nomadic One · #15 03-22-2013, 05:02 PM

I wish they'd use different saddles on these. These are the same saddles which were on the Mexican-made guitars for a long time, and they're uncomfortable as all get-out if you rest your hand against them.

Everyone should own a Strat.

I don't even own an amplifier, but I own a Strat; two of 'em, in fact.