Fender '57 Reissue Stratocaster

This is a 57 stratocaster reissue, that IS the feature!

3 Way switch, I bought it used so I didn't get a 5 way, though I was debating on having it updated some say it helps cut out the buzzing when you use the middle and neck pickup together.

Stock tremelo which is so solid that you can bend one note a whole step and the other strings don't drop a noticeable amount. (YAY!)

I played this guitar then played a 1960 Stratocaster (might have been a reissue?) and a 50th anniversary edition Stratocaster, and the 57 reissue had a noticeably warmer tone, with regards to the middle and neck pickups.

I played it on a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and I was so impressed I bought the amp as well.

I see people saying they didn't like the sound and they yanked out the pickups. That makes me cringe, for the love of god, if you find yourself wanting a hot humbucker DONT bastardize this beauty, buy something else lol!

This guitar sounds nearly identical to the guitar Gilmour used for "Shine on you crazy diamond".

Great strumming sound, doesn't get too muddy.

Action is great, pickups great, bridge great!

The ONLY thing I would nitpick is the holes in the tremelo spring guard on the back doesn't match with the holes in the tremelo so in oder to change strings I actually have to take off the spring guard.

Seems sturdy, only had it for 3 hours. :)

I've been playing abou 20 years, I have a custom Ibanez JS 5 with a custom paint job by his sister Carol. It's a great guitar but after 10 years I really found myself wanting as different sound, and I was looking for something different and found this in a shop. Wish you were here came on the radio in the back ground and I felt like I was in the twilight zone, figured it was a sign. ;)

I would have payed $1500 for this guitar if they has asked it.

Sunburst "crafted in Japan" model. This was made for the Japanese market, never intended for release in the U.S. I bought it from "GuitarGai" who specializes in Japanese made guitars that are avaiable only in Japan. You can find his goods and the story of Japanese Fender guitars on Ebay and his website, "guitargai.com." The Japanese guitars that are sold commercially in the U.S. have been "dumbed down" with basswood instead of alder or ash, and less expensive pickups. The ones intended for release in Japan have Alder or ash bodies and American pickups, such as Texas Specials, which is what this one has. Guitars like this are a challenge to find, and even though the Japanese ones available in the U.S. are very nice, this is the way to go.

I have to say, this has got it. Perfect pure Strat tone. Simply amazing.

The guitar was used, so I'm not sure about the factory set-up. I'm not sure if the "GuitarGai" sets them up himself, but this one was very close to right on. I like mine set at Fender specs. The relief was on the money, string height great, intonation a little off, pickups a little off. Like I said, very close.
The finish is stunning, beautiful and flawless. Frets are great, no swimming pool body, very high quality. A few slightly loose screws and the pots are a little on the cheap side. I'm not sure why the Japanese don't go all the way with the pots and selector switch. Everything else, including the pickups, are right there. It's somewhat mystifying. I will say though, that in the end, it doesn't really matter, because it works and sounds great.

Ever seen Stevie Ray, work over his Strat on "live at El Macambo?" 'nuff said.

No warranty. Used. Don't need it. GuitarGai answered questions via email pretty fast. He didn't exagerate. I got exactly what he said and nothing less.

This is the 7th Strat I've owned, 3 Americans, 1 Custom shop, 2 cheap copies, and this one. This one comes out on top. It's about equal to the custom shop, but it's got a better vibe, a little better sound, same quality build and it just looks better. Is this as good as a Fender Custom Shop model? Probablly.

This is an American Vintage '57 Reissue (no, there are no Mexican '57 RIs, they are 50's Classics.) This has everything a Strat should have. The only change I see this guitar needs is maybe putting in the 5 way switch. Everything on this guitar is top notch.

Sound is a traditional Strat sound, you've heard it many times. Great clean, great overdriven. Extremely versatile, can get full-rich sounds, bright and jangly, just about anything. Surf, rock 'n roll, classic rock, even real metal ala Purple, early Priest. Why ruin by replacing the pickups, particularly humbuckers? Just kills the sound. The pickups are great and do what they are supposed to, sound like a vintage strat. If you want a high output high gain sound, then why are you buying single coils to begin with? It has the hum, but easy to live with because the guitar sounds great. The only thing I've heard that is noiseless and sounds good are Kinmans.

The finish was perfect, everything was properly done, the frets were finished very nicely. Stock setups are genereic and designed for evryone to play it ok, once you do a setup that is personal, then it gets really good. The guitar playes like a dream, I love the V neck, the 7.25" radius is so natural, the action is 3/64" at the 17th fret, it sounds great unplugged. These are well made guitars.

Very dependale, reliable, whatever you want to call it. This has nitro finish, so it will wear with playing and time, which is expected. Stays in tune very well, strings last a long time without breaking, and sounds great.

Great guitar, at a good price. From Buddy Holly to Ritchie Blackmore. This is the best of Fenders production line, along with the AV '62 RI. The guitar is great as is, the pickups are not weak, they are vintage strat pickups. I feel those who butcher these guitars by putting in humbuckers don't appreciate these guitars for what they are. There are plenty of strats made with modern features and 'buckers, please buy those and spare the hack job on these. Like I said, the only thing this can use is a 5 way switch for those who like the 2 & 4 positions, mine is stock. Even with the 3 way switch, you can get the in between sounds, that just shows the perfection in the design.

Made in Japan in 1995 (=> 21 frets)
Black Color
3 single pickups , vibrato & strato usual stuff.
The neck is excellent (++++) . It's possible to play very fast on such this neck.

I use it with a Peavey Prowler amp.
It is OK for Rock/Blues.
I like positions 2 & 4.

I bought it second hand for 470 Euros in Paris.
I just cleaned it with polish & Lemon oil (for the neck ;-)

I will use it on stage very soon.
Tuners do not move (even on bends)
It also own a nice Gibson Nighthawk that have more powerfull pickups.

Never use it

If you can fin a japanese strat (or other), I recommand you to buy it.
Don't listen to people who tell that only USA made guitars are OK.
With such this guitar, you can play Live in Clubs & do excellent recordings.
You can find Japanese new strat over the net if you search.
They are still built but not exported !!!!

I have the mexican version of the '57 strat, I believe it was made in 2001, pickups are s/s/s with a 5 way switch. It is surf green with a maple neck and smallish frets. It has the vintage stamped tuners and a vintage tremelo.

I play everything from tom petty to AC/DC, the pickups are too brite for AC/DC but are great for clean sounds. I don't find it noisy unless I am near flouresent lights or a TV. You could cut glass with the sounds this thing makes thru my '72 gibson solid state amp.

The string buzz and the bucking of the pickguard drove me nuts until I added another screw above the middle pick-up and adjusted the action. I fell in love with this guitar and it's 1/3 tennis ball sized round neck and curved fret board. Stays tuned for days and days. The weather/humidty is about the only thing that will change tuning slightly.

This guitar will outlast me

I've had this guitar about 3 years and after trying many others I could not find a comparable replacement for what I paid.

Actually I'm just writing this review to try and explain Mr. Sony my point of view about the 57 fender reissue... It never ceases to amaze me how someone with 15 years of playing, gigging and gear experience could make such remarks about this particular piece of gear.
You don't by gear based simply on looks, you buy then because they sound good, at most, because they sound and look good, but never based "just" on the looks of it.
The neck is to fat? Well it's a 57 reissue, was it supposed to be "modern thin", what about the pickup issue! Why didn't they use noiseless? Is it so strange the fact that fender did not use noiseless pickups with a 57 reissue, please refresh my memory but since this is a reissue and I do not believe they had noiseless pickups back in 57, learn to live with the static man...
After reading your review I can't help but to feel sorry for you. I mean, you just spent 1200 euros on a guitar, that doesn't seem to live up to your standards, I believe you should stop and ask yourself wether that was a smart move... Maybe you need something like a standard model.
The only real flaw I can see with the reissues is the fact that the finish doesn't seem to be 100% nitrocellulose lacquer, which is not such a bad thing, if you think of it (even though I prefer instruments finished in oil, or 100% nitro).
So to sum it up, I believe fender has done a wonderful job with these vintage reissue series, these are truely great guitars, but you have to be logical about what you buy, and you have to know what you're buying...
In this case you bought a 57 reissue stratocaster, there is no complaining about low output pickups, static noise, fat necks or any other characteristics inherent to a reissue, you simply have to know what you're buying before you actually shell out 1200 euros for a guitar...

keep rockin...

2001 or 2002 USA same specs as the rest. ALder 2 tone sunburst. Nitrocellulose finish. v shaped neck, da-da-da-da-da... what it is is a strat - no extra features besides the face that Fender lets us have a taste of how they were originally made. Came with tweed case and all the other vintage goodies.

I have always wanted a '57 but lacked the $. It doesn't particularily fit my style as my main axe, but it is what it is - a legendary beautiful guitar with the best clean sound there is, period. It is noisy, but hey, thats single coils - but what a nice shaped sound they give. Not as loud as other stock SC strats. Everyone says the bridge pickup is trash. Maybe their amp is trash. If you want a guitar to put humbuckers in, buy a MIM strat and modify away and save your self some $. Eric Johnson gets a wicked sound out of his (original '57). BTW, it resonates unplugged better than most guitars, which is always good. Not the best axe for metal, but great for classic rock, jazz, country, BLUES, etc.

I got a deal on mine because the finish had a couple little blems. DO NOT HANG THESE ON STRING SWINGS OR PUT ON STANDS FOR LONG PERIODS! The synthetic rubber of stands interacts with the nitor and marrs it up. Be careful! Everything elese is great. Thes are not bookmatched, just pretty wood. V neck is awesome. I love the small frets and sometimes I hate them. Depends on what lick/style you're trying to do.

Strats are THE workhorse guitar of all time (along with Les Pauls, but you have to baby those somewhat). Jeff Beck said he threw his strat up in the air 15ft. and he missed it and it smashed onto the stage. He picked it up and it was still in tune with nothing wrong with it. That's a tank! Don't do that with a Gibson product though! Finish is meant to wear off like the old ones. Comes with the territory. Hey, people pay an extra $500 or more nowadays to have a "relic" look. I never gig without a backup.

I have only dealt with a Fender dealer and all was good.

Playing 21 years (since 9). If stolen, I may purchase one again if I could get another deal like this. I don't plan to play it too much as I have a MIJ strat modified to my likings. I own 2 other strats, A Marshall JCM 800 rig, Fender Precision bass, Martin D-16GT, and a Washburn J28SCEDL Jumbo acoustic electric.

I think mine was a 2002 version of the Fender 57 USA reissue. Sunburst and 22 Maple frets that looks like marble, and feels like marble too.

I play mostly blues based rock. Problem i have is that the stock pups seems not strong enough. the bridge pickup is not too good for harmonics and stuffs. the neck pickup is great though. AND WHATS WITH THE BUZZ? Strange why fender used these pickups when they have noiseless ones.
i have experimented on different amps, I am using a fender blues deville, and some effects...but most of the time i have to get the volume of the amp really high to be heard in the mix(over the bass and drums).
Maybe i need to play it more often,but right now, its just a back up to my Gibson Les Paul.

From the store, it had a very light gauge strings(.08's). I used .10's and when i changed the strings the first time, the action was really high, it took me some time to get the proper action.
but on the physical side, this guitar is a beauty....its just too beautiful to be played in...when i initially bought it, i just looked at it admired it like a showroom guitar...

I do not like the neck so much because it is too fat for me, this is actually the 2nd thing i dont like from this guitar next to the pickups...but its brand new, might need some getting used to.

who knows? but Fenders usually last longer than life itself.

Fender has Cust Support?

ive been playing music for the past 15 years now and gigging for half that time.i think i have reasonble experience when it comes to guitar gears and stuffs. but it still amazes me to see and hear great guitars..the reason i got this guitar in the first place is that it just looks so sweet,the fretboard is amazingly beautiful and smooth. Too bad the neck is too fat, its not a fast neck like the Standards, or the clapton and blackmore series...

Basic strat SSS setup, American Made re-issue
vintage sytle guard and knobs
V neck
very nice guitar
got used with some buckle rash on the back

Had a beautiful full strat - clean/blues/classic rock sound
NOT suited for metal, hey buy a metal guitar (I've got 5 of them)
nice big open sound, great neck PU sound, nice 'quacky' bridge/middle combo
all around, it does what it's designed for

OK, so it was used and had buckle rash on the back, that aside

This is a very nice strat, I've had a few
The aged look of the neck is great as is the feel
I CAN play super fast runs on it, but try not to

An all around sweet axe

My stepdaughter is using this to learn on as it's the only electric I have without a floating trem
It's built solid so I have no concerns

I absolutely recommend it if you can get it used.
There is nothing so special about ti that I would advise paying the $1200+ new price
I would buy another at $650 if I NEEDED another guitar.

1999 us 57reissue, surf green. It's a strat It hase all the features it needs. To me there is nothing better than a nice vintage strat(even reissue) into a nice tube amp.

For my musical it's beautiful. I think it's funny some the reviews that sayed they didn't like them. That's it's not good for metal or punk, well no Sh#t! Play it with some soul through a nice warm tube amp and it can't get any better to me.

Even the originals,(I have a few a 56, 63, and a 72) are inconsistant. I recommend trying a few out to pick your favorite. I tend to like the heavier weight ones for some reason they just sound better to me. All I've tried are sweet, but some just fit me more than others.

This guitar, not on purpose, has been through hell and back. Off stages,down stares and countless other things. It now looks like one of those custom shop relics. But the thing is just as strong as it ever was. I picked it up after falling down a flight of concrete stairs and it was still in tune!

never have dealt with fender.

If I came across any guitar in this price range with this kind of vibe, I'd be all over it. Thats why my girlfriend keeps me away from the store.