Fender American HM Strat

I've got two of these damn things now. Don't know what years. Both are s/s/h with Kahler Spyders. One has a duncan in the bridge. I take the locking nut and fine tuners off, put four heavy springs on the trem block and screw it all the way down. (I never could find that $#!@#^% allen wrench when it was too far out of tune.) Standard tuning down a whole step to D and run .010 to .046 strings.

As versatile as any player I ever heard needs to be. I like the stock pickups just fine but the pickups can be removed and replaced with different ones!!!! (Just thought I'd share this groundbreaking concept.) Scale length and bridge contribute to slightly scooped, clear, defined, spanky sort of tone with just a hint of victorian breadth and the depth only found on the fragrant shores of the river Nile when the great sun crosses the divide.

These are best playing guitars I have ever owned. The holy grail of electric guitar necks. (Of course, you might not like it at all. Might not be your cup of tea, you know.) I put away a '55 les paul goldtop, a '64 strat and an old PRS custom to play these things. Finish on body is thick plastic, but your arm slips real well when you get good and sweaty --I like that. Neck finish is smooth and fast. Fit, well the neck pocket is tighter than the 70's strat I had. (But so is the local prostitute.)

Very reliable. A regular nut may make it even better as the metal one is getting a bit sloppy without the lockdown dealies.

I talked to Dick Dale once and he said Leo was a super guy.

Been playing 29 years now. Still own a dozen or so guitars, though I've been selling them off since I found these HM strats. I've played damn near everything and owned more than 100 different guitars. To me, it all comes down to how well does the thing play. These HM strats are butt ugly, have plastic paint and tacky graphics, have no vibe or mojo like an old strat, and won't impress your guiitar collecting buddies. So please, don't go out and buy one. I'd like to be able to get about ten more for $200 or $300 a pop.

1992 fender hm strat, 22frets, floyd rose pro (like lo pro),H/S/H pickup configuration (humbuckers are dimarzio) w/ 5 way selector switch, gotoh tuners,nice slim & flat neck, rosewood board on maple, red marble looking finish, basswood body.

Very versatile pickup configuration for just about any style, clean or distorted. Single coil has great blues sound. Humbuckers are very full and can really rock. Very good clean sound for jazz and country. Very quiet when not being played. Sweet harmonics. Really screams.

Action is perfect. Very low and even. Straight neck. Hardware is secure and fits like a glove. Couldn't be any better

Very reliable. I would gig w/o a back up. Finish won't come off. Good strap buttons. This guitar is very worthy of live performance.

This guitar was made to compete w/ Ibanez, Jackson ect... and they did one heck of a job. I've been playing 5 years and I don't understand why nobody buys these when they're so cheap.The only Ibanezes that are better are prestiges or sgnature models.It has better pickups,a better bridge, and just as good of a neck as any Ibanez or Jackson. Buy one if you can. They're very reasonably priced for some reason. Excellent value

I Have a 2 pickup model w/Kahler Floyd Rose Spyder double locking Tremolo. One of the best guitars I ever played. The best part is the neck , what a great feel.

Fender Lace sensor at the neck & Fender factory Humbucker down low with a coil tap switch. You can Jazz to Metal to country with the flip of a switch

Action so low I thought it was broke! The finish is a little cheesezee but it grows on you. Mine is a deep maroon, but I've seen lot's a different ones.

Although I would have a nervous breakdown you could throw it down and still be ok.

Overall I would give it a solid 9. been playing for about 18 years. I own 10 other Guitars & this one's tied with my 75 Gibson Marauder as co favorite. Not only would I replace it, I'm going to actively pursue building a fleet of them as cheap as the are. Remeber Suggested Retail price was $1000.00 Bucks

I have had many different models The Made in Japan models (1986-late 1989) have slightly less overall build quality than the Made In USA models (late 1989-1993)

My current #1 is a 1990 American made model, btw they all say Fender USA on the neckplate regardless of the country they were made in. If it has a Kahler tremolo instead of a Floyd Rose then it is a Japanese model. Some of the very last of the Japanese models came with the Floyd Rose, but all the USA made have them.

They come in a wide variety of pickup configurations but the most common is the S/S/H

Most impressive is the 17" radius neck which actually measures out to 17.5" on most models

The guitar is quite capable of getting you just about any sound you want & having said that is extremely versatile. The 24 frets & shaped heel provide easy access to the high notes & the paint on these things is tougher than nails! You really got to abuse one to get all the way through to the wood. The full floating trem is great on both models but I do prefer the Floyd to the Kahler (plus you can still get parts for the Floyd...

I play everything from Alan Jackson to Guns-N-Roses to the Eagles & it does a fantastic job of emulating all the unique sounds. I play through an ART SGX2000 with which I have spent hundreds of hours perfecting the tones so that does make a difference, but the guitar is still a fantastic all arounder & does covers that other guitars just could not pull off regardless of the processing equipment

The tone & volume controls are smooth & effective.

moderately well set-up from the factory, but a good guitar tech can really make it sing for ya. Again the MIA models are a little better quality than the MIJ ones for fit & finish.

Absolutely bulletproof!

No actual service requriements, but the CS employees at Fender are always willing to help with any thing you need it just takes forever to get them on the phone...

Been playing for about 20 years, I would be devastated if it was stolen as it is basically irreplaceable.

Sea Green, 24-fret, maple neck which smudged nicely into fretboard 'patterns' after a lot of use. S/S/H with the usual controls. Guitar had no mods whatsoever. The tremelo Kahler Spyder was the most reliable tremelo system I have ever owned, including the Edge, Kahler flat mounts and the 2700 series.

Played thru - Marshall 12w into Digitech GSP5 into Digitech Rack Harmonizer; in stereo thru two mono power amps into stereo 4 x 12. Sounded fantastic.

No problems whatsoever!

Took some serious hammer live with no problems. Would always have a second handy (a Tokai souped up strat) thru choice.

Never needed it!

P/X'd to buy a Fender Coronado, the biggest mistake I ever made. Someone, somewhere has got one hell of a guitar *sob*!
:-)

Basswood body, 2 American Standard single coil pickups, 1 Dimarzio humbucker, 1 Volume, 2 tone/ TBX controls, 1 coil tap, Kahler "Spyder" tremolo, maple neck with 24 fret maple fretboard.

I used this through a variety of amps..mostly processed with an ART SGX2000 Express processor.

The guitar did its job, but lacked definition. If this were the only "Heavy metal" style guitar I had around, I guess I would be happy with the sounds and its range of tones.

The guitar is built well, although I do not care for the plasticy finish on the body. The neck however has very little finish, and it began to wear away almost immediately. I do like the feel of that finish. It feels like an old guitar.

All the routes are precision routed, and everything fits together as it should.

All the hardware is great. The electronics could be better, but that is a cheap upgrade. I would rely on it with no hesitation.

Never had to use customer support.

I have been playing 12 years.I own a Jackson Soloist, Ibanez RG770, Rico era BC Rich Eagle, 1974 Stratocaster, 1969 Telecaster, and a 1968 Gibson Les Paul goldtop.

If the guitar were stolen I would probably not replace it. My Soloist does the job much better.

If the guitar were made with a better body wood, different body finish, it would be a keeper. I just don't dig the overall feel and tone.

Solid body HM Strat made to compete with the "Super Srats" of the 80's (Ibanez, Charvel, Kramer). Face it no one knows how to hot rod a Strat better than Fender. 24 fret maple neck with nice medium jumbo frets. Wide, thin and non finished, plays very fast and comfortably. DiMarzio Humbucker in bridge position (coil tapped) and 2 single coils. Standard volume and tone set up w/ push-pull pots for added tonal versatility. Kahler "Spyder" bridge (Floyd Rose sued over this one, it's that close) some people don't like them but I've played Floyds and this is just as good. The tuners are Gotoh. This is a super versatile guitar that can get a wide variety of sounds/tone. Mainly overlooked due to Fenders less than perfect reputation at the time and the fact that they came out at the end of the 80's "Hair Metal" frenzy. Just a bit too late, pick one up, you won't regret it.

So what sounds do you want? I've played jazz, rock, metal and r&b on this guitar. The only limitations are your gear and ability. I play through Marshall 100 watt head, Fender Bassman and a Sovtek Mig 50. They all sound great. THe pick ups are super quiet and the guitar sustains for days.

I bought it used a few years back and set it up myself.

It's been gigged and bounced over the years and the finish has held up well. The usual little dings around the edges, but it's a player right, not a piece of f**kin art to hang on the wall.

No need

I've been playing for 20 years and have tried most major (and some unheard of) guitars. Yes I LOVE Fenders (specifically Strats) but I honestly believe that the HM series has been completely overlooked and underrated by most guitar players. These beauties are packed with features and playablility and the "bang for the buck" can't be beat. These are very versatile guitars, if you can only afford ONE guitar this should be it. If you want a cool addition to your arsenal this is a very good choice and they're usually priced reasonably.

USA, 24 Frets, maple neck.
The neck is really Good.
Good tuners (gotoh)
The bridge is not so good... a Kahler Spyder... I didn't like it.
In fact I changed it with an Ibanez Lo-Pro Edge (stolen from a broken Steve Vai Model)... and... Whoaa! This is great
Pickups are really 'basic' so I've changed them with PKV (limited production of pickups made in Italy) and... Whooooaaoaoaahh!! She plays alone, she doesn't need me...

Very versatile guitar, You can play everything.
Unplugged the sound is very clear, attack is quick and decise, sustain is long enough.
The wood of the guitar permits you to experiment with sounds. She Can... only find the way...
I have a Peavey Ultra Tube 60 and other stuff.
It's really nice to play sometimes with only the guitar directly in the Amp

Normal set up at the factory
try yourself for better configuration.
You can lower the action if you want it, just set up the neck first

No words.
I got it since 1990, played live etc... and she still plays... better.

Never needed...
I don't know

I have a pickup configuration not so usual so my sound choice is very huge... Humbucker - Single coil - Humbucker, with a special 5way selector, in the central position I have the two humbuckers instead of the central single coil.
If you want to customize a guitar I think this is a good point of start.
The woods are ok, the neck is superb, but you must replace the bridge and the pickups.
I've used many guitars during these years but I really love the neck of this guitar.
Plays ok with Effects Processor, pedals and all the stuff you know.

24 frets, 1 Dimarzio Humbucker, 2 single coils, Floyd Rose Style Kahler, this thing screams! This is one of the best things I have played from FENDER USA! Coil Spliter! This guitar is totally versitial!

Can get any style sound!

Incredibly action! This plays as good as any custom shop guitar I have played!

Great quality and Durability!

Never needed a repair!

This guitar is overlooked by many! These guitars were made to rival the custom Metal guitars of the 80's (Ibanez Jems, Jackson Soloists) and it comes through with flying colors! Incredible sound, playability, and quality! I would recommend this guitar to anyone!

this is the american hm strat has 24 frets maple neck red and black crackle finish,kahler spyder tremelo.has a hum/sin/sin pickup configuration

this thing kicks a$$,anything from a hendrix strat sound to a van halen sound to low end crunch sound of todays sound

bought used but it is a cool finish,just did the usual adjustment to fit my personal taste.

ive used this live for awhile and it is great,must last because its already 10 + YRS OLD.