Fender American Standard Stratocaster

2000 Am. Std. Strat. S/S/S, stock pickups. Finish is black, pickguard black, maple neck with rosewood fretboard. I bought this used at Guitar Center, had no case with it. Had to buy the Fender hardcase for it. Had some rash on the top of the pickguard, as though someone had been playing it while wearing a heavy metal bracelet. Someone had changed the tuners out to nice looking Chrome Grovers. I love the neck. Best neck I've ever had my hands on. I must have played about 25 different ones before I picked this one up. It just felt right. Ergonomics are good on the body. Tremolo leaves a little to be desired, but it was good enough for our Guitar Heroes..

It sounds like a strat. Great bell tones on the neck pickup. Bridge pickup is thin sounding but gets those classic rock sounds. Think the Romantics doing What I Like About You. My style is blues, rock.
I've ran it through some cheap practice amps, as well as a VOX AD60VT (Modelling amp which sounds like everything from Fender Clean to Recto). I particularly like the strat with the UK Blues channel (which imitates an old Marshall JTM 45). Also like UK 70's (70's Marshall). For clean I go with the Boutique clean (Dumble). All sounds very good. The pups are noisy. You have to be very clean when you play or your small goofs are going to come out. Jimmy Page said the Strat was the most versatile guitar you can buy, I'd have to agree.

I bought used. Had one string buzzing near the headstock. (Low E). The great folks at Charlies here in Dallas squared that away for me. Pups are fine. There were no flaws I'm aware of.

I believe this guitar will withstand live playing. I've played with a bass player and a loud blues rock drummer and it was just fine. The lowest tone knob has come loose in it's socket -- I'm not exactly sure whats' wrong with it. Will have to take it in, but it hasn't affected playability so far (since I'm a set it and forget it guy on the tone knobs). Finish is very durable. Strap buttons are solid. Will probably someday replace with some strap locks. If I was the kind of guy who'd go to a gig w/out a backup, yes, I'd use this. But I'd never go to a gig w/out a backup. I'm giving a ding here b/c of the tone knob -- 9.

N/A, bought used, never contacted them.

I picked up my first guitar around 3, been playing seriously since 14 -- 21 years. I also own the VOX AD60VT amp, and a 1981 Yamaha L-25A Handcrafted acoustic (you can see my review). I have a 1978 MXR Distortion +, and a recent Dunlop wah. I knew this guitar was the one within about 2-3 minutes of playing it. Have no regrets. (Had played an old Sunn Mustang since 88, so knew what I was getting into with Strats). I'll always have a strat. If I could find another one that felt this good, I'd buy it of course. I plan to add a dual HB guitar to the arsenal soon but won't get rid of the Strat. Love the neck. Hate nothing. This is just an incredible high quality American made instrument that you can find used for very affordable prices. I think mine was lower than normal b/c the tuners weren't stock. In my eyes, they were a very good looking and pro quality upgrade so that was no negative to me. I'd definitely recommend this to someone as a good 2nd guitar after they've risen above their Squier. Get a used one of these. You might also try one with a HB in the bridge position. The sounds you can make then are practically unlimited.

This guitar had become one of the classic icons everywhere around the world, just like the Marshall half stack I think, you know, three color sunburst with white pickguard and maple neck and fretboard.
For complete features go to www.fender.com

Hey all you people out there!!!!! even our grandma's had seen this guitar at least once in their lifetime!!!!!

Well, I actually got this American Strat by trading some gear with one friend o' mine and it is in really good conditions.
I like the neck shape and feel, it's really comfortable and easy to play.
One detail that I don't like is the single coil pickup noise(actually in every guitar with single coils not only startocasters)
I really like the sound of the american standard pickups, but the hum is really anoying to me, you may ask: why the fuck don't you get a noise supressor??? well, I have one of the greatest noise supressors out there that I strongly recommend to everybody, the Boss NS-2, but it can't fight the 60 cycle hum of the 1-3-5 positions unless I close the threshold level all the way killing my playing dynamics at low levels, noooooo!!!!! I can't allow that, neither my ears can allow unwanted noise...
Now me and my ears are happier than ever!!!!! Thanks to a set of three glorious Fender Vintage Noiseless that I installed just two hours ago; amazing and real single coil tone without the f#ckin' hum, now I can play this strat at my complete liking. Finally I'd take a deep breath and be cool through out every gig with this axe!!! haha!!!

After trading this guitar, I ovbiously did some adjustments, intonation, string gauge and some more, the action is slightly higher than my JEM7VSBL, but it feels really easy to play and comfortable, adjusted completely to my liking, no problem.

A stratocaster is always trusty, just roll the strings in the tuning machines perfectly and pull and tune them until achieve a good tune stability, you don't have to change the nut or install a tremsetter, just put the strings firmly.
Doesn't matter if your playing is agressive, guitars/strings can adapt and accustome to your playing.

In a span of almost 12 years of playing guitar, this is my first stratocaster ever, even I had played a few ones before.
I'm more recognized in my town as a guy who plays Ibanez guitars(I own three), you know, hot humbuckers, 24 frets, floyd rose tremolos and what not, now everybody looks at me and say: what??? you playing a stratocaster??? LOL really funny in fact!!! and in past years people and friends used to tell me: why don't you get a Fender Stratocaster? well guys, here is it.
As a matter of fact, I'm more a rock guitarist who likes an Ibanez RG featured kinda guitar, but i'm open to play whatever, I also like Fenders, Gibsons, Yamahas, Gretsch and what not, but humbuckers, 24 frets, thin flat necks and floating tremolos were forming my style since I was a kid, those features are a essencial part of my playing but it doesn't mean I wouldn't try anything else, every manufacturer has great stuff to offer so lets try everything.
Even if you're a blues, jazz, funk, fusion, latin, rock, metal or whatever your style is, get a Fender Stratocaster, most guitarists around the world have at least one even under their beds maybe, but have one, thats a must-have guitar even if you're a beginner or a seasoned Pro, a strat is always a good point to start wherever in your path you're located.

For those intrested here's my live rig display:

Guitars: three Ibanez: JEM7VSBL, RG2020XTLB, RG7421XLGN, Fender
American Stratocaster.

Amp: Marshall JCM900 4502 2x12 50Watt combo.

Pedalboard(Furman SPB-8): Boss CS-3 Compressor/Sustainer, Digitech
XP100 WhammyWah, MXR Wylde Overdrive, Boss
NS-2 Noise Supressor, TC Electronic G-Minor
midi controller.

Rack: Shure wireless reciever, Rack Ryder power conditioner and light
module, TC Electronic G-Major multi-effects processor
(connected to the FX Loop of the amp).

Well folks thats it, i'm really satisfied with the singing of this strat all across my rig, something different as the usual axes I play. Great deal buddy!!! I hope you're happy with my now former amp!!!

Merry Christmas to everybody, have fun and enjoy with your family and friends and of course with the music. Cheers!!!

Mine is a 2001 sunburst model. The features have been listed below. Its a typical Strat. I love Strats, my favourite guitars, I have owned eleventy two of them. I have owned this one for two days and it just feels right. It has the traditional 5 way switch, and a vintage trem, although I am looking to upgrade this to a Floyd Rose system. The neck is slim and fat and it came with a fitted case.

It sings. However, I am planning to upgrade the stock pickups with Seymour Duncans, (an Invader and Screamin Demon). I will route out the body so I can install them. I love to play all styles of music from Reggae to Thrash and particularly thrash reggae. I love the pure tone this guitar has when I run it through my ring modulator into a Line 6 Flextone set to "Insane".

The guitar came very well set up with a perfect action. I have, however, changed it a little and its now even better. Very good overall. Not like a cheesegrater, like some of the other guitars I've owned. I do, however intend to replace the neck at some point with one off an old Scleiffenheim guitar that I have. It has 36 frets so I can go wheeeee wheeee.

I'm sure this guitar will last until I part chop it at a great loss for something inferior next week.

I phoned Fender about changing the inlay markers to ones made of gold. They were very helpful but after a short while the line went dead. It must be my telephone. The dealer Carls Guitars are also very helpful. He only charged me #250.00 for a setup and plec on his desk jig. He told me that the warranty was until I got the guitar home, which I think was fair.

I have been playing over 10 years. Believe me I have owned everything. Fender, Gibson, Blade, Cort, Peavey, Ibanez, Schnorbitz, Clegg and Sassafrazz. This guitar is the best I've owned (Until tomorrow!!)
If it were stolen I would decorate my house until my fingers bled.

I have a mongrel Fender American Standard Stratocaster from 1993 with a 3-piece Natural Ash body from 2000 and black pickguard, knobs, and tremolo spring cover from 2004. (It originally had a VERY low quality red 3-piece poplar body and white accessories.) The 22-fret maple neck has a rosewood fretboard and skunk stripe. Frets are medium, scale is 25.5", and nut width is 1 11/16". Pickups are 3 stock passive single coils in S/S/S configuration. Controls are 1 volume, 2 tone w/TBX, and a 5-way pickup selector. Bridge is a 2-point tremolo. Tuners are non-locking Fender-branded Schallers. Fender-branded SKB hardshell case was included.

It would be ideal if the pickups had series/parallel and on/off switching instead of the antiquated 5-way pickup selector. That would allow for far more than 5 pickup selections. I've since replaced the 5-way switch with on/off switches for each pickup, disabled the TBX tone control, and made the other tone control a master tone. I like this setup much better, as there?s far more versatility and less redundancy. Locking tuners also would've been nice, especially for a tremolo-equipped guitar.

Pre-mod score: 6 Post-mod score: 8 Average: 7

I play a variety of music, mostly in the jazz/blues/folk/rock/pop vein. This guitar works for all of these styles, but is obviously not ideal for some (jazz, folk, heavier rock). For those, I'd ideally turn to a more appropriate guitar, but the Strat is a remarkably versatile instrument and can make do for most things. I currently play through a Mesa/Boogie F-50 1x12 combo and Zoom GFX-8 multi-effects pedal. The pickups are, as can be expected, a little noisy when only one of the single-coils is on (and doubly noisy with the new bridge/neck combo, since neither are hum-cancelling). By now, everybody who's listened to any popular music in the last 50 years is well acquainted with the standard single-coil Stratocaster sounds. This one does not disappoint; it sounds like a classic Stratocaster should. I do wish pickups didn't hum on any setting. Also, the series/parallel switching would still be nice. Perhaps that?ll be my next mod...

Pre-mod score: 7 Post-mod score: 9 Average: 8

Here's where it got REALLY ugly. My step-father bought the guitar new in 1993. He almost never played it, so, when it was given to me in 2003, it pretty much qualified as NOS. He hadn't even peeled the plastic off of the pickguard! When I received it, the setup was basically the same as when it had been purchased, which was poor; it wouldn't stay in tune, the intonation was off, the action was high, there were notches under the G string in the 7th and 12th frets deep enough to catch the strings during string bends, the paint on the original body was rippled and dimpled, suggesting that it was too thickly or quickly applied, etc. I also had to rewire the control cavity to eliminate ground loops, which noticeably reduced pickup hum. Most seriously, a bridge routing error (the route for the bass-side tremolo pivot point was too large, causing tremolo pivot point to lean forward, which, in turn, caused the bridge to sit out of alignment) and the poor quality wood of the original 3-piece crappy poplar body (which cracked when I attempted a fill and re-route) necessitated a replacement body. On the bright side, the hardware was nice, the tuning pegs were sound, the nut was properly cut, the electronics functioned well, and the pickups were set to a good height. And, after a proper setup and a new body, it's a great guitar with a gorgeous body and fantastic sound. Still, the neck doesn?t perfectly fit the new body, as there?s a slight gap on the bass side between the body and the neck.

Pre-mod score: 1 Post-mod score: 9 Average: 5

With the new body, this guitar is totally reliable, but I still wouldn't play without a backup. All of the hardware is quality stuff. The body finish is nearly bomb-proof, which has its pros (durability) and cons (wood might not resonate as well). The satin neck finish was cracking, so I removed it and tung-oiled the neck as well. This isn't the most durable finish, but it definitely has the nicest feel.

Pre-mod score: 1 Post-mod score: 9 Average: 5

Prior to attempting to fix the bridge problem myself, I contacted Fender. Despite their reputation for horrendous customer support, I thought it couldn't hurt. Well, it didn't help either. The man with whom I spoke was very friendly, but totally unhelpful. He very politely told me my guitar's lame 1-year warranty had expired long ago, so I was SOL. A 1-year warranty on an $800+ guitar in 1993 is totally unacceptable. Besides which, the problem I was experiencing was clearly a manufacturing defect, though the Fender representative tried to blame wood shrinkage. Possible, but this wouldn't be an issue if they hadn't used such poor quality poplar for their painted bodies in the '90's (I?ve read that thin alder laminates disguised this on clear finishes). Nice way to stand behind your product. Go Fender! So, a 1 and a big fat middle-finger for Fender.

I've been playing guitar for about 6 years. I also own a 2001 Hamer Artist, a 1966 Baldwin Double-Six, a Mesa/Boogie F-50 combo, and a Zoom GFX-8 multi-effects pedal. I wasn't the one that purchased this guitar, and, given all of the obvious fit and finish flaws (never mind the less obvious build flaws), I never would have. Were I to replace it, I'd buy a Stratocaster-style guitar built by a company other than Fender; a company that cares about their products and their customers, for instance. Or, more likely, I'd build one from USA Custom Guitars or Warmoth parts. I love the sounds, the feel, and the shape of the body. Whoever designed the body was a ergonomics genius. I hate the fact that I had to spend so much time, effort, and money (above the $800 purchase price) simply to make the guitar playable. I will NEVER purchase any Fender products beyond replacement parts for this guitar. Their QA is (or was, at least) the pits and is trumped only by their customer service. Only very lately have I seen any serious attempts on their part to remedy this. Fender (and Gibson, for that matter) should take a cue from Hamer USA, a company that consistently builds guitars of outstanding quality and value (though their 5-year warranty is still pretty lame).

I think mine was made in 2000. Maple neck. I changed the pickups to Lindy Fralin Blues Specials. The rest is standard.

I play blues and rock: srv, hendrix, some clapton, some comtemporary rock, other stuff like led zep, zz top I play with my gibsons. What can
I say about the sound but that it sounds like a strat. I bought this guitar in Chicago so I could try a lot of them. I picked the one that
I liked best. I usually play this guitar clean, sometimes with a bit of warm tube overdrive. I save the heavier stuff for other guitars. Not that it isn't versatile though. Here I rate the sound of my guitar not that of a generic strat. I'm sure you can find the sound you want if you shop around

I like to have my action set medium-high. I use 10s-52s. I've tried 11s
and went back to 10s (I like to bend a lot and nails started to detach with 11s. Don't know how SRV managed to do what he did). My guitar was well made. After inspecting many of them, I must admit that all strats are not made equal. Finish was quite nice and is still okay (not flawless anymore since I've banged it many times.). My guitar stays in tune. I don't know why. I just have a regular nut.

I've only had this guit 4 years but I do know that this is a tough guitar. I can depend on it.

Don't know. Which probably tells you something? I think it does. I did not expect to have to ever contact Fender. That said, I would not expect good service from such a big company.

If you want to buy a strat, you have the adavntage that there zillions of them out there (both new and used)so try out many of them, look at them carefully and get one. I think the good ones represent a good value and you get that strat sound. Try some mexican ones too. I think some of them are also quite good. I am very happy with my strat. If you want better average quality, better finish, and you are willing to consider something a bit more expansive, try a G&L legacy (or a few). I really like the G&Ls (I prefer the 12" fretboard radius, and the trem block) and I strongly recommend you give them a try. That said, I am still looking for a Legacy that will sound better than my current strat with it's Lindy Fralins.

This is your standard USA Fender Strat, two point trem, three single coils w/ five way switch, maple fretboard, strap-locks, etc.

This is one of the greatest sounding guitars ever, I mean, they haven't messed with it really since it was invented! I've used it for jazz, rock, blues, latin, country, even unfortunatley contemporary music styles and it sounds great.

Everything is great. I got the tobacco sunburst and it' sjust beautiful. Each guitar is different and mine just has some great wood coming through. Sometimes I look at it and just sigh. Of course, I had to add a couple more springs in the back so there's five and ditch the backplate. I got it used so I had to intonate it and set up the action because I've switched string sizes a few times. Now I just stich with the 10's.

This guitar has stood up to most everything. One time I got a little too excited and threw it down and kicked it across the stage, and other than a few scratches on the back it was fine. In tune and everything. It can take a beating pretty well. I had to fill the strap pin holes, and re-install them though, but that was probably do to a little abuse. You know that move where you pretend you're gonna throw your guitar into the audience and then snap it back with the strap? I think I pulled a little too forcefully a couple times. It's still firm though. I always gig with a backup because you never know what might happen. This guitar is sturdy though. It's a beast really.

Never needed it.

I've been playing for about 10 years now, and have a starter strat, a samick with a floyd rose and a beautiful white flying V among other things. This strat is probably the most reliable as far as staying in tune and not breaking strings. I can't even remember the last time I broke a string on it. If it were lost or stolen, I'd be super angry and wish evil horrible things upon the person that stole it. I'd definatley look at getting another strat, but like I said, they're all different so finding another one like it would be hard. I knew the second I picked it up that it was meant for me, and that rarely happens. Every strat is different. It's a great tool for artistic expression. This guitar was worth every penny and more. In fact, it's definatley paid for itself by now. Remember a guitar is only as good as you are. A $2000 guitar in the hands of a novice still sounds like crap, and a $50 guitar in the hands of a master can sound beautiful. That's why I've gotta go practice now.

I have to say to start i owned this guitar from new until 1994, i then traded it in on an Ibanez Paul Gilbert Signature (please don't send me abusive e-mails I KNOW WHAT I DID WAS WRONG!!!) then only a couple of weeks ago i saw it again on ebay and bought it back, some 10 years later!!!! It is a 1991, USA American Std Stratocaster, 22 frets and the standard P/U switch combo, AM standard Alnico pickups etc etc, fairly Standard stuff (no pun intended)!!! This one is finished in Metallic Purple!!!! Great Colour. One on the best features in my mind is the knife edge trem, best step forward that Fender had away from the 6 screw original setup.

I particular like the sounf of Alder bodied strats, 2 of the 3 i own are Adler, but to some players they do sound a bit too "Straty"! I mainly play classic rock - blues so with Blackmore and Clapton as heavy influences a Strat was always going to be my choice, i have had many many other copies but always came back to a real Start. My only dislike for this model i the noise on the lead (bridge) pickup, worse on a tranny amp than a tube though.

Factory setup Sucked!!! (Fender please take note!!!) The first time i owned this guitar i had it setup by a pro and it all of a sudden became a beautiful thing to play, this time owning it i forgot just how nice it is to play, i hadn't changed much, even though the guy i bought it back of had his guy set it up again. Finish, well i did especially order this colour so i do love it and it has weathered time, still looks new, actually had a mate say i didn't know you could buy new ones in this colour!!! Fit, well apart from the original factory fit and subsquent resetup great. The four bolt neck is great (my '72 Start as most of you will know has a 3 bolt neck joint and are VERY unstable) can't complain here.

Over the first couple of years this guitar and i were playing up to 6 nights a week for 3 and a bit years, with only the usual belt buckle marks on the back of it and a couple of dings thanks to a careless drummer, so i think the finish will hold up for the full life of the guitar. After 10 years, of which i don't know what it did (live playing etc) the finish is still intact and showing no signs o ware, front strap button was loose and couldn't be tightened when i first got it back, but this is now fixed.

Had an issue with the dealer and not fender themselves when it was new, apart from that no contact.

This guitar was my first NEW Strat and was very very happy with it, i was talked in to trading it in by a GEAR HEAD who convinced me that the Ibanez would be much better for the style we were playing at the time, WRONG!!!! I finally got my money back and bought a Sambora Strat, and used it as my main Guitar for the next 9 years along with my faithful '72 Start as backup. Now that i have this one back the Sambora is the back up and the '72 has been retired to home and studio duties. I think for the money and at the time these were a superb guitar with the versitility most local players will find appealing, great through a vintage tube amp.

This is a 1989 Fender American Standard strat in Olypia white, with pearloid pickguard. 22 Frets. It has 5 way pickup selection, a volume knob and and a tone knob for rhythm/middle and a tone knob for treble. Mine is a souped up metalized strat, H/H/H (Hot Rails, Hot Rails, JB Jr.) They are all Seymour Duncan minihumbuckers, that will fit in single coil slots. The neck and headstock are obviously maple. It has Sperzel locking tuners, and a whammy bar. Rosewood fretboard, not sure what kind of frets. The way I souped it up, with custom string guider, nut, and bridge and three new pickups, it is a 10 easily. But without these things and with single coils it is poor for metal or anything with distortion. I'll take the middle.

With the right pickups, this guitar kicks ASS. Unlike any other I've played. It is almost exactly a hybrid between Dave Murray and Jannick Gers' guitars for Iron Maiden. Single Coils were VERY noisy, but i use BOSS flanger, compression, metal zone, distortion, acoustic simulator, reverb/delay, a Marshall Guv'nor, and the Marshall distortion and reverb. Without the humbuckers the sound is BAD with any sort of heavy distortion, with them it is EXCELLENT. But buying this guitar as is from the store its about a 6 but the clean is great with neck/middle combo.

The guitar was perfectly assembled. The pickups were adjusted fine, the bridge and finish were all fine. No flaws.

Yeah, this guitar can stand a show. The hardware has lasted 15 years, and so has the finish. The strat buttons are getting a bit loose, but hell it's 15 years old. I would play without a backup if this was the only sound i needed haha.

7 years of guitar for me. I own a Gibson SG special as well. I'd certainly buy another, and customize it all over again. I love the extremely accurate METAL tone i can get from it, unlike any other guitar. The Fender Stratocaster is the most versitile guitar in history if you put the right pickups in it. With this single coils, i wouldnt pay 300 bucks for this guitar if i had to keep the pickups. With Hot Rails and JB Jr.'s this guitar kicks ass! I will rate it WITH the new pickups as opposed to the single coils. One of a kind.

Same features as everyone else has already listed except now the 2004 version no longer comes with the Schaler strap locks. I got the olympic white finish with rosewood fretboard.

I like a lot of blues and old rock music. The strat was a natural choice. I love the sound of the guitar... true, classic stratocaster. Later on, I may hop it up with some Fender Texas Specials pickups (like the SRV strat) to give it a hotter tone but for now it suits me fine. It is surprisingly versitile.

So here's where I need to take off a few marks. The action was terrible. Nearly every string buzzed. The string job from the factory was even worse. It looked like a three year old strung the guitar. I basically scrapped the original strings. Intonation was off and even the truss rod required some tweaking.

Also disappointing was the finish. I owned a Mexican strat a few years back. I don't know if this is a testament to the finish on the Mexican or a complaint about the finish on the American but the finish was no better than what I had on my Mexican strat. You expect to get a much better finish on a guitar that costs twice as much but this isn't the case. I mean look at the American Deluxe series strats, they only cost a little more than the American Standard (as compared to the price jump between the Mexican and American) but the finish is SIGNIFICANTLY better. I guess overall, the finish was a disappointment.

I don't really have any reason to question the reliability of this guitar. Despite my complaints, it does seem to be built well for its price range.

I would imagine I would use this for a small gig without a backup but for larger ones, I definitely would have other guitars as well(different sounds, different moods, backup for broken strings... blah, blah, blah...). A person can never have too many guitars.

This is where I actually differ from most other reviewers. I am very pleased with the customer support. When I got the guitar home, I realized they had put the wrong "bag-o-goodies" in the case. The bag I got seems to be for a Hot Rod strat. It has the pressure fit tremolo bar instead of the screw in type, etc.... Apparently the music store made a goof up and switched cases at some point. Anyway, so I called the store and told them the situation. They gave me some line about not carrying extra bags like that.... whine, whine, whine.... and said that they can order another but it will take several weeks and suggested that I call Fender instead (even though it seems like it's their mistake).

After reading reviews on this website, I wasn't too hip on the idea but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. After all, I needed the tremolo arm. Very much to my surpise, they were extremely helpful! I told the customer service rep the story and he agreed that it sounded like the store had switched cases but he also said if I'd fax him the invoice, he'd send me a new tremolo arm. I followed his instructions and a few days later I received the package.

I was shocked when I opened it. Not only did I get a tremolo arm, but he actually sent me the entire set of "extras" that normally come with the guitar (polishing cloth, instrument cable, guitar strap, etc....). Basically, I asked for a $10 part and they sent me $30+ worth of stuff. That's good customer service if you ask me. I know it's not a huge deal but it's refreshing to see a company that will go a little further than necessary to help me out. Especially in today when most companies' Customer Service departments should be renamed Customer Disservice.

Overall, I would rate this guitar an 8. It's very good (especially for the price range) and has a lot of potential. It's cheap enough to get into but there are a lot of things you can do or add to it to take it further. If it were stolen, I would definitely replace it. Fender needs to work on the quality of the finish for the American Standard but overall it has a beautiful sound and is a very solid guitar.

My strat is 1999 USA made.it is the standard strat with 22 medium jumbo frets,alder body,maple neck&fingerboard,black paint,white pickguard.standard 5 way switch,1 volume,2 tone controls.S/S/S pickup combination.standard American Series Alnico pickups.well I think everybody knows these features on a standard strat.

It suits my music great because I get it to suit my music style.I play 80's rock/pop/soul.overall I want 80's classic fender strat sound and this standard strat gives it to me.my amp is 79' fender twin reverb and when combined I get the best clean sounds.as usual 1/3/5 pickup positions are noisy no complements about them cause its the nature of single coils.its a trade off between great cutting single tone vs hum noise.the 2/4 positions are hum canceling because of the two coils used with middle one reversed pole.I use Line 6 DM-4 and Boss OD-1 for OD/Dist needs but actually I never use dist settings only Proco Rat with a little gain sounds like a more compressed OD.I use OD-1 to boost them and does the job great.the tone is awesome.I've always wanted to own a USA Fender and now my dream has come true I'm so glad with it.

Action : well adjusted.
Pickups : balanced
I bought this guitar used but without any scratch or wear.it was in great condition.surely the former owner was very good at looking after guitars.I must thank him.

reliable of course.but I'd never gig without backup in case of a string break.

it's an original USA FENDER...

I've been playing for 8 years.I used to own an 91'Ibanez RG570 with Dimarzio ToneZone bridge & PafPro neck.I've sold it and bought 99'Fender American Strat.I aslo own 90'USA Heritage H-147 LesPaul with Schaller Golden 50 pickups and it also sounds great.I've compared my strat to 4 other strats and this one gave the best classic tone.Overall great guitar if you're looking for the classic Fender Strat tone.nothing more nothing less...