Fender Big Apple Strat

I do not know exactly what year my strat big apple is but it's an earlier model, loved it the moment I found it. It could be ash since its heavy, almost as much as my 79 strat antigua, which is as heavy as they come. My apple has trem but I installed all springs and secured it down, I do not use it, great playing neck, strap lock buttons, medium frets, rosewood board. white body and I immediately got a white pearl pickguard. It looks beautiful and is still in pristine condition, I use scratch guards on the back of my guitars. It came with a case.

The variety of sounds it can play is amazing. I like the strat sound but always rolled off a little of the highs, too bright for my taste. But with this guitar I don't have to, it sound exactly the way I hear it in my head, you can always work with the amp controls anyway.
The 2 SD Pearly Gates are great! I play a wide variety of music styles and can do them all very convincingly with it. I love the fact that even though they are humbuckers, it still sounds like a "Fender", and with the in between sounds, you have it all. I would not split the coils on the bridge PU because it would be too thin, besides, everyone wants a bucker there anyway BUT I would turn the second tone control to a volume for it so I can blend it in with any other position, then you would never run out of tones. I play it through many amps, HR Deluxe, 4 different Mesas, Classic 30, digitech RP500 pedal, Boss ME 33, Boss stomps, Red Pod Pro (rack) etc. It sound great with anything you throw at it. I guess you can tell I love this guitar. Not to brag but I have 38 guitars but this one takes the cake.

As I said I bolted the trem down and worked the action a little but it came well set, it is a USA ax. No complaints of any kind, beautiful finish, all parts secure, even though the first thing I do to any guitar, even before I plug it in is adjust it to my liking and tighten everything I see. I have not changed anything except for the pickguard.

I do not know when I bought it or what year it is but it still looks like new, this thing will outlast us all! I do take care of my guitars and try to avoid chemicals on my skin or jewelry that would scratch them, and before you say anything, YES I do play them!
It is a real, honest to goodness players instrument and yes I would play it, and have, without a backup. This is every other guitar's backup!, it sounds like most of them and then some.

I do not remember any particulars about warranties, but I never needed them or repairs. I probably never will (famous last word, ha ha).
I give it a high rating because I know a couple of people that work at Fender, and deservedly so, they love the product and are proud of it. IF I ever needed it, I know they would take care of me and my problem.

As I said, I have lots of guitars, I like them for one reason or another, always looking for THE right tone. Somehow I always compare them to my Big Apple, even after I already bought them and the BA always comes out to top them. Have you stopped making them?, shame on you, ha ha. Really, this is my favorite guitar and maybe I'll look for another one soon.
Thanks for the opportunity and for probably the greatest guitar ever made. As I said earlier, the only thing that could possibly make this guitar better, it woul be a master tone for both PUs and a separate volume for the bridge to blend in any other position, unless you think that different PUs combos would apply to different users (jazz, metal, etc.) but everything else the same. How about "make your own" big apples??? we choose body color, neck, tuners, pickguard (maybe PUs). Too much? sorry, got carried away.

1997 shoreline gold rosewood neck

I pair it up with a peavey 5150 combo need I say anymore !!!!! sound and tone is a 10 + 1000 rating

I been play my whole life I love this guitar it has alota balls

99 candy apple red with mother of pearl pick guard, fr hb p/u.

I used to play only les paul until I saw this one in 99, I played it just for kicks and was amazed at the sound and playability. To be honest I've played every other guitar made since and before and I can't find one that I like as much. If I were to lose it I would be devestated. main ax by A long shot. I love the thick sounds and the warm creamy sounds. but then I can make it scream with the best of them as well. Way to go fender thank you.

I mean, Duncan HBs that you can tap....need I say more? That seems to be the main reason for buying this instrument, all other features are pretty close to an American Standard, near as I can tell...... American made, solid as a rock. Came with a case when I bought it new (98ish?) but that was retired a few years ago.....

Pos1 - bridge HB full, thick and raunchy, though I sometimes would like some more output.

Pos2 - Bridge Split, again more output would be nice, but Nile Rodgers would probably like the funkiness of this setting.

Pos3 - Both HB Full, Full and bold with clean tone, don't make it too dirty though, or you risk muddiness.

Pos4 - Neck HB Split, would sound like a sweet tele if I could get the blasted thing to stop buzzing!

Pos5 - Neck HB full, not a Gibson L5, but it'll do, if you take my meaning.

No serious flaws, but I have every instrument setup by my guy once a year, so factory condition means little to me....

Both stock PUs crapped out at about 7 years, not sure what happened there, but no problems since....finish has cracked due to a few nights (Ok, more than a few) in freezing temperatures, but the playability has always been impeccable..... the jack has worked itself loose a time or two, but not since a trip to the shop..... All told nothing that wouldn't happen to most electric instruments has happened with this, aside from the PUs which was probably my fault anyway! I would totally use it without a backup. It's a workhorse.

Please.

Had this for a long time, and has consistently performed well under any circumstances. If it were lost for some reason, I would absolutely have to replace it. It completes me.

Standard with rosewood fretboard, tremelo, Shoreline Gold finish,

This guitar sounds amazing through my rig, which basically consists of a Vox Cambridge Reverb amp and Electro Harmonix Big Muff effects pedal.
I only use the humbuckers and don't particularly like the single coils. Maybe its my rig but they don't sound as warm or full as a standard strat. If you want a standard strat then buy one. If on the other hand you want a versatile guitar that can match the thickness of a Les Paul (with the right distortion pedal) - while retaining some of the characteristics of a Fender, then this is the axe for you.
Through the clean channel of my amp, with healthy reverb and the tone turned to ten, position 3 (both humbuckers) sound adorable - all meaty and dripping with bluesy tone - not a million miles away from SRV in fact.
I felt that the guitar was wasted on the dirty channel of my amp, which is where the Big Muff comes in. With the pedal's vollume and gain turned all the way up, the noise is unbelievable - all growling and snarling like a pitbull on steroids!! When I bought this guitar a few years ago, I wanted an axe that sounded like Billie Joe Armstrong's, and I was not to be disappointed. Now that I've gravitated towards more bluesy players like Freddie King, SRV and Hendrix, I'm delighted to say that the Big Apple can easily dial into such tones - that's the beauty of having such a versatile guitar.

No problems here. All as you would expect from a guitar with the famous spaghetti logo.

Could do with a clean and being properly set up. Still plays well though.

This is a 1997 Fender American Big Apple Strat. Black and slick and a mother of bowling ball deep red sparkle pickguard. This one has a rosewood fretboard and the tremolo option. Everything is stock on this guitar, same tuners and C shape neck, thin and fast with a "flat spot" perfect for thumb backing while playing.

I immediately through a black leather strap and dunlop straplocks on this guitar. I saved the original strap pegs.

As noted previously, a pearly gates plus humbucker in the bridge and a '59 SD in the neck slot.

I will give this a nine- and I will explain. This is the first production american stratocaster with double Humbuckers.

All aspect of the Humbucker sound on this axe are "10" The bridge is crisp and present and fizzy at times, but welcome, and the middle pickup slot is a great blend. The Neck Humbucker is really big and meaty and still tonal and rich.

At position 4- one notch back off the neck pick-up, there is a sound that could be most identified with a telecaster neck sound, all beit not as creamy and tonal , but still perhaps somewhere between the neck on a strat and tele.

The one serious demerit is for the position "2"- one away form the bridge- made to simulate a single coil of a strat or tele is not so usable, and sounds more like an acoustic guitar simulation pedal.

No noise, no feedback, at the loudest of the loud. I've heard this called a Fender Les Paul- but it is so much more, it loses some versatility with the humbuckers, but there is a vintage bite to sound that is only enhanced with all the qualities of a strat- body shape, neck playability, bridge style. If you like a les paul, buy a less paul, this feels and plays and even sounds like a strat- but it has that present growl that you have come to love from the Gibson side.
Whats really nice about the sound is that the pickups were designed well to fit each other and the guitar- also, a desicion was mad not to make it a h/s/s model. I like the boldness of this decision. It is what it is, not trying to be all things.

This was a used guitar, which the guy at the store immediately said was given TLC before resale. This was obvious. I would not consider using the tremolo, and it was appropriately ratcheted close to the slab; tight, alright and out of sight. There is so much lemon oil on the fretboard that the thing just begs your fingers to bend bend bend the strings. Teh action is super low without buzz. The neck is orange from brek in and gigging I suppose. This is the most playable strat style neck I have ever played. Just buttery. The tune holds fine, but I guess it could use a pro set up at some point.

I have to say that becuse of the style of this guitar, the obvious heavy use it took, and the way it still looks and plays, I would have to say that it is super reliable. I am not going to noodle under the pickguard and go changing the pots and such, so hopefully it will stay perfect.

Its an 11 year old guitar, extensively played. what can I ask Fender to do? No opinion/

I have been playing since the 80's. In bands and gigging just as long. My main guitar is a black 1983 telecaster American Standard. This is bright and sweet and creamy and biting. I also own a 1985 Roadstar II from Ibanez, and a 1990's epiphone coronet reissue.
I play through three amplifier setups; A 1965 Magnatone M15a (65 watt combo 2x12 all tube) loaded with celestion vintage 30's. At home I use an Epiphone galaxie class A ten watt tube amp. And I also use a 2 x 12 Vox ad120vt for mostly recording situations. I use a OD pedal, eq and chorus at times.

If this was stolen, I might buy something else, but I would certainly look for a brother of this guitar as a replacemnet

Bought used on Ebay, LIKE NEW (no kidding), 1998, USA, Ash body, Sunset orange, rosewood board, Am Std trem, Hard shell case, SD '59/Pearly gates, 5-way switch. You know the rest by now.

I have a couple Am Std strats, but I wanted a HH guitar. The strat is my fave, so this was a no brainer. I play country, blues, southern rock, and contemporary Christian. I specifically wanted a big apple so I could get the SD pickups. I played the current double fat strat at GC and wasn't moved. Currently playing through a Peavey classic 30 with JJ tubes, a fender G-DEC 30, or a line 6 pod xt straight to the house system. LOVE the humbucker sound. The pearly gates in the bridge is a little bright, but it's like a strat s/c bridge pup on steroids. The neck '59 is powerful and full. Positions 2 and 4 are a close enough approximation of S/C tone to be useable, and middle position works well also. I am well satisfied. Very versatile.

I bought this used, but I swear it didn't even have scratches on the pickguard. I assume the set up was factory. Regardless, all I did was polish it, lemon oil the RW board, and install a set of Ernie Ball 10-46. Perfect finish. Beautiful, well matched ash grain with the transparent finish. Fret edges are definitely rougher than the new American series. They should have addressed this a long time ago. Lower rating only for the rough fret edges as compared to 2000- newer models.

Am. Std. Strat. Seymour Duncans. 'Nough said.

Never dealt with Fender personally. I once had an am std strat plus that the truss rod wouldn't fully adjust, and they sent in a new neck. Took about a month and a half. I think it was the diligence of my local music shop that got this done more than Fender.

Been playing 16 years. Owned more gear than I care to list. Suffice to say; Strats, Tele, Ibanez's, Taylor, Takamine, Alvarez Yairi, Amps, P.A.'s, Effect pedals, Multi effect processors, recording equipment. This is my first HH guitar. I'm kind of a S/C purist, but I love this guitar. I wanted the tone of a HH guitar, but one that could split coils for a reasonable S/C sound. Originally, I wanted a hardtail big apple, but the ash body and beautiful orange translucent finish on this one sealed the deal for me. I'm not saying it's the perfect guitar, but it fills the niche I wanted it to

What we got here is an off-white Fender Big Apple with the SD humbuckers, 5-way selector, 1 volume, 2 tone, American Standard fittings, all-maple neck, made in 97/98. 22 frets, came with a gig bag. Bought it in 2001, I think, new. This is the tremolo version, though I've never been able to screw the arm in...it just doesn't quite fit. But I'm not a whammy person anyway.

This has been my primary guitar since I got it. I was never a fan of Strats, until I picked up this thing, and what hooked me was the great tone, the variety of said tones, and the playability. This is my first guitar without a rosewood fretboard, and I'm not going back. I've tried the rosewood-outfitted Big Apples, and I'm not as impressed. It has something to do with the clarity of the sound.

Going clean and naked into the amp, the settings:
1 [neck humbucker]: Lots of signal, will push the input stage a little, and it's thin, as many here have said, but I like it. It's thin, but it's fuzzy. I like it clean, and crunchy.

2 [both single]: This is the closes to a "Stratocaster" sound as this thing is capable of. Nice clean blues/country sound. Plucky and funky. A little twangy. The difference between this setting and the first could have a Mack truck driven through it.

3 [both humbucker]: Round. Big. Swell.

4 [neck single]: This hums a bit, surprise surprise, but it also is a really sweet tone. Woody and bluesy, flute-bell tones, very funky.

5 [neck humbucker]: FAT.

This is, no matter how cheesy it is to say, like two differnt guitars in one. Split personalities, but it's nice to get to know them both.

What would be cool is to have a third single-coil in the middle. But why mess with a good thing?

I got this guitar from a shop that was going out of business, and it was set up by one of the guys who worked there, I was told, because he had had his eye on buying it himself. But he changed his mind. Lucky me! It came very well set-up. I usually play it with 9-46s, and I haven't had it set up since (about 200 gigs later!). It could probably use a little tweaking here and there. The bottom string has always had a little sitar action on it, but I'm a sucker for character.

The flaws are few. Like I said earlier, the whammy bar doesn't screw in. Somehow, the alignment of the tailpiece is off just a hair, and it doesn't affect anything except rendering the tremolo useless. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing. Doesn't bother me.

The volume pot was a little loose, too. Eventually this led to a wire from the neck pickup breaking free of its soldering. When I went in to resolder it, I was sure to tighten the crap out of that volume pot.

I use this without a backup all the time. I play it fairly fast and rough, a lot of funk strumming, a bit of slapping it around, I hit it with frozen fish, etc. Just kidding. Takes a licking, keeps on rocking. It's an American Strat. It's just fine.

N/A

I've been playing for 14 years, somewhere around 350 gigs in the last ten years, and this is my main axe. It's a good friend. I don't really have any alliegences with any guitar makers. I like good guitars, and I like unusual sounds. My other guitars are a Japanese Jaguar reissue, a 1980sish Ibanez SG-sorta thing, a couple Danelectros (for kicks), and a Les Paul copy that was made by Ibanez "before they were called Ibanez", I was told. The Big Apple strat can pull off 95% of the styles you want to throw at it, it's well-made, a joy to play. If I lost it, I would definitely replace it with a twin, if I could find it. I almost bought a second one used a couple years ago, and I've been kicking myself ever since for not doing it.

Without going into the $1000+ category, it's the only guitar I really want. You know, except for that one and that one....

The Big Apple strat can be your essential guitar.

Review is for a 1997, American made Big Apple Strat, as per serial#.
everyone else has already given plenty of detail about features. This is the tremolo version - 2 Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups; 5-way switch; black paint; rosewood board, and crazy red bowling-ball swirl style pick-guard.
Bought this used - no case; no candy; no nothing special.
Rating is based on this being an all around good guitar - has all the features I was looking for.

Have found this to be versatile - have used if for blues, country, disco, rock, jazz and a few other styles. My primary music is 60s and 70s rock. It can more than adequately cover my needs depending on where our set-list/singer takes us.

Using mainly with a Fender Twin, and occasionally with a Traynor Bassmate combo (early 70s with tube pre and power - 15 inch speaker.
What kind of sounds can the guitar make? Good and bad depending on what type of night I'm having ...

I like this guitar and its different sounds. Had previously been using mainly single coil/P90 equipped guitars. Thought this might be a more Gibson-esque sound. This ain't no Les-Paul-o-Caster. But truly it is a double fat Strat. It will go places my Teles and my Legacy won't.

Big, beefy, bold sound - with still some hints of spank and sparkle depending on how much dirt and processing happens between guitar and amp.

So what would make it a 10? me being able to dial in the right sound all the time - but that's why I take a back up.

no rating here, as I bought this used and it was already 7 years old by the time I got.
have done some adjustments to pick-up height; action; intonation, etc...
most of the features on this guitar are pretty good - like any company, I have seen some really amazing quality and some really poor quality Fenders.

neck to body fit is pretty good - not the best, but certainly nowhere near as bad as some I have seen.
everything else looks like it was put together fairly well.

Have used this guitar steady for the past year - basement/studio playing; live shows; etc.
This is a good Fender - as mentioned in previous category, I have seen some things from the big F that range from good to bad to ugly.
would never gig without a back-up... that's just crazy

I have been playing for the better part of 20 years - and like many other reviewers on H.C. have owned, played, traded far too many guitars and amplifiers over the years.
I did not expect to hang onto this guitar - took me the better part of the first six months to 'get-it'. Changed from 9s to 10s, readjusted the action a couple of times, messed around with pick-up height, etc...

I had been playing a couple of the vintage reissue Telecasters and an old Les Paul Special (nobody said I had to have good taste).
Anyway, now that I have had this thing for a while, and figured out some choice amp settings and other tricks ... I will be hanging onto this one. Lose it? don't even want to think about that.

Why did I choose this? because I wanted something that would be versatile enough and durable enough for playing everywhere and anywhere without worrying. also, I wanted something that would be relatively quiet (i.e. humbucking)and, I didn't want to rip-apart any of my 'old-favorites'.

Bottom line? this thing rocks and will probably outlast anything else in the collection. am very happy that I kept it.

1997 (USA Shoreline Gold) which I believe was the first year of manufacture for this model. Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates plus, in the bridge with SD 59 at the neck. Sperzel locking tuners, rectangular Fender black case. All the usual USA standard guitar spec.

I have been into Fender custom shop models for several years and just wanted a strat with a humbuckers on it. I am pleasantly surprised. The pearly gates is a bit thin but back off the tone and I really like it. Very versatile but forget the in between tones. I may change the pickups as she is routed to take any combination so I will change it to HSS. SD 59 is a bit flat for lead on this model.

I bought this second hand but she is in great condition. It took me a couple of hours to set her up but after years of ignoring the standard models I am amazed how Fender's quality has improved. Neck join, weight, neck contour, action, tuning, everything is excellent.
Had to raise the action but could not believe how low it was without fret buzz. Tremolo goes out of tune like every other strat. Buy hardtail if you get the chance.

Standard USA Fender, look after them and they look after you.

Bought it second hand but if you get a problem how can you get it touch with Fender. Near impossible in the UK.

This is one of ten Fender, Gibson, PRS guitars that I now own.
No more a Custom Shop snob, but then its been twenty years since I had one. Should have gone back years ago and saved a lot of cash.
It makes a change from logging a Les Paul around and will be great until I get bored again. Do try one though, you won't be disappointed.

98, Transparent Orange, Ash Body, H/H all stock. Case was included

The sound was OK stock. I have since swapped the bridge pickup to a Duncan JB and moved the Pearly Gates into the neck position. Now the guitar sounds as good as it plays. The tone cannot be described. The JB is the best sounding pickup I have ever heard. The Pearly Gates seemed thin in the bridge position.

Perfect setup for my playing. I bought the guitar used from Ebay and had to change the strings and setup the action where I like it. Once that was done the guitar plays like butter. The neck and body material is first rate. USA Strat all the way..

I am sure this guitar will last for years. Built like a tank. The finish is stunning to look at. Everything seems solid, no loose screws etc.

Would not deal with any customer support. I would prefer to fix problems myself.

Almost perfect, add a JB to the bridge and it is perfect!!!

1997 USA, rose fingerboard, 3-color sunburst, seymour duncan '59 in neck position and pearly gates plus at bridge, 5-way switch, standard(9.5inch radius) c-shape neck. pearloid pickguard. lame hardware.

i play bluesy stuff and classical with this one. i use marshall amps with boss bluesdriver. i first bought this guitar in 2001 and was in a good condition and i didnt touch it for a year because i didnt like its sound. than i noticed the set up sucked so i set it correctly and it was a miracle. this is a really uniqe sound if you set pgp high you get the classic feel of strat without hum and a real long sustain with guts. i started using it in recordings after a few replacements. some people doesnt like the sound of pearly gates but it evolves greatly in time.

i bought it second hand and was setup really bad. it has shiny gloss finish.

this ones like wine it just gets better. neck is loosened a bit because of agrressive playing. (i dont use the tremolo arm i use the neck instead.)seems durable.

theres no support in my country

playing since 1988. this guitar sure needs replacements like a vintage sync strat tremolo. i dont use the stock switch. if it was lost i wouldnt buy another but id be really sorry because of evolved pgp. this is not really a strat if you want a real strat buy a '56 or '57 or '69... i really like the tone. its a good choice if you want something familiar to strat. i prefer this to the new SRV with pau ferro fingerboard.

mine is a 99 in transparent sunset orange over med wieght swamp ash. all stock. you know the feature list.

since i discovered that i don't really like the middle pup or notch positions of a regular strat, the humbucker thing has really started to work for me. the sd's split well, and drive the front end of the amp perfectly. very adequate clean tones as well. of course, it's not gonna sound like a stock strat, but then, that's one reason i chose it.... my fave combo is thru a vht pittbull.

it's made as well as any well made fender guitar ever was. cuz that's what it is......i love the look of the trans orange over the swamp ash body wood. i think a better grade of rosewood could've been used. i like it dark. this ones a bit light colored for my taste. and the finish could've been buffed out a little better.....great, but not perfect.

fender's reputation is well established in this dept. all good. every blue moon you might find an anomalie, but, seeing as how they turn out millions of guitars every year......

fender is hard to reach. they appear to be a little standoff-ish. i can usually find spare parts anywhere else, tho'. and fenders, being the industry standard....you can find repair help in any city, any state, any country. so, i guess it doesn't really matter about cust. support.

been playing 25+ years. i've had 2 of everything. this one's main attraction was it's rare color. i got it as an investment, knowing what rare colored fenders do after a couple of years. it's a great guitar. i can't say anything bad about it. i think if an offer came along, i would trade it for my fave axe, a ernie ball music man axis super sport. until then, IT will be my main axe.

1998 Fender Big Apple (U.S.A made) with 5-way switch, and a great sunburst paint on it. Has a mapple neck and 22 frets. Still perfectly clean...

The tone opportiunities are a lot...Has this great fat tone, which is great for like blues, and ofcourse the clean tone is as much as good at it too. But when you start to increase to distortion a little the sound starts to get lost because of the humbs. Works great with the wah- pedal for the funky stuff...

The guitar setup was almost great for me...But adjusted it anyway when I shifted to Eb tuning...But the pickups caused a little problem at first, when playing funk. The high E string was getting caught to the humbucker causing the string break sometimes. So had to play with the pickups...One thing is that the volume differences within the 5-way switch...You have to be a very good handling person to get used the gap between.

No problem at all...Doesn't get damaged easily...The only problem is that it get out of tune easily. But not hard to handle too. Think it will last a long long time with no problem...Maybe it's going to take long time to erase the stereotypes about this guitar...But I'll play and they will understand it when the time comes...

I've got it repaired; actually controled once. Wasn't under warranty.

I've ben playing with this guitar for 5 years. Would buy one more if something happened to this one...It's like a Fender Strat with some soul of Gibson Les Paul inside...Try...

Made in USA, 22 frets, Seymour Duncan '59 in neck, SD Pearly Gates Plus in bridge, alder body, maple fretboard, brown sunburst finish with brown tortoise shell pickguard, two tone knows, one volume knob, string through body hard tail bridge.

This thing is versatile as all Hell. From the first time I played this thing in what used to be a local Musician's Friend (now Guitar Center), I fell in love with it. Everything from ultra-warm jazz sounds to kick-ass metal and everything in between. When using my Danelectro Fab Tone with this and setting the pickup selector to the middle position and turning the tone down all the way, I can NAIL the Santana sound, and it sustains forever! This this rocks!

Don't remember how the action and pickup height was (got this thing back in '98) and have since made some adjustments based on my preferences, but I'm sure it kicked ass. As far as the body goes, it was flawless. Still is. Perfect!

I use this thing everywhere. It will last several lifetimes, guaranteed. Extremely dependable, just like a nice bottle of Jack Daniels!

Never had to deal with them.

If this were stolen from me, you can bet yer ass that if I don't find the asshole who stole it and beat the shit out of him/her, I will definitely replace it. It's waaaaay too versatile to pass it up. I can't help but wonder, too, why Fender stopped making these. Definitely worth the purchase if you can find one!

2000 Big Apple Strat, Standard Fender neck, USA Made,H/H, 5way select,Alder Body, mapel Neck,Standard USA Bridge,Did not come with case (think the weird Guitar Center guy that sold it too me stole it)

The Guitar sounds like a Strat with humbuckers. Not quit like a gibson and not quit like a strat. I have a LS-6 gibson and this sounds like the LS-6. I also have a SG special and they are night and day sound wise. I like how the B/A Strat sounds, wish I had two. I can't understand why they don't make them anymore.

I did not like the factory set up. After lowering the strings this thing plays as well as anything out there. I have had mine for four years and it sounds better now than when I got it. I'm sure somebody out there knows why. I've heard that pickups change after some time but I am the wronge guy too ask. The finish is lack luster and I noticed some flaws in the paint. Besides that I am a sweaty guy and paint has held up. The coler is sort of an off white and smoke seems to have made it evan more off white(but in kind of a cool old fender way). The guitar is well made but I have seen fancier Strats that seem more solid. Like I said it is well made but the ones that list for well over a grand seem to be a cut above.

I have had no problems. I play the guitar almost every day and it seems too be taking my abuse very well. Is it gig worthy? Yes. Not woried about this thing fizzing out in the least

It's a fender. Fender are very good about warranty.

This guitar is alot of bang for the buck. I love too play it, if it where stolen I would buy another. Strats are very comfotable too play,in my opinion much more so than ether of my gibsons. I don't know if it's the tremelo bridge or the bolt on neck but it is very fast and easy to bend notes. Can't imagin not having a fender too play.

Year 1997, Made in USA. 22-Frets. Solid Alder Sunburst Body. Rosewood fingerboard on typical Stratocaster maple neck, and I'm guessing medium-jumbo frets. This is tremolo model utilizing the American Standard bridge. Non-locking Fender USA tuners A dual-humbucker version of the classic Strat. Knobs are Volume, Neck Tone, Bridge tone. Typical Strat 5-way blade switch switches from Bridge Humbucker to Bridge Coil Tapped single, to both humbuckers, to Neck Coil Tapped Single, to Neck Humbucker. Purchased it knowing it had thse features, so can't complain can I?

I am very pickey when it comes to tone, and chose to purchase this guitar because I want one instrumet that covers as many bases as possible. My musical style is mostly electric blues and rock, and covers many styles within those genres. My amp is an 85-watt Marshall Valvestate single 12 combo. No outboard effects. Here's the rundown:

Position 1 Bridge Humbucker - I am very pleased with this Duncan Pearly Gates. My favorite Les Paul is equipped with Tim Shaw PAFs which I love, and this pickup really comes about as close as I could expect on a 25.5 inch scale bolt-neck guitar. It creates that "swell" of airy crunchy tone like old PAFs. Very good at high and low volumes. Sounds like ZZTop (as it is supposed to). Not a great clean pickup, but I dont use it for that.

Position 2 Split Bridge Humbucker - Not so good. I am a single coil fanatic, and this one is way too processed for my liking. Very plastic. It is always difficult to get a good single coil tone out of a split humbucker because humbuckers sound better positioned closer to the strings while the opposite is true for most single coils. I tried to hit a happy medium with pickup height, but after playing with this one, it only loses output the farther it is from the strings. It is ok in clean strum mode and could work for some more trebly styles, but I can't solo with it.

Position 3 both Humbuckers - I can get "Woman Tone" by playing with the tone knobs. That's what folks want in this position, right? I don't often find a use for it, but it is available and correct to my ear.

Position 4 Split Neck Humbucker - Kind of like a Telecaster neck sound. Really nice for clean solos, and strumming. Not as good distorted, but I can almost grab a passable imitation of an SRV like sound that would be ok for stage use (in the studio, bring your real Strat).

Position 5 Neck Humbucker - I am not too thrilled with this one, but I don't feel the need to run out and replace it either. I find it non-descript at best and somewhat muddy at worst. I have used these Duncan 59's before - with and without covers, and experienced similar issues. No personality to it. I like my neck humbuckers to sound like Slash's tone - this one does not. Better clean than dirty, and nice jazz-style tones with the tone knob dialed back.

Overall, better as a two humbucker Strat than anything else, but the added single coil options are passable for most live peformance appications. If you must have true single and double tones in one guitar, buy the Texas Special Strat and give up on the neck humbucker, or do what I might do: Take advantage of the universal route under the pickguard and install a real single coil in the middle.

My first "new" instrument since 1983 (I buy vintage typically). Though technically pre-owned, was absolutely mint with the protective plastic on the pickguard...

Setup was pretty good out of the box, and considering it sat for 6 years, this was a bit of a surprize. I had to replace the strings of course, but action, pickup height and intonation were A+. I set up my strats with the Tremolo bridges pulled all the way back, so whatever had been done was then upset by my preferences. But this change resulted in increased sustain and better tone too, so I recommend it to everybody using this bridge. It set up nice and easy after my changes (like all good Fenders do). Everything works. Volume knob is really tight, but this will lossen up over time.

My advice to anybody who still complains: Don't buy a traditional Strat tremolo and expect it to stay in tune for Van Halen solo stuff. You need a Floyd Rose to do that. We true Strat guys live with the faults like vintage auto guys live with their 60's Jaguars.

Heavier chunk of alder than I expected this day in age, just on the good side of heavy (guessing 8.5 lbs). Finish is nice. The smooth satin neck finish will take some getting used to (I'm a nitro lacquer guy), but it seems nice. Body finish is beautiful.

Fret edges are finished better than anything new I have picked up in a while (better than the 80's Fenders). Fret tops are a little rough, but could have quite a bit of corrosion due to no playing for 6 years.

Overall, it feels great and very comfortable to me as a long-time strat guy. Like putting on an old well worn sweatshirt. I was whipping off any lick I play on my favorite guitars within 24 hours and not thinking twice.

I have had over 40 Strats. They are bulletproof. I will have to see how the 2-screw tremolo holds up over time, but otherwise no weird electronics or other things to go wrong. General maintainance should be sufficient for 50+ years of hard playing.

I find myself touching the tape of the open coil humbuckers a lot with my paying style. I'm used to having rings on my humbuckers and covers on my single coils, and my pinky actually rests on the tape of the coil while I play (not good). We'll see if I end up damaging them over time.

I've been playing for almost 30 years. I have certainly owned well over 100 guitars in my life. All guitars have pluses and minuses. I currently own what I consider to be a perfect Telecaster, a perfect Les Paul, a Gibson ES-330, and several wonderful vintage Stratocasters each with their own distinct personality. I have built guitars from Warmoth and Chandler parts, I have tried Tokais, Suhr's, Andersons, PRS, Kubicki, Gibson SGs, Danelectros...

I am looking for the one guitar that can do it all in a live situation. With this guitar, I like the fact that I can get a good Les Paul tone out of a more ergonomic Stratocaster, but it is not 100% of what I wanted, but I think I may be able to get it out of this instrument, so I am not ready to give up yet. Fit, finish, playability... are fantastic, but I need good single coil tones too. Perhaps adding the single coil in the middle...

1999 Big Apple Strat. Made in USA. 22 frets, dual humbucker, you know the guitar! Rosewood fretboard, hardtail, string through body. Shorline gold. Ash body, 1 volume 2 tone 5 way selector, coil tapping. Seymour duncan pearly gates bridge, Seymour 59 up front. Maple neck, regular satin finish. Standard fender tuners. Medium Jumbo frets. 25 1/2 scale 1 11/16 nut.

Our band mostly plays heavier progressive stuff. Before I bought this guitar, I bought a couple of emg 81 pickups for it. After I bought and played it with the stock pickups, I never even installed the 81's like my other guitars already have. It suits my music style great. I play mostly through a Peavey XXX halfstack with a digitech gnx2. My setup is very quiet with this guitar. The sustain is incredible with the string through body. With the coil tapping on the pickups, you are able to get a very full creamy humbucker sound to an extremely bright single coil sound. Very versitile sound. I love this damn thing all the way through.

Action was a little low when I bought it. Pickups were dead on. No flaws. Almost like a good custom shop guitar (without the birdseye).

This guitar is like a rock and withstands live playing very well. Hardware will last just like all of the string throughs do. Finish is factory Shorline Gold and is withstanding my abuse now. Strap buttons were replaced to dunlop locks. I can depend on this guitar to get me through a night, but does anyone gig without a backup?

I have been playing for 18 years. I own a couple of older Kramer guitars, a Jackson Kelly model, a Washburn dime 333, a telecaster and an ESP KH-2. If it were stolen, I would definately buy another. I love everything about this guitar.

seymour duncan pickups, five way switch, teal green metallic

The sound of this guitar is great for anything from blues to heavy music. nice strat sound but beefier. Have played every thing from hendrix, srv, tool, smashing pumpkins, system of a down fits all of them.

plays great the best feeling strat i have played

have had it for over five years with no problems, put locking tuners on it always stays in tune. has been dropped a few times, glass broken on it and it still looks and plays great. would gig with out back up.

never needed

I would definitely replace this if it was lost or stolen. i love the variety of tones that i can get with this instrument and they all sound great. people that don't like strats have toold me that it is a great guitar

This is a follow up review to the one I did 18 months or so ago. I had only been playing for a couple of months at that point and I really had no idea what I was going on about. I have a bit more experience now so I feel I can give a better view.

The features haven't changed! Still have the dodgy pearloid pickguard that will probably stay on the guitar for life now.

Likes everything from blues --> hard rock. Will even do a bit of metallica-style metal if you hit it hard enough. I personally don't think it does clean mellow enough for jazz or country.

Neck pickup is gorgeous in humbucker mode. Smooth, flowing rhythms to be had here, some nice lead here as well. Bridge I am not so keen on, possibly a bit ruder could have been good? Keep in mind that Angus Young and Zakk Wylde are my inspirations when I play! I don't use any pedals when humbucking, they sound fine on their own.

I WAS disappointed with the single coil mode, right up until I plugged into a tubescreamer (into marshall). Changed my mind right quick! Trust me, try it.

Still good. I look after her pretty well.

Couldn't ask for more. Stays in tune fine (after I liberally add graphite powder to anything that touches the strings directly). Nothing has broken, everything looks to be solid.

N/A

I really do love this guitar. I now have a Dot 335 (Epi) sharing space with it which I like, but the strat is my first love. Fits my hand and playing like a glove. A guitar for rocking out on!

This frame was birthed in 1997 AD by an ancient titan before she departed for the Eagle nebula. she resided in the once-fertile lands of the Americas, and in such country was it inaugurated into the world of aural duty. Obtained the dual-fisted glory of two humbuckers, both alternating between loving and hating, living and dying..the neck position equipped with a Duncan '59, the bridge opens up with a matching Pearly Gates. The coils can be split for the additional weaponry of two single coils. An indespinsible addition to your arsenal of sound. Alder flesh, tremolo spine, rare and sought after tranparent sunset orange skin, smuggled from the Silk Road of yore. It waits on the edges of cliffs in Grandest Canyon. Waiting for the sun to die in the twenty final minutes. The Big Apple is armed more than most.

The vigor of the Pearly Gates was worn, and it has since been retired. Its replacement is the Dimarzio Super Distortion, veteran of the empyrial frontlines. Rock and roll pours through the vocal cords of this wild and untamed creature, spouting forth from the mouth of its engine steed, the Marshall JCM 900. Together they are a 100 watt behemoth grazing in the jungle, tranquil like a brooke, but when provoked will rage with the fury of a demon from the fourth layer of hell. It has been trained to communicate and attack mostly in rock and roll. Alternating pickups can achieve the sweet purring and laughter produced by the full '59, like cherubim annointing it with a halo..Whereas engaging the Super Distortion full on is like punching an alligator in the face: teeth, thrashing, and a lot of pain. The crunch is not unlike the bones of its victims. Slipping into the Distortion's single coil mode and letting down the reins of the tone knob will give you smooth yet vocal wailing akin to the patron saint Santana. Try everything with it. It will bless you unduly.

Well atuned and taken care of. It has been given vaccinations and properly cleaned. Surgical procedures such as the replacement of it's left lung, the Pearly Gate, have been done by the finest local guitar surgeon; the tribes of Maya will be pleased.

It works hard. Unlike others of its kin, it was not born for the approval of others, not externally gifted with aesthetics, although its beauty lies in it's primitive eyes. I depend on it like I do my arm. It carries out its orders and will honor my ancestor's bones when I am gone.

The titan has not been dealt with.

This guitar needs brothers. I wish only that its siblings were not so scarce, as having a twin would be a joy and suited for proper companionship. Four years have I been traveling the kingdoms with guitars as companions. It will endure. Fight with what you have.

First off Mine is that off white color with the dark tortise shell pick guard matched with white Seymour Duncan pickups & white knobs maple fret board (the maple fret boards were discontinued early on in the big apple series ).features Seymour Duncan pickups, schaller locking buttons, American Fender quality & play ability just feels right. all for under $1000 incredible.

With two Seymour Duncan humbucker pickups, this is an excellent American made guitar for those who like a warmer, fatter sound than is usually associated with the standard Stratocaster single-coil three pickup configuration. However, a 5-way switch allows for single or double coil operation so that a more traditional Strat sound is available as well. Also featured is the Pearly Gates Plus bridge. I liked the feel of the 59' neck and found this to be an extremely versatile guitar that was just as easy to playing screaming blues licks and harder edged rock on as it was to play country and jazz styles.I use this guitar for many different styles I prefer the more modern high gain rock I play in a cover band therefore blue's, country and jazz all have to be accessible this guitar does it all I play through Mesa equipment I also use PRS guitars but the big apple has its place at every one of my shows.

The Fender Big Apple Strat is no longer and production guaranteeing it a classic status if you can find one of these monsters I would suggest snapping it up these guitars are getting harder to find their keepers most people are hanging on to them for their versatility

1998, 22 frets etc same as rest
love the two humbuckers, split coil sounds not perfect but definitely useful!

I run this through a fender blues deville 2x12" and with the bridge pickup on the overdrive channel, you just want to kiss this guitar.. my favourite tone, neck humbucker can muddy up some distortions but gives a cool sound if you play with it a bit.
If I want to switch from neck to bridge pickup, I usually backoff the bottom tone knob when on the bridge as it is fairly harsh

beautiful, beautiful. Only flaws are scratches from the guy who owned it before me's belt buckle.. and he left some nice wrapping plastic

I'm scared to let anyone else use it in case they drop it, not that it'll break but the paint job will be ruined!!

seems sweet, frets seem to be wearing down, but not overly quick
changed saddles to graptech string savers and haven't briken a string since (I was chronic before that.. at least a string a week!)

no idea..

brilliant.

Might downgrade simply because I get too stressed owning a guitar this perfect.. no excuses for bad playing either!

Fender Big Apple Strat, USA, (late 90's?)candy apple red, pearl pickguard, Seymore Duncan '59 humbucker in the neck, and SD Pearly Gates HB at bridge. Alder body, Fender/Schaller tuners, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, nice sized frets, standard tremolo, 5 position toggle switch, Fender hardshell case and accessories (wrenches)

This guitar fits my style to a "T", as I play hard/classic rock and blues rock. I run this through a JCM 800 Marshall with minimal effects. This guitar is 3 or 4 guitars in one - strat, tele, Les Paul - I can achieve so many sounds with this guitar.

Action was perfect from day 1. Used it the night I got it! I was so amazed. This neck just has to be played to appreciate it. No flaws. The only problem is feeding or removing the strings in the back with the tremolo flat against the body ( as I keep it)is sometimes difficult.

I use this live as my main axe. It plays so well. The first night I used it, I could not believe how smoothe the neck was, but action is not sloppy (like a Gibson). 10's make this guitar just right for me. Finish is a standard Fender paint job - not as fancy as Gibsons work, but I'm not "scared" to take it out and play it. Fender guitars are meant to be played, not locked away as a "keepsake". Very beautiful guitar in its own right. Strap buttons occassionally need tightening from straplocks. The only thing is I break alot of strings, but, then again, I break alot of strings anyway! Time to go to 11's! Have to have my old blue strat as a standby however. I wish it had a Floyd Rose or a hardtail. The tremolo is not for serious whammy users!

Not with this guitar. Fender was more than helpfull in the past with my other strat.

I'm 30 and have been playing since I was 9. I have a 80's Japanese strat I have totally customized and has remained my #1 guitar until the Big Apple came along. I use Marshall, Dunlop effects, and have a Martin D-16GT acoustic (sweet!) If stolen, I would replace it, maybe with sunburst. I love everything about it. Hey, I traded my Les Paul for it (It had headstock finish damage). No comparison, it blows it away. 10X more versatile than a Paul - don't let anyone tell you different. Again, needs a different tremolo/bridge.

This guitar is a 1998, which was bought at the fender NAAM show by my local music store for a music store employee. About a year later he traded me for a 1978 strat that i've groan tired of, it had a stripped truss rod but it was set up by my local guitar tech, which did an excellent job. The Big Apple was practically bran new and very hot looking as it was a Special Sunset orange transparent with an ash body. I was really attracted to the nice set of Seymour Duncan Humbuckers, and the super switch capabilities. I had my tech set it up for 10s, had a bone nut custom fitted to it. I had no tunning problems with it whatsoever, put a set of sperzel made for fender locking tunners on, they help it stay in tune better when using the whammy bar. which i don't use much. I like the rosewood fretboard.

This guitar is a real tone monster, it can go from sweet pristine bell like tone to fat butter like through that sweet 59' which is my favorite. I'm happy with all the selector versatility, I like the pearly gates, and i'm happy with it. But the 59' is better. If i ever make another change on this guitar, it would be a 59' in the bridge also.

Action is super, especially for 10s. The body has a very good cut out of the transparent paint job ash bodys that i've ever seen, this guitar has an exceptional grain that jumps out at ya. The finish on it is definatly awsome.

No worries with me, this guitar will never break. I treat em real good.

no need for it.

I've been playing for 32 years, i've had a lot of guitars, I never keep over one electric and accoustic at one time, both of mine are set up super good. And the two that i own now would turn any guitar player on to touch them.