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.

Translucent Sunset Orange model with rosewood fb, otherwise same features as all the rest. Made in 2000.

Isn't sound why we buy a guitar? Ballsy blues, a little jazz, classic rock, heavy distortion, a little drop-d crap when playing with my daughter. It works well for everything I play. The split positions are somewhere between okay and very good for single-coil work, especially if I'm being lazy and don't want to bring a sh*tpot full of guitars to a gig. Overall, pretty darned versatile!

Fit and finish was flawless. Setup was, well... the way setups always are - needs work. Setup was probably okay on a particular day at the factory, but it got shipped to Florida, new climate, different season, etc., so the relief needed work. Intonation was correct. Switched to 10's, added a spring, and readjusted the trim and all was good. Finish was better than flawless. I can't remember seeing a more attractive guitar.

Ask me in 20 years.

Never used it.

I bought it to get a good humbucker sound for higher gain work. Something with a little more punch than a hot-wired single coil, and it works well for that. Been playing Hendrix since Jimi played Hendrix, owned lots and lots of vintage stuff when it wasn't vintage(wish I still had my original '62 Strat that I sold for $200). Settled of a few US Strats, a Prosonic Combo (lugged way too many stacks in my time), and a 2X12 Tonemaster extension. This thing works extremely well with the Pro on the clean channel, saturating the power tubes easily, and really shines on the drive channel.

Stock big apple -USA, rosewood fingerboard, maple neck,Alder Body, standard trem bridge, seymour duncan humbuckers-59 in the neck -pearly gates in the bridge. Fender schaller tuners. Med jumbo frets, 5 way pick up selector, fender flight case. It would get a ten if it had a floyd rose ( Im sure thats up for debate)

I play all stlyes but mainly metal and rock. I mainly use a 5150 mk2 with a marshall vintage quad.
The neck pu is classic gibson territory. Lots of warm tones not overly gained. Brown sound. When it is split it gives a Ok single coil glassy tone. I have heard better but it will do.
Bridge pu has more gain and bite. It is quite trebly and cutting in nature. Suits heavy distortion as whell as power rock. Good for leads. When split it can become a bit thin. Not the best single coil.

I like both humbucker sounds but I can leave the single coil sounds alone. Original strat pu do it better. For an easy assessment it sunds like a realy bright lespaul with that srat like bite.

No flaws. Action had to be set up. It feels really fast. The trem puts the srtings out of tune too much so I dont use it. ( thats why I like a floyd rose )I changed the nut to a graphite one hoping to improve the stability of the tuning whilst using the trem. It didnt work, I should of kept the original nut on there.

I play all the time. I mean all the time. It goes in tour,gets knocked around on stage and battered when Im teaching. This is the most reliable guitar I have owned.

Never needed it

I have been playing for 14 years. I use tremelo quite a lot. I have another strat with a floyd rose for that. This guitar is reliable and easy to change strings on. It is the perfect partner for my other strat. If it was stolen I would buy it again.

Made in 2000. Standard strat features, but was hard tail Big
Apple, since I wanted sustain from fixed bridge. Tuners were
Fender. It was your typical high-quality Strat body and neck.
Had Rosewood fingerboard.
Came with good case.

At first I LOVED the sound, but started to hate it, since
the bridge pickup is too raspy and trebly when playing the guitar
clean. I don't ALWAYS want to have full-bore distortion on a strat.
The neck pickup was too muddy and dull sounding. The in-between
sounds were mostly a joke and did a poor imitation of a single-coiled
strat. I could have kicked myself after owning this guitar for
1.5. years - WHY didn't I get a regular strat and put Joe Barden
pickups or just leave stock Strat pickups on it? Answer - I was
trying to simulate a Gibson Les Paul sound with the light weight of
a Strat. Kind of dumb thinking if you ask me!

The setup was ok - I could move around fast on the neck, but I
got cramps in my hand, after playing the guitar for a few hours.
I know you are supposed to be a "man" when you own a Strat, but
this is ridiculous! I think the 2001 Strats blow away the other
strats in playability. I guess Fender wasn't kidding about making
some dramatic improvements in the Strat's neck. The finish was
beautiful and all my friends were in awe of the guitar. The neck
pocket was not as tight as it should be for a $750 guitar.

Built like a tank. It could be used as a weapon. Only 2 minor
complaints:
1. One volume pot was half stripped and would keep rotating, but I didn't
bother getting the guitar fixed over that, since if you used a light
touch, would stop at the maximum setting.
2. The bridge saddles would cause a string to break nearly every
gig, but I did not want to get the graphite bridge saddles, since
the sustain would have been compromised, slightly. I was able to
live with breaking strings a few times a month or less.

I have no idea.

Been playing since 70s. Have owned all kinds of guitars, like
Gibson SG, Gibson ES-335. I sold the guitar, since I was sick of
it. The pickups just didn't cut it after a while. At first, I
loved the pickups. But, I didn't like the trebly, tinny bridge
pickup sound when trying to play clean and the muddy neck pickup
sound. Sure, when cranked up through a Fender, it sounded fairly
good, but did not sound like Rory Gallagher's single coil pickup
strat sound.
Since the guitar was hard to play for an
extended period of time in one sitting or at a gig, it did not
make me want to keep this guitar.

If I were getting a Strat again, I would get the much cheaper
Standard Strats that cost 300-400 bucks or so. It would have stock
pickups and maple neck. If I got sick of the pickups, I would
install Joe Bardens. I would LOVE to get a strat with a decent
non-Floyd-Rose Whammy bar. I played one of the newere strats and
it had a fairly good whammy, but the guitar got out of tune when
you really flailed on the whammy.

Big apple red w/perliod pickgaurd. Rosewood fretboard, and all the standards. I really like the brushed steel saddles. I customized it with chrome knobs, looks cool.

I have always leaned toward Strats and this is the best of it's kind I've ever had. I use it for gigging, and home recording. The single coil tones don't quite match a dedicated single coil Strat, but they are useable. The humbuckers just crush. Sounds awsome for any kind of music you play. Sustains for years. No complaints

Set up was nice right off the shelf, until I restrung it with 10's from the factory 9's. But that's to be expected. It snapped right back into shape after minimal tweakage. Finish is all good. Would have prefered a different color other than red, but it's all they had so I got used to it. Comfy nech. Really great guitar, won't sell it.

I've already suffered a nice DING from a gig, but that's live music for you. I think I could slam it around some more. It's built solid like a tank. Heavy. Very reliable. Keeps in tune very well, I don't use much tremelo. You could depend on the guitar.

Fender is usually good I guess, never had to call 'em

Been playing 16 years or so, had alot of guitars. I still want a nice classic Strat with single coils, but this dual humbucker set-up is a real monster. I love it. It stands up against a Les Paul pretty well, and it's easier to play.

I am not sure what year it is, but I bought it used from dreaded GC. It is black with the red turtoise pickguard. Dual Seymour Duncans with coil taps integrated into the 5way switch. Very intriging. The level of volume between single coil and full-on hummer is large.The Duncans are snow white in color. It is a hard tail so no tuning problems. Mine has a rosewood fretboard. Small style headstock. Very nice.

I play mainly heavy origional music and this guitar holds its own in that genre. In different settings, it is an excellent blues guitar. Especially the neck p/u with the tone rolled back. Very pleasing. The sustain is endless. Either p/u. Right now I play it through a Mesa Mark IV and it is tone heaven. I will probably be selling my GT-3 now. Also, when I hear the p/u's becoming muddy, I just dial back the distortion a bit and all is good.

Action was fine from GC. The finish is flawless for a used guitar. It is a beatiful guitar. I am almost afraid to play it because it is so shiny. When you kick in the distortion on either of these Duncans, watch out. For being used, I can't tell anyone ever even played it. Plastic from the origional pickguard protector was still under some of the screws in the pickguard, sticking out a good 1/4". Basically brand new.

Having only owned it 3 monthes, it is hard to qualify an answer. But, it seems very sturdy. I always have a back-up (to everything!!).

n/a

I have been playing 15 years and have and had too much gear to list. I really love the action on this guitar, but most of all, the tone. I play lead thru the Mesa and the rhythm guitarist playes a PRS thru a JCM 2000 and this baby more than holds its own-It rules....I recommend that if you see one, grab it up {and give it to me!!}

I bought my guitar in Hungary in 1999. Maybe somebody thinks that it was too much for it but unfortunately the musical instruments are very expensive in here. Green metallic color, ash body, 22 frets.

I mostly play jazz-rock and funk and also in these styles it works very well.

Fortunately never needed yet.

Big Apple Strat..H/H..Candy apple red..perloid p/g..maple neck..rosewood board

Neck Humbucker is awesome...middle posistion (both HB on) is great too. Neck HB is too muddy for my tastes. In between posistions..I never use. All the tone I want is there, though.

Great detail..and, perfect finish.

Built like a tank.

Fender has always been very helpful..

Already bought another.

Big Apple Strat, not sure of the year, probably mid-2000 'cause I think Fender stopped producing 'em at that point for the 'double-fat' strat.

Red finish with that bullsh*t tortise shell pickguard, ash body, maple neck, normal fender trem (which I locked straight away), 2 seymour duncan humbuckers -> see other posts for the specs 'cause I don't know offhand. Everything else is pretty standard strat.

Got a pretty cool hardcase with it, thing is very bloody heavy though, need a gig bag if you plan on carrying it for any great length of time.

Guitar itself is a fair bit heavier than other strats I tried, must be the ash body. I wanted a heavier guitar anyway, normal strats feel like toothpicks in my hands. I like the heavy 'plank-o-wood' feeling I have with mine. Les Pauls have a similar feeling, but don't have the same versatility IMHO.

I give it a 7 because a strat is a pretty basic, straight-forward guitar.

I am just 4 months into playing guitar so I really haven't figured out exactly my style of playing yet (hell, I am yet to master ANYTHING about playing guitar just yet). I have a pretty wide range of stuff I listen to: from Limp Bizkit and Sick of it All, all the way through to Wes Montgomery and George Benson, and out the other way to Slash, EVH, and Angus Young. This guitar seems to do most things well, but really doesn't seem happy until you get down and dirty. Think Led Zepp, AC/DC, or even Aerosmith. Suits the hell out of me, but thrash metallers, country players, and clean pickers probably should look elsewhere.
Rated it a 7 because what the hell is a perfect guitar sound? Also, I haven't plugged into anything big and loud yet (I use my Marshall G15R-CD at home) so I can't really say how she goes at really high volume.

Action was about as good as anything else in the shop. Not outstanding good, not outstandingly bad either. Fine for my experience and skill.

Zero flaws from the factory. I mean it, the thing did not have a scratch, dent, or imperfection. When I took off the backing plate to adjust the trem spring, there was grease or whatever all over the joint, is this factory practice?

No problems with the workmanship, very good. Rate a 9.

Well, it seems that the guitar will outlive me. I would trust strap buttons from any manufacturer, use strap locks at all times. Finish etc seem fairly permenant to me.

I sure as hell would not gig this thing without a backup. I didn't believe all the reviews I read about strats breaking strings, trust me - they are true. One every two or so weeks for me. I don't play all that hard. When I do, pop! SO I play mellow and they last 2 weeks. 6 for this reason alone.

N/A. Never had any dealings with 'em.

I love this guitar, wouldn't buy it again if it were stolen because I don't think I could find one this perfect again (I try big apples when I see them and I never find one as good as mine, opinion only). Probably go for something totally different next time, like maybe a 335 or something.
I don't give high ratings, but this one deserves it.

Mine is the special edition burnt orange color, transparent. This is an awsome guitar. I love mine to death. The only thing is that its a little heavy because of the ash body, but its great sounding on stage. Its has a very dark maple neck. Any one who dosent like this guitar is not very smart. That is just my oppion. Its a great buy for any one who is thinking about getting one.

Mine is that off white color with the tortise shell pick guard.It has a tremelo.All the other features are the same as the rest.

This guitar sounds great. I cant believe all the people who say there going to buy new pickups for this guitar what a waste of money. The cool thing about this guitar is that all the sounds work in a live situation.

This guitar was set up pourly ( the fellow at guitar center informed me he had just set it up ).I`m the only one who can set up a guitar for me any ways which I did after I got it home.I set it up with no relief and lower than Fender specs and it plays pretty well.The nut could be lowered a bit and I`ll get around to doing that. I`ve played alot of these Big Apple Strats and this was not the best one by any means.The neck pocket is`nt real tight but I dont think that matters as much as some people seem to think it does. I`ve got alot of guitars and my two cheapest ones have the tightest neck set,(A yamaha PAC112 and a De Armond Jet Star Special.Most old vintage stats and teles are pretty bad in this area and it doesnt seem to hurt them.All and all I`m pretty happy with this and after I get around to lowering the nut and dressing the frets it will be a real player.

It`s a bolt neck fender what could be sturdier.

Ive got a friend who just bought one of those new Strats with the noisless pickups and it was set up terribly. When I set it up to Fender specs for him it freted out on evey fret after the 12th. I told him he should have the store that he bought it at do a fret job and Fender agreed to pay for it so thats pretty good.They did a lousy job but he`s a lousey player so he didnt notice and I figured ignorance is bliss so this time I didnt say anything.

Did you see what I paid for this thing brand new with plastic on the pickguard and hang tags .They had 2 at this price and I wish I could have bought them both. That why I wasnt concerned about Fenders set up, at that price I`ll set it up myself.I`ve been looking at this guitar and a Godin double humbucking for about a year now but none of them had good enough fret work for me to want to buy them. If I`m paying 800 to 1200 dollars for a guitar I dont want to do fret work on it after I buy it. At $399 I dont mind doing the fret work my self.I drive by guitar center every day at my job as a truck driver so I seem to end up getting a lot of good deals.I got this $1250 list Strat for $399, a Dano 56 U3 for $119, a Dearond Jet Star Special (I love this guitar) for $59 thats right $59 and I traded a old cardboard silvertone 6 watt amp that I paid $13 dollars for for a Squire Bronco Bass all in the past 6 months.All of these guitars were brand spankin new no shit.I love this store.Now when I walk in there I ask "what are you giving away today.I just wish I could have aforded the PRS gold top they were selling for $1200 new.

98 or 99 3-tone sunburst model called "Sunny". Maple fretboard. Alder body. Standard tremolo. Nice thin and fast neck.

The guitar sounds great in all pick-up configurations. I mostly use position 2 (neck single coil), position 3 (both humbuckers), and position 4 (neck and bridge single coils). I run the guitar through a Line 6 POD and a Barcus Berry 60W amp. This guitar has it all: fast neck, a spectrum of sounds and good looks.

I have not had to make any adjustments to this instrument. It has no flaws and spoke to me the first time I played it. I chose it over an SRV strat (I still would like to own an SRV though).

This is one tough sturdy guitar and I believe it will take alot of punishment.

Not Applicable. Have had no problems.

I've been playing for 29 years and own this Strat, an Epiphone Sheraton II, a Fender Newport acoustic, a 67 Fender Mustang bass, a Line 6 POD, a Barcus Berry 60W amp, and a Peavy Bass amp. I would replace this guitar if it were stolen. The best feature about this guitar is it spectrum of tones you can dial up. The only thing I would add to this guitar is coil taps on both humbuckers for additional tone coloring.

my guitar is a late 99 strat,i know this because it has the new body routeing for the pickups like all new starts now.Its black with a tortise pickguard and it has the tremolo.It came with schaller locking buttons but i had to buy the locks for the starp.It also came equiped with seymor duncan humbuckers.I havent done any modifications except adding 2 more tremolo springs.the guitar is great but i want to change the pickgurad and the pickups.

the guitar can sound either like a start or a les paul because of the humbuckers,i dont like the way its set up because i dont think the single coil selection sounds good distorted,i am definatly chaning the pickups,its not noisy at all and the guitar has alot of sustain.

my start came set up perfectly,plays great,awesome action,i just want to get graphtec saddles and nut for ease of tuning and so i wont break strings as much

it will play anywhere and its very durable

i striped a strap button and guitar center fixed it on the spot,i have never dealt with fender so my rating is for g.c

good all in all,i just want a differnt sound,i love fender there the best,i will definatly change the pickups for sound,pickguard for show,and saddles/nut for playability

97 or 98 model, silver color (very close to the "Inca" silver on newer guitars, but a slightly different shade) with a cool mother of pearl pickguard. 2 duncan humbuckers with a 5 way switch that gets single coils at positions 2 and 4. Mine is a hardtail version (no trem, strings through body). Maple fingerboard.

This guitar is well suited for many different styles. I play hard rock, heavy metal, blues, and other styles and this guitar is very versitile. It really doesn't shine for really distorted heavy metal. A Jackson or Ibanez or some other full on metal guitar would be better if that's your main style. I'm able to get a surprisingly good SRV type single coil sound from this guitar with the coil splitter switch positions. I can get some really good 70 and 80's rock and early metal tones from it as well. Think ZZ Top, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, etc. I really love the single coil sound, and that's my main use for it. The clean sound is pretty good from this guitar as well, but I don't use it as much.

I bought this guitar used and the only adjustment I made was to lower the action a bit. No flaws that I can detect that weren't caused by the previous owner.

Fenders are very sturdy guitars in general, and this one is no exception. The finish is thick, but not "cheap guitar super thick" if you know what I mean. The previous owner had drilled a small hole into the body (!) so I can see exactly how thick the finish is. As tough as any guitar out there...

never dealt with Fender

I have been playing for 17 years, and I have an American tele, Gibson marauder (great guitar for the price!), and a Jackson PS-4. I have a mesa boogie .22 caliber and a line 6 spyder. If this guitar were lost/stolen/abducted by aliens I would absolutly buy another American Stratocaster, but not sure if it would be a big apple because: 1) They are pretty hard to find used. 2) they are way too expensive new (and they make "fat strats" now instead of big apples. 3) I think I would like a plain old normal strat just as well. I think the Gibson and Jackson I have get slightly better humbucking sounds than this guitar, I really use it for the single coil sound 80% of the time. Therefore I'm not sure a 3 single coil guitar wouldn't be slightly better. I really bought this one because it was a hard tail, and I think that's pretty cool. The only complaint I have about strats in general is the 2 tone knobs - what's up with that? But I guess a design that has lasted this long with only minor changes has something going for it..:-)

2000?
22 FRETS, SOLID PLANK-O-WOOD, DUAL HUMBUCKERS (SEYMOUR DUNCAN; PEARLY GATES PLUS AND '59 CUSTOM), ALDER BODY/MAPLE NECK/ROSEWOOD, CANDY APPLE RED, HARDTAIL. FOR THE GUY WHO EARLIER QUESTIONED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PEARLY GATES AND A PEARLY GATES PLUS IS THE PLUS HAS HIGHER OUTPUT TO MATCH THE NECK P/U.

PLAY BLUES/ROCK/SOUTHERN ROCK THRU A PEAVEY CLASSIC 30 WITH A CELESTION BLUE. IBANEZ TS-9 PEDAL. NO NOISE WHEN PICK-UP SWITCHING OR EVEN PLUGGING-IN TO AN AMP WITH VOLUME UP. ABSOLUTE RICH FULL SOUND, IN FACT A LOT OF BARK AND GROWL TO THE H/B'S. S/C'S ARE SWEET. ALL MY FRIENDS LOVE TO PLAY MY AXE.

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING WAS SET-UP PERFECT ON THIS AXE. BOUGHT IT FROM THE LOCAL MUSIC STORE AND THEIR SALESMEN/TECH.S/PLAYERS ARE WELL VERSED IN GUITAR SET-UP.

IT'S A GUITAR FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE (45 YRS). VERY DEPENDABLE, VERY GOOD HARDWARE. WHY WOULD I WANT TO USE ANYTHING ELSE?

NEVER USED THEM, HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO. EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SUPPORT FROM DEALER.

PLAYING 6 YRS. YES, I WOULD BUY IT AGAIN. IN FACT, I WOULD BUY IT AND IT ONLY. WELL, MAYBE IF IT CAME IN A SET NECK. LOVE THE FEEL/PLAYABILITY OF A STRAT AND THE HARDTAIL/HUMBUCKERS COMBO. HAVE TRIED OTHER GUITARS THAT FELT BETTER BUT WERE COST PROHIBITIVE. I WISH IT HAD CAME WITH THE RECTANGULAR CASE VERSUS THE FORM FITTED.

About a year ago i bought a 99 Big apple strat, being entranced by it's seeming incomparable versatility and tone. It's a very beautiful looking fender guitar, much more so that all of the standards. I bought it in black with the dark colorful pickguard and a maple neck. Since then have put a graph-tech nut and string saver saddles in there to take care of the tuning problem i had while using the tremolo. Basically, the tremolo was unusable without the guitar going out of tune! Anyhow, It's a very good looking guitar, and all the people who have come to see my band play can instantly recognize it. I would have to say that it is the best looking and sounding fender i have ever bought. Came with standard schallers and medium jumbo frets. Probably the best feature though, is the five way switching between the humbuckers.

I absolutely love the sound of the neck pickup run through my Fender Hot Rod Deville. It gives a very dark tone. Pretty good for jazz. I play a mix between jazz and satriani. Kind of a hard thing to imaging the two together, but that's what i play! The bridge pickup can kick out some pretty nasal distortion that is pretty rich in harmonics, and some of the in between spots are actually decent sounding single coils! Pretty good for tapping out of seymour duncan.
I would say that the guitar puts out a pretty smooth tone overall.

The guitar was set up like i expected any strat to be set up. The action was too low, the tremolo needed adjusting, the truss rod needed adjusting, but at least those people at fender did a good fret job for me! The worst thing about this guitar is the nut. It is a good nut normally, but the minute that you start to use the tremolo, the nut takes it right out of tune. After getting so aggravated at not being able to use the tremolo at all because of the severity of the problem, i put a graph tech trem nut in there and i haven't had any problems since.

Couldn't really see this guitar giving out on me, so i most of the time use it without a backup. Especially now that i have the string saver saddles on it. It's almost impossible to break a string with those things! If you leave the regular saddles on it, make sure to have a back up, or that floating bridge will take you right out of tune.

N/A

I've been playing for quite a while now and the combination i use now is doing me fine. I run the Big Apple through a Boss GT-3 and a Crybaby 535Q into my Hot Rod Deville, so i pretty much get a very versatile difference in tone out of all three. I can get close to imitation tone differences from satriani to vai to russell malone. I think the look of it leaves me quite satisfied and the feel of it makes me keep coming back. It is my number one axe right now, but i've already got my sights set on a Tom Anderson Hollow Drop Top Classic. If you ever have enough money to spend on a guitar in the 3,000 range, pass up PRS for a tom anderson, and you won't ever think twice about it, I PROMISE! Oh yeah, I think that i have possible found the best store to shop at. It's calles the music loft in Raleigh NC, and they have such an inventory that they take up to forty percent off list price! Check out the website ----------------- WWW.INDOORSTORM.COM

Just bought a new (1999?) 'Big Apple' American-made strat. Rosewood fretboard, light-green metallic finish, white 'pearloid' pickguard (which I can't wait to swap for a 'mint green' one.) The Duncan humbuckers, V/T/Tone, 5 position switch, etc. and other standard strat features you all know, but I picked this one 'cause it was the only 'hard-tail' strat they had in stock. I 'traded up' from a new American Std. strat I'd had for a few weeks, as I wanted something more versatile tonewise, and with more bottom-end. I love a strat's feel and playability, and it's great 'form follows function' design. One slightly negative aside: Anybody know what the deal is with the bridge pickup not being wide enough to match the string spacing? Seems a bit half-assed to me.

My playing goes from Jazz/funk to hip-hop, blues and just fooling around. Tone and feel (in my dreams) I go from Wes to Jimi. I have to say that this guitar out-does my experience as a musical pro. I'm playing it into my own designs of tube amps, both high-gain and clean, which use both EL-84's and 6L6's, with original Jensen and EV speakers. This guitar sounds great, and I'm puzzled by the couple of reviews here that shitcan it's tone. Are those guys just hard to get along with or what? I do agree about the bridge humbucker though. Alone, it sounds unappealing and flat, not like I'd want to use it much. (Has anyone tried any replacement pickups yet?)

Action was set up well. Pickups adjusted on the low side, but that's OK as I have an industrial-strength fingerstyle. (Let's see...bookmatching? -hmm.. just fine I guess -you mean the paint, right?)
Well, for the price, and considering we're talking about a mass produced instrument, the finish is admirable. The pickups look a bit rough, and as I hinted earlier, the bridge p/u should be 1/8" or so wider. And the 'pearloid' pickguard looks like a relic from Liberace's shithouse. Otherwise, everything is great.

This guitar is built like a brick shithouse.
(If you're wondering, I mean: solid.)
I love the hard tail, and highly recommend it if tone is your top priority. (And non string-breaking, And staying in tune.)

N/A

Warranty? Forget it -I like ripping things apart and fooling with them too much to worry about that.

Been playing guitar 27 years, but not all as a professional. Also own a '59 Guild T-100 thinline hollow-body. I wish there'd been more (hard-tail) strats in the store to choose from, as regards things like neck grain, color, finish, general alignment and setup. If it got lost or stolen, I might think about killing someone, or committing suicide. But, then again, I might just buy another Big Apple strat.
This is an excellent guitar, without the self-concious stylishness of a PRS or snob-appeal of a vintage LP. I love this strat's simple design and tonal potential, Even if you have to experiment with different pickups (as I have done with single coils on other strats) you will most likely end up with a real keeper.

Made in 1999-USA.22 frets,5 way selector switch(for single coil or humbucker sounds),dual humbuckers duncan 59 in the neck and pearly gates plus in the neck. Alder bodyStandard strat fit and finish,non locking tuners, 9.5 radius,medium/jumbo frets and comes with case but try not to get the case with the guitar,try and find a nice used caseor a better deal somewhere else.

I play alot of different styles, country ,blues ,rockabilly ,alternative, etc.This guitar is TOTALLY VERSATILE!
From Chuck Berry to Nirvana! I play through a Fender hot rod deluxe and use only a danelectro delay pedal(really cool for rockabilly).
The humbuckers are great for the lead channels and the 2 and 4(coil taps) positions are great on clean. I do not care for the 1 and 5 positions on clean- but they are great sounding on gain!

Guitar was set-up perfect from the factory, The action is great this guitar is easy to play - very comfortable and fits like a glove.
I bennd the strings quite a bit and it will never go out of tune,
unlike my old epiphone. I have the 3 color sunburst with tortise pickguard and maple neck and this is one fine lookin' guitar!

I've only had it for 10 months but I think it is a pretty solid guitar that would stand up to anything short of Pete Townsend getting a hold of it!This is now my main gigging guitar but I am about to buy a 52 tele RI so I will be using both of them. You need a back-up in case you bresk your strings ,especially those fender bullets!!!

Never dealt with Fender and I hope I don't have to because they seem to get alot of poor reviews.

I have been playing for 12 years, I learned on a Hohner(srat copy)
and than moved to an epiphone semi hollow body, I loved the way the epiphone looked but it does not hold a candle to this Bad Boy.
If it were lost or destroyed by my 2 year old son, I would probably by another one just like it or maybe spend ALOT more and go with a custom strat.I love the look ,the feel, the sound and the versitlityof this guitar. I love Fenders period. Buddy holly, jimi Hendrix , Eric Clapton,Buddy Guy,Jeff Beck,Eric Johnson,Stevie Ray and Jimmy vaughn among thousands of others would agree with me, how can you go
wrong? For under 800 bucks you will be hard pressed to find a guitar that can do what this one does and it's beautiful.Some may argue that srats should have 3 single coil pick-ups and I respect that but you go play one and than play an american standard and you see which one you like better.

This guitar is truly a beast. I got it, admittedly because the specialised custom model i wanted was too expensive, but hey-it's f**king great. it's weird because i usually hate strats but when they come with no trem(whoopee!)and are loaded with two Seymour Duncan custom custom 57's you can't really complain.there's two tone and a vol control as well as the five way blade. it's a little heavier than other strats that i've tried. it's got 22 frets but i only use about 18 so that's grand. the finish i got was a BEAUtiful sparkly silver with crushed white shell.it had a standard hard tail for a strat and was basically a trem block with no arm hole.tuners were f**king ace-the Fender ones that i have on my ever reliable mex tele(NEVER goes out of tune), and the neck felt really good. the frets were medium jumbos and were pretty comfy once i changed the action a little. case was orange. orange FELT.(on the inside)

This is such a versatile bitch.I play funk rock mostly like RATM and stuff but also light jazz and metal and it did everything.all my chums who tried it say it was brill, except from one c*nt who had a PRS.(dick)i put it through my VS230C and it did the marshall gain channel some serious justice.However the chorus turned it into something from another world and seemed to boost the signal too much, which was a pain.it has a monster bottom end with both pickups on and there was plenty of sustain with the bridge pickup. the five way blade meant pickup splitting into single coils was really easy and so on position two(away from the bridge)it sounded like an acoustic.takes a hell of a pounding as well.

action was like phone cable across a road.even though it came with 9's it was still almost impossible to play.with the neck adjusted slightly and tens on, the guitar changed from a chords only pain in the ass to an 80's shredding machine. which was good. the actual build was up to Fender's usually high standards and the only gripe that i've got is that a blind man cut the nut and must have meant it for twine instead of strings.as soon as it went from plastic to graphite the thing never went out. so the factory settings were bascially shit.

it's a beaut. not as invicible as an old tele or an SG-X but pretty solid once you get used to it's slightly lighter weight.i never gig with any more than one guitar so it's proved itself there. i put straplox on but the buttons are pretty big anyway so it won't come off.if the finish comes off, fine, but i don't think it will.

i only had one change, which was the nut, but i dealt with my dealer and not Fender so there you are.

If i had this stolen, it wouldn't be that bad because it wasn't massively expensive but i would grieve it's loss like a brother. when i've got it on it's like an extra arm and it pretty much renders my other guitars obsolete with it's versatility.

in the event, i'll probably only buy one more guitar in my life after this, it's ace.

1998 Fender USA Big Apple Stratocaster. 22 frets, 5 way selector switch, 2 seymour duncan humbucking pickups and tremelo. beautiful Sunburst finish. maple body with rosewood neck. came with case, fender strap and strap locks.

I play this through a zoom 505, jim dunlop wah and a peavey express 112. It suits my playing well, smashing pumpkins sounds good with the humbuckers. A very full sound, plenty of sustain and the sound can be altered easily whether you want a clean bright sound or heavy humbucking sound... the big apple can do it all!

Action was perfect for my playing, don`t forget it can be adjusted easily. It does go out of tune slightly when the tremolo is used, (especially when doing a dive bomb!) whether this because the strings have only just been put on or not i`m not sure.

This guitar is very dependable and i think i could get away without a back up when i play a gig and will be an excellent guitar for live playing the finish lasts but i suppose that depends on how much you use it and how hard you play (i have a lot of scratching above the scratchplate because i have the tendency to thrash at the strings a bit).

never had to deal with them

I have been playing for over a year and a half now, i own a squier strat and have played a standard strat and a les Paul but Big Apple is the one i feel most comfortable with. If Stolen i would hunt after the bastard with an air rifle and shoot the bugger. My favourite feature for this guitar is the overall finish, a sunburst finish and a black scratchplate with splashes of red beautifully blended in.

Shoreline gold Big Apple Strat with a rosewood fretboard, Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker in the bridge and a Duncan '59 in the neck position, alder body, pearl white pickguard and backplate, etc.

This guitar is simply fantastic. The pickup configuration is very versatile, but obviously is slanted more towards humbucking sounds than single coil. You can go from a close-to-traditional Strat sound in positions 2 and 4, to a Super Strat/almost Les Paul tone in positions 1, 3 and 5. While the Big Apple has sort of a Gibson-type vibe due to the dual humbuckers, it retains an overall Strat character due to the scale length, body wood, bolt on neck and bridge. The pickup positions are nicely balanced so that if you go from a coil tap to a straight humbucker sound, there is no appreciable change in output. This pickup balance is much better than on the Lone Star Strat, which I also have. While the Big Apple is certainly capable for nice clean tones, the guitar clearly was designed to be used with overdrive/distortion. The Big Apple is ideal for Texas blues, rock and total shred styles of guitar. I purchased the Big Apple because I wanted a two-humbucker, Strat-style guitar, but without any middle pickup. Also, the Big Apple seems designed as a LEAD guitar player's guitar. The Big Apple I bought has an incredibly fast neck and really sings when using overdrive/distortion.

For a used guitar, my Big Apple is in good shape, except for a small ding on the back and the Seymour Duncan name is partially worn off on the neck humbucker. I think that it is very attractive looking guitar. The neck is in great condition and just needed a slight truss rod adjustment, which was done free of charge (including new strings) by the guy I dealt with at Atomic Music. The fact that the same guitar costs close to $900 new at Guitar Center was an obvious incentive to purchase it used.

Fender Strats take a licking and keep on ticking!

I have been playing guitar both pro and just around the house for over 25 years and can honestly state that the Big Apple is a great guitar and a welcome addition to the Strat family. I would definitely buy one again, and in fact am contemplating buying a second Big Apple and selling my Ibanze S series guitar. (Are five Strats too many? -- not in my opinion.) The funny thing is that I readly did not care for the look of the Big Apple when it debuted in 1997. However, the Big Apple Strats with the white shell pickguards look nice with the white humbuckers. In addition, the sound and playability sold me on this guitar big time. I have been looking for a two humbucker guitar for awhile, but cannot get used to Les Pauls, Hamers or PRSs due to the scale length. The Big Apple may not be everyone's cup of tea, and conservative Fender Strat lovers may argue that its not a real Strat, but I think it provides much needed variety in the Strat word. I have two single coil equipped Fender Strats and a Lone Star, so I think I am qualified to render an opinion as to whether the Big Apple is a true Strat -- IT IS! Thank God Strats come in more than one flaver!

Covered well enough in the previous entries. Suffice it to say it's basically an American Standard Strat with dual humbuckers and special switching. The neck humbucker is a Seymour Duncan '59 and the bridge humbucker is a SD Pearly Gates Plus. What the difference is between a Pearly Gates and a Pearly Gates plus is, I have no idea.

Fender marketed this guitar as a humbucker version of a strat with some Texas sizzle to the tone. Personally, I was looking for an Ernie Ball/Music Man Steve Morse model, but they're impossible to find and a tad pricey, also, I was attracted to the special switching system the BA strat has and I've always been a strat man all my life, so this seemed like the logical alternative.I play this strat through a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL50 with a Dan Electro Danecho delay pedal and (for now) the reverb that comes stock on the Marshall.I use this guitar for distorted tones exclusively since the clean tones on this guitar aren't very good. As far as distorted tones, you can get some pretty decent sounds. To me, the bridge pickup sounds very "Satriani-esque".The neck humbucker has alot of beef to it. The neck humbucker can also be coil-tapped, but the tone there doesn't quite deliver like a true single-coil, too much mid-range frequencies. You can also play both humbuckers full-on, but there's very little tonal variation between both humbuckers being played and playing just the bridge humbucker. This is due to the way the pickups were wired at the factory (I don't know if they're wired in series or in parallel). The Seymour Duncan pickups that come stock on this guitar are a bit buzzy-sounding for my tastes.I prefer a smoother sounding distortion that you can find in DiMarzios.I'm thinking about trying a DiMarzio PAF in the neck and a DiMarzio PAF Pro in the bridge, while maintaining the switching system and see how that works.

Very playable guitar, as all strats are. Well constructed. For those thinking about buying a new model Fender Strat, pay particular attention to the neck heel joint (where the neck is bolted on to the body). Make sure that puppy fits solidly.

Built to last.

N/A

Well made guitar, in keeping with Fender's reputation, but I'm kinda put off that this guitar doesn't quite fulfill the tremendous potential that it has. If it were stolen, I'd probably try a Gibson Les Paul or ES-335, or a Paul Reed Smith.

I have a '97 Big Apple strat. Shoreline gold (more like silver) finish,1 piece satin finish maple neck (thin and fast), alder body, 22 medium jumbo frets and 2 humbuckers (duncan '59 neck and duncan pearly gates plus bridge). It has an american standard bridge, saddles, tuners, and strap buttons. Special 5-way switching (for the 'buckers), white pearloid pickguard, 9.5 inch neck radius, fender/schaller american standard tuners, and came w/ a black tolex case.

The sounds that come from this strat are good for many folks, but bad for my taste. I consider my playing to be on the experimental/ instrumental side. (think eric johnson, satriani, vai, and SRV in one. weird huh). My main amp is a fender twin, the newer, 3 channel, non vibrato one (versitile and simply awesome). I use no external effects, player, guitar, and amp only. This guitar from the factory just isn't a good idea. I mean humbuckers in a strat,come on. Then why did I buy it? 2 words, compulsive and compulsive. This is a quiet guitar for the most part,it can get a halfway decent dark jazz tone out of it, but other than that,only shrilly, hi-fi,unnatural sounds exist. The bridge pickup is quite bad clean,again unnatural. The only plus is the sustain w/ distortion. The neck pickup is good for some jazz but overall just too muddy.

The action was great, super low and no buzzing. Though very trivial, pickups were set quite low and one of the tone knobs was quite loose. Both easy fixes.Also, the dot inlays had too much epoxy in them, resulting in brown rings around most of the inlays. My biggest gripe would be the frets. Extremely flat and the ends were not filed properly, playing it was a bit of a chore.The neck joint was super tight.

I must give this guitar credit, it is built like a tank, as most strats are. The tuners aren't the best, the finish is very good and durable. I would, and do, depend on this guitar 110% now (i have made some mods that i will mention later).

I now love this guitar w/ its mods, a local luthier refretted it w/ jumbo frets,installed locking tuners, repaired the inlays, gave it a neck shave(now only tung oil on bare maple), put in 3 lindy fralen single coil pickups (highly recommended if you can find them and want to shell out about $250 for the set), new mint pickguard,graph tech saddles, and new pots and 5-way switch. This was a $650 job but well worth it. Before this the guitar was just not a players' strat, kind of just a novelty item that fender came up w/ and which I bought. Had I not made these mods this axe would have been collecting dust or have been sold. Initially a 5, the best things being aesthetics, durability, and the decent jazz tones available. Worst things being the overall tones and the fretwork. It is now a 10+ and basically the only guitar I play.

Mine is a 1998 model from Fender's "Hot Rodded American" series of Strats. 22 frets, small headstock with retro spaghetti logo, rosewood fingerboard, two Duncan humbuckers ('59 in the neck position, Pearly Gates Plus in the bridge), global volume, and tone controls for each pickup. Came with Schaller hardware (although I immediately replaced the strap buttons with Dunlops) and an American Standard tremolo bridge. This guitar is particularly striking because of its orange finish. I've not seen another like it, and according to Fender's website, it's not a stock color for this model (I'm not even sure it's a stock color period). It's pretty close to the middle color in Fender's three-color sunburst, and it looks great with the brown-shell pickguard and white pickups and knobs. The finish is also transparent, revealing some cool wood-grain patterns. It's not easy to find a unique-looking Strat, but this one definitely fits the bill. I give it a 10 for its looks and the fact that it's got 'buckers instead of single coils (a la the Strats used by Glenn Tipton and Dave Murray, the latter having once been owned by Paul Kossoff).

My style is primarily from the Brian Robertson/Gary Moore school of high gain tones and melodic leads. I've found typical Strats to be unusable for this approach, but because this one's got humbuckers it's got more than enough balls to drive my Soldano and Marshall heads. It cleans up quite nicely when you back off the volume, and the 2 and 4 positions on the pickup selector provide some usable single-coil tones by tapping the humbuckers. Switching from one of the in-between settings to a full-on humbucker gives a significant volume boost that comes in handy in certain situations. It's also nice to have a tone control for the bridge pickup, something you won't find in most other Strats. The overall sound is exactly how I like it--full, powerful and especially rich when I add a hint of chorus from my Danelectro Cool Cat.

I actually grabbed this guitar to demo a Mashall head, and it was so perfect that I ended up buying both (and got an amazing deal by doing so--thanks, Sean!). Everything about this axe was (and so far still is) pristine. This combined with the unique finish has me convinced that Fender (and probably Gibson, too) ships their schwag instruments to the Guitar Centers of the world and saves their best stuff for the smaller, higher-end shops like the one that sold me this beauty. And believe me, having worked at GC (show me a guitar player in Chicago who hasn't worked there at some point), Fender is certainly capable of churning out canoe paddles. This one, thankfully, isn't one of those. Definitely one of the best Fenders I've seen.

Although this guitar demands to be treated with care because it's so beautiful, it is a Fender, which means it can no doubt withstand most degrees of physical punishment. Since I don't break a lot of strings, I would definitely consider this to be the desert-island guitar in my arsenal. If I absolutely, positively could only bring one instrument to a gig, this would be it. Haven't recorded with it yet, but I'd be surprised if it could outdo my Hamer Studio Archtop in that regard, just because the Hamer's on par with a PRS in terms of quality and sound. The Fender, however, is the only guitar I own that's capable of single-coil tones, making it the most versatile, so it's certainly conceivable that I might track with it in the future.

The level of customer support is probably nil from a huge conglomerate like Fender, but it's not really a concern of mine anyway. In fact, it's not even something I consider when buying a guitar. Having worked at Guitar Center and seeing what happens to instruments that are shipped out for warranty work and how long it can take for the work to get done, there's no way in hell i'd go that route if I had a problem. Forking out a few bucks to a reliable local repair guy is a much safer and more practical way to go.

My first real electric was a '70s Strat, red with a black pickguard. I ended up trading it for a Kramer Focus; a dumb decision in retrospect but driven by the fact that even then I had an affinity for humbucking pickups. Before I bought this axe I considered refurbishing my Kramer ZX30H (a cheapo for sure, but actually pretty good-sounding once I added Duncan pickups) with a refinish and a shell pickguard. This Strat came straight from the factory almost exactly how I wanted the Kramer to end up (actually better, because the Fender isn't made of plywood and lacks a hockey-stick headstock--and it came with Duncans, which I have in all my guitars). Buying it was a no-brainer, especially considering the price I got and the fact that it's not a cookie-cutter Strat. This guitar is definitely my new workhorse; I absolutely love it. My faith in Fender that was stolen from me during my stint at Guitar Center has been restored. Praise Jesus!

1992 or so, variation on big apple strat, had unique set -up blue and gold lace sensor in neck position, gold and red lace sensprs in bridge position. Included three way standard swith but each lace sensor, humbucker had its own mini swith, so thios instrument had about as many combinations of lace sensors as you could ever imagine. Unfoirtunately most of them were mediocre. Instrumet came with rosewood neck, I changed it to maple neck. Sunburst finish, I also swapped over the floyd rose bridge from my strat plus deluxe, to make a truly unique instrument.

As noted, except for a fee setting, e.g. neck god with bridge gold or with bridge gold and red, the sound was not relly great, to muddied up and no real strat i nthere anywhere.

excellent, great feel, playability and look. came with pickup covers and knobs black. I changed knobs to white to blen d with white perloid pickguard. Best look would also include white pickup covers..

Seemed fine.

N/A since I tore this one apart and put it back together on my own.

playing for 30 years.would not recommend this instrument as strat but it was fun - an experiment.

My Big Apple strat is (I believe) a '98 model, possibly '97. I don't think Fender has been making them for more than a few years. It is USA made, 22 frets, rosewood fingerboard, black body. It has the Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates" in the bridge and SD "59" in the neck position. Both pickups are passive. It has all standard tuners and a standard Fender tremolo (not a Floyd).

This guitar is excellent for any style of music. Personally I play music that requires A LOT of power and thickness. Stuff along the lines of Filter and Tool. I am playing my Big Apple with all the parts it came with and it sounds great! The only thing I did was have it professionally setup and I had the bridge "butted" so that the tremolo can't move (I don't use tremolo anyway). Butting the bridge makes it stay in tune much better and it's much easier for me to play. The sound of the pickups is really nice and full. The only thing I wish is that the Pearly Gates (Bridge) had a little more bite to it. It's nice and fat, it just needs a little more crunch. What I do really like is that the sound stays consistent at different levels of volume. I play typically at really high volume (100+ dB) and the guitar doesn't get all noisy and/or trebbly. A lot of that has to do with my rig (Mesa Simul 395 Power amp with a Marshall JMP-1 preamp). The JMP-1 by the way, is in my opinion the best preamp available. I have no dislikes for this guitar, it's been great.

I had the guitar setup after buying it, but that was my own choice, not a necessity. I just like for the intonation to be set right and I had to have the bridge butted. None of that was manditory before being able to play it though. My guitar is finished in gloss black and it looks great. It's really smooth and glossy. I can't see any flaws in it at all. The neck is smooth. It's all good to me.

I have had no problems with this guitar at all. I've been jamming with it and I've never even broken a string (and I play DAMN HARD). I'm sure if you threw it off a building you would have problems, but under normal circumstances I don't see having any problems with it at all. I almost always play without backup and I never even worry about it.

I've been playing for 10 years. I own 2 Big Apple Strats and a few Les Paul Customs. I would definately buy this guitar again if it were stolen, lost, broken, whatever... What I really like about it is that I can get a big full Les Paul type sound without having to strap on a 200lb. guitar :) The only thing I wish it had was a little higher output pickup in the bridge. Other than that I love it.