Fender Lone Star Strat

1997 American made Strat. Pretty much an American Standard with Texas specails and Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates double coil in the bridge position. Not sure if it's Alder or Ash, I've read both. This one caught my eye because it was Candy Apple Red with maple neck. I like the pearloid inlay dots. A classy touch. As far as the tuners and other hardwear, no complaints.

Sound....full of potential. I didn't like the way the volume dropped when you went from position 1 (both coils of the Pearly Gates Hkg) to postion 2, in cunjunction with the middle Texas Special. I also didn't like the constant low grade hum (passive electrical noise) of the Texas specials. Not a problem with music happening, but just standing there with it, it bugged me. I guess I'm just spoiled rotten with the deathly quiet 490's in my Les Paul Custom and my Classic 57's in my '72 ES-340.
So, I decided to do a little modifying. I had a Seymour Duncan JB Jr mini dual coil Humbucking put in the middle and a SD Classic '59 put in the neck. Then I had the Pearly Gates wired together so I didn't have that volume drop. Then...I had the first tone knob replaced with a push-push switch-knob that, when in switch position 3 (all pickups) would give me the ability to cut out the JB Jr and go strictly neck and bridge. Now I have a 'Do-Almost-Everything' guitar. Clean...quiet....healthy....nasty..it can do it all.

For some reason, you seem to have to play a lot of Strats and Teles before you pick one up that plays like butter. This wasn't one of them. My Strat Dlx Plus is, right out of the box. So...a quick trip to my luthier...and now, my Lone Star plays like butter, melted butter.

What's to go wrong? Good quality guitar. Good company. I'm proud to pull this one out of the case.

Prior to buying this Lone Star, my first Fender, I heard horror stories about how Fender, like many big companies got too big for their pants and forgot the common man. I'm here to tell you....they were just that: stories. I've had occasion to call Fender on many occasions for both my Strats, and amps I've bought used. These people treat me like a king. Courtiously, friendly, respectully, and I've felt like a reviered customer. Even guiding me to a Fender Warrenty shop that would help me...as it was, it turned out to be my long luthier from many years ago. Thank you Fender. I'm in your debt.

I've been playing guitar, or should I say 'With Guitars' since 1966. I never owned or spent much time with a Strat. I love my accoustics and my Gibson ES. But I always figured if you're going to play, you should have a Strat. It's the law. So, I waited till the time was right and I found one that would do more then one thing. Although there's not much left of the origional Lone Star configuration, Fender provided the basis of what I wanted from a stratocaster. I love my Lone Star. It's me...and plays like a Son of A....you know.

I bought my Lonestar Strat in early '99 and I must say that I'm thoroughly pleased with it. Mines a cream finish with a tortoiseshell pickguard and rosewood fingerboard. I bought mine straight off the rack. It came with a black Fender hardcase with the usually extras. The guitar has 2 Fender Texas Specials single coil pickups in the neck and middle positions and a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker in the bridge. Other than that, the Lonestar's feel isn't a million miles away from any USA Standard Strat.

FANTASTIC TONE! The Lonestar is basically a hot-rodded American Standard with the extras that I mentioned above. It's well worth paying extra for this baby ahead of the USA Standard Strat and even the Roadhouse Strat (3 Texas Specials). The tone is fantastically versatile on the guitar. I play all my guitars through a Fender Twin Reverb '65 reissue. For clean tones the Texas Special pickups are obviously very bluesy and very SRV sounding which ain't no bad thing! When I add a distortion pedal to my setup with my lonestar and Fender Twin and switch to the Pearly Gates humbucker....IT'S JUST A HOT TONE! Les Paul-style tones come out of this brilliant humbucker and it's great for Bluesbreaker-era EC tone - Very hot and smooth but with that excellent bite! This is surprisingly one hell of a versatile guitar and it fits my blues/rock guitar style perfectly.
FANTASTIC!

I bought this Lonestar Strat straight off the rack and I've had no problems with it. It stays in tune very well, the finish is wearing well and the neck is as straight as a di!

This guitar has been very reliable to me and I love it very much. As I mentioned above it stays in tune very well and it holds it's own when played with my reissue '57 Strat and '52 Telecaster.

Not dealt with company. Had no problems with it.

My other guitars are a '52 reissue Telecaster, '57 reissue Stratocaster, and a Clapton Strat and this guitar feels as comfortable as any of them and sounds as well as them too! It's a great guitar and very vesatile and good value for money definately. Whatcha waiting for then?!

Made in 1997 in Corona, California. Part of Fender's hot-rodded series of American Standard Strats. I fell in love with it the moment I held it. The pick-up configuration is H/S/S which consists of a Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates Plus" in the bridge position and two "Texas Specials" in the middle and neck positions. The model that I own is the Lone Star Strat Special, which has a one piece Ash Body, and Maple Neck. It comes in a beautiful Sienna Sunburst Finish with a pearloid pickguard. I feel that this is one of Fender's most versitile guitars.

A great lead guitar with a SRV sound to it. I am into playing classic rock and top 40 tunes. I however, am mostly a rythem guitar player in my band so I do find the Seymour Duncan to be a little bit "hot". However for some one who is into lots of leads, this is definately a contender. I am running it out of a early 90's Marshall Valvestate. In my opinion, there is nothing better than making music with Fender Strats and Marshall Stacks.

Fender has outdone themselves on the factory settings. I haven't adjusted hardly a thing since I purchased it. The tuning pegs are snug and tight. It never goes out of tune. And the finish is excellent. (It's Sienna Sunburst, what can I say?)

I have been playing this guitar live for a year with no back-up guitar and there is absolutly no sign of any wear or tear. The strap pegs are solid and have yet to be tightened or adjusted. The hardware seems to be holding up just fine, although it is not all that old of a guitar. I am pretty optimistic about this guitars duarbility.

I have been dealing with the store where it was purchased for about 3 years now and am completely satisfied. I had a Takamine which I bought there. 11 months later, the finish cracked. Takamine refused to warranty it even though it was still under warranty and "Sight & Sound" gave me the full purchase price of the guitar towards a new on of my choice. My choice was the "Lonestar".

I have been playing guitar for approx 13 years, and for a year in a band. I would definately look to purchasing another if it were stolen or lost. I would also consider my other dream guitar, a P.R.S. Macarty. Ultimately, I am satisfied with this Strat mostly because of its versitility and sound. I encourage other's to give it a try, you may get hooked.

This is pretty much an American Standard Strat with a few upgraded features like 2 texas special single coils at the neck and middle position, and a nice smooth custom made Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker at the bridge. The one I bought is 3-tone sunburst with an alder body.

I play mostly blues and blues-based rock, and this guitar is great for that style. The 2 texas specials sound great for blues lead work, very SRV. The Humbucker sings. it's not hot enough for metal or anything like that, but for rock or blues...WOW! I don't like having a tremolo so I wish they had made one with a hard-tail bridge. I had the tremolo blocked off. I also would have liked to have a push-pull split switch for the humbucker so I could get some nice bridge single-coil sounds, but other than that it's the most versatile guitar in fenders arsenal.

nice durable finish. action needed some adjustment, but that was an issue of personal taste. nice smooth fast neck.

I've had this guitar for a couple of years now. and it's held up great. I never gig without a backup, but that's just cause you never know. I've never needed the backup with this guitar

never had to deal with fender

I've been playing for 10 years and giging for about 8. I play it through a Mesa Boogie Mark III and a vintage Marshall 4x12. I also use a Mesa Boogie Maverick. This guitar is the most versitile guitar that fender produces. It's great for blues, rock, country, and most any other music you want it to do. I don't think it would be a great guitar for metal, but why would you buy a fender for that? If this guitar were stolen I would absolutely get another just like it.

1998 USA Lone Star with the standard setup. Maple finger board.

Extremely versatile. I play everything from blues to rock, country and some jazz played though a Marshall JCP 2000. Typical single-coil noise and, surprisingly, some hum from the humbucker. To me, the Specials don't give the real classic Strat sound. They're hotter but are missing that twang. The humbucker is a total waste; you lose the single coil characteristics and don't gain the Gibson tone 'cause the wood ain't right.

This was the reason I got this instrument. Stunning burgandy to clear 'burst that looked like real wood and truly the most amazing neck I've ever played. Fretwork on par with my vintage Martin, smooth, fast finish, perfect grip. A joy to play. Electronics and hardware excellent, heavy duty. Never expect a guitar to be set up perfect at the factory so that doesn't count.

Seemed like no one could ever break the thing...but I did. Stepped on it and broke and split the neck off at the bolt and broke the body into 3 pieces! I checked with Fender and they said that if I had weighed 165 pounds instead of 190 it would have been covered under the warranty. Oh well...

I've been playing poorly for 30 years and this was the first my first electric guitar. I own a Martin 000-28ec, Yamaha acoustic 12 string and now a Standard Strat. I have ordered a Heritage H555 so I won't be replacing the Lone Star. I love the classic Stat sound but I found it in the cheaper Standard (but ohhh do I miss that neck!). The quality of the US Strats is noticeably better that the Mexican Strats so it is worth the price differential to get the real thing. It is not, however, worth the extra money for the humbucker option.

one humbucker, two good single coils. shit tremolo, good neck. sick ass perloid pick guard. basic strat features.

I play from grundge to metal, and this is my main stage guitar. it is probably the most versatile guitar ever made. i love it so much. i have many other guitars (mainly fender or gibson) and others may be better in certain categories, this is the best all around. I play it through a marshall tsl 100 and a fender hot rod deluxe. it ripps thru both of them.

perfect. after all, it is the american standard.

This guitar could survive a tornado. Ive had mine for two years, with not one scratch. I would use it without a backup, but i always have an sg for certain songs.

Never dealt with them

ive been playing for nine years, and i own 11 guitars. this isnt my favorite, but its very good. it is the most versatile guitar ever made. if it were stolen, id get another one.

See others before...

I got an old echolette and an hh cs100 te combinations kick ass
it fits better with the hh.
the echolette is more for my mexico tele

I think for stuff like the clash i still prefer my good old tele, but
for the rest i use my lonestar

* 2000 model, made in USA
* Ash body in sienna sunburst finish
* Solid maple neck, 25.5" scale length
* 22 medium jumbo frets
* "Micro-tilt" neck, Bi-Flex truss rod
* Schaller tuners and straplocks
* 2 "Texas Special" single coils
* 1 Seymore Duncan "Pearly Gates" humbucker (bridge)
* 1 vol, 2 tone knobs
* 5 position pickup selector
* Hardshell case

I like to play mostly Blues/Rock and this guitar sure fits the bill. The heavy ash body gives a very strong and bright sound, and awesome tone (after upping the gauge from those wimpy factory 9-42 strings). Sounds great even unplugged! The "Texas Special" single coils are hot, yet deliver superb clean sounds along with that classic fender "quack". The "Pearly Gates" humbucker is downright NASTY! (think Billy Gibbons), and although it has great sustain, the artificial pick harmonics aren't quite as dynamic as I'd hoped they would be. Nevertheless, this Strat is very versatile and can serve well for a wide range of musical tastes. With drop D tuning you can even get a fairly decent metal sound.

The finish was nearly flawless and the Sienna Sunburst (it looks more like Gibson's cherry burst to me) is one of the best I've ever seen on a Strat. The workmanship is excellent, and is a great improvement over what I've seen from Fender in the past. The action was quite adequate from the factory (mine was NIB - never played), but I knew right away those factory 9-42s had to go. I upped the guage to 10-46 for now, added two trem springs and set it flat to the body, and adjusted the relief, action, harmonics, ect. All I could say then was "IT'S ALIVE!!! The solid maple neck is satiny smooth and VERY fast, and the fretwork is well finished and very consistent all along the fretboard. The Schaller tuners are OK, but I'll eventually install some Sperzel locking machines later on. Overall, this is one of the finest looking Strats I've ever laid eyes on.

Like all strats, it's built like a tank. The ash body makes it noticably heavier than you might be used to. Durability has never been one of Fender's weak points.

Never had to deal with Fender, but with a lifetime warrany I'm not relly concerned. The folks at Mars Musician's Plantet where I bought it are fabulous!

I've been playing for over 30 years and would buy this guitar again in a heartbeat. No regrets whatsoever. I won't try to impress you with all the gear I've ever owned or spew out clever phrases, but I can tell you this: through a quality all-tube amp the Lonestar Strat delivers, and does it extremely well!

Made in USA '97, I don't have to go into details, only that this one has the rosewood fretboard w. 22 frets. Solid finish, Teal green metallic. Two Texas special singlecoils in neck and middle, and one Seymor Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker in bridge position.
It seems the body's made of one piece. One volume and two tone controls helps balancing the sound very good between single-coil and humbucker settings.

Unplugged, this guitar really vibrates against your body. That's what I'm looking for in any guitar, if it's "alive" or not. Believe me, this baby really is alive. When plugged in, it is very versatile. Any Strat is versatile, I know, but the Pearly Gates humbucker makes it even more so. I mainly play blues and rock and it suits my style fine. I find myself using the neck position's Texas special most of the time when playing blues, the 'bucker is mainly used when playing rock, tone on 6-7. Heavier strings give a better sound in my opinion.
I've played it through Marshall, Peavey Classic and Line 6 amps, and it has always performed well.

The setup was OK from the store, but since I changed to heavier string gauges almost immedieatly, the setup had to be adjusted. No big deal, fixed in half an hour. I had to lower the humbucker somewhat to get a better balance compared to the single-coils. Nice finish, no flaws anywhere. The neck-pocket could have fit the neck just a little better, but not much. Therefore, no 10.

Well, this guitar is very well built, and it will propably withstand any kind of abuse I'll give it. I've owned it for 2 years now, and there is not a mark on it yet. Very durable piece of wood, this.
I think it will last for a long, long time.
I never play without a backup guitar. I could depend on this guitar alone, if I really had to, but you NEVER know when a string will break.

Never had to deal with'em.

Beside the Lone Star, I have a MIJ 50's Telecaster, an Epi Viola bass, and a Levin nylon-stringed guitar. I've been playing since 1975, buying and selling guitars often, but I found that Fender's guitars stay with me for a longer time than other guitars do. I played a Fender Lead I ( a tank ) for about 9 years before trading it in for the Lonestar. If it was lost, I would replace it A.S.A.P. Perhaps, just perhaps, I would concider a strat with three Texas specials. Then again, the Lone Star is so incredibly all-round.

This guitar is my baby!!!Hum/single/single config.,Seymour Duncan Pearly gates plus in the bridge,two texas specials in the middle and neck.It has a mother of pearl pickguard and a CANDY APPLE RED finsh!!!!decent tuners and bridge.Alder body,maple neck and fretboard.Good neck joint,better than any copy out there,Nice low action with no buzz!An all around good guitar!

This is a great blues guitar even though I don't play blues that much.I'm in a death metal band and I tune to A so it has an allright sound for that if you like a little more mid range for that style.I love the awesome single coil tones you can get from it because you can really tell the difference over the copys!the only thing I've thought about doing is putting in a more metal p/u in the bridge but I might just save that for my other guitar.

Every thing was perfect.the only thing I did was adjust the truss rod for the low tuning and tightened the trem springs because I dont use the trem anyways.I LOVE the CANDY APPLE RED finish with the maple fret board and mother of pearl pickguard.

I've had this guitar for 1 1/2 years and it hasn't let me down yet.It's the guitar I use to record with but I'm probably not going to play it live because I'm afraid what might happen to it.I talked to a guy from a popular death metal band and a good chunk was taken out of his pre-nineteen ninty-five PRS so I dont think I'll take that chance!!

Ive been playing for nine years and its the best guitar I've played yet!I have played your PRS's and Gibson's and have owned an Ibanez Joe Sach.,but I feel that its the one that will be passed on generation after generation.