Fender Standard Stratocaster

Standard Strat - 3 Single Coil Pickups, rosewood fretboard, standard bridge, standard everything, made in mexico, Midnight Wine Colored...around 20+ frets, like i said, just a standard strat...(like it matters if it has 21 or 22 frets, how many people go up that high? and if they do, how many of them are just plain crazy?)...came in strat pack (15w amp, nylon strap, picks, set of strings, tuner...all the stuff you need to start out) it's a standard strat...need i say more?

single coils sound good, lil noisy, but good...don't like lots of low end, and i can't stand humbuckers, i use the 2&3 pickup combination with the high dialed up and the low dialed down to cancel the noise and go to the 3rd for sparkling tones like surf or for chords that just need that "shimmer"...get most sounds if you want to take the time and adjust your eq (GASP!)...great guitar except for the noise...wanting to put some Dimarzio virtual vintage pickups in it to cancel the hum in the bridge position...if not for the hum, it would be a 10

action was as low as you could possibly get, absolutely perfect for me...no string buzz, except now that summer has hit, it gets a little when the temperature rises, but that's to be expected, these things are wood, y'know? finished in midnight wine (a beautiful, deep red) no imperfections in the paint. i baby this thing and it doesn't have a mark on it...the neck fits perfectly into my hand and plays great...love this guitar....

i've never played live...i changed the tuning heads to schaller locking and put in an LSR roller nut to help with tuning problems...changed the strap buttons to strap locks right away...banged the thing into a few things and it hasn't shown yet...i guess i would use it in a gig w/out a backup for the simple reason that i can't afford another guitar at the moment...looks brand new after a year of playing...

i've had 3 strats, the 1st one i got in the strat pack, it was black...i didn't want black...the store let me use it until they got the red one in...i traded the black one in a week later and got my red one...it had a faulty pickup, and they replaced it with no problem...then the strap on the gig bag broke and it came crashing down...cracked the paint...ugh...the store called up fender and they sent me a brand new one...perty darn cool...

i've been playing for 1 1/2 years now and i've never picked up another guitar that is this comfortable...it is a good guitar for the money and i'll never part with it...i need to block up the trem because i never use it anyway...if it was stolen, i would cry and hit stuff repeatedly and then go and sell my body to buy a new one just like it, which would be a bitch because of all the customizing i've done to it and the fact that i have no money...great guitar...i'll keep it for life...and during life i'm gonna change them damn pickups...great sound, but they're too noisy...

This guitar gets a high rating in this category because it has been extensively modified. Anyone familiar with a strat knows the list of standard features. These guitars are cheaply made, which is what you would expect for the price. The bonus is that you can use it as a base for modifications. My guitar was modified by Bill Callaham of Callahan Vintage Guitars and Amps. He put in a set of Lindy Fralin pickups, a replacement vintage tremelo block (more on this latter), a base plate to fatten the tone of the bridge pickup and a pickup blender pot. The blender pot allows me to get 7 sounds instead of 5. Bill uses the second tone control to add the neck/bridge and all 3 pickup selections. He converted the first tone pot below the volume pot to master tone (including tone on the bridge pickup). When the blender pot is on "10", you get the normal strat pickup selections. Roll the blender pot to "0" and you get the two additional configurations. Otherwise the guitar has a sunburst finish and a rosewood neck.

It is amazing what some tweaking can do to improve tone. In its present configuration I get alot of compliments on this guitar such as "I have never heard a mexican strat sound this good". Without the mod's, I would rate this guitar soundwise in the 5 range and that is not bad for a guitar at this price. With the Fralin vintage hot pickups, it fits in great for playing blues and classic rock styles. These pickups have alot of character and pickup up every nuance in your technique. I have an SF Princeton Reverb and this guitar sounds great through it. I set the volume on 5 to 6 so that it breaks and then adjust the volume on my guitar to go from clean to gritty. The tremelo block that was put in is sold by Bill Callaham as an exact vintage replacement using the correct steel alloy. All I know is that it works for me. My guitar originally came with a pot metal block. This vintage replacement immediately improved the sustain and made the guitar much more acoustically alive. If you own this type of guitar, you may want to budget for this upgrade. I feel that I have tonal variety and richness of sound that is hard to find on guitars costing two to three times as much counting base price plus the cost of upgrades.

The factory setup was lousy. I had it professionally setup and that made it much more playable. I unpacked the guitar from its factory packaging, since I got it on sale, and noticed that the pickguard was not cut tightly around the neck pocket. This should have been caught by the quality control inspectors. Other than that. it arrived in good shape. The tuners work well and there were no other flaws.

The pickup selector switch died on this baby in pretty short order. It was cheap. I had a quality switch put in as a replacement and have had no problems since. You get what you pay for. Lets face it, strats will take alot of abuse and this guitar can be a workhorse but don't gig without a backup.

I understand from other reviews on HC that fender is hard to deal with on warranty issues.

I also own a Lone Star strat (loaded with a Callaham replacement tremelo block), JD Tele and a Callaham S-Type (look for my upcoming review on this baby!). I play through a SF Princeton Reverb, Hot Rod Deluxe and a Mesa Subway Blues. I used to gig regularly in my late teens to mid twenties and then stopped for about ten years while going to school etc. I took up guitar playing again as a hobby and have not looked back since. What's better than making music with your friends. Anyway, buy this guitar as a first electric (I did but boy do I wish I kept my '57 Les Paul TV Model that I had twenty years ago - OUCH!) or as a second guitar to modify to your hearts content. I would take this guitar anywhere. If it was lost or stolen I would buy another and just hope that Bill Callaham would have time to take from his busy schedule to work his magic on it again

It was made in Mexico in 1997, poplar body (strat style), 1 piece maple neck, 21 frets, 3 unknown single coil pickups, 1 volume and 2 tone controls (standard),white 3 ply pick guard, vintage tremelo bridge, 6 sealed Fender tuners and finished in lake placid blue colour. There was no gig bag or case included and I paid 345 UK pounds for it.

For me the sound of this guitar is rather too thin and sharp especially in the bridge position the sound is rather too damn sharp even when I turn the tone of the amp down to 0. The neck and the middle pickups sound rather bluesy and muddy. I think it's too muddy and pretty useless. To conclude it this guitar is mainly give out the treble sound with very little bass sound and the overall sounds are thin with a lot of noises as well. Frankly speaking I really think that it's a waste of money to buy this guitar after a year of having it I ended up changing almost all the hardwares in this guitar. The pickups were changed to be a single EMG 85 humbucker and it sounds better and quieter but still thin anyway I think it's because of the poplar body (It has been made from many pieces of poplar with 2 alder veneer at the front and the back. I used to try my EMG on my friend's modified USA strat which has got an alder body and it sounds far far better than this shitty guitar I got.

What make me buy this guitar was its neck and that's all. I was still very new when I bought it. I didn't know what the good sounding guitar was like, so I chose the guitar which suits my hand best under a certain budget which was this one. The action was set quite low when I bought it and it was all right to play on. The other worst thing about this guitar is its finish. yeah, it looks glossy and well finished but if u look at it closely the paint is at least 1 or 2 mm. thick I mean it's really thick which is not a sign for good guitar at all. It's just like when u got a piece of shit and u cover it sup with a really really thick paint til u don't know that it's shit. I think it's really disappointing. The weight of this guitar is also really heavy u can compare it to a LesPaul easily and it just hurts yr shoulder when u strap it on. I also changed the bridge saddles to be the graphtech's one the set which came with the guitar just ate strings!!! (crap) but the graphtech saddles never break any strings after I changed them good stuff!!!

yea!! it's reliable when I have changed all the hardwares and pickups not with the standard stuff they are just a bunch of rubbish. I used it live when it was modified already and it was ok, but before it was modified I had to have at least 2 high E strings in my gig bag for spares. I think the finish is gonna last long because it's damn thick it's upto people to think whether they want a "good guitar" or a crap guitar which has got a long lasting finish. I think if I got some money I 'll just throw away it's old body and buy a new decent one it's not really worth keep it at all.....

I bought it from a shop in England for #345 pounds which was really expersive. I think this same guitar will cost less that half the price I bought in USA. It didn't even have a tremelo bar included when I bought it, I had to buy it separate and it was annoying. There was a kind of "1 year warranty" for it from the shop but when I went to the shop, people there just said "no, there is nothing we can do about it" and that was so f**king helpful.

I don't know what other people think about this guitar, but if people come and ask me that "I'm gonna buy a Mexican standard strat, what do u think?" I'll just say to them "if u don't get it free or found it in the bin somewhere, just don't get it it's crap!!" and one more thing I learned was "never buy guitar in UK u will be ripped off!!" I think for the same price I can buy 2 or 3 of the same guitar in America, so what else can u call the UK price ???? Now the price has fallen down to 2 hundred something pounds, but u can still get 2 identical guitars in USA anyway!!!!!!

It's a Japanese stratocaster, in Candy Apple Red. Just a standard stratocaster that's been a little customized. Now, it features a top lock and extra heavy tremmolo. With that, I can bend the hell out of it, but it won't de-tune. I also put some active EMG-pick's in it. EMG, to me, stands for a defininte killer-sound.

I play everything from Rock to Metal. The guitar handles it pretty well. A stratocaster should be able to pull through in any style! With the EMG-picks in it, it sounds great to me!

After I customized it, it sounded much better than the standard factory set-up. But the original Fender Strat tone and feel are still here!

Never died on me or anything. The paint-work isn't as durable as I thought. The color to fix it is hard to come by. Candy Apple Red isn't available in the Netherlands...

Poplar body; Maple neck and fingerboard; moderately wide neck; medium thickness; small, fairly thin frets; made in Mexico; I bought it used, and the guy who had it before put a Dimarzio humbucker in the bridge, a Dimarzio rail in the neck, and an EMG select in the middle along with two coil taps. I've removed those and put in some Dimarzio Virtual Vintage pickups and Graphtech String Saddles. A great guitar for modifications. I haven't had to replace the tuners or the nut, they seem pretty sturdy, which is surprising for the price range.

I can't speak for the stock sound, but it sounds great with the Dimarzio pickups. The guitar itself resonates very well. I often play it unplugged just because it sounds so good that way. Very lively and very wonderful for a guitar in its price range.

When I got the guitar it had 8's on it, or at least it felt that way. I had 10-52 gauge strings put on, and the action raised, which made a world of difference. It plays wonderfully! I can't find any real flaws on the guitar. The paint job is great, and a very pretty blood red. I can see the area where the two pieces of wood which make up the body join, but that's a minor complaint.

This thing will last. I've dropped it a couple of times, and it hasn't even chipped the paint. I'd gig with only that guitar on any night. Very dependable

Haven't had to call, haven't had any problems.

I own one other cheap, modified guitar, but I have access to a lot of other guitars through friends, and I play a lot of guitars at music stores. This Strat is great. I'm always getting comments from friends about what a great guitar it is. The only guitars which compare in the price range are the new Danolectros. This is a great guitar to buy and then mod to fit your needs.

I have a 1998 Fender Standard Stratocaster. 3 single coils, 5 way switching, 21 frets, and a poplar body. I personally have a rosewood neck

The guitar sounds nice for the price. I play modern rock music and run my guitar with a Frontman amp. The single coils provide enough "noise" to suit me. The sound is full and rich but can also be crisp.

The guitar is well built. The finish is perfect with no flaws. The pickups are what I expected and nothing is wrong.

This guitar could easily be used for a gig without a backup. Its sturdy body is solid as a rock. Unfortunately, it weighs like a rock and can be uncomfortable, so I'm just lucky the strap buttons are strong.

Never got it repaired. Mine has a 5 year warranty.

I've been playing for quite a while. I also own a Boss XT-2 Xtortion pedal which works well with the strat. The guitar is not a bad purchase for the price, but isn't fancy. If it got stolen I'd be very upset, but instead of buying another, I'd purchase a Danelectro U-3 or a Fender California Stratocaster because they are lighter in weight. Overall, the guitar is a great buy for the money but if you can afford better, pay the extra. Its worth it.

1998 Mexican standard Strat, 21 fret, Solid top, 1 volume, 2 tone 5-way selector. Three single coil pickups. Candy apple red color, Tremelo. Basic strat features Great for $279

I play a lot of Aerosmith and it suits it perfecly, it sound almost identicle to Joe Perry's Les Paul on recordings. I use a Polytone Tiny Brute 2 amp and a Marshall VS. There is minimal feedback and not very noisy at all. The sound is nice and bright, and all effects and genre types sound great, from Metallica to Jewel. This is just as good as the American Standards I have played that cost up to 5 times as much

The guitar was setup perfectly from the factory. I have not needed to make any changes to the guitar. The pickups are greatly positioned as well. The pickup selector doesnt even make a noise when m,aking selections. Great

The guitar has withstood live performances, and the hardware seems forever young. The finish is Mexican so it has more lead in the paint which means it will last longer without fading slightly. The strap buttons are solid, but strap locks are needed. This guitars is as reliable as an old baseball glove. This is the only guitar that i have used without a backup because it is very hard to break strings on it because of the low amount of pressure put on them. But a backup is always nice to have

Never called but it does have a limited lifetime warranty.

Ive been playing for 3 years and this is the best guitar I could find at the store, I tried the Strats American, Jap, and Mexican, the Les Pauls, and of course the Ibanez's, and this Mexican made guitar was the best for me. I love everything about this guitar.I would buy this guitar a hundred times over then I'd Relize Joe Perry has a signature guitar. I do wish however it did have a string lock for the tremelo. Yet everything is great. And ill give it a 9 overall because it is Mexican, but if it were American it would get a 5 because The Mexican one was Better.

Mexican made 21 frets. 1 volume and 2 tone controls 5 way pickup selector 3 single coil pickups poplar body string-thru-body tremolo non-locking turners great neck mines rosewood, but it comes in maple also

Great sound. Wonderful sound played clean. Great matchbox20 type of sound. Not really impressed with the distorted sound. It's not very puncy enough for me when I play metallica stuff. It may just be my peavey amp though. Overall its sound is pretty goood.

Came from the factory in great condition. Wonderful action. Pickups were ajusted fine. It has a great finish that hasn't scratched easily. Mine's black but it also comes in many other colors.

Very durable guitar that I hope to keep forever. Unlike other guitars I've owened this one has large strap buttons that won't allow the guitar to fall off.

Haven't had to contact Fender yet, but i doubt i will ever have to.

I've owned this guitar for about a year and it is wonderful. I play it through a peavey amp but plan to buy a fender chorus. If it were ever stolen I would either buy a new one or another more expensive strat now that i know how good they are. My favorite feature of this guitar is the tunning machines. They turn really smoothly. The only thing I wished this guitar had that it dosen's already is a dark blue color.

1998 Mexcio. It has 1 volume and 2 tone controls. 21 frets. Rosewood finish.

Plays all kinds of sound. Rock, blues, country you name it. sounds great. Especially with a kick-ass amp.

everything is great. I couldn't think of any flaws!!

This will last a hell of a long time. I dropped it a couple times, and it didn't pick up any damage.

Never talked to them.

This was my first guitar and it helped me a lot. I still use it sometimes. It souds great and feels awesome. Recommended for beginners to advanced players. The price is incredible for the actual guitar. With a good amp, you won't be disappointed.

My Strat is a Mexico one, just a vintage Design, 5way switch, volume knob and 2 tone knobs. It has common pickups, nothing special, but this is the way I like it (why did Hendrix eg. play this guitar!) It is really the one comes to your mind mentioning Stratocaster at all!

I love the blues and try to play it most of my time. Therefor I use my Strat with a Laney VC30 with 12" speaker and a 2*10" box connected. This gives you a great clean sound, fat but sweet.You can generate, using only the pickup switch and the tone knobs, various styles,from vintage to modern blues and jazz. My only FX is a CryBaby, which also is great if you leave it in one position, then the sound becomes really changing! The guitar has the great sound of all the vintage strat, but it is noisy like all these too. I fourtunately could choose my one out of more than fourty Mexico strats, and chose the really best of these. At all, if you know how a strat sounds and you love this sound, this guitar is for you.

The strat was not that great adjusted from factory, but if you do this, it is as playable as any Fender strat. I use 011 strings, and so I need a high bridge, but the sound is so much greater!! At all, the action is not comparable to Paulas or HighGain Strats, it is more like working on the guitar than flying over it, but this I like!

This is a Fender Strat, so I this point answers itself. It is really wonderful, will never need no support and I trust this guitar will be playable many years, using it every day!

Never needed any support and sure never will

This is my greatest guitar although I have a Gibson Custom Paula and a Ibanez Luthie Guitar!! It wasn't expensive, but it is much more worth than I payed! I originally wanted to buy a American Deluxe Strat, but this one was better!
Take this guitar!!!!