Fender Standard Stratocaster

A '92 or '93 Mexican Strat. Typical strat hardware and styling. 3 ceraminc single coil pickups. 21 "vintage" frets (in otherwords - thin). Rosewood fretboard. When I bought it all they had was 3 colors: black, red and white with only a rosewood board.

I generally play blues, hard rock and classic rock. Nothing special, just jam with friends in the basement. This guitar is pretty versatile except that the bridge p/up is overly bright. The neck and mid p/up along with notch positions give a pretty typical strat sound. Through light distortion, the neck pickup handles good. The bridge is too shrill except maybe for allman bros type slide. All in all for $300, what more can you ask for a bang around guitar. I play this through a Fender Automatic SE amp and it satisfy's me pretty good now. I have played this through various solid state and tube amps and the sound is basically the same. Although through an old pignose as a preamp, it gets pretty dirty. Considered changing the pickups, but too much out there to make a good guess. I recently got a snarling dogs very-tone pedal and I can coax some pretty decent other sounds out the guitar. I recommend this pedal.

I had the guitar set up for 10's, the tremolo 'blocked', got rid of the whammy bar and set for a mdeium action. More of a nuisance than anything. Although with Fender bullet strings they stay in tune alot better than the D'addarios. I have dropped this guitar and spilled various beverages on it on numerous occasions and it still sounds the same. Minor chip here and there but the neck is incredibly smooth. The guitar itself is pretty light but after rolling around on the floor with a few beers in me, it helps. The controls are pretty noisy. Always crackling when turned. I sprayed wd-40 to loosen up but the crackling returns. I recently looked at a '98 standard strat and the controls were a mess. Very cheap looking with a cheap feel. But since I am only playing as a hobby, it's not too much of a bother.

After dropping it and spilling alcohol and soda all over it, it is pretty good. I don't play live and no interest to, so I cannot say. Although the strap buttons are a little cheesy. Wondering if I should take the p/ups off and soak them in my urine to give them more balls. You never know. It worked for Strativarius' finish. It's pretty dependable instrument but I would never make it my only one if I had to play live.

I called them a few times and they seemed ok. The last time the guy was a little gruff but that's the way it goes with ego inflated over priced companies.

If it were stolen, I'd look into 3 p/u equipped tele's. I like their bridge sound better but love the strat quack. I also like their fixed bridge but aI haven't gotten around to getting one yet. Overall i would recommend this over an American Std strat. It gets the sound and most people don't play straight guitar/amp anymore so, really, who's gonna know. I think people listen and read too much about sound rather than trying to create it for themselves. Be yerself man and make it flow.

Made in Mexico but don't know what year. It has 21 frets, with one volume and two tone controls. Has a 5-way selector and 3 single-coil pickups. Maple neck, maple fretboard, poplar style body. Included a gig bag, strap, cable and whammy bar.

This was my first electric guitar and I found it to be extremely versatile. (For a beginner anyway). I play rock, blues, and jazz mostly and it plays all of them well. I am now using it with a Peavey Triumph 60 tube amp which kicks ass. The guitar has a pretty bright and punchy sound, but can be changed easily with the tone controls and the 5-way selector. (What else would you expect from a strat?) Pickups are kind of noisy though. The sound is also nowhere near that of an American-made Stra,t or any Les Paul for that matter.

The bridge bends back and forth too easily, the pickup selector is a little noisy when using distortion, and the guitar goes out of tune too much. Whammy bar doesn't put it out of tune though. Pickups and everything else are fine.

This guitar belonged to my dad before I started playing, so its about 7 1/2 years old. Since then it has withstood everything without any additional hardware problems. The finish hasn't worn off at all and I think it would withstand any live performance.

Never had to deal with Fender. Don't remember how long the warranty was.

I have only been playing for about a year and until a few months from now, it will be my only electric guitar. If it were stolen I would never buy a guitar this cheap because I'm getting much better. I love the versatility but the sound quality is so-so. Goes out of tune a lot, but, surprisingly, a whammy bar doesn't put it out of tune.

A Mexican Strat built around 1992-93. 22 frets with all the standard Stratocastor features. The guitar came with three single-coil pickups of which I had the bridge pickup replaced last year with a Lace Sensor Humbucking pickup. (Red I think...) Cream body with a maple-neck, it resembles the color scheme of the strat Hendrix played at Woodstock. Fender brand tuners and a real cheeze-whiz bridge. I got the guitar with a hardshell Fender case thrown in for 420 bucks.

I play mainly blues-oriented rock along the lines of Dave Gilmour and Jimmy Page. I also have enough Joe Strummer in me to keep things interesting. ;) This guitar is perfectly suited to the blues that I play. The sound, particularly on the bridge pickup is very bright and has a lot of punch when you kick in the distortion.
I play through a Fender Performer 650 amp with a DOD stereo chorus as my main effect. I stick to a pretty bare-bones sound, prefering medium distortion with a lot of echo and reverb.
The pickup configurations still escape me at times. I have replaced the original single-coil bridge pickup with a Lace Sensor Humbucking pickup, which greatly improved the sound of the guitar. Played clean, the bright tone of the guitar can be a little too tinny around the bridge pickup. I try to stick to the setting just below the neck when I play without distortion. When I'm playing distorted leads, however, it is only the bridge-pickup setting for me. I have to get my money's worth out of that humbucker. ;)
The guitar is noisy as hell, particularly on the neck-pickup position. Before I replaced the single-coil at the bridge, it was also a real hiss-monster. The shielding on this guitar is nonexistent, so there is a lot of snapping when you switch pickup configurations. I've gotten in the habit of leaving that swtich alone when we playing songs with the boys.
Overall, this guitar has a great sound. It was pretty muddy with the original pickups, the the humbucker made a world of difference. Very bright when played clean...nice punch distorted. The sustain is weak, of course, but overall the sound is better than I deserve for the price payed.

The action of the guitar was fine from the factory. The pickups were really cock-eyed, however, slanted heavily towards the thicker strings. This made the guitar sound way too dark. A quick adjustment witha screwdriver corrected this problem, however. The shielding on this instrument must have been non-existent due to the troublesome hiss and pop. The jack for the power-cable has a chronically loose nut that still gives me problems.
The finish on the guitar was fine. Only a small flaw was evident on the back of the guitar near the bolt-on location of the neck. The neck is a really pretty maple...a nice deep color, unlike some of the lighter shades of the newer Mexican strats. After six years, the finish has a few scratches from being dropkicked around college dorm rooms, but has held up great.
All of the tuning pegs have held up fine and the volume knobs and slector switch have given me no problems.

After my initial adjustments, the guitar has been very sturdy. I've dropped it, scratched it, had it chilling in the trunk of my car for days on end...no problems. I've worn down some of the frets now, but it hasn't been too big of a problem. The strap buttons are fine and drops have always been a result of my own clumsiness rather than a strap-malfunction. I'm not a giggin player at the moment, so I have no opinion on that aspect of the guitar.

Never talked to the people at Fender. No need, really.

I've been playing the guitar for six years. This was my first electric and it has grown along with my playing ability. Although it had a lot of small, annoying defects (due to its affordable price) it was a wonderful platform. I've made enough modifications now (with more to come...I need to replace that bridge and some of the the fret wire) that the guitar really sounds nice. Its got the Strat look and (now) has a wonderful voice to suit its legacy.
I've noticed that these Mexi-Strats are unbelievably variable in quality. I have never picked up a recent Strat that has the same weight and sound that my guitar has, however. It has aged well and if it got stolen I would be very upset. For the money, this guitar was a steal. I got VERY lucky because I was extremely inexperienced when I bought this axe. I just grabbed the one that had the right paint-job and plunked down my money. Although i plan on eventually buying some top-of-the-line guitars, this will always be a part of my working inventory.

1998 Mexican made, 21 fret solidbody. 1 volume, 2 tone, 5-way selector, normal fender s/s/s passive pickups (immediatly changed to Dmarzio Fast Track 1 in neck, Pro Track in bridge). Poplar body, maple neck w/rosewood fingerboard. Wine red finish. 6 screw tremolo bridge, non-locking sealed tuners. 25.5" scale, average neck, small/medium frets. Came with fender gig bag, and 2 Dimarzio pickups w/ the trade I made..

I play shred/thrash through a Crate BV120 head and 4-12 cab with an Rp-1 in the effects loop.. I didn't play it through an amp with the original pickups, but w/Dimarzios the guitar screams.. The origal middle single-coil is very noisy, but other than that the guitar is quiet. The sound is still very bright in all the positions except the bridge, which has a fatter/bassier tone.. This setup is very vercital, I can get anywhere from bluesy leads to Slayer/Megadeth type rhythms. I like the overall tone of the guitar, but will probably replace the middle pickup with another single coil sized humbucker..

I got the guitar used, although the first owner didn' play it much. Set up was ok for a beginner, but I had to lowerthe action quite a bit. I adjusted the pickup after putting them in, so no comment on the factory pickup height. The only flaw can find is the bridge saddle screws, when lowered for better action, stick up very high, and dig into my hand during fast rhythms (plan to correct this by getting StringSaver saddles).

It seems very durable, and has been used in a few jams sessions without problems.. The hrdware is ok, I have the bridge tightened down and don't use it as a tremolo.. The tuners aren't great, and sometimes hard to keep in tune... The finish looks very thick, and could probably take a beating.. Strap buttons are in there, I haven't dropped it yet... Yes I can depend on the guitar, but no one should gig without some type of backup (this is my backup guitar)...

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I've been playing for 8yrs and own an Ibanez RG750 as my other guitar.. I've had an Epi. Les Paul, Charvel 750XL, and a Ibanez RR V copy.. Somehow I just like strat-shaped guitars best, and end up going back to them... If it was lost/stolen, I would probably get an American Fender strat instead, but the same pickups. I love the finish (the wine red looks more like black cherry, very dark), weight, and style of it, but the tuners and bridge saddles are a pain in the ass.. The main reason I got it was the fender was much lighter than my Charvel, and the guitar setup real easily.. I wish it had better bridge saddles, and maybe some more stable tuners.. If you're looking for a strat type guitar, that you've going to modify with pickups, this is a great bargan compared to a US made strat...

Made in 1997, this american stratocaster has 22 frets..solidtos..and alos laminated. a 5 way selectror with 2 tone selector and a volume to.
Featuring 3 single coilpickup with passive elctronic weel placed in a maple body and a maple neck its come with a beautiful case and a tremolo:O)

I play rock............. and witrh a fender guit and a fender amp it sound pretty cool. Noisy..... not very but a bright sound that's very goood!
Thios guit cna make a lot of sound styles..but you decide wich ones....
I like the feeling of it...

Everything is fine

This is like rock....
builfd ot last...

Cust=umer support...
you pay..they support you...

This is a very, very goosd guitar that will sound good with avout everything.....
Better than a gibson.....

buy one

1993 made in Mexico from US-supplied parts. Solid poplar body with ash front and back veneers, finished in "brown sunburst" (medium orange to black) polyurethene; very thick, transparent and glossy. Vintage-style tremelo with slightly narrower string spacing than vintage Strats. 21-fret bolt on (4-bolts) 1-piece maple neck with satin finish and medium frets. Truss rod adjusts at the headstock end. 25.5-inch scale, 9.5-inch fingerboard radius.
Since purchasing the instrument I have made the following modifications: 1. Rewired pickguard, adding a TBX tone control for the bridge pickup, a push-pull pot to turn the neck pickup on independent of the 5-way switch, rewired the middle and neck pickups to the middle (tone) control. 2. Replaced the stock pickups with Lindy Fralin VH pickups. 3. Replaced the center tremelo spring with a Hip-Shot Trem Setter. 4. Replaced the 1/8-inch nut with a custom-made 1/4-inch nut, moving the string release point 1/8-inch closer to the first fret (and re-intonating the bridges to compensate).
Rating for the instrument is for the stock instrument. As modified, it is a "10"

I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE DIFFERENCE THE FRALIN PICKUPS MADE IN THIS INSTRUMENT! The stock (ceramic magnet) pickups were somewhat noisy, harsh, and lacked character. After putting the Fralins in the instrument I compared it to a friend's original 1960 Strat, and it nailed the sound. The Fralins are very 3-dimensional sounding, with beautiful sparkle and definition. I've tried lots of Strat pickups (including the new Fender noiseless pickups), and while there are a lot of good ones out there the Fralins are simply the best IMO. I do recommend the base plate on the bridge pickup. I primarily use a Line 6 Flextone (though I have played the guitar through a lot of amps), and I haven't found any settings/models the instrument doesn't like. It really shines, though, on the Blackface and Matchless models(and the real things!).
As modified, it is a "10". Rating shown is for the stock instrument.

The two main reasons I bought the instrument (aside from the price) are the body color/finish and the neck. My philosophy on Fender electrics is that since they are modular and there are so many aftermarket parts available, get the neck and body right and replace whatever else you need to. I especially like the smaller (medium verses jumbo) frets used on the Standard Strat, as I don't feel like I'm fighting the frets like I do sometimes with jumbo frets. While it would have been nice to have a 22-fret neck, I like the way the Standard Strat plays more than the American Standard. The neck is also almost an exact match for my Taylor 712 - my main acoustic guitar - making switching between the two very easy.
On all of the long-scale electrics I've had fits with intonation, especially of the g string. After researching and finding that many luthiers are now setting the nut 1/16 to 1/8 inch closer to the first fret for intonation, I decided to try that. I didn't feel like rerouting the nut slot, so I radiused one 1/8-inch nut blank to match the fingerboard radius, glued it to another 1/8-inch nut blank matched to the existing nut slot, then shaped it into a new nut (looks like an upside-down "L" in cross section, with the foot extending toward the first fret). After adjusting the bridge to re-intonate the guitar at the 12th fret, I found the guitar plays beautifully in tune all the way up the neck. Since I use capos a lot, that makes a big difference.
The Trem-Setter is simply something I knew I wanted to add even when I bought the guitar, so I can't comment on the stock tremelo system.
As a part-time luthier I do my own setups. The best setup I have found for Strats was done by the technician at The Pied Piper in Huntington WV, so I had him do the initial setup in June 1994 and I simply measured what he did and have kept the instrument there. When I switched to medium gage strings (I use Dean Markley nickel mediums, which are .011/.013/.020w/.030w/.042w/.052w) I had to tweak it a bit, but I like the sound and feel of a slightly heavier gage string on the instrument.
The stock (no-name) tuners have been a pleasant surprise: they work fine, with no backlash or slop or slippage.
The finish has been very durable - no complaints.
As modified the guitar is a "10". The rating listed is for the stock instrument as I purchased it.

I play and record primarily contemporary Christian music, which covers all styles. Except for specialized sounds (like a 12-string electric) this guitar can cover pretty much any style I want. It is extremely versatile. This guitar *is* my main live guitar, and I generally do use it without a backup electric guitar. I can depend on it.
As modified, the guitar is a "10". Since I didn't use it much before modifying it, no rating is given.

I have never dealt with Fender, so I can't comment. However, any competent luthier can adjust or repair Strats, and replacement parts are plentiful.

I have been playing 30 years and own 4 other electrics (custom-built Tele, '85 Gibson Les Paul Studio Standard, '97 Rickenbacker 33012, and late '80s Yamaha SA2000) and two Taylor acoustics (555,712). I play the electrics through a Line 6 Flextone. This was my first electric guitar in many years after taking a long break from electric playing, and after looking at a lot of electrics I settled on a Strat. I narrowed it down to the Standard Stratocaster based on price and playability almost exclusively (I was prepared to pay more if it made a difference in how it played and felt). I then went into buying this guitar with my eyes open, knowing there were some things I wanted to add or modify, and as modified the instrument is exactly what I want in a Strat. I want to stress again that the modified nut and the Fralins have turned this instrument from a "kinda nice" instrument into an outstanding one.
The rating is once again for the unmodified instrument. As modified, it is a solid "10".

1996 Standard Strat, made in mexico. 3 single coil pickups, 3 piece poplar body, strat contours, vintage style bridge--vintage string saddles and 6 hole trem, 21 frets, rosewood fretboard, standard tuners, hefty strap buttons, etc. Strat's are among the most versatile and classic guitars available.

First let me say that I love fender strats. I tried a Carvin bolt, but it just didn't do it. The Carvin was a better guitar in most respects than the standard strat--better built, better sound (didn't like it more, but yes truer, better sound), better fit, better wood, better parts, made in usa (not that this matters though), etc. But it wasn't a fender strat. I'll take a cheap fender strat to any strat copy, no matter how high quality, any day. Only fenders have that exact feel, the feel my hands are so used to--the only other guitar that even comes close is a fender telecaster. It's just the way it sits on your gut, feels in your hands, and plays with your fingers, it can't be duplicated except with a fender.
Anyway, I had been searching for a strat to play at live shows instead of my strat plus, a guitar I've grown up with and have become extremely sentimental about. I need something that if scratched or stolen wouldn't break my heart and make me weep like a little baby.
As I said, I tried the Carvin, but hated it. So for less money, I got the standard strat used for $225. As it came, it wasn't a very good guitar. It wouldn't stay in tune for a chord--hence the tuners suck. The bridge saddles (vintage style) just plain feel and look stupid. The pickups were surpisingly decent though, they sounded great clean and with a little overdrive. With high gain, they sucked. This guitar I give a 5.
However, I customized my strat. As others have stated, this is the way to go--buy a cheap mexican strat, and customize. You'll get a great custom player. The previous owner had started the cusomtization with a fender black pearloid pickgaurd, and had upgraded the knobs to american standard strat knobs, not those funky looking mexican ones. Yeah, I thought the black pearloid pickguards were the cheesiest, but on my red metallic guitar it looks pretty darn good.
I continued by replacing the crappy bridge saddles with some modern heavy chrome ones, swapping the tuners for locking sperzels, putting 11's on the guitar, and replacing the pu's with lace sensors--a silver for neck and a red for the bridge.
Now the guitar rocks, sings, and punches out thick chords, clean and distorted. It has a distinct low mid character not at all like my brighter sounding strat plus, but it still doesn't get muddy. The sustain is nothing to brag about, but it still kicks ass!
Also, this guitar is over 2 years old, and was obviously played a lot by the previous owner, hence the rosewood fretboard has turned dark brown, not the orange color of the new stock model standard strats' fretboards. Cool!

Finish is nice, but is really thick, adding to that low mid sound coming from the guitar, but cramping sustain. Still, can take a real beating. My strat plus is brighter in sound, but has a real thin vintage style sunburst finish, which has easily been cut through with small dings.
Neck didn't fit, ie there is a small gap on both treb/bass sides. However, the placement of the neck was straight despite this, and is directly in the center. How'd they do that?
Action is alright, but I couldn't get it as low as I'd like.
Body is clearly a three piece--forgiveable for the price. However, I have heard about and even seen with my own eyes American Standards that have three-piece bodies. For the price of those, it is NOT forgiveable.

Highly durable. Screws holding the strap buttons in must be 6 inches long...

na, bought used...

Been playing for 6 years and in bands for 3 years. Owned lots of better and worse crap--mostly amps but also 6 guitars total. For the money of a new or used one and the parts required to customize, you can get a superior guitar out of fender standards, especially considering the alternative--the American Standard, which can be real pieces of shit.
One final note: the mexican standards are highly variable--try all the standards you can find. If you get a bad one, it's going to be REAL bad. But there are lots of good ones too; and if you find one you'll love it.

Thids guitar was made in mexico in 1998, it's got 21 frets, it has one volume control, two tone controls and a 5-way selector switch. it has a s/s/s pickup config, and the stock middle and bridge picups will be changed to gold and red fender fls lace sensors. the body is made of poplar, and mine has difficult to find (in my case) maple neck/fretboard combination. it has just a regular tremolo type bridge, and fender tuners.

this guitar suits my music style just perfect. it's noisy on the 1, 3, and 5 pickup settings, like most inexpensive strats. the tone varies throughout the pickups wildly, and can deliver a rich, meaty sound, or a loud, raunchy sound with the flip of a switch, literally!

setup from the factory / music store was just exactly the way i like it.the pickupws were a little lopsided, but i fixed that with a quick twist of a screwdriver. no paint / design flaws at all.

seems like a real brick. i'd take it on the road anytime without a backup. the only thing is, is that i wouldn't use a whammy with the bridge. it seems unseccured for some reason. strap buttons seem fine. larger than normal, i think. i'd go with a straplock just to be sure.

never dealt with them, but like they say, "it's a fender".

great value for the money. if it got stolen, sure, i'd buy another. i use it with an aray of efects pedals, and old univox solid state amps. i've always wanted a white/white/maple/maple (finish/pickguard/neck/fretboard) and i've finally found a quality one! as i stated before, i wish it came with better picups, so i'm changing them to a gold fls in teh middle, and a red fls in the bridge. i'm also putting on a white pearloid pickguard. all in all a great value!

this is just the plain old strat with all the standard features. it was made in mexico and has everything i need and want. 21 frets, 3 knobs (volume,tone, tone) poplar body with maple neck (and fretboard, it's one piece) standard trem bridge (which i'm going "convert" to a fixed bridge with the help of a couple of springs and some scraps of wood), standard tuners, and standard single coil pickups (tex-mex, however i did change them, more on that later). if i missed anything just read any of the other 100 or so reviews and you should get more specs than you could want. therefore i give it a 9 because for me it has everything i need. my only complaint was the pickups, which i can no longer complain about anymore

as far as a clean sound goes, it's real nice, but i don't play w/o effects that often. the stock tex-mex pickups were a little thin and tinny, but not that bad. still, i changed them out after about 8 months to texas specials and they're great. i run it through a zoom 1010 to a rage 158 15 watt amp. on a clean patch with reverb, the sound is quite impressive, great for jazz or blues. as far as distortion goes, it is also nice. although it doesn't exactly sound like SRV (as texas special p/u's are claimed to, but i never expected or even hoped them to anyway), one of his songs came on the radio the other day (don't know the name, but it was instrumental), i was surpised how good my guitar sounded. i mean it was pretty darn close to his sound. so as far as sound or tone, i love it. i can get pretty much any sound out of this as i want. hum isn't even really much of a problem either. sure there is some, but what can i expect when i'm standing in a room with a computer, stereo, tv, and other electric devices. considering all of that, i'd say the amount of hum i get is acceptable and not a problem for what i do. overall it's an 8

everything was great out of the box. i have no complaints. finish is flawless as far as i can see. i've had this thing for a little under a year and have hit it against a few things (man was i upset) accidently and there wasn't even a scratch. seems very solid. the only visible imperfection (and a very small one at that) is that there is a little smudge of paint on the 1st fret. you can't even tell that it's paint unless you look closly (it looks like something in the wood). i just think it adds character. i mean it's pretty good when the only visible flaw (and as far as i can tell, the only flaw) is a tiny smudge of paint that doesn't even look like paint. a solid 9

it's as solid as i could want it to be. everything feels like it would last for quite a long time.

never dealt with them, and hopefully never will (at least i don't anticipate it)

i've only been playing with this (my 1st guitar) for a litte under a year (although i've been playing for a little longer than that). it suits my needs and wants perfectly. great for the beginner, and maybe even someone who's been playing a for a little while. definatly good value for the money. i knew i wanted a strat and this was the cheapest one. i've tried other models of strats but couldn't really tell the difference due to my inexperience, but i'm happy with this one and am glad i got it. maybe in a little bit, when i'm better and my ear is more trained i'll sit down and compare higher priced models, but even if they do sound better, who cares, i like this one and won't need a new and better one unless i go professional, which i don't anticpiate happening.

I bought this thing brand new in 98. Its brown burst made in mexico (Which I think is suposse to mean something?!?!) When I got it home I sat and looked at it for about an hour. But who knows may been longer, time flys when your having fun. I could not then, nor can I now find a deffect in this guitar the things perfect. All I recived with it was an allen wrench and a whammy bar.

I just started playing about 6 months ago. I play classic rock (or try like hell). I run it threw a Crate gx15r amp and it sound awesome. I can change the sound alot with just the five way selector. With a zoom 505 it sound even better. Although I notice with the 505 if you turn the volume an the guitar down below 8 the effects no longer noticeable. But this could be a few things I haven`t pinpointed it yet.

As I said this thing is flawless. I think magic mexican elves made this guitar.

This is a fender who cares where its made it has there name on it. I could probably use it to hammer in nails and it would still out live me and YOU. This thing will last forever. The finish is like looking threw a pain of glass. The wood color is awesome.

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If this thing was stolen Id buy another one. If your considering buying this guitar. All I can say is what are you waiting for? Most people biggest hang up is were this guitar was made. Are you most people? Is everything else you own for your guitar american made? If so then pay 2x the amount. As for me Im happy and will remain that way for a while.