Stagg S-350

Metallic Black Finish, Strat-Style Body, Tremolo Bridge, Sealed Tuners, oiled Maple neck and fretboard, got it with a pretty nice gig bag, a 15 watt amp, a cable and shoulder strap. It is 2006 manufacture, made in China of solid Alder. Standard strat electronics, 3 single coil pickups, 1 volume, 2 tone controls. The fit and finish were quite good, better than was expected and the pearloid pickguard really makes it look nice. I understand that Stagg, a German company has its personnel supervising the work in China. THis might help a lot.

I play blues and country with some rock and roll. The pickups are a bit treble but I was able to adjust the sound at the amp to make up for it. It isn't any more noisy than my Fender Strat. Does it sound as good? No it doesn't but I didn't pay $900 for it so I don't really expect it to, no one else should either. I can get close enough to the sound from my Fender that I can retire it and with another, newer Fender Strat and this I can get by on almost all the tunes we'll play.

Fretwork was exceptional, much better than I though. Fret ends were not sharp. The bridge needed only slight intonation correction - on just 2 strings = and string to fret height was fine. I see no flaws.

I've played it live now for several weeks. It's working fine so far, is staying in tune. It seems like it will last. I do take pretty good care of my instruments, though, and this may help them last longer. Since we play several types of music, I always have several guitars with me anyway so backup probably isn't a question.

Has a limited lifetime warranty. I'm not sure any warrantyhas much value, there are always ways to avoid making good. Ive never needed to do anything in this area but since the U. S. offices are in Tennessee, I'd think it shouldn't be too difficult to at least discuss any issues..

I've been playing for 50 years. I've owned many guitars but really don't care to take the high priced guitars out anymore. I'd as soon find a good playing off-shore guitar and use it. If it gets damaged or stolen, it's more easily replaced at minimal cost. If this one were lost, broken or stolen, I'd probably get another. I also have a 59 Strat, a 62 Jaguar, an 80 Les Paul Artist, a Custom Shop Showmaster and a Custom Shop Tele plus a Takamine A/E for single work, a Crate modeling amp, a Crate power block connected to a B-52 4x12 cabinet and a Fender Hot Rod Deville Amp. For the acousti single work I have an Ultrasound acoustic amp, the best on the market! Other: I see some other reviewers all over the net saying this doesn't compare to this Fender or Dad's old guitar. You have to compare apples to apples. This doesn't really sound as good as any of my guitars but it can do the job, it just isn't fair to try to compare it in this fashion.