Fender Vintage Hot Rod '57 Custom Shop Stratocaster will be the new name in a few years.

Sound
I am like any other musician when it comes to buying guitars. I Google about the pickups and search forums as I'm sure I am not the only one and I rather not ask questions that have been answered, especially if music stores don't carry the guitar I got my eyes set on. I have read mostly mediocre reviews about these SNC pickups, but I must say they are the best noiseless Pups I've heard. The SCN Pups have nice low end sound, yes they lack some highs but adjusting the EQ on the amp or pedals will solve that to an extent but once you switch to the Tone Zone you have to much treble but that's why guitars have Tone and Volume knobs. All 3 pickups have great sustain better than most single coils, with the Tone Zone having the most sustain. The Neck pup is amazing a nice low end with mild highs like something between a P-90 and Fender Am. Std. Pup (Think Freddie King/Clapton). The Middle pup is the most single coil sounding out of of the two, nice highs and balanced mids and lows (Think Jeff Beck/SRV). The Tone Zone was a genius addition, I now only need one guitar when I play Blues and for when I switch to my Fuzz filled rock style. This is one of Dimarzio's best Strat Humbucker for my Fuzz needs, it can do blues and jazz as best as it can for being a Ceramic single space humbucker (think B.B. King meets Billy Corgan and with Higher Gain it can definitely get… read more you a great Buzzsaw Metal sound with no problem). The 2 and 4 position does indeed lack that quack tone but I can get as close to it as possible on the 4 with Neck and Middle Pup. I just have to turn down the Tone Knob between 0-6 to get a good quackish sound. On 2, the Bridge and Middle Pup is interesting, it sounds very bluesy with nice low end and good highs. (Think Cream). I have used the guitar through my ZT Lunchbox and Crate V30 with Sovtek 12AX7 and EHX EL84 through both amps this guitar roars with my Big Muff, Neo Mistress, Boss PH-3 and PS-6 (I use both amp for the Stereo Output).

Features
Most of the features on this guitar I think are time accurate for 1957 or should have been used at that time. These features remained vintage tremolo block, tunings keys, bridge, V neck, headstock, nitro finish, pickguard, case and the additional modern features makes this guitar very versatile. The 9.5 radius is the best, I love the 7.25 for chording and rhythm but the 9.5 can do that as well and add great space for bending and lower action. The Pups I have already written about. The Frets are slightly bigger than on any other 50's Strat I have own or played so that is a plus, less fretboard drag. The Alder body is a 2 piece and the neck is 1 piece except for the truss rod walnut cover but the less wood the better. The nitro lets it breathe and resonate more through the amp. The neck has shiny nitro on the fretboard and satin nitro the back, that is what sold me on to this guitar. Although the neck gets sticky as any nitro lacquer finish, I love it. That's how I know I have a new guitar will wear out in time. I really like that the guitar came with 2 additional tremolo springs in the case, I added them and now I have 5 springs, I rarely use my tremolo arm but the springs add stability. The only problem that should have been fixed is the lack of shielding the guitar may hum depending on your outlets if they're grounded or not but it will stop humming once you touch the strings. With 60 cycle hum even if you hold the string it will hum. I have both my amp's powered by 2 grounded outlets but with a 3 way power splitter for my pedal power supply and recorder so I get a slight amount of hum but once I just leave my ZT Lunchbox plugged with my Big Muff powered by 9V battery the hum is basically gone.

Ease of Use
Plug n Play it is so simple but the V neck fast and playable. I am sticking to the V no more C/U necks for me. I wish Fender made a low budget American Strat with a rosewood V neck instead of C so I won't break my bank no more. The case came with a Caution label to wait 24 hours to avoid lacquer checking this is great luckily I wasn't home when it arrived and after 12 hours it was ready to play. Any sound is possible on this guitar except if you want real vintage Strat clean tones but come on, we are in 2012 it is time to move on. I don't mean to say abandon the old but don't insult the new. If this is the case you won't give the guitar a try with these pickups you are contradicting yourself, basically you should be walking about with an iPhone with a huge antenna sticking out with a rotary dial installed.

Quality
This Strat is one of Corona factories best kept secret that doesn't have the Custom Shop price (but close enough) with same quality craftsmanship. The action was a little high to my liking and with the provided allen wrench and my trusty ruler it was a easy fix adjusting the bridge saddles height and pickups. It's been a couple days and it still is perfect. I expect it to last me until I live long enough to pass it down. The lacquer will wear soon and I can't wait to gig it and for her to age with me. I have owned 11 Fender guitar products all being electric guitars. This is the best 1 out of all the 11, #2 being my Am Std Strat. For Jaguars and Mustangs go with Fender Japan. Strats, Teles, Jazzmasters go American. I dislike Fender Mexican guitars (I'm a Mexican American). Fender should provide them with better quality parts and better supervision. They have medium-low quality control. All of the Fender MIM products I purchased online or played at stores aren't up to par for me except for one, that was my Road Worn 60's Strat. Those are the best quality instruments they have to offer but for the price I traded it and paid few more my American Standard Strat. Sorry to wonder of topic but if you want a quality instrument go American. If you think your guitar playing is just a phase or wants to have a decoration go with the MIM or MIC Fender guitars. If you are beginner and want the name make sure you buy it at a music store that will set it up for you and then it is worth it.

Value
The price is right for this precious instrument; compared to the new Gibson made products with baked maple necks due to the raid and chambered bodies. I would stay clear and go Fender or G&L for the time being. This guitar will soon pay for itself and I am glad I got a sweet deal.

Manufacturer Support
With Fender I've tried to getting in touch via email about my previous horrid run in with my Mexican Strats and they seem not to care as they never replied 3/3 times. I no longer need to talk to them since I went American and Japanese. zZounds on the other are the best on the web, 100/100. I was able to get this quality instrument with their 10 month payment plan and price match discount. zZounds shipping warehouse is just across the Hudson River and I get my products next day with free shipping. With the 10 month payment plan I now have enough time to unload some of my guitars and musical parts I don't longer need and have enough to pay for the guitar and won't have to get a part time job to pay the guitar off.

The Wow Factor
The guitars screams appeal all over, 1957 meets 2012. Fender product continue to retain their quality and value. The nitro finish, the modern features is all the needs to be said. I got the 2 Color Sunburst. I will soon change the pickguard for a color I haven't decided on yet. I have also yet to name her and I dislike I had to write such a long review about this wonderful guitar when I should be playing but she deserves it.

Musical Background:
Currently forming a band

Musical Style:
Blues Rock and Alternative Rock read less