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Rating And Reviews: Fender USA Special Strat

Fender introduces the American Special Series Stratocaster HSS. Everything you want in an affordable U.S.-made guitar is within your reach.

User Ratings
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
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"Retro but Current" submitted May 26, 2012

By Kevin Z
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
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The Wow Factor
Musical Background: Playing over 30 years, I play guitar and mandolin, have played professionally for the past 25 years
Music Style: Blues, Blues rock, classic rock, country
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Sound: This is a very versatile guitar. I chose this model because if covers a lot of sonic territory having single coil and a humbucking pickup. Given my experience with Fender tremolos I always lock the trem down against the body by screwing the trem screws in the back cover in until the bridge is against the body. In my opinion this modification adds sustain and helps keep the guitar in tune. Feature: The standard 5-way pickup selector is offers the most options and those selections sound great. Again, having a humbucking and single coil pickups is a great feature.The body, neck and hardware is high quality and everything works very well together. An American Stratocaster should reflect 1st class finish and build quality and this guitar meets those standards. Again given the price - you get a lot for your money. Ease of Use: One of the best guitars I have purchased in this area. The guitar tunes easily and stays in tune. One of the most playable guitars out of the box I have every owned. Quality: The fit and finish of this guitar is first rate. I selected the sunburst with a rosewood neck. There are no defects that i can find with the finish. At rehearsal the first time the guys saw it they all commented on how shiny it is. Value: This is a very high value guitar. Top quality construction, components and everything works perfectly. If you are looking for a great guitar at a very reasonable price that you can play almost any style of music on then look no further. Manufacturer Support: Fender is 2nd to none. The Wow Factor: Great classic looks. A really nice combination of vintage and modern options. Most of all it is very affordable for an American Strat. Overall: I purchased this Strat because of the price. It has a few features that are obviously there for cost cutting reasons like the gig bag instead of a hard case, no Schaller strap locks included and a vintage style bridge. Those features have no real affect on build or sound quality.
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"Killer guitar!" submitted August 12, 2012

By Jordan J in Williamsburg, OH
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Musical Background: 18yr basement warrior
Music Style: Rock, Blues, and Metal
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Overall: Bought this guitar from zzounds it was shipped crazy fast and looked perfect out of the box. The factory set action was a little high for my taste but, after a little adjustment i couldn't be happier. I normally tend to swap out pickups in strats but, this one with the texas specials and the atomic humbucker is just perfect. I even sold my other strat because i knew it would never be played again. I played this guitar and a American standard and liked the special better. I am super happy with my purchase and with zzounds A++ for them Thank you zzounds for doing exactly what you say you will. I will definitely buy again!
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"Great versatily, an American gem." submitted April 24, 2013

By David S
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Musical Background: playing music over 8 years. lyrical, bass guitar, now electric guitar about six months.
Music Style: Rock, hiphop, metal, hardcore, jazz, jazz fusion, blues,
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Overall: I was looking for a guitar with balance. After much consulting with friends and other guitar players I finally played four different guitars . I was searching for clarity and clean tones but wanted the ability to play rhythm with warm feel. I tried a epiphone lespaul, a fender American standard statocaster, a Mexican strat HSS, and this American HSS special. And honestly, this guitar won my heart. The epiphone was too muddy. The American standard strat was warm, but not hot enough, not bright like I wanted. But the Mexican came close, weird I know. After it all, the American Special took it. I'm not an expert, I'm still a beginning guitarist, but I've played bass over 8 years and I know what type of sound I want.
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"Retro with modern features" submitted April 30, 2012

By Ray T in Clinton, TN
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Musical Background: Professional. been playing for 40 yrs.
Music Style: Rock, country, blues, jazz.
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Overall: I have owned several Strats over the yrs, MIJ, MIM, Americ,an standard, American deluxe so I have a good idea what I want when it comes to Strats. On this purchase I looked at them all. The American special has the 22 jumbo frets that I wanted (slightly bigger than the medium jumbos on most other models), they make string bends very smooth. It also has HSS with two Texas Specials which I already knew would gibe me sweet tone since they came on my American Linestar yrs ago. Wasn't sure about the Atomic humbucker but after playing with it for a couple of months I am very happy with it, I had originally planned on swapping it out for a super distortion or pearly gates but it has turned out to be way better than I thiught it would be, so it's staying. Thought the bridge was cool looking, has the vintage look to match the headstock but figured it would probably be a headache with these standard tuners. I have been shocked by how well it works (very smooth) and stays in tune. Had planned on installing locking tuners but there is no need for that. When I got the guitar the setup sucked, was way off with fret buzz and choked notes all up and down the fretboard. Spent about three hrs dialing it in and was able to dial it in right were I want it. I am extremely happy with this guitar, plays great, sounds sweet and looks cool. This thing has really good sustain also, aim the humbucker at your amp and it will feedback as much as you want. Clean as can been also, I prefer the Texas specials for clean tone and for some reason this guitar seems more "alive" for lack of a better word. Idk, maybe its the large headstock or the single action truss rod but chords ring out longer than on my other Strats. Very happy with this guitar.
5 of 6 people (83.33%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"The starat that will be the future start" submitted August 16, 2011

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Sound: Sounds great as i have allwats said the wood fender uses for it guitars is worth every cent and produce guitras, that age with a great sound love them. Feature: 22 Frets for great playing field and a neck as smooth as butter, the pickups are great a atomic Humbucker and two tex mex picks which i also have on my Tele sound great for lead yes lead or rythem can give u so many tones with the Greaesbucket tone circuit. Quality: no problem out of the box and it feels just right not to much weight and a soil feeling put togeather ax. Value: Fender will find that yeses will only increse in value over the next few years. Manufacturer Support: had a dume question and fender answered me withn 24 hours on a thing i made a mistake on and they are there to answer your questions even ones i should have know if i had just read the care for your guitar. The Wow Factor: every guitar player should grab one before the price goes up. Overall: I would say this was the guitar along with my fender nashville deluxe are all guitars i will nmeed for a long time, I just wished ZZounds would carry fender roland ready guitars try and get these please;
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