Before I bought this guitar I was looking at various Custom Shops (60's, 1965, 1956, etc...). I really was looking for something with great feeling neck, light, good contours, great sustain, and always great looks. After my search I had decided that the '65 custom shop was what I liked best out of all of the guitars that I played, but still was not perfect. I really wanted something with some better feeling frets and the '65 didn't live up to it with the wimpy frets. I had read about the Mark Knopfler strat and it sounded just like what I was looking for, but could not find a dealer anywhere who had one in their store. I guess everyone wants a Stevie Ray strat these days because those were everywhere... I decided to take a chance and order one on-line with a reputable seller who would take it back if I just didn't like it. This thing is awesome... and I really am not a red guitar guy. First of all, the red has a cool orange vibe to it which makes it different from most red guitars. The finish on the guitar was perfect. What really impressed me was the fret work done on the guitar. The neck on this guitar is far superior than most Custom Shops. I didn't see frets dressed like this on any of the guitars I looked at previously. And the shine! The frets felt like class they were so smooth. The one thing that I wanted was a larger neck than the traditional "C" shape strat necks. Well, I was hoping for a little more meat on a '62 neck, but in all fairness it is slightly larger than… read more the standard "C" neck. After playing it for a couple of hours it is not my #1 guitar. The sound... OMG... there is sustain and crystal clear tones when you strum it. It does have the same larger tremolo block as its Custom Shop brothers, and that could be why it sustains really well. In all, if you are looking for great '60s feeling guitar, that in my opinion, with just as good if not better quality than $2600 Custom Shop, this is it. Try it! You will not regret it. If you don't like it, send it back! I promise you will be right back here and writing about how great this guitar is.

Sound
The sound is almost perfect. I may put a set of Bill Lawrence pickups on it. The Texas Specials do sound great, but I have been spoiled by Bill's great products in the past few years...

Features
Great finish on the entire guitar. The neck is perfect... fret work is amazing! Nice and light Ash body (Try to find a Custom Shop with an Ash body, you can probably count on a woodshop teacher's right hand)

Ease of Use
The guitar plays great. Good size frets makes it to where you can really dig in the neck for good lead work.

Quality
I did not find anything wrong with the finish. Great warm tone from the rosewood neck, superb fret dressing, slightly chunkier great feeling neck, just amazing.

Value
Like I said... This guitar plays better than most $2600 Custom Shops I was about to buy. You can get two of these for the price of one CS. This is how much a superior guitar should cost.

Manufacturer Support
When is Fender going to get their head out of their asses and understand that customer service really matters. I guess while they are making money like gangbusters they will not change their philosophy. They have a great website, but try to find a phone number to call! You have to go through a dealer who you can trust and wait. Just don't hold your breath. If I took over Fender, it would be the first thing I would change.

The Wow Factor
I didn't know that I wanted it, got it, love it. This is my first review to write. I just had to share my experience. I am not the kind of person who automatically likes everything I buy just because I now own it. I hate those people... They just make judging these reviews so hard. I never read people's reviews with all 10s... Looking back at my review, I may have to consider some of them to be honest unbiased opinions.

Musical Background:
Active Musician

Musical Style:
Rock,Blues read less