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This Strat model is Fender's best attempt at producing the finest guitar they can make. They're almost there... but not quite. Let's start with the FINISH: it is flawless. Very well done, very beautiful. The NECK is the best thing about this guitar. The "V" profile creates a contour that matches the natural curve of the hand as you play. The result is that you feel very comfortable all up and down this neck. The COMPOUND RADIUS fret-board is a very good design. For most of the neck, you have a nice 9.5 radius, but when you get to the 12th fret the radius flattens to 14. This means you can bend strings high on the neck without fret buzz. This also allows you to set the strings lower to the fret-board to get better action. Great design. Some people claim they "can't get used to it". I've had no problem jumping right into it and feeling right at home. The TUNING KEYS are high quality locking keys, and they make it very easy to quickly change strings. They are also very stable, helping keep the guitar in tune. The AGED FINISH on the neck is very classy, and it will only get better with age! The N3 PICKUPS sound very nice, and are really quiet. This is because they are designed like a humbucker (that is, 2 cancelling coils). With the S-1 SWITCHING turned OFF, the standard strat switch positions are smooth, clean, and quiet on all 5 settings. You get the classic Stratocaster tones. However, I do not like the S-1 ON position at all. With the S-1 switch turned on, the 1,2,& 3 positions produce the 60HZ hum. This is because Fender wired them in "series". If you take a humbucker (which is basically what an N3 strat pickup is) and run it in "series" with another humbucker... then the 60HZ buzz will return to the mix. Why? Because the humbucking mode only works with paired coils, and running these pickups in "series" cancels the humbucking mode. Fender tried to compensate by adding some circuitry (a couple capacitors) to catch that hum, but you can still hear it fairly well. Also, even though the S-1 mode produces a hotter sound (typical of series wiring), the 1,2 & 3 positions are "muddy", and all sound similar to one and other. No real 'definition'. Remember, the unique sound of a Strat has always been that "clear", punchy sound. The "quack" on the 2 and 4 settings is only front-and-center when the wiring is standard "parallel", but the S-1 switch puts these pickups in". The 4th position turns the bridge and neck pickups on. The problem with this, however, is that Fender wired them in "series" and "out of phase". This setting sounds "ok", but it's not as good as it could be. It doesn't sound like a Tele... but more like a Gretch. Because the pickups are wired "out of phase" in position 4, and the 60HZ buzz is again cancelled. So this is a decent sound. Position 5 is useless. Even though there is no buzz, the out of phase / parallel wiring on this setting sound terrible. I can't think of any situation where I would actually use this on a live performance. The sound is "thin", 'hollow' and "tinny". Almost all of the midrange frequencies are cut out with this pickup configuration. After a couple jobs, I "had it". I took my new Fender and put it under "the knife". I opened her up and rewired the S-1 switch so that all the positions were strait "parallel wiring". Now, with the S-1 switch "on", I get a true "tele-like" sound with the 1 and 3 pickups on. The 1,2, 3 setting is also very nice. The tone has a distinctive "quack tone", but with more fullness than the 4,5 position. Now for the BRIDGE... I have a couple problems with the bridge. 1st off, the tremolo handle was VERY hard to insert and pull out. I mean, I must have put 20 or 30 pounds of pressure on the trem arm to get it to click into its slot inside the bridge! Also, the tiny set screws inside the string saddles where sticking up through the saddles. They are sharp on the edges, and I actually cut the palm of my hand on one of them. Soooo... this was such a bad design that I was thinking about returning the guitar! However, I stepped back and regrouped. Because I never really use the trem bar anyway, why even try to push it in? Then I lowered the bridge all the way to the body and tightened the internal bridge springs in the body of the guitar all the way down. The tension has now locked the bridge to the body firmly (no need for blocks - like Eric Clapton does). When I lowered the bridge I had to raise the string saddles to compensate for the change. Hey, when I did this, the sharp screws sunk into the string saddles and hence no more visible screw, no more sharp edges! Fixed. Now, I'm happy with my guitar. VERY happy. It plays good, sounds good, and looks good. It's a keeper. Oh, the case. The case is that nice molded style with the Fender logo molded on it. But to tell you the truth, I would have been more happy with the classic wooden Strat / Tele case. This molded case fits the guitar nice, but there;s very little room for anything else (tuner, strap etc.). The old fashion cases have PLENTY of room. All in all, I would recommend this guitar if you are a Strat lover. It is very high quality. It's a little pricy, but if your a pro and you want a pro Strat... this is 'it'. The only things I didn't like were the S-1 switching and the bridge. I fixed them (for nothing), and you can too if it bothers you. Some people may not be bothered with my these things, but I was... so I had to fix it. This is also why I didn't give my review 100% perfect marks. So BUY ONE! You won't be disappointed!

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Till either I wear out or it does. At sixty four years old, it most assuredly will outlast me.

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I have always wanted a Strat. I have played many, but never owned one. I came across this one. I played a V-neck before and like I said, I've played many Strats. and this one had everything I was looking for in a Strat. The S1 Pickups, the perfect balance of the Guitar. The maple v Neck. Its was perfect. Right out of the box Intonation, action was really good. I finally own a Fender Strat, and I bought it from an awesome Company.

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This guitar is one of the best I've ever played and that includes many boutique manufacturers. The N3 noiseless are way better then the original Fender vintage noiseless pickups I tried years ago. It set up easily so low with now fret buzz I actually had to raise the action because I wasn't use to it that low. One issue at all is the dateline finalist on the neck felt sticky. It's getting better over time.

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