Just this email from Fender this morning. Usually I take my time with manufacturer ad emails, and this particular one was no exception. So I waited until a few minutes ago to read the email, and my mind stopped dead in its tracks. For on my screen in front of me was a Strat that has finally blown me away. Don’t get me wrong, I love my American Deluxe Strat. For single-coil work and especially the Kinman pickups it has, I get some freakin’ awesome tones.
But I was always thinking that I would love a Strat that had two humbuckers as opposed to the HSS; in fact, my wish was to have an HSH. My thought was that I would love a Strat that always had the fat tones of a humbucker, while still retaining that Strat vibe, and lo and behold, here was a picture of a brand-new American Standard Hand Stained Ash Stratocaster® HSH!!!
Talk about getting some serious GAS! Not only does it have the HSH pickup configuration, it has an alder body, a maple neck, and a rosewood fretboard: Exactly how I like my Strats! Fender lists it at $1569 MSRP, but I’ve seen some stores online advertising it pre-order for $1149.
You can read details on the Fender product page.
Damn! Just when I was over my latest GAS attack with my DV Mark Little 30 L34, here comes more gear that’s seriously – and I mean seriously – giving me GAS.
I’ll take the Wine Red one, please!
Guitar Gear 
Dude losing the tone of the single coil in the neck is perhaps the main issue of a Strat. I love my custom builds from Carvin and my fav is the 2 single coils with the fullsize HB bridge w coil spit option. I never really ever got a good clean sound on an HB, sort of have to turn them way down. Or the dual rails my other Strat has which bring both worlds together nicely. The single coil magnetic field is just so much more tone and character. As for Fender for Fender sake, not all are really good guitars. My Carvin’s have Sperzel locking tuners and features + choice of woods, you do not get on assembly line models. If I went fullsize HBs for the neck might as well go LP style as this is not going to sound like a Strat nor have the range of clean and combination positions a Strat is legend. I have a beautiful DC400 w 2 HBs spilt coils, phasing and all, but it sounds like a Les Paul not a Strat. An HB Strat is like losing that cool mid position on an LP which makes that guitar config legend. Split coils do not really sound the same.
Paul, the way you talk about you Carvin gear makes me wonder if you work for them 🙂
As for a Strat with buckers, ever hear of Eddie Van Halen? Not that i could ever cop his tone but I do like that heavy Strat sound.
So, did you pull the trigger? Typically, I wait for some reviews first to see if the axe REALLY delivers on its promises. How about you guys?
PA- dawg wanted a Strat vibe NOT a Strat. So, he got that with this.
My major issue with this is the vintage trem rather than a FR-locking type. Major mistake to an otherwise nice effort. Also question exactly how good and robust these Fender HBs are. Have my doubts about them. Would have preferred a proven “brand name.” YMMV
Nope. Didn’t pull the trigger because it’s not in the stores yet. I will wait for reviews, or do a review of one myself before I actually buy it. I love the concept of the guitar, but have to play it first before I make any decisions. I hope I’m not disappointed.
Dawg, check out Tom Anderson’s Drop Top Classics if you want to see the top of the line in the Strat with buckers category. All around, the best playing and sounding guitars on the planet! Expensive, but worth it. They eat Fender Custom Shop guitars for breakfast, lunch, and dinner . . .
You said the Fender was a American Standard Hand Stained Ash Stratocaster, but then indicate that it has an alder body. Could you clarify as to which one it has?
I’ve played Tom Anderson’s and they are very nice guitars. But what I’ve always liked about Strats is that they’re very accessible (from a financial standpoint) and I can get great tones out of them with a little tweaking, or find one that was modded previously – like my own American Deluxe – for far less than a boutique. I’ve always love the fundamental thin tone of a Strat, but the stock single-coils have been just too thin. With my Kinman’s, the sound is much more rich, and as they’re hotter than the stock pups, I can get some very nice grind with them. But they’re still single coils. With buckers, I can get even fatter tones.
It’s ash… got ahead of myself…
True, Dawg, but the Fenders don’t play, feel, or inspire like an Anderson.
Don’t know about that – at least for me. I’ve gotten plenty of inspiration from my American Standard Deluxe. I got it with the Kinman pups already installed, so I’m not sure if I’d like the stock pups. But I get LOTS of inspiration from that guitar, and I’ve written the my last few songs with it sitting on my lap (though invariably, I always record with my Les Paul), and I gig with it regularly, using it for its gorgeous cleans.
Here’s how to tell. Take your Strat to the nearest Anderson dealer. Set both guitars up with the same amp, same settings, and play both for 15 minutes. You’ll know in the end. It may just be me, but even though I can’t afford one yet, the Anderson is my number 1 dream guitar. Nothing I’ve ever played sounds, plays, or feels so natural. It makes me a better player every time I try one out.
We gear sluts are a passionate lot, are we not? As I’ve mentioned, I’ve played Andersons; actually a few at my local Anderson dealer. They’re fantastic guitars. But I’ll buy a Les Paul historic before I’ll shell out the money for an Anderson. That’s just me. A friend of mine has one, and it sounds killer. But it’s not really my cup of tea.
To each his own. I’m happy with my 96 Les Paul Standard so I’ll buy the Anderson and let you buy the Historic. I just play better on the Anderson than I do anything else.
It’s all good, guitarboy! Thanks for sharing your passion!
True. Rock on, Dawg!