Fender Stratocaster Review

I bought my 2009 Mexican Standard Strat back in January this 2010, having spend some time trying to decide whether to go for the full-blown American version instead (at almost double the price!)



In the end, I decided upon the Mexican strat, mainly because it was the only one available in the colour that I wanted (Lake Placid Blue), to replace a blue Tokai strat I had back in the '80's



The guitar I went for was a Lake Placid Blue Standard Strat, with a maple fingerboard.



I am knocked out with the quality and sound of this guitar. Even playing it acoustically, it has the authentic sound and feel, and for some reason the string tension is a lot better (lower) than I remember from my Tokai.



The sustain is also impressive for a tremelo equipped instrument, no doubt partly due to the increased mass tremelo block that Fender introduced on the 2009 upgrade.



Medium sized fret-wire makes the guitar easier to play than the thin vintage style I was used to on the Tokai, where my fingers used to regularly slip on the laquered fingerboard during bends.



The pick-ups on this guitar are fantastic! The bridge pick-up is bright and snappy, but not overly-brittle (which is just as well, as in traditional style, the tone cannot be adjusted on this pick-up) Whilst the middle and neck pick-up are surprisingly clear and free from the muddyness you sometimes get with cheaper strats.



The out-of-phase pick up sounds are particularly sweet and full!



The action on this guitar was acceptably low when I collected it, but the guitar tech in the shop thought it would go lower still. I have now lowered the strings a little more on the bass side, without suffering undue fret rattle or buzz (which I hate!). The top strings I have left alone, as lowering the top "E" futher produces choking during bends. This is inevitable on strats, due to relatively small fingerboard radius, and the playing action is quite satisfactory with the standard string height.



The tremelo is a vintage style unit, with the "bent-steel" type saddles. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this unit (being used to floyd-rose type systems) but the trem has exceeded my expectations! After properly stretching-in the strings, and applying some graphite to the nut, the tremelo stays in tune remarkably well, although the use I have been subjecting it to is more "Dave Gilmour" than "Jimi Hendrix", as is fitting for a tremelo of this type!



One thing I did find was that the sound and playability of the Mex strats did seem to vary a fair bit, so it is probably worth trying a few before you buy. I played an identical model, where I was convinced that it had different pick-ups - brasher, and more gritty than those on the guitar I eventually bought, but the Guitar tech assured me that they were the same model, with the same pickups!



The build quality on this guitar is excellent throughout - I really can't fault anything! It has a pale blue metalic finish, and the neck has been stained slightly to give it a golden, vintage look.



I am so pleased I bought this guitar. It has met or exceeded my expectations in every respect, and I have saved £400 over the cost of an American instrument!