Bell like strat tones in positions 1 and 2...hit the S1 and you're in Les paul humbuckin' territory (with the tone on "7"...and also with ironically less hum...lol)...i still have yet to explore every tone on this guitar and it will probably be a never ending process. great for studio and gigging...a like the SCN's more than EC vintage noisless pup's. (good work Bill and Fender!).

Have heard a number of folks complain about the trem bar being difficult to push in ...the spring tension is adjustable and the proper allen wrench is included (1 of three)...just do a dive bomb and you will see the hole for the allen wrench underneath, tighten or loosen to your desired tension...it's easy...also the strap locks are a nice treat...and while the case is preferred by many, i like the old tweed rectangular cases ...just seem more fenderish to me.

i ignored the manual and just went on what i knew already about the traditional 5 way switch then tried it with the s1 in on each setting...now i am playing with tone control (or no tone control at all)...so it is an enjoyable never ending (seemingly) process...the doors are esp. wide open now for me because due to no 60 cycle hum , i would usually stay in the the in between (2 and 4) positions...and one of my compliants with strats was that when strumming during a fast song with downstroking bar chords i would inadvertently hit the switch when it was in my preferred #2 position down to the first position , thus creating not only a change of tone but most importantly a significant amount of hum (esp. on a loud dirty channel)...this is all ancient history now as i play in thew first position alot now (with the tone on "7") as there is no noise...the SCN's have opened up a whole new strat world to me...the S1 is just unbeliveable gravy!...no need i.m.o. for that gibson!...i can get a pretty damn good humbucker aproxamation . b.t.w. with these deluxes i would stay away from the "hss" version...they are still great guitars but i don't think they are nesscesary with the S1...the only thing it may do is take a bit of the stratness away from your bridge pup configuration...this guitar is all you need "sss" with SCN's and S1 will give you your double stack humbucker tone if you look for it. not to mention the improved modern 9.5" board radius and med. jumbo frets!!!...makes life so much sweeter! the neck on this thing is like butter. the satin finish soo smoothe.

finish was flawless...strings (fender strings aren't a strong point) were "9"'s and were corroded and snapped right off when i took it home and started tuning it...the bridge wasn't setup very well either...but these are all minor and were easily adjusted...a new setup , some d'ad 10's, an almost flush trem bridge, lowered action....and we were in business. p.s. it's a strat 4 bolted neck...these things last forever...if something breaks you buy a new part.

i paid almost 1700 bucks canadian for it (on an installment plan at the store thank god!)...it is very pricey for a production line strat...but compared to a production line gibson of similar relative quality...it is a steal!...this IS Fender's top of the line (hence "deluxe"), to get the Gibson equal...man you'd be selling your soul for the money to pay for it. so yes it is a good buy...and it is the best fender has to offer (which is a lot!...get the maple 3 tone sunburst...amazing neck and finish...i started as a rosewood man but this neck changed my mind...beautiful satin finish...smooth!...not sticky like the eric johnson neck ...which is incidentally well over a grand more). i think this guitar is better than ANY artist series strat available (that includes the beautiful eric johnsons and claptons and john mayers)...i love the 'c' neck...and for those that don't the 50 anniversary deluxe comes with a 'v'.

i e-mailed them about the proper bridge setup (i wasn't used to the modern 2 pivot) and they replied fairly promtly, nothing like the next morning or anything, but they did get back to me (even though i had already gone ahead with it on my own).

Oh let me tell you, everybody drools over this guitar..and my girl thinks i look pretty damn hot with it strapped low on my hip...A flawless 3 tone sunburst finish with maple neck and board the Abalone inlays , the smooth polished med. jumbo frets , make this THE classic Stratocaster...but with a powerful aresenal of settings (if you choose to use them)...however even without the S1 this is still the best strat out there (i.m.o.)...and being as how the pups are so quiet, when you hit that first cord no one is expecting it, as it seems you are either turned down or off. when in reality you are at "11"...lol.

hobbyist

punk, rock, blues

versatile, quiet, classic strat to fine, full tones through the s-1 system

a real nice feel to the whose guitar, solid switches, pots, tuners.

This is a strat. It's supposed to be a tool, and mine sure is. Seems solid, feels great. Has been my stage guitar since the day I bought it. No worries.

It's funny. I'm old enough to have bought late 60's strats new, and the new ones, adjusted for inflation, are cheaper, and sound better.

NA. Haven't needed a thing.

It's striking, (montego black, maple neck)feels great, and when I play, the limitations are mine, not the guitar's. I love Gibsons, play a Taylor acoustic, have owned 60 guitars. This one works for me.

Old pro.

Country, old R&R, gospel, standards, blues, yada yada.

The Samarium Noiseless Pickups and the S-1 switching system truly allows you to sculpt your sounds bringing color to your music. The two point synchronized tremolo/bridge assembly is absolutely the the simplest and most elegent rig Fender has put out yet. Topped off with Fender/Schaller locking tuning peg, this guitar holds up well under the most agrressive playing.

It came with a lot of case candy. Manual, polishing kit, 6' cable, several hex keys, stickers, strap and best of all; a pair of strap locks. As for the guitar, it fetures superior quality makemanship as well as truly elegent lines. She's like a beautiful woman; just as much fun to look at as well as to hold.

Out of the box it needed tuning and lubing the key area need for tremolo equipped guitars. The action was perfect as well as the intonation. These people at Fender truly know their craft.

What can I say... you can't go wrong with an American model. They may cost more than the imports but if you set them next to each other a genuine USA Stratocaster will stand out. When you hold it you know it was made to last a lifetime.

One day this guitar will be a vintage. Some people will want this model because of some of the features that is exclusive to it for sure. But you're going to have to prt mine out from my dead fingers.

The only support I've needed so far was the need for general information which is provided for in the Fender.com site.

Fender/Schaller locking tuning pegs, two point sychronized tremolo with snap in arm and crome plated stainless steel saddles, S-1 Switching systen, 3 hot Samarium Cobalt Noisless pickups, the beatiful white-black-white pearloid pick guard and silky smooth C neck. If you don't that sexy then you're not a Strat man.

semi-pro

Blue, Rock, Classic Rock, Jazz Fusion

Body resonates with Fender strings. Sound is the cleanest I have ever heard out of a strat. I own a vintage 62 sweetheart and I have broken her heart. The neck shape makes me play cleaner as well and the frets bend and pull without vibration or noise.

Really is an improvement on the Strat!

Really beutiful! I got a starburst.

You can drop 3 grand and have a lesser strat. I don't understand why they don't charge more for it!

Traditionaly the best.

The cleanest most reasonate strat I have ever played (and I have played a lot).

Surgeon and scientist by day, Rock star by night!

Blues and clasic rock

Sound of the product is slightly less than expected from a company that has been around since the alost inception of the electric guitar.

Crappy case for a guitar that cost over $1000.00 dollars. Finish still cacked on the frets. String trees almost devoid of chrome. Neck pocket cracked at the finish level. Large gaps in the pickguard, making it bow in more than one spot. Output jack shorted out.

Slightly more playable than previous years. To expect this guitar to perform and stay in tune during normal playing situations is to expect the company to re-define the entire design......which they did......without great improvment.

For the amount of time that this guitar has been on the market, I would expect it to be the best there ever was. I'm disappointed. You definitely know that this item was mass-produced.

Apparently I can get most of my money back.

This company never returned my of my calls, emails, or messages. I just wanted to give them a chance to address the problems I experienced with the product.

Yeah.....Everyone on T.V. has one. .....but they're older. ......or they're being paid to play their own "signature model" on stage. It's important to take into account that Fender today, is COMPLETELY different than the company that created the notoriety and image of innovation when these guitars first came out.

Active Musician

Etc

the sound is beutefull ....realey nice....& with the s-1 switching it sounds better then a humbuker ...

sorry ....but the neck is very thick and u feel it right o'way....but in the other hand its very smooth and slippery good....(maple neck) (2) the body is very very very heavy ..i have to go to a chropractic every week ..it breaks my shoulders.....(i know its special made for the viberation- but its to heavy ...sorry..(for this price thay should of make it a little lighter.....

3 color sunburst ...maple neck