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Post subject: Re: Making of American Special
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 1:39 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Stevens wrote:
American Specials are not of the same quality as the American Standards. I have a 2012 American Standard and it is one of the best strats in the 21st Century. (IMO) The American Special is now the American Professional. That doesn't mean it's FOR professionals it's just all in the name but you will never convince me they are the same guitar. I ordered one and sent it back the same day. Never been more disappointed in a guitar and never buy cheaper again. You get what you pay for ESPECIALLY in STRATOCASTERS.


Don't necessarily disagree, but what didn't you like about the Special? Now I've refretted mine back to medium jumbos, I'm really enjoying it. As much as any of my Strats, which are all AmStds & CS. Nice light weight but excellent sustain!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Making of American Special
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:25 am
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Peter S wrote:
Stevens wrote:
American Specials are not of the same quality as the American Standards. I have a 2012 American Standard and it is one of the best strats in the 21st Century. (IMO) The American Special is now the American Professional. That doesn't mean it's FOR professionals it's just all in the name but you will never convince me they are the same guitar. I ordered one and sent it back the same day. Never been more disappointed in a guitar and never buy cheaper again. You get what you pay for ESPECIALLY in STRATOCASTERS.


Don't necessarily disagree, but what didn't you like about the Special? Now I've refretted mine back to medium jumbos, I'm really enjoying it. As much as any of my Strats, which are all AmStds & CS. Nice light weight but excellent sustain!

Cheers - Peter.


I know what you mean. I probably wouldn't have bought my Special if I had seen/tried it in a shop first. That would have been a shame though because (due to the agro of returning it) I kept it. It's now inseparable as one of my favourites.

As noted above, it isn't perfect. But with CNC machining and the like it is certainly made to closer tolerances than a guitar of 20 years ago so good/less good are all relative.

Initially I wasn't sold on the jumbo frets...love them now though and miss them on the guitars with more diminutive wire.

Would I buy another Special? Hell yes! Would I buy another MiM? Not when I could get a Special for similar money.

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Post subject: Re: Making of American Special
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:37 am
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Posts: 4241
This is turning weird...
Some prefer AmSpecials over MIM's in just the same way as some prefer AmStandards over AmSpecials. Soon enough, MIM's over MIC's. MIJ's over... hmm... I think I got lost there... :wink:

To be honest & IMHO anyone shopping for a Strat in the 900ish to 1200ish price class, has real trouble choosing - some tough competition here:
Quote:
Classic Series '60s Stratocaster® Lacquer $899.99
Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster® $899.99
Classic Series '50s Stratocaster® Lacquer $899.99
Road Worn® '60s Stratocaster® $899.99
Robert Cray Stratocaster® $899.99
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster® $899.99
Road Worn® '50s Stratocaster® $899.99
Classic Player Strat® HH $949.99
Limited Edition American Standard Stratocaster®-Vintage White $999.99
Limited Edition American Standard Stratocaster® - Mystic Aztec Gold $999.99
American Special Stratocaster® $999.99
American Special Stratocaster® HSS $999.99
Dave Murray Stratocaster® $999.99
Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster® $1,199.99


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Post subject: Re: Making of American Special
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:24 pm
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jmattis wrote:
This is turning weird...
Some prefer AmSpecials over MIM's in just the same way as some prefer AmStandards over AmSpecials. Soon enough, MIM's over MIC's. MIJ's over... hmm... I think I got lost there... :wink:

To be honest & IMHO anyone shopping for a Strat in the 900ish to 1200ish price class, has real trouble choosing - some tough competition here:
Quote:
Classic Series '60s Stratocaster® Lacquer $899.99
Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster® $899.99
Classic Series '50s Stratocaster® Lacquer $899.99
Road Worn® '60s Stratocaster® $899.99
Robert Cray Stratocaster® $899.99
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster® $899.99
Road Worn® '50s Stratocaster® $899.99
Classic Player Strat® HH $949.99
Limited Edition American Standard Stratocaster®-Vintage White $999.99
Limited Edition American Standard Stratocaster® - Mystic Aztec Gold $999.99
American Special Stratocaster® $999.99
American Special Stratocaster® HSS $999.99
Dave Murray Stratocaster® $999.99
Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster® $1,199.99


I must agree 100% with you, it's turning weird, and money here is really not an issue if you're spending 1000$ on a guitar you can also spend 200-300 more, so that wasn't a factor when I was buying my Special I just liked it more than Standard...that's all I LIKED IT MORE... Body was more vibrant, jumbo frets suit me, Maple neck is simply wonderful, Texas Specials, I loved it when I first tried it...so this is just turning into pissing contest...it's all subjective...
And no Specials are not considerably less quality made than Standards and it's a fact, some might not like Special but that's the way it is...


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Post subject: Re: Making of American Special
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:13 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:15 pm
Posts: 334
Location: LA South Bay
WaymoreProta wrote:
I must agree 100% with you, it's turning weird, and money here is really not an issue if you're spending 1000$ on a guitar you can also spend 200-300 more, so that wasn't a factor when I was buying my Special I just liked it more than Standard...that's all I LIKED IT MORE... Body was more vibrant, jumbo frets suit me, Maple neck is simply wonderful, Texas Specials, I loved it when I first tried it...so this is just turning into pissing contest...it's all subjective...
And no Specials are not considerably less quality made than Standards and it's a fact, some might not like Special but that's the way it is...


Waymore, I completely agree, and you expressed my sentiments in regard to how I view my AmSpcl, and, as well, the direction this has taken.

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Post subject: Re: Making of American Special
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:22 pm
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Posts: 15336
Location: In a galaxy far far away
Retroverbial wrote:
I have a Les Paul Junior from 1957 that positively breathes fire and brimstone when cranked

Arjay


I think most Juniors do that. That P90 pickup, light weight and simple design make for an awesome machine. I haven't gigged my LP Standard in 2 years, my Custom since Feb 2015. My JR goes to every gig. You wouldn't believe the obnoxious sound I use it for. Plenty of people ask me why I don't use my Explorer or EMG'd Strat. The Junior does it. The amp has more than enough gain, the Junior punches though. Not like Fender Singlecoil designs or Humbucker roundedness. That P90 rules.


Concerning the American Special/Standard/Deluxe debate.
I'll point out a few things. All necks and bodies are cut by the same machines. OK you may get a more choice lump of lumber being used for a translucent finish. That is decided later though.
Those necks and bodies are then hand sanded on a buffing wheel. Does anyone really think the line manager comes over and says

"you're making Standards, spend less time on them than the people doing deluxes do. You people making Specials, spend less time on them than the people making Standards do"?
Of course they don't. They say, "go and make good bodies and necks". The workers in that Factory, last time I spoke to one of them. Were solely focused on delivering a good instrument. Price didn't figure into their thinking.

All Fender guitars are fretted by hand BTW. Before anyone says perhaps they're told not to pay as much attention to the frets. T

he Corona factory knocks out something like 200 guitars a week.

What Fender are masters of, is using up old stock. You see it with pickups all the time. They introduce new hardware on the premium guitars. Everyone is buying the Emperors New Clothes story, again. FMIC are making a shed load of moolah as everyone flocks to get the latest design. Some things are better than others admittedly.
As that interest wanes over time. You see these items of hardware being introduced to increasingly less expensive ranges.

The Vintage and Hot Noiseless pickups for example. Came in on the Clapton, Beck and Deluxe models in 1997/8. 2006/7 it's on the MIM Deluxe Players Strat.
It's how Fender shift stock of components to make room for new designs. And use proven attractive designs to help bolster sales as much as they can.

Yeah OK your American Deluxe may have rolled fingerboard edges. That's an extra 5 minutes work in the factory, at the right point. It's essentially an American Standard neck with pretty dot markers, an over designed truss rod and a swish decal. The frets and nut certainly aren't any better. At least they weren't on my Anniversary model.

Fender could bang out American bodies and necks all day long, put MIM Standard components on them and price them at £50 more than a MIM Standard. Everyone would moan about them for one reason only. They're too cheap.
Personally, if I see a guitar I like. The last thing I worry about is the quality of the hardware. Larry Dimarzio made a world for us where we can change that stuff.

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