Hi Bluesguitar65

Read your thread on the Fender Forum about issues with the 60s RW strat.

Man I think there have been a lot of problems with these guitars. I got that great deal on Fender Friday for the 60s RW Strat and returned it. The high E string fretted out from the third fret all the way to the top! Didn't want to even deal with it anymore (plus I've spent TOO much lately). The pickups also sounded funky, really tinny made the guitar sound like a cigar box.

Also my 50s RW strat the middle pickup kept cutting out and AGAIN on the High E string fret out at the 10th and 15th fret. Fender honored the warranty and all is fixed even the frets were covered. Now the thing plays great.

Went to GC and played another RW 50s strat, guess what? Fret out on the 15th and on another fret (can't remember where).

Don't know what is going on here but it seems a lot of issues w/the RWs. That thread on Fender Forum confirms people are having problems. I believe other people also talked about issues on the Harmony Central Forum.

Anyone else having issues? Even if you're not a string bender I urge owners to bend the high E string at every fret to see if it chokes or frets out.

Well my friend.. you just experienced the common problems with the road worns. When I purchased my first road worn, the olympic white, I went through about five to find the one that had less fretting out. Good thing I play with high action, but for some who play with low to medium, it would be a big problem with the high E fretting out. Good thing I'm able to setup my own guitar to my liking to fix the problem. I've discovered that the high E fretting out starts at around the tenth fret down. Another common problem is the nut slots. Some are off centered and the high E would come off the edge of the fingerboard. I've also discovered that road worns with the MZ8 had worst QC as compared to the roadworns with MZ9.

But, when the road worn is properly setup, it is really a great guitar to play. I have no issues with the tex mex pickups....too me it sounded fine...did not sound thin at all. Perhaps a bad pickup?

Excuse my sloppy playing, but here is the tone I'm getting with it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB-2SPjTcew

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

Well people you have to remember that it has a 7.25 radius board thats what they do. They will fret out, great for rhythm and chords but not bending. Thats why they went to the 9.5 and metal rigs have even flater radius like 12" and Jackson's 16"'s but they are far from comfortable.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Pretty much explains why they play better with higher action....which I play anyway.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

Yes, many of the nuts are cut bad.

Is the 7.25 fret out issue mainly a problem with Strats?

I'm trying my 52 tele right now, no fret out and it's a 7.25

Also my shell pink Classic 60s strat, also a 7.25 only a slight choke (but not as bad as the RW 60s which was truly awful and I'm not a string bender) beginning at 15th fret

I'm also wondering if the 7.25 radius and these frets:

6105 Narrow Jumbo Frets

are causing more than unusual fretting out. The fact that they are narrow jumbo instead of just medium jumbo.

Or is this speculation completely off base?

Guitars are not finely tuned when you buy them. That's why when you get a new guitar, especially a Strat, you need to have a good luthier set the neck up. High frets, buzzing, fretting out on new guitars are not at all uncommon.

But once you have your axe setup and tweaked Strats play great. But don't expect that to happen from the factory.