Okay, so when I first head about the American Specials I totally dismissed them as a Highway One with different pickups. I don't particularly like Highway Ones, so I wasn't very interested in the American Specials. I also don't particularly like American Standards, so that was yet another reason I wasn't very interested.

I walked into my local guitar shop today and my guitar tech saw me and immediately hands me a sunburst American Special that just arrived. He knows the style I play and thought that it's features would be well suited to me. Maple neck, the tallest frets I've ever seen on a Fender, Texas Specials, 22 frets, cool finish, big hulkin' trem block, 70's headstock, satin finished neck and it seemed to be very well built.

The set up from the factory was surprisingly good. It didn't buzz anywhere on the neck and the action wasn't too high or too low. The neck felt great, it's wider than what I'm used to (I have a Squier and a MIM Strat, both have narrower string spacing than on American made Strats), and it was neither too thick nor too thin. Thicker than my MIM, it was about like my Squier only it felt better balanced if that makes any sense. Not as rounded as my Squier. Bends felt great, I have vintage frets on my Fender and I always choke on the wood when I try to bend.

And it's amazing the possibilities that an extra fret give you. B.B. King licks in the key of D! I also played a MIM '50s Strat today, and I noticed it was a lot heavier than the American Special. The American Special is just light enough play comfortably standing up for a long gig or practice, and just heavy enough not to feel wimpy.

I spent about half an hour jamming on it, and my conclusion is that I love it. I would have bought it right then and there if I weren't saving up for a Fender Coronado. I figure that in a few years the price of an American Special will be about the same but the Coronado could possibly increase in value enough that I won't be able to afford one anymore so my priority right now is to get one while I can. But if you see an American Special anywhere, you have to try it. I think it could very possibly be the best Fender has to offer at that price point.

When the time does come when I'm ready to buy another Strat it's either going to be this or a Jimmie Vaughan signature, and to be honest I'm leaning more toward the American Special now.

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TGS,

I have been saying this for a while. Those American Specials are some thing to play. This is going to be my next purchace. I played one in the store for almost an hour. I even tried an American Standard to compare it against, and I am still going for the American Special for the pure tone and playability of it.

Honestly the Highway 1 isn't that bad either. They play about the same, but the tone is a lot better on the American Special. It's just a shame that my Highway 1 is going to soon become my #2 guitar.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

sounds like you and the american special are a match made in heaven.
im kinda pissed i havn't been able to play one yet.
every week i go into my local shop for lessons and they keep telling me every week that the next week they will be in, and every week after that i go in and ask them where they are they say that they should be hear next week...... again.

I'm glad you liked them, personally I'm not very impressed with them. Yes they do sound better than a HWY1 IMO, but the play just like them with those Jumbo frets, which has always been my main gripe against them. But different strokes for different folks I guess.

I'm glad you played it TGS... They've been going out the door at the local music shop as fast as they come in... I've personally seen 4 sold in the last 2 weeks. Sunburst and Candy Apple seem to be the most popular. I think Fender has found the price point that musicians in a struggling economy can afford to pay and still get a quality instrument. This is good since Brad will still have a job and we'll still be able to converse here.

I too like the larger frets but not too keen on the headstock or the vintage trem. If I needed another one I'd buy it but I've got too many now...

Did I actually say that? OMG whats wrong with me...

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I'm not slow... and I'm not fast... just sort of halffast...

I think that as of right now sunburst and red are the only two colors they come in. Or at least, those are the only two that they have on musicians friend.

I'm neutral when it comes to headstocks. My Squier has a big one and I kind of like the 70's vibe, but then my Fender has a small headstock and I like that too.

On my MIM with vintage frets I tend to grind the string up against the fretboard all the time when I bend. I can nearly feel the wood getting eaten away. I'd like to get a refret for it, but it would cost the same amount I paid for the guitar in the first place. I've always like jumbo frets.

I'm going back to the guitar store today. And I bet y'all can guess which guitar I'll be playing again.

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i had a feeling you were going to like it tgs.

i LOVE it.

i jammed on it for a while too.
my next purchase will be a telecaster, with scns.
i played on a am deluxe vintage, awesome.........
so yeah. love the am spcl, totally love and need am deluxe tele.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Yep, it's only Candy Apple Red and 2 Color Sunburst with maple for the SSS and 3 Color Sunburst and Black with rosewood for the HSS American Specials. That wasn't a problem for me. I'm a SSS Strat person and 2 Color Sunburst and CAR both work for me.

I was an American Special skeptic too, until I played one. I played through Deluxe Reverb and Twin Reissues for clean and a SuperSonic and Blues Deluxe for drive testing and was sold in a hurry. I have owned mine for a month now and it's still one of the first Strats I grab when it's time for some good, clean Fender fun.

John

I really want to try one of these out but they are tough to come by in this neck of the woods.

That's funny. For me, it is just the opposite. I really like the headstock and the vintage trem, but I am not keen on the larger frets.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

seems you have internet just sayin

most online dealers even have a 30 day return policy

I'm just not a big fan of buying a new guitar without playing it first. You try ten identical guitars, there's going to be variations in quality, tone, playability, etc. There's always one that seems "just right"; I prefer to pick it out myself.

I bought one this past weekend, They are great really smooth setup i just put a set of .10's on it checked the intonation and away i went.. i have many miles onmy two les paul standards but this new addition is really shacking things up for my cibson collection..
Cheers
Mike

I'm old the less metal and wood the better... 8oz more after an hour and a half starts to feel like 8lbs. more

I know what you mean. All but one of my guitars were bought in person. And the one that wasn't I was very worried about. It was my most expensive, a $700 Gibson Les Paul I found for sale on a forum. The seller was a reputable member, but I was more worried about how the guitar would play and sound. Luckily, it was a happy ending and I have a wonderful Les Paul. I still feel more comfortable checking a guitar out before buying though.

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