Played one the other day. It felt a lot like the Highway One in terms of playability. The major difference is sound. If you like vintage sounding pickups, buy the Hwy 1; if you like hotter, Texas-style pickups, buy the American Special. I actually like the Hwy 1 finish more...

Mine is in my signature. Pictures don't do it justice. It is NOT a cheesy, plasticky looking red. It's a deep metallic color and just gorgeous.

I LOVE it. I've always owned nothing but black, sunburst, and natural wood guitars, but this particular shade of red really caught my eye.

That deep chrome red finish is absolutely gorgeous. My Tele is finished in much the same colour. I hope Fender go on do a SSS version of the guitar with a rosewood fretboard.

I'm not overly keen on the HSS format.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Saw one in the local shop but didn't get a chance to try it. The red looks good on it. There was also an AM standard. I don't like that red (Candy Cola). It looks a bit orange-ish to me.

I'm not a fan of the large headstock.

I absolutely love mine. I also have a Highway 1, so the big headstock does not bother me a bit. Growing up in the late 70's and early 80's I seen both headstocks all the time. I like them both.

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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

I think that is true. It is a nice red, and I wouldn't have characterized it as Candy Apple.

I went in to buy one today as a local Fender dealer has a sale going on (list $799 but the sale is very worthwhile) but walked out with an Artist model Fender Strat just because it was on closeout and I couldn't pass it up. Otherwise I would have a review right now on the Special as I liked it that much.

I liked everything about it except the logo (not a huge deal) and the maple fretboard, as well as the fact it comes with a bag and not a case. So, you would really end up spending $100 more for a hard case most likely.

That being said, it played nicely and I liked the tone well enough from the pickups. I think it is a cool edition but I also liked the Highway 1 as well.

I have a HWY 1 and an AS. They are both great guitars. I would have also prefered a rosewood neck on my AS, but I love the color. This guitar has really grown on me over the past few weeks. It definately sounds different than my other 2 guitars.

I did get a good deal on my AS: $750 plus a set of strings and I was out the door. It should have been something like $860.

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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

That is a good deal. I didn't get a chance to hear the AS plugged into a Fender amp, just a Peavey Windsor, but it was cool. With the sale they are having here locally it is a very low price, lower than anything else I have seen advertised anywhere. I would have jumped on one at the price you got for sure.