I've been saving for and HSS ( american standard ) strat. However since the american specials have come out I've been having second thoughts. Although the standard might be a better guitar, the special has some features I like better, the bigger headstock and the vintage trem. Anybody have a new special? How does it stack up to the standard, my local music store doesn't have any in stock and not sure when I'll get to guitar center to try one out.
Tyanks,
filerj

see: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Amer ... de=1&qso=3

Check out the Mahogany bodied American Special ( a.k.a. American "Select"); it has most "American Deluxe" specs, including contoured heel, locking tuners, roller nut, S-1 switch, abalone dot inlays and an HSS pickup configuration. I tried alot of strats including Standards, Special and Deluxe models and this was the one that stood out among the rest. It has super tone, super looks and at a reasonable price, with all the extras that you might need to add as "Upgrades" to a lesser model.

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'10 Fender American Select Mahogany HSS Strat
'07 Fender Custom Shop Vintage Heavy Relic HB Tele
Gibson ES-345 RI
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Schecter California Custom Hellcat
Squier Bullet/Seymour Duncan HB/LockingTuners
Breedlove AD25/SR Plus Acoustic
Hohner ECA 612 12-String Acoustic

jilaw 50, thanks for the reply. I saw one of those at my nearest guitar center a couple months ago when, I first got the urge, but it played terrible. Probably a bad set up but when I pointed it out to the manager, he said it was set up perfect. I never had a guitar buzz like that one did in several positions. It was a big disapointment because it was an awsome looking strat. Maybe I'll find another one somewhere and give it another try.
filerj

I do not own an American Special; however, I did play a few in the shop. I also did a direct comparison to the American Standard. I am a huge fan of the American Special, and this is going to be my next guitar purchace. I like it better than the American Standard.

I do not want to take away from your experience. Nothing is as good as trying out guitars in the shop, but here is my take on the American Special.

The neck (maple in particular) is smooth. The rosewood neck one I played was decent, just as good as my Highway 1. The frets are not dressed as nice as the American Standard; however, I like jumbo frets a lot. The pick ups sound awsome. I really dig the Texas Special in these guitars. I cannot describe the tone, but smooth clear tones and takes distortion well. There is no S-1 switch so only 5 pick up configurations. The neck has the bigger headstock, but I think you like that. The Humbucker to me is a little weak, but so is the humbucker in the American Standard. If memory is serves me right, they are both Atomic Humbuckers. Depending on what you want to play, you may want to consider a pick up change down the road, but you never know, you may like it. I do prefer the overall tone of the SSS model over the HSS model. This is why I say play before I pay.

I hope this helps you out a little, and as soon as get your new guitar, post pics, no matter what you decide on. They are both great guitars.

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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