Stayed in tune but felt like a toy....weak as kitten pick ups....I was playing through a Line combo amp w/ tubes. That was only 1 I tried but damn, I was really disappointed.

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

Sorry you did not like it. I love the SSS American Special, but was not impressed with the HSS model. The SSS Model is my next guitar to purchace. Just like all guitars, you can play many guitars in the same model and they all have subtle differences. Every once in a while you do pick up a dud. I know I do not like the HSS model of the American Special. I think the Atomic Humbucker is weak.

I know when I tried it out in the shop I played through 2 different amps, a Roland Cube 30x (like mine) and a Fender Blues Jr (my next amp purchace). On both amps it sounded awesome to me, especially when distortion is added. The cleans were crystal clear. Nice quack in positions 2 and 4.

I guess like the Fender Highway 1, the American Special is not going to be for everyone.

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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 played one and was blown away (in a good way) by it. I thought it felt really good and the pickups are Texas Specials which are really powerful by Strat standards. But everyone has different tastes, which is why it's so important to play a guitar before you decide whether or not you like it.

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I played an SSS American Special through '65 Twin and Deluxe Reverb Reissue amps and was sold on the spot. It's one of my favorite Strats.

John

I'm picking up my Candy Apple Red American Special tomorrow.

I absolutely love it.

I had convinced myself to save a few hundred bucks and just by a MIM Strat since I'm no longer playing in a band, but once I compared the two the quality was infinitely better in the American Special.

I played several at a guitar center when I was out in cali. Played through several fender amps, a marshall and a vox. Nice guitars for sure, but I still prefer the Hwy 1 series over these "Specials" and wish Fender would have kept the HWY series and made an upgrade to that line instead of putting out what I consider a lesser guitar with a higher price tag. just my opinion though.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Yeah, I'm glad to hear positive reviews from you guys....I'm definitely gonna try a different one through a different amp again. I'd like to get my hands on a Tele as I still don't own one but it's gonna be a while.....just got LTD Truckster today

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

"Feels like a toy"???? I have the Black American Spec. HSS and it feels just like my 09 Amer. Std Strat and my Amer. Mahagony Special. Actually the neck feels better to me on my Amer Spec. HSS. I plug into my Fender Blues deVille Tweed re-issue or my Egnator Rebel 20 half stack and it cranks out some great power with the atomic humbucker. I do agree the atomic is "weaker" than other humbuckers, but unless you are playing metal, the humbucker is just fine (my opnion). I just gotta crank up the drive or the gain. I also bought the Amer. Spec. white Tele and man...that has some awesome blues tones!!!

I didn't try the HSS. GC didn't have the Am Spec Tele in stock... I def don't need another strat but I couldn't resist trying it.

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

+1 on the American Special Teles. I traded for an Olympic White American Special last week and it's outstanding. One of the slickest necks for bending I have ever played and the Greasebucket tone circuit and the Texas Specials go well together. It definitely rocks for blues.

John

70's neck profile is awkward for me. it's too wide to be that thin, I think. It wouldnt stay in tune either. and I played 3 of them to be sure.

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The neck's a modern "C" shape - 70's strats had a "U" shaped profile.

i [layed the strat and i wasnt to impressed with it. it didnt feel like it even came close to feeling as good as my other 2 strats.

now the tele on the other hand was a beast! played so sweet and sounded so nice. if I hadnt just bought my new strat i would of bought that tele.

I bought mine this past Monday and can't put it down. I'm in love with it.

The American Special has the exact neck as the Highway 1. I have owned a Highway 1 for over a year, I have not had any tunning issues with my guitar since I replaced a defective tuner. I can go days without have to re-tune and then it is usually a slight adjustment here or there. I bend a lot when playing, but I do not use my Tremolo much. I do have the standard 1/8" float on my tremolo.

When I played the American Special in the shop I played it the exact same way as my Highway 1 and it did not go out of tune. Of course I only played for 1 hour with the same instrument.

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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