I was well impressed with it. I played on a brand new one, straight out from the box.
Its definitely my next buy.

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• Fender American Series Stratocaster (Olympic white, maple)
• Gibson Flying V (dusty faded cherry)
• Fender 1969 Custom Shop Stratocaster (3-tone sunburst, maple)
• Fender Highway One Stratocaster (Honey blonde, rosewood)

I posted a couple threads on the AmSpecial. The most recent of which was my declaration that I was wrong about it.

I was really impressed by the guitar and if I need a new strat, that would def. be the one I'd get.

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I'm hoping it was just a fluke. I have a 1989 Strat Plus and 2001 Am Std and the Am Special I played felt completely different. It just did not feel or sound as good as mine. Either way, I gotta try the Tele.

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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

Hi folks and greetings from Venice (Italy)...

Last week I bought a new American Special strat and I'm so much happy with her...

It's my first Fender (I come from 15 Years of super-strats and LPs) and I chose her among a choice of about 10 other strats in the shop (Am Std, some Mexicans and one G&L).

She is just perfect for the sound I had in mind.
It's unmistakeably "Strat", but with some "chili" spice that made my fellow guitarist very envy (he has an Am Std).

I found the neck very well made and confortable, beefy without being like a log. The back is silky smooth, far are the times when my thumb "sticked" on the neck.

The sound is really outstanding, while the Am Std has a well-balanced sparkly, bell-like, sound, when I was tryng out the Special I could see SRV cheering at me from behind the amp.

I believe it's not an understated guitar. The price difference with the Standard is given by some "details", that for someone could make the choice, but for others (like me) are just minor nuisances or even a plus... they are:

- the '70s heasdstock (I love, really LOVE it!)
- the vintage bridge VS the more expensive 2 points bridge (tried some dive-bombing, absolutely no tuning or string-pinching issues)
- standard tune posts VS staggered posts (Specials have one more string tree)
- no micro-tilt adjustment and unmarked neck-plate (someone REALLY uses micro-tilt???)
- useless gig-bag VS light and resistant SKM molded hard case (you can still purchase one lately)
- Texas Special pu-s

Bottom Line:
Before dismissing the Special as American strats' Cinderella, go and try some (as usual there are some specimens really good and other really BAD), you will not be disappointed!

Why a Line 6 amp? Texas Specials are pretty hot pups. Try an amp that's all tube. No Hybrid or digital effect modeling amps.

Cannot help to quote...
Tried in the shop with a solid state Marshall, and was good.
Once at home I plugged her into my Tiny Terror and really shines!

The Tiny Terror is a sweet little amp.

Yeah! And imho it adds some growling midrange that constutionally lacks on a Strat...

the texas specials add plenty of mids .Thats one of the thing I like about them,but they have incredibly nice bottom end to them.

I've only got one slight problem with my American Special - the G string constantly goes out of tune (sharp) if you bend it or use the whammy.

Looks like I need to do some tinkering.

I had the same problem with one of my guitars.Tech said it was hanging up on the nut .It made a noticable"tink" when I tuned it up.

I believe that the problem can be solved with a tiny needle file and/or some graphite (grinded pencil lead...)

Mine seems to be hanging up on the string tensioner (?) on the headstock.

It's a roller style on the American Special. Must be a burr in it.

Chapstick and the string trees make for good times!

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Ha!

Yeah, I figure I should check if it needs to be filed down first. If it feels clean, I'll go the Chapstick route.