I am seriously considering one. As well as a tele. I like the idea of having a humbucker that splits to singles. Are you getting good tone out of it? I'm assuming so.

I breifly strummed one at a store and was kind of like, WHAT THE HECK IS THIS? Because it wasn't on the website at the time. This one was the light blue with a maple fretboard. I spent about 5 minutes with a black top tele, and the quality felt as good as any other Mexi tele I've played. Which doesn't feel a whole lot different than the Americans I've played. Although I will admit, I've played way less americans than mexi's. I used to own two mexis. At least I think they were.

I wish I would've played the strat more at this point. I don't see how quality could be so much different. People sell Mexi teles and strats around here for the same exact price. So..... They're getting a good deal on the pickups. I'm not sure if they're cutting corners over the other models or not, but the tele I played was acceptable. In fact, I liked it and am seriously considering a tele or a strat in the black top series. Because I want more than just the single coil sound. That's just me. I guess I'm just not as "educated" about what a good guitar is or something. Or maybe like the other guy said, the Americans being so much better, or other models in general is more bs than true. Of course then there is something that I think is true and that every guitar is different and even some good models are bad and bad models are good. If that makes any sense. It's just a matter of finding the right one.

Niki, you've got me there. I saw those knobs and was done immediately. I do like how the strat has 22 frets, and I actually think the dual humbuckers is a cool option for some. And (confession here) the jaguar looks pretty cool. But like another member said, Fender has soooo many different models these days. It's hard to keep track, and good luck finding a local store where you can play the different models in one sitting. You could end up doing a lot of driving around town to select a guitar that suits you. Plus, what's happening to the MIA stuff? Like another member said, they'll probably sell a bunch at $450, and in reality, Fender is in business to sell guitars, so the blacktop is a means to an end. Ultimately, if they sell a bunch, it's a good idea. If not, bad idea.

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'10 Gibson LP Studio Faded
'09 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
'08 Fender Classic Player 60s Stratocaster
'07 Fender Classic Player Baja Telecaster
'05 Breedlove AC 25 SR Plus

Tell you what, I think the Blacktop Jaguar looks very attractive at that price-point! I think it would be cool to have that heavy humbucker sound all wrapped up in that familiar Fender feel we all love.

One thing I love about the Fender line with miriad models is just trying out all the differnt variations/pick up combos etc. How would I know if I would like a third pup on a Tele? Easy, I grab a Nashville Tele off the wall at guitar center. If it doesn't do it for me, I hang it up and grab something else. What if I want to check out a set of Tex Mex pups? I grab a Jimmy Vaughan Strat and jam out. I LOVE THAT!! If I find something I like, I may buy it OR decide to put it on my GAS list! It fuels my guitar jones...

Of course I do have way too many guitars already...

Mate there are things visually about the guitar I don't like. Thats ok to admit, we all have different tastes.
As for Fenders high number of models. I agree with you in part. The idealist in me would want one of everything offered every year. But the reality of that limitation is, it doesn't sell guitars. Fender want to offer as much variation as possible to appeal to as much of the customer base as possible.
What I think Fender really thrive on is repeat custom. Myself I bought a cheapie years back. So impressed with it, years later I spent a bundle of dough on higher end stuff. These cheaper guitars are very much a 'Welcome to the Family'. It's in Fenders interest to be varied and wild whilst still offering decent quality with them. Their a great advert that you pay to be influenced by. Very clever.

As for buying guitars locally. Well I can just about forget that anyways. I live in a tiny place (population less than 40,000) in the back end of beyond. I absolutely refuse to buy guitars online. Consequently I have clocked up around 900miles travel in the purchase of four seperate guitars.
It's not nice, the modern world is rubbish. Sadly I have no option other than to live in it.

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I don't understand the "too many models" sentiment. They are all just variations with different pickups of the SAME models. People hot rod and change their guitars all th e time. Here, they may find what they're looking for fresh out of the box instead of having to change it. I don't see the downside.

Ninja: I handled a couple this last weekend. Overall, very nice build quality. Neck was not too sticky. One point: the two were about a pound (just under half a kilo for you? ) different in weight. So it would be a good idea to pick one in person, if at all possible.

I've posted elsewhere that I have gigged with an Ernie Ball Music Man Axis Super Sport for years, and the switching setup is versatile, allowing you to cover a lot of ground. The setup is similar on the Blacktop Strats, and I suspect many will be pleasantly surprised.

One difference between the EBMM (and Ibanez, for that matter) switching setup is that on the EBMM, position 2 is both outer coils, and position 4 is both inner coils, with both humbucking. Fender replaced one of these positions with a single coil neck split. Though not humbucking, this is a position I wish I had at times on the EBMM as it's the closest to a Strat neck sound, so I think it's a smart move.

The knobs appear to be the same ones used on the Muddy Waters Tele - they aren't that offensive in person.

Overall, a nice addition for Fender's line. My store didn't have the Tele or Jags yet.

Personally i feel that they arn't worth the money i picked up a blacktop tele a few days ago and it sounded really bad to me, not to mention the pickup selector switch was crooked and the cap fell when i switched to the bridge pickup. i think that it is just another attempt to emulate gibsons humbucker guitars. i buy fenders for single coil tone not humbuckers.

I've had expected a matching pair of Black Top basses with Basslines pickups, BadAss II bridges with grooved saddles, a mirror pickguard and active electronics in 4 and 5-string versions.

I'm with you on that one!!!

No great shakes IMO either. These seem to be "machines without a mission".

I've never really heard a Fender HB pickup that I liked, even the SD-designed stuff.

But in all fairness to FMIC, Leo Fender himself often used up existing parts inventories "back in the day" rather than discard anything.

Thus, Fender cannot rightfully be faulted here.

JMO

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

The Blacktop is the best series Fender has put out lately if only for the "Tele-Gib".


It's a cheap and easy fix but the knobs are UGLY. I don't even like them on amps...

Maybe I'm a purist but I think a Strat should have 3 single coils and not 2 humbuckers. It has a unique and original sound. Don't really care for the S-S-H models either and I already have a PRS, Schecter, Cort and a 335 which all have 2 humbuckers a couple of which can switch to single coil or full humbucker with coil splitters. Yes it is nice to see a MIM with 22 frets, but still, if you want 2 humbuckers in a guitar there are already so many to choose from including other Fender models. Like they say, "If it ain't broke don't fix it".
The Tele on the other hand has already been modified before and it works well with a pair of humbuckers. It also looks good modified with them.
I just don't see the point of messing with the classics.
If you really need humbuckers in a Strat there are enough pickup manufactures that make them in a single coil size and will fit without any modification other than a bit of soldering. That way at least a Strat looks like a Strat!
Just my 2 cents on the situation.

Based on that Clapton, Malmsteen, Beck, a myriad of others including Hendrix who extensively modified his strats wiring, wouldn't play strats. We'd all be using 3 way switches too.

Viva le difference I say. The original spec strat is a great guitar. So are a lot of the later developments too.

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Yes,
I can respect that, you are correct. And I don't have any problems with wiring mods, 5 way switches, the changes and mods of the single coils.
It got rid of the hum to a large degree and has made a better Strat.
I just think the 2 Humbuckers on a Strat is just too much change.
I can set my Schecter to Single coil mode on either or both Humbuckers, but it will never sound like a Strat.
If you want your Strat to sound like a Les Paul, why not buy a Les Paul?
I even like what Robbie Robertson did with his 57 or 58 Strat can't remember which. When he had the middle pickup moved next the bridge pickup and had them wired together. Different tones but still retained the Strat image and overall tonal quality.
I definitely respect your opinion about change.
It's just not right for me. I don't want my Strat to sound like a Gibson.
Already got one.

The Clapton and Beck strats both have 3 humbuckers.

The HH strats go right back to the first half of the 70's, just before Larry Dimarzio started making replacement pickups.
The HH strat was largely responsible for that. People were taking old humbuckers and getting em wired into strats.

jmohr it's obvious you like vintage correct strats. Thats great I like em too, infact I modded my SCN/S1 customshop strat to 3 vintage sounding singlecoils. The bridge pickup doesn't even have a tone control, as is right.
I can't deny the validity of a modification away from that norm though, even if I don't like it. You never know what it's going to lead to.
For instance I really don't like 2point trems. I think they don't perform, don't last as long. However the pop in deluxe arm is something that the vintage trem design could do with. It's way superior, though it could do with a white arm tip.

From something we may or may not like, something better can come.

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