Does anyone have any experience with the Vintage Hot Rod '57? My AM Deluxe strat is bogged down in 6 months of backorder and the more I read about this one, the more intruiged I am.

I've both a American Deluxe and a 57Hotrod, Mr Lobster.

I choose the 57HR any day of the week. But thats my personal prefrence. It's a guitar suited to rockier styles. I found it particularly usefull for 70's rock stuff.
It's not to everyones tastes. The neck I find divine, it is a tad slim though. Very much like the Clapton strat neck, so I'm told.

Heres a soundclip of mine, also for those that havent heard em the amp I built and the fuzz pedal I just built too.

http://www.esnips.com/doc/8de539ae-35ae-457f-ae5c-024facecd310/Supersonic-Buzzard-with-clean-amp

Starts off on the neck pickup, ends up on the bridge pickup.

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No no and no

If you decide on the AVHR 57. Good luck finding one. There back ordered terribly. I know ZZDOC on this forum has been waiting for awhile. And I've been waiting since May for AVHR 62 strat.

Nikininja, nice work on that clip! It certainly has a harder edge to it than the Deluxe. I'd like to get my hands on one and see how it feels.

Backordered! You're kidding! (insert eye-rolling here).

I love these guitars, but they're out of my price range. I played one once, and the neck was extremely comfortable.

I have a 57VHR and an AM Ash DLX.

I like the 57VHR a lot better. It's lighter, and has the tone and feel that suits me better.

I let my 13yr old son play my DLX; he's forbidden to touch my VHR.

We kiddest not. I started out on this venture with GC in April. Not to beat a dead horse, the deal was transferred to a more reliable vendor in July. Since April we have been advised by Fender that anything in the Vintage line is on a back burner. The specs on the guitar are self-explanatory but the neck profile is unique to this guitar, and was of particular interest to me. It is not far from the Clapton in it's form, and a great player. I'm the guy that persuaded Niki to acquire his a couple of years ago. He's not been disappointed, and the general opinion around here remains as you see it written above. I have an SB2 on order and will wait patiently for it.

Most importantly....DO NOT order this from Guitar Center. Their system does not handle back orders well. Suggest you do business with a Showcase Dealer for this one.

Doc.

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"Another day in paradise!"

The hardest part is not being able to try one out. I know what it's capable of tone wise, but my hands need to put their stamp of approval on it. I won't order anything otherwise.
I guess a trip to Vancouver is in order, as that is the closest CS center to me.

FWIW: I saw a new one at Willis Music in Louisville yesterday. They had 2 62HRs too.

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AmDlx HSS
62 Hot Rod
Luke w/Piezo
Carvin Belair