I have a recently purchased American Standard Strat HSS - great guitar. I want to change out the strings with the same set (at least the same gauge) that came with the instrument to minimize any setup problems. The musiciansfriend guy said they usually use medium fenders or ernie balls but I can't really tell. Anybody know what Fender ships these guitars with?

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American Standard HSS Strat
Seagull Acoustic
Vox Mini Amp
Fender Mustang II Amp

normally just fender bullets i think. either 9 or 10 gauge.

Ash

Generally they are fender bullets, 09-42 gauge.

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2010 American FSR Thin Skin Strat
2009 Martin OMC1KE Acoustic
2004 Mexican Strat HSS Modded

POD HD500

I actually called Fender to ask which strings were on my American Special HSS that I bought a month ago.

They told me that they were Fender 250L Nickel Plated Steel 9-42.

I actually REALLY like these strings, and they are becoming my "go to" string set. I have heard people complain that Fender Strings don't last as long and break more often, but so far, I have not noticed this at all. I recently brought another strat in to get it set up and they guy thought I was crazy when I asked him to use these strings. When I came to pick it up, he told me that while he noodled around on it after setting it up, he plugged it in a compared it to a couple of other strats that he had set up with D'addario and DR strings and he really likes the Fender Strings a lot. He felt that they had a pleasing and long sustain. While they feel light, they have a bolder tone than some of the other strings that he was trying.

Everyone has their own opinion on strings, I have used DR Blues for the last couple of years after switching from Elixir polyweb. I also like the DRs in the Yellow and Black packaging (only used them once, but I did like them.) I absolutely hated cleartone strings that a local shop convinced me to try. (I am sharing this because it might give you some info for comparison.)

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your assistance.

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American Standard HSS Strat
Seagull Acoustic
Vox Mini Amp
Fender Mustang II Amp