Here it is the Strat I have lusted after for ages. (Sorry for all the pics but once I got started I couldn't stop!)

Thanks fender this is a seriously great guitar!



















Snowy

Beautiful guitar!!
You will love it Snowy....I have one that's Sherwood green and it feels just right.
Congratulations!!!

She's gorgeous, Snowy!



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

Very nice Snowy. A real gem

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Very Nice Indeed.. top stuff..

beautiful! congrats!

Congratulations!

I love that guitar. In fact, I've started saving money to buy one for 3 times now... (long story)

But lately I'm doubting between the Hot Rod 62 and the American Deluxe... Can you help me a little, please? Classic tone (and feel, finish, etc.) or Modern tone (and etc.)? How did you decided?

Again, what a great instrument you have!!!

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I'm sorry if you can't understand me, but I'm just an English student. Help acepted.

After a too long absence...

I'm back in town! (and in Fender Lounge)

That ones certainly rates a...Holy Schmokes And NEVER apologize for too many pics of a newly aquired guitar as there is not such thing

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

Thanks guys, I love the way Fender has spec'd this model, very hard to put it down, and also hard to stop looking at it when I do put it down.

damco, funny enough but this is the first new Strat I've bought in 12 years, and the last one was the other model you are considering, the US Deluxe. Back in 1999 I bought my US Deluxe which was about when they were first introduced to fenders lineup, and I still own and love that guitar.

Over the years I played the heck out of it and it's had several refrets and neck refinishes (Maple Fingerboard), the Two-Point Bridge plate has been worn out and replaced 3 times due to sweat chewing out the pivot points. I've always loved the feel and playability of that guitar, although I did change the original "Vintage Noiseless" pickups and put in Texas Specials which I like when they are set low.

I am looking at another fret job on that guitar and just decided it was time to give it a break and take the plunge on the '62 HR which I've been contemplating buying for a long time now.
If you can try to play both as the necks have a very different feel, the deluxe has a very comfy neck, and the HR has a very beefy neck that I also find comfy especially nice for digging in and bending, it's a no-brainer for Blues/Rock. Best bet is to try to get your hands on an example of each model and play it for a while, they are both great.

It's quite strange but this fat neck makes me feel it would be easy to go up a string gauge on the HR as the 10's I always play feel like 9's on this guitar!

Snowy

hey snowy,

you took some sweet $@! pics, beautiful stratocaster.
how'd you like the neck, "Like A Glovvvvvve" right????

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

That's a beautiful example of what to me is the best Strat made today-I love the authentic 60's sunburst-congrats.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

My '62 HR has the thickest neck of any Strat I own,I really like it and it's strange to say but I have trouble with arthritis and the thick neck seems to be easier on my hand.
Hope you don't mind if I post a pic of mine it's Sherwood Green...I would love to buy another one just like yours Snowy...it's a classic.

Hey guys, thanks for the congrats, it's fun to share the pics I wish I could hand it over to ya'll to have a play on.

Rebelsoul, no problem posting pics, the more 62HR pics in the thread the better I reckon. I love your Sherwood Green as well, I think they may have discontinued that colour now? The Olympic White looks beautiful as well, there sure is there's something special about this model.

BST, while I have been planning to buy this guitar for a long time now but I think it may have been your recent 62HR acquisition and pic posting that eventually fuelled my gas for this guitar to the point of ignition!! Yes, I'm loving the neck, fills the hand and seems to offer more leverage on bends.

Mine is somewhat lighter in weight than my US Deluxe, it feels very resonant and I'm sure that big neck helps with the tone. These 57/62 pickups sound great too.

The thing even smells great!!

Snowy

Thats a beautiful guitar you got there! Congratulations!

I'm currently waiting on a US Deluxe with the V-neck, and I had a really tough time to make up my mind weather to buy the US deluxe, the American Vintage (exactly like yours) or the EC signature. They had the EC sig at one store and the vintage at another, and I just loved the feel of the v-neck on the EC one. Although I really wanted that old vintage style strat, but on the american vintage strat I tried the neck was horribly thin :/ i mean, really thin, thinner than a regular C shape. I found the US deluxe to be the best out of two worlds, it has the vintage look but with the modern features, cant wait for it to arrive!

Seeing yours now though makes me want to buy that too and hearing it has the fat neck I'm really jeallous, Guess I'll just have to be Rock n' Roll and buy two and try to explain it to my girl!

Man that really is a gorgeous guitar. Congrats and enjoy! I love it - very jealous

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