The reason for my post is that I would LOVE to know the thought process/R&D process that led to the decisions for this series. I've read lots of folks on the web question the use of the Tone Zone S on the 57... If one of the moderators could wrangle someone "in the know" into posting some comments about the creative process, I'm sure the Forum Legion would love to read about it!

I have a HR57 on it's way to me and I'm pretty excited. In anticipation of its arrival I've been doing lots of web research, etc. and note that there is MUCH more buzz about the HR62 than the HR57.

Unfortunately the VHRR series guitars haven't been readily available to try in person so I've had to order online and hope for the best.

I own and love a 2006 CP50 and truly enjoy the neck and responsiveness. Mine must've been the latter part of '06 because it has a zinc block, not steel like the first-run ones were advertised as having. I have owned two Clapton's (loved the necks but just lacked a certain 'something' so I moved them along) and an '88 '57 reissue (loved the responsiveness and resonance of the light body and maple neck but wanted more of a V neck, it was the one with the C shape). The features on the HR57 speak to me and know that if I don't like the pickups I can always swap them.

FWIW, I had the HR62 but just didn't bond with it. The neck was a bit larger than I prefer (even though I love the neck on the MIM Robert Cray that I have) and I noted an almost unnoticeable bump on the back of the neck around the 10th fret or so (from a raised bit in the wood or whatever that wasn't completely shaved down or that maybe rose up a bit after finishing, not bad, but ). Sounded great and played great though. If interested watch Musician's Friend's Used tab (it'll be the Olympic White one!).

I look forward to ANYONE's input on the overall HR57, the Tone Zone S pickup, the SCNs, etc!

Pics to follow upon receipt...

Thanks!

Michael

Well mate...this is pretty much a different strokes issue because you can't please all the people all of the time. I can tell you that one our long time contributors was looking into acquiring an AVRI and I urged him to audition the VHR. He's never regretted the decisioni to go for it.

As far as necks go, I've a v-neck preference and they go in order from my Clapton>'57VHR>10/56(stock soft v)on my Deluxe. The first two necks, by the way, are unique to the line. Most Fender 'workhorse' necks are 9.5r modern C's if they are not in the Vintage group, and the 10/56 is pretty much the standard v-neck used in the line, but representative of the late '50's neck profiles.

Pickups:both the VHR(except for the bridge) and the Deluxe have SCN's which, in 2004 when they first appeared on the Deluxe were touted as the best thing since sliced bread. They are Bill Lawrence's brainchild and you can find a detailed hx and patent info on this pup on his website. There's no explanation for the selection of the bridge pickup on the VHR to my knowledge.

Based on your commentary, this one baby you're going to have to audition. I suspect that you will find the '57VHR neck profile a pleasant intermediate step between the Clapton and the 10/56. As far as your ear goes, the electronics are something you can always mod to taste.

Let us know how you make out.l

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"

I've got both hr57 and hr 62 strats
2 totally different animals.
I love my hr62, but I'll stick to the 57 hr
Since that's the one you just bought.
1st the scn pickups are great, some people
Can't bond with them, I like em.
Clean they sound good but overdriven
Give the neck a really bluesy sound,
The mid a rawkin sound.
2nd the tone zone really compliments the
Scn's it can go from a fat clean to dirty
distortion to creamy overdrive.
Here's a video of someone who does give
This guitar some justice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAZJoEmZ ... ata_player

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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

Seems that it helps if you have a teddy bear in your signal chain. But I digress...As far as the SCN's are concerned, about 5+ years ago I had the CS build a guitar for me with the Clapton circuit and SCN's instead of VN's. Those SCN's driven by that preamp were awesome.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I personally dislike the RI series. The 7.25 radiuses are for those using really light strings and never bend them. They should a '59 reissue that has a thick neck and a flatter radius.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

Detroit,
Just wondering, what is it about the avri you don't like?

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

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

All, thanks for the info and keep it coming! I ordered a used two-tone sunburst HR57 that was at the Danvers, MA Guitar Center. It's on the truck on its way to the Little Rock G.C. for pickup. I'm stoked! I'll post pics and first impressions upon receipt!

I've been checking out every YouTube video I can find with HR57s... I was checking out Greg's German site last night as a matter of fact!

I play mostly for my own pleasure at home using my G-DEC 3 Thirty or my old GNX4. I have several of the "Jam with" series from Total Accuracy: Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy, the Eagles, Eric Clapton and a couple of compilations. That ought to give you an idea of my musical interests and my age!

When able to get loud, I use my '79 Deluxe reverb or my '61 tweed Gibson GA-19RVT Falcon...

I'm thinking the Tone Zone will be right up my alley...I still have my Cray and CP50 for the clean tones. Love Robert Cray, Coco Montoya, Glenn Kaiser, Jimmie Bratcher and other modern blues-based guitarists too!

No,that's not right...I've used them for years with 10s and can bend the fire out of them and know many others who do the same...just because you can't bend on a 7.25 doesn't mean others can't...you're painting with a broad brush there Detroit Blues and shouldn't lump all players in the same group.
As a matter of fact I can bend as easily with a 7.25 as I can on my '62 HR and '59 RI,and the '62 is chunkier than the '59 also,they both have the 9.5 radius.

DB: Go into the products section and read the overview on the 'VHR. What they've done is gone from a 7.5>9.5R with medium jumbo as opposed vintage fret wire, leaned out the neck profile from the 10/56 V to a little chunkier than the vintage C neck but not as sleek as the Clapton, and put hotter pickups in the guitar. The Gilmour neck, for example, is a thin-shouldered C neck with a 7.5R and vintage fret wire, the exact same neck as on his stage guitar, and don't think there's any argument as to how well he can bend his hybrid string gauge set which is, for all intents and purposes, in the 10's range.

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"Another day in paradise!"

so, the 57/62 with a rwrp mid pickup are hotter than the normal set of 57/62
and the scn pickups are too?

i do feel the hr57 scn pickups hotter

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

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Find Bill Lawrence's website and the history of the SCN he designed. They're essentially stacked humbuckers which were touted, on their introduction, as diming the classic Strat single coil tone. Structurally, they are about as close to vintage SC's as London to NY.

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"Another day in paradise!"

No. They're the same, except they have a reverse wound middle pickup so you can get hum-cancelling in the 2 and 4 position. They're not any hotter.

Hey all! I just wanted to bump this thread and let you know I received my VHR57! Here's the post: http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=62004

I sure wish someone from the design team would have chimed in to give the background on the Vintage Reissue Hot Rods!

Try mikeroberts@fender.com. He's appears to be the new Consumer Relations guy. Maybe he can dope out the source as to how they brainstorm these ideas.

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"Another day in paradise!"