I’m poised to buy a 2012 American Standard Strat. Feels great, sounds great, but it doesn’t stay perfectly in tune when using the trem downward (very close, but just off). My whole playing life I've used strats with 6 post vintage trems and can set them to come back pretty close, but always have to pull up on the trem to bring it back from being slightly out of tune after downward wanging. I was hoping the 2 post system had fixed that.

Obviously they’re not going to let me take the guitar apart to check the bridge pivot points or mess with it much in the guitar store (though they did let me rewind the E and A strings with less winds to reduce the angle/tension at the nut and that helped).

So I’d like to know how much of a gamble I’m taking. Can/Should an American Standard return to perfect tuning (without having to pull up) if the strings aren’t binding in the nut?

And can anyone confirm whether the Fender warranty covers an American Standard Strat trem system? The section on wear is a bit ambiguous. I’m thinking here about wear or defects at the pivot pints on the bridge (which I experienced within 10 minutes of fitting a fender replacement trem recently).

Don't buy another guitar until you have Dan Erlewine's book "How to make your electric guitar play great".

After you understand it then feel free to buy without any worry about how it will play.

No unless there is a manufacturers defect the bridge is not covered.

If you purchase the Strat, pay to have the tech set it up for you. Then pay him to watch what he does.

December of this year I bought an American Deluxe Strat with the 2 point trem. This is the first 2 point trem I've ever owned. I was/am totally blown away by how great this guitar stays in tune. When I show people my guitar I always go crazy with the trem then show them how it goes back perfectly in tune. For people who say a vintage style trem can't possibly stay perfectly in tune, I beg to differ. Buy the guitar with no trem worries mate!

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

The Am Std trem is not a vintage-style trem, it's a two-point, big difference. The vintage-style can not stay in tune as well as the two-point. But, if you want perfect tuning stability, you can't match a double-locking system such as the Floyd Rose. Not even the two-point can match the FR, period.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

I am certainly no trem expert, and I agree that a vintage style trem will not stay in tune as well as a double locking Floyd Rose type trem. I'm just saying that the trem on the Am. Standards works very well, and the OP shouldn't let tuning issues detract from his purchase decision.

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

My trems stay in tune. I only trem on the original 50's style Synchronized Bridge unit. The six point trem.
Mine stay perfectly in tune and I use a tuner that is a hell of a lot more accurate than a footpedal tuner to check it with.

I'd say it's down to the ability of the person setting the trem up end of story. As for the old argument that I'm going to read shortly about hearing not being that good. I'll nullify that by asking exactly what interval you tune thirds and fourths to, before you assert that I can't hear correctly.

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No no and no

I use the American Standard 2 point tremelo and rarely have any tuning instability. I float mine 1/8th" off the deck and it returns to tune just fine after use.

There is no gamble as properly set up American Standards hold their tuning exceptionally well.

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You dig?

Setting up any trem...vintage, locking, whatever, it's as much of a disciplined precision art-form as is playing. It requires mountains of patience an eye, feel, and ear for minute detail and the ability to follow instructions and then...improvise on top of all that.

...the trem almost drove me nutz.

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"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover

I purchased my most recent American Standard Strat about 2 years ago, the 2 point trem is the best of all the Strats I've owned over the years, and that includes a Custom Shop '62 RI I once had.
I play a few surf instrumentals with ample use of the whammy bar, and my Strat comes right back into proper tuning every time......

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American Standard Strat
American Standard Tele
Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Fulltone RTO
Boss TU-3

I think that much of it has to do with how heavily the trem is used. I can yank the best setup ones right out of tune, just as Jeff Beck does. It really pisses some people off, but that's just the reality of it. And believe me I've pissed off more than a few people that claimed "perfect tuning stability" on their Strat trems. No doubt, if you yank the crap out of it, a FR is a must for perfect tuning stability. That's why guys like Satriani and Vai use a Floyd. For those with a light touch, a Fender is just fine. Ther's no getting around the loose bit of string behind the saddle on any Fender non-locking bridge, and the lack of a true pivot point on the six-screw trem is a killer of perfection also.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.