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Post subject: Four weeks with my Z9 American Special Strat HSS
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:37 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:57 am
Posts: 63
Location: Mumbai, India
This was the only guitar in my list of options that I could find in the market, at a bargain- the one I wanted so much (which could save some cash and credit), the Blacktop HH-FR (TS) wasn't available, the distributors were dragging their feet and the dealer wanted to get done with the festive season sales. The used market is full of junk, which would cost $300 new in the United States, so I had to buy new. The local best-price Fender dealer had an offer running.

He had offered a delicious (but still a tad high, but discounted twice) price on a Fender American Special Strat HSS. I booked it after the festive season in November, and it was delivered home on December 14. I wanted a good guitar that would help me improve my skills, not a cheap assembly that can't hold up and needs a neck fix every three months. Without much of a thought (wait, it was a bit pricey), I booked the Strat in 3TB. I got a Z9, without a strap, cable and pick set (this was a sale item). So here are the pics you want so much.
ImageIn the bag...
Image...and it's out.

Thin neck. A little thinner than the Java EG-11 neck that had to be straightened every three months. Not quite as thin as the Roadstar/Saber types, but thinner than the thin-necked Les Pauls and Schecter C-1. I'm not so sure about how it will feel on shred solos, but on old-school Blackmore/Iommi solos and some not too fast, it's just fine. Oh well, YJM shreds on an old-school Strat. My Strat icons are more metal than traditional. Frets don't stick out, and surprisingly, given the kind of guitars and the quality at bigger shops, I'm surprised that frets don't stick out on what I get- and this, of course, is no exception. The guitar was set up very nicely by the shop, with a sufficiently low action and a string gauge that can help me bend better. The shop owner also set up the trem in such a way that I can get a slight bend upwards as well. Tuning stability is no issue here.

Plugged into my Mustang-1, I can get much better tone than the Java EG-11 I was stuck with for nearly seven years. The Texas Specials are very loud, for singles, and I had to roll the volume back a fair bit a few times, except on the Twin Reverb settings. The Atomic Humbucker made some of the lesser/weaker settings like British 80s sound loud enough for some classic rock and metal tones, so I don't have to roll to American 90s or Metal 2000 for my metal needs all the time. One little area of concern, though, is that the sustain isn't quite enough on the high E at the 22nd fret. Maybe a Callaham block would boost it? I'll still give it time. I'm not so sure I want to swap out the pickups, as they sound decent.

The Jackson SLX, Jackson DK2M (Chushin), Fender Blacktop Strat HH-FR and Fender Big Apple Strat won't be available so easily or at a reasonable price if imported, but I needed a decently-built guitar sooner than later. I'd still love to have a Floyd-loaded guitar with 24 frets and twin humbuckers, or an American Standard at a reasonable price with money to spend on HSH pickups and fitting, but this American Special, I feel, will stay for a long time. The super-strat I want won't be a replacement, but an addition. But a Floyd Rose Classic Strat? Or an amber ash HSH Strat? That would surely be a step up.


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Post subject: Re: Four weeks with my Z9 American Special Strat HSS
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:04 pm
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Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Congrats Arjun_M, seems like a great choice.

Arjun_M wrote:
...One little area of concern, though, is that the sustain isn't quite enough on the high E at the 22nd fret. Maybe a Callaham block would boost it?...


I think that a Callaham block will improve sustain and tone, and also adds a little more sparkle and harmonics compared to the stock cast block. I have put Callahams on at least a dozen guitars, and found that the improvement in sound made me forget about changing pups. Some people can't tell a difference, but most, including myself, notice a definite improvement.

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Post subject: Re: Four weeks with my Z9 American Special Strat HSS
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 1:56 am
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Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Get a floyded Superstrat with HHH pickups!

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