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Post subject: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:47 am
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Hi All,

I've bought last april a Fender strat from Thomann, a FSR.
I'm gonna introduce this guitar for those who don't know this one, maybe it'll give some of you the envy to buy it.
If some of you have more information than Thomann's spec sheet, I'm listening !

I'm more a LP guy but last april I decided I could not continue my guitar journey without having at least a strat. It had to be a SSS with maple fingerboard, since it is for me the "legendary" strat.
I also wanted a large headstock, cause I find it kinda looks cool, and 22 frets.
I had no special desire for a given pickup, just not the MiM standard since I've read everywhere they are pretty meh, but hey, I could have bought one with the standard pup and replace it.

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the fret are medium (not medium jumbo) size. The neck is glossy, I don't like that much, so I slightly sanded it down to get a satin finish. I like to feel the wood in my hands.
http://www.thomann.de/fr/fender_standar ... oCLQHw_wcB

It comes with a genuine Fender Gigbag deluxe.
at 499€ it is really a bargain, compared to a 499€ standard, I did not think twice. The TexMex have more balls than the standard pups, and I like them for crunch and cleans.
For high distortion, I'm not able to dial a correct setting (micro cube, vt20+, blackstar HT-5R, zoom g3X) it is always "thick", not really birght like Iron Maiden's sound (I know they use hotrails). I guess the TexMex are great for cleans and crunch, that's how I like them at least.

The body cavities are painted with black paint, I guess insulated paint. The back of the pickguard is full of aluminium tape. I know that because I've remove the PG the last time I change my strings, to solder a wire to get the tone2 knobs affect the bridge pup (great useful mod btw).

I have original non-locking Fender tuners, so I plan to replace them by genuine locking Tuners. It seems to be the same, I assume, but if anyone has info on this, I'm listening.

http://www.thomann.de/fr/fender_schalle ... ner_ch.htm

The tremolo is defined by Thomann as "synchronized vintage tremolo". I don't know what size is it, and I might replace it by a higher grade tremolo in a few months. It is 6 points and most of the high quality grade tremolos I find are 2 points tremolo (on Thomann's).

Regarding the set-up, I don't know if it is like this for all Fender, but I was really impressed. It is the first guitar I buy that is perfectly set up out of the box.
I've checked the intonation, all are dead on, the action was kinda low (no more than 2mm at the low E string), no fret buzz, neck relief was 0.15mm.

Congratulations Fender for this FSR, it really gives me the envy to buy another one (later).

EDIT : it also exists in Olympic white ( :love: ) and black

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'14 Fender Stratocaster FSR - TexMex pups and 22 frets


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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:06 pm
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Nice Guitar, congratulations !

It is a nice combination of Modern and Vintage elements.

But, I don't know why you want to change it.

I would suggest keeping it as is for a while.

I'm not sure the two-point Tremelo is necessarily an improvement over the six-point one.

And, since this guitar has the Vintage Style String Trees, adding Locking Tuners may cause intonation issues or at least could require upgrading the String Trees to the Modern type.

You'll end up with more of a Partscaster than an FSR if you do these things.

But, it's your guitar, and your €s, so if that's your thing, have at it !

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:27 pm
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rem22 wrote:
For high distortion, I'm not able to dial a correct setting (micro cube, vt20+, blackstar HT-5R, zoom g3X) it is always "thick", not really birght like Iron Maiden's sound (I know they use hotrails).


Some hints on searching that IM sound: Boss Pedals tones
Amp model to metal or classic, Bass/Mid/Treble on six (but experiment up & down), add gain and delay to taste. Play LOUD.

And welcome to the forum :lol: :lol: :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 1:14 am
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Dave Murray uses Duncan HotRail humbuckers on many of his guitars.

Recently he swapped the middle hotrail humbucker from his vintage white Floyd Rose Classic for a little screaming demon.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:46 am
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Hey guys

Thanks for all your advice...Regarding Iron Maiden, I'm not a fanboy either, I mean I love their songs and really appreciate how they rock for decades....but I also like a bunch of other guitarists, classics like Knopfler, Slash, Moore, Green, Page, Duane allman, Gibbons and so on.

I was just saying that I can get great tones, creamy and bluesy like Blacksmore's solo from Smoke on the water, but I can't get a ...I don't even know how to describe it.

Blackmore's sound is quite thick and bluesy to me, well while Iron Maiden (or other metal '80s bands) is very sharp and cutting in their solo.

Those are just examples to define the kind of sound.
The neck TexMex nails Blackmore's sound, especially with the tone at half course, nails according to my ear, of course it is not 100% match. I don't have Blackmore's fingers or a thousandth of his talent :(
But if I push the gain a little bit too much, it is not sharp and cutting. the bridge pup is more like this (sharp and cutting) but it is pretty thin sounding.

So, that's why I assume these pups are really great for cleans or bluesy and creamy tones, but not so good for heavy distortion.

All the experience described here is basically straight into a blackstar HT-5R (great amp by the way), maybe I should try some pedals on the clean channel.

Thx anyway for reading, I hope some on you will love this guitar the way I do, it is really an interesting one.

Note ; regarding the modifications...I would not do non-reversible mods, if I replace the tuners, I'll keep the old ones. But I really see MIMs as awesome basis for modding and make them as good as any other strat.

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'14 Fender Stratocaster FSR - TexMex pups and 22 frets


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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 1:53 am
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Over the years Ritchie Blackmore used Duncan Flat Quarterpounders and Gold Lace Sensors (the middle pickup on his namesake signature guitar is a dummy coil).

Lace released a Hot Silver Sensor which supposedly emulates his signature tones.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 5:31 am
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Hi got one of these recently and was mightely impressed. Check out my thread on my modifications which I've done so far:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=94854

and my initial thoughts on it:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=94731

Cheers

Sacha

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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 10:43 am
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hey guys ;)

thanks Sacha, I've read your 2 posts, great things there ! I can see I'm not the only one very happy with this guitar !
How do you find the neck, compared to your other strats ? I don't have a US strat, but I find that the fret job is really good.

I've also seen that you have put a 7 ways switch toggle...Gonna look at that !

I'm balanced about the bridge pup too. I don't know yet if I'll set up another loaded pickguard, with something more ballsy (like a set of Hotrails for example) or just change the bridge pup. With another PG, I would just switch PG according to my humor :)

I thought about replacing the bridge pup by a SD's little '59, but I think I would also lose the very unique stratocaster sound. For a old western sound like apache, the bridge pup is great. But it is not always useful...so right now, I don't know.

I'm waiting for the Fender locking tuners + American strings tree, ordered yesterday :)
Pups and wiring will wait...so as 7 ways switch.

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'14 Fender Stratocaster FSR - TexMex pups and 22 frets


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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 4:51 pm
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You might get better results with a different amp. I don't know about the cube, but the B* is not going to give you much cutting sounds, it's fairly dark, and gets lost in the mix when jamming with others.

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


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Post subject: Re: Fender Stratocaster FSR : 60th anniversary (Thomann FSR)
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 2:48 am
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Hi Rem

Neck profile is almost identical to my Plus Deluxes, fret finish is great in relation to buzzing but the edges are only OK. My Modern Player Jaguar has much better finished fret edges.

With regards to the bridge pickup, It's growing on me, especially since I raised it up a bit more, I may even raise it further.

I tried a Start Ultra unplugged for the first time last night and can honestly say I prefer my FSR :shock:.

I've wanted to try an ultra for ages and as my mate bought one on ebay and just got it I was thrilled to try it. It was awesome but not immediately better feeling than my other strats, all the other three were awesome on first strum. I think the Ultra will be but needs some TLC. It was quite resonant and a great guitar but it would need some work and tidying to make it special, all my strats didn't really need work other than to bring them in line with my preferences. My Plus Deluxes are essentially stock.

I’m going to be doing the reprofiling on the frets for my mate on it so I’ll get a bit more time with it in the future.

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89+91 Strat+Dlx
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MP Jag
Homebuild Colt
Dano U2
Charvel SDI Lacewood US
Tokai V
Hondo II LP Jnr
Martin 00028-EC
Hand-made 000 acoustic

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Fender Bls Dlx
Bugera V5
Orange Micro-terror


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