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Post subject: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:45 am
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I am interested in buying a new fender. I am stuck in between the American special surf green or a new American Standard. I was wondering what the difference between the two are other then than the large head stock on the special l. The special also only comes with a gig bag and I know the special has the jumbo frets.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:58 am
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I am a huge fan of the American Standard from the early 2000 I have owned several. I prefer the maple neck over the rosewood. I also noticed that the American special looks like the highway 1 strats, does anyone know the real difference between the standard the special and the highway.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:21 am
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The American Special was essentially the "replacement" for the Highway 1 series; the differences between the American Special and Highway 1 are the pickups and the body finish. They both have the jumbo frets and that "Greasebucket" circuit for the tone controls. The American Special has Texas Special pickups (I believe they have been the Custom Shop versions since some time in 2013) and has a glossy polyurethane finish on the body; the Highway 1s had their own pickups and a matte lacquer finish on the body. Both of them have a standard truss rod, and neither have the micro-tilt neck attachment. They both use the same bridge, a vintage-style 6-screw bridge.

The American Standards have medium frets, the Bi-Flex truss rod, the micro-tilt neck adjustment, a 2-post trem, and Custom Shop Fat 50s pickups. The controls are a standard tone for the neck pickup and a no-load tone pot for the middle and bridge pickups.

They are all nice; it just depends on what you prefer. I slightly prefer the neck shape and fret size on the American Standards, and I also prefer rosewood and SSS pickups which isn't normally available on the American Special (the HSS had rosewood, the SSS is maple only except for the occasional FSR model).


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:27 am
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I have also read that the American special has a made in Mexico bridge and tremolo block.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:32 am
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matthew420 wrote:
I have also read that the American special has a made in Mexico bridge and tremolo block.

I actually read that the measurements on the special block is not american measurements it's mexican measurements. Idk if that's true but that's what I read.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 11:53 am
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I'm pretty sure that is correct - the American Special (and the Highway 1 before it) use the same bridge that is used on the MIM Classic Series Strats.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:03 pm
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That's what I thought. Other then the 6 screws that hold it in place what's the difference in it compared to the standard? Less spacing, lighter cheaper material?


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 2:33 pm
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matthew420 wrote:
That's what I thought. Other then the 6 screws that hold it in place what's the difference in it compared to the standard? Less spacing, lighter cheaper material?


I think the spacing is the same (but someone correct me if I'm wrong). Actually the block is larger than the block on the Standards. It's cheaper because it's made outside of the USA.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 3:04 pm
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Well I am still stuck between the American special or the American Standard. Any opinions?


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 3:29 pm
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I have the red American Special and love it! Yes, you are getting Custom Shop Texas Specials (same as on US Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat) and the Greasebucket tone circuit.

My understanding is that NO parts are made in the Mexico plant... they only assemble guitars with parts sent from Corona. But you do get the classic six-point trem, and an inferior truss rod to the American Standard. You DO get the comfortable rolled neck edges.

I bought mine because of the price vs value for an American made Strat and because I specifically wanted Texas Specials and the large headstock. Paid less than half of what a Vaughan signature Strat would have cost.

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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 2:23 pm
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John C wrote:
I'm pretty sure that is correct - the American Special (and the Highway 1 before it) use the same bridge that is used on the MIM Classic Series Strats.


Actually thats incorrect. The pre-upgrade ( Small headstock Highway ones) use the same bridge as the Classic series, but the 06 and later Highway ones and American Specials use a different trem. The classics are wide string spacing and wide mount pattern, while the 06 later Highway ones and American Specials use a Narrow string spacing ( Like the American Standard/MIM standard) and wide mount spacing. All of the aforementioned tremolos are made in Asia by Ping Works.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 8:00 am
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Yogi wrote:
John C wrote:
I'm pretty sure that is correct - the American Special (and the Highway 1 before it) use the same bridge that is used on the MIM Classic Series Strats.


Actually thats incorrect. The pre-upgrade ( Small headstock Highway ones) use the same bridge as the Classic series, but the 06 and later Highway ones and American Specials use a different trem. The classics are wide string spacing and wide mount pattern, while the 06 later Highway ones and American Specials use a Narrow string spacing ( Like the American Standard/MIM standard) and wide mount spacing. All of the aforementioned tremolos are made in Asia by Ping Works.


Yogi - thanks; I wasn't sure about the trem changing; I guess I was remembering the original Highway 1s.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 10:37 pm
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Another big difference is the Am Std gets that nice HSC.

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Post subject: Re: 2014 fender american special stratocaster
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 2:55 pm
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Theoretically, the American Standard has minor details that make it a bit more "playable" plus the fat '50s Pickups, but as a matter of fact, you won't be buying a lesser guitar at all if you choose the American Special. It's a different American strat, that's all. Both are very, and I mean, VERY good Fenders.

I'd play both and judge by my ears and fingers.

If you are a beginner, ask someone else to play and listen until you make up your mind, and then play what you know using both guitars, see how they feel.

My current "to go" guitar is an American Standard and I'll probably buy an American Special or a MiM as a second instrument, in order to get the Texas Specials, they sound different.

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