Fender American Special Stratocaster CAR

[naochiMalmsteen]

reminds me of malmsteen in leningrad, am i the only one?

[kingv911]

@naochiMalmsteen Nope. Me too. I own this guitar and I pretend I'm Malmsteen every now and then. The big headstock makes me think Yngwie every time I look at it.

[TimAyro]

Just ordered the 2 tone burst 2 days ago, should be here by the end of this week hopefully. Looks nice. Can't wait to make it look like shit (in a good way)

[rindacilla]

I have this guitar, Amazing tone! Bright and CLear! great for reggae and much more. For the price, you can not beat it

[SniperHunter26]

What's the name of the first song

[EpiCasino198]

Does it have locking tuners?

[kingv911]

@EpiCasino198 No.

[Fenderobsesion]

how much cost an american special???

[joaogodooy]

Full Name: Andy Fromproguitarshopdotcom

[SPeedYsingapore]

Hi, I noticed that some of your guitars are not listed in the website (like this one). Does it mean that it's unavailable for online order?

[quebuenaviola]

I want this guitar, i can´t pay it, it´s so sad men...

[marketanarchist2011]

@quebuenaviola Rob a bank!!!

[PinktheFloyd]

Completely torn between this and the Standard Strat. Whichever I will buy, I want a candy apple red finish so bad ever since I saw David Gilmour's strat! The American Special is about 35-40% more expensive than the Standard though. Anyone knows which would be the best upgrade for me coming from a '93 MIM Strat?

[Aerosmitty77]

@PinktheFloyd A new set of pickups and a new tremolo block would do some good for it.

[TheRustyWeapon]

@Aerosmitty77 Exactly. I'm having a Callaham steel block, and a set of Fralin Woodstock '69s put in right now. It'll be ready in a week CAN'T WAIT!!!

[Qoooba95]

fender blues deville in the background? this tele sounds soo sweet! did Andy use any pedals?

[joaogodooy]

MY NEXT GUITAAAAAAR

[Nobasic53]

Same pickups as SRV Strat.

[MichaelSmithComposer]

That tone is beautiful.... I need one of these guitars man. Problem is I am DYING to get a locking Tremelo. Have you heard of the Super Vee? Even Eric Johnson will use one. So I'm guessing it doesn't destroy the tone.

[cameronx3zz]

anyone know where i could find tabs to the riffs he's playing?

[funkyp4nd4]

Can this guitar do Punk like greenday and Blink-182? ..as well as 80's Rock like Bon Jovi?

[ummtone]

@funkyp4nd4 Why wouldn't it be able to?

[thebailhimself]

@funkyp4nd4 if you wanna do blink 182 you are a complete douche

[MB280E]

This guitar needs a classic Marshall amp to sound like it should!

[jldkrank]

@MB280E agree to disagree, love the reverb deluxe!

[David01625]

This guy would be great in a jam session

[petrochemicals4u]

Like yr demos, but seriously, how does Fender expect everyone to decide between the Special, and the American Standard , or the Mex for that matter, when there's only $200 separating them ??? Where does the Mex fit in now, better or worse? Maybe keep the American Standard, and turn the Special into the Squier...? Piss the Mex off...!

[Qoooba95]

damn hes got a pick onboard :D

[men007845]

awesome! with synchronized tremolo .

[kingv911]

I just went to a guitar shop yesterday and played on this guitar, then I cam home and ordered one. Great guitar, gets here next Tuesday - can't wait!

[DJK290]

Fuck...this guitar or the Les Paul Studio Deluxe....fml. So many choices, not enough money. *sadface*

[bluenotesoul]

@DJK290 coming from a working pro, get the strat and some locking tuners. Can't go wrong with this guitar for the money.

[xxPanteraxxx]

An Absolute Fantastic Affordable American Made Strat!!!

Its like €872.68 where I am!! But at least its not a above the €1,000 mark!

Awesome Demo! Awesome Guitar!

[ArthursChannel]

Dear PGS,

I hope you see this.

what sort of effects pedals were Andy using in the beginning song?

that tone just blew my mind and ive been looking for that sound for a while.

Regards,

Arthur

[xxPanteraxxx]

They have this exact model @ my local guitar store "Walton's" for €872.68 Unbeatable Value they said! I do have a Mexican Strat I bought last year! But I would absolutely love an American Made Stratocaster!! Just could never afford one :( :(

[joaogodooy]

I AM IN LOVE FOR THIS GUITAR

[homersimps1]

Fantastic opening riff

[chuchisuperhacker123]

what is the cost of this guitar??

[Qoooba95]

as always nobody knows what song is bein played in th beginning

[polyshednj]

The demo model I played in Austin, Tx was pretty sweet. It has that classic fender sound for sure.

[HelloSanitarium]

What are the main differences between the Fender American Special Stratocaster (maple fretboard), and the Fender Highway One Stratocaster (maple fretboard)? Is the american special worth the extra money, and why? Please answer! :)

[superiansuper]

@HelloSanitarium

1: highway one strats are made in Mexico and american special in america

2: the american special got texas special pick ups

3 : american special has a big head stock :]

[BigDynasty3]

@superiansuper Highway one's are also made in America, not Mexico.

[steptoesaunt]

that guitar looks far too new and shiny, horrible. it needs a good kicking in.

[joelbyrne]

Hey Andy, your playing style keeps me guessing, the tone you get from using your fingers rather that picks makes your style so unique, wish you'd play more of those sweet melodic lead lines in your vids more often!

[Hanske90]

I hate the idea of "an affordable american made fender".

As with all instrument; if you want the best quality, gotta spend money.

There's a lot of mid or low cost fender guitars and basses with a very good sound, just quite not as good as the real deal. Calling american fenders affordable sounds so degrading :p. I spent 6 months working the most shitty and underpaid job in a fastfood restaurant so i could one day lay my hands on a real american fender...

[ChineseR0ck]

Rosewood neck pls!

[FABIANM1964]

This guitar sounds a lot better than the more expensive american standard

[ArianeQube]

@FABIANM1964 dude, I don't know where you bought your strat from, but the american Special si much more expensive than the Standard version .

[FABIANM1964]

@ArianeQube Hi, you probably mean "standard stratocaster" wich is the one made in Mexico. (that is a great guitar by the way). I was refering to the "american standard stratocaster", that is an american made guitar that comes in a hard case.

[KsiazeIgor]

@FABIANM1964 Well, I own one and unfortunately I have to agree, it must be the TX Specs pickups. Think I've overpaid.

[FABIANM1964]

@KsiazeIgor Hi, after all the TX Special pickups come with the SRV strat that costs a fortune. Some people will say that the SRV has better wood, hardware and electronics.

That is partly true, but it is an argument that guitar manufacturers use to justify overpricing some models. I seriously doubt that someone can tell any sound difference betwen a SRV and an "american special" based on dobtful wood quality difference since the quality of the "american special" is excelent.

[StereotypicalBT]

I HAVE THIS GUITAR AND ITS FUCKING AMAZING!!!!!..........just saying

[Onlystrat]

Hi Andy I was looking at your review of this guitar and herd you say that the tremelo arm is slop free. Can you explain how this is so? Does the arm screw in or is it pushed in or some think. Great review and playing.

Robert.

[gamergeek3000]

how does the well does the guitar keep tune when using the trem?

[ivncdo0809]

hi, this was a fantastic demo as always, i want to know there's a mexican model called deluxe roadhouse stratocaster which also has texas special pickups, is there any big difference between this and the roadhouse?

[DistortedV12]

What's the name of the first song, Andy's playing?

[FRIDAY13TAURUS]

man play something better dude...try a chopin piece on that fuckin thing all picking...

[kleschtremania]

I m getting one soon... but don`t really know red or sunburst....

[Stratman291]

@kleschtremania wld you buy it if you found out that the strat has a 4 piece glued together body //////??????????

[FreaquedeMusique]

So thats the gu behind the voice!!

[Akuarius1987]

Why Proguitar dont do DEMO of Fender American Vintage Series?

[abarbar06]

i want it black :(

[GuitaristAidan]

Fat headstock ruins it for me :( otherwise a gorgeous machine :)

[MrJared1996]

woow ur r acctually great guitarist like lolz..I cant believe im acctually getting 1 of these awsome guitars.it should bea two tone sunburst. i think it looks cool.could you tell me what amp you use for this.

thanks

[chives81]

red strat and fuzz but no sorrow intro?

[mudbone80]

I think the only reason why I hate Andy's right hand technique is because I can probably never do it as good as he does it :)

[xRAKDOZx]

whats the difference between a vintage style and a 2 point synchronized tremolo?

[Kelly14UK]

More into the distortion- fearless end of things, and i prefer the whammy dropped down out of sight. BTW, 4:20 he sounds like Iommi, WTF? Cool...

[guitarmaster123445]

I'm gettin red! :) except I'm also swapin out the bridge pickup with a Dimarzio tone zone and getting a black pickguard with a hum. slot.

[darthdude1016]

if it sounds like this now i want to hear this after 50 years of playing

[mattw8675]

Im getting that, I dont care what my dad tells me (he wants me to get a squire) IM GETTING THIS!!! =) I dont know why hes complaining because I worked my butt of all summer to buy this and im not going to spend it on a lousy piece of junk squier when I can get an amazing guitar i will play all my life for a good price.

[MrOpinionNation]

@mattw8675 HAHA that's what I did! It was SO worth it!

[CanisMaximusTV]

@mattw8675 if your dad bugs you, tell him to call me and i'll back you up... visit my website

[naycrash]

Hey Andy,

I really like the song ideas you hammer out in this video. I could hear them played live quite nicely.

Nate

[Dorillo76]

man, i love the strat tone, is awesome

[gozondor]

Your voice is like candy and ur demo are so well edited and sexy and you explore all the great tones of the guitars ur demos are better than any other guitar demo channel

[Flerg3]

i just got this guitar and i love it, sounds like shit through my VOXvt 50 tho.

[CutTheSlayer]

Awesome playng style!

I'm searching for a new guitar to play from Classic Rock (Led Zeppelin, Ozzy, Guns N Roses) to Hard N' Heavy or Heavy Metal (till Iron Maiden, Black Label Society or similars)...

In your opinion, can this Fender Special plays good on this genres? Or is better searching an heavier fender? (maybe an American HSS (with Diamondback and Tex Mex) or Malmsteen (don't know, only that has low output pickups, Di marzio)

Thanks a lot for the help!

Keep On Rockin'!

[Flerg3]

@CutTheSlayer Zep ozzy and GNR? dude, go for the Les Paul bra

[guitarnuttty]

does anyone know where to find a "decent" reweiw of a special strat that DOESNT use pedals , as i dont own any i wanted to hear the basic guitar + amp type sound

[keithcibbbs]

i cant wait, im getting the 2-tone burst strat in a couple of months im trading in an ibanez hollow body guitar for it

[gettafeelofthis]

Andy, you're an amazing guitarist with great tonal and technical control. Absolutely love the demos:) Keep'm coming.

[LexanSK]

Whats the first song name? And also what amp/pedals are you using for the first part of the demo?

[elitemathlete]

I have one. Its my main guitar, I play it even before my american deluxe strat.

[Flerg3]

great demo man. i have this same guitar and i love it, need a decent amp now!

[gome5000]

are the 2 and 4 positions hum canceling?

[davidtheguitarman]

andy you are a REAL guitarits!

[Italicorum3500]

Fantastic demo...you manage to make every Strat sound like a dream. Would you mind to tell me please the settings of the very last bit of the demo? What pedal/s and amp have you used for that? It sounded so GOOD to me. Thanks for your help.

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@Italicorum3500 I believe it was a Blackout Musket Fuzz and a Mad Prof Deep Blue Delay. Thanks,

PGS Crew

[ZKDanika]

@Italicorum3500 thats because every fender strat sounds good :P with this I mean they are kickass in electric guitars :P

[BiavaStratTele]

Hi! Do you think is better this strat or a G&L tribute s-500?

Great playing Andy! :)

[t0ut4ku]

i wait till 4:17, turn the volume as high as possible and sit back, waiting for the neighbours to start yelling XD

awesome...

[marvelboy04]

wow i may have found my next strat!

[gh6896]

this or Special HSS?

[munkeyfish]

You said you use a DRRI for the demos. What effect are you using for the OD sounds? Thanks.

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@munkeyfish - We often use a Lovepedal Kalamazoo or an Xotic BB pre.

[Qoooba95]

@ProGuitarShopDemos was the first song just Andys improvising or it has any title? :) and what was effect mode? if ya remember this :D

[rockcastlemusic]

what's between the highway one and these?

[omfg51]

what is that intro song. it is so good. i want to learn it

[freakingawzm]

I want to buy a fender el-guitar for the prize around 1600 dollar.

Can you recommend me a good guitar for solo-playing/rock/funky-style and Classic playing?

I haven't play'd el-guitar a lot, but been on guitar school for around 1-2 years.

Which fender its the best choose for this prize?

Thanks for answers "ProGuitarShops"

[boogiechillen123]

the tube amp is gonna add tone. maybe do a video with a digital amp too to see how that affects tone.

[slashjunior707]

Thing I hate about these vids is that they never say any faults or negative things.

[Barto1361]

Hey, does anyone know what's the first song? Btw nice review and the guitar two!

[ibek1200]

I'm thinking about buying a strat, and few days ago i tried two of them. Mexican standard and American Special. Special seems much brighter and ... just better. But is there a big difference in terms of sound between American Standard and Special ?

[XRyanGuitarX]

what would be best to buy, a fender american special strat or fender highway strat? i play john mayer style.

[Freeptom]

hey Andy, whats the song at 3:00 please!

[sergiudrummer]

Very good guitar

[bongmail]

Will this guitar sound good with some heavy guitar playing like for example Black Sabbath, Deep Purple or Iron Maiden? I'm looking for a versatile guitar however I really want a strat!

[hetfield2x4]

@bongmail should get the humbucker model if thats the case...this single coil wont cut it for black sabbath or iron maiden

[topografer]

is this a highway one with texas specials and shinier finish? It's not that cheaper than the american standard but i love the pickups the big frets and the big headstoch more. And i really doubt the standard will be better. I even like this vintage tremolo more. Well except the pickups and maybe the frets all the others i mentioned are details

[cjizcool123]

thank u! i finally found a great quality professional review for this guitar. rad

[hunghienhuy]

which one do you prefer?Fender HSS or this one?

Does the special HSS has a tremolo?? thank you

[MinivanMegafun100]

American Special a.k.a. Highway One except without the nitro finish and fewer available colors.

[809Metallica]

Hey Andy! Are you using a Pick? And if yes what king of pick a normal pick or a thumb pick?

[wart24]

I watch this stuff only to see Andy play! He´s Awesome!

[twotimingpete]

what kind of fuzz did you use at the end? sounds great.

[TrebleFiend]

What's the song played from 1:51 - 2:45?

[greasegat]

I dont think they sound as good as the highway 1's & I think it's due the that plastic shell sprayed over the body. The woods natural tone doesnt shine through.

[igknightus]

bigest decision now....red or...sunburst.....

[Robobbg]

@igknightus Me, I'm kind of feeling the red for some reason.

[Barto1361]

@igknightus i think red is better ;)

[master1sa]

@igknightus definetely red!!!!! dont know if you already saw both in real, bur the red one just blows you away!!!! i am goin to buy the same!!

[remalicious123]

@igknightus omfg i kno rite~!!!!!!!

[AwesomeSauceLimited]

@igknightus sunburst dude!

[kieranification]

@igknightus sunburst

[bekitamas]

@igknightus

Red ;) 

[SuperChance17]

@igknightus sunburst

[grantburgh1]

awesome demo as per usual

[RAGlauncher]

just wondering.. does the american special strat come with a glossed neck like the american std?

[SGBorderCollies]

satin neck

[TheFrostyDealer]

Me wants O.o

[mik96awsomo]

whats the song at the beggining?

[bcarman14]

just played on of these in guitarcenter today for the first time, and im so buying one

[megamicron]

Andy, are you going to make a video testing the American Vintage '62 Stratocaster® Reissue ? I would like to know two things. One about the covered bridge, is it just a beautiful detail or it has some utility ? and second, does the fender gotoh vintage looking tuners fit on an american special headstock ? thank you very much from argentina

[megamicron]

At last some one who plays at the rise to the occasion

[ClovisOGilead]

Andy has the sound in his hands.

[LPT103]

I entered in a drawing to win one of these... I hope I win :)

Love the red color and the big fat 70's headstock, it doesn't look like a real strat without the big headstock!

[BenoArocks]

How is the tuning stability with the vintage tremolo bridge?

[tony93666]

fat 70's headstock = WIN

[burl0721]

I want this guitar!!!!!

[ernzzz]

Wawawewa! Very nice.. how much?

[TheFrostyDealer]

@ernzzz $800

[Mjpalandri]

its finished in polyester :'(

[piccicacca]

we're just going to buy this thing for the next 2 weeks! sweet man!

[chives81]

is it just me or is andy playin less and less songs that we dont know?

[guitarshredda2]

is the body finished in nitro or poly?

[5150VanAlien]

finished in ploy

[WTig3r]

@guitarshredda2 polyurethane, not polyester! its as light as nitro

[255george]

hey Andy, what is the pedal / amp combo used on this video with the strat?

[Acronso]

my perfect dream guitar *_*

[PRSGuitarist1]

I'm not usually a big fan of Fender guitars, but this one looks/sounds nice

[immaboogieman]

hi andy, you're just a great player. do you play in any band? if so, is there any video on youtube?

[cm0220ster]

One of the things I, and a lot of other guys who have owned strats agree, is that piercing high end from the bridge pickup is plain awful. Ear bleeding , "ice pick" is the more accurate definition. So many guys play these things, though. I can't remember the musician, real popular though, says that one of the things he liked about the strat is that in the wrong hands it can sound truly ugly. Kind of like Deniro in Meet The Parents comparing dogs and cats, the Strat makes you earn it's respect.

[blackskullbass]

agreed, i play almost exclusively on the neck pickup

[dus65]

thats why a lot of guys mod the second tone knob to the bridge instead of the middle right?

[povonodo]

The neck/middle position doesn't have much "quack" does it? I guess that's because of the Texas Special PUPs?

[samantonio]

The bridge/middle quacks a hell of a lot more than the neck and middle. but if you want to get those real srv-style blues tones you can't go better than texas specials. my favorite pickups. though I've only played noiseless pickups on american standards and hot rod single coils on the highway one strats...

[jackkemel]

srv himself played standard strat pickups, his "srv"-guitar with those texas specials came out when he already died

[mistersooty]

Is this not just a Highway 1 with a poly finish and Texas Specials?

[CodyCEngdahl]

@mistersooty pretty much

[ChucklesMginty]

PGS should really start captioning what song's being played during the demos. Every video has loads of comments asking 'which song at x:xx' xD

[ShameofaNation]

@ChucklesMginty I could not agree with you any freaking more, I heaqr some freaking awesome song sin these demos and its bugs me all freaking day. Please take note of this, PGS.

[blackskullbass]

it would take the fun out of it, its tradition to be the 'first' to guess the song :P

[djlawris]

what song is on 1:50? :)

[hiro8002096]

GREAT strat!!! 5*****

[edadmartin]

hot andys hot today !!

[footballnow9]

..sorry but in my opinion custom shop texas special pickups sounds much better in all you tube reviews (also in crappy ones)...so my question is are the texas special pickups in American Special - custom shop Texas Specials pickups or are youst variation of - custom shop Texas Specials pickups (PGS please comment)...

thanks for review

Sorry for my english!!!

[econgblues626]

what's the difference between these guitars and the expensive american standard strats? thanks.

[NJlo]

Does anyone else think this demo lacks high end or are my ears just getting too f'ed up?

[flannelking]

I think its cause I've seen them using ribbon microphones quite a bit, those tend to have a darker sound.

[andrewt248]

Actually the ribbon mics they use (Royers) don't have a dark tone, they have a fuller tone (more low end) compared to a condenser. They surely aren't darker than a dynamic like a SM57 or MD421.

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

Try listening to our demos at PGS for better audio quality. Thanks

[MrManson94]

what's the song at 2.51?

[Strat0Blues]

I bought a Highway and my guitar teacher said it had a Mexican paint job and not this Nitro shit. for the price I paid for that mo fo I could have bought an island of the coast of Hong Kong

[Strat0Blues]

The first song is called MEOW CATS IN THE CRADLE OF A SILVER SPOON LITTLE WING DING SING PING GING

[william1theguitarwah]

andy, ive head in alot of places that string trees are bad, and that if u set up your guitar well (height of tuners etc.) u can keep tunning stability way better without them. u can get like graphite lubricant do put on the nut. is it true?

[andrewt248]

Locking tuners with compensated height, nut lube, and NO STRING TREES. That's the way to roll. Especially if you do a lot of string bending or tremolo work.