American Special Stratocaster

[nolinhanlon]

no tuning issues.

[who8allthepies]

theres no difference between the vintage bridge ie 6 screws and the 2 point floating. and it dont make the sound thin, thats bull. its the trem block that makes the difference . get a thick rolled steel trem block . ie callham which as a shallow string recess as someone said.

[TheBdriver]

kinda makes more sense to me they would move the tone ability to the back (treble) pup.. it and the neck position are probably going to be used more by most players .. I am musing over one Ive seen on Kijiji for a long time now. He's down to $600.. so naturally I'm going to offer $500 :) thanks for the review am trying to find out what I can about it... no pick up noise at all ?

[PopExpo]

the 2 point bridge sounds thin cuz they put a crummy trem block in em. i put a callaham cold rolled steel vintage block with shallow string recesses improved the sound 10 fold.

[nolinhanlon]

I have a deluxe strat with the floating bridge, and agree it sounds a bit thin. Would it cost a lot to have a traditional bridge installed?

[speckofdust21]

How John...How do you make the Roland Cube 30 sound this good? This is ridiculous... i got the same setup and it sounds nowhere near yours. Quoting Jackie Chan: "Master, will you teach me?"

[johnhguitar]

I think it's in the tones controls and experimenting till you like what you hear.

Thanks for your interest.

[Blackhawk6alpha]

@johnhguitar does the guitar have any tuning issues or does it stay in tune quite well an answer would be very helpful thxs (:

[lockpicker2k]

Great video! I always enjoy watching a video that I can come away from with some knowledge teaching me something I can use. I never did like those string trees, the friction on the vintage ones really mess with your tuning. I use staggered locking tuners which eliminate the use of the trees and keep the guitar in perfect tune.

[Woodpeckerszeband]

I just bought one of those, after playing others strat in the store.

This one sounds great, Big frets are really my taste, and the pickups (warm texas specials) match perfectly with the maple neck. In addition, the greasebucket tone button on bridge pickup works really well. Great guitar, all features are very smart.

[MrThomasv]

john great review bought one , how about a lesson on the song you played for the demo sounded great

[splashfizz]

nice review. your guitar playing sounds great. I'm considering one of these models.

Thanks.

[MrThomasv]

real nice guitar bought it over the standard, texas specials pickups are an upgrade . ill take the pickups over the guitar case

[Eltimbalero7499]

Where do you get all these guitars?!?

[smooretogo]

Wow, just learned something about the fret size...Is this what Fender calls their "jumbo frets"? I know now that's what I want to have now...

Also, what neck radius would you recommend? I play the very same type of music you seem to love. I just don't want to make mistakes when I order mine. Been saving for a long time.

Thx man...good job

[johnhguitar]

Please give yourself a chance to play one of these guitars with the larger frets before you order one that way you'll make no mistake.

[smooretogo]

@johnhguitar Very good advice...But like you suggested. The bends would be easier as the finger doesn't touch the fret board as much. I will.

Can I ask you this...What(cheaper American made) strat would you suggest.

I just went and downloaded the new Fender catalog. I wont be able to go much over a grand. I've handled a few.....and a strat has always fit me like a glove...mostly. Even the cheaper ones.

Thanks for your reply, I like your reviews and just subbed you. Nice job with the vids.

[johnhguitar]

I think you can find the Special for under $1000 US if you look around. Are you in the USA? You could find a used Highway Strat for cheaper but I like this new Strat Special model better.

[smooretogo]

@johnhguitar I have a local dealer I usually buy guitars/supplies from. They tell me the can get what ever is listed in the book for cheaper. They do pretty good buy me so far(last 12 years). My concern is about the std tremolo. I was gonna try to upgrade at all costs if possible. If this one will hold it's own, it will be fine with me.

Main concerns, Bridge/tremolo and neck size/radius. I can get into upgrades etc. later, as long as I get the right neck and body.

[johnhguitar]

I don't want you buying one and blaming me for it. Try to play one first if you can. The tremelo is traditional

so you have to oil the nut so the strings can slip through the slots. These tremelos sound better the the dual pole type. Best wishes.

[smooretogo]

@johnhguitar I certainly will. Thanks for your feedback.

[smooretogo]

@johnhguitar You were 100% correct sir. I went and played a few strats at our local dealer. Firstly I was told that the American Special comes US made with Mexican Hardware. You CAN tell a difference between the Special and the Standard. Special isnt bad tho.

American Standard with jumbos is what I'll be goin with. All American made and worth the extra few $.

Thanks for your feed back dude. Have a good one!!!!!

[smooretogo]

Is the bridge anywhere close to say a Floyd Rose? I know the vintage bridge is good, but I want to make sure before I spend the money that it will hold it's tune when really worked...

I gots limited money and I want the best I can get for the $ I spend on my future (new) American Strat.

Nice vid, as usual.

[MrTURBOJOHN]

Whats the name of the first song that you play I remember listening to it all my life but never knowing whats its name

[johnhguitar]

I probably think it's Cold Shot by SRV but I wrote this lick a while ago.

[MrTURBOJOHN]

@johnhguitar Thanks!

[akirafukai311]

i own a am special strat, and i find it curious that the B and the e string sounds minus agressive than the other strings.. is this because of the texas special? (sorry for my bad english)

[johnhguitar]

I always tilt the the pickups higher toward the E and B strings. I think Eric Johnson changes the height of the magnets to his liking to balance volume of each string.

[DickLodge68]

Thanks for the review...Fenders are great - my first was an old Mustang with a Bigsby tremelo. It never stayed in tune. Honestly, I'm very impressed with what Ibanez has done recently and think they have great guitars for a reasonable price. Ibanez used to really suck - but they are great now! Depends on what you are playing but my old Japenese Charvel is still my "go to". Never fails and I'd take it over any Strat.

[mrloquacious]

John! Great demo as usual, you're a fantastic player!

Just curious, any preferance over this guitar or the Road Worn? I'm having a hard time finding one of these Am. Specials to try out. I will try it eventually, but I'm totally loving the tones I've heard from the Road Worns.

Thanks

[johnhguitar]

The Roadworn guitars are Mexican and feel 1/2 finished where as these Specials seem like they have everything you could want from an electris Fender styled guitar.

Thanks

[firemiststrat]

Thanks for another great review, man. You're a consistently excellent reviewer.

The American Special Tele is also another very fine guitar.

[Strat0Blues]

How would you rate this compared to the Highway One? Is there much difference?

[johnhguitar]

I like it better. Looks and feels like a complete result but the Highway One seems like it has a few loose ends.

[johnhguitar]

It's as good as a strat needs to be. Go and compare but at this point they're just different.

[juanpa1979X]

Lovely Licks sequence from 5:33 to 5:58!

thanks John! I was missing you around here :D

[notpopebuthope]

0:01 - 1:08 *** BEST GUITAR SEQUENCE I HEARD IN 2011 *** Congratulations! REAL REAL HOT !! Thanks & Cheers from Austria! This hat fits perfect too! Hottest John ever!

[mini0705]

Just love your Reviews mw

[johnydeltablues]

price?

[johnhguitar]

List at $1099.  Shop sale perhaps $799? This is my favorite-for-the-money axe hands down. Excellent! Truly!

[rainshot]

leftys maybe?

[gamvidys]

Nice! Where can I get a cool hat like that? Great demo! You are the man!=)

[johnhguitar]

@gamvidys The hat is a Quicksilver design.

[LeMaitreDeSorts]

I've never really liked Stats.

[HighNflY]

@LeMaitreDeSorts I yea hate stats strats are pretty badass with there lil neck pickups

[hawg427]

The Trower Strat better play like butter for approx. $3000 US Dollars :-0

[Strat0Blues]

Hello are you using the A7 chords?

[johnhguitar]

@Strat0Blues NO NO A9 A9!!!! 

[bodom71]

That's a great strat!!!

[kamaboko1]

Good to see you post another video. Seems like it has been a while.

[Stratomacaster]

The construction and components are very similar to the Robin Trower signature Strat (minus the floating bridge). With the jumbo frets, the Trower Strat plays like butter. That one looks like it's fun to play also.