Well, it’s NAMM time again folks, and that means new guitars and gear coming out of the woodwork. For its part, Fender this week announced the release of a whole new line of guitars, dubbed the American Specials.
Comprised of the American Special Telecaster, American Special Stratocaster, and American Special Stratocaster HSS, this latest edition to Fender’s line-up is apparently aimed at the mid-market, bringing American Made quality to the sub-$1,000 price range.
All three guitars are decked out with alder bodies finished in gloss urethane, modern “C” shaped maple necks (9.5″ radius,) 22 jumbo frets, ’70s-style oversized headstock decals, and Texas Special singlecoil pickups (with the HSS Strat sporting an Atomic humbucker at the bridge.)
They also feature Fender’s Greasebucket tone circuit, allowing you to roll off the high-end with out adding copious amounts of bass (a really nice feature IMHO.)
Other features of the line-up will include an old-school string-through-body bridge with three brass saddles on the American Special Telecaster (the guitar comes in your choice of Olympic White or Three-color Sunburst.)
And the American Special Strat will be armed with a “vintage style” synchronized tremolo (the guitar is finished in either Candy Apple Red or Two-color Sunburst,) while the Stratocaster HSS will sport a rosewood fretboard, synchronized tremolo, and of course that Atomic bridge humbucker (the guitar comes in either Black or Three-color Sunburst finish.)
The guitars will ship with Deluxe gigbags, and are currently selling for a street price of hovering in the $800 range… a great price for and American made Fender… I’ll be interested to see how they handle.
- Your Chance To Win A Prototype American Special Guitar From Fender
- Mmmm, Humbuckers… Fender Announces ‘Blacktop’ Line Of Guitars
- Fender To Produce American Vintage ’57 Commemorative Stratocaster
- Fender Offers Up Custom Shop Vintage Pro 1956 Stratocaster NOS
- REVIEW: Fender American Vintage ’62 Stratocaster Re-Issue
- It’s Finally Official: Fender Reveals Elvis Costello Signature Jazzmaster
- Vintage Guitar Magazine Reviews American Deluxe Stratocaster V-Neck
- New For 2007: Fender ‘62 Heavy Relic Stratocaster
January 12th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Gloss urethane? Really? Hmmm….why would I buy one of these vs. a Road Worn? Fender should just make Custom Shop or high end Artist series in the USA and move the rest to Mexico. Any icons you know of playing a 2000-2010 era standard Strat or Tele?
January 14th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Rick makes an excellent, if not a little disheartening, point. Who DOES play standard Fenders anymore? The price sounds nice; but in addition to urethane the maple necks and gig bags make this seem like a foreign guitar. I’m sure a nitro finish would have killed on these.
May 7th, 2010 at 5:57 am
this guitar is everything I ever wanted, the sound is incredible, the finish is beautiful, it looks really good, and most of all it rocks big time, thank you, I got the strat hss 3 tone sunburst, I love it !
May 16th, 2010 at 3:20 am
I bought the American Special Telecaster. Nicely made guitar but not twangy enough for me. I’m thinking of selling it an getting a Highway One Tele. It plays great though and sounds fine with overdrive. Just on clean it is a little to mid-rangey for my ears. I probably will keep it if I can save enough to have the Highway One as well.
May 17th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Have you considered just upgrading the pickups? Might be a cheaper route than purchasing a whole new guitar.
February 16th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
I bought the HSS Strat and it is worth every penny. I had a Roadhouse Strat I sold to get the cash to buy this and I have to say, I get better tones with the Special Than the Roadhouse. I loved the Roadhouse too, and the neck and middle pickups on the Special are Texas Specials, The same as on the Roadhouse, Still I like the tones from the AM. Special better, It is a little heavier, and the only complaint I have is, the fret ends are a little sharp. Not too bad, but I will be getting them leveled and crowned at the initial setup. Anyway, It’s worth the $799.00 for an Americam Strat. Great Guitar, and I would Recommend it. I’m glad Fender makes affordable American made instruments for the masses. They also make Snobby guitars for $10,000.00 dollars in the U.S.A. Too. Take your Pick.