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I've got an American Special Tele and it is a seriously brilliant guitar. Maybe I got lucky but it was by far the best Tele in the shop when I tried it alongside 4 or 5 others in the £400-700 range.
Feedback thread: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/3575378
I know its not a strat, but maybe it'll help.
Heres my take.
Its a damn fine instrument.
A big step up from the Mim Standard teles I had previously. (Disclaimer, I never got to try Fenders old Mexican standard line, only the player series) so again I'm not the best for being able to compare. I know people are very fond of the Mexican line, I just had a shitty experience is all.
I did a lot of reading, and the general consensus praises it.
Though it seems there are varying opinions on why its cheaper than a Standard.
Some people say the Specials are if anything, just slightly below the Standard in terms of having time spent being worked on, so maybe little less polished than the Standards.
Makes sense.
Others say its practically on par with Standards but its cheaper because it doesnt come with a hard case.
Makes sense.
Some people however, claim its either made in America but by Mexicans.. (which is silly, like they'll have a special corner in Corona for less skilled Mexicans to make Fenders cheapest Mia guitars...
Others have said they're put together in America but with Mexican parts.. or assembled in America with American parts but sent to Mexico to be assembled and sprayed.
Maybe a small truth somewhere in that last aspect for Fenders old Highway One line, from what info I could dig up.. but I'm no expert.
Regardless, the Tele I have is lovely.
The fit and finish is great, nothing has worked itself loose.
Everything seems well put together and sturdy.
What I mean by that is, on previous cheaper lines, I've found the screws that affix scratchplate/bridge etc to the body, have hardly bitten into the body's wood at all. Can attempt to tighten them but the screw just turns forever.
As far as I know the strat would be the same as the tele in terms of having a slightly rolled fretboard edge, and a satin fingerboard on maple models, not high gloss.
It seems the Satin fingerboard is well liked, but what people are put off by is either the Jumbo frets, Texas Specials or headstock size.
Personally I quite like the texas specials from my use so far. But predominantly I'm a higher gain player, and I've really not played about with my amp settings with these pickups yet lol!!
I have a feeling they are a hotter pickup than say a lot of strat or tele players would usually go for?
Overall from what I read, a lot of guys who have had Specials, find it hard to justify the price increase to the Standards.
Maybe theres some correlation to its 'marmite features' and its lower price?
Seems strange in a way.
Its not dual action.. if that means anything.
I had one of these Violin Burst Strats from Thomann a few years ago and it also had American Standard pickups, not the usual Texas Specials.