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Review Summary
2018-09-04T18:13:42
Great price and arrived in excellent condition. I would recommend adorama first before purchasing from another source very happy with my purchase
Mark F.
2018-08-22T13:28:33
The Fender American Special is a fantastic entrance into American guitar land! Well made, great Texas Special pickups, nice neck etc. Combine this with excellent service, lightening fast delivery from Adorama and you have a WINNER!
joseph s.
2018-08-09T04:15:16
The guitar arrived quickly, well packed and in good condition. The guitar plays and sounds great. I would recommend the guitar to anyone.
Timothy N.
2018-08-07T16:11:14
Overall well built and sounds great. The playability isn't as smooth as other Strats that I remember, including Squiers and there is some fret buzz on the 6th string. Also, the neckplate isn't stamped at all like other Fenders. The Texas Special Single Coils really do sound great, however - far better than any "Vintage Noiseless" that Fender offers. These pickups, while not sounding exactly other Fender pickups, have their own character and voice - you'll dig 'em, trust me! The guitar has a powerful, soulful sound that's still capable of covering the cleanest Country to the hardest Rock without breaking a sweat. The tuning machines are really nice and the hardware seems to be top quality. At Adorama's current special price, it's almost a no-brainer. You will enjoy this guitar.
Clifton G.
2018-08-06T13:22:04
I have a Bonnie Raitt American signature Strat (my longtime favorite) and several other Strats made in Japan and Mexico. But this American Special combines the best features of all of them AND you get the advantage of improved manufacturing precision and quality. The Texas Special pickups sound just as good as the 1995 ones in my Bonnie Raitt from the Custom shop. It will take a little time to get used to the 9.5" radius neck from the 7.5," but the finish on the maple neck on this guitar is amazing. And kudos to Adorama for commissioning this special factory run in a gorgeous color Fender calls Mystic Seafoam. It's actually darker than the listing photos, a pearl slightly metallic that is more turquoise than green. The finish is flawless. So is this Strat. Thanks Fender and Adorama, you rock too.
JANE D.
2018-05-24T06:03:27
Paid around ($) as part of the close out deal few weeks back. Item arrived with good packaging as I was nervous about getting a guitar shipped online. Comes with a soft-case bag for the guitar. And got it within 3 days of placing the order. Play-ability out of the box - needs to be tuned (obviously). Its low on action for my needs but still plays and sounds great. Definitely would recommend it. I have played it for just under an hour - so far very good.
Pritam B.
2018-01-30T11:34:43
Flawless finish. Nice satin neck. Love jumbo frets. American made at a bargain price for 2018. The guitar did need a setup out of the box which is typical for lost any instrument. Otherwise, very satisfied. No regrets.
Tony P.
2018-01-14T19:53:19
So far I love the guitar. It needs a set up, but plays very well and sounds amazing.
Matthew L.
2018-01-14T05:03:54
The guitar is good. Value is good also. Wonderful color. Customer service here, well you see the three stars right???
Rich Y.
2017-12-14T10:25:06
The color is bit deeper green (prettier) than the picture, and its a metallic finish. I have a bunch of cheap guitars, decided after playing 40yrs I deserve something better. The Texas Specials really impressed me the most. The dual coil switch positions offer some amazing tone. I went over the setup myself, and there was very little to do, just some filing at the nut on the low strings. At first holding tune was a big problem but that's settling down as the strings stretch in. Classic strat playability, American quality. Its a keeper.
David S.
Alder
Stratocaster
Gloss Polyurethane
Maple
Satin Polyurethane
Modern "C"
25.5" (64.77cm)
9.5" (24.13cm)
22
Jumbo
Synthetic Bone
1.685" (4.28cm)
Black Dots on Maple; White Dots on Rosewood
Standard
Texas Special Single-Coil Strat
Texas Special Single-Coil Strat
Texas Special Single-Coil Strat
Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Greasebucket Tone Circuit, (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup), Greasebucket Tone Circuit
5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
SSS
6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Standard Cast/Sealed
Parchment Plastic
Nickel/Chrome
3-Ply Mint Green
4-Bolt Standard
Fender USA, NPS, (.009-.042 Gauges)
Large '70s Style Decal, Dual "T"-Roller String Trees
885978863068
Mystic Seafoam Green Special Strat
By Timothy N.
The guitar arrived quickly, well packed and in good condition. The guitar plays and sounds great. I would recommend the guitar to anyone.
Very nice
By David S.
The color is bit deeper green (prettier) than the picture, and its a metallic finish. I have a bunch of cheap guitars, decided after playing 40yrs I deserve something better. The Texas Specials really impressed me the most. The dual coil switch positions offer some amazing tone. I went over the setup myself, and there was very little to do, just some filing at the nut on the low strings. At first holding tune was a big problem but that's settling down as the strings stretch in. Classic strat ...
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The American Special Stratocaster puts U.S-made Fender quality into the hands of players at any level. For the guitarist who wants a combination of timeless Fender style and contemporary features, this guitar delivers traditional Strat design with some extra elements for modern tone and performance, including Texas Special pickups and special circuitry, modern neck profile and more. Great sounding, great looking and feeling and made in the United States.
Maple neck with "C" profile and "large" headstock
Three Texas Special single-coil Stratocaster pickups
Five-way pickup switch
Greasebucket tone circuit (rolls off highs without adding bass)
Vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge
Vintage-style Bridge
The vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge on this American Special Stratocaster imparts classic style and tone, with narrower saddles that allow more comfortable string spacing.
Greasebucket Tone Circuit
The tone-control electronics in this American Special guitar include Fender's Greasebucket tone circuit. When dialing down the tone knobs, this circuitry rolls off high end without creating additional emphasis on bass. That keeps the tone from getting muddy and it helps create sparkling clean tone and great overdriven sounds too.
Gloss Urethane Finish
The shiny gloss urethane finish on American Special instruments imparts a beautifully glassy sheen and especially vivid color in a highly durable coating that effectively resists the ravages of weather, aging and fading.
Jumbo frets
The largest of the fret sizes, jumbo frets are tall and wide, which lets you get a better grip on the strings, enabling more control over them and making bends and vibrato easier. A good choice for players with larger hands and thicker fingers.
Modern neck with "C" profile and satin back finish
American Special guitars feature a modern neck designed for comfort and performance, with a contemporary "C"-shaped profile (the shape of the neck in cross section) and a smooth satin finish. Ideal for those who play with the thumb on the back or side of the neck.
Texas Special Pickups
Single-coil Texas Special pickups are over-wound for big Texas-blues tone with dynamically scorching output. With alnico 5 magnets, enamel-coated magnet wire and staggered pole pieces for balanced output across each string, they sing, scream and everything in between with tight bass, focused midrange and crystalline highs.