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Q&A

Questions & Answers

Yaroslav I : Hello, I'm gonna buy this guitar. Could you send me this poduct to Russia?ANDREW R : Unfortunately This item cannot be shipped outside the USA
Shopper : does this come with a hardshell case?JOEY L : No it does not just the fender guitar bagClifton G : No. Mine came with large, Fender branded gig bag.TIMOTHY N : No, it comes with a Fender gig bag.George W : No hardshell case, but a quality gig bag.Christopher M : Mine didn't. Came with a pretty decent gig bag thoughBRETT B : No, comes with a gig bag.ERIK A : Nope, it came in a soft caseALUISIUS S : No, it comes with a soft shell case.Ben P : No.JOSEPH S : NoRich Y : NopeMatthew L : No - mine came with a fender padded gig bag
Shopper : Why Did You Choose This?Klaus S : quality and price

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2018-09-04T18:13:42

Rated 5 out of 5

Great experience and product Lowest price I found

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Value!

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Mystic Seafoam Green Special Strat

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

Rated 4 out of 5

American Special Strat

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

Rated 5 out of 5

American Special Strat 2018: one fabulous axe

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Gee-tar for a good price

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Sweet!

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

Rated 5 out of 5

So far I love the guitar

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

Rated 3 out of 5

Product good. Neat color

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Very nice

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.

Fender American Special Strat Specifications

Body
  • Body Material

    Alder

  • Body Shape

    Stratocaster

  • Body Finish

    Gloss Polyurethane

  • Neck Material

    Maple

  • Neck Finish

    Satin Polyurethane

  • Neck Shape

    Modern "C"

  • Scale Length

    25.5" (64.77cm)

  • Fingerboard Radius

    9.5" (24.13cm)

  • Number of Frets

    22

  • Fret Size

    Jumbo

  • Nut Material

    Synthetic Bone

  • Nut Width

    1.685" (4.28cm)

  • Position Inlays

    Black Dots on Maple; White Dots on Rosewood

  • Truss Rod

    Standard

Electronics

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  • Bridge Pickup

    Texas Special Single-Coil Strat

  • Neck Pickup

    Texas Special Single-Coil Strat

  • Middle Pickup

    Texas Special Single-Coil Strat

  • Controls

    Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Greasebucket Tone Circuit, (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup), Greasebucket Tone Circuit

  • Switching

    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

  • Configuration

    SSS

Hardware

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  • Bridge

    6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo

  • Tuning Machines

    Standard Cast/Sealed

  • Control Knobs

    Parchment Plastic

  • Hardware Finish

    Nickel/Chrome

  • Pickguard

    3-Ply Mint Green

  • Neck Plate

    4-Bolt Standard

Miscellaneous

Jump to...
  • Strings

    Fender USA, NPS, (.009-.042 Gauges)

  • Other Functions

    Large '70s Style Decal, Dual "T"-Roller String Trees

  • UPC Code

    885978863068

About Fender American Special Strat

FEATURED REVIEWS

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 ...

View full Review

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.

Key Features

  • 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

What's in the box:

  • American Special Stratocaster 6-String Electric Guitar
  • Polishing Cloth
  • Fender 2 Year Limited Warranty