This is definitely a home-run for Fender. The Classic Player series of guitars is a winning formula, no matter how you look at it. I have been playing for about 3 1/2 years. Compared to many of my fellow musicians, my experience with guitars may be short. However, since I began learning guitar it has been my passion and I have spent a great deal of time researching what makes a good guitar. This is a good guitar. Before I bought this guitar I tried many many other Strats. I can honestly say this was my favorite of all of them for feel, sound and overall quality, regardless of price. The 50s Classic Player Strat feels more substantial than an American Series strat, the v-shape neck plays like a dream and the tone is unreal. Overall, it has a vintage vibe that reminds me alot of the Eric Johnson Strat at less than half the price. On top of all that, it' a beautiful instrument! No, it's not an American-made Fender, and honestly that shouldn't matter. The people down in Ensenada, Mexico are doing a fantastic job. Will it hold it's value like an American Strat? Time will tell. But don't forget that this is a Custom Shop-designed Strat and I would be willing to bet that fact alone will help this little beauty maintain and perhaps even increase in value over time. The bottom line: Don't take my word for it. Go out and play one of these beautiful instruments and compare it with other guitars in it's price range. You will be amazed at what this much can buy. Thanks Fender for another great value. And thanks for a great website!

All right. You can stop looking because this is the guitar that your heart and fingers have desired... Ive finally picked this thing up after playing it at Guitar Center for the past few months. If you want that signature clean bues/jazz tone, check this thing out. The maple neck has a bite that is unmatched. The action is pretty good off the floor, but can be knocked way down for ridiculous playability. I usually upgrade pickups when I pick up a new rig, but this thing comes with great pickups. For the money, this is my favorite strat, tone wise and quality wise. You cant go wrong with this! Unless youre into metal...

The pickups are old school Alnico 5s. They sure ooze tone. But with the reverse/reverse wound middle pickup that cancels hum in that position and fires up the others...it has that something extra. Like when you hear a Harley or a fine tuned V8 Roadster rumble...somethings just don't compare. So.. from a twanging almost Tele bridge to creamy jazz to surf to Hendrix & Sabbath the p/ups are more robust than the Am Dlx SCNs and have a fuller tonal spectrum than the Hwy 1's. This Classic 50 even distorts with prowess. The fit and finish are excellent, but perhaps just a hair shy fretwise compared to the Am Dlx; I don't think it's really noticable. I have owned the Am Dlx & the Classic Player 60s. I have long fingers and a long palm and find the fretboard and med jumbo frets to be more comfortable on this CP 50s model. The Wilkinson-like bridge handles bends and trem with ease, without going out of tune thanks to the Gotoh locking tuners. I can understand hesitation about quality in the entry Mexican Strats...but let me tell ya, these Mexican special edition guitars are every bit as good as American for several hundred pesos less! Where are you going to find a Custom Shop Guitar for under $1200? Rev one up and take it for a ride.