2010年11月2日 星期二

Fender Stratocaster 62: The American Vintage Strat

The Fender 62 has tapped a magical point in Fender's history since the release of the American Vintage 57 Stratocaster. The '62 model has evolved from the single-ply pickguards in the earlier model to the 3-ply pickguards.

The following is the review of the American Vintage 62 Stratocaster:

The bridge pickup has a grindly quality with subdued bass and lively mid-range. At lower gain levels it sounds thin but not really brittle. With different levels of overdrive it delivers consecutive layers of chunk that will cover some of the treble. Some players like to wire the bridge pickup to one of the tone controls to soften its edge.

The middle pickup sounds hollow with less treble and more bass than the bridge pickup. Many players consider the bridge pickup as the main, some others treat the middle pickup as the default position. If you need something more juicier, you can switch to the neck. Need more treble, just flip to the bridge. The middle pickup is also good for Hendrix tones which are clean, and it's good for complex chords between the 5th and the 12th frets.

The neck pickup is a great, lively tone. It's fat, loud and articulate. You'll hear that signature Strat sound if you dig in hard. Alternatively, you'll hear a softer tone that sounds great when playing with fingerstyle.

The rounded fretboard radius may take some getting used to. It may not suit everyone. If you're accustomed to the flatter radii, it might seem a little confronting at the beginning.

There's a 60 cycle hum, although it's not really a bad thing. The control cavity is very well screened. The pickguard is completely backed with a sheet of metal to block out external interference. If the hiss is a problem you could upgrade the pickups, although many players prefer the subtle background noise that represents vintageness.

Features of this 62 Stratocaster:

* Alder body: with nitrocellulose lacquer finishing, allowing the wood to breathe and age gracefully

* Neck: 21 vintage frets

* 3 Fender American Vintage (57/62) Strat single-coil pickups

* Master volume pot and tone control for the neck and middle pickup (with a 5-way switch)

* Original strap and cable and the "ashtray" bridge cover

In conclusion, if the hum, the rounded fretboard radius bother you, look elsewhere. If however you fall for the tone, vibe, nuance, construction, responsiveness and the interactive playability, then this Fender 62 may be for you.

Want to learn more about Fender Stratocaster 62, visit http://fenderstratocaster62.com on how to pick the right Fender 62 for you.

Fender American Standard Strat Review

The Fender American Standard Stratocaster is and always will be the icon of Fender. Since its first introdcution in 1954, it has gone througth a few upgrades including a richer, deeper neck tint, glossed neck front, a bent steel Fender saddles, and a narrowed string spacing. All of these upgrades are an effort by Fender to improve the Strat's tone, playability and appearance.

Sound: It is an iconic sound of the Fender Strat that is most recognizable and irreplacable. This is probably why more than half musicinas or even amateur players have used the Strat.

Neck Pickup: You get the classic, bell type bluesy sound, regardless of what you play it through. The sound is so great that Fender has actually set the standard for all the other guitars to immitate.

Bridge Pickup: The sound is iconic rock sound. It is exactly the same as what you hear in all american rock. When you play the Strat, you will find that nothing sounds exactly the same as the Strat.

Action, Fit and Finish: This Strat is playable right out from the shop. The pickups and bridges are set up almost perfectly. If you want an even better tone, you may put in a DiMarzio Tone Zone Humbucker. The surface is smooth and the wood is of superb quality. Fender has apparently put a lot of effort into this Strat to accommodate players' needs. There are practically no flaws in this guitar.

Pros: * The tuning stability could be improved; * The bright, clean classic tone is simply awesome; * Great playability and musical versatility.

Cons: The pickup routing scheme is a bit too large (perhaps they might have changed the new model to a smaller one by now); * With hight gain it is not beefy enough; * There are some finish flaws.

To learn more about the Fender American Standard Strat Review and to get more information on Fender Stratocaster, visit www.fenderstratocaster62.com.