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.

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