Just bought myself a Mint 2008 White American Standard for $730

[Winzzy]

Good deal?


I am loving the feel of it, though I feel like I am cheating on my telecaster.

Anyone know which specific pups came in it?

[ShortBuSX]

Originally Posted by Winzzy

Anyone know which specific pups came in it?

Hehe, American Standards.

[Sombras]

Hmmm. I've got an 08 AmSt Strat (Olympic White, maple neck) that I paid $815 for new and doubt that I could get $730 for it now, so I'm not sure that's a great deal. The most important thing, I think, is if it was a good deal for you and that you bond with the guitar. I absolutely love my AmSt Strat. It's a real overachiever.

[Jakedog]

Not a bad deal at all. From a retail perspective, it's a good price. Considering a new 2010 would run you about $300 more, I'd say you did alright if it's truly mint and has it's case. If you want to hear about a really screamin' deal, I bought a '95 in great shape about a month ago for $460. Didn't have a case, but for that price, who cares?

I personally believe the American Standards have always been the gems of the Fender line. I've owned pretty much every kind of strat you can get, from Squier to Custom Shop. Way more than a hundred of them. The Am. Std. gits are my favorites. I like them better than any other strat I've ever played. I went through a time when I had to have a more "vintage" style guitar, and experimented with the AVRI axes, and a few custom shop pieces. Meh. Great guitars, truly, but not worth the upcharge IMO when the Am. Std strats are as good as they are.

Am. Std. strats are roughly twice the price of an MIM standard, for roughly three times the guitar. And roughly one third the price of a custom shop, for a guitar that's every bit as nice... if you don't need nitro and other vintage appointments to make you feel better about yourself or your axe.

I don't even see a need to change pickups in them. My AVRI and CS guitars definitely sounded great, and very different than my Am. Std. strats. But tone being so subjective, I would draw the line at "different". I couldn't call them "better". The American Std. pickups are fantastic. IMO some of the best in the entire Fender line. Spend some time messing with the heights and the tilts on them, and you'll get something extremely satisfactory out of them. I've been giggin my new (old) '95 bone stock. It's great.

I know I definitely prefer the flatter fretboards and bigger frets of the Am. Std. guitars. Those features just make for a much better playing instrument if you can get past the fact that they're not "vintage correct".

I can also say that I have never had a more expensive strat that stayed in tune better than any of my Am. Std. strats. Those guitars are just rock solid. Of course, I don't use a trem at all. But blocked trem to blocked trem, that Am. Std. strats and teles I've owned stayed in tune better than anything else I've ever had.

Enjoy your new guitar. It's one of the best late model offerings out there today.

[FenderNic321]

I had a 2008 MIA oly white strat with a maple neck, that is one guitar I wish I never sold. It was the best playing strat I have EVER owned, and I have owned avri's and CS's, all of which are nice guitars, but after having them all, the american standard is rock solid and is simply a work horse with plenty of tone and I think the price is fair. I have been thinking of getting another one.

The only thing I would change? I'd put on a set of fender deluxe locking tuners, I have them on my american standard tele and I really like them.

[Winzzy]

I am liking the guitar quite a bit. Has tons of resonance unplugged, you can feel it. I have spent more on guitars that didn't play as well so I am happy.

Stuff I want to do to it;
Locking tuners
Strap locks
Custom Shop '69 Pups
Mint guard
Aged knobs and covers

[Hiker]

That's a deal for a 2008!

Some may find MIA Stds. for less than 5 or 6 hundred, though I've never seen one in GC or another store for that low...

[MrDJoers]

Originally Posted by Winzzy

I am liking the guitar quite a bit. Has tons of resonance unplugged, you can feel it. I have spent more on guitars that didn't play as well so I am happy.

Stuff I want to do to it;
Locking tuners
Strap locks
Custom Shop '69 Pups
Mint guard
Aged knobs and covers

This is just one man's opinion but I think strap locks should be mandatory on a new guitar. I've had the misfortune of having my tele fall out of a strap twice. Got a small ding the first time that didn't even break the finish and the second one didn't leave a mark. Needless to say I've put strap locks on both of my guitars now. I'd rather my guitar became worn in by playing it, not by accidents.

[Rob S]

Strap locks #1 for sure! I almost lost my SG one night practicing in my garage. I know, it's only a SG, but hell, if you look at it cross eyed the neck will break, let alone drop the darn thing!

First thing I do anymore is a set of locks.

[tele-jack]

I paid $710 for mine on e-bay and have seen them go for over $800. I thought I did well.

[Winzzy]

I am happy... $300 of the purchase was with Guitar Center Gift Cards so out of pocket was less...

Just ordered my strap locks, locking tuners, and aged white knobs from ebay. Hopefully I will get a set of fender '69s for my birthday in august. and maybe a mint pickguard =)