2003 American Series Strats...who has one and is happy?

[JoeyV]

I have had a new American Series strat for about 4 months or so and I really like it alot ...it is just a stock strat and it sounds really very good...I cant think of anything that needs to be changed out on it....the pickups could have a little more oooomf but all and all its really a usable guitar...how do you guys feel about your 2003 american strats ?

 

[Doug T.]

I have a 2002 sunburst model (American Series Strat) and I really like mine too! There is nothing I want to change on it (for now).

The neck feels really good, and mine has a lighter weight body ... just right!

I was a little skeptical about the 2-point trem, my previous Strats all had the 6-screw vintage ones - but this one works just fine and stays in tune well too.

 

[redshoesjim]

my american series strat

I was quite happy with mine I made a few changes though , antiquity pickups and locking tuners . mine was a maple board the only other thing I did was to carefuly remove the finish that was on the side of the frets and then polish them. unfortunatly I dont have the guitar any more , my dog needed an expensive surgury !

 

[Scotland]

Mine is....well...okay

It just doesn't have that....zing ! You know when you put new strings on and the wound strings..well..Zing ! It just doesn't have that. It's the first Strat I've ever had to be like that. Put me right off them. It's an ash bodied 2 tone sunburst, beautiful looking..but !

 

[JoeyV]

try giving the truss rod a 1/4 turn clockwise

Give the truss rod a quarter turn clockwise , see if that doesnt help it...J.

 

[Adam Waldron]

My number two is a black maple neck 1995 American Standard - the forerunner to the American Series.

So, I have a lovely bath-tub route, TBX and two string trees and flat pole ops. Nice

This thing just resonates beautifully and I love the neck feel. Its quacks and zings and has that airy quality a Strat should have.

It ain't a good looking Strat. But its just right.

I can imagine yours is nice indeed Joey!

Cheers,

Adam

 

[jamar]

I bought a new American Series Strat (RW neck) 3 month's ago. I first tried 2 other species but the one I bought sounded best. Zingg, twang, airiness etc. all sounds are there. So in my search I found out that not every guitar meets the criteria we all want a Strat to have. So before you buy one test as much guitars as you can. Now I'm very happy with my Strat and I play it every day for an hour or more. I play it with my '73 SF Fender Twin Reverb a really fantastic combination.
The band's rhythm guitarist plays a Gibson Nighthawk. The Strat and this Nighthawk give the band a awsome sound. So once again I'm happy with my Strat.

 

[blackstrat]

I have a 3 tone sunburst 2003 american strat in which I sold my beloved blackstrat for. (mid 90's swimming pool route Strat). To tell you the truth, I like my 90's strat better. I just put in Duncan SSl-2's in the guitar and now love the tone.

I also have a hot rodded Mexi Strat with a quilt maple top
(all my guitars have rosewood boards). This has an Allparts vintage style bridge with titanium saddles with a steel block and Jason Lollar vintage style pickups. The upgrades actually cost more than the guy (Yes, I'm a little goofy).

I keep trying to convince myself that the American Strat sounds better, but with all the upgrades, I think my Meixican Strat now destroys my American Strat!

 

[VampiressX]

I have a 2002 Deluxe American Series and it is boootiful. I actually dont mind the noiseless pups that come with it so I'm happy to leave it as is. It does the job for me, is a joy to play and is a real looker at the same time. What more could a girl want?

 

[JoeyV]

Thats cool..........

I'm getting more and more into mine all the time..Over the weekend I buffed out the neck and fingerboard with this scratch remover for cars and it it is now semi glossy..feels really good, nice and smooth...I removed the finish that was left on the sides of the frets from the poly and then I buffed out the frets with fine steel wool then hit them with the rubbing compound and then the scratch remover..the frets are like glass now.Bending is silky smooth and it just feels so nice in your hands..I recorded some tracks for my new CD with it on Sunday and I am really liking this guitar more and more..my main strat is a early 60's olympic white/cream colored parts caster put together with various 60's and 70's strat parts with EMG's in it that I bought from Duke Robillard a while back however the more I play my new one the more I might make it my number one...