All credit score for that joke goes to Shevlin Guitars

Fender simply wrapped up what was most likely their most enjoyable signature mannequin re-release in a decade or so. The Tom DeLonge Signature Stratocaster is again, a lot to the world’s (and my) delight! The enjoyable, beachy coloured our bodies have the massive Fender headstock that I like, a single Seymour Duncan Invader, and a single quantity knob with a treble bleed circuit.

There’s few issues extra punk than a single pickup guitar, and I used to be so thrilled about this I jumped on the ordering bandwagon solely seconds after it went stay on Fender’s web site. And I’m one of many fortunate ones, as my guitar confirmed up in fairly good situation and completely lives as much as my goals. Nevertheless, the story that’s actually been dominating the media is what number of of those confirmed up in less-than-ideal form.

Different creators reminiscent of Hunter from Agufish posted movies exhibiting a sequence of high quality management flaws, and I acquired a number of dm’s alongside the identical traces from different pals within the trade. Mine isn’t excellent, there’s some glue marks and a ding or end flaw(?) close to the guitar’s bridge. However the neck, intonation, and really feel of the neck was nice for mine (not like what Hunter and Andy The Guitar Geek noticed).

Key Specs

• Trendy C-Formed Neck with 9.5″ radius, medium jumbo frets
• Hardtail bridge with block saddles
• Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker
• Constructed-in treble bleed to protect excessive finish at low volumes
• Rosewood slab fingerboard (very nice) on Maple neck
• Alder physique

I’m clearly fortunate, as mine has typically been a blast to play and has no imperfections that impression the taking part in expertise. Key highlights for me are the very nice trying/feeling Rosewood fretboard that’s clean and comfortable. The neck is a bit chunkier than I anticipated, however in a great way.

This Stratocaster is LOUD, as you may most likely inform from the demo beneath. Even with none boosts or drive pedals on, this guitar was pushing each my digital and tube amps into achieve with ease. Nevertheless, having that treble bleed circuit is superior and far wanted. You may clear up the guitar fantastically by rolling again that quantity knob, creating a way more versatile vary of sounds than you’d assume for a single humbucker guitar.

General, I’m delighted with this guitar and can be utilizing it fairly often going ahead. So far as evaluations go, I’ve to provide the precise guitar I obtained very excessive marks, with distinctive scores for enjoyable issue and aesthetics. I do assume the value is steep, at nearly $1300 USD. I do know guitar costs (and every part else) are going via the roof however nonetheless, it’s a single pickup Strat made in Mexico. And with the standard management considerations…you merely can’t have these reported points on a guitar of this value vary.

Fender’s QA/QC Is Underneath Hearth

And rightfully so! Fender’s been the gold commonplace for me and lots of others for years now. They’ve accomplished an ideal job releasing guitars throughout the whole value spectrum, all with high quality really feel and efficiency. And when the Tom DeLonge Strat is sweet, it’s soooooo good. However I can’t ignore the truth that this, very like their earlier Gold Foil releases, appear to be plagued with critical high quality management points. If Fender desires to keep away from the popularity that Gibson developed, stuff like this must be confined to 2023 solely.

Now, on the intense facet, Fender has notoriously fantastic customer support. So I do count on they’ll make issues proper with different individuals’s conditions. However man, this isn’t a great search for one of the vital anticipated guitar releases of 2023. I’d nonetheless advocate grabbing one, as I’m having a good time. However go into it with expectations that you just’ll must do an intensive as soon as over of the guitar, as this isn’t meant to be a collector’s merchandise in my view. It’s a participant’s guitar, and one which ’90s and early 2000s children alike will cherish.

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