stratotone
Active member
So, got the SoCal. First, a pic of it next to it's 2008 Fender USA strat cousin:
Now for the review. ;0
Took it out of the gig bag, was out of tune (which I figured it would be) and the neck had too much relief. To be honest, it played ok but not great. So, I took it and tuned it to Eb (band I'm going to gig with tomorrow does all tunes 1/2 step down) and dropped the action. Was better, but still not great. Jammed a knob in the floyd cavity (keeping the strings slack) and took the neck off, and after two times had the neck perfect. The truss rod was LOOSE when I adjusted it the first time. Hm. However, it's a quartersawn neck, and those are more stable IMHO than flatsawn... I bet I don't have to mess with it much.
After I did that, I restrung the guitar, checked intonation, all was good but the D. Lowered the action where I wanted it, set the trem for a 5 fret pullup (open G pulls up to C, good times!), and then adjusted the action a hair from there. Set the intonation, plugged the guitar in, great success!
Fretwork is great. Neck feels great too. I have owned several San Dimas Jacksons and a few old Charvels, and the necks varied a bit. This one is really nice - not too thin, not too fat. I like the 1 11/16 nut width too. Neck fit very tightly in the pocket when I removed it for adjusting the truss rod in the heel. The coating or whatever on the neck feels better than painted, but not as good as a neck that has had the crap oiled out of it. I may go back later and sand it down and hit it with boiled linseed oil. It would also bring the grain out too.
Floyd rose stays in tune once the guitar was setup and strings stretched, but the fine tuners are very gritty feeling. I also had to tap the D string saddle with a hammer and screwdriver to get it to free up - it was stuck somehow in place even with the adjustment screw removed. Arm gets loose too easy, I'll probably have to threadlock it.
Headstock tuners are gritty feeling too. the FMIC 'we own the fender headstock' thing on the back of the neck was a decal. Took that off. Volume pot is smooth, pickup selector is ok, but it's weird having that type on a strat, I'm used to a blade style.
Paint is gorgeous and actually a little better than the 2008 strat next to it. Flat black pickguard doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would, gives a great contrast to the super-gloss paint. The volume knob has to go, damn thing will tear up your finger if you use it too often. Has a very aggressive 'grid' or whatever patterned in the side. I don't like the placement either, I'm used to it being closer to the bridge pickup like on a strat.
Guitar stays in tune well enough that I doubt the fine tuners and headstock tuners will be a big deal for most of us. Time will tell if the floyd can stay in tune and won't wear prematurely on the pivot points. Pickups sound great.
bottom line: When they have another color I dig, I'm buying it. For $999, these guitars are a great value. Even if you spent the coin to replace the floyd for a better one and replaced the tuners, it's still a great value.
Anyone want to buy a sienna burst H/S/S 2008 strat with hardshell case and all the goodies?
Pete
Now for the review. ;0
Took it out of the gig bag, was out of tune (which I figured it would be) and the neck had too much relief. To be honest, it played ok but not great. So, I took it and tuned it to Eb (band I'm going to gig with tomorrow does all tunes 1/2 step down) and dropped the action. Was better, but still not great. Jammed a knob in the floyd cavity (keeping the strings slack) and took the neck off, and after two times had the neck perfect. The truss rod was LOOSE when I adjusted it the first time. Hm. However, it's a quartersawn neck, and those are more stable IMHO than flatsawn... I bet I don't have to mess with it much.
After I did that, I restrung the guitar, checked intonation, all was good but the D. Lowered the action where I wanted it, set the trem for a 5 fret pullup (open G pulls up to C, good times!), and then adjusted the action a hair from there. Set the intonation, plugged the guitar in, great success!
Fretwork is great. Neck feels great too. I have owned several San Dimas Jacksons and a few old Charvels, and the necks varied a bit. This one is really nice - not too thin, not too fat. I like the 1 11/16 nut width too. Neck fit very tightly in the pocket when I removed it for adjusting the truss rod in the heel. The coating or whatever on the neck feels better than painted, but not as good as a neck that has had the crap oiled out of it. I may go back later and sand it down and hit it with boiled linseed oil. It would also bring the grain out too.
Floyd rose stays in tune once the guitar was setup and strings stretched, but the fine tuners are very gritty feeling. I also had to tap the D string saddle with a hammer and screwdriver to get it to free up - it was stuck somehow in place even with the adjustment screw removed. Arm gets loose too easy, I'll probably have to threadlock it.
Headstock tuners are gritty feeling too. the FMIC 'we own the fender headstock' thing on the back of the neck was a decal. Took that off. Volume pot is smooth, pickup selector is ok, but it's weird having that type on a strat, I'm used to a blade style.
Paint is gorgeous and actually a little better than the 2008 strat next to it. Flat black pickguard doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would, gives a great contrast to the super-gloss paint. The volume knob has to go, damn thing will tear up your finger if you use it too often. Has a very aggressive 'grid' or whatever patterned in the side. I don't like the placement either, I'm used to it being closer to the bridge pickup like on a strat.
Guitar stays in tune well enough that I doubt the fine tuners and headstock tuners will be a big deal for most of us. Time will tell if the floyd can stay in tune and won't wear prematurely on the pivot points. Pickups sound great.
bottom line: When they have another color I dig, I'm buying it. For $999, these guitars are a great value. Even if you spent the coin to replace the floyd for a better one and replaced the tuners, it's still a great value.
Anyone want to buy a sienna burst H/S/S 2008 strat with hardshell case and all the goodies?
Pete
