I own an ESP EC1000 in blue that is one of the most beautiful guitars I have ever owned and plays quite well. However I played a friend's custom strat and got his input and finally bought what I always wanted. I have owned quite a few other varying quality and brands over the years as well. Some very excellent opportunities to know the difference from a guitar player's guitar verses a guitar that makes sound.

This guitar is by far the easiest playing with smooth neck for fingers to shred. I love it!!! The sound/tone with the custom shop pickups really is great through any amp. I know this because I have a few of those as well. Did I say WOW yet because thats how I feel when I play it.

The only thing better would be to have David Gilmore's black guitar!!! Oh yes his talent would be awesome also!!!

emanon3323 owns this item

A few months back I was looking for a new guitar to replace my Epiphone LP, which i had been playing for about a year. So with some money saved up from a summer job I went done to my local guitar shop. Initially I had planned on buying a MIM Startocaster, but I completely changed my mind when I picked up the Am Standard HSS. The neck is very comfortable for my big hands and fat fingers and the sounds it can produce are great too. I'm really glad I bought this guitar thanks fender!

sbailey1 owns this item

Nothing much to add except to underline the awesome playability of this quality instrument and the solid tone regardless the Amp used. I use mine for live and studio work. A total keeper.

The G string is a Half octave high from the 1st fret to the 8th. even when the string is in tune. it has been setup by a Fender factory rep twice.
told that is just the way strats are.

tblrck owns this item

I bought mine back in the fall of 2011 after literally YEARS of waiting, researching and playing everything I could get my hands on. At the time, I had been a strictly acoustic player, but I wanted to get an electric. Since money is a big issue for me and I don't plan on having more than one or two instruments, I wanted one that I knew would last me forever. I also knew I needed something that would be versatile enough to play anything.
I admit it, it was this gorgeous Sienna Sunburst finish that originally got my attention, but when I took it off the wall and played a few riffs, this baby blew me away.
The neck is perfect. So comfortable! I initially had the trem blocked off to lock it back down and left it this way for about a year. I was concerned about tuning stability and since I was new to the electric I figured I wouldn't be doing much with the bar. Lately, however, I've taken the block out and let it loose. Much to my surprise, I have had very little tuning issues!
The pots are good. A slight adjustment gives good variance, so with the five position switching, the humbucker in the rear and the two tone pots like this, I have all that versatility I was looking for.
The only thing I wish is that there were a little more balance in the output of the two singles with the humbucker in the back, so that when I throw it from the beautiful neck-middle position all the way down to the bridge humbucker alone there wasn't such a drastic "boost" effect. That was first of two reasons I gave it the 4/5 in the tone category. I know there should and will be some, but I would prefer a little less than there is. Perhaps in the future I'll replace the stock single coils with Fender's hot noiseless pups to help with this balance.
The noiseless pups will be nice too. Since I play a lot in very brightly lit rooms not dark stages, the hum can be a bit too much for use so I really only have two hum canceling positions available. Not really a problem for me, but it would be nice to have the other options available. That was the second reason for the 4/5 in "tone".
All-in-all this is an awesome instrument. I have no serious complaints and absolutely no regrets after owning this for well over a year.

unnotedn8 owns this item

Way to go Fender on ANOTHER amazing product.

woopa66 owns this item

Not much to say when you own the most versatile guitar

pedro.marks owns this item

Love this guitar and love the Sienna Sunburst finish but every one I found in the stores was WAY more red than the pictures I found online.
Wish it wasn't so red but overall love the product.

Also I was a bit thrown off when I found the serial number tag on headstock covered in white out and a new serial number written over it. I called the customer service and they tried to reassure me that it was nothing to be alarmed about. They said the neck probably had to be replaced at the last minute. It still kinda ruined the excitement of opening a brand new Fender HSS American Standard Strat. Cheapened the experience a bit.

I'm just a player and I know what sounds and feels good ;) I'm not going to go in to the tech stuff as its clear to read for all to see.
I had my hands on one these sexy beasts the other day , stroke it , thrashed it , hit some soulful tunes and then some.
Can't believe how Fender keep coming out with such high quality piecfes of art time and time again ????
Simple thank you for making me happy ;) people go forth and see lol