Best Fender Guitar?

[Diminished Triad]

What's the best Fender guitar you have ever played? Whether on stage, home, or even just at a music store, which Fender gave you the best sound and feel?

No matter what others may say, everyone generally forms a preference for what is best for them. So I'm asking what is best for you - no hangups about using the word "best" because it is in fact the most accurate description for your personal preference...your most enjoyable experience or moment...even just your best time playing a Fender.

As for me, it's a toss up between the David Gilmore signature strat and the Ritchie Blackmore signature strat. The Gilmore strat has great neck shape (they are both 7.25 radius fretboards) that is tapered as it gets closer to the guitar body...while the Blackmore strat is just solid all around. Both perform excellent with below average height action (I prefer low action and they both handle this without buzzing or fretting out). I've tried lots of Fenders but these two are my best. The 1962 models are also very good. They are much less expensive and are very comfortable to play - as is the Mark Knopfler artist strat.

Thanks for any of your opinions/preferences/experiences you can share. What is your best Fender?

 

[Kac]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?


I think for me it was something like this, in a guitar shop. Highway 1 satin finish

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

For me it's the American Deluxe Telecaster. I've always liked teles better than strats, and these sound great and the compound radius fretboard is fast and comfortable. it's currently topping my Gas list

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

My favorite is the American Standard Strat I acquired recently. I love the Jeff Beck signature circa 2005, also.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

The '63 Relic custom shop Telecaster I had. I sold it back to the original owner because he was missing it and I fell in love with my Gretsch Black Falcon. To this date, it's by far the best Fender I've owned or tried.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

Good stuff!

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

A Custom Shop Showmaster, that had I had the money I would have bought without hesitation. Every thing about it oozed quality and tone. Unfortunately, by the time I had the money it had long gone!

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

My 1961 Jazzmaster.
Back when it was still in 1 piece... It needs some tlc at the moment

*Edit for pics*

 

[uOpt]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

Unfortunately the best one was from before I kept closer records.

It was a Strat that ha a really strong V shape in the neck and sounded the part.

It probably wasn't a normal '57 AVRI since I normally perceive those nuts as too narrow. I speculate that it maybe was a 83-84 AVRI.

I tried to reproduce it by getting a Warmoth boat neck at some point but that neck profile is unusable for me.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

A Charvel So Cal Pro Mod.

 

[Liam1963]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

Jimmie Vaughan Signature Strat, great axe for not a lot of money....

 

[philthis]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

View attachment 62203
I think for me it was something like this, in a guitar shop. Highway 1 satin finish

for an inexpensive guitar the satin finish strat tops my list. for the best period I would select a Fender Master built strat with the hum single single config. it is $6500 bucks but it plays and sounds like a super quality strat but also sustains and has a full sound like a gibson sg. it is an amazing guitar and I have slipped in several times and played on it to lust after it and learn its secrets.

 

[Matzanias]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

I've got a 2006 Eric Johnson Stratocaster that is a fantastic guitar. Great tone from all of the pickup positions and the neck is perfect.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

As much as I love Les Pauls, I LOVE Strats. That EJ is awesome!

 

[jmh151]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

I like my Clapton stray but would prefer it with a compound radius board and jumbo frets, preferably stainless

I also love my friends original 1963 Jazzmaster

 

[esandes]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

my US strat plus deluxe from the 90s is pretty rad. the action is super low. the bridge doesn't interfere with my hand at all. it's very easy to play.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

You know, it's funny - I'm a huge fender guy. I've owned a few different strats, I absolutely love teles, I'd love to pick up a fender offest someday, and my main amp for many years was a 68 Bassman. And as good as my MIJ 62 RI is (it's definitely one of the better Fenders I've played) my PRSi are much better guitars, and it's not even in the same universe as my D'avanzo. Honestly, I've never picked up a Fender that's just effortless to play like some of the other guitars I've used are. And I still think that's part of the charm - you have to work a Fender to get what you want out of them.

 

[Condemned soul]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

Eric Johnson Strat. Has two great things going for it. First, the pickup sound greatly improved and more full bodied over normal Strat pickups. And most importantly, the neck has a 12" radius. Yes, I'm a long time Gibson owner.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

My Custom Shop Esquire. It's a factory modified '50's style Esquire, with the factory mod being that the front switch position simply goes through a cap, instead of the '50's-style "dark" position.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Best Fender Guitar?

Some bass joy: my '03 MIM Jazz with the hand wound SDs.

I can slap like a soap opera diva, or get a true Jaco tone.