Review: Fender U.S. Lone Star Strat
Cypher
Now that I've had this guitar a week, I'll do a review on it to help
out potential buyers or people who are curious about this Strat.
Subject: Fender U.S. Lone Star Strat: REVIEW
Guitar: Fender U.S. Lone Star Strat (Shoreline Gold)
Price Paid: $648 including custom Tolex hardshell case
-First Impressions-
First of all, this guitar is gorgeous! Fender did a really nice job
with the finishes, as they are very unique. Even the sunburst seems
quite different from their other guitar for some reason. My guitar is
the Shoreline Gold model. This is the first time I've ever seen this
finish on a Fender. It is not actually a gold color - Rather more of a
Metallic Champagne color and almost looks silverish under bright
lights. Fender did a nice job choosing a Pearloid pickguard to further
enhance the look of this guitar and the rear-plate cover is also
Pearloid. Nice!
-Pickups / Sound-
The pickups are this guitars main asset. I have to admit - the first
time I played the Lone Star Strat, I was unimpressed. I thought it
sounded horrible and way too hot. I didn't give this guitar a second
glance until a few weeks ago when I saw mine hanging on the wall. I
decided to give it another try. I fell in LOVE with the sound of this
guitar instantly. I can't explain why the first one I tried didn't
sound good. Maybe it was the Marshall amp I was playing thru.
This guitar has a Seymour Duncan Custom Pearly Gates pickup in the
bridge position and two Texas Special pickups in the middle and neck
position. These single coils are the same pickups as the ones found on
the SRV strat. (The Pearly Gates pickup is different than the one you
can buy from Duncan.) The Duncan pickup is really hot, but provides
TONS of tone. Usually hot pickups lack character, but this one sings
and spanks as much as you want it to. Also, it is so hot that it
sounds like an active pickup. It almost seems like the guitar
activates a +12db boost when you select the humbucker. Move the toggle
switch up a notch and it splits the humbucker with the middle single
coil. This gives a REALLY warm and bright strat sound. The middle
pickup has LOTS of midrange and is very bright. If you roll the tone
knob down a little or play with the volume, you can get a lot of
different sounds out of the middle and the bridge pickups. The neck
pickup also has a lot of midrange, but seems to be a little lower in
volume and adds more low-end as well.
One thing I noticed about the pickups on this guitar is that they are
VERY suited to Jazz playing, as well as blues and rock. With the
toggle switch in the second an fourth positions, you can get a sound
VERY similar to that of a hollowbody electric. Again, you can tailor
the sounds of the pickups to your needs by rolling back on the volume
and/or tone knobs.
Overall, this guitar sounds NOTHING like an American Standard Strat.
Further, this guitar sounds NOTHING like any other Fender I've ever
picked up. This guitar's sound is very unique and VERY useable in many
different situations. One thing to note, though. This guitar seems to
react better when hooked up to a tube amp rather than solid state.
-Controls-
This guitar has the basic American Standard Strat controls with the
exception of the bottom tone knob. The bottom tone knob is not TBX and
only controls the humbucking pickup in the bridge position.
-Feel/Materials-
This guitar is TOP QUALITY all the way. I've played American Strats in
the past that didn't much impress me with their so-so quality. My Lone
Star Strat gets a perfect "10" for fit and finish. There are no runs
in the finish, the neck is shaped and set perfectly, the tuners are
tight, the bridge is installed correctly, and the bridge pivot posts
are installed in metal grommets with perfect care. Removing the back
cover shows excellent workmanship in the paint. Fender obviously used
several coats of thick lacquer on this guitar and it is done to
perfection. My guitar looks to be cut from ONE solid piece of alder,
rather than two or three piece glued together like some American
Standard Strats. Also, this guitar was setup and strung perfectly from
the factory. (The setup was done by the "Cisco Kid". I'd recommend
looking for one that was set-up by him. You can see who set it up by
looking at the stamp on the Q.C. tag that is hanging off of the
guitar.) The only thing I'd change about this guitar is the tuners.
They are better than many, but I prefer the Schaller locking tuners
that came on my Strat Plus Deluxe. I may change them in the future.
-Overall-
I have a lot of guitars. I've also had a lot of guitars in the past.
This is one of the finest instruments I've ever owned. The quality is
first rate, the sound is wonderful and this guitar looks DAMN good! I
would highly recommend it to anyone looking at U.S. Made Strats. It's
not much more expensive than the American Standard. It truly gives you
a lot more features for your money. I paid less than $650 for this
guitar, and it included a Black Tolex case with plush red lining. The
dealer even threw in a Fender Polish cloth, and a high-quality Fender
cable with molded ends.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
-Cypher
Rich Briere
Thanks for the great review Cypher. Any other opinions on the Lone Star
Rich Briere
Fender
David Slauson
Cypher wrote:
>
> Now that I've had this guitar a week, I'll do a review on it to help
> out potential buyers or people who are curious about this Strat.
>
> Subject: Fender U.S. Lone Star Strat: REVIEW
> Guitar: Fender U.S. Lone Star Strat (Shoreline Gold)
> Price Paid: $648 including custom Tolex hardshell case
>
> -First Impressions-
>
> HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
>
> -Cypher
Great review. Thanks! (More fuel for the G.A.S. fires ;-)
David
Greg Peterson
David Slauson wrote:
>
> Cypher wrote:
> >
> > Now that I've had this guitar a week, I'll do a review on it to help
> > out potential buyers or people who are curious about this Strat.
> >
> > Subject: Fender U.S. Lone Star Strat: REVIEW
> > Guitar: Fender U.S. Lone Star Strat (Shoreline Gold)
> > Price Paid: $648 including custom Tolex hardshell case
> >
> > -First Impressions-
> >
> > HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
> >
> > -Cypher
>
> Great review. Thanks! (More fuel for the G.A.S. fires ;-)
>
> David
I thought we were going to form a support group...this ain't helping.
Thanks for nothing guys!! ;)
--
Greg
The defeat of the New England Patriots by the publicly owned Green Bay
Packers represents the single greatest triumph of socialism since the
fall of the Soviet Union.
--Gregor Petrosonovich
Jim Linehan
Gotta agree with Cypher's review. I have had my Sunburst Lone Star for
over a month now, and I absolutely love it. It is so different from my
American Std Strat that it made me appreciate the great "classic" strat
sound I get from the Std.
The Duncam humbucker really does cut through everything, and if I didn't
know better, I would think it has an active boost.
Great blues/rock guitar. Cypher, it sounds like you got a hell of a deal.
MIne cost aroudnd $650, but it was w/o the case. (I bought a tweed for it).
Rich Briere
Great comments Jim........glad you like it!
Rich Briere
Fender
Jeffrey Potoff
dca...@us.oracle.REMOVE.TO.REPLY.com wrote:
>
> Oh Lord,
>
> I feel the GAS comin' on. I'm salivatin' and kinda shaky. Quick call
> to the bank to check balance in checking, savings. Slow down now..
> breathe...
>
> Thanks for the writeup. Cisco Kid huh? hmm....
I wouldn't get so worked up. The last one I checked out was
in severe need of a grind and polish and never sounded
quite in tune. It was a cool guitar, but I was disappointed
that I would have the have fret work done on a brand new
instrument.
Jeff
>
dca...@us.oracle.remove.to.reply.com
Oh Lord,
I feel the GAS comin' on. I'm salivatin' and kinda shaky. Quick call
to the bank to check balance in checking, savings. Slow down now..
breathe...
Thanks for the writeup. Cisco Kid huh? hmm....
Dan Carwin
dca...@us.oracle.com
Cypher
>Oh Lord,
>
>I feel the GAS comin' on. I'm salivatin' and kinda shaky. Quick call
>to the bank to check balance in checking, savings. Slow down now..
>breathe...
>
Yeah! When I played the Lone Star Strat I instantly fell in love. If
you've got G.A.S then you'd better stay away from the Fender dealer.
:)
>Thanks for the writeup. Cisco Kid huh? hmm...
hehehehehe Yeah... I laughed at that one, too. However, he set this
guitar up good! I've only had to do minor tweaking to get the action
to my liking.
Ron
I've had my new Lonestar for two days now and I can't get enough of
it. The guitar is absolutely gorgeous. In tone and appearence! I've
owned very nice expensive guitars in the past and the quality of the
Lonestar is easily up to par w/those. The finish is outstanding and the
tones that come through the amp are excellent.
This is the first Fender I've owned and I bought this guitar mail
order sight unseen.
This is an outstanding model. Check it out!
Ron
jlg...@inforamp.net
>>-Overall-
>>I have a lot of guitars. I've also had a lot of guitars in the past.
>>This is one of the finest instruments I've ever owned.
>>HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
>>
>>-Cypher
I also just bought the Lonestar (the Shoreline Gold) I have used it at
a few gigs here, one which was a benefit for a local blues player who
had fallen on hard times. This was a blues benefit and I used the
Lonestar for the set.
Afterwards, I had many questions about the guitar and lots of comments
about the fatness and ballsiness of the tone - full, aggressive and
chunky but also with the sweet strat tones I really love and have
incorporated into my sound.
Can't say enough about the power and tone in the guitar. I chose it
after exploring and playing practically everything I could get my
hands on (twice and sometimes three times).
Cheers,
JL
>
Borneobare
So hey,
What about some kind of Lone Star group,
BB or something ??
BB
Borneobare
Sure. I'll try a review of mine.
I shopped for quite a while, I've played a Les Paul Custom and Classic,
and have had a Japanese re-issue Strat for years, went looking for
a good Strat. I loved the Clapton, even if the pick-ups were way too hot
to
control, but I needed more diversity andcontrol, for now. Still might
pick
up a Clapton later, because I play mostly blues.
But I also play accoustic, and mellow country sounding stuff.
And I didn't want to spend $1000.00
So, I shopped a lot, and found a great deal on a Lone Star.
Since taking it home a few weeks ago, I am getting to know the guitar.
I loved the 54 reissue from te custom shop -- what a cool sound.
But I didn't have $1500.
Maybe I'll put 54 pick-ups in the Japanese Strat?
What do you think of that?
OK My lone star --
It is the teal green -- which looks blue to me, by the way.
Looks nice, but I was buying for playablitiy and sound, not appearance.
But I have to admit, I grow to love looking at it!
Neck is very important to me, as a mostly fromer
Gibson and accoustic player, I like teh rosewood fretboard.
Got it.
Love the neck on this guitar. Really a great feel, easy to move fast--
I play quiet fast stuff, Johnny Winter, Gary Moore,
and this guitar can play it. I've never played a nicer neck.
There, I've said it. I like it better than the Les Paul Custom I tried
out,
I like the bridge mounted so that I can push and E-string about 4 half
steps and not break it or my finger!
PIck - ups. That is why I bought the thing.
It can come close to the cool, springy 54 sound --
that famous pure strat --
It can flip to a chunky Humbucker, fat Les Paul sound,
You run distortion through the humbucker to get the
Gary Moore type sounds...
Then the neck pick-up in phase also takes distortion well ...
I play through a DOD FX7, so I get lots of different sounds,
mostly use compression, to try for Stevie Ray.
Even though these are single coil Texas Special pick-ups,
supposedly faithful copies of teh actual pick-ups in SRV's fabled strat -
I still can't get the thing to sound quite like him --
any one help me out there??
For the hollow, Fender Twang, I use the Neck and Middle, out of Phase
with the toggle set between the two -- of course.
It stays in tune pretty well. Yeah, it could use better tuners, but it
sure
beats the Japanese one !!
I haven't realy gotten to know the middle pick up yet.
But I think I can get lots of sound out of this instrument, and
I love the playability.
This could become a classic ??
BB
Jack F. Vogel
Ron
Love the neck on this guitar. Really a great feel, easy to move fast--
I play quiet fast stuff, Johnny Winter, Gary Moore,
and this guitar can play it. I've never played a nicer neck.
There, I've said it. I like it better than the Les Paul Custom I tried
out,
You know I was thinking the Lonestar might become a legend also except
that since this is my first real Fender I didn't think I was entitled to
comment. And your right about the neck being so nice. I've played high
end Ibanez models all my life with extremely fast necks and this neck is
as fast with more feel.(nothing against Ibanez, just my own personal
opinion)
Sure, why not?
Cypher
>I wouldn't get so worked up. The last one I checked out was
>in severe need of a grind and polish and never sounded
>quite in tune. It was a cool guitar, but I was disappointed
>that I would have the have fret work done on a brand new
>instrument.
I've seen far more consistant quality in the Lone Star models for some
reason.
-Cypher
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