Fender FSR Standard Stratocaster Sunfire Orange Flake review part two
By Rob Sandall
| Posted in Guitar
Reviewing a Fender Standard Stratocaster feels a bit like teaching people to suck eggs. Who doesn’t know Strats? Oddly, the first half of this review prompted some reader emails who were quick to tell me that, actually, a recap would be appreciated. Some had never played one before, as mad as that sounds, but others used to own Strats and are now thinking about purchasing the Standard Mexican model. They’d like to know if this affordable guitar is an acceptable purchase compared to the USA’s bigger-brother. So, here we go.
We’ve already talked about the finish specific to this model, which looks stunning. Otherwise, the aesthetics are of the modern bent, considering of course that the body and headstock shapes have long felt timeless in their design. I am personally a big fan of the oversized ‘stock you only usually find on retro models, but even so I can’t help but like the sleek design here. Note also that you’ve got a parchment-coloured pickguard and plastic parts, as opposed to the normal ‘pure’ white fare on other Standards.
It’s packing an alder body and maple neck, which makes the guitar of medium weight – heavy enough to feel like it’s actually there without causing any aches after prolonged playing. It is of course also contoured too and therefore immensely huggable – it sounds a bit silly, but that’s one of the Strat’s biggest selling points – it’s comfy to play.
The neck itself is a modern C shape on this Strat, which should feel relatively chunky under your hands without impeding your licks – the best word to use is probably ‘substantial’. I know a lot of people who have found themselves particularly enamoured with the way that the modern Strat neck feels – the expected 21 medium-jumbo frets are here – and I can further recommend this as a decent learning tool too – right off the bat, it’s very easy indeed to get to grips with this style.
The pickups – Fender brand – are configured HSS, so you’ve got a fair bit of tonal variety. It’s a configuration I can see appealing to a broad range of people, as the sonourous neck single is there for a mid-rich sound that’s velvet-smooth when clean and chuggy when distorted, the middle provides a transparent, percussive feel and the bridge is beefed up to allow for higher-gain solos and a depth to the punchier end. Some will prefer SSS, but an oft-levelled criticism of Strats – especially from those used to playing, say, the Gibson or Ibanez style of axe, is that there’s not enough meat in the bridge. Problem solved.
Tone pot one covers your neck sound, while the second covers middle and bridge (there’s a five-way selector so you can aim for blended sounds too, of course – the middle/bridge position four is somewhat legendary in fact). Then there’s the master volume, and all three pots are within a comfortable distance of the strings without getting in the way. Again, it feels slightly odd trying to explain Strat tones, but running through each of the positions you can be hitting anything from sulky blues to searing rock and snappy cleans. Versatility, in my opinion, without compare.
The synchronised tremolo runs smooth and firm, and even if you’re not planning to use it much/at all, still provides the specific jangle synonymous with Strat tone. I gave it a fair amount of abuse, though, and tuning stayed happy enough for the duration of a few songs. Fortunately, when I did have to retune a touch the Fender-brand sealed machine heads were responsive enough to ensure an accurate tweak.
So, what to say of the Standard model? Well, it’s a workhorse, it’s incredibly playable, it’ll sound pro on stage and in the studio and the comfort in playing it will improve your ability and appreciation for the craft. This one has a bonkers finish that you’ll either love or loathe, but I defy you to in any way dislike the guitar itself. It’s been fun, messing with the Fender FSR Standard Stratocaster in Orange Sunfire Flake
Tags: orange strat, orange stratocaster, rare strat colours