Hands-On Review: Fender American Standard Family

Hands-On Review: Fender American Standard Family
Re-engineered from the ground up

By Dan Day
Musician’s Friend Staff Writer
Yamaha E Series Keyboards

You know the names: Stratocaster, Telecaster, Precision Bass, Jazz Bass. These instruments are the foundation of just about every kind of electrified music you can name. Not satisfied with resting on these lofty laurels, the folks at Fender continue the ongoing evolution of these icons with the new American Standard Series. It builds on Leo Fender’s vision of producing quality guitars and basses and adding modern advances that players want while maintaining the instruments’ iconic status. Leo would be proud.
Evolution of an icon

For the first time in eight years, Fender took a close look at every part on each of the guitars and basses, evaluating and experimenting. Just as Leo did when the Telecaster and Stratocaster were being developed, Fender’s designers sought valued input from working musicians.

For the Stratocaster, some popular, tried-and-true features have been retained: the four-bolt neck, Micro-Tilt, two-point vibrato, 22 frets, 9-1/2" radius, and the DeltaTone “no-load” circuit. The American Standard Series also has the rolled fingerboard edges for a rounder, smoother feel along the neck, and the staggered tuners and pickup pole pieces.

The new developments for the American Standard Strat are the result of reverse-engineering to hone the elements that make Fender instruments look, feel, and sound like the icons they are. The sample Strat I received was decked out in a strikingly beautiful sienna sunburst, a new body finish for three single-coil models. To enhance the finish, the body undercoat is thinner, which also lets the body wood breathe and resonate more easily for improved tonal response. The back of the neck retains that smooth satin finish but the front of the neck now looks more detailed with a gloss finish that has a richer tint.

Fender American Standard Series Tele and Strat

The American Standard’s tremolo has a two-point fulcrum that provides smooth and stable tremolo bar action and returns to its original position still in tune. The smaller profile inertia block travels further in the tremolo body cavity so it can dip even lower to limp-string status.
Take me to the bridge

We all know that tonewoods and pickups are key components of a guitar’s sound. The bridge often gets overlooked. True tone freaks understand just how critical it is. Fender calls the American Standard Strat Bridge a blend of old and new design. The higher-mass bridge has a new “tone fusion” steel block that is now infused with copper instead of resin. This 100% homogeneous metal design provides solid transfer of string vibration while minimizing extraneous vibration. The vintage-style bent steel saddles ensure that the bridge does not absorb string vibration so that the full, characteristic Strat tone is passed along to the pickups. I can play vibrant Buddy Holly-ish strumming; clear-as-a-bell country picking; chunging funk rhythms; or slithery, snaky, smoky prog and grunge leadwork and know I’m getting all the tone I need.
Meet the Fenders

The American Standard Telecaster guitar, and the Precision and Jazz Basses also received the same selective adaptation process to further improve their look, sound, and feel. The Tele has a new modified bridge that also has vintage-style bent steel adjustable saddles to better transfer string vibration. Like the Strat, the Tele bridge saddles are more narrowly spaced to complement the bigger frets and rolled edges of the neck. The string slots are longer to reduce friction and string breakage.
Fender American Standard Series Strat and Tele
Fender American Standard Precision and Jazz Bass

Like the Strat and Tele, the American Standard P Bass and Jazz Bass feature the richer, darker neck tint, glossed fretboard with satin neck back, a thinner undercoat for more natural wood resonance, and rolled fingerboard edges for that comfortable, worn in feel. A new member of the family is the Precision V, so now bassists can enjoy that great P Bass feel in a five-string passive version with an extended lower range that modern bassists love. The new bass improvements include the HMV high-mass vintage bridge that offers string-through-body or through-the-top design. The Precision gets its tone through a combination of steel and brass producing a tight, punchy midrange tone with a bit of high-end sparkle and the focused low-end that Fender basses are famous for. The Fender-designed tuning keys are 30% lighter keeping the neck from dipping down while you’re playing. The Posiflex graphite neck support rods add strength and stability to the neck.

Finally, the rugged new TSA lock-equipped SKB Fender case means airport security can unlock your case if they need to inspect your gear. The rectangular shape makes it much easier to stack than the violin-shaped molded case that it replaces—a welcome change whether you’re a roadie for a headliner at the enormo-dome or a weekend-warrior schlepping your own gear into the local watering hole.
Features & Specs
American Standard Strat and Tele features:

* Deeper neck tint
* Glossed neck front/satin back
* Thinner undercoat
* New body finishes
* DeltaTone no-load circuit
* Staggered tuning machines
* SKB Fender stackable hardshell case with TSA locks

American Standard Strat features:

* Alnico V pickups with staggered pole pieces
* Copper-infused cast Strat Bridge Block

American Standard Telecaster Features:

* American Standard Tele Bridge (steel plate/brass saddles)

American Standard P Bass and Jazz Bass features:

* HMV (High Mass Vintage) bridge
* Fender-designed tuning keys
* Flush pickup pole pieces