The guitar that made the Mexican-built Fender a serious recommendation rather than a compromise. It also needs a setup out of the box more often than a guitar at this price should.
This entry is written from the 4 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
On the evidence gathered here, yes. 83% of owners say they would buy it again, and satisfaction is still 8.2 out of 10 two years in. A good example with a proper setup is a keeper for decades.
After a setup and a set of strings most owners stop thinking about upgrading and start playing. Before that setup, opinions are much more mixed.
Owners spend money on a setup, tuners and often pickups. Bridge saddles and springs are the usual wear items. Finish marks easily compared with premium models.
A good example with a proper setup is a keeper for decades. Sentiment across the ownership period stays close to flat, which is rare: it reads 8.5 out of 10 in the first week and 8.2 two years later.
Worth it for: A first serious electric guitar; Players who want the classic sound without spending two thousand; Anyone with a good local guitar tech. Think twice if: You want a perfect instrument straight from the box; You already own an American Fender; You dislike the single-coil sound.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 8.0 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 8.5 / 10 |
| One month | 8.4 / 10 |
| Six months | 8.3 / 10 |
| One year | 8.2 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 8.2 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
Detailed review covering build variation and setup.
Review of the guitar against rivals at the price.
Review of the current generation and what changed.
Owner review of setup and playing experience.