The American Elite Stratocaster is a progressive guitar for 21st-century musicians. Designed for players who push the envelope every night, this guitar is a true performer that leaves others in the dust with eye-catching style, exceptional feel and versatile sound from the very first moment you plug it in and play.
Featured on all American Elite instruments, the new 4th generation Noiseless pickups are only available in this series, and represent a quantum leap in pickup design. Combining vintage-style sound with effectively noise-free performance, these are the pinnacle of Fender’s noiseless pickup designs, offering pristine cleans and fat, overdriven tones that scream with pure rock ‘n’ roll power.
Designed for fast playing and effortless position changes, the compound profile neck is ideal for all playing styles. A modern “C”-shape at the nut, the profile morphs along the length of the neck to a modern “D”-shaped profile at the updated neck heel, providing plenty of comfortable support for fret hand antics. Locking, all short-post tuning machines provide increased break angle at the bone nut for buzz-free performance. The smooth two-point modern tremolo adds emotive touches to your performance without sacrificing your tuning.
Fender is renowned for head-turning style, and this guitar is no different—from newly refined, sleek and deeper contours that hug the player’s body to the black chrome headstock logo and large pearloid fret markers this instrument will dazzle the audience with elegant style. The American Elite Stratocaster is a bold new guitar for the brave new guitarist who is setting out to cross uncharted musical terrain. Includes a redesigned Elite Molded Case with TSA locks to provide increased protection for your cherished instrument.
Grab this modern take on a classic. Order today.
Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage
Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.
Gold Coverage Includes:
Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks Normal wear and tear Power surges Dust, internal heat and humidityOther plan features include:
For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks) For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax. Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold Plans are renewable on new gear*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details
Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.
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Take this all with a grain of salt. Some will swear by the need to get a guitar set up after it's shipped out. While I can't necessarily disagree, I do expect that dropping nearly $2k on an item should provide me with a flawless instrument that lives up to all the hype. I touched and listened to this guitar at Winter NAMM '16 and fell in love. I bought the Sky Burst Metallic, I think it's absolutely beautiful, and was showcased in the Fender room. On paper, this thing should be a monster. In reality, I think I just got a bum guitar. I will say that the playability is great. The body contours are much improved and it feels really great to hold. The neck shape going from a "C" to a "D" is pretty nice too, but it was really hard to get past strings buzzing like crazy and my hands getting scratched up by the frets on both sides of the neck. I can't imagine there was this amount of neck shrinkage, but I want to believe Fender's quality control would never have left this particular guitar leave the factory. Maybe it's the low-humidity in Phoenix that dried it out in the one day it spent here in transit? There's also a weird black smudge on the back of the neck that doesn't look and won't come out. I'm fairly certain it's not a simple discoloration, it looks more like grease that got locked into the wood.I own a lot of Fenders, I pretty much love them all and appreciate the uniqueness of each one from finish, to wood selection, pickup selection and configuration, etc. This experience in owning what is supposed to be their highest-end production line model, I'm not impressed. Maybe I should trade a bunch in and just go custom shop...
Most likely I'm going to be sending this one back and hoping that the second one works out better. If that's the case, then I would be happy to update/upgrade this review so that it represents the instrument this was promised to be.
Fender American Elite Rosewood Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst
.I purchased this Fender Elite from a local music store so I had a chance to play around with it before I bought it. Everything I heard and read about this instrument is true from my perspective. The color and finish are flawless, it sounds about as close to an old 50's Strat as you can get without the hum, the neck is smooth and fast, the S1 pickup configuration works as advertised and it is set up great right from the factory (actually the guys from the store could have tweaked it a bit but swore they didn't). I have gigged with it a few times on some 4 hour club dates and have absolutely no complaints. For my money it is as sweet as my PRS. Different to be sure but just as nice to play. It wasn't cheap but worth the price for me.
Fender American Elite Rosewood Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst
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After shopping for a Stratocaster for the entire year I decided on the Fender Elite in Aged Cherry. I wanted a guitar that showed off the wood grain and I was not disappointed with unseen purchase. There is a knot in the wood which adds character. I felt this was the better choice for me in lieu of the Tobacco. After playing the American Strats I was told that I would have to spend another 100 to have someone adjust and set up the action that is so perfect in the Elite. And another 200 for noiseless pickups. Besides I did not like the 3 tone sunburst of the American Strats. The reasons I was considering a Stratocaster are; weight, sound, and action. I have been playing a 2015 Gibson Les Paul Tradition Pro II and the axe is heavy. So I had to purchase a "Fat-Boy" Strap. The sounds are very different. I like the Steve Marriott/Humble Pie/Joe Bonamasa Les Paul sound and the Stratocaster SRV/Eric Claypton sound also. I have to say the action on the Fender Elite is excellent, equal to a the set up of the better Gibson guitars. My advise is buy the best, you will never regret it. If you cannot afford it at the moment, keep saving, stop smoking and drinking, get a part time job at McDonald's and buy the best guitar you can. I would not have been satisfied with the American Version. Now I don't need to trade-up. The case for the Elite is very good and light weight.Fender American Elite Rosewood Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst
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This is an amazing guitar. The ash body is gorgeous and sounds like a dream. Fender have done a super job creating the new low noise pickups that sound vintage.Fender American Elite Rosewood Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst
.So so so sad!!! I was so exciting to put my hands on the Fender Elite Strat, so I bought a brand new. Among all new features, the "noiseless" pickups was my main concern, so I went straight to test this, and it let me down big time :( I got a terrible hum interference (well known as 60 cycle hum). Now I'm forced to replace this pickups with the Fender Hot Noiseless Pickups that I had installed on my old Strat which cancel he hum totally, but for my surprise, the one that comes with the brand new Elite Strat have three wires each. in conclusion, I cannot use it on my (professional) performances.
Fender American Elite Rosewood Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst
.I have been playing quality guitars for over 40 years and this Elite definately has my attention! Plays and feels awesome. To me, a guitar has to "feel" good when I pick it up, and if I like it playing fingerstyle, Im going to buy it! Love this guitar and I would say its in the top 5 I've ever played!
Fender American Elite Rosewood Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst
.This guitar is awesome the pickups have the classic Fender quack and snap. The neck morphs from a C to D with a awesome satin finish.The compound radius makes it so easy to bend.Definitely my favorite Stratocaster so far.
Fender American Elite Rosewood Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst
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This is a keeper guitarFender American Elite Rosewood Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst
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