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FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / opinions from those who have tried the Blacktop Strat

professor
Contributing Member
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North Gnarlyington

Jan 25th, 2012 11:52 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Expectations,? Impressions? Issues? Did you try it with the intention of buying and did you, or not?

ndngary
Contributing Member
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US / Florida

Below Me
Jan 25th, 2012 12:53 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I had a 2010 blk top strat,car with rosewood fretboard.Didnt like the tone,sounded muddy to me. Some friends I play with really liked it though and there are some FDP'ers that speak highly of them. It was a well made guitar,the neck was awesome! I guess I just prefer singles on a strat,at least in the neck and middle position. Two weeks ago I traded it for a 60's road worn strat.

musicalmartin

UK

Jan 25th, 2012 03:34 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I had one for a few months and liked it a lot .Its not a Strat shaped Les Paul ,its a Fender and sounds like one .The coil split works well and the whole guitar was well made .I bought mine in two stages .I bought a loaded body from a US dealer and a neck a month or so later .I saved 50 quid doing that way LOL. Although from two guitars it all screwed together in a minute and I strung it up and it was perfect .Low action and no adjustment at all .Impressive .I sold it as I found it too heavy ad made 50 quid on the deal by selling it all parted out .I am getting old and much prefer very light guitars .I now have a GFS paulwonia strat body and once I sort out a good neck and whammy for it I may well set it up as blacktop using a set of humbuckers and a 5 way ,or maybe buy a Fender loaded pickguard .I'll probably get a blacktop neck cos they are very good and "my" spec(22 frets ,9.5 and medium jumbos).

ecfan

South Florida, USA

the blues had a baby...
Jan 25th, 2012 05:56 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Without any expectations, I tried one when they first hit the stores. I was very impressed with the power of the pickups and the build quality. About a month ago, I was given a new CAR w/maple Blacktop Strat as a surprise gift. It was ordered from a local Guitar Center store and it was given to me in a sealed Fender shipping box. No defects whatsoever and I am very pleased. I switched the strings to Fender Original Bullets, Pure Nickel Wound, .09's, and the sound is even better, in my opinion. The best feature of the Blacktop Strat is those pickups. The "overwound" humbuckers, and the switching options, open up a new tonal palette for a factory Strat.

Modal Magic
Contributing Member
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MBJ, Highway Hound.

You Can't Bend It Aussie!
Jan 25th, 2012 11:15 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I have one and am very impressed. Quality, playability and attention to detail are to a high standard. The neck is great, and mine is relatively light.

To me the pups are PAF-ee, but wound slightly hotter. They have the same general characteristics and output as a set of Air Classics and Burstbucker Pros I have fitted to other guitars. To me they aren't overly hot and the guitar sounds sort of like a snappier Les Paul. Great for classic type rock tones through a Marshall.... and good for jazzy stuff with the neck pup too.

Twangmeister
Contributing Member
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ENC

I'm your captain.
Jan 26th, 2012 08:09 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I tried one.

It sounded a lot like my Reverend Charger HB with slightly hotter pickups. If I didn't already own the Rev I would have been seriously interested.

perky

Australia

Feb 3rd, 2012 12:12 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I hope they're good, as I just ordered one! I love Strats to play, but always wanted a fat sound that single coils (except for P90s)couldn't quite give, so this may be the answer..looking forward to it through my Blues Deluxe

perky

Australia

Feb 15th, 2012 01:03 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Just collected the blacktop Strat- I like it a lot..Ok it's not a traditional Strat sound, but man very interesting tones and not a Gibson in Strat clothing. The quality from the Mexico factory is very good indeed.

tahitijack

San Clemente, CA

Happy Sunsets, tahitijack
Feb 16th, 2012 08:41 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Just bought one (sonic blue/rosewood fretboard)and I really like it. Build quality was better than expected. Tone is very different but for me in a good way. Not quite as bright as my single coil Strats. Humbucker positions are louder than the single coil positions. The only odd thing is the sting tree is screwed down tight to the headstock so there is a sharp angle from the nut to the string tree compaired to the other four strings. None of my other Strats have this including a MIM. I'm no certain if this was designed that way or needs to change, but I plan on taking it in for a set up in a couple of weeks and may have them add a bushing to raise up the string tree. For me the selling feature is flexibility of having humbuckers and single coils and this does the job at a very low price.

Joe Potts
Contributing Member
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Western Pa.

Make it count
Feb 16th, 2012 11:55 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I have a sonic blue one with maple fretboard, and like it a lot. No issues with build quality, and the other guitar players on the praise team at the large church where I play are always commenting on how good it sounds.

The new one with a Tele pickup in the middle is interesting, though I haven't played or heard one.

5Strats
Contributing Member
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Edmond/OKC

Chasing Sanity
Feb 16th, 2012 01:39 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I liked the Blacktop Strats I've tried out, but don't "need" one, unfortunately. (:oD

perky

Australia

Feb 16th, 2012 11:05 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
5Strats..the tempation will be too great, and you will get one :-))

tahitijack

San Clemente, CA

Happy Sunsets, tahitijack
Feb 19th, 2012 10:10 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Just cruzin' youtube this morning watching Chris Rea concerts. Chris is my favorite unknown players (in the US). Several of his Strats have HH pups. Don't know if they are Blacktops but the sound sweet.

gc2

United Kingdom

Mar 5th, 2012 01:21 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I've had one for a few months. One of the best Strats I've played. I did physically lower the pickups though which made a huge difference.

MLC
Contributing Member
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It's not just good..

...it's good enough.
Mar 5th, 2012 02:34 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
The Daphne Blue one at the local GC always grabs my attention.
I love the look and it felt great when I picked it up and played it. Didn't plug it in, though.

I'm seriously considering turning my JV Strat into a 2xHumbucker, just for something different (my homebrew Strat is just about perfect as a "traditional" Strat).

FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / opinions from those who have tried the Blacktop Strat

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