Fender American Lone Star Stratocaster: Opinions please?

[Musicscotty]

I've been looking for a Strat that will basically cover the styles of music that I want to play.

 

I'm looking to cover everything from crunchy classic rock/blues to clean soul/funk.

 

Will an American Lone Star Strat be able to do the clean stuff? I'm pretty sure It'll be fine for rock/blues but I have my doubts about the soul/funk stuff.

 

Does anyone have past or current experience of the American Lone Star Strat, with a view to what I'm looking for?

[chqtarzan]

i think you'll be happy with it

[Musicscotty]

 

i think you'll be happy with it

 

 

I think I would be as well, but I'm just concerned that it wont be suitable for soul/funk stuff - or a basic clean strat tone in the neck and neck/middle positions.

[chqtarzan]

 

I think I would be as well, but I'm just concerned that it wont be suitable for soul/funk stuff - or a basic clean strat tone in the neck and neck/middle positions.

 

 

if memory serves they have texas special in neck&middle, those pups could handle cleans good;)

[Superrust]

I am note sure what the pups will be in the guitar. This is '96 MIA I've played for years (not sure if it's a fat strat or lonestar), with a Seymour Duncan Bridge and 2 texas special singles. There is a little edge to them when you dig in but I do enjoy playing funk and blues and fell that it would be a good all around fit. I think besides the guitar it has to be about a clean amp as well if that's what your going for.

[Musicscotty]

I am note sure what the pups will be in the guitar. This is '96 MIA I've played for years (not sure if it's a fat strat or lonestar), with a Seymour Duncan Bridge and 2 texas special singles. There is a little edge to them when you dig in but I do enjoy playing funk and blues and fell that it would be a good all around fit. I think besides the guitar it has to be about a clean amp as well if that's what your going for.

 

Thanks for that

[Deadbeat Son]

 

This is '96 MIA I've played for years (not sure if it's a fat strat or lonestar), with a Seymour Duncan Bridge and 2 texas special singles.

 

 

I would guess that's a Lonestar. That's how they were equipped from the factory. The SD should be a Pearly Gates.

[badhabit]

For the same price, the Deluxe Player's Strat is a better guitar, IMO. Light weight ash body, 12" radius neck, American made Vintage Noiseless pu's, 7 way pu switching, vintage tuners and tremelo, gold hardware. I did switch out the bridge pu for the Hot ( Jeff Beck ) Vintage Noiseless. Like that better.

 

[Musicscotty]

Bump for the oncoming people.

[wkrantz7]

Hey man. I've tried a Lone Star strat and I found it to be awesome, especially with the HSS layout. I think if I were to get a Strat, my first choice might be a Lone Star, if not a regular MIA Strat. The texas specials give that nice jangle, and the humbucker will give you a nice wide, fat tone if you wanna up the gain or push your amp. The HSS layout in general is a very versatile combo IMO. Hope that helps.

[machine gunner]

I had a Lonestar years ago- great guitar, should've kept it...

[guitarmandp]

The lone star was my first "good" electric. My parents bought it for me for my 16th birthday Sophomore year in high school.

 

I wanted a Les Paul standard because I went through a phase where I was into Aerosmith & Guns N Roses but then I discovered Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton and I was torn between a Les Paul or a Strat. Also the Les Paul didn't have a tremelo, and I wanted a guitar with a tremelo.

 

I couldn't decide between a Les Paul Standard or an American Standard Stratocaster. Then the lone star strat came out with the texas specials & the pearly gates in the bridge and right then I knew what I wanted.

 

That was the guitar I played in bands in high school. My junior year I bought a cherry sunburst Les Paul standard, and then my Senior year I got a Paul Reed Smith. My freshman year in college I got an Ibanez JEM. I now had 3 guitars with humbuckers so I didn't think it made sense to have a Lone Star Strat. I sold the Lone Star strat and used the money to help buy an Eric Clapton strat.

[guitarmandp]

I actually have a soundclip of myself playing the Lone Star strat that I'm thinking about sharing. I had only been playing guitar for 2 years when this clip was recorded. I was really into Stevie Ray Vaughan in high. I was actually a much better blues player back then than I am now.

[doppelbanger]

a lonestar strat would be perfect. it is actually a guitar that flies under the radar due to its unique pickup config and the fact that the original us version from the 90's has been discontinued for a long time. it has great pickups, texas specials, in the neck and middle positions and has the pearly gates plus pickup in the bridge. i have a strat with that pickup in the bridge and it is killer for classic rock tones and the combo with neck and middle is just great. the bridge just wont handle heavy modern sounds as well.

[guitarmandp]

The one thing I didn't like was that the bridge/middle sound on the lone star sucked.

[Musicscotty]

Thanks for the comments.

 

I'd be happy with the SD Pearly Gates, but it's the Texas Specials that I'm concerned about really. I'll probably just keep a look out for one and see if I can try it out.

[maltomario]

Here's my 2000 american standard fat strat texas special (thats what they were called). bridge pup is SD pearly gates, single coils are texas specials.

 

this guitar is extremely versatile, and the necks are a step up from american std strats of the same period, IMO. And I say this after owning a few from that era.

 

here's a pic of mine in shoreline gold finish.

 

[jonPhillips]

Here's my 1997 Lone Star

[Brian May]

I dont understand how anyone can question the versatility of an HSS Strat??? Of course it can do what the OP has asked! Texas specials are darker than standard glassy strat pickups - I have a JB Jnr in the bridge and 2 Texas Specials in mid and neck. That can do anything...can always dial some more top in if you want it...what they lack in top they make up for in mids. But a HSS Strat IMO is about as versatile as a guitar can get. I also had the PG+ in the bridge of another Strat but took that out n put in a Custom Custom which was more middy and to my tastes more.

[DonK]

I am note sure what the pups will be in the guitar. This is '96 MIA I've played for years (not sure if it's a fat strat or lonestar), with a Seymour Duncan Bridge and 2 texas special singles. There is a little edge to them when you dig in but I do enjoy playing funk and blues and fell that it would be a good all around fit. I think besides the guitar it has to be about a clean amp as well if that's what your going for.

 

That s/b a Lonestar (I had one in the same color, but with a maple neck). I bought mine new in '96, about the same time I bought a Strat Plus. The poster above has it right on the pup's: Texas Special for the neck and middle, SD Pearly Gates at the bridge. The Fat Strat was first introduced as part of the American Deluxe line, which I believe was introduced in '98 (I bought one of the first ones, piece of junk; I just got a lemon).

 

The Lonestar is a great guitar; I think you'll like it fine for funk and blues.

[Musicscotty]

 

I dont understand how anyone can question the versatility of an HSS Strat??? Of course it can do what the OP has asked! Texas specials are darker than standard glassy strat pickups - I have a JB Jnr in the bridge and 2 Texas Specials in mid and neck. That can do anything...can always dial some more top in if you want it...what they lack in top they make up for in mids. But a HSS Strat IMO is about as versatile as a guitar can get. I also had the PG+ in the bridge of another Strat but took that out n put in a Custom Custom which was more middy and to my tastes more.

 

 

I'm not questioning the versatility of every HSS Strat. I'm only enquiring into the versatility of the Texas Specials - specifically if they are suitable for a clean soul/funk tone.

 

I'm pretty certain that they'll be fine for more Bluesy/rock applications that I'm also looking for but I'm wondering if I should be looking more at an American Deluxe HSS Strat that has SCN pickups in the neck and middle positions?

[Brian May]

Yes I still say that the Lonestar with its Texas Specials can do it fine, were typically you may sometimes roll the treble back on your amp to tame the brittle bright top end you maybe wont have to as much due to their darker nature but still definately you can do it just fine. If you have access to one of these now discontinued Strats (I'm guessing here that is why your mentioning this old model) then try it out for yourself. Me personally I'd go for a newer American Strat mostly because I prefer the "original contour body" (its on the headstock on all Strats that have it!) the body is nicer - slightly sharper horns but more rounded edges - not as square as the older 90's Strats. I would say if Funk n Soul are the preferred styles that whilst TS can deliver they maybe wont be as good as some more hollow glassier/twangier PUPs that are lighter on the mids...but as with all things its swings n roundabouts - what you win on one hand you trade off in another. But sure yes TS can definately do it fine...and I know because I have 'em in 1 of my 2 Strats.

[13ms13]

Hi, sorry for reviving (and hijacking) the thread, but I guess it's better than starting a new thread which would be pretty much exactly the same.

 

I'm copying what I wrote on another forum but I didn't get many replies:

Sorry for the lengthy, ranty post but I'd appreciate it a lot if you could help me out.

 

Before you start reading, I'd like you to know that I don't live in the US but my aunt does and she'll be coming to Europe next month so she'll bring me the guitar I want. That means I really have nowhere to test out those guitars, so if I want to sell the Strat that I bought but I'm not so sure about and get a post-2008 Strat instead, I have to make this decision based solely on reviews and your advice

 

To the point: After 12 years of playing I finally saved up enough money for a good guitar. I was looking and looking and after months of looking I got a '01 American Lonestar Strat in perfect condition for a decent price in the exact color combination I wanted.

I've read tons of great reviews on 01-04 Lonestars. Many people stated that these guitars were a step up in quality over std Strats and some even said these were among the best Strats they've ever played. Also, Mark Knopfler is my favorite guitarist of all time and his signature Strat has Texas Special pickups in it. So, I thought, hell yeah, that must be THE guitar.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a spontaneous decision at all, it's just that it's been 2 months since I got this guitar and during those 2 months I started wondering if I made the right decision.

 

Post-2008 Strats seem to be simply better than pre-2008 Strats with the new bridge, lighter finish and upgraded case + they have a more vintage vibe to them (which I totally dig). Also, what bothers me a lot, Tex Mex pups look like they're going to be better all-around pickups than Texas Specials (I'm talking about the neck and middle pickups, don't worry about the humbucker as I'm going to swap it anyway).

I'm really worried that Texas Specials won't be able to clean up nicely and deliver that warm John Frusciante tone that I love equally as much as Mark Knopfler's tone. I'm mostly going to be using my middle and neck positions for clean stuff and I want my Strat to sound like a Strat, clear, round and warm. I'm afraid that with Texas Specials I'm always going to be getting that brittle, overdriven-kinda tone.

 

I'm probably worrying about the pickups too much. I can always swap out the pickups if I want. BUT I really want my Strat to have a vintage vibe to it and be as good quality as possible, so if the Lonestar isn't actually a step-up in quality over a std Strat, wouldn't it be advisable to sell the Lonestar and get a post-2008 Strat (I don't mind the selling hassle, I just want my guitar to be as perfect as possible)?

 

Thanks a lot!

[Superrust]

I think its simple. I wouldn't change the pickups, I would sell it used and by used. The American Standard is the same quality just not the same pickup switch config. You should break even.