Fender Blacktops

[Katastrophe]

Here's the Strat in action.



And the Telecaster...



The Jaguar... I've never been a fan of the shape, but I'm digging this one!



The Jazzmaster... Digging the Jazzmaster single coil in the neck on this one.

Don't work for this music store... They were the best sounding demos I could find.

[Duffy]

I like the black strat blacktop (BT). I played the Jaguar the other day. Definitely nice guitar, especially for the price.

They had a Jazzmaster that really caught my eye, a black one: bridge humbucker, neck P90. This looks WAY better in person than in the pictures.

I wanted to play that bad looking boy; however, the switch or neck pickup is bad and I didn't bother to play it since the P90 was out of play. Today when my new Epi Faded SG picked me out as its owner, it was still not on the floor. I will go back soon and see if it is fixed because I definitely want to play that bad looking puppy. I like the small headstock better than the Jaguar. I was not particularly taken by the Jaguar.

The light blue strat definitely gets my attention, without a doubt. This is a very laid back looking guitar, very demure - possibly a sleeper capable of some hot rockin'. The teles look good too, especially the black and grey, to me.

They are selling them fast. The strats and teles are gone, only the Jag is left in workable condition, then the Jazzmaster, which will probably disappear forthrightly if it gets fixed anytime soon.

We have an active jazz and blues community around this here rural area that is organized and promoted by the "Billtown Blues Society", a local group. Jazz dudes show up in the stores every so often and generally look like they have money and I see them buying multiple items, big ticket items like PA systems and speakers and old school looking Ampeg amps, things like that.

I have one of the old Squier's in trans red with the two point tremolo and chrome covered Duncan Designed dual humbuckers. This is a very neat guitar and one I prize highly - quite similar in design to the Fender blacktop strat in many ways. Charity plays the Squier a lot. It has great tone.

Why don't you buy one "Sun" to keep company with your other strat. Definitely won't lose any value I don't suppose. Which is irrevelant because you probably would never sell it anyway. Can you imagine how that would sound on a high gain rig with some tremolo thrown in? Just the idea sounds good . . . Guitars are like dogs - they need company of their own kind in order to keep things in perspective.

I got permission from Charity today though before I bought home the guitar, but the original plan was to be reigning in a new old stock Vox AD60VTX for 200 dollars - brand new. I rolled with it and went with the SG that reached deep down into my soul. She thinks the SG looks great in the dull cherry finish. It is a good looking, feeling, and playing guitar.

[MAXIFUNK]

I am getting one of these as soon as I sell my FMT HH Tele.
The guitar recieved rave reviews from my guys where I bought most of Guitars.
Metal Heads Rejoice!!!

[Tig***]

Wow, I learned something good about the Strat Blacktop from the top video. The 5-way switch makes it the clear choice above the other 3-way Blacktops.

Position 1. Full Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Two Inside Single Coils
Position 3. Both Full Humbucking Pickups
Position 4. Outer Neck Single Coil
Position 5. Full Neck Pickup

Still, be sure to demo one before buying, as the quality may or may not be questionable.

[oldguy]

Maxi,
I played the Strat, Sat. at a local music store. The playability was very good, fret ends nicely finished, good action. The only thing I didn't care for were the pickups in single coil mode. They didn't sound much different to my ears, just less volume. None of that single coil bite and edge I expected.......just not as loud. Humbucker mode kicked butt, but I have plenty of humbucker guitars, so I passed. Nice guitar, tho.

[marnold***]

The only thing I didn't care for were the pickups in single coil mode. They didn't sound much different to my ears, just less volume. None of that single coil bite and edge I expected.......just not as loud.

When I've tried coil tapping/shunting that's also been my observation. I've found that running the coils in parallel instead of series does a better (although still not perfect) single coil impersonation AND it remains hum-canceling.

[Eric***]

When I've tried coil tapping/shunting that's also been my observation. I've found that running the coils in parallel instead of series does a better (although still not perfect) single coil impersonation AND it remains hum-canceling.

Same here. I enjoy the fact that my Godin has coil splitting in positions 2 and 4, but the split of the neck pickup is just a lower-output version of the neck with some buzz added in. The split bridge pup does sound remarkably tele-ish, however.

I've never tried ones in parallel. It runs both HBs in parallel?

[MAXIFUNK]

Maxi,
I played the Strat, Sat. at a local music store. The playability was very good, fret ends nicely finished, good action. The only thing I didn't care for were the pickups in single coil mode. They didn't sound much different to my ears, just less volume. None of that single coil bite and edge I expected.......just not as loud. Humbucker mode kicked butt, but I have plenty of humbucker guitars, so I passed. Nice guitar, tho.

Thanks, OG I have 2 humbuckers guitars and one I never really bonded with
my Tele FMT HH coil tap neck thru 15.75 Radius and just never seem to mesh.
So, My plan is to sell it get a Blacktop thus I would have HH axe I could take anywhere without any worries and size neck and radius I am very comfortable with. Because my LP is not going to be leaving the house except for an occasional practice from time to time.

My 1st choice prior to this guitar being released was the Ibanez Dark Stone
DN500 http://www.ibanez.com/ElectricGuitars/model-DN500K
The problem with this guitar no one and I mean no one seems to have one in stock to test drive. So, the blacktop may win out lack of competition.

I also have come across DBZ LP style guitars that look great on the internet but have yet even try to see how the fit & feels works for me.

http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/4...ntage-Natural/
http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/6...iberian-Quilt/

The Blacktop is cheaper by $150.00 to the Ibanez and $250.00 to the DBZ so it seems to be a no brainier to get the blacktop Strat then either Ibanez or DBZ at some latter date.