Guitar Tricks Insider Gear Reviews of 2017 | Page 17

ELECTRIC GUITAR
FEATURES
At first glance the new American Pro Strat
looks like the previous American Standard
series - so what’s the difference? Several
things, friends. All three pickups are
designed by pickup guru, Tim Shaw, so
no matter what style you fancy, your
tone will be amazing. In bridge position
is a zebra ‘Shawbucker’, a proprietary
humbucker with lighter windings and
wax free, which resonates with more
microphonic overtones, and is a great
partnership with the two V-Mod single
coils. Most pickups use one type of alnico
magnet, either 2, 3, or 5. Not the V-Mods.
These feature a unique composite of
several alnico magnets that are voiced for
a perfect balance of warmth, brightness,
and power, for each specific string and
respective pickup. With the 5-way pickup
switch, select the neck position for buttery
Hendrix flavors, midrangey quacks in the
middle, classic vintage low output from
the Shawbucker at the bridge, or funky
tones with the pickup selector switch,
in 2nd and 4th positions, combining the
neck/middle or middle/bridge pickups
respectively. Volume knob tone loss
has been a concern with guitarists for
years and Fender serves up the solution
- with a ‘treble bleed circuit’ installed
on the American Pro Strat HSS (as well
as the other guitars in the series) that
retains