Fender '62 Hot Rod Strat vs Fender Am Std Strat

[haslar]

Guys,

I'm wondering: has anybody tried both of those strats?

On my left, the '62 Hot Rod Stratocaster ($1650 @Musician's Friend)




http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/7/5/3/452753.jpg



"Thin-Skin" Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish
Alder Body
Maple neck, Thick “C” Shape,
(Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish with Satin Back) Fingerboard Rosewood, 9.5" radius
21 Medium Jumbo Frets
3 American Vintage Strat® Single-Coil Pickups with
9.5” Fingerboard Radius,




On my right, the Fender American Standard Stratocaster ($1000):

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/4/2/8/552428.jpg



(Urethane Finish) Body Alder
Maple Neck, Modern “C” Shape,
(Gloss Headstock Face with Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck)
9.5” Radius
22 Medium Jumbo Frets Pickups
3 American Strat® Single-Coil Pickups Controls
Delta Tone





Ok... So both have alder bodies, 9.5" radii, C-shape neck, and medium-jumbo frets.
Pickups are probably very similar.
VHR has "thin-skin' nitro finish, whereas AmStd has poly.
Trem block is slightly different, as are tuners.

So in terms of playability, I would be surprised if there was a massive difference between those two guitars.

Therefore: it looks like I'd essentially be paying $650 for a nitro finish and a more vintage appearance?

...Or am I missing something?


I did try the AmStd, and was really impressed. I haven't tried the VHR but have no doubts about its qualities.

Does the AmStd sound as good as the VHR? If you've tried both, please let me know!

[gkoelling]

I've owned three Am Std Strats but that was in the 90's. They were very nice guitars but not something that would knock you off your feet. Respectable but no OMG! involved.

I'd look for a used Hot Rod. It'll probably still be a little more money but, from what I've read, it's a nicer guitar.

[haslar]

Thanks.

I should have been more specific: I was talking about the new, 2008 AmStd series.

I did try a few 90s Standards, and have had the same feelings as you have.

[fjs1962]

I've owned a 62 Hot Rod and played several of the new American Strats.

I really like the new American Series but the necks are a little on the slim side for my taste. It's definitely a more modern C carve, not as much taper as a vintage C neck. The tone is more modern/versatile than the 62 Hot Rod. They actually remind me a lot of the Anderson Classics I've owned in the past, and that's a good thing considering the Fender is less than half the price of the Anderson.

The 62 Hot Rod is a great guitar if you want something that sounds more like an old Strat. You have to be willing to deal with the thinner sounding bridge pickup just like in the old days. The necks on every 62 Hot Rod I've tried was huge, so you definitely have to like big necks to get along with one.

Either one is a good choice depending on your needs.

[VaughnC]

In my experience, Strats are tonally the most inconsistent guitars on planet Earth so each individual one should be judged on its own merits. Gems & dogs can appear at ANY price point...and I've played $300 Strats that blew away some $3000+ Strats. Specs don't mean diddly squat...kick some tires and let your hands & ears be the judge.

Having said that, after a Mare "Josie" pickup swap, my '62 VHR is one of the better sounding & feeling Strats I've played in my 40+ years in the game...but the point of reference is MY hands and MY ears and your conclusion could be totally different. Believe in yourself...no matter what WE say ;).

[Flyin' Brian]

The closest to helping is to tell you that I bought a 2008 Am Std Tele and absolutely LOVE it! If I was in the market for a Strat I'd definitely consider a 2008 Am Std, but like Vaughn said, I'd want to play a few.

[MichaelK]

In my experience, Strats are tonally the most inconsistent guitars on planet Earth so each individual one should be judged on its own merits. Gems & dogs can appear at ANY price point...and I've played $300 Strats that blew away some $3000+ Strats. Specs don't mean diddly squat...kick some tires and let your hands & ears be the judge.

Having said that, after a pickup swap, my '62 VHR is one of the better sounding & feeling Strats I've played in my 40+ years in the game...but the point of reference is MY hands and MY ears and your conclusion could be totally different. Believe in yourself...no matter what WE say ;).

I do believe Vaughn has hit the proverbial nail on the proverbial head.

I'll only say this... I've played some new Am. Std. Strats, because I love one of the new Teles so much that I bought it on the spot, but so far none of the new Strats have moved me much.

I feel that a lot of it comes down to the individual piece of wood. You never know till you pick it up. I don't even bother plugging it in if it doesn't speak to me unplugged first. My favorite "Strat" is a G&L Legacy that just chimes so loud, I knew right away I had to have it.

Most of mine are heavy as all shit, too. I don't know why, it doesn't seem to be a "rule" that heavier guitars always sound better. That's just the way these in particular happen to be.

[esoteric pete]

i wonder why fender calls that color on the HR sherwood green, but in that pic above, it looks like ocean turquoise?

[Kojack19]

Agree with the posts above in that try before you buy with every Fender product-there are great ones and bad ones and price does not necessarily tell the whole story. I will say this too, for the 1k you are going to spend on an am standard, you have a lot of options in the used market to move up a notch especially since the used market went cold.

If you are set on new, I can't tell you how to equate the extra 650 but I played a used 62 hot rod that was for sale for around the price of a new am standard. It was one of the best strats I have played that was not either-an original 60s guitar or 2.5 to 3x the price. If I did not already have a strat that I loved, it would have left the store with me.

[shane88]

In my experience, Strats are tonally the most inconsistent guitars on planet Earth so each individual one should be judged on its own merits. Gems & dogs can appear at ANY price point...and I've played $300 Strats that blew away some $3000+ Strats. Specs don't mean diddly squat...kick some tires and let your hands & ears be the judge.

Having said that, after a pickup swap, my '62 VHR is one of the better sounding & feeling Strats I've played in my 40+ years in the game...but the point of reference is MY hands and MY ears and your conclusion could be totally different. Believe in yourself...no matter what WE say ;).
wot you said :AOK

[joesnewmatch]

I picked up a 62 VHR earlier this year. It's a fantastic Strat. I got it as a rosewood compliment to an EJ. For me, the neck was ultra comfortable, it had the vintage styling and vibe I wanted, and a nitro finish was high on my list. Also, mine was very light, 7.01 pounds. Only negative -- for me -- I'm not as crazy about the pickups, though it does have a nice vintage vibe.

If you don't have to have nitro or the neck profile, the standards are great guitars. Of course, I also really like the Classic Player models. I think that Fender is making amazing guitars right now, so you can't really go wrong.

Think about what options you really want or "must have," consider your budget, and try them until you find one that speaks to you. Lord knows there are plenty of variations from guitar to guitar.

[Deacon]

I've got an oly white '62 VHR Strat, and I love it.

Big chunky neck with satin finish, modern radius, medium jumbo frets. Best quack tone of all 4 of my Strats.

Great Strat, IMO

[kja]

You could find a used custom shop '60 in great condition for $1650. Just my opinion but that what I would do.

[phatster]

The 62 is far superior guitar,and the green is nothing like turqoise.

[Blue4Now]

For me it's all about the neck. The necks on the 62HR are just to fat for me. On the other hand the necks on the Am. series/standard guitars are perfect for me. As a result I found an ultra light Am standadard that resonated/vibrated like crazy and sounded great dead stock. So I bought it:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd127/blue4now/002-2.jpg

[gkoelling]

For me it's all about the neck. The necks on the 62HR are just to fat for me. On the other hand the necks on the Am. series/standard guitars are perfect for me. As a result I found an ultra light Am standadard that resonated/vibrated like crazy and sounded great dead stock. So I bought it:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd127/blue4now/002-2.jpg

Sorry about the OT question....what 335 model is that in the background?

BTW, nice Strat, too.

[Blue4Now]

Sorry about the OT question....what 335 model is that in the background?


AHHH a good eye you have, it's an ES-333. I had a pickguard installed and a set of Gibson 57 Classics. It's a great guitar.

[BarkingTree]

You could find a used custom shop '60 in great condition for $1650. Just my opinion but that what I would do.
Old thread resurfacing whoops:

Look a long time..for one of those deals..but can be had.

Id go 62HR over AmSTD any day.
Better all around for finish, electrics, bridge and feel IMO.
I had an 08 Amstd and I didnt like the feel of lacquer and frets on the
maple now the rosewood would be better.
My 54 thin is all maple and vastly better feeling neck than the AmSTD IMO
It frequently comes down to money but the used market tends to equalize your buying power over the two. They both drop off 30 to 40% used.

[Gtrman100]

This isn't a direct comparison, but I had a '62 American VR, and now have an '08 American Standard. The AS is an equal to the AVR in playability, and workmanship. I actually like the neck better, but I like flatter radius fingerboards. The sound of the AS is great, the bridge pickup is more usable for the music I play, the vintage pickup is very bright and thin sounding to me. YMMV