I got a strat!

Yeah, it happened sooner than I thought, but I bought a new American strat. To be more specific, I bought one of the oddest strats ever made, I think. It's a VG strat. OK, here it is: It's an American standard strat with a built in synthesizer from Roland for modeling other guitars and tunings. So it has the 3 standard strat pickups, and acts like a strat through them. It also has a fourth Roland pickup right at the bridge. The strat has the typical volume and tone controls, and two more: T and M. M is for modeling or something; it switches from natural strat, modeling strat, telecaster, humbucker, and acoustic. The T knob is for various tunings, like open G, drop D, baritone, another one or two, and also for 12 string. So these knobs can be combined in various combinations. You can have a strat, tele, humbucker or acoustic sound with any of the tunings or 12 string. I love the 12 string acoustic mode! It sounds like the Byrds. The T knob can be bypassed also, so it can be a straight Strat with no modeling.

The Roland system runs on 4 AA batteries. You insert them in the back. The Roland circuits are at the base of the guitar in a routed out section in the back.

So this thing can make great combos like 12 string strat or 12 string tele. cool!

OK, Fender made this model from 2007 to 2009 only. It originally cost about 1700 dollars at any guitar shop.

I got it, new, as clearance at a Guitar Center for 870. That includes a hardshell molded case. So that's 50% off what it sold for a few years ago! A regular American Standard strat goes for 999, so in that sense too it's also a deal. Mine is black. It was made in black, sunburst, and a few in blizzard pearl. I got one with a maple neck, my first, and I love it!

I really like the modeled sounds. I think they sound great. Are they 100% right on? Of course not. Get a real 12 string if that's what you need to hear. For synth I think it sounds pretty good.

The alternate tunings are synthetic; the strings stay absolutely the same.

Battery life is maybe 4-10 hours, depends on who you ask. I'll get some of the recommended NimH rechargeables.

Poly and I went to the guitar center to look at a used American deluxe strat that was on the website (this is the GC in Rockford), but it wasn't available; they said they were gonna use it for parts 'cause it had a broken truss rod. Then the sales guy showed me the VG strat. I took my time playing it. I just really liked it, and so did Poly. It's like buying 5 or 6 guitars in one.

We took the leap and bought it, then drove home and went online to look it up. I was fearing that the Roland unit was crappy or had bad reviews or would die soon. Nothing like that at all. I DID buy a 2 year extended warranty just in case (I almost never get those), and if anything goes wrong GC will replace the strat or give me my money back.

The reviews are very good, mostly. You know musicians, you could give them God's own strat and somebody wouldn't like the pickups, etc.

I think Fender is unloading these great VG strats because they didn't sell; a lot of guitarists are skeptical of active electronics or onboard advanced circuits and stuff, so it probably didn't sell well. Plus at 1700 it was pricey, as much as a Deluxe American strat. Oh well, good for me! I think I got a hell of a deal.

In terms of making music I think it's the most versatile strat they've ever made. I don't play gigs and I don't need extended battery life. but anyway, you can take out the batteries and it's still a strat and plays like one. I've done it. Same 3 strat pickups, no batteries needed.

check it out online. They are cool!