After more than 2 years of abstinence, I went to the Music Station again and played 3 Fender American Professional II Strats, and again I noticed that the woods had little vibrancy, the maple necks were not very dense and responsive, there was little twang, little crunch , wiry-glassy, few overtones, sustain, attack, everything you associate with Fender guitars, everything is less than on my ESP 400 Series Strats and less than on my BLADE Texas models. This can be tested objectively and I can only say that I am extremely disappointed with this price-performance ratio. No, I can no longer objectively understand this adulation regarding Fender Strats. My first Stratocaster was a Fender American Standard Stratocaster and that was my worst guitar of all, a Fender Mexico Standard followed after that, but after I played the ESPs and the BLADEs everything was clear to me, and that proves itself again, every time, when I compare, the same result always comes out - what else can I say, it is true! The ESP-400-Series Strats and the BLADEs have objectively, noticeably and audibly better tonewood, the BLADEs even have a flattened neck-body-joint and covered fret slots and therefore much better playability!!! So, I'm done with Fender, I'm playing something clever, and at a much cheaper price. I don't want to talk anyone out of their love of Fender, I have nothing against you buying the (usually) worse guitars for a far too exorbitant price, you're welcome to do that. Then there will be more BLADEs for me, very simple! I come across as an enemy of Fender, I realize that, I understand you! My ESP 400-Series Strat has 42 annual rings and a cross-bar - series production - and has more in terms of sustain, attack, cracky attack, twang, glassy (crisp) and wiry sound spectrum than the Fenders, everything that you associate Fender with, This Strat (ESP 400 Series) is more than all the Fender Strats I've played to date, it's also better and more than all the Custom Shop Strats! It really is like that. Then I also have a few BLADEs, and my much-played BLADE Texas Classic is even better than the ESP in some characteristics. That's just the way it is, I can't help it! With these two guitars I would dare to compete against any “master build” of Fender USA! Then for really good Strats I can recommend the “DiMarzio True Velvet” pickups for the neck and middle positions and the “Seymour Duncan SSL-1” for the bridge, you actually have everything you need. If you want more punch for an earthy, dirty, rocky sound, it's best to buy the BLADE Texas Standard Pro (now called BLADE Texas Pro), install these pickups, because this guitar has a midboost similar to the Fender Eric Clapton Signature Strat, and that's why they're enough Pickups for that too! Tip from me for you. Thanks for listening!
