Fender Elite American Stratocaster | Review 

So sad, to find that this gentleman has passed away. I've always really enjoyed his playing and commentary. I'm going to name my next Strat after him.

A true gentleman and awesome guitar player .

Rest in peace buddy.

Most informative review I've seen so far of these. Instead of just listing the brochure features and going into a playing wank session, you discussed the things I was interested in that no one else seems to talk about: the fret edges, how well the nut was cut, the tonal differences with the S1 (RU-vid audio doesn't translate well and most people just hit the switch, play and say "here, listen to the difference."), resonance, how well it actually stays in tune with tremolo use, etc. Thanks for producing an actual useful review.

Casswell is legit! My favourite demo guy by a long shot.

So sad this man passed away. This is hands down the best demo of the Elite Strat on RU-vid to date.

For those of you who did not hear Michael died tragically in an swimming accident in Spain last month. You will be missed RIP Michael.

Excellent review!!! Went over all the features and added his honest opinion without trying to "sell" it.

Reviewed by one of my favorite players.

I dont think the S1 switching is explained all that well in this and indeed in other reviews I've seen on youtube so I did a bit of digging and came up with this explanation of what the S1 switch does... S1 switch OFF - the American Elite Strat functions as normal: Position one: bridge pickup only Position two: bridge and middle pickups wired in parallel Position three: middle pickup only Position four: middle and neck pickups wired in parallel Position five: neck pickup only S1 Switch ON - you get 5 more tonal options: Position one: all three pickups wired in series Position two: bridge and middle pickups wired in series Position three: middle and neck pickups wired in series Position four: bridge and neck pickups wired out of phase, with a special tone capacitor Position five: bridge and middle pickups wired in series and out of phase, in parallel with neck pickup

good reviews are hard to find these days. Thanks Michael, really like your playing style and your comments

I'm buying this in a month. Thank you for your great guitar playing.

Have you guys ever considered putting together a CD of all of Michael's playing on these demos (the backing track jams), maybe donate proceeds to his family? I'd buy it for sure.

Nice, sensible review and great playing. Very sad to learn that this gentleman has departed this world so young. Say hello to Jimi, Duane and the rest of them for me, Michael.

Really like the colour but not as much as I love Michael's playing 🤘

You sound like Jeff Beck Very well done and beautiful strat

I've the fender elite american strat. I love this guitar

is it because i am watching ton load of fender strat videos on youtube that i find the sound and tone so fking beautiful!!! the first piece played by this dude was so melodic n nice ,i could listen for hours!!i wish i had a fender strat standard,dont even need an elite :)

Sad that he passed... impressive player. Great review.

Researched this guitarist only to find he has recently passed away :'(. Rest In Peace.

yeah,it has all the improvements Musicman introduced more than 20 years ago,finally they woke up with a bit more sanity.

Great review. Fabulous whammy bar technique. Fabulous guitar.

Seems like a good instrument!

great guitar review R.I.P buddy

Rest in peace dear Michael.You will always be remembered as world class guitar player!

Here in Canada, a Fender Elite is over $2500 CDN. I can get a very good quality strat from warmoth (their modern built necks are even better), with a Floyd Rose, 3 single rail from Seymour Duncan (switches included if I want these pickups to be switch from single to humbuckers), in fact it's an authorized copy from Fender (!!!), for under $1500! They drill all the holes, paint it if I want to, put a coat of varnish if I want, and it's still going to be under $2000 for the same quality (maybe better). My next buy, for sure, is going to be from warmoth.

I've heard lots of stratocaster reviews and none of those reviews the strats sounds like its soundss in the hands of Casswell !!!

A great review by the always great M. Casswell :D The colour is really nice. Just one thing, the guitar sports a vibrato not a tremolo. Leo Fender mixed up the names (he was no musician mind you) and it caught on...

Stunning guitar. I'm very close to buying one almost identical to the one in the review, but I am going for the maple board as it suits the blue colour so much better.

So sad to hear that this exceptional guitarist has passed on. RIP

Wow I was going to say Eric Clapton from the early 70s. Then read where this man has passed. It really sucks when exceptionally gifted people are taken away. Didn't know who he was but his really good spirit comes through in this video.

2nd review in a row that doesn't even know the s1 switching before hand. I get it if you need a cheat sheet but here is what the switching does. American Elite Stratocaster As has been the case for decades, the five-way selector of the Stratocaster offers a slew of wiring configutations. But with the S-1 switch, there is a new world of options. Here is the configuration when the S-1 switch is off: Position one: bridge pickup only Position two: bridge and middle pickups wired in parallel Position three: middle pickup only Position four: middle and neck pickups wired in parallel Position five: neck pickup only When you engage the S-1 switch on the American Elite Strat, you have even more tone alternatives that you don't get to hear every day. Position one: all three pickups wired in series Position two: bridge and middle pickups wired in series Position three: middle and neck pickups wired in series Position four: bridge and neck pickups wired out of phase, with a special tone capacitor Position five: bridge and middle pickups wired in series and out of phase, in parallel with neck pickup

I have a 2006 American Deluxe and have an Elite already on its UPS route to me can't wait to see the difference between Deluxe vs Elite, SCN vs 4th Gen Noiseless, 9.5" flat to the new compound board, etc. Could do without the truss rod wheel but ehh

Dude I hear that heavy Jeff Beck influence in your guitar playing

Hi What OD pedal are you using?

Hello, Congratulations on the tests. I would have to choose between a new STATOCASTER VINTERA 50 MAPLE NECK and a STATOCASTER AMERICAN ELITE MAPLE NECK ex demo (with guarantees) at the same price. Music genre: CLAPTON - GILMOUR - KNOFLER. I'll proceed to the tests anyway. Which would you choose? Thanks. I always follow you

He was a great player.

Nice review. I am between this and the Beck with the roller nut and soft c 9.5" neck.

RIP Michael Casswell

What is that song? Damn this guy died not so old. Beautiful sound. it's sweet.

Wow is it Jeff Beck? Great playing man, you get a lot out of a Strat!

sweet guitar

Rest in peace my friend...

Can you use the bridge pickup or metal or hard rock? or should you get an hss one?

Excellent review, tasty playing

There are plenty of people who play guitar, but Michael is a Guitarist period...

Great review! Great Player!

1:40 "string trees strike the fear of God into me"... I can soooo relate. LOL

love the blue

looks like you got a lemon in there 3:07 low E string is way to close to the edge of the fretboard (deal breaker in my opinion)

thanks for thr review

Nice guitar but the pick ups sound a little muddy! no clarity! I have the American Deluxe Tele, I need a strat now, or I may get a Suhr Classic Pro SSS.

It's pretty funny to hear you praise it in one moment and throw it under the bus in the next.

Great player he is. I think he doesn't like string trees

RIP ma man.... :(

Every video ive seen of this guitar, the pickups sound weak and compressed. Really love the rest of the features though.

R.I.P. Michael

Rest in peace...

RIP

🙏🏾 respect

Damn he makes that guitar sing!

Is there a reason Fender only does bolt on necks?

Wow! You can bend on it? That must be new. I want one now.

Dude looks ripped

i still like my fender pro model 2017 better

Damn thing is already Discontinued, A 2 year life span pretty much says it Sucks! So I think that's what Fender learned, it's an expensive Con Job!

Oh MY GOD!!!! It's Eric Clapton!!!!!

This guy looks like eric clapton from the 70's

Éric , where are you ????

The 'new' pickups sound just a compressed and the previous versions, possibly worse. Save $1000 and buy the brand new July 2016 deluxe series that has all the same features except has the N3 pickups instead of the N4 and sounds better and the nut is slightly narrower, but with a 12" radius to the fingerboard is just as easy to to make open chords in the first position ring out clearly.

British S. Luke! hah

This guy just cannot keep his disdain for Strats out of his voice, so he is biased.. Unfortunately... Probably a Gibson fiend.

GUYS A GREAT BULLSHITTER.

Sorry, but noiseless pick up's are shit. This is no stratocaster sound

hi. what foot pedal are you using? thanks!

RIP