Fender American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster Rosewood Fingerboard Electric Guitar Aged Natural
Fender's meticulous recreation of the controversial '70s-era Strat, complete with enlarged headstock, ash body, and Pure Vintage '73 pickups. This isn't your Hendrix Strat—it's the Blackmore/Malmsteen version, built for players who appreciate what the CBS era actually got right.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Pure Vintage '73 Alnico III single-coils nail the mid-heavy punch and bright treble of the era without sounding thin
- +Ash body with aged natural finish delivers resonant low-end and articulate note separation
- +Vintage 7.25-inch radius surprisingly playable thanks to vintage tall frets—best of both worlds
- +Period-correct large headstock provides improved string angle and sustain (fight us)
- +Authentic '70s vibe without the usual CBS-era quality control issues
Cons
- −7.25-inch radius will feel cramped for players used to modern 9.5-inch or compound radius boards
- −At $2,680, you're paying premium for nostalgia—Modern Player Strats deliver 90% of this for half the cost
- −'70s Strat tone is an acquired taste—if you want Clapton's pre-CBS sound, look elsewhere
- −Ash bodies can be heavy, and weight varies significantly—play before you buy
The Verdict
The perfect 90/90 score split tells you everything: critics and players agree this is a legitimate recreation done right. Fender could’ve half-assed this and slapped “vintage” on a standard Strat, but they went deep—down to the pickup wire gauge. If you’ve always dismissed ’70s Strats as inferior CBS garbage, this will change your mind. The mid-range bark and treble snap are perfect for cutting through a dense mix, and that ash body resonance is no joke. Not for everyone—the vintage radius and specific tonal palette make this a “know what you’re buying” situation—but for players who connect with this era, it’s the real deal at a fair price for what you’re getting.
