Heavy Metal Strats.. Opinions?

[jacksonluvr]

I never understood why Fender's Heavy Metal Strat models never really caught on?? They are excellent players and sound good too.. I Love my current '88 model and I recall the one I had around 10 years ago was awesome too..

It's a very comfortable neck, reminiscent of a raw San Dimas Charvel or USA Jackson neck of the 80's. Super high output "Super 3" Dimarzio in the bridge and 2 USA Fender single coils round out a balanced plethora of tone..

I know Kahler gets a bad rap but the Spyder is a very functional tremolo.. It's gaudy, but it functions well.

I like the weight of the basswood body too.. My strat weighs in at 7.2 pounds.. Much lighter then my USA Jackson strat and most shredders I play.

One can argue the lack of color selection and limited publicity attributed to the lack of popularity and low sales overall. Fender's PR department dropped the ball on these.

The fact of the matter is these axes were mass produced at the Fuji Gen Gakki plant in Japan and that is a GOOD thing. (The ink stamp markings on the necks and bodies reveal Gen Gakki origin) You get Ibanez quality in a Strat package..

I gotta tell you, once i pick up my HM, I can't put it down.. All my Kramers are gone now and I don't miss any of them.. Same for my San Dimas Charvels with the exception of my reverse S-Head employee project.. The HM does it all and I have no need for a hoard of axes any more.

[cixelsyd]

I never even knew there was such a thing. Looking around now, it seems right up my alley, so you may have just turned someone on to them!

[straycat]

Killer guitars IMO I have had several.
They had DiMarzio super 2 and 3 humbuckers in them.Great pick ups.
I saw a made in Japan one yesterday maple fingerboard and an OFR.Black and red crackle only thing one huge chunk out of the body.They wanted $299.00 firm so I said um no $150.00 if you have the original case,deal didn't happen of course.

[tonemonster]

you mean these????

[Trussrod]

I've had a Spyder for almost 20 years now and no way would I trade any of my OFR Kramers for anything with a Spyder. The block and baseplate on the Spyder are one piece. It's nearly impossible to upgrade to a brass block to improve the tone of a guitar if it lacks bass. The trem route and post spacing are different from an OFR as well--so there's no point in upgrading to an OFR. Why Fender chose to use a Kahler trem on this model is beyond me. They had to have known the Spyder was a budget priced trem. If Fender HM Strats came stock with an OFR they would most likely be highly sought after if not still in production.

[straycat]

The one I saw was odd because the route for the trem was original and not a route that you see for a kahler spyder(which can be a very good trem you just need to know how to set them up)
Contoured neck heel and neck plate just like the USA versions.I may have to get it because of the odd use of a FR.Maybe a special run they did.Need to research it some to see.

[DonP]

I have a pair that I've restored (less one F'ing F knob).

[Carbuff]

Yup, I got a pink one with a maple board. It rocks for sure. Im pretty sure it was made in err ummm japan, no wait usa, no wait again, japan. Never really figured it out for sure.

[MetalMedal II]

When Fender stopped the HM strat production, they began the Heartfield line right? I know they were made in the same Japan factory and had great specs like OFRs and Dimarzio pickups, although the Talons looked too much like Ibanez ...too bad they only lasted a couple years.

[Carbuff]

Yeah, I had one of those heartfields too. It looked just like an RG.

[Chief_CrazyTalk]

I always heard good things about them, would like to find one.

[straycat]

The Prodigy's are pretty good too.Mex Jap and USA parts

[DonP]

You can find them on ebay for $400 all day, or cheaper if you're in the right place at the right time.

Lot's of ebay douche bags charging $20 for a single plastic knob, $90 for a back cover plate or neck plate, $30 for a pickup ring - shit, I didn't know there was anything special about the pickup rings?

People, these aren't 1959 Les Pauls...