Fender Artist Series Robert Cray Stratocaster Electric Guitar Inca Silver

We'll set up - had to lower the action just a tad l looks good plays good

First MIM strat. I have owned numerous other American made Fender instruments and really can't tell much difference. I have always wanted a hardtail strat and fender has not made any in America for a long time now and the cost of used ones are out of sight cost wise.

I've generally had a strat in the house since shortly after I started playing in 1977 or so, as an 18 year old. It's my "home" instrument - I can vacation with and enjoy other guitars, but I always come home to a strat. But I'm not and never have been a tremolo guy - I've always either decked or blocked the trems in my Strats. So the idea of a hardtail always appealed to me. This is my first actual hardtail and it's my favorite strat, probably not because of that, but it doesn't hurt! This is the best sounding strat I've ever owned - the pickups are great and whatever else contributes to the tone gets it right too. The feel is almost as good as the sound. I've had some really sublime feeling strats over the years - I wouldn't say this is better than all of those, but it's right up there. I tend to prefer maple fretboards to rosewood, but this rosewood plays great and the neck shape fits me really well. Bottom line - I'm a lifetime strait guy and I've owned a few and played a lot of them, and this is my favorite strat I've ever picked up. It's largely a matter of personal preference, but this one is a perfect fit for me. And the Inca Silver looks just wonderful too, particularly with a rosewood board and mint pick guard.

I read so many great reviews of this guitar and I'm a big fan of Robert Cray, so I decided to go for it and buy this as a special order item from Guitar Center. Waited 6 weeks for delivery and in the process Guitar Center kept me updated, so kudos for that. I'd read that some don't care for the feel of the neck - a little deeper C-shape than more modern Strats. Not a problem for me at all. I have larger palms and not terribly long fingers, so that may be the difference between the reviews and my feelings about the neck. Finish on the guitar was great, although the fret ends were a little ragged compared to an American Strat they were better than most MIM's I've played, and the sound was absolutely great as expected. I noticed when I tuned the guitar that the low E string tended to buzz a little and the intonation was a little off and thought a minor adjustment to the bridge was probably needed. However, when I put the guitar down I could see that the neck was not set straight into the body of the guitar. Looking "birds-eye" at the fretboard, the strings were centered at the nut but shifted to the edge of the fretboard at the 12th fret. I know for YouTube videos this can be corrected - but this is not something that should happen on a brand new guitar. This one should never have passed QC and left the factory. Bottom line for me: guitars are individually produced, assembled and QC'd. Be very careful with special order items - some are probably great but there may be problems with others. Although I love the sound of the Cray Strat and the hard tail bridge, I opted for the more sure thing and bought an American made Strat.

I purchased mine used. Used "high end" MIM Fender guitars are often a great value. At 599.99, this is one of the best Stratocasters I've ever experienced. The guitar has an early 1960s feel. The glossy neck isn't too thick or too thin. The vintage style bridge intonates well; it also works well for palm muting. After being strung with medium gauge strings(.11 - .49) this guitar sings through my Blues Junior III. The pickups are great. I will put them against boutique vintage-style Stratocaster pups. I am a proponent of hard-tail Stratocasters. Not having a wang-bar reduces weight; it also improves sustain and tuning stability. I would like to see Fender continue this model. I would also like to see more hard-tail Strats, like the Big Apple Stratocaster from the mid 1990s. Not everybody enjoys the vibrato arm.

this robert cray strat is amazing its truely a piece of art its now one of my favorite guitars. its the ultimate blues strat. ive played two of them both where great. they have like a vintage tint on the neck witch is great. the pickups are my favorite strat pickups now (it was texas specials) the hardtail bridge lets you bend your heart out. this strat is vintage all the way besides they hum canceling 5 way switch. this guitar is great for any type of music but shines best in the blues this is the best bang for your buck from fender. this guitars pickups are versitle to this guitar is a ten star guitar for me and ive only heard good things about them so go out and buy one and get your blues on.