Fender have announced details of the 2010 American Special series of instruments.  Fender claim these are built ‘by the people, for the people’ and that they are ‘guitars for the times’.

US-built, the series, so far, includes the American Special Telecaster, Stratocaster and Stratocaster HSS.  They are touted as highly-affordable guitars within the reach of an entire spectrum of players that share many features with the Highway One and American Standard instruments.

All American Specials have alder bodies finished in urethane and buffed to a gloss.  All share a 9.5″-radius, maple neck and are fitted with jumbo frets.  Power across the range comes from Fender’s own Texas Special pickups – except for the HSS with has an Atomic humbucker.

The Stratocaster is available in Candy Apple Red or two-colour sunburst.  The HSS is available in either black or three-colour sunburst.  The HSS Strat also has a rosewood fingerboard.  Both Strats are fitted with vintage-style tremelo bridges.

The American Special Telecaster strings through the body in proper vintage style and comes with three brass saddles.  The Tele is available in a two-colour sunburst or olympic white.  With the black pickguard that’s fitted as standard, the sunburst looks pretty handsome, we think.

Fender reckon they’ve maximised value without compromising and – even, in some ways, they reckon they’ve upgraded the feature sets.

We look forward to seeing and hearing.