Since the introduction of the American Vintage 57 Strat, Fender 62 has marked a significant point in the history of Fender. One of the most apparent changes, for instance, is the 3-ply pickguards in the '62 model instead of the single-ply pickguards in the earlier Strat.
The following is the review of the American Vintage 62 Stratocaster:
The bridge pickup has a chewy, grindy quality with suppressed bass and vibrant mid-range. At lower gain levels it's thin but not particularly brittle, while various levels of overdrive bring out successive layers of fatness and chunk that'll mask some of the treble. Some players would wire the bridge pickup to one of the tone controls to tame its edge. The harder you play, the brighter it sounds, giving an interactive experience.
The middle pickup has a hollow voice with more bass and less treble than the bridge pickup. Although many players consider the bridge pickup as the main pickup, some feel that the middle pickup is the default position. If you need more treble, simple flip to the bridge. Need something rounder and juicier, switch to the neck. The middle pickup is also good for Hendrix tones, clean and driven, and it seems to favor complex chords between the 5th and 12th frets.
The neck pickup has a great lively tone: it's fat, loud and articulate. Like the interactivity of the bridge pickup, you'll hear that classic Strat sound if you dig in hard here. Or you'll get a softer, rounder voice that sound great when played with fingerstyle.
The neck may take some getting used to. The rounded fretboard radius (7.25?) may not suit everyone. If you like the jumbo frets and flatter radii, you might find it even somewhat confronting.
There's a 60 cycle hum, although it's not really a bad thing. The control cavity is very well screened. The pickguard is completely backed with a sheet of metal to block out external interference. If the hiss is a problem you could upgrade the pickups, although many players prefer the subtle background noise that represents vintageness.
Features of this 62 Stratocaster:
* Alder body: finished with nitrocellulose lacquer allowing the wood to breathe and age elegantly
* Neck: features 21 small vintage frets with white pearloid postition markers
* 3 Fender American Vintage 57/62 Strat single-coil pickups
* Master volume pot and tone control for the neck and middle pickup with a 5-way switch
* Original strap and cable and the "ashtray" bridge cover
In conclusion, if the hum, the rounded fretboard radius and the nitro finish bother you, then look for something else. However, if you are attracted to the tone, vibe, nuance, construction, responsiveness and the interactive playability, then give this Fender 62 a try.
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