The Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster is a great choice for those who want a decent acoustic guitar that sounds great and is built to last.
It has a cutaway body with a top made of solid sitka spruce, back and sides made of mahogany, polyester satin matte body finish, a Modern “Deep C” neck with a bi-flex truss rod, and chrome hardware plating.
You can purchase this guitar in many different stores, some of them include:
We may earn commissions from these links at no additional cost to you.
In this review article, we’ll look at the Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster acoustic guitar, especially its tone, value, features, and playability.
Certain guitar features can alter the overall feel and value of the instrument, thus it is critical to choose them carefully.
Table of Contents
Summary
To give you an idea of how well this guitar performs, we have summarized the Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster key points below.
Please take into account that the score and rating we give is just our own personal opinion.
Hardware
All of the metal and plastic components that make up a guitar are collectively referred to as the hardware.
These include but are not limited to:
- Tuning machines
- Pickguard
- Bridge
- Strings
- Strap buttons
- Pickups
- Tailpiece
- Control knobs
Fender’s acoustic guitars are known for having a very solid and durable construction.
The company has generally used high-quality materials in its products, which is evident in many of the different successful models that they’ve built over the years.
When considering a guitar primarily on its hardware, check that it is of excellent quality and that it all looks strong enough to withstand consistent use.
For example, plastic saddles on the bridge indicate a lower-quality guitar, which can result in poor tone and intonation, as well as making tuning more difficult.
Also, ensure sure the metal pieces aren’t prone to rusting or tarnishing, and that they appear solid, durable, and can’t be easily damaged.
A decent-sounding and playable guitar requires excellent hardware, and there are a few things that a manufacturer can do to make it perfect for us guitarists.
Let’s look at it more closely!
– Tuning Machines
On this Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster, the tuning machines are Fender Standard Cast, made of chrome, and have a sealed staggered design.
- Type: Fender Standard Cast
- Design: Sealed Staggered
Tuning machines (also referred to as “tuners”) are an essential aspect of every guitar’s hardware.
They’re in charge of keeping the strings tight so they can vibrate properly and generate the desired pitch.
Even the greatest guitar will sound terrible if it is tuned using low-quality tuning machines, so choose them carefully.
This is due to the fact that tuning machines are what keep the guitar’s strings tight.
Anytime your tuning machines are not functioning properly, the strings can become loose and out of tune.
They can also make string changes more difficult, as well as playing the guitar more challenging in general.
Must Remember:
High-quality tuning machines are usually constructed from tougher materials and have dependable, smooth action.
You’d want to look for materials such as nickel-plated steel, or stainless steel, which are less likely to rust.
These materials are also less prone to tarnish, ensuring that your guitar maintains its appearance for a longer period of time.
– Pickguard
The Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster doesn’t have a pickguard, which means that if you’re not careful enough when you play, you could damage its finish very easily.
- Color: Not applicable
- Design: Not applicable
It’s actually very interesting to see that Fender decided to not put a pickguard on this model.
Maybe it was simply a design decision, or there might be other reasons why, but this is one of the only “bad” things we saw about this guitar.
A pickguard’s aim is to protect the guitar’s finish against scratches caused by the pick as you play.
They should be built of a strong material that can survive repeated use.
It also should be in a position where it’s likely to actually protect the body of the guitar from scratches caused by the player’s pick.
In terms of appearance, a pickguard should also match the guitar’s overall design.
It shouldn’t be too noticeable, but it shouldn’t be so little or low-quality that it seems out of place either.
– Strap Buttons
Both strap buttons on the Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster are constructed of chrome, appear to be fairly strong, and are located at the bottom and top edge of the guitar.
Strap buttons are little metal buttons on the guitar’s body that are used to connect a strap to the instrument.
On the body of most guitars, there will be at least two strap buttons, one on each side.
Metal strap buttons should be robust and well-secured to avoid coming off or loose over time.
Even though for most people, whether the strap buttons are good or not won’t be a deal-breaker for them, it’s still something to keep in mind when reviewing a guitar.
Body
The bridge, neck, and strings are all joined to the guitar’s body, which is the most important section of the instrument.
This is also where you’ll find a hole (the “soundhole”) through which sound from within the instrument resonates.
The majority of guitars have a wooden body, while others have carbon fiber, metal, or plastic bodies (less usual).
– Wood
If you have a specific tone in mind for your guitar, you should take into account the type of wood used for the body.
When it comes to the Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster, it has a solid sitka spruce top with a mahogany back and mahogany sides.
Having a solid top is important because it means that the wood hasn’t been laminated, which could affect the sound quality since laminated wood is often thinner.
When wood is laminated, this means that strips of wood are glued together to create a piece.
– Finish
The final layer of protection for the guitar body’s wood is the body finish.
When it comes to this guitar in specific, it features a polyester satin matte finish.
It’s what gives the guitar its brilliance and shine, but also protects the wood from scratches, dents, and other damages.
There are different types of finishes to choose from, including the following:
- Polyurethane
- Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Polyester
Nitrocellulose Lacquer is considered to be the best type of finish, but it’s also the most expensive.
It’s a durable finish that can be buffed to a high shine, and it’s also relatively easy to repair if it’s damaged.
Polyurethane is a cheaper alternative that’s almost as good, and Polyester is the cheapest option but it doesn’t provide as much protection.
Among these categories, there are subcategories as well, such as:
- Gloss finishes: High shine and they’re very reflective.
- Matte finishes: Have a lower shine and they’re not very reflective.
- Satin finishes: Somewhere in-between gloss and matte, they have a moderate shine and they’re somewhat reflective.
– Colors Available
The color of a guitar’s body is typically not a significant factor in the overall tone.
It can, however, influence the instrument’s aesthetic appeal to you.
Some individuals like a certain color guitar because it complements their aesthetic or because it’s easier to see in low light conditions.
Some of the most popular colors for guitar bodies are:
- Natural: This is the color of wood that hasn’t been stained or painted.
- Black: Black is a popular color for metal-style guitars.
- Sunburst: Sunburst is a combination of light and dark colors, usually red, yellow, and brown.
Choosing a guitar based on its color is purely a matter of personal preference.
But if you do take your time and choose something that you’re happy with, you’ll be much more likely to play it often and develop your skills quicker.
– Bridge, Saddle, and Pins
The Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster has a modern asymmetrical bridge with the pins and saddle made of GraphTech Tusq.
Each one of these components plays an important role in how the guitar sounds and feels.
For example, the bridge’s primary purpose is to carry the vibrations of the strings to the guitar’s body.
The saddle is what the strings sit on, and it’s usually made of plastic or bone.
On the other hand, the pins, are what keep the strings in place.
There are several kinds of bridges, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
On acoustic guitars, you’ll mainly see three types of bridges:
- Pin bridges (standard)
- Pinless bridges
- Classical bridge
The most frequent form of bridge is the pin bridge, which is also the simplest to replace.
However, they can be more difficult to intonate, which involves getting the strings in a precise position and tuning them.
Pinless bridges are less frequent, but they are simple to intone as well.
They also have the benefit of not requiring any pins, which may be difficult to keep track of.
Finally, the vast majority of classical guitar bridges are only seen on classical guitars.
They are similar in design to other bridges, but the main difference is that they don’t have pins and instead include a saddle and a wooden block with a hole for each string.
This hole is used to secure the string, giving the guitar a much cleaner appearance.
Now, the sort of saddle you have is also crucial; plastic saddles are the least expensive and simplest to buy, but they do not last as long as bone saddles.
The cost of bone saddles tend to be more, but they are also more durable than other options.
As for the bridge pins, there are three main types:
- Plastic bridge pins
- Steel bridge pins
- Brass bridge pins
Plastic bridge pins are the cheapest and easiest to find, but they are known to be the least durable.
Steel bridge pins are more expensive, but they’re also more durable in many ways.
Brass bridge pins are the most expensive, but they’re also the most durable our of the three.
Neck
When it comes to the Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster, its neck is made of mahogany with a satin urethane finish, and it has a Modern “Deep C” shape with an bi-flex truss rod.
The neck is the long thin part of the guitar that extends from the body to the headstock and is generally made of wood.
The wood used for the neck has an impact on the guitar’s playability and tone since various woods have different qualities and influence the way vibrations created by the strings move.
The bolt-on neck is the most prevalent type of neck, which is screwed or bolted onto the guitar’s body.
Another popular style of guitar neck is the set-neck, which is glued to the body.
The fretboard, frets, nut, and truss rod are some of the most critical components of a guitar neck.
Fretboard
The fretboard is the surface on the neck of the guitar where your fingers press down on the strings.
It’s usually made of wood, but it can also be made of other materials like plastic or even metal.
The Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster has a fretboard made of ebony with a radius of 12″ (305 mm) and white dot inlays:
Despite the fact that this has historically been a source of debate, it is generally acknowledged that the type of wood used for the fretboard might have a slight effect on the sound of the guitar.
Maple, for instance, is a popular material for electric guitars because it produces a sharp and rich tone.
Rosewood is another popular choice, and it is frequently used on acoustic guitars because it produces a warm, full-bodied tone.
Ebony is another popular choice, and it’s frequently used on guitars designed to have a very clean, clear tone.
There are several types of fretboards available, each with its own set of pros and cons.
The kind of fretboard you pick is ultimately up to you and what you’re looking for in a guitar; the tone of the instrument will not be dramatically different, but the feel of the guitar will be.
Brand Info
Fender is a leading manufacturer of electric guitars, and they’ve been in business since 1946.
They’re one of the most iconic guitar brands in the world, and their instruments are used by some of the most famous musicians of all time.
Also, the company offers a wide range of different models, from simple beginner guitars to complex professional instruments.
Their guitars are known for their great tone and quality craftsmanship, and they’re a popular choice for both beginner and experienced players.
At the same time, Fender guitars are very affordable, making them a great option for budget-conscious musicians.
Videos
For those of you who want to get a more in-depth look at this guitar, we’ve included some videos below.
The first video is a demo showing off how it sounds and looks.
While the second video is a review that goes over some of its features and specs.
Demo
Review
Specifications
A guitar’s specifications can tell you a lot about the instrument, and they can be helpful when you’re trying to decide between different models.
Below, we’ve included the specifications for the Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster:
– General
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | American Acoustasonic Stratocaster |
| Type | Acoustic |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Hardware Plating | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines | Fender Standard Cast |
| Tuning Machines Design | Sealed Staggered |
| Electro-acoustic | Yes |
| Built-in Tuner | No |
| Colors | Dakota Red, 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Natural, Transparent Sonic Blue |
– Body
| Body Style | Modified Stratocaster |
| Cutaway | Yes |
| Solid Top | Yes |
| Top Material | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Back Material | Mahogany |
| Sides Material | Mahogany |
| Finish Type | Polyester Satin Matte |
| Pickguard | No |
| Pickguard Color | Not applicable |
| Pickguard Design | Not applicable |
| Strap Buttons | Yes |
| Strap Buttons Position | Bottom and top edge |
| Strap Buttons Design | Classic |
– Neck
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Modern “Deep C” |
| Neck Finish | Satin Urethane |
| Scale Length | 25.5″ (64.77 cm) |
| Truss Rod | Bi-Flex |
– Fretboard
| Fretboard Material | Ebony |
| Fingerboard Inlay | White Dot |
| Fret Size | Narrow Tall |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
– Bridge, nut, saddle, pins
| Bridge Pins | GraphTech Tusq |
| Bridge | Modern Asymmetrical |
| Saddle Material | Graph Tech TUSQ |
| Nut Material | Graph Tech TUSQ |
| Nut Width | 1.6875″ (42.86 mm) |
Please note that some brands might change the features and type of materials that they have and use on their guitars.
If you see a discrepancy in any of these specifications, please let us know and we’ll correct it.
I also encourage you to check out our other guitar reviews if you’re looking for something specific that you might have not found here with this guitar.
We have reviews on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, effects pedals, and more.
No matter what your budget is, or what type of guitar you’re looking for, we should be able to help you find the perfect one for you.
More than 10 years of experience playing and writing about guitars! When not writing, I can be found strumming away some Johnny Cash tunes. Favorite all time guitar is the Gibson Les Paul. #TeamGibson
