I have bought guitars from Fender for years so when the sent me a notice they were releasing a special edition 70th Anniversary model with a flame maple top and 70th Anniversary V-Mod II pickups that incorporated a push-on control on the second knob allows you to add the neck pick up to bridge in positions 1 and 2 I immediately ordered one. The Alder body has a flame maple top that is finished with urethane to bring out the flame and is a really nice touch that makes it fell like a cut above the standard Strats. The deep-C profile of the neck and 9.5 fretboard with rolled edges make it one of the most effortless necks you will find. The V-Mod (vintage modern) pickups have been used on American Pro guitars but these are V-Mod II and have a much more warm balanced sound then the previous ones. The sound is pretty much standard 50's Strat except for the second tone knob adds the neck pickup to positions 1 and 2 and adds a whole new pallet of tones you can get. It also has Deluxe locking tuners will keep the guitar in tune with temperature and humidity changes.

All in all I am really glad I had the opportunity to get it and It played great and it is the workhorse that Strats are famous for with some modern appointments that Fender feels are improvements for the future. It would be a great guitar if your working on tones and but I guess in the end of the day only the player can decide and it didn't knock my favorite Strats out of the rotation.

It's like new and comes with a grey molded Fender hard case.