Fender Mike McCready Strat 3TSB

Already some years ago, I purchased the Jason Isbell telecaster just when it was released. From then onwards, I realized why people like relic guitars: they have a great feel and look. The Isbell telecaster quickly became the guitar I picked up the most, because it sounded awesome and felt so good to play. Then Fender released the Mike McCready strat and well...my mind just made up excuses to purchase the strat: I just needed to try a heavy wear strat too. Surely it could not be as good as the Isbell telecaster? Short summary: this Mike McCready stratocaster also became a favorite guitar and shares it position with the telecaster. What I like about this strat is firstly the sound: these pickups sound soo full, detailed, with character. In my little home studio, I often pretend to be David Gilmour and play long solo's and with the light weight and the thin neck, it's just such a joy to play. My friend and luthier gave it a set up (most guitars need one), but found no major issues. Maybe the high E string is a bit close to the edge, but it doesn't bother my play. Whenever I play the telecaster, I like looking at the strat, whenever I play this strat, I admire the telecaster. I feel rich for having two of such quality instruments!

After 1.5 months owning this guitar I' getting more and more impressed. As a telecaster player with fat necks it took me some time to adapt to Strat philosophy of plaing, but now after several weeks I can't put this one out of my hands. I love PJ and M.McCready's music and this guitar nails the Mad Season and Pearl Jam's sound. The pickups are amazing and the treble bleed delivers exactly the same feeling as you can hear from the records of bands mentioned above. The guitar needed bit of setup as the truss rod was not tightened enough for our European climate and string height needed bit of adjustments. But that's a standard thing to deal with. The neck is thin and I realized I like it a lot, very comfortable and easy to play. My specific guitar is also amazingly light, only 3.15 Kg (6.10 lbs). It is expensive, but totally worth the money. PS: I'd pay the price again even thouth this is MIM and for less you can have MIA Strat. Don't be fooled, this one is Above.

2 or 3 years ago I fell out with Thomann when they let me down big time. But I needed the Mccready for a project and Thomann could deliver on time so I reluctantly ordered it.
The guitar arrived pretty quickly taking 4 days from the order being placed to me receiving it. I tested it as soon as it arrived as I’d seen a few YouTube vids that said don’t buy this model blind - which I did of course having no choice living in the middle of nowhere.
Well I’ll tell you what…..the one sent to me is absolutely Brilliant. It was in tune when it arrived. the finish looks pretty good to me….i wouldn’t really know it was machine reliced if i didn’t already know. but then again it’s the first reliced guitar I’ve ever bought. suffice to say I’m happy with the finish.
The frets, electronics, neck, body and general build of the guitar is perfect. Really perfect. It seems to come with 10s and, having a weak left hand, I’ll probably fit 9’s to it soon.
As I said, I’d had my own problems with Thomann in the past but to be fair to them the service and product they provided me couldn’t be bettered. thanks.

Sound: Top. Sehr Hendrixi
Verarbeitung: da hatte ich mehr erwartet, das Relik am Body wirkt etwas billig... Tremolo nicht sauber eingebaut... die Löcher für die abgeschraubte Tremolo-Abdeckung sind angedeutete Fake-Löcher...Ausgeschlossen der Hals, da hat Fender es super hinbekommen.
Einstellung: wirklich grottig. Die Saitenlage ist so hoch, dass sie eigentlich nicht bespielbar ist
Ich habe immer gehadert, sie zurück zu schicken. Jetzt sind die 30 Tage leider um, und die steht noch hier. So richtig zufrieden bin ich nicht und muss ehrlicherweise eher vom Kauf abraten, selbst als großer Pearl Jam und Mike Mccready Fan.
Das die Gitarre mit einer dermaßen schlechten Einstellung geliefert wird, kann ich beim besten Willen nicht nachvollziehen.

Nachtrag:
Die Gitarre war nun bei Thomann. Ich hatte die OVP zum Versand nicht mehr und Thomann hat sich sehr kulant darum gekümmert, dass ich etwas geeignetes bekommen konnte. Bei Thomann wurde die Gitarre in der Werkstatt perfekt eingestellt jetzt liebe ich diese Gitarre. Sie ist für mich perfekt. Ich habe es, obwohl ich Erfahrung habe, mit der Einstellung von Gitarren, nicht selber hinbekommen. Es war der Wurm in dieser Gitarre. Vielleicht war es eine Montags-Gitarre - ich weiß es nicht. Jetzt ist sie individuell eingestellt wirklich wunderbar. Und der Service und die Kulanz von Thomann beeindrucken mich sehr.