FENDER AERODYNE 2023 SPECIAL
OVERVIEW
Last Update: 2023.08.26
This Fender model comes from JPN. It comes in both SSS and HSS version with very unique colors. It is also unique in that is does not have a pickguard. The necks on this guitar are very good.
Wacky Sizing
Unfortunately, as with a lot of asian based models, the sizing of parts is wacky. The heel of the neck is flat and wider, the pot shafts are 9mm, to small for CTS and too big for squier style alpha. It uses a babiz bridge, and a squier (although seems to be solid) switch. So it’s wacky. I was surprised a JPN model would be like this. The tele is the same way. If it wasn’t for the great pickups and nice neck and locking tuners I would have rejected this guitar.
The Meat
The Fender Aerodyne Special delivered way more than I expected given the new “bar” for $1,300 dollar Stratocasters. Competing with the American Performer now and the top of top Mexi’s Artist Editions but below the Professional and Ultra series. There are some features here which push the level of this guitar UP quite a bit and are very noticeable. I did notice that recently fender put them on sale which makes for an even BETTER deal!
Neck: It’s really interesting but the neck doesn’t have the thick polymer and almost feels like a satin finish on the back. Both rosewood and the maple necks are like that. It comes with the Fender Locking Tuners (a personal fav) and the edges are nicely rolled. It’s a 12″ radius, which I found quite comfortable and isn’t compound but that’s a players choice. Sometimes being consistent in radius isn’t such a bad thing and the 14″ is quite flat so you may end up loving this as a more substantial update to the typical 9.5″ radius.. The frets are Medium Jumbo which is a fav and contrary to the specs here the dots are PEARL not just white dots. As a bonus, the headstock matches the guitar finish which looks great as well. The neck is “C” shape which actually doesn’t mean a lot but in my recent experience, it felt very comfortable and almost like a slightly thin C.
Electronics: Very interesting. The pocket is VERY tight with no room to spare; this is an observation, so it is not a dream mod scenario at all. The pots are large alpha pots, nice quality and it uses DUAL cap (one .022uf and one .047uf) which I really appreciate that choice (although, I’d prefer .022uf and .015uf). The switch looks like a Squier but feels slightly more solid.
Now the Bad News:
There are typical “Not made in the US” sizing problem. The Pot Shafts are 9 MM which is smack between 9.5 mm of MIM/US CTS style pots and small 8.0 mm alpha pots. Which means, if you plan to add a switch, or put in a push pull, you have to DRILL THE TOP OUT! I’m not a big fan of doing things like this. The top is just a veneer and they have drilled into the veneer so any mistake, and you are FARKED. Major negative points on that one!!
Pickups: Bright and solid. Sound great. I haven’t measured them yet but the resonant frequency seems to be higher and much better than, say a Player Stratocaster and brighter than Fender noiseless, good recording pickups with a nice range humbucker. The measurements are upcoming. See the page here for details information and measurements on the pickups. However, this round of Aerodyne pickups is much higher quality than the original.Aerodyne Pickups
Body: Nicely bound, but I did notice that the binding isn’t 100% perfect on the “gray” one I have, but that’s because I look at it VERY closely; for the most part it’s fine and I would not reject it on that basis. The back plate is not deeply logo’d, more like etched and is says AERODYNE in big letters, that’s cool. The finish is good and I saw no flaws. The body is Basswood, which is typical of JPN Strats. Some players may balk at that, but it don’t mind and the Strat sounds great, so what’s not to like. It’s a solid color finish so grain doesn’t matter. Keep in mind that Basswood is a tad softer and might dent a bit easier if you’re heavy handed.
Other: I rather like the design of the cover of the electronics in the back. I have no clue how the routed it for the wiring but it looks like the humbucker pocket extends close to the electronics pocket but the other pickups must have drilled channels (similar to the one between the jack and electronic pocket in a normal strat). The bridge is Babiz which has saddles that are very solid and rounded (and substantial) and it’s unusual in that the screws for height are in the back and not the top like normal Fender saddles. I was rather surprised that the block was very thin like the old 2000ish Mexi Strats. It loses points on that one.
Case: The case, or rather, gig bag, is a run of the mill nothing fancy Fender gig Bag – It loses points on that one. I wish they had hard shell cases but it seems like now the entry level for hard shell cases has gone up to $1,600+ guitars (Standard US used to come with a hard shell case, no more, gig bag only). Since good hard shell Fender cases retail at $179 and up, it’s just another way to cut costs and to push sales of higher end Stratocasters.
Summary: The guitar quickly became a favorite, absolutely wonderful neck. The sound is great for recording and likely good live. It maintains the familiar Strat look and knob placements. There are a lot of nice features like the painted headstock, locking tuners, satin back neck and more. It’s hard to get much of a price break on this guitar but if you want a daily player I don’t think you can go wrong with this guy!
I may switch out the knobs, not because of the look, but because they are very slippery and I’d like something more substanial.
Fender Website for the Aerodyne