ST-20HSS SBK Standard Series : Very Good Value

Ordered in early January, and was told to wait 7-8 weeks.

It arrived yesterday, and here are my initial observations...

PROS

1. Looks even better in the "flesh" than in the pictures. The red tortoise pickguard really pops against the matte black body.

2. Neck is straight & true, and the fretwork is very good - level with no sharp edges.

3. Stays in tune well, in spite of the basic tuners, nut and bridge - a pleasant surprise.

4. The pickups are pretty good, and all 5 positions are usable from clean to dirty tones & various points in between.

Note: Bridge pickup is quite hot, so some amp/pedal tweaking might be necessary to get the sound you're after (especially since it's not wired to the tone control - per usual Strat-style configuration).

5. Electronics are fine for what they are, and do the job without fuss.

CONS

1. The bridge pickup is wiggling in it's slot, probably due to loose springs underneath the pickguard. I need to get in there to sort it out - a minor annoyance.

2. A few burrs and rough edges on the pickguard, especially around the cutouts. A quick 2-3 mins with a small file should do the trick.

3. Screw-in vibrato arm is either too loose or too tight, which is typical of this type of application. You'll need either a small spring or some tape to make it stay in your personal sweet-spot.

CONCLUSION

If you're a beginner or intermediate player looking for a good-quality HSS Strat that won't break the bank, this is a definite contender.

Well done Harley Benton!