Just got this Hello Kitty Strat--it's what I was expecting with these specs and price: a for-fun guitar that doesn't do anything special but which is light and easy and groovy to play. My other electric is a Gibson Les Paul Classic, so I won't begin to compare the two--that'd be apples & oranges. When I first plugged it in, it was a nightmare, until I opened up the back panel and realized that faulty soldiering was the issue. In my experience, Music123 has an excellent return policy, but I opted to just hook it up myself and will probably replace the humbucker later with something with more texture. This guitar could be so fun to modify!For a new player who is not familiar with pickup wiring, or who would just wonder what the heck is going on when you plug it in and it sounds crappy, I imagine this situation would be annoying. Easily taken care of with a visit to your local music shop/luthier to get a pro set up. Always a good idea with any guitar purchased, especially online. Doesn't cost much either. Slightly jangly sound--the one bridge humbukcer pickup is pretty minimalist, which is perfect for older stuff, think Johnny Cash, good old rock 'n roll, etc. Single volume control knob, no tone control (but that's what amps are for...). Neck is smooth, frets smooth, feels nice to play. Some light smudges here and there on neck, probably from assembly. Not different than other Squiers I have played. BEST FEATURE: The body is awesome; totally comfortable and finally, a guitar that is not too heavy. Plus, the pink finish is perfect and feels smooth. Pink dot fret markers and Hello Kitty pickguard are total standouts! Summary: I have rarely found any new instrument under $200.00 that is worth looking at (meaning usually anything at this range is so poorly made, makes you sound horrid and tempts you to throw it out the window...). Considering its price and assuming everything is in working order, this is an exception. Recommended as a first guitar to learn on or as a vanity model for your collection. Bravo, Fender, for aiming a guitar at girls and women to get more of us out there rockin'!

my friend has this guitar and i played it a few times.its sounds just like the reg. strats. the sound is amazing!! the action is good to.

Comparing the price with the quality, this is the real deal for those who wants a simple, yet powerful guitar. Fingerboard is very comfortable.

This guitar is just amazing. I bought one for my daughter (6yrs) and fell in love with it myself. It is simply stunning and she got really angry at me when I played a 20 minute solo on it. She grabbed the guitar and smashed it on the table. The guitar was so strong that it broke the table!