If you want a strat-style guitar with some modern appointments, you should definitely consider the Nick Johnston Traditional. Fit and finish is outstanding (Schecter always does great work here), and my guitar was ready to play out of the box. The toasted neck is smooth-as-can-be and the extra-jumbo frets facilitate wide bends. The electronics are solid, and the pickups have a warm-vintage sound while maintaining the in-between "quack" that make strats so much fun.

The ebony fingerboard (with the classy brass inlays) is a significant improvement over most of the dark-wood fingerboards that Fender offers in this price range. Other smart changes include easy truss-rod access at the heel, locking tuners, and a side input jack. The pink color is also just plain stylish.

If you want a strat that carefully balances the modern and the traditional, this Nick Johnston is an excellent choice.

I bought this guitar for my granddaughter and she and I are really impressed with it. I chose one with a really dark roasted maple neck and it is a real joy for us to play. The neck is smooth like satin. Not sticky at all. The flat radius and thin "C" shaped neck make it very easy for her to fret. She loves the coral color and mint green pick guard and I love the extra jumbo frets and body contours.

Single coil pickups are exactly what we wanted. I have an American Professional Fender Strat and this Schecter is every bit as nice. Setup was great (about 1.75mm off the low E at the 12th fret) and everything about this guitar screams quality. I used to think Schecter guitars were a well kept secret, but the secret is out. They are an amazing value.

The combination of pink,brass inlays, ebony fret board and roasted maple neck makes this one gorgeous looking guitar. I had to set it up to my liking, which means tuning it to e flat and floating the bridge. I also removed a spring on the trem as the trem bar was way to stiff. Once set up, it came to life for me , the pickups sound as you would expect from a strat light guitar but cranking up the overdrive, they handle just nicely.

This is a real winner here. My only complaint is that i wish the neck was slightly thicker, but then again I also have a super flat ibanez RG550.