Fender Bruno Mars Signature Stratocaster - Mars Mocha Reviews

So I have had the guitar for a few months and I feel that I am in a place where I can give an honest opinion of the guitar.
Aesthetics: After a few months, I can still say- Wow! It truly is an aesthetically beautiful guitar. The Mars Mocha color in the heirloom finish is quite stunning. It is more gold than brown but it works. The color changes in the light and I can see why this particular color was chosen- it grabs your attention without being too in your face. Definitely not subtle but not too crazy either. The heirloom finish is also well executed. Up close and in certain light you can see all the checking. I have always wanted a slightly relic-ed finish…something between what the Custom Shop classifies as a "Closet Classic" and a "Journeyman". Fender did this wonderfully. It looks like a really well kept vintage guitar. Almost as if it has seen a lot but the owner made sure to take care afterwards. With the Ultra body contours, it is really a great blend of old mixed with the new. I personally like the aged gold hardware and the slight neck tint really ties it all together. At this point, I am keeping the black pickguard on as I just like the aesthetic of it. That said, it is nice to have the option to switch it out to the mint green whenever I choose to do so. The large headstock works with this guitar. It adds that late 60's and early 70's vintage vibe. Honestly, when I started playing Strats I thought the large headstock was hideous. Now, and especially over the past year, it has grown on me. I don't like it more or less than the smaller headstock but just appreciate it equally. The leopard strap just works. It is just a very appropriate pairing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder however, I believe Fender and Bruno really did a wonderful job.
Feel: In a word, solid. To match my personal preference, I did have Sweetwater install 5 springs in the guitar prior to getting the instrument Plek'ed (more on this later) and they were kind enough to ensure that all the springs matched. In every Strat I have ever owned, I had always installed 5 springs. I like my bridge flush with the body as I feel it removes some of the "jangli-ness". To date, this is the most solid guitar I have owned since my SRV (I do not own that guitar anymore). Unplugged, the guitar has a wonderful resonance that is deeper sounding with a consistent sustain. The deeper resonance feels really good. The notes feel precise.
The body contours are very comfortable. It feels as a Strat should- comfortable and conforming. The biggest highlight is the heel cut. Accessing the higher frets is easy and less cumbersome. My hand can really just reach frets easier. Despite the nitro checking, the body is still smooth. It does feel as there was an additional top coat applied. It doesn't bother me and in some ways I appreciate it. It still has something for me to work through before the wear marks I create really start to show.
The neck feels amazing. On the path to ownership, neck shapes can be a deal breaker for me. When I hold a guitar, I know fairly quickly if it is something I would like to own. I typically like a soft V shaped neck but I do appreciate a good C shape as well. I am not a fan of the modern C or modern D as I typically gravitate towards a slightly thicker neck. This feels really good. It fills my hand and allows me to still wrap my thumb over comfortably. It plays smooth and the I love the medium jumbo stainless steel frets. The finish on the back of the neck has been knocked down a little but it is still a little sticky. Not as sticky as a newly finished lacquered guitar but something to work through- like your grandpa's closet treasured guitar…he played it and took care of it but probably practiced with something else. New but worn in a little. Either way, it feels great and the fretboard is slick.
Playability: In a word, easy. The compound radius is pretty awesome. The higher notes and bends stay consistent in volume and it is just comfortable. I am a fan. I got the instrument Plek'ed simply because I did not want the risk of finding a potential uneven fret or discover some crazy unwanted buzzing or dead spot. I will acknowledge that for this price, I should not have to go this far but this is still a production guitar. I had the opportunity to make sure it came out perfect so I decided to remove the variable and just go for it. The way it is set up and the components make playing this instrument easy and comfortable. I personally like Strats for their general ease and comfort but because of the particular specs of this guitar, it feels easier and more comfortable.
Sound: I played the guitar through my Boss Katana Artist MK II combo amp so depending on your amp and speaker, your results might/will vary. It is just the amount of different of what I was looking for in my second Strat. It has a "rounder" and slightly warmer tone than my Fender JV Modified. The bridge pickup is hot and I much prefer that particular sound to my other Strat's bridge pickup. Overall, the sound is balanced, full and precise. It articulates really well. The biggest thing to get used to is that Position 1 and 4 are the hum cancelling positions vs positions 2 and 4 in other Strats. I think because of the noiseless bridge, position 2 is subject to a little hum from the middle pickup paired with a noiseless. The hum is not as loud as position 3 is by itself but it is something I was not expecting. I will take it for the hotter bridge pickup.

Overall Impressions: I am really happy with this guitar. Like many of you, this collaboration came as a real surprise to me; however, I am very impressed that this is what Bruno and Fender came up with together. The specifications are very thoughtful. It is an intentional blend of classic Strat versatility, vintage appeal with Fender's best modern comforts. As a sneaker head, it reminds me of the re-release of Kobe Bryant's shoes. When Kobe was alive, Nike asked if he would be interested in rereleasing some of his older shoes. He agreed only if they can update the material and shoe technology using the lessons learned from today to be incorporated into the older models. Instead of retro, he called it a "Protro"- a "performance retro". I really feel that this was the design mentality of this guitar. I know it has a lot of controversy but I honestly believe that the more people get their hands on it, the more appreciation will come. Regardless, like other guitars we have all tried, if you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. Personally, I am very happy I did.