Review quickie: Fender Super Sonic

Background 

• The Super Sonic started off as a Squier. It was part of the Vista Series (1997, made in Japan) together with the Venus, Jagmaster & Musicmaster models. 
• The Super Sonic then became a member of the Pawn Shop series (Mexico) with both humbuckers slanted.
• The Super Sonic was re-introduced as a Squier model in 2020 as part of the Paranormal Series.
• The current limited edition Super Sonic (Japan) is a replication of the original Squier version with only the bridge pickup slanted. It features a basswood body, Dragster humbuckers, 2 volume controls & 24" scale length. The 75th Anniversary decal is printed on the headstock rear but the Super Sonic is not a commemorative model in conjunction with this anniversary.

Construction / fit / finish

• First class treatment from the Japanese factory, high standards all round
• Whammy felt a little stiff in use

Playability / tone

• C-profile neck has a chunky feel.
• Cutaways were designed for maximum upper fret access, will appease the shred camp
• Dragster pickups sound flat; neither excellent clean nor menacing under intense distortion. Lacks a tone control to provide tone variation but putting both humbuckers on simultaneously with differentiated volume levels for each pickups provide some consolation.

Conclusion

This is an identity crisis offset Fender guitar which is still a beloved model today. That quirky look is a visual escape from the usual Fender offerings & stamps a firm deviation identity on the user. Playability-wise, despite its mutant outline, is excellent. The chunky rounded neck profile would put both Fender & Gibson fans at home in terms of feel. It has a residual appeal to the shredders among us as upper fret access is superior to the average Strat / Tele. The potential deal-breaker here are the Dragster pickups which sounded flat from the get-go, compounded by the fact that no tone control exists to sculpt the sonic offerings. Remember, this is a 24" instrument & will never snap like a Strat / Tele. Personally, I find the price repulsive.

Final rating: 85%

Fender Super Sonic ($1,699)

• Availability: Swee Lee
• Bag included

Pic: Gearnews