This is in principle a great instrument in terms of quality and comfort of playing. And it is very playable, indeed, when you get used to the scallops. Comfortable neck, fantastic pick-ups -- I can only agree with all the enthusiastic reviews you'll find. Perhaps with an exception as to the machine heads: they are not so solid to keep it tune when the whammy bar is in heavy use. Or, perhaps, that after five years there are some cracks in that sonic blue finish (Fender said it would happen sooner or later anyway). If you need a Strat, this one is surely something to consider.