Fender American Standard Stratocaster with Maple Fretboard 2012 - Candy Cola

This 2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster is finished in Candy Cola with a maple fretboard, and this is one of those finishes that looks dramatically better once light hits it. The metallic flake has a lot of depth to it — from some angles it reads as a deep wine red, and under stronger light it turns into a much brighter candy red with the metallic coming through. It’s a less common American Standard finish and one I don’t see nearly as often as the usual Sunbursts and blacks.

This is also from a really good period for the American Standard. The 2012 version received the Fender Custom Shop Fat '50s single-coils, which are a big part of why these later American Standards are so well liked. They still have that open, glassy Strat sound, but there’s a little more fullness and body behind the notes than some of the thinner-sounding Strat sets. Pickup heights are right where they should be on this one, and all five positions sound balanced.

The guitar plays exactly how I want an American Standard to play. The Modern C maple neck feels familiar immediately, the 9.5" radius gives you plenty of room for bends, and the medium-jumbo frets are still in excellent shape. The current setup passed my inspection as-is, with a comfortable medium action and spot-on intonation. Nothing feels like it needs to be chased or corrected.

One thing I really like about these is that they sit right in that sweet spot between vintage and modern Fender. You still get the traditional Strat feel and sound, but the two-point tremolo, rolled fretboard edges, modern radius and larger frets make them much easier to live with than a strict vintage-spec instrument.

What stood out to me:

• Candy Cola metallic finish with a ton of depth and flake
• 2012-spec Custom Shop Fat '50s single-coil pickups
• Maple neck and maple fingerboard
• Comfortable Modern C neck profile
• 9.5" radius and medium-jumbo frets
• Frets are still in excellent condition
• Pickup heights are dialed in correctly
• Comfortable, clean setup
• Spot-on intonation
• Original pickups
• Electronics fully tested and working properly
• Exceptionally clean condition for a 2012 guitar

Condition is Excellent. This one has clearly been looked after. The body, neck, backside and fretboard all passed my inspection in excellent condition. The only thing I could find worth mentioning is one very light bump on the back that does not break the finish and is genuinely difficult to notice. Beyond that, there are none of the usual meaningful dings, chips or heavy wear I tend to see on American Standards from this era.

The finish is probably my favorite part of the guitar visually. Candy Cola has a much finer metallic look than a basic solid red, and the flake really wakes up when the guitar moves under the light. The matching clean white plastics and maple board make the red stand out even more.

Electronics passed my complete test with no issues. The original Fat '50s have the snap and articulation you want from a Strat, but the neck and middle positions have a little more warmth and fullness than I expected. The bridge still cuts cleanly without feeling harsh, and the in-between positions have that unmistakable Strat quack.

Includes the hard case, owner's manual and pictured cleaning cloth.

The photos shown are real photographs of this exact guitar. I do not use AI-generated imagery, replacement backgrounds, or image manipulation to misrepresent the condition of my guitars. What you see is the instrument you’ll receive.

Like all my guitars, this one’s been cared for and dialed in—no guesswork, no surprises, just a great instrument that’s ready to play. I personally inspect and test every guitar before it ships, making sure i