That particular guitar was never quite right and while I was learning kinda hard to play, but I kept it for over 25 years because nothing I ever picked up could hold a candle to the particular feel and sound - that is until THIS one! Then one foolish day about ten years ago, I got rid of the original, and have been kicking myself ever since...

This reissue is like old home week - my hands just seem to go like they were magnetized to the right places, and there is a particular 'chunk' sound that comes out of it, native to the neck and body, that I have not heard in many years.

The neck has a just plain amazing smooth taper and feel, and the fretboard is much finer quality than most of the Fenders I have played, no matter what the country of origination.

I would recommend this for any of the old dudes out there that miss the ones they had as kids, then stupidly sold, then kicked themselves over and over... these are good enough to actually PLAY, and won't sit in the closet after you own them ANY MORE!

A word about the 5.0 as regards to features and value - for me, it's perfect with just a tone and volume knob PERIOD, and as far as value, it ain't no looker. BUT - it's a damn WORKING instrument, which I'll pay almost anything for these days...

They should call these 'Coming out of the closet classics'... :)