The guitar is very good . It feels like a quality instrument and the rounded fret ends make it feel like a guitar you've played for years. The pickups - which would normally be the first thing to change - are actually brilliant. They are clear without being sharp. Even the humbucker is absolutely fitting for use with the single coils.
When split the humbucker is split the tone is really like a single coil. With a bit of pickup height adjustment you can get a decent "position 2" sound. On its own it actually has a better single coil sound than many true single coil bridge pickups. As a series connected humbucker it gives more growl and output. It's not a massive humbucker tone, as I think it has been chosen to go well with the other pickups. I wanted an SSS guitar and was prepared to mod this one. Now I don't feel I need to change the pickups at all - that's very rare for me.
There are some odd design choices, though. Some have complained about the bridge getting in the way of palm muting. I haven't found that a problem. In fact the bridge is a big selling point: the sustain and the tuning stability are exemplary. I do feel the string trees look very cheap on such an otherwise high-quality guitar. The pots and their knobs are also cheaper than they should be. Those knob are about the worst to have with push-pull switching. The output jack feels good quality, which is nice.
Putting a set of Elixir coated strings on this guitar, though, is utter madness. The first thing you will have to do is take them off to polish the frets and oil the fretboard. The guitar is unplayable with the frets as they are. The frets are thinner than those on the Fusion and Fusion-T guitars - but are completely in keeping with the Strat aesthetic.
One thing I query is that it is variously listed as having a roasted or caramelised neck. If anything it is less caramelised than my ST-62 and nowhere near being roasted like my Fusions & Fusion-T. Also there is less flaming than any other flamed maple I've seen. It doesn't bother me, personally, but they may be receiving complaints from other buyers.
Overall, a great guitar which would be exceptional for the price, if it wasn't for the Fusions being the same price! The ST-Moderns and the Fusions are on a par, each better and worse than the other in different ways. I have made a few quibbles but they are minor and don't detract from the enjoyment of the instrument. It's so good I don't feel a great need to change anything (yet).
