I can't vouch for the American Standard Series guitars, but I can tell you the current crop of American Standard basses is absolutely horrid. A bottom line DeArmonde Pilot Bass (made by Fender mind you) kicks the snot out of all of the American Standard basses I've played lately. Now I'm talking playability, tone, and overall feel here. Though I think some good action work would help them out a lot, I'm in general highly unimpressed with Fender these days.