There are numerous low-priced guitar companies out there that offer instruments for around $150 that are far superior to practically anything available at that price range a mere 15 years ago. One of the top manufacturers touted by blogs, YouTube sites, and customer reviewers on Amazon is a company called Fesley. One of their most popular models is the FST350M a Stratocaster-shaped guitar with a humbucker at the bridge and two single coil pickups is a solid beginners’ guitar and then some.
The 39-inch scale guitar, is priced at $159 US on the company’s website, and is frequently sold out (we’ve seen it for around $110 on other budget websites such as Temu, so keep looking). Produced in a variety of colors, the FST350M features a poplar body and a maple neck. The body is finished in a satin polyester coat, giving it a smooth feel. There’s no pick-guard, which Fesley calls part of its “minimalist” design, and the company claims to use thin, eco-friendly paint, which should please environmentalists into minimalism.
That’s all well and good, but how does it play and sound? Surprisingly good for a guitar under $200. The neck is smooth and easy to navigate. All 22 frets can be reached without much of a stretch, and the guitar rings out nicely in any pickup position with no unseemly fretbuzz. Out of the box, the action is good and the strings sound fine, though as with any lower-priced guitar, it’s a good idea replace them with brand name strings.
The hardware is basic, but effective. The knobs (one volume and two tone controls) and five-way pickup selector switch are black, and the HSS pickups are white, so the colors complement one another – though the mounting screws stand out, which could be a turn-off for some. The nut is plastic and benefits from a small amount of graphite on the notches, though the tuners are zinc alloy and stay in tune pretty well. Heavy-handed players might benefit from switching to locking tuners, especially if they frequently use the tremolo, which is affixed to a standard cold-rolled steel block bridge.
The FST 350M is equally solid for rhythm and lead players. The fretwork was good on our model, though since these things are mass-produced, minor leveling might be necessary for some. The guitar is well-balanced and lightweight, making it comfortable to play standing or sitting. The HSS passive pickups provide good definition, and the pickup selector switch offers a range of sounds, from traditional Stratocaster tones to metallic crunch (with the humbucker). Along with the tone knobs, and maybe some guitar pedal of choice, players should be able to hone in on their desired sound. Whatever your choice, the guitar sounds good on all settings.
Overall, the Fesley FST 350M is an excellent beginner’s guitar and a good backup for more advanced players. Just don’t expect it to look as good or to sound as clean and clear as an actual Fender Stratocaster. But, yeah, what does, and at a fraction of the price, the Fesley is a really good deal. For those with the money, ability, and interest in making some modifications — such as installing higher quality pickups, locking tuners, and a better tremolo system — the FST 350M is easy to mod and doing so could make it a sturdy go-to guitar on par with higher level instruments from larger manufactures.
And on that note, Here’s a YouTube video from our friend Dave Dowling at Double D Guitar reviewing the Fresley ST and pimping it out for a smoother, more professional ride.
