Friedman Vintage-S AMRTN-TTK-DNQ52-FC

Friedman Vintage-S AMRTN-TTK-DNQ52-FC review

The Friedman Vintage-S AMRTN-TTK-DNQ52-FC is a U.S.-made, ST-style electric guitar with an aged finish, an alder body, a maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. Its pickup layout pairs a bridge humbucker with single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. The listed price is 3499, and the guitar includes a case. Based on the supplied playing feedback, the neck feel, pickups, and vibrato system are the main strengths. The available comments are strongly positive, though they do not provide detailed measurements of output, tuning stability, or setup.

Neck feel and fingerboard

The player feedback describes the neck as smooth and comfortable, with a profile that is neither too thin nor too thick. That balanced feel can suit players who want a substantial grip without a bulky neck. The compound fingerboard radius moves from 241 mm to 305 mm, or 9.5 to 12 inches. The tighter curve near the lower frets can feel familiar for chord work, while the flatter upper area is intended to accommodate string bending. The reviewer specifically found the radius comfortable, although individual preference and setup will still matter.

The maple neck is bolted to the alder body, and the rosewood fingerboard has white dot inlays. There are 22 frets, and the fretwork is described as finished using the Plek process. The guitar also has a bone nut and a 648 mm, or 25.5-inch, scale length. These are concrete construction details; the supplied feedback does not report fret height, action, or measurements from a setup inspection. The overall impression from the player is clear, however: the neck feels outstanding in use.

HSS pickups and controls

Friedman equips this model with a Classic humbucker at the bridge and Classic single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. A five-way switch selects the pickup combinations, with master volume and tone controls for shaping the signal. This HSS arrangement offers a different character at the bridge from the two single-coil positions, giving the guitar a broader pickup palette than an all-single-coil layout.

The player called the pickups magnificent, which is high praise, but the feedback does not specify the amplifier, settings, or musical styles used. There are no output measurements or detailed descriptions of clean and overdriven tones to support a more precise sonic verdict. Treat the positive response as a strong first-hand impression rather than a complete assessment of every pickup position. The provided control information is straightforward: one volume control, one tone control, and a five-way selector.

Tremolo and build details

The bridge is a Gotoh 510 two-point tremolo, and the player rated the vibrato system highly. That response suggests the bridge was satisfying to use, but no specific test of tuning return, arm feel, or setup was supplied. The hardware is nickel, and a three-ply tortoiseshell-pattern pickguard adds contrast to the top of the body.

The finish is described as nitrocellulose lacquer with a medium-aged appearance. The player felt the aging work was well executed. There is an important specification conflict to note: the general listing calls the guitar black, while the detailed finish information identifies the color as Champagne Sparkle. Those descriptions do not match, so confirm the exact finish with the seller before ordering. The detail sheet also lists alder as the body wood and says there is no separate top.

Verdict

The Friedman Vintage-S AMRTN-TTK-DNQ52-FC has a compelling combination of a comfortable neck, a compound-radius rosewood fingerboard, an HSS pickup set, and a well-regarded two-point tremolo. The supplied player review is exceptionally enthusiastic, describing it as one of the best electric guitars they have played after owning more than 30 guitars, and awarding it 10 out of 10. That is a personal assessment, not a substitute for trying the instrument or checking its setup.

At a listed price of 3499, buyers should verify the finish discrepancy and confirm current availability. The product information says it has been available since March 2025, identifies item number 610215, and specifies that a case is included but a gig bag is not. It is not listed as a limited run. For players drawn to an aged, U.S.-made ST-style guitar and the flexibility of a humbucker-and-single-coil layout, the reported playing feel and hardware performance make this Friedman worth a closer look.