“If you’re from the school of ‘plug in, turn up’, without getting fussy with your controls, you’re going to love it”: Fender Tom DeLonge Starcaster review

The Blink-182 guitarist’s second signature model in a year takes the form of Fender’s offset semi-acoustic – and it’s an instant classic

Fender Tom DeLonge Starcaster
(Image: © Future / Olly Curtis)

Guitar World Verdict

Tom DeLonge’s Starcaster not a jack-of-many-trades model in the way that Epiphone’s DG-335 is, and nor does it claim to be. It’s a bare-bones rock guitar designed for energetic playing, and if you’re from the school of ‘plug in, turn up’, without getting fussy with your controls, you’re going to love it.

Pros

  • +

    Quality rock tones, superb with gain.

  • +

    Fun finishes.

  • +

    Excellent playability.

  • +

    Simple drive adds to its rock appeal.

Cons

  • -

    Not overly versatile, but that treble bleed circuit helps.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

It’s been 25 years since Blink-182 rocketed to global success with third album, Enema Of The State. Somewhere between the poo jokes, zany bants and persistent nudity, Tom DeLonge also managed to forge a path as a hugely influential guitar hero to a generation.

As is often the case, the key to his success is simplicity – hooky riffs, full of melody and harmony, and he’s consistently played them on guitars with a similar ethos. Last year, Fender reissued DeLonge’s sought-after Stratocaster: a single-pickup take on the Strat finished in retro colours.

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Stuart Williams

Stuart is a freelancer for Guitar World and heads up Total Guitar magazine's gear section. He formerly edited Total Guitar and Rhythm magazines in the UK and has been playing guitar and drums for over two decades (his arms are very tired). When he's not working on the site, he can be found gigging and depping in function bands and the odd original project.