This allows you to slightly alter the neck angle; something you might find yourself needing to do if you change any bridge parts or after a big set-up. They’re bright and glassy, with plenty of focus and enhanced dynamics. Stepping up from the American Standard series, the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster tacks on a few extra appointments that appeal to higher-end sensibilities. FN+6 digits corresponds to American made instruments that were exported all over the world. The American Performer Series includes two Stratocaster models: a standard SSS … This hybrid fretboard radius makes fretting chords down the lower end feel really comfortable and quick lead work at the top is just as easy. The Fender American Deluxe Series was a line of electric guitars and basses introduced by Fender in 1995 and discontinued in 2016. First off, the Special comes supplied with a padded gigbag whereas both the Standard and Deluxe come with quality hardcases. DN+6 digits corresponds to Fender's American Deluxe Series dating to 1998-1999. It’s all to do with getting the g… ; Locking tuners keep the instrument in tune longer. 26 $72.99 $72.99. It’s only had a few tweaks here and there since its inception in 1954 and it’s the Strat by which others are judged. Compare prices on new and used Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster Electric Guitars on Reverb. Improved electronics eliminate hum without sacrificing any of the tone and power that has tones and features that kept the Stratocaster the standard for great rock … Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Despite their differences, the Fender American Special, Standard and Deluxe Strats will all give you that much-loved sound, and provide you with years and years of enjoyment! Visit our corporate site. Even within the modern range of US built Fenders, there are different versions of the Strat that can leave even the most experienced players a little confused. American Elite has now been discontinued – you can now shop the new and improved American Ultra Range. Fender literally wrote the book on electric basses, laying the foundation for musical innovation and evolution. For comparison sake you can read our page about the 2004-2009 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster series . If you want a time tested Strat, without any extra features, then the Standard could well be the one for you. ... American Professional II Stratocaster® Left-Hand. $999.95. Your email address will not be published. The American Standard has been replaced by the American Pro, and the American Deluxe has been replaced with the American Elite to reflect changes in players’ needs and wants. The American Deluxe also features S1 switching, which in a nutshell, doubles the five different sounds you have already (using the pickup selector), to ten. Steel Saddles. Great deals on Fender American Stratocaster. The Strat Plus Deluxe Series had some crossover with the Standard Plus. The American Special is great too; it’s a slightly beefier but less refined sound, plus it’s got the highest output pickups out of all three. The Strat Plus was produced from 1987 to 1999 and was equipped with Lace Sensor pickups, a roller nut, locking tuners, a TBX tone control and a Hipshot tremsetter. Think Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rory Gallagher, that kind of thing. Single coils can sometimes be noisy, giving unwanted buzz and hum, but not with the N3s; they prevent this kind of background noise and in doing so, help preserve that luscious Strat sound. There are other differences between the Fender American Special, Standard and Deluxe Strats aside from sound and feel. What’s also worth mentioning is that Fender have given the American Standard Strat a thinner undercoat to improve the body’s resonance. All three of these Strats, on the surface look quite similar and they’re all made in the US. Your email address will not be published. NC+6 digits corresponds to Squier Strat Bullets and the time frame is difficult to establish. Both the Standard and Deluxe have Modern C necks. Fender use different Alnico 2, 3 and 5 magnets in the N3 pickups; each one carefully selected for the right position for the most balanced response and harmonically complex tonal versatility. So a considerable difference in price, again due to cheaper labour and manufacturing outside of the States. They each have a master volume control, but where the Tele only has one tone control, the Strat has dedicated tone knobs for the middle … $58.26 $ 58. Now, everybody uses them, from Nile Rodgers of Chic to Jim Root of Slipknot. Our Blackburn store is closed for visiting but is open for click & collect orders, Fender American Strats: Special VS Standard VS Deluxe – The Difference Between Them. Mexican Strat vs. American Strat: What’s the Difference? ... Fender American Standard Stratocaster HSS w/ Locking tuners and Deluxe Hard Case. Reidys Home of Music Registered office Reidys Home of Music, 1 Nab Lane, Blackburn, BB2 1LN, United Kingdom, Registered in GB, Online orders dispatching as normal inc. next day delivery. It's a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at eBay.com. Required fields are marked *. The select alder used for the body of a Fender American Deluxe Strat usually has a nicer, more defined grain, so if you’re after a translucent colour like sunburst, and aesthetics is an important feature for you, then this is certainly something to consider. 99. Yet some punters wanted more: three electric guitar pickups instead of two; a usable vibrato; and a less slab like body. The Telecaster (nee Broadcaster) the first commercially available solid body electric guitar was already well established by '54. So that’s the Deluxe, but what are the differences between the Fender American Standard Strat and Special Strat, feel-wise? ... American Professional II Telecaster® Deluxe. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ACOUSTIC • The Acoustasonic Strat builds on our revolutionary voicing technology to affect new guitar construction parameters. The American Special Strat has got a Greasebucket tone circuit which allows you to roll off the highs without adding extra bass frequencies. It’s also got locking tuning machines, as opposed to regular tuners on the Special and Standard. Modern updates: Improved neck and fingerboard make the American Deluxe Stratocaster easier to play. The Standard and Deluxe Strats both feature Fender’s Micro-Tilt neck adjustment feature. However, there are other tonal characteristics that help differentiate between the models. There are however, many different variations of the Fender Strat; they look alike, and to those not as familiar with the finer details of the guitar, they may sound and feel the same too. Also, while there are different pickup configurations, we’ll be focussing on the classic SSS (three single coils) configuration. In over 60 years, there has been much tinkering around with the Strat – the various models are evidence of this, but it’s still very much the same guitar it always has been. Introduced in Winter of 2018, Fender's new American Performer Series guitar and basses are a direct replacement for the American Special family. The iconic Fender Stratocaster guitar is available in several versions, including the Made in Mexico Fender Player Series Stratocaster guitars, which replaced the Standard Series.Made in the USA, Fender American Professional Stratocaster guitars offer Fender's finest production quality. It was upgraded in 2004 and 2010 before being replaced by the American Elite series in 2016.. The rich, warm humbucking bridge pickup adds a touch of thickness to the instrument's voice, while special electronics ensure traditional Strat tone is close at hand; ready to go at a moment's notice. I strongly advise you watch the video so you can hear how they sound, and I go into more detail about each of them. Is there a noticeable difference in sound between the two? ... Fender USA American Standard Chrome Hardtail Bridge for Electric Guitar. American Standard Stratocaster vs. American Deluxe Stratocaster? While the American Standard Stratocaster has come to be seen as a benchmark for quality, some players are looking for that little bit extra. 4.4 out of 5 stars 17. 2013 Fender Electric Guitars Owner's Manual; American Standard Series Guitars (1987) Standard Series Guitars (1983) Stratocaster: 25th Anniversary Stratocaster (1979) 1954 Limited Edition Stratocaster (Catalog Copy, 1994) 2014 American Deluxe Strat Plus Tutorial; Eric Clapton Stratocaster (1988) Hellecasters Jerry Donohue Stratocaster (1997) Taylor Days Sale – Free Baby Taylor & 36 Months 0% Finance Available! The Deluxe also features a contoured neck heel, making access to the higher frets that bit easier than it is on the American Special and Standard. The American Special Strat has Custom Shop Texas Specials. The American Deluxe has all the bells and whistles; the neck radius and contour means the fastest lead guitarists will love it just as much as the most laid back rhythm players. This helps make the Fender American Deluxe Strat an incredibly versatile guitar. The pickups that come in the American Standard Strat are Custom Shop Fat 50s. The American Deluxe Strat Plus features fully solder-less electronics that literally make circuit mods a snap. About Fender Stratocaster Guitars. Much like the standard series, the majority of these guitars come with an alder body, but ash is sometimes used for certain colors. Many players have found the Deluxe's compound radius neck more comfortable to play than the standard uniform radius necks. I’ve updated this comparison so that you can get the most up to date differences between the Fender American Special, American Pro and American Elite Stratocasters. Though it arrived a few years after the original Broadcaster/Esquire Teles that made history as the world’s first mass-produced solidbody electric, the Stratocaster quickly became Fender’s best-selling instrument, a tradition which has lasted to this day. Taylor Guitars: Made In Mexico vs USA – What Are The Differences? Features. To kick off this Fender Player Stratocaster review, let’s first take a look at some of the specs that make this guitar so great. Nevertheless Fender have opted to install locking tuners on the Deluxe, giving the aggressive strummers/pickers and extreme dive-bombers that extra reassurance. The Standard and Deluxe Strats both feature Fender’s Micro-Tilt neck adjustment feature. Are they using different pickups? Out of the three, they’ve probably got the highest output so will break up a little sooner. Shop Fender American Standard Stratocaster guitars at the guaranteed lowest price. This allows you to slightly alter the neck angle; something you might find yourself needing to do if you change any bridge parts or after a big set-up. The Fender American Special, American Standard and American Deluxe Strat represent the differences between those models and offer players a slightly different feel and sound, whilst still retaining that characteristic ‘Strat-ness’ that we’ve become so accustomed with. Fender have enriched the bass response a little to cater for more modern needs but if you want a sound that’s bursting with vintage character, then the American Standard could well be the one for you. The Fender Stratocaster. These pickups give you pure, classic Strat tone. $1,549.99 6 colors Spend over $50, Get $20 2-Day Shipping! We'll look at the differences individually further down the page. With its 70s style headstock, it’s dripping with vintage character and has the tone to match. Get it as soon as Sat, Dec 5. Yamaha Clavinova CLP-735 vs CLP-745: What’s The Difference? For instance, some of the DX models came with the American Standard two-point floating bridge while others came with the Fender Floyd Rose locking bridge. Yamaha Clavinova CLP-745 vs CLP-775: What’s The Difference? The American Deluxe Strat, at $400 more than the Standard, offers improved playability, locking tuners, noiseless pickups and S-1 tone switching. It’s got such a unique sound and people of all ages and playing styles still want that. $94.99 $ 94. What makes the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster deluxe?. Fender Deluxe Stratocaster Guitar Bridge/Tremolo Assembly Chrome. [self-published source] [self-published source] The Strat Plus Deluxe was introduced in 1989 with pickup and tremolo variations. (Production stopped in late 1998 or early 1999.) ... Save $100 on a Fender Special Edition Deluxe PJ Bass in this epic deal at Musician's Friend. Fender American Performer Series. Great read! • For example: Start with a classic – like the full-bodied Mahogany Dreadnought in Position 5A – and hear the harmonic complexities as it shifts into a tone that recalls a slotted headstock, short-scale Rosewood Concert model in Position 5B. Another key difference lies in the pickups, with the Deluxe housing Noiseless N3 single coils. There are other differences between the Fender American Special, Standard and Deluxe Strats aside from sound and feel. The Plus Series consisted of the Plus, the Plus Deluxe , and then later, in 1990, the Ultra. The Fender Stratocaster could very well be the most iconic electric guitar of all time. Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear. FREE Shipping. It’s all to do with getting the guitar so if feels comfortable for you. The Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster underwent some very nice upgrades for the 2010 model year with the two biggest upgrades being the pickups and the neck. The Deluxe version has a compound radius (9.5″ – 14″) fretboard for easier bending and a slightly wider nut (1.6875″) than the Standard series (1.650″). Slightly larger frets will add a little sustain and general ‘beef’ to your sound, but can compromise some clarity and precision. These pickups are slightly overwound and so have plenty of mid range bark as well as shimmering highs. All Rights Reserved. It’s one of the most iconic instruments ever made thanks to its proliferation within popular music in the 1950s and 1960s. most up to date differences between the Fender American Special, American Pro and American Elite Stratocasters. The Fender American Performer Stratocaster guitars replace the American Special and include a selection of all-new appointments such as Yosemite single-coil pickups, a push-pull pot to activate the neck/bridge pickup, Greasebucket tone circuitry and new Classicgear tuning machines for smoother tuning action. $100.00 shipping. However, a big difference between the American Deluxe and the Standard and Special is that the Deluxe has a compound radius fretboard, so it’s a little rounder towards the headstock end and a bit flatter towards the body end. It also has a copper infused high mass metal bridge block which gives you a little more sustain and tone. The Deluxe is technically an "optimised Standard Strat", with more than merely cosmetic differences. Free shipping to your door, or pick up at your local Guitar Center store. Fender has produced various 'deluxe' modern American Stratocasters with special features. Leo Fender's drawing board was creaking under the weight of innovation in the 1950s. One of the biggest differences between the Fender American Special, Standard and Deluxe Strats is that they all have different pickups, which help make them all sound slightly different. As mentioned, the Special has jumbo frets, and the Standard has medium jumbo frets. Whether you’re into pop, rock, blues, jazz, indie, country, the Deluxe Strat constantly performs! The Fender American Deluxe Strat has got more tonal possibilities, compared to the American Special and Strat. Tremolo with Pop-In Arm, Synchronized Tremolo with Bent The American Deluxe line replaced the Plus Series models of 1987.. Stratocaster Electronics vs. Telecaster Electronics The Stratocaster and Telecaster generally have similar electronics. This helps the Deluxe hold its tuning better. Just wanted to add American Specials are discontinued and replaced by the American Performer. Surely a Strat sounds like a Strat? Also, the American Special is the only one out of the three to have jumbo frets which, in theory, will add something to your tone. Fender Vintage-Style Standard Series Stratocaster Bridge - Gold. The Special Strat also has a vintage style tremolo system, compared to the Standard and Deluxe’s two point trem system so you may notice some differences when using the whammy bar. If you want a clear, refined Strat sound, it can do that, but it can do whole lot more on top of that. Fast & Free shipping on many items! © 2020 Reidys Home of Music. These pickups are great for that vintage blues rock sound. Here are the cards that are included and what they do. They’re versatile too, so whether you’re playing them clean or with distortion, they’ll sound great. All three of these guitars have a modern C neck profile (Deluxe available with a V-neck also) so your left hand will notice similarities. ​Tuning stability has never been considered an issue with the American Standard. For those who can afford the American Standard, paying an extra $400 to get the additional features of the Deluxe is not unreasonable. It’s not going to make a world of difference but you may well find one more comfortable than the other; try them both and find out which one feels right. Edit: Please note that both the American Standard and American Deluxe Strats have been discontinued and replaced by the American Pro and American Elite Strats, respectively. Loaded in the guitar are three Noiseless N3 pickups. ​While the American Standard Stratocaster has come to be seen as a benchmark for quality, some players are looking for that little bit extra. $1,499.99 6 colors Spend over $50, Get $20 2-Day Shipping! The Strat has been around for over 60 years and in that time, subtle changes have been made to accommodate for players’ ever-evolving needs. Well, yes it does – all three American models and even the Mexican models share a certain glassy, chimey tone that has helped make the guitar sound so unique. Looking into getting a new Fender stratocaster and just wanted to know some of the big differences between the deluxe series and the standard series. So, in addition to the standard five pickup configurations, you’ve also got another five sounds that come from wiring various pickups in series and out of phase. However, when you analyse the details, you find out that there are quite a few differences between the Fender American Special, Standard and Deluxe Strat. Fender offer two Standard Strats - the MIM (Made in Mexico) or Standard Stratocaster, and MIA (Made in America) or American Standard Stratocaster. 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized The Stratocaster Plus Deluxe Series, by Jeff Reich*. If you want to benefit from this improved service, please opt-in. Thanks to these pickups and the carefully selected alder body, the American Deluxe Strat has a really nice warm, glassy sound, with enormous detail and bell-like chime. With a price difference of around $600 brand new, the MIM is seen as a way of getting Fender quality on a relatively small budget. so lately i've been gassing my balls off for a strat and i've got it down to three: American Standard American Deluxe Artist Series John Mayer(not the black1) My first choice is definitely the John Mayer, but I wanted to know about the other two. The Strat Plus Series was introduced by Fender in 1987 and was the highest-end production model next to Fender’s Custom Shop guitars. A cheaper alternative to the MIA Fender Strat is the MIM (made in Mexico) Strat, with the Mexican Standard going for around $600 new, compared to over $1000 for the American Standard. 4.0 out of 5 stars 18. Two For One Fat, hard-rockin' sound and elegant Fender style unite in the Deluxe Strat HSS, a versatile tone machine with power to spare. You’ve got a huge range of tonal possibilities thanks to the S1 switching system, as well as an incredibly detailed and refined classic Strat sound. This site uses cookies to provide and improve your shopping experience. First off, the Special comes supplied with a padded gigbag whereas both the Standard and Deluxe come with quality hardcases.