I've always tended to check out American Deluxe Strats in music stores like Sam Ash and Guitar Center. I've been attracted by the noiseless, high-tech SCN pickups, the roller nut, the sweet neck, the switching. Generally, I've played SSS versions. I've always wanted to like them, but time after time the SCN pickups just didn't sound as sweet as my Custom Shop Texas Specials that I loaded into my Highway One. Well, last weekend at a Sam Ash here in Southern California I tried the HSS American Deluxe Strat.



All I can say is, that's sweet tone. It sounds like a Strat, too. The switch also has a cool impact on tone variety. Checking out the web site, it does say that the HSS American Deluxe Strat has hotter pickups. It's like night and day, imho. I played it through a Blues Junior, just like I have at home. With the amp only at about a 9 on the gain, which is less than I use with my Texas Specials, that HSS Strat was putting out fat Blues tone with just a hint of breakup. I was floored. I've been underwhelmed by the SSS versions that I've tried, and then all of the sudden here is just phenomenal tone. The humbucker also blends perfectly with the S shaped pickups. Whatever they're doing to the SCNs for the HSS Am Dx, it works. They should do the same for the SSS ones. I mean, I had a 100 percent "gotta have it" reaction! I'm in negotiations now with my wife about it. For me, that guitar may not happen for a while, but that sunburst HSS Dx Strat really showed me something.

_________________
"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow