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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 3:42 pm
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Bigsby, I'm basking as we speak. :D


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 1:31 am
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Hi people I received the HSS elite strat I ordered from abroad and I am not too happy. I am getting little sustain out of it, and I blame the tremolo system but I am not sure. I have a 90s american strat and I am not familiar with contemporary strats, so need some education. This tremolo works both back and forth, we can call it floating I guess. Could adding springs to it or getting it fixed some way help?


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:56 am
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bipbip wrote:
Hi people I received the HSS elite strat I ordered from abroad and I am not too happy. I am getting little sustain out of it, and I blame the tremolo system but I am not sure. I have a 90s american strat and I am not familiar with contemporary strats, so need some education. This tremolo works both back and forth, we can call it floating I guess. Could adding springs to it or getting it fixed some way help?


The trem should be about the same as a 1990s American Standard - the only differences are the saddles are chrome plated and the trem arm snaps in instead of screwing in.

It does sound like you should start with the set-up - try getting the trem to sit like it does on your 90s American Standard (I'm assuming you have an American Standard and not some other USA Strat that has the vintage tremolo). I don't think just adding a spring is going to help; you're going to have to do a bit more adjusting work with the trem height, balance with the strings, and pickup height as well.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 7:22 am
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John C wrote:
bipbip wrote:
Hi people I received the HSS elite strat I ordered from abroad and I am not too happy. I am getting little sustain out of it, and I blame the tremolo system but I am not sure. I have a 90s american strat and I am not familiar with contemporary strats, so need some education. This tremolo works both back and forth, we can call it floating I guess. Could adding springs to it or getting it fixed some way help?


The trem should be about the same as a 1990s American Standard - the only differences are the saddles are chrome plated and the trem arm snaps in instead of screwing in.

It does sound like you should start with the set-up - try getting the trem to sit like it does on your 90s American Standard (I'm assuming you have an American Standard and not some other USA Strat that has the vintage tremolo). I don't think just adding a spring is going to help; you're going to have to do a bit more adjusting work with the trem height, balance with the strings, and pickup height as well.


I have a 98 Roadhouse, I am not sure if it is vintage or not, looks exactly the same as this, it just 'sits' on the body as you say, with this, one side is off the body at a height and it moves both ways. I just assumed this is how it is designed to function, I think you suggest it must be adjusted to act just like the Roadhouse trem.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:32 am
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bipbip wrote:
John C wrote:
bipbip wrote:
Hi people I received the HSS elite strat I ordered from abroad and I am not too happy. I am getting little sustain out of it, and I blame the tremolo system but I am not sure. I have a 90s american strat and I am not familiar with contemporary strats, so need some education. This tremolo works both back and forth, we can call it floating I guess. Could adding springs to it or getting it fixed some way help?


The trem should be about the same as a 1990s American Standard - the only differences are the saddles are chrome plated and the trem arm snaps in instead of screwing in.

It does sound like you should start with the set-up - try getting the trem to sit like it does on your 90s American Standard (I'm assuming you have an American Standard and not some other USA Strat that has the vintage tremolo). I don't think just adding a spring is going to help; you're going to have to do a bit more adjusting work with the trem height, balance with the strings, and pickup height as well.


I have a 98 Roadhouse, I am not sure if it is vintage or not, looks exactly the same as this, it just 'sits' on the body as you say, with this, one side is off the body at a height and it moves both ways. I just assumed this is how it is designed to function, I think you suggest it must be adjusted to act just like the Roadhouse trem.


It sounds like someone adjusted your '98 Roadhouse to have the trem "decked" - meaning it is sitting flush with the body and you can only lower pitch. The factory setup for this trem would be to "float". You are correct - I'm suggesting that you start by adjusting the new Elite to have the same trem setup as your Roadhouse. You may or may not need to add a spring, but only adding a spring isn't going to set it the same as your Roadhouse.

After adjusting the trem, you may want to also adjust the pickup heights as well. Hopefully that will improve the sustain.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:01 pm
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Getting back to the elite but maybe a bit off topic I am wondering if the old deluxe neck will fit an elite body and to me it looks like if you cut out a notch just in front of the neck pickup on an old style deluxe you could fit an elite neck.....
Do you think this is the case ? :D


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:21 pm
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jimmy_james wrote:
Getting back to the elite but maybe a bit off topic I am wondering if the old deluxe neck will fit an elite body and to me it looks like if you cut out a notch just in front of the neck pickup on an old style deluxe you could fit an elite neck.....
Do you think this is the case ? :D


Somebody over on Strat-Talk has already fit an Elite neck to a regular Strat-style body (I don't remember if it was a Fender body, Warmoth body, or something else); he cut out a notch to fit the Elite neck's truss rod wheel and also had to drill the extra hole since this body had a regular 4-screw pattern.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 12:15 am
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Hello there, another Elite strat issue if you don't mind. Intending to get this Duncan prewired liberator pickguard but a little concerned about the fit, particularly with regard to the truss rod adjustment cavity. I guess one would need to cut out a notch from the pickguard. Is there anything I should know in general about fitting a new pickguard to the Elite?


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 7:05 am
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bipbip wrote:
Hello there, another Elite strat issue if you don't mind. Intending to get this Duncan prewired liberator pickguard but a little concerned about the fit, particularly with regard to the truss rod adjustment cavity. I guess one would need to cut out a notch from the pickguard. Is there anything I should know in general about fitting a new pickguard to the Elite?


I can't find a photo of an American Elite pickguard or a loaded body (i.e. body with just the neck removed) but it definitely looks like you're going to have to cut the notch for the truss rod wheel. These Elites are still pretty new; you're the first person I've seen post about replacing the electronics. I don't know if you'll run into other issues than just cutting the notch for the truss rod. The only other post I've seen about parts compatibility was someone putting an American Elite on a "normal" Strat body, so besides cutting the notch in the body and the pickguard the other screw placement and routing was "normal".

Sorry I couldn't be more help. However, since you appear to be the first American Elite modder, please let us know how it works.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 8:48 am
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John C wrote:
bipbip wrote:
Hello there, another Elite strat issue if you don't mind. Intending to get this Duncan prewired liberator pickguard but a little concerned about the fit, particularly with regard to the truss rod adjustment cavity. I guess one would need to cut out a notch from the pickguard. Is there anything I should know in general about fitting a new pickguard to the Elite?


I can't find a photo of an American Elite pickguard or a loaded body (i.e. body with just the neck removed) but it definitely looks like you're going to have to cut the notch for the truss rod wheel. These Elites are still pretty new; you're the first person I've seen post about replacing the electronics. I don't know if you'll run into other issues than just cutting the notch for the truss rod. The only other post I've seen about parts compatibility was someone putting an American Elite on a "normal" Strat body, so besides cutting the notch in the body and the pickguard the other screw placement and routing was "normal".

Sorry I couldn't be more help. However, since you appear to be the first American Elite modder, please let us know how it works.

Thanks, I sure will... I have a spare pickguard actually but I am not sure I want to do a trial before the real thing I might be less lazy tomorrow I let you people know.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 11:20 pm
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http://www.stratcat.biz/elite-sss-pg.shtml
http://www.stratcat.biz/elite-hss-pg.shtml
For anyone interested these guys are producing Elite strat pickguards, and as far as I understand there are no differences between elite and modern standard pickguards except the truss-wheel adjustment cut-out (and accomodation for the by-pass switch if its an Hss and one wants to keep the electronics and change the pickguard only).


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 9:36 am
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John C wrote:
paris wrote:

Concerning the Dlx Strat Plus, I don't see this model lasting very long, maybe a 2 or 3 more years, if that. It is a radical design and many not appeal to a lot of players. It's an unconventional model for an unconventional player. I’m very much reminded of the VG Strat.
. . .
Even though it has a compartment in the back and the player needs to change out the cards to get different sounds, it’s basically a programmable Dlx Strat, which is a very popular model with modern players.


It appears the Dlx Strat Plus is kind of in limbo. On one hand they have produced both some new personality cards and issued some other pickups with the plug-in connectors, but they they also don't appear to have produced any of them since 2014. The ones in online stores still have "US13" and "US14" serial numbers (there is one still hanging around at my local Guitar Center that is a US13 serial number) and I haven't seen them produce any more in that mystic ice blue color - it appears to be sold out most places, and has been for quite a while. However, Fender also hasn't allowed it to go to blowout pricing, either.

With the truss rod wheel - if the Elites turn out to be bigger sellers over their life than the last generation of American Deluxes, then it could move to other Fender models (probably the American Standard on it's next major revision). If they don't sell well, then I could see Fender reverting the next generation Elites back to the American Deluxe style necks and construction (and probably restore the "American Deluxe" name if that is the case). We'll also know if the American Elites make it to 2022 - that would be the next "scheduled" model change for this series - Fender has changed the American Deluxe series every 6 years.


The Deluxe Strat Plus is not in limbo, is is officially discontinued. It was a '14 and '15 model. The US13s were proabably made in '14 (My US13 was made in Feb '14).
Though the Elite is reported to be a replacement for the Deluxe, it sure seems to me to be a next gen of the Deluxe Plus, not the Deluxe.
So it appears the cards are dead as far as new models go?
The Deluxe was never meant to replace the Standard. Fender gets that. But personally, I can't believe that consumers didn't respond better to the Plus. That is what a Deluxe is all about. Maybe they paid too much attention to the tradionalists bashing it. Maybe there should be more complaints about the Standards being "plain"? As far as the modders go, I guess they're saying "I want to do it myself, don't try to help me".

For me? "Their loss is my gain". I recently got my AM Deluxe Plus for $850.00 total. And it suit me just fine. I'd rather not have a Standard. Thanks Fender, sorry I'm a minority.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 12:44 pm
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wmachine wrote:
For me? "Their loss is my gain". I recently got my AM Deluxe Plus for $850.00 total. And it suit me just fine. I'd rather not have a Standard. Thanks Fender, sorry I'm a minority.

That's how I felt too when I picked up a discounted Deluxe Plus: A lot more Strat for less than the price of a Standard.

I did look at an American Standard at the time I bought a MiM in 2015, but it didn't seem to offer very much for the much higher price tag. It struck me back then that it would make more sense to buy a Deluxe, as the extra step up in price was reflected in specification. But instead I went in the other direction and took advantage of the amazing value the MiMs offer.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 5:13 am
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Hello there people I got a problem with the Elite. The tremolo arm doesn't lock in to its place and is no more stable where I leave it, drops down... I think there was a springy mechanism inside that doesn't function any more... I always felt it was vulnerable. I used it quite heavily nevertheless. Any ideas on how to fix it?


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 6:01 am
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bipbip wrote:
I think there was a springy mechanism inside that doesn't function any more...

It's not really a mechanism, just a small spring. If you remove the arm & turn the guitar upside down there's a good chance it will fall out.

If that's the problem there are two ways to fix it:
1) Replace the spring
2) Wrap plumbers tape around the thread on the arm - I've not tried this, but I've heard it works as well.


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