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Post subject: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 7:16 pm
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Friends, I was having this conversation with a couple of fellow musicians in a whatsapp group and thought it would be interesting to check out what you all think.

Me and another fellow have American Standard strats, while a few others have American Deluxes.

We were discussing the old noiseless vs traditional single coil stuff when the debate got a bit more wide:

Considering that the American Standard (now called professional) is the flagship strat, Fender's all time modern classic, AND the Deluxe (or Elite, suit yourself) has a couple magical properties plus, but is a different guitar altogether...

Which one do YOU like best?

Me, I am and will always be in love with the standard American made strat. It is simple, elegant and classic yet being the "year's guitar" by Fender... I don't find the plus features in the Deluxes o Elites to fill any needs I have.


Last edited by Sérgio on Sun May 13, 2018 7:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 8:48 pm
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There is no difference to some people.
To others the difference is very noticeable and well worth the price offset.
As with almost everything related to guitars, beauty, function and tone are all in the perception of the beholder.
Fender makes room for everyone of all persuasions.
As long as we try not to get into heated arguments about it we're all cool.
Usually the heated arguments happen when someone uses the words "better" or "upgrade".
That's when owners of the lower priced offerings get upset and then the fight is on.
We've been down this road quite a number of times.
This is as far down that road as I am willing to go.
I wish you all the best in your endeavours.

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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 7:49 am
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That's why I asked which model y'all like, not which one is better


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 8:48 am
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US Deluxe & Elite series cater for more technically-oriented players looking for enhanced performance features for their instruments.

Due to their high-end quality and construction these guitars cost higher though not expensive as the much pricey Custom Shop models.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 1:37 pm
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I have a 2014 American Deluxe with the N-3 noiseless pickups and the S-1 switch, and I am very happy with it. My favorite features:

    The pickups - I get a fantastic neck tone, good quack in positions 2 and 4, the bridge sounds great with the tone rolled down to 6, and the pickups are silent.
    The compound radius neck is very comfortable bending anywhere from top to bottom.
    The S-1 provides access to useful new tones, although I need to rewire it a bit to get the Tele-style neck+bridge in one of the positions.
    The workmanship is top notch all around.
    The locking tuners are great.
    The block-style saddles are a welcome upgrade over the bent saddles, and the two-point bridge pivot works well.
    The color I wanted was only available with the AmDlx ash body.

Anyway, I’m sure I would have been OK with the less expensive American Standard, but I’m glad I spent the extra and got the AmDlx. A great guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 2:20 pm
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cthulhu wrote:
I have a 2014 American Deluxe with the N-3 noiseless pickups and the S-1 switch, and I am very happy with it. My favorite features:

    The pickups - I get a fantastic neck tone, good quack in positions 2 and 4, the bridge sounds great with the tone rolled down to 6, and the pickups are silent.
    The compound radius neck is very comfortable bending anywhere from top to bottom.
    The S-1 provides access to useful new tones, although I need to rewire it a bit to get the Tele-style neck+bridge in one of the positions.
    The workmanship is top notch all around.
    The locking tuners are great.
    The block-style saddles are a welcome upgrade over the bent saddles, and the two-point bridge pivot works well.
    The color I wanted was only available with the AmDlx ash body.

Anyway, I’m sure I would have been OK with the less expensive American Standard, but I’m glad I spent the extra and got the AmDlx. A great guitar.



Oh, then it has the Delta-tone system like the Standard, very cool. I thought it didn't, due to the different wiring and pickups.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 5:47 pm
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There are lots of folks who dislike the spoke-wheel truss-rod on the Elite.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Mon May 14, 2018 10:48 am
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chromeface wrote:
There are lots of folks who dislike the spoke-wheel truss-rod on the Elite.


Absolutely! It makes it look like a deblinged Charvel.

While the American Standard and American Deluxe have been superseded by the Professional and Elite I don't see them as being the same aside occupying a similar price point in the Fender line up.

I think I would rather go with an Original (despite it having the wrong radius neck.)

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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 10:18 am
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Charvel is not alone, there are other guitar makers who adopted that feature such as Blade, Music Man and ESP.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 11:27 am
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I've no idea if they invented it or if they were the first to use it, but a common street/shop/stage/whatever name for the spoke wheel truss rod is Wolfgang; re:EVH/Peavey. :wink:
One thing to note about the American Elite series. The truss rod and the redesigned contour heel mean that certain parts are not interchangeable with 'normal' Strats, and AFAIK not even with Deluxes.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 7:29 pm
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The Elite pickguards are unique as they're specially notched for truss-rod access. Fender doesn't sell them as direct replacements.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 4:06 am
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chromeface wrote:
The Elite pickguards are unique as they're specially notched for truss-rod access. Fender doesn't sell them as direct replacements.


Unavailability of parts could be indicative of a forthcoming demise....you read it here first. No idea really but it doesn't seem an unreasonable conclusion. It does fly in the face of Fenders core USP with parts being (pretty much) interchangeable.

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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 5:27 am
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A close friend just bought a 2011 Am Deluxe strat.

While the tonal range is admirably wide, I must say that now, more than ever, I know that I wouldn't have any use for the extra features. The Standard suits my needs on stage just fine.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 10:16 am
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Fender says the spoke-wheel truss rod makes relief adjustments a snap.

Despite its efficacity the feature is not well-received by many guitarists.


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Post subject: Re: Am Standard or Am Deluxe (or Professional vs Elite)
Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 11:24 am
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They would have been better using the side adjuster as in Warmouth necks , probably the best idea ever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKVWr8FRJNc

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