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Post subject: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:36 pm
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Hey guys, so I bought an American Special Strat about a month ago and almost at the same time upgraded my MIM Nashville tele pick ups to Vintage Noiseless. Turned out I am liking my MIM tele more with the noiseless pick ups than the American Special and was thinking of returning the special for a MIM Strat Deluxe with the noiseless pick ups.

Will this be a good move? The special has a better fretboard though but it just sounds "dirtier" than my MIM tele. Or should I just upgrade the pick ups on my Special?


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:29 pm
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The American Special comes with Texas Special pickups, and they are absolutely a love/hate type thing.
They are very bright and very hot.
Rather than ditch the guitar, since you like the neck, I'd suggest replacing the pickups with Vintage Noiseless.
It'll cost a bit more, but you'll be keeping the US made guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:25 am
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I have a set of texas specials in one of my strats. Definitely a love hate as was already mentioned.

The bridge pickup can be brutally harsh, but on the plus side, it cuts through anything.

My second strat has Fat 50s, I really appreciate having both.


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:24 am
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BluesmanAsWell wrote:
Hey guys, so I bought an American Special Strat about a month ago and almost at the same time upgraded my MIM Nashville tele pick ups to Vintage Noiseless. Turned out I am liking my MIM tele more with the noiseless pick ups than the American Special and was thinking of returning the special for a MIM Strat Deluxe with the noiseless pick ups.

Will this be a good move? The special has a better fretboard though but it just sounds "dirtier" than my MIM tele. Or should I just upgrade the pick ups on my Special?
I know what you mean - I bought a used surf green AmSpec at a very good price and had it refretted with medium jumbos. It's otherwise bog standard and I absolutely love it! Better than my CS Strat (now 3 times the price). Some guitars you bond with; some not so much.

Agree with CB: Just swap the pups if you think it's the TS's that don't suit you. That way you can swap back if you sell the guitar.

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 8:07 am
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yep replacing is easy..

a few drop in options where everything is pre-set... a few solder joints, and you're done.


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:59 am
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I think everyone here has the right idea. For me, the American Deluxe with N3 noiseless work for my purpose. YMMV. Those too are a love hate where all pup positions are not preferential. Some are muddy while others are sweet; however, with 10 choices what’s not to like because the guitar is pretty nice as is? Different phase and tone controls amongst the guitars have an affect on the overall mojo. The original Strat had 3 switch positions with Holly like jammed 5 options. To say that the original ‘62 I played was perfect would be a minor stretch in my estimation. But, the good was great, and I’ll take one any day along with others.

My noiseless Strat was a birthday gift that I will keep in it’s original form.

I do have other choices that I’m willing to explore and. whatever that would be, my first choice would be the guitar and then the pickups (with exceptions). That’s the beauty of a Strat. Changes, for the most part, are available. One thing, IMHO, to consider is that electronics goes along with the pickups where they will produce a different result so matching what you need may or may not work and dropping in a complete package with the scratch plate might be an option (or not). Fender Hot Rod refers to an amp, but the Strat is definitely a Hot Rod too! :wink:
Good luck with your decision, BluesmanAsWell.

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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:48 pm
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Thanks everyone for the reply. Really appreciate it.

I will keep the guitar and have the pick ups changed, as what most have suggested. One thing I failed to mention is that my AmSpec is an HSS. What would be a good humbucker to replace the original with? Thanks again guys!


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:24 pm
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I've always enjoyed a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge. It does everything - fat, but not too fat, and cleans up nicely with the volume pot. And Fender has fitted them as standard on some models (albeit not QUITE the same spec) so you'd be in good company! I haven't worried about the wider Trembucker pole spacing - never found it's made any difference soundwise, but you might think it looks better.

But recommending any pup is fraught with danger as tone is such a personal thing. Is there anything wrong with the bridge pup you have now? Were you just thinking of changing the mid and neck s/c's? In which case there's probably about a million possibilities! Have you tried winding the whole set lower - further away from the strings? That can make a lot of difference...

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 4:26 pm
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Peter S wrote:
Have you tried winding the whole set lower - further away from the strings? That can make a lot of difference...


+1!

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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:45 pm
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Peter S wrote:

Is there anything wrong with the bridge pup you have now? Were you just thinking of changing the mid and neck s/c's? In which case there's probably about a million possibilities! Have you tried winding the whole set lower - further away from the strings? That can make a lot of difference...

Cheers - Peter.


The atomic humbuckers can be too bright at times, I had to turn the knob to turn the tone down a bit.

I might change the neck first as I don't use the mid p/u too much. Let's see what happens. :-)


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:13 pm
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Ok guys, I ended up returning the AmSpec in exchange for a MIM Deluxe Strat with the Vintage Noiseless p/ups and locking tuners. The money I got back for the price difference I used to get a Mustang GT100. I'm loving the sound I'm getting now and I believe I can sleep better at night from now on.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions even if I went the other way. :-)


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 3:16 pm
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Seems fair enough, if that's what you wanted to do!

Certainly says something for the quality of current MIMs when someone's prepared to swap a MIA for one...

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 3:25 pm
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Peter S wrote:
Certainly says something for the quality of current MIMs when someone's prepared to swap a MIA for one...

MIMs have been rock-solid since their introduction.
Originally, the line began not as a labor-saving device, but rather due to California's industrial emissions regulations. For the same reason that Douglas used to send a percentage of their aircraft to Tracor in Santa Barbara to be painted, Fender was able to remain compliant by producing models in Mexico. At the time, final setup and inspection was still done in Corona, and in the beginning, the parts were produced in Corona... Mexico was simply a paint and assembly facility.
I'm sure the "baby steps" enabled the management and staff to focus on really learning what does and doesn't work.
Japanese Fender products were also excellent, but in my opinion, like the Squier line, they were merely "Fender-Like" products built under license. The relationship between Corona and Ensenada has always been more of a brotherly situation.

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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:35 pm
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Peter S wrote:
Seems fair enough, if that's what you wanted to do!

Certainly says something for the quality of current MIMs when someone's prepared to swap a MIA for one...

Cheers - Peter.


Thanks Peter!

It took me a while to let go of the AmSpec for the MIM de luxe. I probably played the two for an hour, switching between the 2 guitars on every preset of a Mustang GT100. I tried to be bias on the AmSpec as deep inside I didnt want to let her go, but she was just beat in almost every aspect of the game, iMHO.

I'm not letting go of my "American dream" though. But it surely won't be an AmSpec.


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Post subject: Re: Not totally happy with Strat American Special
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:16 am
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CB91710 wrote:
Peter S wrote:
Certainly says something for the quality of current MIMs when someone's prepared to swap a MIA for one...


Japanese Fender products were also excellent, but in my opinion, like the Squier line, they were merely "Fender-Like" products built under license. The relationship between Corona and Ensenada has always been more of a brotherly situation.


I think quite a few people would disagree about that
The older Japanese made Fenders were far superior than the Mexican models and in some cases were better than the made in the same era American Fenders

I'll take my 1995 MIJ Strat against any Mexican any day

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