I love the Sienna Sunburst finish on the American Standard Strat...all that beautiful ash wood grain showing through the transparent lacquer! IMHO, it's well worth the extra $100 over the other colors.

BTW, I'd LOVE to win one! Hint, hint! Nudge, nudge! Wink, wink! Know what I mean, know what I mean? <g>

Oh, Crikey! I forgot to ask the question...which is:

Why did Fender drop the S-1 switch on the American Standards?

Thanks!

Cat Daddy

probably so as to allow differentiation between the standard and the deluxe. folks wont pay the extra few hundred bucks for a guitar named deluxe if theres bugger all extra features that are already available on a less expensive model.

So, the major differences are these, right?
- SCN pickups
- Locking tuners
- Saddles
- S-1 switching

I have not played the SCNs enough to form my own opinion. But it is interesting to note that it seems that owners of SCNs -- almost unamiously -- love their pups. Every other pup always seems to have a a faction of detractors, but not SCN. This is a just a casual observation (the money for the scientific study did not come through).

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Add the differneces too:

Abalone dots
Relieved Neck heel
Trem block???


Arguably the fit/finish may be better.

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AmDlx HSS
62 Hot Rod
Luke w/Piezo
Carvin Belair

This is a strange move because there is a version of the S-1 Switching System on the Fender Deluxe Player's Stratocaster. This guitar is the high-end Mexican model (the highest, in fact).

There is a little push button located between the two tone knobs. When pushed in, it enables two additional pickup combinations, just like the S-1.

I bought one last month (it's a beauty - flawless), brand new, for about $350 less than an American Standard!

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Ibanez Artwood 200vv
Fender Deluxe Player's Stratocaster

The Deluxe also gets the LSR nut.

That's a pretty good amount of stuff you get.

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I think you covered the main and most important differences.

I have both an AmDlx and an AmStd and the finishing on the Dlx is a bit better especially on the back of the neck (thats my case anyway).


I was also told by some that the Dlx could be made from a 2 piece or a 3 piece body but the Std is usually 3 piece. You also get strap locks with the AmDlx and a drop in (not screw in) tremolo arm.

Cheers
HS

A certified guitar technician once told me that the woods on the Deluxe are "better".. his reason was that the deluxes were "sometimes" harder to setup due to the more "seasoned wood".

I really don't know if that true just thought of raising it here to hear what the experienced members of the forum have to say....

I agree catdaddy, my next purchase will be the sienna sunburst model. I think i'ts looks great also and well worth the $100 extra.

I wasn't a big fan of the SCN's. I think I would have liked them alot when I first started playing. But once you get a taste for the old alnico singles nothing really packs the same punch.

So which pickups do you like? any old alnico pups or something in particular? ... I kind of like the CS69's.