Is this worth the extra $170 or so over the Fender Standard MIM???? I played a Honey blonde with rosewood board sounded good. Am I better off buying the MIM Standard then upgrading on my own. I don't have the money for an MIA. What is the difference between rosewood and maple boards??? Tone wise. Thanks

If the added features that the DPS has over the MIM Std are worth the extra cash to you, that is what matters. Differences between the two vary between body woods; Std is usually alder and the DPS is ash, Std has a 9.5" radius neck while the DPS has a 12", Std has cast modern tuners - DPS has vintage style, Std has ceramic magnet pups - DPS has vintage noiseless, etc.

Maple is said to be a bit brighter and snappier, while rosewood is a bit darker and smoother. To me it is a simple matter of asthetics; I prefer the look of maple on Fenders.

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ive got a deluxe players strat with the rosewood board. i like having the gold vintage tuners, even though as a novice, it took me a little while to figure out how to change my strings. I've had no complaints with it so far, great guitar.

Welcome to the boards.

I would suggest making a list of the differences bewteen the MIM and the DPS that matter to you. Then go to online retailers and get pricing for the parts required to bring the MIM up to a DPS.

The ash body will be difficult to price but the rest will be easy.

I played a DPS when I was shopping for my new strat and thought it was a great deal for the money. At the time, GC was willing to let one go for $500. Of course that was a 2008 before any price increases.

Good luck.

I recently bought a 2009 standard strat maple neck I have no complaints about it I actually think it is a fine guitar....