What is the difference between the S1 switch on the American Deluxe Strat and the 5 position blade switch on the American Standard Strat?

The American Deluxe also has a 5 way selector switch. The S1 switch just allows more tonal options by utilizing the pickups to be in series or in parallel. Honestly I don't know what the difference is in sound are between series and parallel, all I know is when you activate it you get a thicker humbucker like tone. It's a very nice option to have an a strat.

Thanks for the clarification. I remember the manual for my Strat (a standard) spelled out which pups were activated by each position on the switch. Does the series versus parallel option take that one step further on the deluxe?

I have the American Deluxe Strat with the S-1 switching. It doubles the amount of sounds before you even start with the tone adjustments. I love it.......with the S-1 switching activated........I've found many sounds that I prefer, over the standard 5 position switching. Very simple....just push down the S-1 switch.....and you have five more tones.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

Got it - - thanks. One last question for the group regarding the 5 position switch on the American Standard: the guy in the shop said that you can place the switch halfway between two of the positions (so you can play, for example, with the switch halfway between position 1 and position 2). Is this possible? (I haven't tried it yet on mine) and, if so, do you run the risk of damaging the electronics in any way?

I've never tried it.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

The five way switch came about because players found sweet spots in between the positions the old 3 way switches which let you activate pairs of pick ups. the 3 way switches only allowed for each position to only be each pick up.The 2 and 4 spots on the 5 way pickups allowed for those connections. In between spots on a 5 way shouldn't actually do anything, if they exist.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Hi Connic01: well, I must admit that's one I hadn't thought of. So I'm looking at the switching options on the SSS Deluxe and adding up the possibilities on my fingers:

http://www.fender.com/products/s1/pdf/A ... 0-1200.pdf

So for example if with the S1 engaged you placed the switch between 2 and 3 on that diagram you'd supposedly get the middle pickup with special capacitor wired in series with the bridge pickup joined in parallel to the special capacitor. An option that is not available with the five normal positions.

The question is: does that give a sound we actually need?

I have an HSS Strat with the S1, which gets me nine (not ten) tonal options instead of the usual five. Yet I've found that I only rarely use one of the additional settings: most of the time my switch stays up for the normal options.

In theory we imagine "versatility" is a good thing and we want as many tonal options as possible. Like on the PRS 513, for example.

In reality I tend to find when playing I simply require three or four tones that sound reasonably different to one another, for varying voicings through numbers. You can be absolutely certain your audience is never going to notice all those minute alterations in sound. Complexity soon becomes surplus to requirements.

Give it a long careful tryout in a shop before convincing yourself you need it, would be good advice. If you like what you hear - go for it!

Cheers - C

Ive found the s1 usefull to say the least. My only gripe with it is that i need to adjust the amp when i switch between the up and down positions. I also wish for the 3 pickups on parallel option, though its a secondary thing. The strat s1 seems far more usefull than the baja tele. Atleast they didnt waste positions on nasal out of phase settings.
I was after a strat thats just a strat and came across my s1 equipped. It doesnt disapoint on the strat thats just a strat point, albeit with 5 other sounds that work well too. I love the special capacitor sounds of positions 2&4 very classic weaker humbucker styled.

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No no and no

Actually you can.....the HSS Am Dlx Strat has a switching with all 3 pickups activated but not parallel(i dont think the SSS has that option)....you'll need to study the wiring of the HSS to overcome this.
Thats another good idea niki....as i have 2 guitars with S-1 switch and perhaps i would try to config one with all 3 in parallel......that is if i have the time to do...LOL!!

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My Guitars :: My Rig

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. This is great stuff! Please excuse one more newbie question: Would I be able to replicate some of the S1 sounds on my Standard by using pedals? Or is that an entirely different animal? Sorry for all the questions, whenever I jump into a major purchase I get crazy and look at every little detail and option.

I think you'd struggle without hardwiring the pickups to the pedal. Theres a few wiring genius's here that may get you close. I'd offer it up to debate in the pickups/accesories forum

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No no and no

No, in short.

My HSS with S1 offers all three pickups on together - a curious mixture of series and parallel connectivity. That's the only option for which I engage the S1:

http://www.fender.com/products/s1/pdf/A ... 1-7000.pdf

Without the S1 I believe the Megaswitch and/or the Superswitch can be made to give all three pickups together. I presume that would be connected in parallel. My tiny brain ain't up to working out how to do it in series...

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics ... knobs.html

Cheers - C