Hey lads,
I was recently going through some old fender frontline catalouge's and on page 63 of the 2004 issue (i'll wait while the rest of my fellow fender freaks who own every issue for the last 30 years catch up) it says 'The american series stratocaster guitar freatures three, custom staggered Tex-Mex single coils and either.........

Tex-Mex? I knew they were putting tex-mex in the HSS versions but in a SSS strat? Is this correct guys? and if so are they the same pickups being sold as tex-mex's and the same as the Jimmie Vaughn strat? I was going to get a set to put in a 50's strat i'm modding but seeing as how i've recently swapped my 04 strat with 69's custom shops (which sound amazing by the way) this could save me some money by using my old pu's.

Do they not use American Series Delta Tone pickups any more?

I think so, too. And in doing so, they developed a killer pup. This is because Tex Mex pups don't sound like a cheaper version of TS ... IMO. They sound different, and have their own unique voice. And that "voice" is pretty good.

The bottom line is that Fender has realized they got a real winner in these pups. They provide the guitar player a real nice pup, and Fender can keep their costs down. Tex Mex pups do sound better than some more expensive pups, and are -- no doubt -- the best bang for the buck considering their ultra-low price point.

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

BigJay - I was not contradicting you. I agreed with you on their origin. Everything else was just MY opinion on them. To reiterate my opinion: (1) that they are quite good, and (2) better than just about any other pickup in their price segment, and (3) better than some other pups that cost more. Further, I explained the prudent business sense Fender is using by configuring numerous gits with them. That's it -- there should not be anything contentious seen in that.

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

Hey StratHeads-

This is just my opinion....

I think we are seeing a change in music today and because of that the players choice in Strat Pickups are changing. Whether it be progressive Country or retro rock, their appears to be a demand for a more Old School sound...as opposed to the over produced grind and mud from the last 10 years or so-

Because of this, I believe that the Tex Mex and pick-ups like it are moving so well. I tried to purchase a set of Tex-Mex Pickups from Musicians Friend back in January (The Price was right)- They were sold out till the beginning of March. I bit the bullet and went for the Texas Specials (Very Happy I Did).

The Classic Strat sound is coming back...Are you ready for it?

The Freeze

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There's Always Room For MELLOW !!!!

2000 MIM Stratocaster, Midnight Wine W/Texas Specials
2000 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
1969 Fender Vibro Champ

Okay so it sounds like tex-mex pups are being put in american series guitars, but does anyone know when they stopped using delta tone pickups?

I did some further looking and in the 2001 frontline they have the tex mex and delta pickups listed right beside eachother and the tex mex have a slightly higher out put. I didn't care for the sound of them in my american standard which is why i put the 69's in but after using them on my 50's they seemed to sound better on a maple board. Thoughts?

They still use delta tone pickups today in the American Standard.

This current price list:

http://admin.fender.com/resources/price ... ctrics.pdf

shows the American Standard Strat HSS as having Tex-Mex pickups, but not the American Standard Strat.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Thank You! I guess it was a misprint in the old catalouge.

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"New Guitars Have No Soul"

Who knows?

Maybe it was one of those "All part numbers and specifications in each document are subject to revision, change or discontinuation without notice" kind of thing.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

No problem, dude. We're good. I am just here to learn stuff and spread the love...

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

.

I've said it before, I think the TexMex pups are great for the money, but I believe they were designed to be a cheap substitute to the Texas Specials and CS 54's.

They're just Texas Specials with plastic bobbins.