I'm looking to buy my first electric guitar. I know that I want an American Strat with a S-1 switch. For the same money I can purchase a new standard HSS strat with S-1 (Sienna Burst), a used (but great condition 2007) deluxe with SSS and S-1 or a used deluxe QMT HSS (good condition). I thought I wanted HSS, but not sure if it is necessary with S-1 switch. Also, are the pickups on the deluxe better or just different than the standard? I am new to playing electric, so music choice is rock, jazz, christian, etc. Thanks in advance for everyone's help....I'd like hear some constructive advise.

Can you play them all first? Your opinion is more important than ours. I think if you play them all, you will know which one

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

The deluxe comes with SCN pickups and i prefer them to everything at the moment. The deluxe is a top notch guitar full stop. The s1 wont give full on bucker sounds but does get you about there. I'd opt for the deluxe every time.

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No no and no

+1 -- I strongly agree. With the '07 Deluxe you get so much. And you will get a lot more out of S1 on a SSS guitar. Just my opinion, though...

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

To 01GT eibach:

The standard has the S-1 switch and HSS, it just doesn't have the SCN pickups...I take it that's the main difference that drives your opinion to the deluxe?

I did not think the standard came with a S-1 switch, Have you looked at the product section of this site and looked? I will if you want me to.
The 09 Standard does not have a S-1 switch for either sss or hss. the sss has alnico v pups and the hss has 2tex-mex and a humbucker. I'm not sure about the used models you are talking about. Good luck. Oh, and the Deluxe has the S-1 and SCN pups

And the hand rolled fingerboard edges which i can tell you puts my vintage hotrod above my customshop guitar in terms of lefthand feeling. Coupled with the contoured heel for great high end access makes the deluxe one hell of an instrument.

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Fair question. Here is why I vote for the deluxe...

a) the SCNs are stellar pickups
b) the deluxes I have seen have all played amazingly with beautiful wood selection for the necks, and (I believe) get a better wood selection for the body over a standard (from what I understand it comes from the CS stack)
c) LSR nut
d) Locking tuners
e) I think the S-1 is more useful in an SSS configuration (my opinion)
f) The abalone markers are really growing on me
g) Isn't the trem upgraded somehow over the standard

No brainer for me. I say take that '07 Deluxe, butthat's just me...

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

Hi Lite'nin': I have a 2005 American Standard (at that time known as the American Series): it's an HSS with the S1. The SSS at the time didn't have the S1, and I believe they dropped it entirely from the line when they renamed it the Am Std last year.

Stratmomma, I think the best advice was what firstrat said; to try all three if possible and see which one speaks to you. They are such different guitars that to compare them on paper, so to speak, may lead you in the wrong direction.

To my own personal taste the S1 is not vital: amusing, but not the most important thing to consider between these instruments.

You gotta think about whether you prefer a humbucker or a single coil at the bridge - and you've just got to see how each guitar's neck feels to you.

Welcome to the Forum, and

Good luck - C

Ceri, you are correct sir as they say on the 09 specs they dropped the S-1 switch on the HSS model.

Thanks everyone. I think what I hear you saying is that the SCN pickups alone make the used deluxe guitar a better buy than the new HSS standard strat with S-1. I'll go check them out again. Please feel free to throw any more thoughts about this my way.

First, I may be wrong, but for a new Deluxe, I thought the HSS did not have the S-1 switching.

Second, I would say to make sure you play the deluxe and standard and know which pickups you like better. I was all set on a deluxe, but after playing the two, I realized I liked the standard sounds more. But I find I like the more twangy strat single coil sounds than humbucker sounds, anyway.

Quoting the American Deluxe HSS page - http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0101500764


Gil

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Where ever you go, there you are

1998 Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer Natural
Taka - 2005 Squier '51 Black
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Houbi - 2008 Fender VG Strat Blizzard Pearl - won here
Fender Super Champ XD; Vox DA-5

Theres a bit more in it than just the pickups. The snap in trem is a work of art as are the necks and wood selection. These days pickups are a very minor part of a guitar simply because their so interchangable. Dont like the pickups in your guitar? Pop across town get a new set, 15 minutes with a soldering iron and a screwdriver and its pretty much sorted. The same cant be said for workmanship on wood and metal.

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No no and no

The used deluxe I'm looking at is a 2007. Were there improvements made to the deluxe in the 2008 similar to the standard models (i.e. saddle, finish, etc.)? Or is a 2007 deluxe as good as a 2008 or newer? Thanks for your help.