I've been playing for about a year now on a standard low end epiphone, and a few weeks ago I decided to get a nice mid-range guitar. I finally decided on a Stratocaster, and bought one yesterday. Now what bothers me is that I can't narrow it down to which exact model it is that I got (I want to no if I got a good deal). I'm pretty sure it was lightly used, and the serials tell me it was made in Mexico in 07 or 08. I've looked through the catalog and that didn't help either. The head has a small decal saying "Deluxe" but its humbucker pickup doesn't fit with the "deluxe" models in the catalog. Here is a pic if it helps:



Is it just a Deluxe that the dude that had it before me put a humbucker on? And also if the pickups aren't stock how can I find out what brand/model they are?

My best guess is the American deluxe HSS (humbucker,single single) Cheers!


-Ilia

Looks nice by the way!

Can it be an American Deluxe if it was made in Mexico?



Thanks

Hi dust2dust, welcome to the Forum.

Looking back across the old catalog there's not many options for Mexican guitars with humbuckers at the bridge. From the Mexican Deluxe range there was the Power Stratocaster - but that had a Fishman piezo bridge, which I presume yours doesn't, as you'd certainly have mentioned it.

There was also the Deluxe Strat HSS, which had a large '70s style headstock like yours and was equiped with two Tex-Mex single coils and a Tex-Mex humbucker at bridge. I'd presume that is what you have - except that my catalog says it was only available in Black or Pewter, not white.

In fact, the only Mexican HSS I can find in white was the Standard Series Stratocaster HSS - but that didn't have the larger headstock.

Therefore, I think it likely that yours is the aforementioned Deluxe Strat HSS, and either Fender brought out a white version in 2008, not mentioned in my catalog from the year before, or yours is a limited run (FSR) ordered by a shop. Probably the former of those two options.

Howzat?

Cheers - C

Isn't that a Deluxe fat strat? im certain it is...

http://www.fender.co.uk/products//searc ... 0133100380

'Zactly. Which at the time the poster's guitar was made was called the Deluxe Strat HSS. Slight change in name: same guit...

Cheers - C