I saw a pre-owned American Deluxe HSS Strat for sale and I am wondering if there are S-1 switches mounted on the lower tone knob instead of the volume knob. Is this authentic?

Hi renonovado, welcome to the Forum.

It is perfectly possible to use the S1 Switch on any knob, but I have yet to see a production guitar with it anywhere other than the volume position. And it follows that the only ones I've seen have "volume" written on top of the center part of the knob.

What was written on the top of the one you saw? That might be a clue if it was a user mod...

Cheers - C

The seller says it's the tone knob and he attached a not so obvious picture...

BTW here's the here's the SN

All I've ever seen have been on volume like Ceri said!

Bit fuzzy in the picture, but it looks like it says "volume" on that third knob, doesn't it? Almost certainly a user mod, therefore...

Cheers - C

EDIT: No, hold on. I'm looking again and now not so sure. Ask the seller a question and tell us what he says. Be interested to hear the answer...

The seller was asked and I quote "shouldn't the volume knob have a sort of push-button top to engage the S-1 switching?"

He answered "I'm not a guitarist so I really am not sure. However when I checked the guitar it looks like the switching is on the bottom tone control knob as it somehow has an on off click on it."

Less than helpful, huh? "I'm not a guitarist" - I wonder what he's doing with a US Deluxe Strat, then?

Still, now I think my eyes were playing tricks earlier. Maybe it says "tone" on that third knob/S1 after all. New to me, but hard to fake a thing like that (and why would you?) so I guess it's legit. Curious...

Cheers - C

In one of his post in that forum he said he buys guitars and gears for his kids when they were younger since they were into music that time:) Now his kids are grown up they moved to other interests and the guitars are not being used anymore. Lucky kids

Would that not be a Delta Tone control?

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

[A bit later] I just took a quick canter around the Products section of this website and I can't find a single instance of the S1 switch on a tone knob. Which proves nothing - but it's suggestive.

Looking (yet) again at the photo you posted, are you absolutely sure the S1 is on the tone knob, not the volume one as usual? Given that the seller claims no knowledge of guitars, perhaps he just said tone knob when he meant volume?

The Guitar Dater Project says the serial number is legit for a Deluxe MIA built in 2000 - though that is not conclusive evidence for anything...

Cheers - C

Ah! cvilleira wrote his post same time as my last...

That must be the explanation. After all, I don't think the S1 existed in 2000, did it? Assuming the s/n is correct then Mr cvilleira has it sorted. As usual!

Cheers - C

That looks like "Tone" to me. I just checked out a few Strats with the S1 over the weekend, and the button is pretty noticeable if you know what you're looking for. From what I can tell form that pic, it doesn't appear to have it. I'm guessing there's just a push/pull coil tap for the humbucker someone installed at some point.

_________________
-Classic 50's Strat.
-Std. Telecaster.
-Mike Dirnt P-bass.
-Custody of SE Strat.
-Peavey Predator/Dean Evo/Epiphone DR150/Gibson Slide (much older than me).

Rellik Productions Inc.

Yes I believe the S-1 was 2004 on.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Sorry, I am just relying on his photos too. I guess that's one good question to answer - when was the S-1 introduced 2004, thanks guys, appreciate your help.