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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:30 pm
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I've owned a Plus for several years now - in Midnight Wine - it was my primary gigging axe for many years so it's a little worse for the wear. After awhile I got a little tired of the Gold Lace sound (just needed more oomph or a change I guess) - so I put some Fralin High-output singles in there and it sounds like a dream..

It's still my only electric guitar - and it just feels so solid.. they were built like tanks or something.

Does Fender have anything close to this (aside from the Jeff Beck model) in their production line guitars? Also - I'm curious has anyone ever bothered to measure their neck depth at 1st and 12th on a Plus?

The odd thing about mine is the serial would indicate a 99 - but I've had it for 15 years or so.. it's serial # N 992502. Anyone know why that is?


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:42 pm
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papaboom wrote:
I've owned a Plus for several years now - in Midnight Wine - it was my primary gigging axe for many years so it's a little worse for the wear. After awhile I got a little tired of the Gold Lace sound (just needed more oomph or a change I guess) - so I put some Fralin High-output singles in there and it sounds like a dream..

It's still my only electric guitar - and it just feels so solid.. they were built like tanks or something.

Does Fender have anything close to this (aside from the Jeff Beck model) in their production line guitars? Also - I'm curious has anyone ever bothered to measure their neck depth at 1st and 12th on a Plus?

The odd thing about mine is the serial would indicate a 99 - but I've had it for 15 years or so.. it's serial # N 992502. Anyone know why that is?

yeppers, read down on my site about 1/3 the way down. http://xhefriguitars.com/page2.html dealing with the serial number confusion on these!

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 10:45 pm
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Oh yeah man - I've seen your site a few times..it's really great - you've done a wonderful job. Thank you so much!

In fact - for the longest time I had no idea what kind of strat I was playing until I found your site several months ago. I just was not up on the models at all.. I remember my last couple years of high school when they came out - those were the days when I was growing out of my metal phase and into Floyd, Hendrix, etc.. and I went to the local music store and they had all these beautiful strats there one day with those funky Lace pick up covers.. I fell in love with them but at the time lacked that kind of money.

Later when I did have the money I wound up buying a PRS CE instead.. I had it for a few years then joined a solid band - the drummer owned a Strat Plus in Midnight Wine and I just started playing it one night and everything clicked.. so I traded the PRS for a 40th Anniversary standard. But still - it wasnt quite the same.. but fate intervened - the drumber asked if I'd trade....sucker!

For whatever reason - nothing I have played by Fender feels as good as the Plus..it is - to my mind - one of the best strats ever produced.

All us Plus guys owe you Xherfi - your work regarding the model is a real service.. again thanks. You honor your the memory of your father with your commitment to music.


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:18 am
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Hi all,

New here

Here's mine, 1988 Strat Plus. Three colour Sunburst.

I was never a great Strat fan but over the years students would occasionally bring in the odd Strat Plus and I was always impressed.

This one came up on Ebay a couple of years ago so I shouted myself a birthday present.
It had everything I wanted in a strat; Rosewood f'board, 9.5 radius and comfortable neck, quiet pups, sunburst body and a useable non locking whammy.

I've currently got Area 58s and a 61 in it at the moment. I'm not sure they are an improvement as I have always liked the laces. It's a 10 min job to change back as I left them in the original cream scratchplate.

Image

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The only slight flaw is that some idiot in the past thought it needed a string tree.

Image


Just one bit of blasphemy though: Could the new American Deluxe be regarded as an equal or next step on from the Plus? Has anyone tried one of these for comparison?

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Fender 88 Strat plus, Fender 1960 Precision bass, 2005 Gibson ES-175, 1980s Ibanez Artist, and Lee Ritenour guitars, 1990 Ibanez USA Custom.

Assorted acoustics, Mandolins and Saxes.

Mesa MkIII amp and Mesa Quad preamp, Crown Poweramp, EV 12Ls


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:24 pm
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^ I kinda asked the same question but got no reply.. as to whether anything in the current production line is comparable in terms of build quality etc.. Anyone?


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:32 am
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papaboom wrote:
^ I kinda asked the same question but got no reply.. as to whether anything in the current production line is comparable in terms of build quality etc.. Anyone?

The American Deluxe Strat was to replace the Plus line, but as far as i am concerned just never was a good. The Fender Noiseless PU have not been one of my favorites as they are too glassy. Maybe the N2 or N3 might be better, but I have not tried them. So meanwhile, I buy and sell Strat Plus guitars because I love them!

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:23 pm
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Hi - new to this and about to join the Strat Plus owners club!!

I have been playing on and off for over 40 years - mostly for my own pleasure. I started with a Watkins Rapier 33 in 1968 I think! I currently own a Mexican Strat - since 1993 which I like but I always thought somehow it's not quite the "real thing"

So recently I decided I "needed" a MIA strat and possibly might have bought a USA Standard - but was shocked when I spotted the prices have just gone up again here in UK.

I have been browsing the small ads and eBay for a bit and the other night spotted a Strat Plus 1988 at an affordable price. I did a little research and almost everything I found suggested they are good strats. Some stuff on Youtube too was good. I liked the bit where I read some descriptions which said "The Strat Plus was the highest end production model next to Fender Custom Shop guitars"

Xhefri - your website is a great inspiration and so you get some of the blame for what I did next!!!

I emailed the owner for more details - fairly local to me and everything checked out well enough - he's had it since '91 and he sent me some higher res photos than the ebay ones.

So - I ended up winning the bid - only a few £'s more than I (ideally) wanted to pay (I did try to do a deal with him outwith eBay but it was his first eBay sale and we ran out of time). The seller was pleased I won - he's not only going to deliver to me personally but he reduced the price we agreed too - a star!!! He obviously got more than he expected.

I get it this Saturday - can't wait.

I also came across some descriptions which said "The Strat Plus was the highest end production model next to Fender Custom Shop guitars"

So I went for it and won the auction.

Some pictures (not sure if this will work). Any comment or advice welcome - is there anything I should look out for? Please tell me I did the right thing!!!

thanks
Graham
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Last edited by grahaml on Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:31 pm
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Congrats. Looks like it's in great shape. They're great guitars, I have a few of them.


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:49 pm
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Very cool....now you might have to play with the setup to get it just the way you like. What color did they say this is, anyhow? Oh ya, WELCOME to the FORUM! Great guys on here! Glad to have you on board!

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 6:57 pm
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Thanks guys.

I don't know what the colour is - he just described it as red - I will ask him on Saturday when he brings it. I'm guessing maybe lipstick red - what do you think?

What sort of setup adjustments would you think I might need to look at? Anything I should look for?
thanks
Graham


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 7:01 pm
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Looks like it could be fiesta red that's faded, or maybe that razzberry color, but I'm a little colorblind, so I don't know. lol


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:52 am
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papaboom wrote:
^ I kinda asked the same question but got no reply.. as to whether anything in the current production line is comparable in terms of build quality etc.. Anyone?


I actually pulled my strats out today and played them all- I love my Plus and the Ultra- the build quality on the Ultra surpasses all strats in my opinion and even the customshop.

As per the differences between Plus and Deluxe, Hmm.. I would have to say the build quality on the Deluxe is perhaps a good contender- but I am comparing a 2006 Deluxe to a 1993 Plus. I think it would be better comparing say, a Plus Deluxe to a Deluxe but Ill put it like this.

Neck- a little chunkier than the plus but you wouldn't notice it too much. The contoured heel is a better feel to it when you are playing in the higher register. The rosewood is a nicer cut too- I am assuming they use select rosewood- of all my guitars it has the nicest grain. The abalone markers are a nice touch & I must say (I used to be sceptical on this area) the frets are finished perfect. The hand rolled edges- schmammed scmolled leadges. You wouldnt tell in all honesty unless you are a purest- which I am not. It could be a placebo but it's not like they put a lot of effort at the factory- truth be told it wouldnt take more than a minute to do. On the Plus- it has a really really nice feel to the neck- much like a lazy-boy arm chair that has been broken in vs. a brand new one. It feels like home in my palm and is slimmer than the Deluxe. I guess in the nineties the necks may have been just a tad leaner than they are now. The frets have moved a tad since it was new, but in all they look good. The neck is a very nice neck with a good grain to it- which compared to the deluxe which has a neck that is very grainless and white. Nice piece of rosewood too. The nut is a wilkinson which is good for my preferred gauge but if you prefer a heavy gauge you would be up preverbial creek without a paddle. Tuners are matte finished schallers which have stood up very well and work as perfectly as they were new.

Body- now they say they use 'select alder' for the Deluxe but that doesnt mean a lot to me. The Plus sounds better unplugged hands down. The two have different routing patterns. The Plus has a 'swimming pool' square rout that other people hate on, but this makes the Plus noticably acoustically louder & resonant than the Deluxe. Finish wise- it seems that the plus has a thinner finish than the Deluxe. Nothing major, but just an observation. Bearing in mind, the plus finish has shrunken slightly over time. The Deluxe has a 'Candy' finish which may account for the thick finish.

Hardware- the Plus has Lace Sensors and TBX, also a Hipshot Tremsetter. Also, its got the Wilkinson nut which I must say makes re-stringing a little more of a task. But nothing Major.

The Deluxe has Samarium Cobalt Noiseless, S1 switch. No fancy gadgets in the trem cavity. People are haters on SCN's and I must say I lean toward the Lace Sensors myself, but in all honesty they arent that bad at all. What you get in the Deluxe is switching options a plenty and in the Plus you will get sustain that seems to last forever. Laces have a lot less magnetic pull than normal pick-ups, which means more natural vibrating strings. Given the fact that laces have a chimey sound to them aswell, means that you have a sweet sounding guitar with more quack than the Deluxe. The lack of pole-pieces makes it look cool too. Modern without loosing the essence of a strat which they all need. The Deluxe has many switching options like I said and some are usefull, and some arent so much. It has less quack in between positions (2 & 4) which tone-wise, lets it down with the clean players and strat purists. A big fail.

Brand new- the plus was very white looking on the pickguard. Pre-94 they never had pearl guards. With the white sensors, it looked very cool. Very 'Clapton' when he had his sig with the laces. The Deluxe on the otherhand is aged pearl, with aged covers and knobs. Very classy. No white tip on the trem arm too, unlike the Plus. Also, std ivoroid nut that is nicely finished.

In a nutshell, if you like a model who is a stunner but can't cook too good, the Deluxe is a good-un.

If you like a nicer looking than average lass, who will take on any task thrown at them, and is a darned good cook that also scrubs up nicely- the Plus is the winner.

:) B

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:34 am
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What a great description. I 'specially liked the last bit

"In a nutshell, if you like a model who is a stunner but can't cook too good, the Deluxe is a good-un.

If you like a nicer looking than average lass, who will take on any task thrown at them, and is a darned good cook that also scrubs up nicely- the Plus is the winner."

great...

I get my '88 Plus today - seller is bringing it through to me :D

Graham


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 4:04 am
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grahaml wrote:
What a great description. I 'specially liked the last bit

"In a nutshell, if you like a model who is a stunner but can't cook too good, the Deluxe is a good-un.

If you like a nicer looking than average lass, who will take on any task thrown at them, and is a darned good cook that also scrubs up nicely- the Plus is the winner."

great...

I get my '88 Plus today - seller is bringing it through to me :D

Graham


Nice! post pics when you get the chance there Graham :)

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 9:29 am
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Just got my one.

I halready have a MIM strat that I have owned since new in '93 I think so that is my comparison.

First off it looks nice - slightly pinkish /faded red.
Set up is way different though from what I am used to.

1. high E has a bit of a buzz when played open - maybe something to do with the nut?
2. bridge is flush with body and as a result the trem arm is much higher that I like - I also use it so I think I will need to adjust it like my MIM I can see it has 3 springs fitted7
3. The action is very low - too low I think and it doesn't quite "ring" like I expected. playing high up the neck the string (high e) was hitting the bridge pu. I adjusted it a little higher and the pu a bit lower for now

I wil play it some more too - the neck feels wider (I'm sure it is).
I will make some adjustments to get it to what I prefer - or maybe even take it to a shop (probably only if I can't get it myself)

Any comments or suggestions?
Should I consider adjusting the micro-tilt?

Thanks

Graham


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