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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:05 pm
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Thanks for a really detailed review. Descriptions of the current AM Deluxe did have me wondering whether the extra features, (compound radius, extra switching etc.) would make it a viable addition or replacement for my Strat Plus.

I can't imagine getting rid of my plus, it's just too good. I had it plekked and it plays brilliantly. It is one of my guitars that I regard as a lifetime keeper. (along with my ES-175)



Blertles wrote:
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 3:31 pm
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Don't make any negative snap judgements on it until you've had it set up properly. I had to get mine plekked to get it up to top specs.

If the action is really low it sounds like you've got plenty of room for adjustment. I like my actions low but not so low that it makes it hard to grab the strings when bending. I'd replace the strings, raise the action, clean the nut, and adjust the truss rod before worrying too much the string buzz. If it still buzzes after that a very small shim under the nut would be all that's required.

My bridge was flush with the body and I've left it like that, I got over the Steve Vai thing years ago. I've got an Ibanez Super strat (with tremsetter) for that style if I need it. Some people suggest that sustain is improved if the bridge is flush with the body but I've never tested it to verify.

My tremelo arm as a consequence was a little higher than I was used to but I got used to it. If you don't want to float the bridge you could buy a replacement arm and gently bend it to your desired angle.


grahaml wrote:
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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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 5:27 pm
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Almost every Plus I have bought (and that has been a few!) I have had to set up. I find the truss rod off and trem set up wrong. Usually, 5 minutes with a plus, along with my tools, I can have one playing great. Occasionally I will have to level a few frets down around the 15 to 22 fret. I think that come from someone doing a leveling and crowning that did not know what their doing. With the right set up, trem floating, a Plus is a super guitar.

Oh, Bertles, what a way with words. You said it mate! I never cared for the scn myself. Had a 2000 DX Strat for about 3 weeks and sold it. Looked cool, played nice, but the sound was way to glassy for me.

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 5:50 pm
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Xhefri wrote:
I never cared for the scn myself. Had a 2000 DX Strat for about 3 weeks and sold it. Looked cool, played nice, but the sound was way to glassy for me.


The 2000's had Vintage Noiseless mate, which is perfectly described as too glassy. Though I prefer the term weak and sterile. Loads of volume but no power.
SCN's are a world apart. A very flat eq'd pickup with no loss of mid's that plagues the vintage noiseless.

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 6:51 pm
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Quote:
Don't make any negative snap judgements on it until you've had it set up properly. I had to get mine plekked to get it up to top specs.


Don't worry I will be patient and work at it to get it set up well and how I like it. Excuse my ignorance - what is "plekked"?
I think I prefer a floating bridge - I'm more inclined to play (amongst other stuff) shadows type of stuff rather than Vai!!

I adjusted the bridge tonight and the intonation - it was way out too!! and the guitar feels better to me already- I suppose I am getting used to it too.

Quote:
Almost every Plus I have bought (and that has been a few!) I have had to set up. I find the truss rod off and trem set up wrong. Usually, 5 minutes with a plus, along with my tools, I can have one playing great. Occasionally I will have to level a few frets down around the 15 to 22 fret. I think that come from someone doing a leveling and crowning that did not know what their doing. With the right set up, trem floating, a Plus is a super guitar.



You obviously know what you are doing - my skills are a bit more limited.

I will have a go as far as I am comfortable but I will take it to a tech if I need to - I would rather spend a little to get it to be the guitar it should be and I want.

I've never tried adjusting a truss rod - sounds a bit scary - although it doesn't look so bad after some research. I don't have (yet) a small enough hex key to adjust the string height but perhaps just doing that will be enough? I already did the trem - although the arm feels a bit high - maybe I'll just bend it to suit.

Do any of you know anywhere - website / youtube that might offer some guidance for me on setting up the guitar? I'm not a complete novice and pretty able with tools etc but also realistic and I wouldn't do anything I felt could create damage if I made a total mess of it!!

thanks again,
Graham


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:16 pm
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Graham.

Theres nothing scarey about trussrods mate. Infact they can be your best friend. :wink:

Now depending on your age, there are 2 ways to go about this. You can either put a capo on the first fret then fret the 22nd fret of either E string (I prefer the high E) and judge the bow of the neck to that strings straight line. Or even measure the gap between the top of the 8th fret (about center of neck) and the underside of the string. Use a set of feeler gauges, aim for around .010" if your using .009" strings and .012" if your using ,010" gauge strings.
Or you can just sight down the neck and if it's right it's right, like we did in days of yore.

If the neck has too much bow then turn the truss adjuster screw clockwise. 1/8th of a turn a time. Give the neck a minute or two then check it again. Repeat till you're happy.

If the neck has backbow. So it seems that theres a hump in the middle of the neck, then just do as above, but turn the truss adjuster screw anticlockwise. Same again 1/8th" settle for a minute till your happy.

For Marvin licks you want a little bit of float on the trem and a healthy string height to keep them notes as clear as possible. :wink: Gotta love the Shad's.

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:22 am
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grahaml wrote:
Quote:
Don't make any negative snap judgements on it until you've had it set up properly. I had to get mine plekked to get it up to top specs.


Don't worry I will be patient and work at it to get it set up well and how I like it. Excuse my ignorance - what is "plekked"?



http://www.sydneyguitarsetups.com/acata ... Vedeo.html

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:17 am
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Thanks for the truss rod guidance - I will look into it a bit more. I am not a youngster - playing since 1968 or so on and off. I recall lots of sighting down necks but can't say I ever really spotted much - I think I might prefer using a feeler guage !!!

Thanks also for the info on the Plek system - looks fantastic -but I can only see one place in the UK - and possibly quite expensive?

The guitar is a bit annoying at the moment - the strings just don't ring out as they are so close to the frets.

It also feels like the string height at the nut (wilkinson nut) is a bit higher than I would like - so I will maybe investigate how to lower that - I believe there are shims can be fitted under the nut so it will depend on whether there are any already fitted? It's a wilkinson nut.

cheers,
Graham


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:52 am
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Graham

Charlie Chandlers in Hampton Wick for the Plek system. I can assure you that your guitar will receive the best of the best treatment there. I'd trust him with anything, anything at all.
It wouldn't suprise me if Hank himself has used him. Everybody else seems to have.

What's he want £180 for a Plek setup on a guitar. Not that expensive when you think of it. A local guy would charge what £40 for a setup, another £10 to address the nut slots (minimum) and between £50-£120 for a fret level and crown. Bringing the cost of a full treatment to anywhere between £100 and £220 on average.

Of course that is all dependant on the state of the guitar as it is now. It may need nothing aside from half hours worth of TLC with a couple of screwdrivers and a allen key. It may need a full refret. We simply don't know without having a good look. And NOTHING substitues for having a hands on look at the guitar.
About 15 years of heavy play (like rockstar usage) takes a guitar towards needing a refret. So I think we can fairly safely assume that a refret is not needed.
If you can post a picture of your neck and frets (not easy to get a accurate picture), or email it to nikininja@ntlworld.com I'll post it.
Then everyone will chime in.

Here to help mate.

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:02 am
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nikininja wrote:
Xhefri wrote:
I never cared for the scn myself. Had a 2000 DX Strat for about 3 weeks and sold it. Looked cool, played nice, but the sound was way to glassy for me.


The 2000's had Vintage Noiseless mate, which is perfectly described as too glassy. Though I prefer the term weak and sterile. Loads of volume but no power.
SCN's are a world apart. A very flat eq'd pickup with no loss of mid's that plagues the vintage noiseless.

Hey Niki, your right. I just forgot and have a bad habit of lumping all the Fender Noiseless pickups into one category. I have never given the SCN, SCN2 or SCN3s even a go, which is not fair of me. My bad experience with the Vintage Noiseless turned me off and made me prejudiced, I admit! The 2000 DX Strat I had used that Cobalt Humbucker in the bridge. I wanted to give one of these guitars a test run as they were the replacement for the Plus series, retaining many of the same features.
ImageImage
Image Image

Also if a person is looking for a place to find set up tips, check out Mr. Gearhead's page on the Fender website and used their directory: http://www.mrgearhead.net/

Or to go straight to the Fender Strat setp guide check this link out: http://www.fender.com/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:31 pm
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Mr X.

I am fully convinced those Vintage Noiseless pickups were designed to be paired to the Clapton boost circuit. It's the only way I could get anywhere near a guitar sound out of em.

So mysterious Mr X, how did the Deluxe work out for you compared to the Plus? Pickups aside.

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:49 pm
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nikininja wrote:
Mr X.

I am fully convinced those Vintage Noiseless pickups were designed to be paired to the Clapton boost circuit. It's the only way I could get anywhere near a guitar sound out of em.

So mysterious Mr X, how did the Deluxe work out for you compared to the Plus? Pickups aside.

Hey Niki, well to be honest I thought what Blertles wrote a few post back summarized it pretty well. Lot's of show but no go. And lots of gloss. But if a guitar just don't sound right it just don't get played (using local vernacular here.) The neck's finish was too thick. I like the satin finishes on the Plus necks and if they are too glossy some 600 grit sand paper is applied. LOL!

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:49 am
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Xhefri wrote:
nikininja wrote:
Mr X.

I am fully convinced those Vintage Noiseless pickups were designed to be paired to the Clapton boost circuit. It's the only way I could get anywhere near a guitar sound out of em.

So mysterious Mr X, how did the Deluxe work out for you compared to the Plus? Pickups aside.

Hey Niki, well to be honest I thought what Blertles wrote a few post back summarized it pretty well. Lot's of show but no go. And lots of gloss. But if a guitar just don't sound right it just don't get played (using local vernacular here.) The neck's finish was too thick. I like the satin finishes on the Plus necks and if they are too glossy some 600 grit sand paper is applied. LOL!


Ive been playing a lot today- just doing some exercises and licks EC style, with my MIM strat. I was having heaps of fun with it and I must say Nik, I love the Hum/single coil sound in pos 2. Then I played the Deluxe and man, I really had to go back to the amp to turn down the harshness of the SCN's- lots of mids in the neck and trebbly in the bridge- You really have to work the tone controls on it. I'd say stock mim singles have a better tone on 'em, but you can get the SCN's to sound good if you really sit and work the tone controls on the amp.

I then pulled out the Ultra and I have to say the wiring on it leaves the S1 in the dust. The difference for those who don't know is that with the ultra, they are really usable tones where as the Deluxe, as soon as the S1 switch position is down, give a minute and you will switch it back up again. Perhaps I might get myself a set of N3 pickups when/if they become an aftermarket accsessory as they seem to have more character based on the internet reviews/demos I have seen.

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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:21 am
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Hi All:
First time poster at the forum but frequent reader. I've been a fan of the strat plus for the past few years and got addicted after owning one and then finding Xhefri's site. I read each and every post here. I thought I would share a pic I recently took of my collection, all 87-88 E4 serial number strat plus guitars. I play them all. Each one is a bit different from the other which makes it really nice. Hope you like the pic. if I probably did not insert the image correctly but you should be able to hit the url.

http://s1080.photobucket.com/albums/j32 ... =104_2.jpg


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Post subject: Re: Fans of Strat Plus and Strat Ultra
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:37 am
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nh_strats wrote:
Hi All:
First time poster at the forum but frequent reader. I've been a fan of the strat plus for the past few years and got addicted after owning one and then finding Xhefri's site. I read each and every post here. I thought I would share a pic I recently took of my collection, all 87-88 E4 serial number strat plus guitars. I play them all. Each one is a bit different from the other which makes it really nice. Hope you like the pic. if I probably did not insert the image correctly but you should be able to hit the url.


Image

Drool........ Wow nice amps too. I just picked up a 1970 Bassman 2-15 cab to go with my Bassman AB165 head. Sounds so sweet. And ya have a Graffiti Yellow Plus and most of the 87s have the split nut. Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

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