Hi all.
I am new to fender forum, as also a new “future, waiting for order…” owner of a Fender American Deluxe Strat® FMT HSS. I always wanted a Fender strat and in my mind I had the classic icon-form Strat. But when it came, a life time chance, to buy my first Strat, I fall in love (by picture)* with dlx fmt hss strat. It is a beauty and has all the tone aspects for my taste. “I play and recording in home, not live or gigs”. In your opinion, how far is that from having a “real” Fender Strat? I have noticed that in the web are picky comments about that guitar and sometimes people are in the mood of (...oh it is not like a real Strat...). I know that this is a personal affair issue, but I just wanted to hear your opinion.
Thanks for your time people and I apologize for any mistakes in my writing.
Keep on rockin' in a free world...

well for a start i'd say that a deluxe is a tad excessive for just playing in your bedroom??

Having played a deluxe strat, i'd say think of it like a very refined fender, designed for the discerning pro musician. everythings there that you'd expect in a strat, but obviously the sound and looks are very polished....i'd say there was negligible difference in playability from an american standard, other than the neck being more glossy...which still begs the question why not just get an american standard what with recessions and all...

Welcome.

1) Perhaps I misunderstood your THREAD TOPIC "....A plastic issue question" I read and re-read, but what is the question regarding "plastic" exactly? i am interested to know.

2) IMO, and this is all this is; my opinion. If you purchased a guitar from, and made by Fender, and it has Stratocaster printed on it; you have a real strat. I don't tend to agree, wholeheartedly (sp), with the purists of purists. My opinion is biased however, I LOVE the FMT's and QMT's. But I love all Strats.

3) I respectfully disagree with the thought that the Deluxe Strat is excessive for playing at home. It's no more excessive than the folks that have more than one Strat, but aren't "giggers" or "live performers". Besides, we don't know you... you may very well be pounding out music from your house and sending it to Nashville, or L.A. every month. I know folks like that... not everyone is meant to be on a stage, or in front of people playing. Just my opinion.

At any rate, I am curious about my first question.

Peace,

84

Agree on all counts with 84whiteONwhite.

Purists who say anything other than SSS is not a "real" Strat are merely sharing an opinion about a preference.

A guitar made by Fender with Stratocaster on the headstock is a Strat - period. An opinion - even a highly experienced one - doesn't change that. In the end, it's your money so your opinion trumps all others.

'Course, I've only been playing for 6 months so what do I know?

-phil

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Then again, what do I know ... I've only been playin' for 6 months ... !

HSS or SSS is completely up to your taste but an MIA Deluxe Strat is the top of the production line model for Fender. Don't let anyone tell you that you bought too much strat. I think that's ridiculous. If you can afford it and you enjoy it then by all means get it. Congrats on your new guitar!

It's not a real strat until there are pictures on this thread ^^
Seriously, get some good pix of that axe when it makes its arrival, I love flamed maple tops ^^

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

exactamente!

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Is the issue the humbucker? Or the fact it is backloaded with no pickguard?

Well, I know some purists might scoff at true Strat legitimacy with those two factors. Not me ... either way, your Strat is a very real Strat that kicks butt ...

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

Lets review some facts.

1. It is made by Fender in the U.S.A. and the headstock decal states it is a Stratocaster.

2. Regardless of the pickup configuration, refer to #1.

3. It plays and sounds like any other traditional strat with very few excaptions. Exceptions that IMO, make it the top of the line guitar that it is.

4. It sounds like a strat, regardless of whether it's plugged-in or barefoot.

5. It comes with lots of proof of its stratocaster progeny. Tons of hangtags on that thing!

6. In position 1, the guitar will have more of a rock sound d/t the humbucking pup. In the other positions, it will sound just like any other strat only better if you, like me enjoy the SCN pickups.

7. Oh yeah! S1 switching means it can sound like a strat in any switch position, PLUS you get the added versatility of the bridge humbucker.

8. To all the people who scoff and relegate the American Deluxe HSS to the "Nice Try" pile, I say a heartfelt "Screw you!!" They are either jealous or wish they had the cheese to get one of their own.

There you have it, If you still feel compelled by the opnions of a few morons, please pack it up and send it to me. You sir have a very nice guitar and shouldn't feel any regret over choosing it!

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60th Anniversary AD Strat, Deluxe Nashville Tele, Player's P Bass. Mesa/Boogie Mk IV combo, Marshall JCM800, 1960A cab, Genz Benz El Diablo 60, Genz 2x12" cab, too many neat little practice amps and kit projects!

Right on my man! Right ON! The pix on this forum are better than soft core

Peace,
84

you will love your fmt

I have a Am Dlx hss qmt and it is an amazing guitar





it has made me very very protective though,but i knew that would happen



I have a new surprise comming very soon in the figure wood department that you guys are going to love

I have an American Deluxe SSS. It's a wonderful guitar with a finish to die for. It's a cream color called Vintage White with a Pearloid pickguard and abalone dot inlays. Every time I look at her it's like falling in love again. All of my friends are stunned at how beautiful it is and I consider myself lucky to have earned the admiration of my fellow musician with it. Even next to a Les Paul, an American Deluxe stands out with all of it's tiny accents and sexy curves against Gibby's gingerbread binding and tuning buttons. But the whole point of a guitar is the sound and the Deluxe series is something that you can't go wrong by. I love to tinker. I love to mod things. But I think that everything about my Am Dlx is well designed and refined that I bought a Highway 1 HSS to gut and customise instead.

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"If I don't see you no more in this world I'll meet you on the next one and don't be late... don't be late." -Jimi Hendrix

+1

I used to be a QMT/FMT deluxe hater- but now im a convert born-again lover of them. I like the tobacco burst finish..

It's like an adaptaion of the Ultra models from way back

You can go wrong with some models, but not a deluxe. No matter what version/configuration it may be

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curley maple -
Those are both stunning but your QMT is to die for! Simply gorgeous! I have a question for you, though (or any other QMT owner). Is the finish durable enough to resist pick marks? With my schizophrenic hands, I'd be afraid to play it with no pick guard.

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Then again, what do I know ... I've only been playin' for 6 months ... !

Cool guitars.

When I bought my guitar, a usa standard SSS, I did it because it was the classic strat. That was what I wanted. And a flamed toped guitar someday.

However, you took a different route, that in no way makes it taboo. That is a great guitar, but there will be some differences. A maple top will have a slight effect on tone as well as the pu configuration. What that will mean, is that you will come very close to nailing that classic strat neck and middle configuations, but you will also come close to nailing some chunky les paul and PRS type sounds too.

So you didn't do what I did, and just got the real classic sounds, you got something far more versatile.

Sometimes, I wonder if a HSS would have been better for me. Though over time I find that I don't need high output pickups to get a hot tone with a good amp

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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