Just wondering why the strat plus deluxe was discontinued

I thought it was a high end model, but well priced.

WIth rolling nuts and locking tuners that arnt usually found on your average guitar.

Or am i missing something?

The only Deluxe Plus models I ever recall were American Deluxe models made in the late 80's and early 90's. Is that what you are referring to?

They usually came equipped with Lace Sensors and Wilkinson roller nuts. Bodies were frequently veneered and mostly had swimming pool style pickup cavities.

I owned a 1989 American Deluxe Telecaster Plus for several years. It had a Gold Sensor at the neck, a dual Red Sensor humbucker at the bridge, Wilkinson roller nut, Fender/Schaller locking tuners, a 2 point synchronized trem (yes, on a Tele) and a 3 position micro-switch between the control knobs which could be used just like the main pickup switch but dedicated solely to the Red Sensor Dually. You could use it to split the humbucker and select the one closest to the trem, both together or the one closest to the middle. I think somebody at Fender decide there needs to be a Telecaster for Rock 'N Rollers. These models were poorly received at the time but there is a small contingent of faithful followers who still like them very much. I really truly LOVED mine for its uniqueness but was disappointed with its tonal character.

This one shown below is not, was not, mine. It belongs to another poster who put this pic up some time a few months ago. I saved the image for posterity because some people disbelieve such a Tele was ever created. For some reason his seems to have come equipped with a Blue Sensor at the neck but mine was a Gold. Prolly different years. Also if memory serves I believe mine may have had an ebony fretboard.



You can still get an American Deluxe with roller nut and locking tuners. You can also get them with a quilt or flame top.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Mine was a '93. Same finish and neck w/white pickguard, blue Lace at the neck. 22 medium jumbo frets, and an American Standard fixed bridge w/the newer saddles.

Helluva guitar. Traded it up for a '97 Clapton. Still miss it. If you can find one like it in good condition, and like Tele's, grab it. It's not your daddy's C&W guitar, but rather a helluva rocker.

Again, put your questions to xhefri on his website. There's a contact address for email questions.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"

That is one sexy Tele Plus. The "Plus/Plus Deluxe/Ultra" models all became variations of the "Deluxe Stratocaster" including the HSS setup.

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SG.
"Walls" video from Zero in the Sun by Villains of Yesterday

And then came the FSR known as "The 48th Street Strat" which had two red Lace Duallys, bridge and neck, which morphed into the Big Apple, and thus the HB equipped guitars were born.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I love the 90's line-up, and I am absolutely insatiably passionate about them.
The 89-99 era was a very interesting era, and was pivotal decade for Fender. I loved to read catalogues and books about fender at the time, and this sparked my passion for fender guitars back in the 90's. The colours, pick-up combinations & variations, bridge options etc... made for a very cool line of instruments -right across the range.

I personally believe, that the quality of the guitars were second to none, and would easily rival those of today. My first strat was a 'Squier Series' Floyd Rose Standard Strat (with 'Squier Series' on the headstock) but had the fender logo on it. Back then in those days, the 'Standard' was all MIJ, and the MIM guitars only just made it to NZ at the time under squier. I had a choice of either a MIJ HRR Floyd Rose 60's Strat (see below) or the MIM.
Speaking to the salesperson at the shop while making my first strat purchase, when they mentioned that the strat was made in Mexico, I replied "Made in where!?!" as this was when I learnt of the new range from Fender Mexico plant. I played it and fell in love with it. I would have loved an American Standard Floyd Rose HSS (Dimarzio PAF Pro in the bridge) in Vintage White- but I could not afford one. I sold that strat back in '00- regretting it sorely even to this day.



I also loved the Plus, Plus Deluxe and Ultra Line-up. I dreamed of one day owning an Ultra as a kid, and I allways wondered what it sounded like. IMHO the Plus, Plus Deluxe and Ultra were a unique strat on their own, with complete covered lace sensors, wilkinson nut, hipshot tremsetter, and the huge range of colours they came out in. No other strat came close, except the FMT/QMT Deluxe today- which is a different kettle of fish altogether- though a very cool instrument.

My favourite models are in no particular order:

HRR Floyd Rose 60's Re-issue
American Standard Floyd Rose Strat
CS Sparkle Tele & Strat
CS Harley Davidson Strat
CS Playboy Strat
Tele Plus & Deluxe (version 1)
Strat Plus
Strat Plus Deluxe
Strat Ultra
Set Neck Strat
50's and 60's re-issue line (they didnt call them 'Classic Series' in those days!)
AVRI line
'69 and '72 re-issue Strat- regular line up
'72 Presicion Bass reissue- regular line up
'75 Jazz Bass reissue- regular line up
Paisley Strat- regular line-up
SRV strat
Jeff Beck Strat (with lace dually's)
Clapton Strat (with Laces)
Richie Sambora Black Paisley Strat
Bonnie Raitt Strat in Blue Sunburst and large headstock
Jazz Bass Special
I also loved the new offset Jazz Bass design at the time, something you dont see too much of today

my all time favourite was the MIJ Tele Custom, with pearloid binding, matching headstock and gold hardware- rare as hen's teeth!!!

The colour options were way better- lipstick and torino red, silverburst, blueburst, blackburst, antique burst, carribean mist, electron & midnight blue... the list goes on.

FOTO FLAME!!! Does anyone remember that??? Man that was the cool thing to have on you MIJ 50's & 60's re-issue strat!


In my opinion, I think the Plus, Plus Deluxe and the Ultra outshine the Deluxe line-up of today, with all you got on a guitar (TBX, Hipshot, Lace Sensors, Colour range, Tuners) you got more bang for your buck. Ok, they didnt have S1 switch and Abalone inlays, but who cares. A TBX in my opinion is more versatile. The end of the plus line spelt the end to a brilliant upper end of strats/tele range- and drove a nail in the coffin of the 90's era.

Perhaps we are nearing the end of this era? its been 10 years since the last major over-haul, Id like to see some fresh models in the range

So anyway, Ive updated my pics, and here is my '93 Strat Plus in Carribean Mist, '90 Ultra in Antique Burst, and my '06 Deluxe in Candy Tangerine:









My Ultra:











My Deluxe:

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