The Deluxe HSS is not listed on Fender's website. A return of the locking bridge option would be welcomed.

Glad I got one. It's a good compliment to my American Standard.......... Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Yeah that's what I thought. I love the guitar and the deluxe has better hardware than the other models. Yes I'm glad I got it when I did. I just wasn't sure why they discontinued it. You can still buy one from the various stores but it isn't listed on the Fender web site anymore.

I have a 98 Big Apple Strat with the Pearly Gates humbucker as well as a SD 59 humbucker in the neck position. The Pearly Gates pickup is very nice. Sounds awesome for rock and you still have the feel of a Strat.
The 59 has a nice clean sound to it. I like the clean sound better than a single coil pickup. The 5 way switch in this model allows for getting a single coil sound from each humbucker as well.

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1997 - Fender Big Apple Strat - Sunburst
1998 - Fender Big Apple Strat - Candy Apple Red
1999 - Fender Big Apple Strat hardtail - Aqua Metallic
2000 - Project Strat
2009 - Fender Telecaster Deluxe 72 RI
(2) - Fender ProSonic Combo Amp

Good news!

The American Deluxe HSS has been upgraded with N3 noiseless pickups and a host of new features. The S1 switch is now reconfigured and includes a Passing Lane push-push selector to bypass the no-load tone circuit on the humbucker. The necks had now a compound radius for better playability. Montego Black Metallic has been discontinued in favor of two very cool finishes - Tungsten and Sunset Metallic.

Unfortonately Fender doesn't offer the new Deluxe HSS with the locking bridge option, which has been proved a very useful feature with heavy tremolo abusers.

* Fender's domestic website has not been updated yet.

Maybe the LT will be back on the "new and improved" 2010 version? I didn't see anything nrew on the UK site either. Where did this copy-and-paste come from?

I ordered one from an ebay dealer yesterday who claims to have it in stock and it is shipping this coming Tuesday. Here is a link to the item.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... MEWAX%3AIT

I negotiated a little better deal than this page shows but the specs are here for reviewing. It has a 'passing lane' switch that goes directly to the humbucker with no load no matter where the 5 way is set.

I know I jumed the gun a little quick on this but I am guitarless at the moment and just couldn't wait any longer. I hope I chose well. It looks like an all around great guitar for most any kind of music.

Surely not.

But if the demand for this type of bridge reaches the top, then yes, Fender will brought it back again. The deluxe locking trem was a success, especially in the hands of heavy tremolo abusers.

Fender has stopped offering the Deluxe HSS with the locking bridge since 3 years ago and discontinued that product shortly after.

Apparently, the locking bridge option is not included in Fender's current plans for the new Deluxe at this moment. But they offer the recently upgraded Mexico Standard HSS with the licenced Floyd Rose bridge.

The Passing Lane acts very much like an active mid-boost switch. It transforms the guitar into a screaming rock machine. Batteries are not required since the Deluxe HSS electronics are passive.

Thanks for the info...makes it sound even better.

My last guitar (7 years ago) was an American Fender Floyd Rose Classic strat in vintage white with rosewood. That guitar could cover nearly any music. It was the guitar that made me sell my PRS McCarty and Swamp Ash Special. It covered every sound better than those guitars IMHO. And the Floyd never went out of tune even when dive bombing. I had it blocked so you could trem down but not pull up. I should have never sold it. If they still made it, I would have bought it instead of the new American Deluxe HSS. I am hoping this new one will compare.

I'll report back after I get it. I need to buy an amp.