There's a 2004 Deluxe for sale locally that I'm thinking about buying (DZ4xxxxx serial number). The guitar is in new condition and has a transparent green ash body. Other 2004 Deluxes I've seen have the odd shaped neck plate, but this one is fitted with the rectangular neck plate with symetrically placed holes. It also has the small hole for adjustment and is engraved "Fender Corona California". Was the rectangular neck plate fitted to some 2004 Deluxes or is this a red flag?

This guitar is a Factory Special Run model. Fender discontinued the Teal Green Transparent finish on the "regular" production American Deluxe series guitars a year earlier. All American Deluxes made after 2002 came with a contoured neck heel (except the Ash Telecaster).

Some FSR American Deluxes usually came with a hot humbucker in the bridge.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. At a glance the bridge pickup looks normal (looks like the other two pickups), but the seller said something about it having an "over wound" 1972 style pickup(s). It doesn't look like a humbucker. He said the pickups were original and not modified.

Theyren't 1972-style pickups, but Samarium Cobalt Noiseless stacked-coil pickups. The bridge pickup is an overwound "Hot" SCN. It gives you kickass distortion when a little extra "oomph" under the hood is required during a solo. The FSR has also the S1-switching system for further sonic possibilities.

As far as I know, this guitar was available only with a maple fretboard.