I bought my strat in 1998 - it is an American Deluxe but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have a special S1 switch or whatever. So I guess my questions are
1. When did the switch appear in Am Deluxe strats?
2. What does it do?

Cheers

OK. I've worked out what the S1 switch is. Stupid me - it was here on the Fender website the whole time: <slaps forehead> DOH!

Haven't found out yet when the switch was introduced though.

Hmmm 2005 I think... I could be wrong however.

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Sorry... 2003.

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Cool! Thanks.

the s1 switching is supposed to mix up pickup configuration if i remeber well . it was introduce in 2003 ( my strat is a 2004 american Standard and i has it ) , it not on the standard anymore .




i virtually heard no difference between both . the s1 switching has never done anything IMO . ive play it through tube and soli dstate and never heard any difference .


bottom line: its worthless ... doesnt change anything at all IMO . you dont need it .

more of a marketing gamiick maybe .

I'm sorry SkyC I have to disagree that it does nothing. It is as marked a difference as switching from bridge pickup to bridge and middle in parallel.

Brian he switch adds the middle pickup in series to the bridge or neck pickup. Basicaly your adding a kind of lowpowered humbucker tone to the guitar. The special capacitor settings are my favourites. I can see why some people dont like the additional sounds. Their not full on death by humbucker metal maniac options. However their a bit nice when you want to get somewhere near a Pete Green sound out of your strat.

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No no and no

Hi Brian: to add to that - I have an HSS Strat with the S1: frankly, I don't need much of what it has to offer, but in the middle position with the switch engaged it gives all three pickups on, including both coils of the 'bucker, and that is a sound I like. Big, fat and full. Somewhere different to go for a vaguely Gilmourish solo, perhaps. Like having a boost pedal inside the volume knob.

I wouldn't buy a Strat specifically to get the S1. But if it is there to be had - why not?

Cheers - C

I have an American Standard HSS with S-1 and one really got use I found is neck pickup with S-1 on.

Try to play Sweet child of mine intro on:
- bridge postion (S-1 off)
- neck postition (S-1 off)
- neck position (S-1 on)

What gets you closest to Slash's sound?

OK, apart from LP

This setting sounds good also for a bit heavier blues...

Try it, play with it, maybe effect is a bit different with deluxe but the combinations are the same.