Sunset Metallic looks much better over a lightweight swamp ash body.

Thanks for the pics. Looks sweet!

But this makes absolutely NO sense. You can actually buy a guitar that Fender hasn't even announced! Did everyone in Fender marketing take extended vacations all at once?

And no, Fender's silence is not some marketing plan to generate interest. What little chatter going on in here and in other forums would be twenty-fold if they made an official announcement. A simple press release is all it would take. While I'm relatively new to guitars, I'm quite familiar with marketing.

And doc, rest assured I am being patient.

I won't be buying this for quite some time, if at all. It looks to be a great guitar but I'm not in the market right now. I just find Fender's silence to be really, really odd. Surely, this isn't normal for them?

-phil

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

If you look on guitarcenter.com they now have them listed and it tells you about the compound radius.

The radius is 9.5 at the nut and then 12 at the twelfth fret and 14 at the fifteenth fret.

Thanks! Yep, it seems that a few stores have them now:

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-FEN-011930X-LIST

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

A good point on the new USA Deluxes is there are no abalone dots on the maple fingerboards anymore.

I think black dot inlays make for a more traditional feel and vibe.

Rosewood fretboards no longer use abalone dots as well. Fender used the same white pearloid dot marking found on the 60th Anniversary US Series models of 2006.

That's the only thing I don't like about my new deluxe. No abalone on the rosewood fretboard. But the new s1 switching, new pickups and the tinted maple neck are definitely worth the upgrade, in my opinion.

They look good, but I'm holding off for more details on the CS Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Strat (due out this year per Mike Eldred).

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Fender finally has the guitars listed under the products section, but nothing in the way of "look what's new".

Good thing there's Musician Friend!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/fender_deluxe

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

lsr on fender site, but not at other sites ??

LSR nuts are only on HSS models.

Since my last post, MF sent me an email with a big announcement - NEW FENDER AMERICAN DELUXE models.

Maybe that's Fender's new strategy about marketing - let someone else do it. lol ...

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

...without the locking bridge option! Very annoying.

Great pictures of the new Deluxe's, click on to get the closeups. The candy apple red and Tobacco burst are my favs.

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electric ... an_deluxe/

Interesting how they all carry over the DZ serial numbers from 2009. You would think that with a redesign they would have used the new 2010 serials.

I received my new HSS Deluxe yesterday. It has the new pickups, compound radius fretboard, etc. Unfortunately, the guitar has some dents in the wood under the finish so obviously, it escaped from the factory that way. I am very disappointed in having to return it. Hopefully, they have another one in stock.

I will say the guitar plays great. The neck is one of the best I have played...it is smooth and fast. Bends are effortless and it stays in tune very well, even on some pretty deep dives on the trem. The roller nut is fantastic. I love the rolled edges too. Oh, it does have the abolone dots and the rosewood is very dark and looks great. The neck is a modern shape so its not for everyone but IMHO, its the gem of this guitar.

The S1 switching produces some very good tones. But, I am not sure all would be used gigging. In my experience, 90% of the tones come from a bridge humbucker alone or a neck pickup alone. This was my exprience in my previous USA Floyd Rose Classic Strat I sold some 7 years ago (and miss). IMHO, the FR Classic Strat was the best gigging guitar ever. But I digress...
The bypass switch is very cool. It goes to the humbucker regardless of the 5 way position.

Overall, I would say this is one of the best guitars I have played. And I have owned 5 or so PRS'. Not sure yet if it would have discplaced my old Floyd Rose Classic as my Number 1 or not. It will take some time to bond further.

Looking forward to trying out the new compound radius fretboard myself. Sounds like something I'd like. also I'm interested in the new pup and S-1 wiring.
Wonder what my good friend Martian thinks of all this!!