I bought a HWY1 HSS 6 months ago and it truly rocks. Haven't tried the American Special but the specs are pretty close to each other. I finish on the Special is deeper--like a normal guitar rather than the thin satin nitro of the HYW1 series. I have an American Dlx also but prefer gritty sound of the HWY1. The hot single-coils and Atomic humbucker of the HWY1 for a classic rock, hard rock tone! The SCN pups in the Am Dlx is really smooth and great for anything from jazz to clean blues.

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"If I don't see you no more in this world I'll meet you on the next one and don't be late... don't be late." -Jimi Hendrix

Niki I was way slow on this post but my answer is the same.lol

Check out the Mahogany bodied American Special ( AKA American "Select"); it has most "Deluxe" specs, including contoured heel, locking tuners, S-1 switch, roller nut, abalone dot inlays, and an HSS pickup configuration. I tried alot of strats to replace my MIM Deluxe players Strat and this was the one that stood out among the rest.
see: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Amer ... de=1&qso=3

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'10 Fender American Select Mahogany HSS Strat
'07 Fender Custom Shop Vintage Heavy Relic HB Tele
Gibson ES-345 RI
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Schecter California Custom Hellcat
Squier Bullet/Seymour Duncan HB/LockingTuners
Breedlove AD25/SR Plus Acoustic
Hohner ECA 612 12-String Acoustic

Pre 1993 Strat plus is the best strat.

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

Git The 1 with the 6 strings on it. I did . It works great! If ya break 1 ya still got 5 left. Cant go wrong on that deal.

I've played a '61 Strat, a '70 Squier and now a '90 Squier.
Which is best?
The one I own now!

A '70 Squier, eh? Would like to see that guitar...

Pics of that would be awesome?!

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Unfortunately, I don't have the '70 Squier any more, mad wife of the time 'needed the money'.
Not with her anymore!!

Ive decided on the blackmore strat to go with my marshall avt100 perfect match for ritchie,maiden,priest ect now got to wait 7 bloody weeks

Congrats on the decision. Post pics when you can.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Like any other time your lookin.
Try as many as you can.
Find the ones that sounds best unplugged in your price range.
Plug it into your amp. When a lookin for another guit, I usually take my amp with me.

Craig

Truly any one of those guitars are fantastic - I don't think you can make a wrong decision here.

Play/compare lots of the guitars which you've been eyeballing while you're at the store.

But yeah, if it bears the name Stratocaster, you've already done well.