for what I've understood, compared to "old ones":

* new noisless N3 pickups.
* compound radius fretboard from 9,5 to 14.
* Fender® Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking Tuning Machines
*rereoted S1 switching: don't have a clue

so are they really much more worth than "old" american deluxe line ?

I certainly wouldn't consider them "better" for lack of a better word. The previous line of Deluxe's were very popular.

I am curious as to how the pickups sound, though

it seems that the stagered locking tuners are fancy for me, it's supposed to increase sustain ?

I like my current neck.

I'm curious about the pickups themselves.

And i wonder what they have done with the re-routed S1 switching system ?!!!

Regarding your question, I honestly say they sound much better than the previous noiseless pickups such as Lace Sensors, Vintage Noiseless and Samarium Cobalt. They now retain the familiar old-school Strat sounds of the '50s and '60s without the noise, faithfully reproducing the classic quack of the 2nd and 4th positions.

You can now say goodbye to the infamous bland sterility and muddiness associated with stack humbuckers, dummy coils and active electronics.

Thanks to ZZDoc, he's pointed to GC's ad which describes them as :

N3 Noiseless pickups :

N3 Noiseless pickups deliver the best of yesterday and today, because they deliver landmark vintage Fender tone and response without the hum that can plague single-coil pickups. Using an improved stacked coil-coil design, N3 Noiseless pickups are specially tailored for each Stratocaster and Telecaster pickup position.

The insulated metal core of each pickup position type differs in thickness and composition for enhanced tone, and Fender has fine-tuned the sized, shape, and wire gauge of the coils to balance the magnetic responsiveness essential to great tone. N3 pickups represent a welcome return to the warmth and clarity of alnico magnets. An Alnico 5 magnet is used in the bridge position, Alnico 2 in the middle position, and Alnico 3 for the neck position.

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

Don't leave home without it!

The whole guitar just seems to be based around improved noiseless pups and I guess this was the best way to introduce them. Not the first time the Deluxe has been revamped and improved on. I am really wishing to hear an audio or see a video clip of them in action, which I feel should of been put up already here.

I guess that Eric Clapton will be amazed with these new pickups.



Did one of yours had tested the N3s on an EC signature Strat? I think they'll work fine with the active mid-boost.

tried them out, on a 30 min trial, cant judge them yet.
i can say, they are very very nice, and worth the price.imo.

by the way here is a clip i found on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8j5X9y64M4

tell me what you think.

_________________
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Now we know what N3 means: 3 type of alnico magnets...II, III and V.

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

Don't leave home without it!

I love the SCN's on my '08 American Dlx but I do understand some people find them unappealing. The neck sounds intriguing although I prefer the simple 9.5in to the currently available compound radius type necks. $1500 is alot of cash these days for me. All in all it does sound like a very nice Strat though.

Russ

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'08 Amer. Dlx. Strat, '98 Amer. Std. Strat, '10 Squire CV Tele Custom, '96 Seagull S+6 Cedar
Deluxe Reverb RI, Tweed Blues Jr., Champion 110, Champion 600, Mustang I, Line 6 Vetta

I have allways been fond of deluxe models, and I am sure these are a sweet sounding strat. I dont have any issues with SCN's at all- I think they are a good sounding pick-up. Then again, tastes are varied between each individual arent they

I have two gripes with this line:

1, no abalone dots. Superficial, yes- but I just like 'em and they set the deluxes apart from the rest.

2, Colour choice.

For example, the Stratocaster Plus came out in these colours (some stayed, some discontinued) quoted from Xhefri's site:

Arctic White, Black, Black Pearl Dust, Blue Pearl Dust, Brown Sunburst, Caribbean Mist, Grafitti Yellow, Lipstick Red, Blonde, Midnight Blue, and Midnight Wine from 1987 till 1997. And then in 1997, Candy Apple Red, Inca Silver, Sonic Blue, and Vintage White finishes were introduced; Arctic White, Black Pearl Dust, Blue Pearl Dust, Caribbean Mist, Lipstick Red, Midnight Blue, and Midnight Wine.

also, there was Surf Green (which has some variations on shades), Sea Foam Green (which is brighter and darker than Surf Green), Gun Metal Blue, Shell Pink, Lake Placid Blue, Pewter, Shoreline Gold, Taos Turquoise and several other colors.

Let's not forget Firestorm Burst.

Likewise for the American Deluxe Series:
Amber, Chrome Silver, Montego Black Metallic, 3-Color Sunburst, Tobacco Sunburst, Aged Cherry Burst, Olympic White Pearl, Black, Honey Blonde, Candy Apple Red, Butterscotch Blonde and 2-Color Sunburst. Teal Green Transparent, Natural, White Blonde, Candy Tangerine, Crimson Red Transparent, Chrome Red and Purple Transparent.

We can now add Sunset, and Tungsten to that.

I wish that the colour range in its present day would give us some of the colours of 'yesteryear'... Burgandy Mist, Sonic Blue, Fiesta Red, OTM, Ice Blue etc...

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I have a new Deluxe HSS in Oly white. I have been out of the game for 7 years so I cannot direcly compare to the previous generation of Deluxe pickups. But I can say that these sound great. With the S-1, there are more tones than I will probably use. I normally just leave it in the up positon for standard 5 way switching. With some gain, the humbucker throws out serious harmonics and endless sustain. The bypass switch seems to add to the harmonic content.

The guitar has the roller nut and stays in tune even on dive bombs and agressive bends. You could probably do a whole set on this without touching the tuning. Almost as good as my former American Floyd Rose Classic Strat (the best gigging guitar of all time IMHO).

The real gem on this guitar is the neck. Its comfortable and fast. The rolled edges and fretwork are impeccible and the RW is dark. The action is LOW. Some guys may want to raise the action but I am learning to lighten my touch and refrain from the gorrilla grip I used to play with.

Overall, I am very pleased with the tone and playability. Only time will tell if its better than my ol' Floyd. The Floyd sent 3 PRS to the sale block...it was that good.

You forgot the locking bridge. Another cons on the new deluxe series.

Maybe I am wrong but I am sitting here looking at my new strat and it has abalone dots...NOT the clay dots on the American Standard. Perhaps they are not Abolone but they look like it to me. Have you looked at some in person?


Also, what is the locking bridge that has been dropped? Are you talking about the original Floyd Rose double locking system? This current bridge is a 2 point trem and while it doesn't lock, it stays in tune. I am planning on blocking it so it will only dive and will not pull up. I also did this to my original Floyd.

i just picked up the new deluxe HSS....i havnt had time to really test it out yet.......4 hour drive round trip ....but as far as i see the N3s sound the same as SCNs and the neck? i really dont feel that much differance (could just be me) .....but the by pass.....now that really rocks.

got the 3 sunburst w/rosewood fretboard....right now i feel like i have a new number one guitar....pics will come later