I have the older version of the American Deluxe strat and I was wondering how much of a difference there is between the SCN's and the N3's. Also, has anyone tried to replace the pickups on American Deluxe while keeping the S1 switch? I'm too reluctant to try, but if there are pickups, besides the two I mentioned, that sound better and allow me to use the S1 switch I would like to know thanks.

You need to talk to our forum pickup guru Martian. I'm sure you can do what ever you want with his expert help. I would go with the latest and greatest!!!!

I recently purchased an American Deluxe myself. After reading up on the inventer of the SCN pick-ups Bill Lawrence and what he achieved, I deciced to go with a '09 over the new model. Here's some interesting facts about the SCN's and the man who thought them into existence...
http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... highlight=

Take a moment and read his U.S. patent...it sold me.
http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/All_A ... atent2.htm

I play mostly clean and the sounds I get from the SCN pick-ups are, at least to my ear, amazing and varied. Others will disagree. Whatever you decide if it were me I'd take out the stock pick guard from your Deluxe and start fresh. Even an older Deluxe will fetch a grand in stock trim on fleabay. Someday you might regret chopping up the stocker...I dunno'.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your new set-up.

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An object at rest tends to stay at rest...
and an object in motion tends to stay in motion

Well I picked up a NOS American Deluxe Tele with a rosewood board in Cherry Burst last year that was an 07 I believe from a small store in SF with warranty and all and though I have other guitars with Noiseless pups I really liked the S-1 switching, finish and belly cut. Just an amazing guitar and built as good as any Fender I own with exception to my Strat Ultra which is the best built guitar I think Fender made IMHO, not sound wise though it sounds great but those guitars were built better than CS guitars I have played and are solid like a tank. I loved the Tele so much I caught another great ebay deal 3 months later with another store selling a NOS Ash American Deluxe in CB and grabbed that too. So for $2,200 as I got each one for $1,100 I got an offer I could not refuse. So I do not think I will be owning anything with N-3's anytime soon though I an dying to hear them live.

If I want a noiseless pickup retaining the familiar Strat quack, then I definitely opt for the N3s. I also opt for a TBX/midboost circuit to enhance things further and give these improved babies more attitude and beef during a solo.

At last Fender has put a big deal of effort for a welcomed return to the use of AlNiCo magnets. Each N3 pickup has a different type of AlNiCo magnet suitable for use in any position: AlNiCo V for the power and warmth of the Stratocaster N3 bridge pickup and the signature snap and spank of both Telecaster pickups; AlNiCo II for the sweetness and sparkle of the Stratocaster N3 middle pickup; AlNiCo III for the fullness of the Stratocaster N3 neck pickup without undue magnetic string pull.

Fender's previous noiseless pickup designs weren't a success. They sounded sterile and bland with passive electronics and only the use of the Eric Clapton active TBX/MDX midboost preamp has significantly eliminated these issues.

Well thats a bold statement. I wonder where you got the facts that they weren't a success? I'd also question where you've heard both SCN and N3's together side by side to make such a comparison.

Also whats a MDX control? BTW the TBX has to be the ultimate in nonsense controls. A tone pot up to 5 where you get a strangled sound, then a overly toppy 1meg pot up to 10 bringing out all the bad points of the entire circuit. Even Clapton doesnt use it.

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MDX is the generic term commonly used to designate the mid-boost circuit. Only a few people called the actual Clapton circuit as "MDX", which is confusing because the original MDX circuit of the Elites had 12dB while the Clapton uses 25dB.

Chromeface wrote



really ?? spend a few minutes listening to this on u tube, one of the first i came across. sterile and bland eh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_1vq5rc6qo

I own two Stratocasters with SCN pickups and use them both professionally. I find these pickups quite ballsy and beefy, especially using the S-1 switching system. Frankly, I'm doubtful that chromefake has ever even seen a set of these pickups let alone played them.

Arjay

zactly

Nothing bland about either SCN's or VN's. VN's sound a bit thin like 69's thats about it. The last thing you could call them is bland they've a big treble spike to em.

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Arjay, "chromefake" makes me laughing. A very funny parody of my username.

Purists found the tone of noiseless pickups sterile and crappy. Others appreciate the SCNs and VNs for their own reasons. It's just a question of taste and doesn't meant they're necessarily bad. Both VNs and SCNs had their pros and cons, no else matters.

So what makes a purist? The fact that you will only plug a vintage guitar into a archaic amp. It's a nonsense statement. I'd like to find a purist and really get some info on their qualifications to make such sweeping statements.
Can they set their pickups?
Can they set their amp?
Can they actually play to a decent level? Or do they make the thing sound like two cats mating?

Infact when someone uses something like the 'they all say' statement, I cant help but think, show me who they are? When you can do that and the they can prove their ability to assess, then I'll listen to em.

Name names, cmon spill the beans.
Or is this just more nonsense internet dogma, spewed by bedroom players that only play with themselves.

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"Purists" do not necessarily equate to musicians, especially those who play music for money.

Anybody can parrot some statement they read in a book or on some website -- I wanna know what you thought of these pickups based on your personal experience(s) with them. If you have none to share then what do you have to offer in this discussion?

I think "chromefake" pretty much covers it.

Arjay

I have an American deluxe with SCN and S1 switching and I love it. Very clean, very sensitive, picks up every little nuance of your fingers on the strings. This is not a vintage sound though... not as glassy like a gold Lace if you know what I mean.

Never thought gold lace sensor sounded vintage correct to the 50's,60's or 70's. They do a good repro of a 80's/90's sound

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