I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for delivery on an American Standard Strat. During this time, I have given some thought to changing my order to an American Deluxe Ash (aged cherry w/ rosewood.)

Either way I know I will have to wait and wait. The Deluxe will probably take even longer to get and will cost a few hundred more.

I would love some feedback. This might be the only American guitar I buy for a very long time. I have played both models at GC and fell in love instantly with the neck on the Deluxe; it actually took me by surprise.

My question, is the Deluxe worth the extra, or do you think I will be just as pleased with an Am. Std?

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Support your local guitar shop.

Just my 2cents but if you get the Deluxe there is really no reason to buy another strat for life. That is unless you step up and tell the Custom Shop, "I'm Ready!"

deluxe is the way to geux!!!
i have an american deluxe ash strat and i love it to death!

The Deluxe is certainly a fine instrument, not to take anything away from the standard, which is also great. I myself am torn between a deluxe and an American Vintage '57 Hot Rod. Once the lone '57 is gone from my dealer, I'll likely never see one again.

Who know's how I'll sort this one out..

I went ahead and spent the extra money for the same reason, i got the v neck and i am soo happy with it , if you can stomach the extra cash do it !!!!

Anti
I have both the American Standard (sienna burst) and the American Deluxe (montego black). They are both great guitars and you will be very happy with either one. The only real difference that I find is that the Standard with Texas Special PU's is a little meaner than the Deluxe with SCN's. They both have the S1 system, both necks are 9.5" radius (the Deluxe has the rolled edges which does feel very nice) locking tuners are cool but I have no problems with the Standard tuners...push in trem bar...screw in trem bar...I don't use either one. Good luck with your new Strat whichever one you pick.

Dlx is a great guitar...the big thing would be if you like the sound of the N3 pups vs the stndrd's.

My 1st fender was an '07 Deluxe 'cause I figured I wanted the extra features, the idea of 'noiseless', and I liked the Montego/black...but that left me wondering what I was giving up re: the 'classsic strat sound'. The dlx sounded fine - very clean, and the S1 options are cool, but eventually I sold the dlx and got an '09 Am stndrd (ash/SSB).

I am very happy with it, I like the heavier trem block and more traditional bridge/saddles (and cheaper $$ and it was in stock!), and the sound is sweet...so I am glad I made the switch.

As said above - locking tuners are real nice, but not a big deal.

I guess if you definitely like the noiseless pickups, and the neck, and the S1 switching, and have the money, you should get the deluxe.

I personally didn't like the noiseless (back in the SCN deluxe days) or the S1, and the guitars otherwise felt the same to me, so I got the Standard. I got the ash body "by accident", in that I liked the Sienna Sunburst and didn't realize it was a different wood. But I do like the sound of it, both plugged and unplugged.

I'll have to agree with the posters who say the Dlx isn't for everybody. I purchased my first Strat in 2009 and the S1 switch failed about 6 months later - and I don't even use the switch. So, I had it swapped out for a regular volume pot. The other features of the guitar are really nice but I've played an American Standard and I like the sound. I'll probably get another Strat but it'll be an Am. Std.

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Custom Shop '59 Stratocaster
AV Hot Rod '52 Telecaster
AV '56 Stratocaster
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

Thanks for all of the replies.

I still have to decide but am leaning toward the Am. Std. Then I can save up and get the Deluxe.

I will post a pick if it ever arrives . . . maybe by August.

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Support your local guitar shop.

Indeed. Fender is behind in production due to their swap in paint vendors of late. Enjoy your wonderful axe when she gets in!

I'd switch to the AD if I were you. Pickups come and go, but those necks are the best you can get from Fender, IMO. Ash with the aged cherry sunburtst. Mmmhmm. Looks very similar to Sienna sunburst to me. Of course any American model is great, but the AD is truly the next best thing to custom shop.

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60th Anniversary AD Strat, Deluxe Nashville Tele, Player's P Bass. Mesa/Boogie Mk IV combo, Marshall JCM800, 1960A cab, Genz Benz El Diablo 60, Genz 2x12" cab, too many neat little practice amps and kit projects!

Very satisfied Deluxe customer here!



I wasn't really shopping for a Dlx when I stopped by GC, I tried a few Strats, Am. Std., some reissues, another Dlx... this one was very special! Very beautiful to look at, very light (ash), and sounded sweet! I guess I got lucky, to find a guitar I like AND to have it in stock.

Go for it if you can find one, you wont regret it! As Joelski mentioned, if you're worried about the pickups you can always change them... not sure what the differences in the necks are but I am VERY happy with the one I got! It's taking some time to get use to, I haven't been playing a Strat in ages, so I'm adapting slowly... the neck feels like butter!

Nice hardtail too

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Didn't know the AS line came with a heavier trem block; are you sure of this? Nonetheless, one of the best ways to improve any strat's sound is to remove the original block, save it away someplace safe if you like, and install a Callaham cold rolled steel block. For the deluxe, the Callaham SS saddles help too, not so sure with the AS as it already has bent steel saddles.

The locking tuners shine when combined with the LSR nut. This definitely improves tuning stability on strats and has been around since '87 on the plus line. Can't imagine Fender would continue to go to that expense if it wasn't backed by a good level of satisfaction.

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60th Anniversary AD Strat, Deluxe Nashville Tele, Player's P Bass. Mesa/Boogie Mk IV combo, Marshall JCM800, 1960A cab, Genz Benz El Diablo 60, Genz 2x12" cab, too many neat little practice amps and kit projects!