Hi, i have been playing guitar for some time now, all of which has been on my Epiphone SG G-400 Custom (ivory 3 HB's).
I like the way this guitar plays, but the types of music i most enjoy playing are Hendrix, SRV, John Mayer, Clapton etc.
What do these guys have in common? A strat!

So, i have somewhere in the region of £700 that i want to 'invest' in a nice Fender Strat. Ideally i would be looking to maintain the value in the guitar, which is steering me towards the second hand market.

I know very little about the different models, but i have been drawn toward the American Deluxe HSS. The principle of a humbucker in the bridge appeals to me, but is there any reason this would not be a good idea? For example, none of the guitar heroes i mention use a HSS (do they?).

A feature that i really like the sound of is the S1 switch. This appears to offer great tone variety, however i was warned away from the S1 switch American Deluxe as it apparently had a terrible tone... is this true? I notice that the current American Deluxe has had it removed, which may back up the advice.

What are my best options in the second hand market?
How much better is an American Strat to a Mexican 'Lone Star' strat?

Any help appreciated, also any advice on the fender range will be useful (is there no overall (historic) guide anywhere???)

Thanks!

I think it all depends on what you are planning on doing? Recording or just jamming with your buddies. You could just put coil taps on the humbuckers on your SG. Clapton played an SG in Cream and played a ES335 in John Mayall's Blues breakers. Hendrix owned a Gibson Flying V Robbin Ford a great blues player plays a gibson and so did Freddie King. Yes a Fender Strat does have a Distinctive sound with the single coils, But you can play blues or blues rock with humbuckers. I own a Strat because I like the way a Strat plays and I don't like Gibson necks. But I have two humbuckers in it because I like the fuller sound of the humbuckers. I play blues and classic rock. I would buy the lone star strat over the American and I believe the less bells and whistles on it the better off you are. Get the tone from your playing not the guitar. some players who were considered to have the best tone were playing stock guitars from the 50' and 60's. good luck.

In my opinion you have the other tones covered so I'd go with a SSS MIA Standard or a MIA Deluxe. I'm sure other posters will disagree so.. Good luck in your search/purchase!!

Thanks for the replies.

I just got back from the guitar store where i tried a Strat Special HSS in an excellent sunburst colour.

I really liked it actually, i think money would be wasted on the deluxe (for me). It comes in under £700, which is about right too.

Does anybody have any opinion on the Tex Mex pickups? Is it worth £200 extra for the Standard Strat?

Thanks

I haven't tried a Special yet but other members have and can advise you on it. Either one of those 2 guitars would do a good job for you IMHO!!


Forgot my manners!! Welcome to the forum!!

For the money it's hard to beat a 2009, 2010 Standard MIM (Made in Mexico) Stratocaster. That's just for playing. I am not sure a MIM would grow in value.

If you want to "invest "in a guitar that will hold and grow in value. I would get American Standard or Deluxe. Just a straight s/s/s instrument. You will have to treat it with great care and not ding it up.

_________________
I remember when we were free!

The thing is, Down the road you can always swap pickups and pickguard to accept either Humbucker or Single coil. Most Strats are routed that way. Not all, but most. Some of the signature models and re-makes are cut for SSS. So you're really not locked into either configuration. Just a thought.

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

Is the Strat Special the same as the American Special?

_________________
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

Yes, i beleive it is a replacement for the Highway 1 model.

The one i tried was in a very nice looking sunburst with black pickguard.

My Strat is an American Standard and you can't go wrong getting one. I don't know if there's much of a drop off in quality with the Mexican Strat or not. Someone told me that any Strat is made to Fender's specifications, but you get higher end parts with the American Strats.

The American Special doesn't have tex-mex pickups, it has Texas specials

Ok, thanks!
So, there is there nothing common between a USA special and a mexican equivalent?

I do really like the look of the Mexican Deluxe Players strat, but a bit put off by only 21 frets.

If i could get past the fret problem, what do you think the noticable differences would be between the USA special and the mexican deluxe?

Thanks

My MIM HSS Strat gives me a wide variety of sounds with a single guitar...

OTOH, the ES335 in the stand next to it gives me two Humbuckers so I really didn't NEED the HSS model...

But I like the tone of the half tapped humbucker and middle coil, and use the full humbucker when I want to really ring out... it's twice as loud as the other pickups...

I really don't know how many guitar heroes use their bridge pickup versus the middle or neck either... my neck pickup gives the guitar an acoustic feel, and middle more of a rock/electric tone, and the bridge gets very bright with
the HB switched in...

Your mileage may vary, but I like the variety of tones the HSS gives...

_________________
Still looking for that One Guitar To Rule Them All since 1964...
FSR Fender 60 Anniversary Strat HSS MIM, Gibson ES 335, Taylor 555, Ovation Custom Balladeer-12, Baby Taylor, Fender Princeton Chorus (stereo), Fender Champ 600

I played both the Lonestar Deluxe and the American Special HSS and here is my opinions:

I like the bridge pickup better on the Lonestar than the American Special HSS. I like the feel of the American Special over the Lonestar. It would really depend on my budget, but if I had the money to spend on it I would get the American Special. In my case I knew I did not like the Atomic Humbucker on the HSS and so I chose the SSS model. I already have a HSS Highway 1 (with a Dimarzio Super Distortion) in my collection, so I thought I would go with a more traditional looking Stratocaster. I own a Candy Apple Red American Special. Some day I may change the SC bridge pickup to a humbucker, but trying to keep it stock for now. I got the following information off the products page...please let us know what you finally got. Honestly both guitars are great.

American Special HSS Specs:

Neck
Number of Frets: 22
Fret Size: Jumbo Frets
Position Inlays: White Dot Position Inlays
Finger Board Radius: 9.5" Radius (241 mm)
Fret Board: Maple
Neck Material: Maple
Nut Width: 1.6875" (43 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
HeadStock: Large '70s Style
NeckPlate: Standard 4 Bolt
Truss Rod Nut: 1/8" American Series Nut
Electronics
Pickup Configuration: H/S/S
Bridge Pickup: Atomic Humbucking™ Pickup
Middle Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Neck Pickup
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Special Electronics: Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup) Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit, (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass) Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup), Greasebucket Tone Circuit
Hardware
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Bridge: Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
Tuning Machines: Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Switch Tips: Black Switch Tip
Trenolo Arm Handle: Vintage Style Tremolo Arm
Tools
Truss Rod Wrench: 1/8" Hex (Allen) Wrench
Saddle Height Wrench: .050" Hex (Allen) Wrench
Miscellaneous
Strings: Super Bullets® 250L, NPS (.009-.042 Gauges)
Accessories
Case Gig Bags: Deluxe Gig Bag
Included Accessories: Deluxe Gig Bag, Polishing Cloth
Polishing Cloth: Polishing Cloth Included


Please Note: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice

MIM Deluxe (Lonestar) HSS Specs:

Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays: White Dot Position Inlays
Finger Board Radius: 9.5" Radius (241 mm)
Fret Board: Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple
Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
NeckPlate: Standard 4 Bolt
Truss Rod Nut: 3/16" Adjustable Hex Nut
Electronics
Pickup Configuration: H/S/S
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan® Pearly Gates™ Humbucking Pickup
Middle Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup: Texas Special™ Single-Coil Neck Pickup
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge/Middle Pickup)
Hardware
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Bridge: Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
Tuning Machines: Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
String Nut: Synthetic Bone
Switch Tips: Parchment Switch Tip
Trenolo Arm Handle: Vintage Style Tremolo Arm
Tools
Truss Rod Wrench: 3/16"
Saddle Height Wrench: 1.5mm Hex Wrench
Miscellaneous
Strings: Super Bullets® 3250L, NPS, (.009 to .042 Gauges)
Unique Features: Tinted Neck, Brown Shell Pickguard, Premium Texas Special™/Pearly Gates™ Pickups
Accessories
Case Gig Bags: Deluxe Gig Bag
Included Accessories: Deluxe Gig Bag
Control Knobs: Parchment Plastic


Please Note: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice

_________________
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

The fact of the matter is, that if you want a strat sound, you have to go and play one at your local music store, because, I have owned mexicasters and americasters that have all had their own unique feel to their tone and there is not one (unless you talk about age) that stands out above the rest as far as quality, it's all about tone, feel, and what you want you next love to look like.....peace and love