Hey everyone,

I'm thinking of buying a new american deluxe 2010 strat in amber / maple neck. I like the look generally and the S1 switching on this one seems a great innovation - but can anyone say if it is a good buy or not - or what alternatives I should look at? The best price I've seen so far is £995 - uk based. I'm not new to fender - I've got a quality american standard tele - just looking to match it with a quality strat.[/b]

Welcome!

From what I gather, players either love or hate the Deluxe necks with no in-between so make sure you play one first.

I have two 'knocks' against the Deluxes:

1. The S-1 switch itself is rather frail and will probably break on you eventually.

2. The pickups could have been made a bit sturdier. They do have some breaking down problems as well.

Aside from these, the usual quality is absolutely, positively there.

Price wise, that sounds about right. I'm sure if you physically went to some independent Fender dealerships, you could do better.

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You dig?

If you have a chance to visit a Fender dealer give a chance to standards as well. You might like it better and you can save some money.
S1 is cool and will give you a huge variety of sounds, however I am assuming that you want a strat for strat sounds foremost and you will find a plenty more of it in a Am Standard. Just my suggestion

Good luck in your search.

Am deluxe have the locking tuners, a very stable tremolo, the "V" neck if you like it. Oh! and absolutely no hum!
I personally recomend you the American deluxe.

The American Deluxes feature a fast-action compound radius neck which is smooth and comfortable; no hand fatigue while bending and chording any more!

I don't like the black & white pearloid dots, they cheapen the series a lot. Fender should reinstate the mother-of-pearl dots, which denote a better period of construction. Also, the new Deluxe HSS models lack of a locking bridge option, which was a standard feature since 1998.

Thanks for your help and advice guys - that's really useful. I've got a Fender dealer about 10 miles away so easy to try before i buy. I think I'll try both the am deluxe and the am std - see which I prefer before making my mind up I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks...

Don't forget pictures, we love pictures!!

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You dig?

OK. Will post some pictures when I get sorted out.

Greetings

I hope to have my new delux pics out shortly. (Got the Camera on charge)

There is nothing wrong with the American Series strats or Tele's. I had a 2006 Tele HS that was really a great guitar for the dollars spent. I had a an Amber Deluxe HSS.While the quality was excellent it just didn't speak to me. I had sold both guitars in 2008 and I had realized that I was missing a single coil.
I went to Long and McQuade and I was looking at a Rickenbacker or possibly a 52 Tele (Was also thinking of ordering a Surf Green 57) I like Maple Necks .When a friend of mine who works there suggested I try this left over AM Deluxe 3 toned sunburst Rosewood Strat. It was pretty ,but I was looking for a maple neck.

Well I took a new AM deluxe Tele (Nice Guitar) and the strat and played for quite a while. The Strat which was in a store room was an amazing player. I can say I am totaly into this guitar.I had the S1 switch on the others but I did not really use them. The quality of the guitar and the neck where superb. I was much happier with the single coil versus the HSS.
However there is nothing wrong with the HSS.
I have an ES335 and 58 VOS les P I really needed the strat.I can honestly say I am completely fasinated at the playability and versatility that the guitar provides.
I also learned another valuable lesson.No matter what color or neck (wood type preference) If the guitar sounds amazing and is a great player then that should be the guitar to buy.
I would recommend both the American standard and the Deluxe .Just make sure you have lots of time avaialable to select and play such a great instrument.

Thanks for all your posts guys - the 2008 Am standard v 2010 Am delux strats - can't decide - love 'em both. the S1 swithing gives great variation in tone / sound on the delux; the 'delta' tone on the standard, equally effective. There must be more to it.....I've tried both now, both play well and like the sound of both........just can't make my mind up.

Can anyone out there help me?