Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and will soon be buying my first Strat. I tried out an American Standard at my local shop and fell in love with it. I also wanted to try the American Deluxe model but the shop didn't have any in stock. Since then, I've been doing a lot of reading on Strats and the different models and the American Deluxe looks really nice/has great specs. I understand the need to pick the guitar that feels the best etc, but I wanted to get some advice on which I should get? Is the American Deluxe really worth the extra money? Are there any drawbacks to the N3 pickups for the S1 switch system?

Ryan

Hello and welcome to the forum. This is just my opinion but if you can afford it I'd get the MIA Deluxe. I've got an 08 model ,which came with the SCN pups, and never regretted it. I'm not sure about the new N3 pups. The MIA standard is a great guitar so you can't go wrong with it either. I do think the deluxe is worth the extra money. I'm sure you'll get differing opinions. Good luck with your choice and enjoy my friend!!

i would play both--i have a new American Deluxe on order because of the flexibility of the deluxe with the S1 switch--cant wait to get it

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2011 PRS 25th SAS
2008 Eric Clapton Custom Antigua Strat
2012 PRS Artist Package Studio Special Order

I put a loaded pickguard from an MIA Deluxe (with N3 neck and middle, Atomic humbucker bridge, S1 and Passing Lane) on my MIM strat and absolutely love the way it sounds.

My MIM strat already felt great and liked the way it played, this swap was just perfect.

Hope this helps you.

Jeff

You can't go wrong with either. You'd have to try out a Deluxe and see how the N3s work for you. The S-1 is pretty cool. You're essentially getting a whole other 5 tones with it if I'm thinking correctly with regards to how it works (I once had an Am Dlx tele where really the only difference was in the 2 position).

If you can find a NOS deluxe with SCN's those are also excellent pickups IMO. The American Standard is what it is - an absolute classic.

Besides the pickups and locking tuners, does a Deluxe feel different from the MIA Standard? I see the specs for deluxe says compound radius neck but I'm not sure what that means? I have a MIA Standard and I always wondered what justified the $500 price difference.

I wondered the same thing.

I play a variety of music from the blues (SRV, Hendrix, Clapton) to classic rock to alternative and metal. Would the variety of tones provided by the S1 switch be better suited to that style of play or would the MIA Standard be sufficient with the right amp?

I had the same dilemma, and managed to play both in a shop. You really should have a play of both, first hand experience is invaluable when it comes to guitars.

I didn't really care much for the N3 pickups, compared to the pups in the standard they just didn't have the same mojo (for me anyway). The neck is very nice on the deluxe, very smooth and it has the compound radius fretboard. That was the main thing I liked about the deluxe.

The pop in tremolo arm and locking tuners would be handy, but they're not dealbreakers in my opinion. You could always upgrade the standard. Also the S1 switch, although nifty, didn't matter to me. I'm sure given more time with it i would find some pickup combinations that really worked for me, but strat players have managed with a five way for years, I'm sure I can too.

Ultimately I went for the American Standard. It sounded better to me, and the features of the deluxe were give or take with me, and not worth the extra cash.

That's just my opinion though, it doesn't actually mean much. If you like the deluxe not a while lot can change your mind, so if I were you I would hold out to get a play of a deluxe.

I am learning to get some really good tone out of the N3s . . . When I was shopping I tried both the Deluxe and the Standard. Just the way the Deluxe felt in my hands sold me. It is truly a work of art. And if the N3s don't suit you, you can always change them out.

I vote for the Deluxe, and bought on myself, because of the awesome feel of the neck and it just seemed to be a better guitar overall.

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Support your local guitar shop.

the one i'm getting has the Soft V neck just like my EC strat--really like the V neck

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2011 PRS 25th SAS
2008 Eric Clapton Custom Antigua Strat
2012 PRS Artist Package Studio Special Order

My solution, I went for the best of both worlds; 2010 American Standard HSS body with a 2010 American Deluxe Soft V neck includes the compound radius 9.5-12".

Notice the pick guard is a Strat Ultra, the middle pickup is nearer to the neck than a standard strat hss pickguard, this requires body modifications.
Looks great, plays great, sounds great.

I love the compound radius neck, it makes chording and bending a breeze.

I really regret this option being offered only on the US Deluxes, the US Standards and a couple of Artist models (the Clapton, for example) could also benefit of this feature as well to satisfy the needs of professional musicians in mind....

rowbo777, that is a beautiful guitar!

If it sounds as good as it looks, you should be very happy...nice!

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

Don't leave home without it!

Looking good rowbo777!! Welcome to the forum brother!!