Hey all, in need of a little help identifying this strat. I've got what appears to be an '88 or '89 American Strat Plus in what seems to be either Cypress Mica or Pewter.
I say appears because unlike most known Plus's from that time, it does not have a roller nut or locking tuners and it does have two strings trees. There is no evidence these string trees were added and no evidence of a roller nut having been removed or the tuners having been replaced. I've also not seen any Plus's in this particular color. It does have LS, as well as the TBX circuit. The frets are also on the large side, and I've read the Plus's had relatively narrow frets? Is this a late '80's American with LS added? Or is it a genuine Strat Plus? The serial dates it to '88 or '89, E8. There was one owner before me and all he knew was it was a US Strat with LS. Thanks for any help on this.
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It could be an "American Standard Deluxe" - it was a one-year model from 1989 that had the Lace Sensors like a Strat Plus but the regular nut and regular tuners like an American Standard. I could have the name reversed; it might have also been called the "Deluxe American Standard".

As far as I can remember all American Standard, Strat Plus, etc. models did have "medium jumbo" frets - however, I believe the current "medium jumbos" are slightly larger than the "medium jumbos" used in the 80s and 90s.

[quote="marktate1"]Hey all, in need of a little help identifying this strat. I've got what appears to be an '88 or '89 American Strat Plus in what seems to be either Cypress Mica or Pewter.
I say appears because unlike most known Plus's from that time, it does not have a roller nut or locking tuners and it does have two strings trees. There is no evidence these string trees were added and no evidence of a roller nut having been removed or the tuners having been replaced. I've also not seen any Plus's in this particular color. It does have LS, as well as the TBX circuit. The frets are also on the large side, and I've read the Plus's had relatively narrow frets? Is this a late '80's American with LS added? Or is it a genuine Strat Plus? The serial dates it to '88 or '89, E8. There was one owner before me and all he knew was it was a US Strat with LS. Thanks for any help on this.

I owned an '87 Strat Plus. The following are the parts it came with:
1. 3 Gold Lace Sencors
2. two-point bridge
3. Midium Jumbo frets
Wilkenson Roller nut which only covering the high "E" through the "D" string. The low "E" and "A" strings had rollers under the string but not on top. No string trees
4. It did not come with the "Hip shot" trem setter.
5. Fender Locking tuning keys.
6. TBX Tone knob.

I hope this helps.

John C hit the nail on the head. Fender introduced an Deluxe American Standard Strat in 1989 and discontinued them in 1990—so they had a short production life of about one year. It is estimated that only 400 instruments were produced, but I think a lot more than that were made. I have owned a couple and I have has people ask me about them quite frequently, as well as seeing them on eBay fairly regularly. They came with all the features of a Strat Plus, such as Gold Lace Sensors but no locking tuners or roller nut. They are some-what collectible and are sometimes sold, mistakenly, as a Strat Plus. (They will often have the E4 or E9 serial number too).

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It's either a Deluxe American Standard or an AmStd that had the golds added. I've had a Deluxe AmStd since 1991 and am very happy with it-I wasn't at first, but I grew fond of the Lace Sensors and once I had the frets taken down to medium-sized I was much happier with it (The frets did feel larger on this model, and I couldn't stand the big frets, which were popular during that era). Well worth picking up and well-built guitars that age well. I'm really glad I held onto mine-it's a good go-to guitar and is especially good for recording or if you use a lot of effects-It does kind of lack the "growl" of standard pickups, but makes up for it in fidelity.