When will they or are they already out--i had a new Vneck strat at a dealer and come to find out it was a NOS so he offered me the next new one he gets in--probably in the next few weeks --another question- a serial # beginning with 011 is this a 2011 guitar--

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

There are going to be no differences between the 2010 American Deluxe and the 2011; Fender just brought these out in March of last year so it might be worth it to take a few dollars off the one in stock as long as its not shop worn. Who knows when Fender will do their next run of these - it could ship next week, it could ship in 6 months. Also since Fender doesn't change decals on January 2 this could well be a guitar built in 2011 carrying a 2010 serial number decal - the only way to know for sure is to either email Fender or remove the neck and look for dates on the neck heel and in the neck pocket of the body.

Fender actually used two different serial number formats last year, both of which were completely different than the system they have used since 1976. The numbers they used up until April or so of last year just started with a "10", then in May or so they started using ones that start with "US10". Because they changed twice last year they may not start using the "US11" numbers until April/May. I haven't seen any "US11" numbers on any dealer's site yet.

One other bit - Fender actually did the first production run of the 2010-spec American Deluxes in late 2009; the first ones will carry 2009 serial numbers that start with a "DZ9" prefix even though they are really 2010 guitars. Fender had used a "D" for "Deluxe" first letter from 1998 through 2009; they no longer use the "D".

I would rather buy the guitar I played and liked than to commit my purchase promise towards the "next" new one that comes in. The new one may not feel or sound the same. Fender, like all modern guitar makers, makes guitars very consistently in terms of quality, but every piece of wood sounds different. Some guitars "have it" while others don't. New is new, if it is a 2010 and was never bought, so what? You will still be the initial owner, and entitled to the full warranty There will be no differences between 2010 and 2011 models. Unless you are waiting for the new one to come in that is a specific color you want......I could see that. Also, like mentioned in a previous post.....it could be a 2011 guitar with a 2010 decal. Fender is not going to just toss out all of their $$$ spent in decals just because the year changed. Good luck on your quest for your next guitar!!!!!

it was a 09 i beleive and i never got to play it so the dealer told me the next new one in the store ships to me--thanks for all the great info

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

As I mentioned the first batch of 2010-spec American Deluxes do have 2009 serial numbers (you can tell they are really 2010s by the N3 pickups and the cosmetics vs. the "real" 2009s) but better safe than sorry. Hopefully it won't be too long untill it comes in.

looks like 8 weeks

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