which one is the most high end fender guitar that is not a custom shop nor artist series?
is it the american deluxe?

looking for a good versatile american strat that is great for blues and rock music.
which pickups should i get? i want something that sounds good with clean amp, good with fuzz pedals and also great with high gain sound.

something that has a good quality in terms of wood and parts. has a good comfortable neck.

im confused which is the highest end among the ff
fender vintage hot rod
fender american vintage
fender american deluxe

what are the differences, which one do you think suits my needs?

Welcome!

You seem to be equating price tag with a guarantee of personal satisfaction. As anyone here will tell you, the best way to answer your question is for you to get out and play all the models which interest you.

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You dig?

If everyone was the same, Fender would only make one model. I can tell you the models that fit me and my playing style, but I am not you, and you are not me.

The only way to know for sure is to play as many as you can find until you find the one that fits you like a glove.

You will know the one when you play it, forget what sub-model it is, forget what color it is. It's like finding a pair a shoes that are just right, or a pair of jeans or a jacket that feel prefect to you.

Don't be all jumping at the first one, get out take a week to hit as many stores as you can, and believe me, there will be one that will stick in your mind as the best.

That is the one to buy.

_________________
Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

the thing is, the country where i live in has only limited guitars and im just thinking of purchasing a guitar online. im trying to decide through your suggestions.. i really want to try those fender guitars but in my situation. it is impossible..

Well then, if you can't play it before you buy it, you are forced to use the price tag as your guide as no one can tell you which one you'd like the best. Having said this, if I had to 'blindly' choose (keeping in mind the styles of music you like), I'd get the American Deluxe.

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You dig?

Please consider this then. By the guitars you mentioned I can tell your budged is around 1500-2000 bucks.

Fender Custom Shop Musician’s Friend Special Run Vintage Pro 1960 Stratocaster NOS $2199,99
http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/Guitars/Electric-Guitars/Solid-Body-Electric-Guitars/Musicians-Friend-Special-Run-Vintage-Pro-1960-Stratocaster-NOS.site1prod423452.product


Fender Custom Shop Special Edition Custom Deluxe Stratocaster Electric Guitar $1999.99
http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/Guitars/Electric-Guitars/Solid-Body-Electric-Guitars/Special-Edition-Custom-Deluxe-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar.site1prod584101.product


Fender American Vintage Hot Rod '62 Stratocaster Electric Guitar $1699.99
http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/Guitars/Electric-Guitars/Solid-Body-Electric-Guitars/American-Vintage-Hot-Rod-62-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar.site1prod512142.product


Fender American Vintage Hot Rod '57 Stratocaster Electric Guitar $1699.99
http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/Guitars/Electric-Guitars/Solid-Body-Electric-Guitars/American-Vintage-Hot-Rod-57-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar.site1prod512139.product


If you choose any of those, depending on your style and budget, you really can´t go wrong. They´re all awesome strats.

^^^

nice suggestions mate! how do you compare the american vintage hot rods to american deluxe? which of the two has better quality? in terms of wood selection and detail? which one has better consistency in quality?

As I said, you cannot go wrong with either of those guitars, including the Deluxe. With Fender, you get what you pay for. The Deluxe is a more modern guitar appointed, with locking tuners and high output pickups. But thats a matter of taste, for the price I would go vintage series, no doubt. But hey, thats just me!
Start thinking of the bundle youre trying to combo, have any amplifier in mind yet ? Amp is like marriage to the guitar youre after, they must bind togheter.

any reason why you prefer vintage over the deluxe model?
im planning to get a vox amp or a marshall amp no specific models yet but now im just using a marshall class5..

What shape of a neck are you after? This criterion alone will help narrow your search.

I agree with checking out the American Vintage series, but before doing that you owe it to yourself to try out the Hot Rod '57 as mentioned. The unique soft V neck profile on that particular model is nothing short of heaven. I might add that this is an unbiased opinion, aswell, as I really love the C-shape which my strat happens to have.

i really have no idea which neck shape im after. is there a difference in sound or just the feel? how do you compare the C and V? im just after a comfortable neck for bending and gives a fat strat tone..

Do it the Alain la France way..

Buy 'em all

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

V-shaped necks are known as '50's style necks. Strats had V-shaped necks during the late '50's maple neck Strat glory years, so most of the Strats made today that have a V neck are '50's reissues and aren't available with a rosewood fretboard. I think the only exception is the "American Deluxe V-neck" which is basically the same as the American Deluxe but has a v-shaped maple neck and is available in fewer colors than the regular deluxe. I personally love a V shaped neck and don't care for rosewood boards either.

I think Fender started using a C shaped neck in either '58 or '59. I've played some that I liked and some that just weren't very comfortable. Have a '99 MIM Strat that I've modded and I really like the neck on it. I had (recently sold) a 2010 MIA Standard Strat. The neck felt a little bit too big to suit me.