What's the difference between the American Standard Strat, American Deluxe Strat, and Vintage Hot Rod '62 Strat?

The Vintage Hot Rod '62 Strat is made in America, right?

Thank you.

http://www.fender.com/products/index.ph ... n+Standard

http://www.fender.com/products/americandeluxe

http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0100140805

Compare the specs.

Yes.

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Bill

Thanks, but I've already looked at the specs. I want to know things that aren't in the specs or description.

What is it like playing each of these instruments? How do they sound different? I believe the contours of the Hot Rod '62 are slightly different from the standard Strat. Is this true?

The Hot Rod '62 has a reverse-wound middle pickup. I've read that the 2008 American Standard model also had this feature, for reducing hum. Does the current model have that feature? It doesn't say so in the specs. The Deluxe model has the N3 noiseless pickups...are these as effective as the reverse-wound pickup?

What is the reason for the $600 difference between the Standard and Deluxe? It must be more than "select alder," pearloid inlays, N3 pickups, the S-1 switch, and the tremolo.

These are the kinds of questions I want answered.



Well at least you answered something.

Why not ask someone from the company or the sales staff at your local GC?

We don't work for Fender.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Can't comment directly but will add what I know.

Never played a 62 hot rod so can't comment.
I have a loaded HSS pickguard from an AM Deluxe with S1, "passing Lane" and N3 pups. I may be one of the few here who like the N3 but I really do like the tone, the no noise and the versitility. Great sounding setup. N3's are not ture single coil but basically humbuckers voiced like a single coil. I'd recommend you play one and see if you like the tone. N3 seems to be a love or hate thing with few responses in the middle.

I have an AM Standard with Seymour Duncan SSL-1 pups. The middle is RWRP and yes, it does have a noise cancelling effect. Well sheilded and grounded guitar to start with but when setting the selecter in 2 or 4 there is a reduction in background hum. While not the exact same pups as on the factory strats, the specific question you asked should have the same answer as with my SSL-1 pups.

Hope this helps.
Jeff

I switched from Gibson's Les Paul's to Fender Strats 3 years ago because of the difference in weight. After player guitar my entire life, I had a back operation and fell in love with Stratocasters.
I first bought a MIM Strat used for $200, good guitar, but, the pickups had no power after the L P's humbuckings. I played an American Standard, 2009, really nice, better pickups and bought it. I played an Clapton model Strat Plus, loved it but too much cash. So I put in Gold Lace sensors, and a Clapton pre-amp in the American Standard. It's beautiful, sounds great. But then I played the new 2010 American Deluxe. For $1499 I got a compound radius neck, N3's and pop in trem. The whole fit and finish of the Deluxe is a much better made guitar. The neck on the Deluxe feels much better to me, and was worth the money. I like the Deluxe so much, I decided not to switch over the Lace Sensors, and pre-amp to it from the American Standard. It sounds just fine with the N3's. I play blues, and I have to have it scream when I bend a high E up a step or so. And it does.Too bad they didn't make that model Deluxe when I first bought the Standard in 09, But now I have 3 Strats, and play them all. But the Deluxe is the #1.

Gee, maybe those are the quesions you should have asked instead of "What's the difference?"

You are asking for personal opinions. Based on your response, you don't understand the specs that you read. Go play each one and form your own opinion.



Score one for me.

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Bill

Easy

American Standard: The legend. Rock'n'Roll. Good quality instrument and great sound.

American Deluxe: Improved Am. Standard to modern specs: compound radius fretboard, beveled neck heel, S1 switching, N3 Noiseless pickups, etc. Not a real "Stratish" sound for some people, but a very interesting guitar if you want versatility and quality.

Vintage Hot Rod 62: A Reissue of what some people considered the best years of the Stratocaster, but with some modern specs, like radius fretboard or reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup. Custom Shop quality (as read in some forums/posts) build instrument.

About de price... Try them and you'll have your answer. To me, there's a big difference between the first and second ones (I've never played a HR 62 )

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I'm sorry if you can't understand me, but I'm just an English student. Help acepted.

After a too long absence...

I'm back in town! (and in Fender Lounge)

I wish I could. Local GCs only have the standard, and they won't ship the other two unless I buy them. Other guitar stores might have them, but I haven't found any yet that do.


If I replaced the N3 pickups on the deluxe with American Standard pickups, I would get that classic strat sound, right?

Why not ask the sales staff at your local GC?

We don't work for Fender.

Arjay[/quote
He probably wants a correct answer.

I played American Standards for years,they're great guitars,I own three of them....they get a classic Strat sound.
I also own a '62 Hot Rod and consider it one of the best Strats I've ever played,and that's a bunch over the years since the late '60s,and to answer your question,it is made in the USA...and IMHO it's every bit as good as any Custom Shop Strat I've seen.

To me, Fender is all about integrity. And this includes pricing. Fender gives me value, whether looking for a guitar for my 10-year old son, or one for myself. If you have to pay 600 dollars more for a model, there is a reason for it. Now considering how outstandingly well Fender guitars hold up through the years, my advice is to purchase the more expensive ones, for best return on your investment. To me, a Fender is not a ¨transition¨-type instrument. I buy a Fender thinking say 20 years ahead. For example, I have 2 Stratocasters from 1989, still providing me with excellent service. I am 41 years old now, and my current stance is, get the best possible instrument and play on that! Keeping a ¨student¨ instrument and a concert one under the bed for special occasions seems folly. Yes, the models you cite will sound differently. Do some research on the pick-ups if you are very interested in a particular timbre. Do you like Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, or are you in love with SRV´s tone?
With Fender, when you spend more, you get your money´s worth, no doubt!

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FIGHT!

Is the vintage HRRI a MIA Fender? You can tell by the price alone! But yes.

Deluxe strat has better pickups/electronics (S-1), better neck

Hot Rod is like a Deluxe without the ablone dot inlays and S-1.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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Not able to opine on the '62 HR; no experience.

As ably said, the Am Std is just that; THE standard by which Srats can be measured, tho some are better than others. Yes, the center pup is reverse wound, so 2 and 4 are no hum. That said, the center position is a personal fave. Quality is really nice, all over. Way nicer than say, an original NOS '68.

If the AS is a jewel, the Deluxe is a jewel set in precious metal. Personal opinion, "it's too nice to be a Fender." Looks splendid, plays great, quality-ooze is outstanding. Does not sound as "undercooked/pure" as an AS or "real Strat." Kinda more of a solid ES-335-ish high end vibe.

The S-1 is flexible, works flawlessly but does not have a Bridge-Neck pup combo option, which seems just plain dumb. Sound is definitely a little different than a "real" Srat. Not better or worse, different. Does the Deluxe "play better" than an AS? Maybe "smoother" is a better word, but then that also means, "less pure Fender-y."

Best of fortune.

Thanks for the replies. I went to GC and tried out the Am. Std. with maple neck and fell in love with it. No need to try the others.