I was wondering how the owners like this guitar. I might be getting a new Strat sometime this year ( `12 ) and it was a toss up between the Deluxe Ash Strat or the Jeff Beck model. I like the sound of the dual coil ceramics in the Beck Strat better. But outside of the S-1 switch, do the Deluxe pups sound the same as single coils just that their noiseless ? I`d like to play them both but I doubt my local Sam Ash will have both models in stock to try out. Thanks in advance

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Deluxe pickups?

You mean the SCNs or N3s perhaps?

SCN stands for Samarium Cobalt Noiseless. These babies were designed by Bill Lawrence and used samarium cobalt alloy magnets. Bill claims the SCNs having a more articulate response. They were available from 2004 to 2009.

N3 Noiseless use three different types of Alnico magnets: Alnico V for the power and warmth of the Stratocaster N3 bridge pickup and the signature snap and spank of both Telecaster pickups; Alnico II for the sweetness and sparkle of the Stratocaster N3 middle pickup; Alnico III for the fullness of the Stratocaster N3 neck pickup without undue magnetic string pull. Introduced in March 23, 2010.

Fender is going to replace the N3 noiseless pickups introduced two years ago with their newest noiseless pickup designs (called Super 55 Split-Coils) for the American Deluxe series in 2012.

I have an `07 Deluxe Tele with SCN pickups so I know what their like. Its the JB Strat with dual coil ceramics I`m wondering about. Thanks for the info its very helpful. I`m taking a ride to the store today to see if they have any in stock to try out.

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The whole story about the pickups on Jeff's personal guitar remains a mystery.

Rumours said Jeff uses stacked humbuckers designed by John Suhr during his days at the Fender Custom Shop in the 1990s. Other sources claimed his pickups are SCNs or something else.

They have dual coil ceramics and they sound great. Probably my next Strat but its a long way off right now.

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The American Deluxes made prior to 2004 featured the dual-coil ceramics.

The SSS had a dual-coil ceramic in the bridge position for extra punch and sustain while the HSS used two dual-coil ceramics in the middle and neck which were specially calibrated for a proper balance with the Atomic humbucking bridge pickup.

Dual-coil ceramic pickups were also OEM on the Richie Sambora signature models made between 1999 and 2002.

Interesting, I didn`t know that thanks.

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Something for the Jeff Beck Fans
http://youtu.be/1yGB6d_3n58

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It's Brush with the Blues from his 1999 studio album "Who Else!".

Nice, warm rendition of this classic rock instrumental masterpiece (from the "Live with Jools Holland" TV shows) with Jennifer Batten on lead/rhythm guitar !

Same song, but in a different scale (C minor):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZr0vb0bvxI

Recorded live @ Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 11th, 2010.
This version features bass babe Rhonda Smith playing her post-2010 American Deluxe Jazz Bass IV with N3 pickups and a compound radius tuxedo maple neck.

I like that version also. Can`t imagine being able to play on that level.

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He probably performed that song during the third Crossroads Guitar Festival held at Chicago in June 26th of that year.

Your probably right. I have that album and it came with the CD from the Eric Clapton Crossroad Guitar Festival and that`s on it. He`s playing along with Tal Wilkenfeld.

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Jeff also played "Brush" while touring with Eric in 2010.

Can't help you dawg, as I don't know where exactly to measure this. Just felt like since you hadn't had a response I thought I'd chime in simply because I have what was supposedly going to be a Beck signature model. But as the story goes, he didn't like to be surprised and declined the offer from Fender for a sig model being Graffitti Yellow (as per his off hand comment) like the '32 Ford in American Graffitti. All I can say is I love this guitar. If I had any computer savvy, I'd post a pic for you. Suffice it to say, a bright yellow strat is a thing of beauty.

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I'm the best guitarist in my bedroom.