The CS Classic Player Strats are completely different beasts than the MIM CP '50s and '60s models. These guitars are supposed to be CS versions of the American Deluxes because of the Vintage Noiseless pickups and the abalone dot inlays, however the differences ended here. American Deluxes used the same 2-point bridge except the saddles were made from polished steel and the tremolo is a pop-out type.

Even thought the current MIM Classic Player Strats are not based on the previous Custom Shop CP series, the MIM versions are Custom Shop designed, as indicated on the "Custom Shop Designed" engraving on the neckplate.

The following info is from an article in Guitarist Magazine, March 2007:

The MIM CP 50's Strat was designed by Custom Shop master builder Dennis Galuszka and master builder Greg Fessler designed the MIM CP 60's. The Custom Shop team worked extensively with the Ensenada production crew, working with them to develop a "thin skin" polyester finish for the CP Strats. The Custom Shop team trained them to refine sanding of the body contours and transitions on the neck and fingerboard areas.

According to Dennis Galuszka, "With the Classic Player 50's, I wanted to incorporate the better parts of a Stratocaster, both old and new. Staying within the 50's vibe, I kept the Kluson-style locking tuners that actually lock to ensure that the newer two-point tremolo (Custom Shop designed) will stay in tune with heavy-handed tremolo work. Vintage steel saddles were installed to maintain crystal clarity in the notes and keep the attach, and the five-way switch has a new voice by allowing the neck and bridge pickups to be used together."

Personally, I think the CP 50's and 60's Strats are an incredible bargain... I picked up my CP 50's new, on sale for $549 a few years ago and its my favorite...

The "missing" guitar from the MIM CP series is the 70's model.

FYI.. The two point vintage bridge used in the current CP50's and 60's is, according to Mike Eldred, the same one that was used in the Custom Shop Classic Players Strats...

...and the American Standard models since 2008.

So, would that mean the CP Straits also have thesame trem block as the AM standard?

Yep

Wow, so it sounds like, when deciding between the CP Strats and the American Standard, it comes down to the following major differences:

-- Neck shape (12" radius on CP 60's, soft V 9.5" CP 50's, or 9.5" C radius on Am Std
-- Pickups (each of these three guitars have different pickups
-- 21 or 22 frets (Am Std has 22, both CP's have 21)
-- Rolled edges on the neck
-- SKB case versus deluxe gig bag
-- Color choice (Shoreline Gold only available on the CP 50's, CAR and Sonic Blue only on the CP 50's, Am Std has a wider range of colors but limited "classic" colors)

Personally, with the bridges being the same between these three, I don't see much difference between them quality-wise, both in terms of components and workmanship...

The more CP Strat details I learn about, the more I like these guitars. I'm appreciating my CP 50's even more now... The one I purchased has some nice figuring on the headstock which makes it even more special to me... That CAR CP 60's is looking good to me now... I heard that, originally, the CP 60's had AY-signed pickups. I don't think that's the case now, though...

If you're fond of the Clapton neck, then you can stick a VN or LS Gold set with TBX and MDX tone circuits on your guitar for some serious roar - even block the bridge with a chunk of alder.

I just put CS-69 pickups in my standard Strat. Used Stew Mac conductive adhesive copper tape to shield the cavity and went an extra step and shielded the pup covers too. My rig is damn near noiseless now. I was very surprised that I don't miss the hum bucking of the 2 and 4 position.

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2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam