I just joined the Forum, so I may have missed this topic. Has anyone had an opportunity to demo one of the new HSH American Strats? I have not seen anything on YouTube, for example, specifically covering the HSH model - only the SSS model. I am also surprised that I have not been able to find anything showing all of the details and specifics on the Fender site.

Email fender with the serial number they will send you the spec consumerrelations@fender.com

The guitars were limited runs just as they annouced the american standard upgrades do a search on google and you should still find some info on the guitars.

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ukraider
"money cant buy you love but it can buy guitars!!!!!!"

It used to be that Fender never put up the specs for these FSR guitars; now it seems like they put up the specs for FSRs that are available at multiple dealers for a short period of time - they probably take the specs down once they have sold all of the run out to the dealers. They still never put up the specs for FSRs that are special runs for individual dealers.

As ukraider says Consumer Relations should be able to get you the specs.

heres a couple of links first one has a link to the full spec

http://www.soundsliveshop.com/p/Fender_ ... 7-8102-786

http://www.dv247.com/guitars/fender-fsr ... ain--95878

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ukraider
"money cant buy you love but it can buy guitars!!!!!!"

Thanks for the information and your help on this topic. I was curious about the tone controls on this guitar. (It has a no-load bypass).

I think that I am going to buy the mahogany/maple version. This guitar should definitely produce all of the tonal variations I'm looking for. Plus, it looks like Fender are only going to produce 125 units world-wide! That should make it a nice collectible as well. I still have the American Standard SSS Strat that my wife bought for me back in 1987 - for those "classic" bell-like tones. But one does need a little growl from time to time.

The American Standard series didn't came into surface until 1986/87!

Stratocasters made in 1978 featured a large headstock with 3-bolt neck fixing and a bullet truss rod!

It's just a simple typo! It should be 1987, not 1978.

Since your guitar is a 1987 model it does have a TBX circuit. The Hand Stained Ash has the DeltaTone pickup system which has been introduced in 1997.

Yes, as I recall, it does have a TBX Tone Circuit. However, since it is all original, and I have never had a problem with it, I have never felt the need to take it apart and inspect the electronics.

I am not certain of the exact system used on the new FSR American Standard HSH Ash Strat. I now know that it has no-load tone controls. However, I have not seen any factory literature that confirms that it is identical to the Delta-Tone pickup/control system that was introduced in 1997. It could just be the pots. In any event, the guitar sounds great in the few videos that I have seen.

In the final analysis, I just want it sound good to ME. I guess if it doesn't, it's relatively easy to modify.

DeltaTone does not necessarily refer to the pickups. The TBX has been replaced by the aforementioned No-Load pot in '97.

The DeltaTone system includes a hot bridge pickup.

I found the spec sheets somewhere online... but can't seem to find them again... so here's a cut and paste...

Model Name: FSR American Standard Hand Stained Ash Stratocaster® HSH Model Number: 017-8100-(790) and 017-8102-(786)
Series: American Standard Series
Body: Ash
Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape,
(Gloss Headstock Face with Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck)
Fingerboard: Rosewood (P/N 017-8100) or Maple (P/N 017-8102), 9.5” Radius (241 mm) No. of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Frets Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm) Width @ Nut: 1.685” (42.8 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender® Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Bridge: 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with New American Standard Bent Steel Saddles
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups: 2 Fender® Twin HeadTM Humbucking Pickups (Bridge/Neck),
1 American Strat® Single-Coil Strat® Pickups (Middle) Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Full Bridge Humbucking Pickup with Coils in Series (Lead Tone Control); Position 2. Middle Pickup and Full Bridge Humbucking Pickup in Parallel (Lead Tone Control); Position 3. Middle Pickup (Lead Tone Control); Position 4. Neck and Middle Pickup in Parallel (Lead and Rhythm Tone Controls); Position 5. Neck Pickup (Rhythm Tone Control)
Controls: Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck and Middle Pickups),
Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup and Bridge/Middle Pickup Combination)
Colors: (790) Wine Red,
(786) Mahogany Stain,
(Hand-Rubbed Stain with Satin Lacquer Top Coat)
Strings: Fender® Standard Tension™ Bullet ST3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-3250-203 Unique Features: New Bent Steel Saddles with Elongated String Slots, Copper Infused High Mass 100% Metal Bridge Block, Thinner Undercoat Finish for Improved Body Resonance, Tinted Neck, Maple Fingerboard Neck: Satin Finish on Back, Gloss Finish on Front; Rosewood Fingerboard Neck: Satin Finish on Back, Gloss Finish on Headstock Front with Buffed Fingerboard, 4-Bolt Neck Attachment with Micro-Tilt™ Adjustment, Bi-Flex Truss Rod System, Parchment Knobs and Pickup Covers, Rolled Fretboard Edges, Staggered Tuning Keys, H/S/H Pickup Routing, New Molded Fender/SKB Case with TSA Locks, Glass Reinforced Nylon Trigger Latches, and Form Fitted Plush Interior
Source: U.S.
Accessories: Fender/SKB® Case, Cable, Strap, Polishing Cloth U.S. MSRP: $1,569.99
INTRODUCED: 2/2012
DISCONTINUED:
DISCONTINUED COLORS:
COMMENTS: 150 Units globally in each color. Uses Case P/N 0996101506 WRENCH SIZES: Truss Rod/Tilt Adjustment Wrench, (1/8” Hex), P/N 0023811000, Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench, (.050” Hex), P/N 0018531000
Specs: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice

... and for some eye candy...







I know some of the "purists" might cringe at me saying so, but I LOVE the HSH configuration the way they've done it here... might well be my favorite playing Strat I've owned or handled...

(and yes I eventually did break down and take off the pickguard protective film... )

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2011 Custom Shop Custom Deluxe HSS Strat
2011 Custom Shop Custom Deluxe SSS Strat
2011 Custom Shop Jeff Beck Strat
2012 Fender Select HSS
2013 American Deluxe Tele
59 Bassman 410, Blues Deluxe 410
Two Rock Studio Pro 35 and 410 Cab

This guitar deserves a third humbucker in the middle and an S-1 switch, the middle pickup would be a single coil-sized humbucker (such as a Seymour Duncan HotRails, for example) since the body is routed for HSH - unless you rout the middle slot in order to make an HHH configuration with three full-sized humbuckers.

The only problem is that Fender doesn't sell Stratocaster pickguards routed for an HHH setup.

I don't know about that. To me what I LOVE about this guitar is the way the single coil balances and meshes sounds with the two HB's. I have an HSS USA Strat and it isn't the same. Positions 2 and 4 are just beautiful on this guitar and it's something I've never been able to recreate with other guitars. They got it perfect on this one!

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2011 Custom Shop Custom Deluxe HSS Strat
2011 Custom Shop Custom Deluxe SSS Strat
2011 Custom Shop Jeff Beck Strat
2012 Fender Select HSS
2013 American Deluxe Tele
59 Bassman 410, Blues Deluxe 410
Two Rock Studio Pro 35 and 410 Cab

This guitar is no longer in production.

Ah-ha, interesting thread.

Very few HSH Strats from Fender over the years: they usually seem to leave this config to Ibanez. Though I believe Ibanez don't generally offer the middle pickup on its own in selector position three (is that right?). That seems to be what this Fender does - I wonder if it sounds a bit under-powered compared to the solo humbuckers in postions one and five?

"150 Units globally in each color." Are Fender flying a kite with this FSR? If they sell fast I wonder if we'll see a regular HSH in the catalog in due course?

Cheers - C

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