I do not know why they put a Vintage style case on a guitar that is anything but Vintage anyways. The darn thing hurts my eyes too.

I haven't seen one up close but I find the primary difference between the Select series and the American Deluxe or Standard series guitars is more expensive wood for aesthetics.

I love my Am Dlx Strat because it is not a traditional strat, but can get close enough to that sound for my liking as well as provide a few other variations on the "fender" sound - some settings get very close to Tele territory on the 2011 model I have. Also because the pickups are a bit hotter the guitar is capable of getting into metal territory, although it is a bit thin sounding for my tastes when playing metal. But with a bit of tweaking I bet you could get fairly close to an Yngwie type tone. I tend to use it for playing classic rock or blues and use my Gibbies for the heavier stuff.

The Select series might have a slightly different sound than the typical ash or alder bodied strats, but doesn't offer the versatility of an American Deluxe - and in my case, I have a finish that is not as common - Sunset Metallic (apparently since it's a less traditional color they don't produce as many as a sunburst or olympic white or red for example) At first I hated the color but it was the best sounding of all the Am Dlx models I'd played. It grew on me.

I probably could have found a very nice Standard strat and put a few upgrades into it for the cost of my American Deluxe - but when I add up the cost of swapping out the single coils for single coil size humbuckers, locking tuners and rewiring the pickups to get my own American Deluxe scheme going it would have cost more or less the same...and the compound radius neck and the heel on the Am Dlx was more appealing than the Standard which is more vintage specs in comparison.

I'm with the guys who would not be willing to shell out the bucks for that series. I just don't think the difference in feel or sound would be enough to justify the extra cost of the fancier wood...of course, this is coming from a guy who has not yet seen a Select series up close and personal. I will say they look fantastic and being the owner of a Les Paul, I'd be willing to shell out the bucks if the sound was as impressive as the appearance. Sure, my LP might not be a standard or custom, but it was a limited run and sold in the same price range and had features you would NEVER find on a studio... or any other Les Paul in production for that matter - ultimately it's sound won me over.

Aside from whether or not we like flamey timber, the price is the key determining factor here. The Selects are around the cost of an entry level Custom Shop guitar, and that might be a thought provoking choice for some of us.

Though, was it said earlier that the Select Strats have chambered bodies? I'm not seeing mention of that in the spec sheet, but if it's true then I believe that might be a first for Fender in the factory line models, and something they've thus far been behind the curve on. Together with the drop top, that might go a fair way to justifying the price, at least for some.

Clarification on that point would be useful...

Cheers - C

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Flamey = Tarty²

Sorry, couldn't resist.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

As long as no one confuses Tarty² = T² we're all good

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

Unfortunately entry level CS has gone way up - they are more like $3K US now. Of course the Selects do cross over into the price range of used CS guitars (and there are plenty of them around). I think the new pricing of the American Vintage series puts them in this same pricing overlap area (plus these overlap into the pricing for new entry level models from builders like John Suhr and Don Grosh and definitely in the same area as prices of used custom models from Suhr, Grosh, Anderson and others).

The Select Strat is not chambered - I was corrected about this on another thread. However, the Select Tele is chambered. While I have a Select Tele I likely would not get a Select Strat - I'm one of those who primarily have had Strat-types most of my playing days and never really got into Teles. While I'll go a bit outside the box for a Tele I do prefer my Strats to be pretty traditional (3 single coils, alder body, rosewood fingerboard).

...Then, of course, one has to like the Grosh, and Suhr guitars.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Hello
I have the select hss strat and really like it . the build quality is top knotch I only wish my playing was, it is a stunning guitar in terms of sight and sound
Cheers John

Oh I agree - my comment is that Fender's pricing on the the new AVs and the Selects does put them into direct economic competition with these guitars. I've had a Suhr and a Grosh pass through in my guitar journey, but I always come back to Fender.

Ditto!!.....and well writ.

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"Another day in paradise!"

The pricing on the Selects isn't cheap, no doubt. When I was looking for a new strat ( I ended up getting the select tele but that's not the point) I found that most dealers wouldn't budge on the American Std or Dlx's but were more willing to knock a few bucks off of the Selects. So that alone peaked my interest now that it wasn't much more to get the Select. Maybe that's the trick. If it was $200 more then a DLX, now would it interest you?

This thread started out as a 'what wrong with this series'...

But in reality, it's a thinly disguised Affirmation thread...

You bought it... you Love it... Good for you !!

Good Luck with it !! (in ALL sincerity !)

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

I bought a Select Strat., looks did have some to do with it and being collectable in the future.But mine plays great,I don't understand the dislike of the select model.

No it is not. If this thread's purpose was anything, it is a thread to inform Fender what to change with the series. Companies should value information like this.

And to post above, nice Strat! Why did you go SSS and not HSS. that's another decision I'm trying to make.

This thread has been really fun to read. A hoe (tarty) guitar? I really think a guitar is something to look at as much as to play. They are a work of art, which can be handled, used, and can produce amazing sounds. So it is a mixed deal. And as with anything, there are always personal preferences. Myself? I am a sucker for wood grain, flame, bird's eye, etc.

One thing about the Select Series is that they look a lot like the Japanese Foto-flames. Not that that is bad. Either the Foto Flames looked really real, or the Select Series looks really ....LOL. But either way I like the look. Never played one so can not comment on quality or tone. Below are some foto-flames I have owned. Very similar to the Select.

I guess if I was going to spend up to $2000 I would buy a 1990s Fender Ultra. Nice flame top, great quality and sounds like less money than a Select.

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com