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Post subject: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 12:35 pm
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I've playing a while but never really got past the intermediate skill level, due to family and work. I'm now at a time in my life where I can back into the music. I am a long time fan of all types of blues (Muddy Waters to SRV), with a 2nd in 60's & 70's Classic rock. Which guitar do you think would better serve me for the sound I'm looking for. I'm looking at either the new Deluxe LoneStar or the Deluxe Roadhouse. Let me know what you think and any other possibilities that may serve me better. Thx Jay


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:13 pm
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One thing that both the Deluxe Lonestar and Deluxe Roadhouse have are Texas special pickups for approximately $600. Both are Made in Mexico.

Another Stratocaster that also has Texas Special pickups ... and which I now own ... is the American Special Stratocaster for approximately $900.

At my local guitar store, I test drove both the Deluxe Lonestar and the American Special. I was never an huge fan of humbuckers on a Strat so the Deluxe Lonestar was out of the question. Then I played the American Special and I really love the feel of the Modern C shape neck with Satin Urethane finish.

The guitar store did not have a Deluxe Roadhouse but looking at the specs on the fender website, I felt it had too many "bells and whistles" .... with its special V6 rotary switch (disguised as the middle tone knob) and the S-1 switch built into the volume knob.

In short ... I simply wanted a strat with 3 Texas special pickups, 2 tone color sunburst and maple neck with large 70's style headstock and I found all that in the American Special Stratocaster.


Last edited by Baby_ItstheBLUES on Sat Sep 27, 2014 5:30 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:18 pm
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Frankly... If you get a Standard Stratocaster and a decent Les Paul... You've got the bases covered fro pretty much anything and everything.
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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:43 pm
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Thanks for the replies. I do realize that both guitars are MIM but they get good revues and are within my budget right now. The reason why I like the Roadhouse is exactly what you mentioned before, which was the 3 Texas Special single coils. About the bells and whistles, I'm kinda new to guitar electronics and not very knowledgable. Not sure what the switch being able to bypass the preamp does but according to some revues, It's a good thing. The reason I was looking at the Lone Star was that it has 2 Texas Special Single coils in the middle and neck, then a humbucker at the bridge, which I assume could be used for some rock sounds. It also has a feature that supposedly splits the humbucker giving it a 3rd single coil type of sound at the bridge. Please let me know what else you think. I would love to buy the American special but I need to by an amp as well and I just wouldn't have the money for both right now. Nor would I have the money for a Strat and a Les Paul.


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:38 pm
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Given your budget and particular likes ... I would go with the Lonestar.

With 2 Texas special pickups in the neck and middle position, you get that SRV-blues sound. And like you said ... with the humbucker in the bridge position, you get that classic rock sound. It has a feature that DOES splits the humbucker giving it a 3rd single coil type of sound at the bridge.

If you think about it, .... getting the Lonestar is like having a Strat (single coil pickups) and Les Paul (humbuckers) in one guitar because you get a wide range of tones/sounds.

With the Roadhouse, it seems to me there are too many unknowns .. electronics-wise ... until you know MORE about it, of course.

Have you test drive both the Lonestar and Roadhouse at your local guitar store? FEELING the way a guitar plays is just as important as the hardware on it. Things like the weight of the body, how your hand wraps around the neck of the guitar, etc. (I have small hands so it was important for me that the neck be slender.)

Just curious, what kind of amplifier are you thinking about getting?


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:56 pm
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The Roadhouse has a modified version of the Clapton mid boost circuit called "V6" giving you 6 different sounds. It can be turned off through the S1 switch.

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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 8:01 pm
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Thanks alot again for taking the time to respond to my posts. When the S1 switch is used then it bypasses those 6 preamp sounds and makes it what?. Just a regular raw Texas special 3 single coil setup sound? Like a SRV type sound? And what are the V6 sounds? Are they sounds that I would expect to hear from a foot switches like Flange and Phaser or WahWah? Thx for your help. Let me know if you might be able to give more info on this. Thx Jay


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 8:17 pm
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To: Baby_ItstheBLUES

I too have small hands and I've heard comments that the MIM strat necks are comfortable for small hand players. As far as amp, I'm just thinking about a small practice amp for now. Like the new Mustang 1 or 2. It has new V.2 technology, has USB connectivity and uses that Fender Fuse software that looks like might be fun to play around with.


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 8:26 pm
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By the way nice pic Rock Star. Reminds me of the time when I was a kid and saw Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton together at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Florida. Muddy and Clapton did a type of solo duel at the end. And Muddy blew Clapton away, with what seemed like an effortless solo. Like he didn't even break a sweat doing it. It was probably the best blues show I ever saw.


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:47 am
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topjbird wrote:
Thanks alot again for taking the time to respond to my posts. When the S1 switch is used then it bypasses those 6 preamp sounds and makes it what?. Just a regular raw Texas special 3 single coil setup sound? Like a SRV type sound? And what are the V6 sounds? Are they sounds that I would expect to hear from a foot switches like Flange and Phaser or WahWah? Thx for your help. Let me know if you might be able to give more info on this. Thx Jay


The V6 gives you 6 different gain presets ranging from wiry single-coil to searing humbucking distortion.
Kinda sorta of a rotary mid boost preset button.

With the S1 switch pressed down the preamp is turned off and the guitar sounds like a normal Strat.


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 5:30 am
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I had both guitars, a Roadhouse and a Lonestar. I had the Lonestar first, but I found the Pearly Gates humbucker had way too much output that caused a big spike in volume output when playing. But I also find Texas Specials to be rather lackluster to. Both guitars had Texas Specials in the Neck and Middle positions. Recently, I picked up a pair of Deluxe Players Strats, I sold one, and kept the other. The one I kept, I removed the Vintage Noiseless Bridge pickup and put in a Seymour Duncan Lil' 59. I was hesitant at first because of how the full sized Pearly Gates reacted in the Lonestar, but I found as a single coil sized humbucker, it works perfectly. I get some amazing rock tones out of it and when I want to switch back to a more blues tone, I still have the neck and middle position "quack" to work with.

Here's my old Roadhouse/Lonestar (Sold the Lonestar, bought a Roadhouse, then put a Lonestar neck on it. I'm a rosewood fan).
Image

and my more recent Fender Strat, it has a 1998 Deluxe body, 2008 Deluxe Players Loaded pickguard (pre-Lil '59), and a large C profile Robert Cray neck (I may put an Alpine white body on it).

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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 1:54 am
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Hi,

I actually own both of them. Roadhouse in VW and Lonestar in OT.
I would have rather liked the Lonestar in VW but oh well.
In total I do not consider the Texas Special the best pickup because it gets extremely bright with the neck / body wood combination. On the Roadhouse this is not an issue as the pre-amp can push the guitar in a totally different direction. On the lonestar you have the Humbucker which I consider really awesome but has a way bigger output than the Texas Special.

Too sum it up: I am considering to replace the Texas Special with Sinlge Coils with more output on the Lonestar. The Roadhouse can stay as it is as the Pre-Amp gives you so many options. Apart from that the guitars are really cool also the playability is great. On the Roadhouse I will receive a replacement pickguard as the original one was broken.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to ask.


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 8:40 pm
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Thanks again for your responses. I'm curious though. I've heard a few ppl have some negative comments on the Texas specials. But isn't that the same pickups that the American strats have and aren't they the same pickups as famous guitarists like SRV used. I'm asking because another guy in here suggested I just get a regular MIM standard strat, which comes with the standard single coil pickups. I am purposely leaning towards getting the MIM Deluxe Roadhouse for the Texas specials. The difference would be $100. I figured the pickups would be worth that. What do you guys think? Thx Jay


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:06 am
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SRV used Van Zandts in his Strats.

There are exceptions: the Hamiltone features active EMGs and the Robin Family double neck a set of Muy Grandes.


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Post subject: Re: Deluxe LoneStar vs. Deluxe Roadhouse
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 5:28 am
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topjbird wrote:
But isn't that the same pickups that the American strats have and aren't they the same pickups as famous guitarists like SRV used.


The Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster has Texas Special single coil pickups in the Bridge, Middle and Neck position.


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