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Post subject: Re: Casual Lurker - Ready To Switch. Help Me Choose.
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:30 am
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shimmilou wrote:
I have both Am Std (SSS) and Am Dlx (HSS), and I use the Am Std much more, except for hard rock, in which case the hum-bucker equipped Am Dlx comes in very handy. For most styles, and much better stock single coils, I generally prefer the Am Std. Customizing any Strat with your own choice of pups is always an option.


So, are the pups in the American Deluxe garbage, or are they just not to your liking? What is your issue with them? Would you say that the main difference in price between the Am Stan, and the Am Deluxe is the neck, and then they offset some of that price difference by cheaping out on the pickups? If I gotta pay an extra few hundred to get some real pups in a Deluxe, I'd just like to be ready for the expense.

The Fender site has the models listed and brief descriptions, but as you can imagine, they are not gonna list the "drawbacks."

I'm starting to like the idea of this compound radius neck. It makes sense. I'm leaning towards starting my Fender quest with:
New Number 1 = American Deluxe vs American Standard VS Any of the premium Artist Series (I'll be trying them out just because.)
New Number 2 = Sweet playing used Strat of some sort if I can find one which should be pretty easy to do in my area. I'll probably really think about installing the fat 50's in the number 2. I wonder if they'll be too noisy though. I do know about the noise cancellation feature they have, but still...pickup noise has always kinda bugged me. I'd love to find a test model with fat 50's. Maybe I can try out a FSR American Standard Stratocaster "V" Neck which comes with the 50',s a soft v, AND a compound radius. That's like 3 birds with one stone!

Also - compound radius neck - looks like that is not possible (from the factory, anyway) unless it's an American model?


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Post subject: Re: Casual Lurker - Ready To Switch. Help Me Choose.
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:50 am
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Strat-Slinger wrote:
what I see from the OP's post... the two most influencing factors are neck specs and pup choice.
Sounds like the flatter radius would be best... at least 9.5.... compund radius would prob be very comfy...
Wouldn't suggest 7.25... but then again... ya never know... you might fall in love with the 7.25.

Pups.... go noiseless stacked coils or HSH... lots of cool options in both camps from hot/modern to clean/vintage tones.
Try out Blacktops, Specials, Standards, Deluxe models and hone in on what feels and sounds best.
Rock on 8)


Thanks, SS -
I've never replaced stock pickups, or had a neck "choice" before, so this is all kinda new to me. I do know that I want Strat sound, and the MIM one I used in the past felt solid and smooth, so if I can customize my config even more, then I should be a happy camper with a premium, solid, number 1 player. I don't like to tinker, I like to play. I want to get the config right the first time. I haven't ruled out any neck shape at all, I'm just trying to hone down my ideas of what I should be looking out for in a Strat when I go on my test drives.

The only REAL "yuck" necks I've tried out that I can recall were on an older mid-range Kramer, and a mid 70's Les Paul. The Les Paul just felt really DRY and lifeless on the upper frets. It sounded just fine, but the playability on the upper frets just wasn't there for me at ALL. The Kramer was literally "yuck." I put it down after 5 minutes. It felt hollow, like it was made out of tin - hard to explain. Yuck.


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Post subject: Re: Casual Lurker - Ready To Switch. Help Me Choose.
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 11:03 am
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I wouldn't say that the Deluxe pups are garbage, not even close. I especially like the hum-bucker with the passing-lane switch. and the S-1 options give the single coils some interesting and useful tones. The noiseless single coils, on their own, are very clean with little-to-no noise, but the trade-off is that they are kind of sterile sounding, especially when trying to get good distortion/breakup sounds, no character as compared to a more traditional single-coil such as the Fat 50s. If you want mostly very clean sound, and/or use pedals for distortion, the noiseless pups might work very well for you. For single coil sound, I just really prefer the Fat 50s much more than any noiseless type. When I play my Dlx, I almost exclusively use the hum-bucker, and often use the passing-lane switch, it is sweet for distortion/breakup sounds on many amps.

The noise (hum) from single coils, really depends largely on the environment and even if your amp is noisy. I don't have much issue with noise from any of my single coil equipped guitars, but I make sure that my amps are quiet as can be, and eliminate most outside interference from appliances, lights, etc. If you use a high-gain amp, play in an electrically noisy environment, or play extremely loud, then noiseless pups can be very advantageous, while still having some of the traditional single-coil tones. Again, the noiseless are a bit of a compromise, not necessarily a bad thing, just a different thing.

More parts of the Dlx price difference besides the neck are, the S-1 switching, the hum-bucker (HSS of course), the contoured heel, the roller nut (HSS only), locking tuners, strap lock buttons, pop-in trem arm, and the noiseless pups aren't exactly cheap, just different, with the emphasis more on noise cancelling.

As advised, definitely try each for yourself and see what you like best. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Casual Lurker - Ready To Switch. Help Me Choose.
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 12:41 pm
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seebeef wrote:
I've never replaced stock pickups,........

There was an interesting article in Premier Guitar a couple of years ago as to how to breathe new life into a guitar and the author did just that with an MIM Strat by swapping out the pups. I took a Buddy Guy Polka Dot, which is basically a MIMI Standard with a v-neck, took out the stock pickups which hummed and threw in a set of DiMarzio Vintage/Heavy Blues pickups which were new to the market then. They were hum cancelling and a whole new gig for that axe.

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Post subject: Re: Casual Lurker - Ready To Switch. Help Me Choose.
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:07 pm
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Ok, so who wants to break down what the S-1 switching does in the American Deluxe? Please explain it to me, and assume I am skeptical that it could add any value. I saw another thread about an S-1 switch in the Education forum, but that basically said that an s-1 will just do what you wire it to do. So what does it do in the stock American Deluxe? What is "out of phase?" I apologize, but I am way out of the loop when it comes to electronics. I need a guitar, a tube amp, a bit of delay, a stomp box for amp channel switching, and a wah pedal. Other than that, I tend to develop a short attention span really quickly. And I'm not saying that's a good thing, because I definitely should learn way more about guitar guts and pick ups.


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Post subject: Re: Casual Lurker - Ready To Switch. Help Me Choose.
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:21 pm
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Here's what the S1 does in many guitar models, including the AmDlxStrat: S1 Switch explained

And here's the pickup phases/polarities made simple: Seymour Duncan P&P101


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Post subject: Re: Casual Lurker - Ready To Switch. Help Me Choose.
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:43 pm
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Son House was once quoted as saying that he plugged straight into the amp and turned it up to 11. These days virtuosity and musicianship takes a back seat to electrical and sound engineering requiring a Kevin Shirley, a road crew, a tractor trailer, and a bus.

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