It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:54 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 9:41 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
I've been checking out the new Stratocaster Deluxe Plus, and I've got to say, I'm pretty impressed.

Here's where I need the help.
1. Any word on new personality cards, and what they might be like?
2. What is Fender's maintence and repair plan going to be like? I mean they have a warenty program, but it's not the best. If something goes wrong with all these computer chips and stuff, where do I get things fixed?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 10:36 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12978
Location: Canada
Hey, Paris:

I'd like to know the answer to your questions too. Hopefully, Fender will answer them.

In the 70s I had a quad receiver with drop in decoders the size of a cigarette box. They were not inexpensive back then, but they came in entry to higher end models, and they worked as planned. High end electronics such as Accuphase, amongst others (along with rack systems and computers) have a long history of modular interchangeable components. Reliability can be built in . . . even with an axe. I've thrown TV cameras around with tubes and modular solid state electronics, so there shouldn't be a problem unless the design is flawed.

This concept seems to be another addition of modular design for which the Strat is famous for.

Besides, these guitars could increase in value. Whether they do or not, I'm betting the cards (and maybe the pups) will. :D

_________________
Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:47 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Perhaps in the future Fender will add the TBX and MDX boosts as modular circuits in the form of a personality card... who cares? :idea:

Image

After all, the "new" Deluxe Pluses' module compartment is big enough to house a battery.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:55 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
I guess Fender is still in the "wait and see" mode with these. If they aren't taking off in the marketplace then they'll go the way of the Elites - around for a couple of years, and 10 years later they'll be relegated to "hey, do you remember when Fender tried those Strats with circuit cards in the back?"

I was looking that the service diagrams for the HSS version - while it has the "standard" and the "cutter" cards, it's third card is called the "splitter". For the "standard" card in position 2 you get the full bridge humbucker combined with the middle pickup, on the "splitter" card you get one coil of the humbucker combined with the middle pickup (i.e. the "split"). They don't offer you the "blender" card you get with the SSS model.

It could also be that these are kind of mules to test the solderless wiring - even if the models with the personality cards go away Fender could make the move to solderless on all Strats.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:12 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
I see Fender come up with some cards which are similar, if not the same as, other mods such as all versions of the S-1 switch and Clapton MRB. There is plenty of room in the compartment for a 9V battery.

The idea seems to be trying to get as many mods as possible out this guitar, which is cool. Talking with a sales rep, Fender will be coming out with 11 more cards.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 11:12 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
paris wrote:
Talking with a sales rep, Fender will be coming out with 11 more cards.


.....including the Clapton wiring scheme?

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 6:40 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
chromeface wrote:
paris wrote:
Talking with a sales rep, Fender will be coming out with 11 more cards.


.....including the Clapton wiring scheme?



If as Paris says there is enough room in the Personality Card compartment for both the MDX circuit card and the 9-volt then they might do that, but I don't see how they could turn a 250k tone pot into a TBX (combination 250k/1mg pot) by just adjusting the circuit path - which is what these cards basically do. So you could get the CS Masterbuilt Clapton spec, but not the production line or teambuilt CS spec with the TBX.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 8:52 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
John C wrote:
chromeface wrote:
paris wrote:
Talking with a sales rep, Fender will be coming out with 11 more cards.


.....including the Clapton wiring scheme?



The space for the personality card is big enough to told a 9V battery, but not a card, battery and Clapton circuit. Fender might be able to create a card that would be similar to the Clapton circuit.

If as Paris says there is enough room in the Personality Card compartment for both the MDX circuit card and the 9-volt then they might do that, but I don't see how they could turn a 250k tone pot into a TBX (combination 250k/1mg pot) by just adjusting the circuit path - which is what these cards basically do. So you could get the CS Masterbuilt Clapton spec, but not the production line or teambuilt CS spec with the TBX.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:31 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
paris wrote:
The space for the personality card is big enough to told a 9V battery, but not a card, battery and Clapton circuit. Fender might be able to create a card that would be similar to the Clapton circuit.


Sorry, I wasn't clear but that's what I meant - they would have to be able to fit the Clapton's MDX circuitry and a battery onto a personality card.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Deluxe Plus Strats: Help!
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:56 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
John C wrote:
paris wrote:
The space for the personality card is big enough to told a 9V battery, but not a card, battery and Clapton circuit. Fender might be able to create a card that would be similar to the Clapton circuit.


Sorry, I wasn't clear but that's what I meant - they would have to be able to fit the Clapton's MDX circuitry and a battery onto a personality card.


Oh, I see. Looking at the cavity and cards, I imagine that circuitry would be very similar in appearance to the current personality cards, but have clip to hold the battery and "slide in" style connector. The electronics on the cards are pretty small with lots of empty space on the actual cards themselves.

Here's a video showing a pretty good close up the whole thing.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: