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Post subject: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 1:15 pm
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Cheers guys! Always been a reader, now really need some advice, so here goes my first post.
I am looking at buying a new strat (despite already owning a beautiful HW1 Tele and Gibson LP).

Now I have an offer for two equally beautiful to me guitars at about the same price (~$1300) in unplayed mint condition:

1) Fender Select Series 2012 SSS Strat in dark cherry burst
2) Fender 50th Anniv. Deluxe 2004 Strat (the real one in 2TB, gold hardware, s-1, SCN etc.)


I will not be able to play guitars before I buy them, but I've watched I guess ~1000 of youtube videos but still not sure what is best for me. I play mostly clean on my tele, like chicken picking, hybrid stuff, really appreciate Brad Paisley, Guthrie Trapp etc., but seriously digging some late Hendrix and SRV style now. So basically everything apart from metal. Even if I would feel like banging some heavy stuff, I always have my trusty LP for that.

I like the looks of Select Strat and it seems to be more expensive then deluxe, but it lacks s-1 switch, has no contour on the front of the body (which I do not particularly dig), and last but not least it has that standard tremolo block and old saddles (why did not they upgrade it on such a high-end guitar? Cause vintage bridge on my tele is complete PITA to palm mute :cry:).

Then again, I absolutely dig the classic look of 50th anniv., like gold hardware, pop-in tremolo and deluxe bridge saddles. I also think that if any of these two guitars will gain value - it will be Anniv. Deluxe, not Select. Though I am not a collector and do not expect to keep it under the bed, anyway, so it is not that important.

So what is your opinion guys? In terms of sound, possible resale value, s-1 switching, SCN pups vs Select pups etc.

Here they are :D
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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 11:50 pm
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Well what a dilemma!
Both great strats.
I think the select has a front body contour so I am not sure what you mean..
The s1 is a nice feature providing different tones but the gold will age a lot quicker than chrome.
The select has normalish pickups whereas the 50th will be a bit quieter with the SCNs and has a slightly darker tone.
One nice feature of the select is the compound radius and I am not 100% sure if the one you have there has but most likely. The selects with the channel bound board are a joy to play but of course this is the maple version.
As mentioned the 50th has a deluxe bridge with pop in whammy.
There is not much in it really since they are both pretty modern guitars with the select being slightly more exotic and just a little bit more expensive.
There are a few selects around but a 50th in ex condition is becoming rarer.
$1300 is a pretty good price for either guitar.
So in short still a dilemma. :)


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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 5:44 am
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Thanks for the input, Jimmy.

jimmy_james wrote:
I think the select has a front body contour so I am not sure what you mean..

I mean that the front edge of the body is not rounded, as on usual strats. They did that only to 2012 Selects (probably to hide the connection line between the figured maple cap and alder body). I am not a particular fan of this. Looks more like some chinese strat copy with these edges to me :) But that is not the beg deal. See below:

Image

jimmy_james wrote:
One nice feature of the select is the compound radius and I am not 100% sure if the one you have there has but most likely. The selects with the channel bound board are a joy to play but of course this is the maple version.

I hear you on channel bound necks, I guess I would be sold instantly - especially the one with birdseye maple board and rosewood neck. Too bad these 2014 models now retail for not less than $2100. The Select I am offered has compound radius though.

Can anybody advise me on the tone comparison between these? What is more suitable for Hendrix, SRV type of thing? SCN or Select?


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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:01 am
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IMHO... and imho only...

The Select, while very capable, is more of what I call a furniture guitar... Fender's attempt to capture the up-market with it's aesthetics/cosmetics.

The Deluxe was designed to increase the Tonal possibilities of the Standard Stratocaster.

I would (and did) choose the Deluxe (American Deluxe Ash ACB left).

Image

However, I suspect that all things being equal, the Select may hold it's value (or appreciate) better than the Deluxe because it's relatively more rare.

Both nice guitars, but not a tough choice really.

Are you after the sound, or the looks?

Answer that, and you'll have your choice.

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
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Last edited by Lightnin MN on Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:14 am
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One consideration (not sure if anyone else mentioned this) the Select may have a fairly sticky neck. The lacquer on the Select series is known for this. You might want to google around and see what others have said. I had a Select Tele for about a year and the neck always felt a little too tacky for my liking. Beautiful guitar, best sounding Tele I have ever heard, but the tackiness was a negative.


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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:50 am
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Lightnin MN wrote:
Are you after the sound, or the looks?
Answer that, and you'll have your choice.

That's a nice ash deluxe you have! Thank you. I wish it was that easy. I definitely am after the sound. Moreover, I can't say that I am really stunned by the look of the Select (you can get similar flame on 500$ MIM Plus strat). But it is not easy even in the sound department - while Select pups usually described as normal, good or authentic, opinions on SCNs are drastically different. Some fellows are amazed, a lot of other swap them right away.

BrianRowland wrote:
One consideration (not sure if anyone else mentioned this) the Select may have a fairly sticky neck. The lacquer on the Select series is known for this. You might want to google around and see what others have said. I had a Select Tele for about a year and the neck always felt a little too tacky for my liking. Beautiful guitar, best sounding Tele I have ever heard, but the tackiness was a negative.

Do you mean the back of the neck or the fretboard? On my HW1 tele I have a satin back of the neck and I really like it compared to glossy neck on my LP - it is really tacky indeed. I even think of sanding it off. Nice point, thank you.

I myself probably on the deluxe side now. Not sure only about SCNs... I really like the vinage '54 pups chime and aggression - so SCNs are probably not the ones I need (from what I read about them). I am talking about this kind of tone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKUQ16kc_6g

What is closer? Select pups or SCNs?


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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 1:47 pm
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Ah I see what you mean the front horn contour.
I thought you were talking about the contour where your arm rests so probably not a biggie.
That 54 bridge pickup used in the video is a very bright pickup. :D


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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:06 pm
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Lightnin MN wrote:
IMHO... and imho only...

The Select, while very capable, is more of what I call a furniture guitar... Fender's attempt to capture the up-market with it's aesthetics/cosmetics.

The Deluxe was designed to increase the Tonal possibilities of the Standard Stratocaster.

I would (and did) choose the Deluxe (American Deluxe Ash ACB left).

Image

However, I suspect that all things being equal, the Select may hold it's value (or appreciate) better than the Deluxe because it's relatively more rare.

Both nice guitars, but not a tough choice really.

Are you after the sound, or the looks?

Answer that, and you'll have your choice.

cheers!


I agree with you 100% and I really don't like the look of the contours on the veneer capped body. I would have been far happier with more traditional shape and deeper black feathering to cover the joint.

I prefer the block saddles to the retro folded ones, but that is a small thing.

Not keen on the whole S1 thing and that different volume knob would do my head in.

So I would perhaps have neither, for very silly small reasons in some cases. Of the two, the Anniversary but I'd prefer a Deluxe without S1 .....damn that's what I've got. I'm a happy man. :)

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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 3:07 am
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I own a 2012 cherry burst select, I was attracted to it because it was the best looking guitar I had ever seen, and when I played it I was sold, such a wonderful sweet sound. The selects have special wound pickups that have a very classic strat sound.

The neck is a bit sticky, but it seems to be getting better the more I play it, or I'm just getting use to it.

The finish is nitro so you have to be more careful with it, contact with certain synthetic materials will damage the finish, so you have to cover the foam and rubber on your stands.

I love this guitar and would buy it again, I can't walk past it without picking it up and playing it, and yes it is a "furniture" guitar and I have not taken it out of the house, and I may never will, but it is a joy to play! :)

Image

Image


8)

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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 5:32 am
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Thanks for the valuable input everybody! I think I'll stick with anniv. deluxe and see how it goes. I can always swap pickups if I want and, in fact the complete loaded pickguard of CS '54 pickups is not that expensive anyway :)


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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 8:35 am
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No, you don't want to do that. At least I surely wouldn't anyway. If it is a real honest to goodness 50th Anniversary Deluxe you're going to want to keep it stock. Of the two, the 50th is the one more likely to gain future value and is better suited to being called a furniture guitar. If I had a 50th it would remain in its case and come out only to display it. If I had a select I would play it.

My opinion.

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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 1:30 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
No, you don't want to do that. At least I surely wouldn't anyway. If it is a real honest to goodness 50th Anniversary Deluxe you're going to want to keep it stock. Of the two, the 50th is the one more likely to gain future value and is better suited to being called a furniture guitar. If I had a 50th it would remain in its case and come out only to display it. If I had a select I would play it.

My opinion.


While what you're saying is really logical in terms of resale value, I definitely am not keeping this guitar under the bed. I'm buying it not to collect, but to play primarily. If I can sell it in decent shape in 20 years from now for 200% of what I paid yesterday - let it be so, if not - I am okay with this. I'll do my best to keep it in a perfect shape and it'll be like mostly home use, but I'll play it everyday.

Though you are right about keeping it stock and I'll think twice before messing with hardware. Thanks for the input man! I really appreciate all opinions.


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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:51 pm
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That's the joy of a Strat, you can keep it original and change it - swap out the original loaded scratchplate and put it away safely, replacing with another resplendent with your PUPS of choice. In twenty years time you can undo 11 screws and it's back to being 100% original and you haven't spent 20 years hampered with S1 and missmatched knobs. :-)

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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:05 pm
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I bought a 2013 Fender Select in Dark Brown....awesome guitar...really like the channel bound fret board, the sound, the color and the feel in the hand...can't go wrong with a Select...very nice guitars...I got lucky mine is numbered to 25 according to Fender Customer Support. :)


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Post subject: Re: 2012 Select SSS Strat vs. 2004 Anniv. 50th Deluxe
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:07 pm
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Did I mention I bought an Older Fender Deluxe Special with the S1 switching too...man I like that guitar too because of all the different sound you can get out of it....can you buy both and be done with it...HA! YEAHHHHHH...Buy both :lol:


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