NGD: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster (2006)
Dec 20, 2014 20:15:23 GMT
Martin, ocarolan, and 1 more like this
Post by grayn on Dec 20, 2014 20:15:23 GMT
After some time, without a guitar equipped with a really good tremolo, I decided to remedy the situation.
I rang my mate Tony, at Aire Valley Guitars, who informed me that he had a couple of used Fender Deluxe Strats, in.
I'd owned one of these models, a few years back and it was on my list of guitars, I never should have let go.
Now most of you will know what a standard strat looks like. Almost as many, will know what one sounds like.
And a good few of those, will have played one. Whether it came from China, Mexico, Japan or the USA.
I'm guessing, not so may will know what goes into making a Deluxe American Strat.
Starting with the tremolo system. The Deluxe gets a well engineered, two-point tremolo system with solid stainless steel block saddles. The two-point tremolo greatly decreases the amount of friction found in the old 5-point tremolo system, which means it stays in tune much better, when doing more adventurous wobbling.
The solid stainless steel block saddles, have more mass than the cheaper bent-steel saddles, found on the standard Strats, which means more sustain and a better anchor to the bridge. The tremolo also has a pop-in tremolo-arm, instead of the screw-in type, makes it much quicker to set up and is less rattly.
Also adding to the stability, are the Schaller locking tuners, that come on this guitar. I'm a big fan of locking tuners and IMO, there are none better than Schaller's.
Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Pickups are also equipped. These pickups solve the age old Stratocaster problem of 60 Cycle hum, being caused by traditional single-coil pickups. The Samarium Cobalt pickups use Samarium Cobalt magnetic material along with traditional magnets and a stacked coil design, to give you a traditional Strat tone without the annoying hum. They've bucked the hum, without becoming humbuckers.
To help control these pickups, Fender have fitted an S-1 push/push switching system. It’s a push-button switch that’s cleverly hidden in the 2nd Tone control. With a push of the button you get 5 more pickup combinations in addition to the traditional 5 pickup combinations you get with the 5-position blade switch.
These are:
S-1 Switch Up (standard):
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup
S-1 Switch Down (deluxe):
Position 1. Bridge Pickup in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup in Parallel with Special Capacitor and in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 3. Bridge/Middle/Neck Pickups with Neck and Bridge Pickups in Parallel and in Series with Middle pickup
Position 4. Neck Pickup in Parallel with Special Capacitor and in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup in Series with Middle Pickup
This particular Strat came in mint condition and was really well set up. So it was very nice to play.
The only adjustments needed, for my taste, were changing the strings from 9s to 10s and a slight raising of the action.
Bingo! Just how I like it.
Fortunately, the shop had my home amp in stock, so I could really check this guitar out, with familiar amplification.
And the tonal capacity of this Deluxe. is pretty awesome. The neck is very playable and the trem wobbled as smoothly as you'd like. With everything staying in tune.
I personally think, all the additions to the Deluxe, are what creates a far better guitar. Every addition has been well thought through and adds to the player's control and enjoyment of playing this guitar.
I rang my mate Tony, at Aire Valley Guitars, who informed me that he had a couple of used Fender Deluxe Strats, in.
I'd owned one of these models, a few years back and it was on my list of guitars, I never should have let go.
Now most of you will know what a standard strat looks like. Almost as many, will know what one sounds like.
And a good few of those, will have played one. Whether it came from China, Mexico, Japan or the USA.
I'm guessing, not so may will know what goes into making a Deluxe American Strat.
Starting with the tremolo system. The Deluxe gets a well engineered, two-point tremolo system with solid stainless steel block saddles. The two-point tremolo greatly decreases the amount of friction found in the old 5-point tremolo system, which means it stays in tune much better, when doing more adventurous wobbling.
The solid stainless steel block saddles, have more mass than the cheaper bent-steel saddles, found on the standard Strats, which means more sustain and a better anchor to the bridge. The tremolo also has a pop-in tremolo-arm, instead of the screw-in type, makes it much quicker to set up and is less rattly.
Also adding to the stability, are the Schaller locking tuners, that come on this guitar. I'm a big fan of locking tuners and IMO, there are none better than Schaller's.
Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Pickups are also equipped. These pickups solve the age old Stratocaster problem of 60 Cycle hum, being caused by traditional single-coil pickups. The Samarium Cobalt pickups use Samarium Cobalt magnetic material along with traditional magnets and a stacked coil design, to give you a traditional Strat tone without the annoying hum. They've bucked the hum, without becoming humbuckers.
To help control these pickups, Fender have fitted an S-1 push/push switching system. It’s a push-button switch that’s cleverly hidden in the 2nd Tone control. With a push of the button you get 5 more pickup combinations in addition to the traditional 5 pickup combinations you get with the 5-position blade switch.
These are:
S-1 Switch Up (standard):
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup
S-1 Switch Down (deluxe):
Position 1. Bridge Pickup in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup in Parallel with Special Capacitor and in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 3. Bridge/Middle/Neck Pickups with Neck and Bridge Pickups in Parallel and in Series with Middle pickup
Position 4. Neck Pickup in Parallel with Special Capacitor and in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup in Series with Middle Pickup
This particular Strat came in mint condition and was really well set up. So it was very nice to play.
The only adjustments needed, for my taste, were changing the strings from 9s to 10s and a slight raising of the action.
Bingo! Just how I like it.
Fortunately, the shop had my home amp in stock, so I could really check this guitar out, with familiar amplification.
And the tonal capacity of this Deluxe. is pretty awesome. The neck is very playable and the trem wobbled as smoothly as you'd like. With everything staying in tune.
I personally think, all the additions to the Deluxe, are what creates a far better guitar. Every addition has been well thought through and adds to the player's control and enjoyment of playing this guitar.
).
Jo whoever he is.
