Fender Deluxe Stratocaster, anyone got one or spend some time with one?

[djwilbanks]

After building up my telecaster project, I've kind of developed a thing for Fenders, and this guy I know selling a Honey Blonde Deluxe Players strat for 350 dollars. He's a local guy and told me he'd hold it for me until I get my scholarship money from my college.

I know this is a good deal from looking at the price, but have any of you guys had any experience with this particular model (especially the push button toggle) or with the Seymour Duncan Screamin' Humbucker (in the single coil bridge pos)?

Here's some pics:









Here is the Guitarcenter page for the new ones:

Fender Deluxe Player's Stratocaster Electric Guitar and more Solid Body Electric Guitars at GuitarCenter.com.

[Skynyrdpicker]

I tried the roadhouse strat not too long ago and was really impressed! I can only guess these are just as good quality, and that's a nice price! I'd go for it!

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by Skynyrdpicker

I tried the roadhouse strat not too long ago and was really impressed! I can only guess these are just as good quality, and that's a nice price! I'd go for it!

I intend too!

I was just wonderng how people felt about them.

The only thing I'd want to change is that pickguard... I guess I could drill a new hole in any strat pg for that push button toggle.

What colour PG goes well with honey blonde?

[stryker59]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

I intend too!

I was just wonderng how people felt about them.

The only thing I'd want to change is that pickguard... I guess I could drill a new hole in any strat pg for that push button toggle.

What colour PG goes well with honey blonde?

the deluxe players are awesome guitars! i have the previous version of this guitar(1998 deluxe super strat). i bought it new in 1999 and have over the years modded it to its current state. it is now setup like a regular strat with the 5 way pickup switch except i have the bridge on a tone control also. it is loaded with WB single coil hots. as for the pickguard, i love the tortioseshell on the honeyblonde!!

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by stryker59

the deluxe players are awesome guitars! i have the previous version of this guitar(1998 deluxe super strat). i bought it new in 1999 and have over the years modded it to its current state. it is now setup like a regular strat with the 5 way pickup switch except i have the bridge on a tone control also. it is loaded with WB single coil hots. as for the pickguard, i love the tortioseshell on the honeyblonde!!

Thanks for the input!

I talked to him yesterday, he said he's gonna hold it for me for sure since I have talked to him since Feb. when he put it up for sale.

[NeoConMan]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

Honey Blonde Deluxe Players strat

It's not American made, you know that right?
Not sure where it's made.

The Deluxe my kid has was made in 2004, it sells for around $1k.

The American ones are the only ones I bother with, but the Mexican Strats are very well made too.
I put Deluxe locking tuners (made by Schaller) on my two homebuilts.

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by NeoConMan

It's not American made, you know that right?
Not sure where it's made.

The Deluxe my kid has was made in 2004, it sells for around $1k.

The American ones are the only ones I bother with, but the Mexican Strats are very well made too.
I put Deluxe locking tuners (made by Schaller) on my two homebuilts.

Ya I know, its MIM.

I don't have to have American made to feel good about myself.

My family drives Toyotas and Nissans, so we're doin alright on the American made front.

[NeoConMan]

Depends on what you're shopping for, and who offers the best product.

In guitars, I have absolutely no reason to buy anything other than American.
The sole exception is my Danelectro reissue from Korea - it was dirt cheap!

However, Gretsch makes some pretty cool stuff in Japan - as does Zemaitis....

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by NeoConMan

Depends on what you're shopping for, and who offers the best product.

In guitars, I have absolutely no reason to buy anything other than American.
The sole exception is my Danelectro reissue from Korea - it was dirt cheap!

However, Gretsch makes some pretty cool stuff in Japan - as does Zemaitis....

As did Epiphone, Ibanez, Orville, and Fender. As does ESP, etc.

I don't care where my guitar comes from really. Its a global economy, so I don't care who gets my money, it'll all go elsewhere eventually.

I just want a guitar that plays well, and when I can get a brand-new Fender MIM at half of what its worth then I'm all for it. The price of this Strat is 50 dollars more than a Squier Classic Vibe I was lookin' at.

Oh and in my price range, the Fender MIM is the best product of the ones I've looked at.

I seriously considered your Melody Maker, but I can't stand that headstock.

[NeoConMan]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

I don't care where my guitar comes from really. Its a global economy, so I don't care who gets my money, it'll all go elsewhere eventually.

I'll skip a political/economic diatribe here, just urge you to reconsider that.

Careful what they feed you in college.
It amazes me how students are so critical of the cafeteria food but will blindly accept anything the "wise" teachers tell them to be the truth.

I had a 4.0 GPA and a couple teachers that hated my guts because I was so bold to doubt them.
Try THAT in college nowadays....

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

I just want a guitar that plays well, and when I can get a brand-new Fender MIM at half of what its worth then I'm all for it. The price of this Strat is 50 dollars more than a Squier Classic Vibe I was lookin' at.

Good job, snag it!!!
I know lotsa guys who gig with MIM Strats and swear by them.
(They leave their American stuff safely at home)


EDIT;
My motorcycle was built in Thailand.
Yep, there are no American bikes to do what I want so I bought Kawasaki.
Turns out they are assembled in Thailand....

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by NeoConMan

I'll skip a political/economic diatribe here, just urge you to reconsider that.

Careful what they feed you in college.
It amazes me how students are so critical of the cafeteria food but will blindly accept anything the "wise" teachers tell them to be the truth.

I had a 4.0 GPA and a couple teachers that hated my guts because I was so bold to doubt them.
Try THAT in college nowadays....

You can urge, and I won't. We can agree to disagree on a great many things.

And I'm perfectly capable of doubting my teachers, I've done it for years, and I'll continue to do it until I die. The unexamined life is not worth living, says Socrates. I say the unexamined faith is not worth having and the unexamined education is not real knowledge. I make my decisions in life/faith/education based on careful research and examination. I am not your average, everday ignorant.

If you'd like to try to change my mind, you can always PM me. I'm always up for a debate.

Good job, snag it!!!
I know lotsa guys who gig with MIM Strats and swear by them.
(They leave their American stuff safely at home)

I'm gonna. And if I had an American, I would gig with it too.

(but I can understand why some people would leave them at home)

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by NeoConMan

I
EDIT;
My motorcycle was built in Thailand.
Yep, there are no American bikes to do what I want so I bought Kawasaki.
Turns out they are assembled in Thailand....

Funny how that works, huh?

[kspeed]

Fender and Ibanez (especially) still make some great products in Japan. The new Japanese made Prestige S Series is fantastic

The Deluxe Players Strats are good guitars. Not sure how useful you'll find the little pushbutton option, which I believe activates the bridge pickup in all selector switch positions. I've modified a MIM Strat to do this with a push-push tone pot, and with all pickups active you can get a semi-acoustic vibe. Neck + bridge pickups active sounds a little quacky.

That said, with a SD humbucker in the bridge position I'm not sure how it'll sound. The Hot Railz are nice, but they make a couple other models now, including the Cool Railz which I haven't tried. The stock single coils are vintage noiseless, which are OK IMHO.

The flatter 12" radius is nice if you play a lot of lead. Most Strats are 7.5" - 9.5".

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by kspeed

Fender and Ibanez (especially) still make some great products in Japan. The new Japanese made Prestige S Series is fantastic

The Deluxe Players Strats are good guitars. Not sure how useful you'll find the little pushbutton option, which I believe activates the bridge pickup in all selector switch positions. I've modified a MIM Strat to do this with a push-push tone pot, and with all pickups active you can get a semi-acoustic vibe. Neck + bridge pickups active sounds a little quacky.

That said, with a SD humbucker in the bridge position I'm not sure how it'll sound. The Hot Railz are nice, but they make a couple other models now, including the Cool Railz which I haven't tried. The stock single coils are vintage noiseless, which are OK IMHO.

The flatter 12" radius is nice if you play a lot of lead. Most Strats are 7.5" - 9.5".

I think the button makes the bridge pup active in switch pos 4 and 5, which might or might not be useful, especially with that 'bucker in the bridge. But thanks for the heads up about the radius, I do intend to use this guitar for my blues playing.

[kspeed]

Originally Posted by djwilbanks

I think the button makes the bridge pup active in switch pos 4 and 5, which might or might not be useful, especially with that 'bucker in the bridge. But thanks for the heads up about the radius, I do intend to use this guitar for my blues playing.

Cool, that's exactly how I modded my MIM 60th, but I've got late 50's reissue Sheptone pickups in mine

BTW, your new avatar is ridiculously awesome

The radius is HUGE - 12" is like driving across South Dakota - gloriously flat. This is great for lead playing of any sort and only slightly less comfortable for rhythmic chordal progressions

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by kspeed

Cool, that's exactly how I modded my MIM 60th, but I've got late 50's reissue Sheptone pickups in mine

BTW, your new avatar is ridiculously awesome

The radius is HUGE - 12" is like driving across South Dakota - gloriously flat. This is great for lead playing of any sort and only slightly less comfortable for rhythmic chordal progressions

Thanks! I made it myself.

Its good to know about that radius, I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

[Guido]

that looks exaclty like jomos CS strat

[djwilbanks]

Originally Posted by Guido.c

that looks exaclty like jomos CS strat

I thought that myself, but his is White I think.

[djwilbanks]

Here's some pics I got from the seller today, kinda shows off the true colour.