Deluxe Vs Standard Stratocaster
Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster
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Fender American Standard Stratocaster
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While the American Standard Stratocaster has come to be seen as a benchmark for quality, some players are looking for that little bit extra.
The American Deluxe Strat, at $400 more than the Standard, offers improved playability, locking tuners, noiseless pickups and S-1 tone switching. We'll look at the differences individually further down the page.
See the table below for a summary...
The American Deluxe Strat, at $400 more than the Standard, offers improved playability, locking tuners, noiseless pickups and S-1 tone switching. We'll look at the differences individually further down the page.
See the table below for a summary...
Fender American Deluxe Vs American Standard
Although the main components and materials are the same, the differences lie in the more specialist hardware and electronics...
| Model | American Deluxe | American Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 94 (over $1000) |
91 (over $1000) |
| Reviews |
Ultimate Guitar Harmony Central Zzounds Musicians Friend Amazon |
Ultimate Guitar Harmony Central Zzounds Musicians Friend Amazon |
| Model | American Deluxe | American Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Website | Fender.com | Fender.com |
| Weight | 3.5 kg / 7 lbs 13 oz | 3.6 kg / 7lbs 14 oz |
| Tuners | Deluxe Staggered (Locking) | Fender Standard Cast Staggered |
| Neck | Bolt-on
Maple Modern C |
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| Scale Length | 25.5" | |
| Nut Material | Synthetic Bone | |
| Nut Width | 1.685" | |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood or Maple | |
| Fingerboard Radius | 9.5-14" Compound Radius | 9.5" |
| Frets | 22
Medium Jumbo |
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| Inlays | Pearloid Dot
(Rosewood) Black Dot (Maple) |
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| Body | Select Alder | Alder |
| Pickups | Noiseless N3 Single Coil x3 with S-1 Switch |
Custom Shop Fat '50s Single Coil x3 |
| Bridge | 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo with Pop-In Arm | Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles |
| American Deluxe | American Standard |
|---|---|
| Comparisons | |
| American Deluxe | American Standard |
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Differences Between The Deluxe & Standard Strat
The Deluxe is technically an "optimised Standard Strat", with more than merely cosmetic differences.
Hardware
Tuning stability has never been considered an issue with the American Standard. Nevertheless Fender have opted to install locking tuners on the Deluxe, giving the aggressive strummers/pickers and extreme dive-bombers that extra reassurance.
On the subject of whammy action, the tremolo arm is "pop-in" on the Deluxe, compared to the more traditional screw-in arm on the Standard. For what it's worth, the Standard does retain the vintage, "bent" saddles unlike the Deluxe.
On the subject of whammy action, the tremolo arm is "pop-in" on the Deluxe, compared to the more traditional screw-in arm on the Standard. For what it's worth, the Standard does retain the vintage, "bent" saddles unlike the Deluxe.
Playability
Many players have found the Deluxe's compound radius neck more comfortable to play than the standard uniform radius necks.
Compound radius basically means the neck gets larger and flatter towards the body end, with a smaller, rounder profile at the nut.
The result is easier chording at the lower frets, easier bending higher up and overall a more consistent string height, meaning less adaptation of fingering required as you move across the neck. It's a form of compensation for how your fret work is required to change from one end of the neck to the other. So it should be an overall smoother experience.
If comfort and consistency is a priority for you, then the compound radius neck alone may make the Deluxe worth the extra money.
Compound radius basically means the neck gets larger and flatter towards the body end, with a smaller, rounder profile at the nut.
The result is easier chording at the lower frets, easier bending higher up and overall a more consistent string height, meaning less adaptation of fingering required as you move across the neck. It's a form of compensation for how your fret work is required to change from one end of the neck to the other. So it should be an overall smoother experience.
If comfort and consistency is a priority for you, then the compound radius neck alone may make the Deluxe worth the extra money.
Sound
Another key difference lies in the pickups, with the Deluxe housing Noiseless N3 single coils.
If you've ever played single coils on stage or on a recording, you'll be familiar with the often overbearing hum they can emit, especially under gain/distortion. The N3's are exceptionally quiet, meaning less reliance on a noise gate, which can suck tone.
Furthermore, an array of additional tones can be attained from the Deluxe through its S-1 switch feature. Similar to the coil tapping feature you see on many humbucking models, simply press down the top of the volume knob for more tonal options from your 5-way pickup switch.
Switched on, you'll be able to dial in fatter, more humbucker-like tones - great for heavier styles. But words can't do justice what your own experimentation will yield.
The S-1 switch further re-affirms the Strat as one of (if not) the most versatile guitars available.
If you've ever played single coils on stage or on a recording, you'll be familiar with the often overbearing hum they can emit, especially under gain/distortion. The N3's are exceptionally quiet, meaning less reliance on a noise gate, which can suck tone.
Furthermore, an array of additional tones can be attained from the Deluxe through its S-1 switch feature. Similar to the coil tapping feature you see on many humbucking models, simply press down the top of the volume knob for more tonal options from your 5-way pickup switch.
Switched on, you'll be able to dial in fatter, more humbucker-like tones - great for heavier styles. But words can't do justice what your own experimentation will yield.
The S-1 switch further re-affirms the Strat as one of (if not) the most versatile guitars available.
Which One Should You Get?
For those who can afford the American Standard, paying an extra $400 to get the additional features of the Deluxe is not unreasonable.
These features - the more comfortable neck, greater tuning stability, noiseless pickups and sonic tonal possibilities atypical of a single coil Strat - are genuinely useful to the professional musician and represent a richer, more playable and wholly modernised incarnation of this classic guitar.
It's no wonder that we've found the Deluxe to be the highest rated Strat available new today.
These features - the more comfortable neck, greater tuning stability, noiseless pickups and sonic tonal possibilities atypical of a single coil Strat - are genuinely useful to the professional musician and represent a richer, more playable and wholly modernised incarnation of this classic guitar.
It's no wonder that we've found the Deluxe to be the highest rated Strat available new today.
