American Deluxe Strat compared to Custom Shop

[MGuts]

I was wondering your opinions on how these compare. I have a deluxe Strat with an Ash body currently and have been playing with the idea lately to sell it and get a Custom shop. I know that there are going to be some differences between the guitars, but I guess my real question is if there is a huge difference in the construction and workmanship? The Strat I have now seems very well made, so do you guys think that the Custom Shops are that much better?

Thanks--

Mg

[Bhodie]

Well.. you have left it pretty wide open.. but if the basic question is the construction better, the answer is yes.. absolutely, definetly..

Fretwork is better, wiring is insanely better, pickups are handwound, body is 2 piece center seam, nitro finish is beautiful.. if you want relic, you can add that extra attention to the build as well..

They dont get and extra $1,500 bucks for nothing....

[67super]

My goto gigging guitar is an American Deluxe that new was $1000. I set it up real nice and it's a pleasure to play. Like a lot of players around here I have a lot of guitars so my deluxe has it's place. Keep your deuxe if you like it and save for a second guitar.

[mude]

I suspect on average the Custom Shop would be better. That being said, I would want to play the particular guitars before I made a judgement.

I have an American Deluxe Strat that is one of my absolute favorites. It has a hum in the bridge position and is not particularly light for a strat, but it plays great, sounds great and stays in tune well. Very happy with this guitar. It had some scratches on it and I got it cheap, but it has faired very well against some really high end instruments.

If you have the time to scout around, you can find some really great reasonably priced instruments. If you had to take your chances on something without playing it, then I suspect your odds are much better with a Custom Shop or boutique from one of the top builders.

Evan.

[XKnight]

Some Deluxe Strats are better than some Custom Shop Strats and some Custom Shop Strats are better than some Deluxe Strats and so it goes on and on and on..........

[treeofpain]

If you really like the AmDlx, then most CS will be different. Most of them are designed around a vintage strat, so the vibe is totally different. Not necessarily better, but more traditional.

As far as general fit and finish, there is probably a bit more attention to detail and setup. The degree will depend on the guitars you are comparing. A hand-picked AmDlx could have as good a fit/finish as a CS, or maybe you wouldn't know the difference if it was there.

If you really like your guitar, I wouldn't lise any sleep over it. If you try a CS (or anything else) and fall in love, then you have some deciding to do...

[oscar100]

can you?

chalk cheese coems to mind = or get a suhr ( and get some caviar) :)

[MGuts]

Thanks for the help everybody. I picked up a Custom Shop at a store once and liked it--it was different than my deluxe obviously, but I liked it still. I was curious about the differences though because I didn't have mine to compare it to. In the next couple of weeks I'm going to go to my music store and check some of them out.

Thanks again--
Mg

[stratzrus]

my real question is if there is a huge difference in the construction and workmanship? The Strat I have now seems very well made, so do you guys think that the Custom Shops are that much better?
There is a difference, I don't know if you would call it better. The current Deluxes that I have played have been very well made and as a result of state of the art CNC work are very consistent as well. I have a CS Strat also and I wouldn't say that the CS is significantly better built in terms of the neck and body.
My goto gigging guitar is an American Deluxe that new was $1000. I set it up real nice and it's a pleasure to play. Like a lot of players around here I have a lot of guitars so my deluxe has it's place. Keep your deuxe if you like it and save for a second guitar.
This is exactly what I am doing. The CS is more traditional and the Dlx. is more modern, both in tone and feel...it's really nice to have both.
I have an American Deluxe Strat that is one of my absolute favorites...it plays great, sounds great and stays in tune well. Very happy with this guitar. If you can't have both, how happy you are with your Deluxe should be taken into consideration.

Like Evan, I'm real happy with mine.

[Paul Conway]

I have a Deluxe from 1998 I like, but boy have I had problems with it. Both strap buttons fell out, and the truss rod came loose in the channel, making an horrific noise. Ultimately, only cured by injecting glue into the channel void.

I've only played two or three custom shop guitars, but they were much better - better playing, better construction, better tone. However, it's cheaper to buy a Suhr and get the same quality.

[MGuts]

Thanks for all the help. I've been looking at the Time Machine models and the Strat Pro. The time machine has been covered so far, but how would the deluxe compare to the Custom shop Strat Pro? They seem like they share a lot of features. Any one know?

Matt

[shawntp]

I've owned a deluxe and the "base" custom shop classic. The custom shop had better neck wood (flamed), better fretwork, and better initial setup. IMO the neck was the primary diff - I didn't care for the pickups in either, the CS was ~400 more.

[gururyan]

I kept going between the Custom Classic and American Deluxe when trying to decide. I played many and was just about to go with the Custom Classic V-neck when POW!...they introduced the American Deluxe V-neck that looked nicer to me and price was right too. I haven't regretted it once.

[MartinC]

I've got an American Deluxe which plays and sounds great. It's a 9 out of 10 guitar. I also have a Suhr Classic built to order. It's a 10 out of 10 ... for twice the price.

So, I'd say you can get better than the American Deluxe, but diminishing returns will well and truly have set in. If your American Deluxe is a good one.

I don't regret buying my Suhr at all ... it's more vintage strat in tone than the American Deluxe so they cover different ground. And I still think, for a top of the tree, flawless guitar they're reasonably priced.

I dare say the above all holds true for a CS strat rather than a Suhr ... I went with a Suhr 'cos I could pick exactly what I wanted spec wise and get the guitar in 4 months from order.

[MGuts]

Thanks for all the help. I think I understand the differences now, so I just need to go an play them. Thanks again everybody.

Matt

[Sikor]

Last year, when I was looking for a strat, I have compared a lot o different models. Although I thought that maximum what I need is something like American Standard, I have tested everything from MIM, to CS masterbuiöds. But when I took Custom Classic into my hands I felt in love immediately :) Really great compromise between CS quality, price and sounds (not completely modern, but not vintage either).

I am really in love with this guitar since then :RoCkIn

Here she is:
http://www.guitarmaniacs.de/gallery_pics/DWpljfVW9LSsJSRXxhPnq8CtY.jpg

[MGuts]

Sikor- That is one sharp looking guitar for sure. Does that have the SCN pickups like the pro does?

[Sikor]

Sikor- That is one sharp looking guitar for sure.
Thanks :BEER

Does that have the SCN pickups like the pro does?
No, fortunately no :D
I thought actually, that Pro will be my strat, but when I tested it against Classic, there was no chance I would take Pro. It is a nice guitar, with nice features, but sonically, I was unimpressed by SCN. They was quite ok with gain, but clean sounds were mediocre.
Custom Classic is equipped with 2x Modern Classic pickups and a Hot Classic in the bridge. They are somewhere between vintage and modern and I like them. I am not a vintage guy :)
Full specification of Custom Classic You can find on the Fender web site.

[MGuts]

Good deal. My Deluxe has the SCN and I felt the clean tones to be kind of lacking, as well. That's why when I was recommended the Pro I was kind of leary about that. I will check out that custom classic for sure.

Thanks again

[JUSTJOB]

MGuts,
If you can, then try a Strat Pro despite the above posters comment. I too tried both my Pro and the Custom Classic and I felt the Strat Pro to be the more versatile of the two. Guitars are all different, but if the Pro's pickup height is right it will deliver great cleans too. I thought both had very comperable clean tones, the very slight edge in sparkle did go to the CC, but was very slight ,could have been the strings, although, I could get a more hollow vintage tone out of the Pro. I also really liked the neck on the Pro so much better as well, the guitar just felt like it was "the one". YMMV, So I would recommend you try both if possible. I have kept mine bone stock and hands down this definately the best strat I have ever played.
I will add though that there are gems in the Am Deluxe line as well as the AmSe and AmStan lines.

My Strat Pro;
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z172/JUSTJOB/MyGuitarStuff040-1.jpg
Best Regards!

[Paul Conway]

I would add that after quite a lot of time and money spent on repairs, set-ups, etc, I am enjoying my AM Dlx. I'm about to gut the electronics (VN...awful pickups) and put in a second--hand set of Suhr V60LP's. Just got to get some decent pots and a wiring diagram, and decide on cap values.

I'm glad I bought it used - I'd have been upset if I'd spent £1k on a new Fender and had all the problems I've had with it. However, I now have a guitar I'm pretty happy to play and not too nervous about taking it gigging.

[Pietro]

The CS guitar won't make you a better player or make the girls like you better. Stick with what you got, practice more, and turn the amp louder.

[MGuts]

I would add that after quite a lot of time and money spent on repairs, set-ups, etc, I am enjoying my AM Dlx. I'm about to gut the electronics (VN...awful pickups) and put in a second--hand set of Suhr V60LP's. Just got to get some decent pots and a wiring diagram, and decide on cap values.

I'm glad I bought it used - I'd have been upset if I'd spent £1k on a new Fender and had all the problems I've had with it. However, I now have a guitar I'm pretty happy to play and not too nervous about taking it gigging.

I've been thinking about just putting some nicer pickups into my Deluxe and just going with that. It is a really well made and well playing guitar, it's just that I don't like the SCN pickups. I wonder if a pickup swap would do the trick. If you don't mind, after you get all that done would you give me an update on how you like it?

[BuckeyeBrown]

I've been thinking about just putting some nicer pickups into my Deluxe and just going with that. It is a really well made and well playing guitar, it's just that I don't like the SCN pickups. I wonder if a pickup swap would do the trick. If you don't mind, after you get all that done would you give me an update on how you like it?

Worked for me. I've got a 98-99 American Deluxe and I put in some Kinman Blues pickups. They sounded much better than the Vintage Noiseless pickups that came standard. Chris's website http://www.kinman.com/ is a virtual clinic on Strat tone, set-up, etc. :AOKAny strat owner owes it to themselves to take a peek. If your worried you didn't get the right strat you can always look into tweaking it to your liking. Relatively speaking, pickups are really an inexpensive way to help you on your tone search.

Last year I did a couple more upgrades by putting in a Callaham vintage tremolo made for American Deluxe's. The standard block is way better than the crappy ones in the non-American models, but the Callaham one adds a little bit more sustain. Actually when I put the whole thing on with the new block and saddles the guitar sounds a little brighter/clearer acoustically.

The American Deluxe is a great guitar - solid build and good value. I love the build but if I could change anything I would have like to have seen an option for the wider vintage string spaced neck and tremolo just to get a little more room on the board for vibrato work on the high e. As some others have mentioned having it as a second guitar would be great - especially if I could afford two nice ones. :bow

Good luck!

Buckeye

[Paul Conway]

The American Deluxe is a great guitar - solid build and good value. I love the build but if I could change anything I would have like to have seen an option for the wider vintage string spaced neck and tremolo just to get a little more room on the board for vibrato work on the high e. As some others have mentioned having it as a second guitar would be great - especially if I could afford two nice ones. :bow

Good luck!

Buckeye

Suhr thinks this way, I guess - their neck butt is wider to accommodate a vintage-spaced bridge with a 1 11/16" nut.

iI had also been thinking about a Callaham block, but my strat is ash/rosewood. I don't think it needs the extra brightness!

[Paul Conway]

I've been thinking about just putting some nicer pickups into my Deluxe and just going with that. It is a really well made and well playing guitar, it's just that I don't like the SCN pickups. I wonder if a pickup swap would do the trick. If you don't mind, after you get all that done would you give me an update on how you like it?

If I can remember to, of course I will.

[Paul Conway]

PS I think older (i.e. pre-S1) Deluxes are a really good used value right now. Just got to be prepared to apply some TLC.

Mine was way less than the price of a new Am Ser.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z270/conwap/DSC02833.jpg (http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z270/conwap/DSC02833.jpg)
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z270/conwap/DSC02832.jpg

[Paul Conway]

Only drawback on this guitar: I don't think ash should be mated to a rosewood board. Too much 'sizzle.' Don't know why Fender does it.

[Paul Conway]

I seem to remember someone on TGP having put a USACG neck on an AM Dlx. Anyone here? I had a couple of q's..

[BuckeyeBrown]

I too would be interested in hearing about this if anyone else has done it. Since I had bought the Callaham trem to match my current string spacing I've passed the point where I would have to get the wider one if I replaced the neck :Spank so at this point I would be better off going the route of a different strat to upgrade.

Still curious how well anyone replacement neck has worked on their American Deluxe if anyone could comment.

[digthosetubes]

If you really like the AmDlx, then most CS will be different. Most of them are designed around a vintage strat, so the vibe is totally different. Not necessarily better, but more traditional.

As far as general fit and finish, there is probably a bit more attention to detail and setup. The degree will depend on the guitars you are comparing. A hand-picked AmDlx could have as good a fit/finish as a CS, or maybe you wouldn't know the difference if it was there.

If you really like your guitar, I wouldn't lise any sleep over it. If you try a CS (or anything else) and fall in love, then you have some deciding to do...

well said.

First paragraph is definite. I have an AmDeStrat and it is a little heavy but a good player. Played some custome shop strats and preferred the custom shop nocasters by a wide margin.

A lot well depend on the particular guitar.