Fender's S-1 switching system is suweeet!

[vbf]

I picked up a American Deluxe Strat last week that has the S-1 switching system. It took me some time to re-EQ my amp for a Strat but I finally got there. This is the first Strat I've had in years. I'm a Lester man through and through, and although the Strat has a humbucker in the bridge, it's really no where the sound of a LP. So, I'm diddling around an an otherwise fabulous Strat and I started experimenting with the S-1 switch...holy smokes is this thing cool! I really like it and can't imagine having a Strat without it. It really thickens and warms the output of the guitar an opens up a ton of tonal possibilities. I'm curious if there are other fans of the S-1?

[jkelly25]

Love my deluxe strat and the s1 switching. With three single coils I can use the s1 to get all three pickups on at once for a thicker sound. Got mine on Halloween. Sunburst metallic with maple fretboard.

[SNick]

I have a 2005 American Standard HSS with the S1. I have to say that it is great all the way around. This is definitely not your fathers Strat. I often find that the Strat purest turn there noises up at anything new. This baby is built for today's sounds and today's players.

[gulliver]

Loved it for about three years ... then ripped it out because I can't leave anything alone. Replaced it with an HSS - fralin SP42s and a Suhr SSV humbucker (after many many swaps). Way way better IMHO, but I play with much lower gain these days and the noise isn't bad. More sensitive feel and more refined/complex tone ... but the S-1 deal isn't terrible.

[DGTCrazy]

I've got the S-1 system on a CS Tele & CS Strat, and I love it. The more tonal options...the better!

[just_one_more]

It seems like the pure single coil guys don't care for it. The guys (like me) that are more humbucker players seem to have more use for them, especially on a SSS type strat.

[SNick]

I should have added - I also have a straight SSS that I put together for those traditional tones. Why limit yourself?

[JB Eckl]

I know a lot of guys bag on the S-1, but not me. I don't have a Strat right now, so I bought an S-1 switch on eBay and stuck it in my Gibson S1 guitar! Seemed like a no brainer - S-1 in an S1. That old Gibby was supposed to sound like a Strat anyway.

[edward]

I own a 1908 "The Strat" ...it has a 2-way switch that gives you another tier of pup options. It is the precursor to the S1 that came later.

Yes, I love it! I never understood why purists hate it. Having more tone options is great, especially options which thicken an SSS strat's palatte. My 1980 is and continues to be my #1

Edward

[The bear]

I have it on my custom shop deluxe, I had some problems with it-it didn't activate properly but I got it fixed. I don't use it a whole lot, but it is nice to have it for some more tonal options.

[tkozal]

I have the S1 on a Tele HS I bought a few years ago on sale from MF. The combination of tones with the para vs series wiring, plus still having the straight Tele bridge makes a tremendously flexible instrument.

[Boris Bubbanov]

Got the S-1 on 7 Fender Teles.

One S-1 has been fixed, a second is buzzing and isn't activating right. I need to replace it and I'm fighting against just ditching the S-1 on it.

Maybe an S-1 is OK on a Gentleman's Strat, but it does not pass the "Keef Richards Test".

YMMV

[itstooloudMike]

I have an '04 AmDlx HSS Strat, and I really like the S-1 system. I did change the humbucker to a Duncan '59, but left all the S-1 wiring as original. The other two pickups are SCNs. It's great for contemporary Strat sounds, especially anything high gain. If I want traditional Strat sounds, I use my Suhr Classic-S. But I'm having a blast with the AmDlx HSS. It has pretty much become my go-to rock guitar.