Fender Am. HSS

[jadedlikeme]

Hey guys, need a little advice here.

I'm thinking about buying a Fender American -- or the American Deluxe HSS stratocaster.

I played the Deluxe and dug the the tone. But I am not a whammy user. So are the Deluxe features worth the money over the Fender American HSS?

Would I be better off getting the American, blocking the trem, and putting new pups in? Or would that put me in the same price range as the Am. Deluxe?

Nobody around here carries the Fender American HSS to compare the two -- so I would have to have Sam Ash order the Fender American. (and to be honest I'm not digging any of the color options on the Am. Deluxe. lol Something about the Montego Black just seems 'off' or redish in color.)

Thanks!

OH! Also, I was thinking of trading in my Ibanez SCA220 H/H on it. Would I be better off just keeping the guitar as a backup?

PS I play classic rock, hard rock and some metal, but cleans are important.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

There are 3 guitars in question here. The American HSS, AM DLX HSS, & the AM DLX FMT/QMT HSS. All have the same trem, the DLX models have locking tuners and roller nut which help keep them in tune.

I have no experience with the American standard but The DLX models have noiseless pickups. The DH-1 humbucker, IMHO, is useless. The SCN single coils are awesome. The S-1 switching system is heavily integrated into those specific pickups making it difficult to swap pickups and keep the same electronics. With the S-1 engaged and combined with the SCNs, the DH-1 finally offers some tasty tones. Overall, lots of useful tonal options. The AM DLX FMT/QMT HSS offers slightly hotter SCNs that match very well with the DH-1 and variations.

I agree that the AM DLX HSS color offerings are horrible. A step up to the AM DLX FMT/QMT HSS offers some nice colors as do the standard Americans. If you're dead-set on changing pickups I'd get an American or even MIM. If you want to buy it and forget it, get the AM DLX.

I have a 2004 AM DLX FMT HSS and I've been very happy with it. It has a maple top, ebony fretboard, contoured heel, and other little refinements that make it a joy to play.

 

[Kac]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

I played a Highway One HSS at a local shop the other day, and I can say that's a great axe. As far as other guitars you're considering I don't have a lot of experience, but good luck!

 

[jadedlikeme]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

Okay, that blue guitar is H-O-T!!! How's the ebony fretboard, and the bridge pickup? I think I need to check the flame tops out, now that you've brought them to my attention.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

The fretboard is awesome. The warmth of rosewood with the smooth feel and snap of maple. With the attention to detail on the frets, contoured heel, and other details the neck feels great. It's a 9.5" radius so it's a nice compromise between the rounded vintage 7.25" and the flat 12" shredders. Overall a solid, well-built machine.

The bridge pickup is the DH-1 which I don't care for. On paper it's specs are identical to a Duncan JB. Overall it sounds kind of middy and lifeless. But when the S-1 is engaged it sounds good. It fattens up a little and sounds a little "dirtier." And with the S-1 engaged and the selector in the middle position it turns on all pickups. It's a little muddy but with an EQ tweak it's a great big fat tone. Great for Neil Young LP kind of stuff. The neck single coil sounds great. Perfect for Hendrix and Trower kinds of stuff. And even though all pups are noiseless, there's still a fair amount of quack in the neck/mid position if that's your thing. So even though the DH-1 is only adequate, the 10 tonal options offered by the addition of the S-1 make up for it IMHO.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

i have often thought of an American Standard Hardtail for myself.... Maybe the Hardtail is for you too. i love the necks on the American Standard and Deluxe line....

 

[Gamera]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

That's an option although I don't think the hardtails come in HSS, only SSS. Unless you look into the Showmaster line which has some nice alternatives too. Except the Showmasters are marketed poorly IMO. They seem to be both high-end custom shop stuff and low-end MIK stuff with the same name. Confusing.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

To me, a HSS strat always needs to have a SD bridge. It's just my thing.

 

[Robbiedbee]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

It's a Fender. It's good alright.

You play classic rock and hard rock, Fenders do that really well. The do the cleans better than most too. Nice, bright and jangly.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

I played one of these on my way home today, stopping at GC Northridge.
The American Deluxe Specail in mahogany. The trans red mahogany body really makes a humbucker sound fuller than they do in alder or ash.
The red/black combo looks cool, and not overly flashy.

 

[davedvdy]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

I played one of these on my way home today, stopping at GC Northridge.
The American Deluxe Specail in mahogany. The trans red mahogany body really makes a humbucker sound fuller than they do in alder or ash.
The red/black combo looks cool, and not overly flashy.

I have that exact guitar

I don't know that you will find too many of those around, actually, I thought it was limited edition GC version for 2004 (at least the one I purchased was). I think the SCN noiseless pups are ok, but real singles sound quite a bit better, IMO. I also ditched the DH-1 for a JB humbucker, way better.

Unfortunately, you most likely won't find any American HSS Stratocaster without the 2 point bridge, unless it's a Highway One. I really think the 6 screw bridge is far superior. My other Stratocaster w/the 6 screw sounds significantly louder Acoustically and has more stratty twang than the 2 point bridge on my Amer. Deluxe. I still think that overall the American Deluxe series is still great. There just really isn't an easy way to convert the bridge over w/o changing the neck.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

Yeah, I like the fact that it's a Fender with more mids like an SG or Jr.
I'm sure a JB and two vintage A5 singles sound great in it. Do you ever use the S1 switching, or just standard tones?

 

[davedvdy]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

Yeah, I like the fact that it's a Fender with more mids like an SG or Jr.
I'm sure a JB and two vintage A5 singles sound great in it. Do you ever use the S1 switching, or just standard tones?

I actually didn't use the S1-switching on it, with the SCN pups. I experimented with it a bit, but I didn't find anything really useful. There might be, and I might've overlooked something.

When I switched to the Suhr V60LP's, the Guitar Tech was pretty sure he couldn't keep the S1 hooked up, since there are only 2 wires, as opposed to the 4. I'm not sure if that is completely accurate, though. I know it was possible when I had the Dimarzio Virtual Vintage pups in for a while, since it had the 4 conductor wire (those weren't any better, IMO).

If it isn't possible, I know there is just so much more to gain, as the Suhr pups have such a beautiful open, round sound to them, as opposed to the SCN's, that I felt were a bit sterile.

 

[jadedlikeme]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

That mahogany looks pretty nice. My Ibanez is a thin body mahogany. If I make it to GC I'll check on those. I'll be heading down to Sam Ash today with my Ibanez to compare it against the Fender Am. Deluxes.

Ever since playing the AMDL I have been fumbling all over the close-ness of the strings on my Ibanez up at the neck. If the AMDL feels better I'm gonna make a trade. I also want to test my Dimarzio pups on a decent amp against the stock AMDL's and see which one I like. I have a super distortion in the bridge that I may want to keep.

Wish me luck!!

 

[Gamera]

Re: Fender Am. HSS

My prediction: You'll love the feel and playability of the Fender over the Ibanez. Hands down.

Pickups may be another story. The Fender is definitely a tone monster, just a different kind of monster compared to a DiMarzio Super Distortion. And don't forget to play with the S-1. Plug it in, and go through all the switching options with the S-1 off (the button in the crown of the volume or tone control -- I forget which -- disengaged and flush with the top.) Then engage the S-1 by pressing the button down. Go through all your switching options again and compare. Pay close attention to the bridge position and the mid position -- they're two of my favorites.

Also come to think of it, I think the AM DLX HSS and the AM DLX FMT/QMT HSS may be wired a little differently so compare both if you can. There are schematics someplace on Fender's site that can verify this.

Good luck and have fun! Report back with what you find...