Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

  • Fender Dave Murray Signature Strat

    Votes: 5 33.3%

  • Fender American Deluxe HSH Strat

    Votes: 10 66.7%
  • Total voters
    15
El Supremo

El Supremo

New member
Been thinking about getting a new strat for some time now. A while ago, I was looking at some "vintage" 70 strats, but was kinda talked out of it and was looking at the Classic 70's MIM series.
Having a reasonable budget though, I abandoned the 70's strat idea and found these 2 to be quite appealling to me:

2323_Fender_Dave_Murray_Strat_Black_V191964_a.jpg

US15015587-front-xlarge.jpg

Reasons for going for the Murray strat: basically a '57 strat with all the classic appointments (incl. nitro finish), but an HSH configuration (which I can easily change to SSS or whatever though), medium jumbo frets and a 9.5" radius. Besides that, I'm a huge Maiden geek, so having this axe just to gawk at should be reason enough really.

Reasons for going American Deluxe: Looks killer, compound radius, very stable trem system (as demonstrated on a few tube clips), 22 frets, contour heel and... a satin finished neck. The micro tilt feature and easily accessible truss rod make set up a lot easier too. Basically as super as super strats go without having a Floyd.

So, between these 2, which would be your pick if the price difference weren't an obstacle?
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

I'm partial to maple necks & that would pretty much make the decision for me seeing as though they are basically the same guitar, just some different building materials? If you plan on modding it or replacing the guard with another so you can change it back to stock whenever you want I think you should go with whatever guitar is made the way you like? Strat's are just shells you fill with love & hope to god they sound as good as you think they will!!!
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

I'd buy the American Deluxe and then slap the new Seymour Duncan Dave Murray Pre-Assembled Pickguard on it!

Just because 21-fret guitars just don't cut it for me.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

American deluxe. 22 frets.

And I'd mod that to semi-Jake E Lee specs.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

American Deluxe–prefer the Fender 2 point tremolo to the vintage 6.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

Deluxe......More stable trem, compound radius, roller nut, contour heel
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

... you know what? Find an American Deluxe with a V all maple neck, and change the pickups to DiMarzios. That should give you a close-to-Murray spec that's far superior in hardware and feel AND costs as much, if not less.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

If you like the Dave Murray
9.5" radius is standard on MIM standard
Just get a MIM and swap pickguard

The American is nice
Compound radius and roller nut does it for me



*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

PFDarkside said:
Ooh, both... Murray AND Lee! :D
Click to expand...

Yup. I'm thinking whichever I'll choose, I'll eventually keep a lookout for the other. But for now, the Deluxe certainly seems to have the Dave Murray model beat as far as comfort, reliability and setup possibilities go. The Dave Murray model is discontinued though, so if I'll ever want one in the future, I'll have to be patient and keep checking for a used one.


If you like the Dave Murray
9.5" radius is standard on MIM standard
Just get a MIM and swap pickguard
Click to expand...

I highly suspect there to be a quality difference between the Artist Series and the MIM series (even though the MIMs I played, played and sounded good to me). On top of that, does Fender even offer HSH configured maple board MIM strats anymore? I think the Blacktop series only come with rosewood boeards these days.

I could always order one of the 2, and if it ain't love at first strum, exchange it for the other. Maybe try the Murray model first and see how the trem holds up?
Thanks for the insights so far!
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

Get a Warmoth made to Murray specs might be cheaper, too.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

I voted the Murray. It just looks so cool. I remember seeing that guitar as a kid and thinking it was the coolest.

Don't know if my personal nostalgia helps you with your decision.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

The tuners are also locking and the middle pickup is noiseless on the AmDLX right? Yeah that tips me more towards that too with the 2 point bridge, micro tilt, rolling nut, 22 frets, etc. The only way I could see the Murray one winning out is because you would already like the Dimarzio's it comes with and you want a more traditional strat feel.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

voggin said:
I voted the Murray. It just looks so cool. I remember seeing that guitar as a kid and thinking it was the coolest.

Don't know if my personal nostalgia helps you with your decision.
Click to expand...

Same here. Been looking in awe at that guitar since I was a kid too.

Falloffthebonetone said:
The tuners are also locking and the middle pickup is noiseless on the AmDLX right? Yeah that tips me more towards that too with the 2 point bridge, micro tilt, rolling nut, 22 frets, etc. The only way I could see the Murray one winning out is because you would already like the Dimarzio's it comes with and you want a more traditional strat feel.
Click to expand...

Yup, the middle is the newer noiseless N3 and the buckers are Fender Twin Heads. I know lotsa folks slammin' the Fender humbuckers, but they sounded very nice on the tube.
The bridge is alnico 5 with enamel wire (15 kOhm) and the neck humbucker is ceramic with a lower wind (10kOhm) formvar wire.

The Dimarzio SD is one of my favorite pickups. The 36th Ann. neck is great too, so I know the Murray model would suit me in that department. The Murray model does have the 3 position switch though, but that's just a 15 buck mod if I wanted the 5 position switch.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

The deluxe by far. Best production strats. Next (and top) higher category is the custom shop.
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

OK,buy the White one,& bastardize a MIM for teh Murray!!!

:D
 
Re: Fender American Deluxe HSH OLP vs Fender Artist Signature Dave Murray HSH

I'd go with the deluxe. But personally, I'd have to have a Super Distortion in the bridge and a different color pickguard. Every time I see a white Strat with a black pickguard I think of Adrian Smith and Jake E. Lee. Not that that's a bad thing, but if you want a guitar with the Murray vibe, the black pickguard has to go.
 
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