Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

ErikH

Well-known member
Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

The Deluxe Players Strat is probably one of the few regular production run Strats that I haven't played. I see it's MIM, has the Vintage Noiseless pickups, which I kinda like from playing a recent Clapton Strat, the fancy "bridge-on" switch, and a 12" neck radius. I really like the look in the pics of the 3-color sunburst with rosewood fingerboard.

For those that have played these, what's your opinion on them?
Is the hardware upgraded from the Standard MIM Strats?
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Somebody's got GAAAASSSSSSSSSSSS......


na na nee boo-boo!


:6:

I've looked into those myself...2 things bugged me... that fuggly pickguard..and gold hardware....but with a pickguard change it may be worth it :laugh2:

You feeling the need for a tighter radius? Buy a neck from warmoth..will be cheaper.
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Not really................................well, kinda, yeah. Just a little bit of GAS...LOL. I'll always GAS for Strats though. :)

The pickguard would be changed, most likely to black. The gold hardware I like, it gives it that classy look.

No need for a tighter radius. I can handle the normal 9.5" radius just fine. If it had that I'd still check it out. What catches my eye with this one is the pickups it comes with (Vintage Noiseless), the gold plated hardware (mo money), the bridge-on switch, and the flatter radius (which I've only seen offered one or two others, the EJ being one).
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

. What catches my eye with this one is the pickups it comes with (Vintage Noiseless)...

Are these the same things that are in the MIA deluxe? if so, these didn't do anything for me ...not bad at all......but I felt the regular MIA pups sounded more ..err..."stratty"...
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Are these the same things that are in the MIA deluxe? if so, these didn't do anything for me ...not bad at all......but I felt the regular MIA pups sounded more ..err..."stratty"...

No, the MIA Deluxe has the Bill Lawrence designed SCN pickups. These are Fender designed. They come in the Clapton Strat now and a few others. What's curious, those pickups are in a MIM Strat. :eek13: I haven't seen that before until these models came out.

Their height has to be tweaked just right for them to sound good, just like the SCN's. I've got a recording of Cream from last year and Clapton uses them now. I was liking what I heard.
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

So, nobody has played these? I find that somewhat difficult to believe considering the membership here. :eek13:

C'mon bros. :fingersx:
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Let's not all reply at once. :D Seriously, does anybody else care to post their opinion on these?
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

I bought one, sunburst w/ maple neck, it was delivered yesterday.

This is a high quality-control Strat, the Fender factory workers "got it right."
(I had a MIM Robert Cray Strat that didn't have the same degree of quality.) The workmanship and assembly are precise: Alignment of parts is true/square, neck and body paint are flawless, frets are level with no buzzing. The factory set-up plays good: intonation is correct, pick-up height/angle, bridge saddles curve, nut slot depth, are all optimum. The 12" fretboard radius (Les Paul radius) makes string bends easy.

Issue: my Strat weighs 8 lbs. & 6 ozs. which is about one pound heavier than I'd prefer, but its not a major issue with a wide guitar strap.

Catalog price is 599, eBay used prices are typically between 450 and 550.
Try one - nice ax!
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Sweet. Thanks for the input guys.

I'd go play one if I could. Problem is I don't see them in the shops here very often. I kinda have to restrain myself from going in to the shops lately. Gotta fix a bad fence and put in a patio so I need to avoid any unnecessary GAS. This place isn't helping though....LOL. The good part is, I can close my browser. At the stores, you got the merchandise right there in front of your face. ;)
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Sweet. Thanks for the input guys.

I'd go play one if I could. Problem is I don't see them in the shops here very often. I kinda have to restrain myself from going in to the shops lately. Gotta fix a bad fence and put in a patio so I need to avoid any unnecessary GAS. This place isn't helping though....LOL. The good part is, I can close my browser. At the stores, you got the merchandise right there in front of your face. ;)

Maybe the reason you don't see them in shops is because they're always out of stock because they're such great axes and you should definately snag one (once you fix the patio, of course). ;)
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Maybe the reason you don't see them in shops is because they're always out of stock because they're such great axes and you should definately snag one (once you fix the patio, of course). ;)

Yup. Priorities......and a wife watching over what I have already....LOL. Just looking at other options for when I can get another Strat, one that will stay S-S-S, unlike my '94 MIA which started out that way, then went H-S-S and is now H-H. :)
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

I've often thought that if it had 22 frets I'd be all over one. Especially with the noiseless pickups. Add a mid-boost and you get a cheap Clapton Strat.
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

I've often thought that if it had 22 frets I'd be all over one. Especially with the noiseless pickups. Add a mid-boost and you get a cheap Clapton Strat.

Funny you mention the Clapton. I was thinking more along the lines of getting a sunburst one, change the pickguard to black and have a cheap SRV Strat. I can deal with the 21 frets when it comes to total vintage appointments like that (aside from the pickups which are clearly not).
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

I've played a vintage player mim strat. Is that about the same series? It's the best mim strat i've ever played. I wasn't too happy about the slight v-neck though, but the build quality was excellent for MiM. Also i had the texas specials, but i'd swap them for duncans anyway.

Nicer than most american standards i would say
 
Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Re: Fender Deluxe Players Strat®

Do they have medium jumbo frets? I can't remember.
 
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