Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster Guitar Review

For nearly every line of guitars made today, each company has their respective crown jewel. It is the model that brings them the most high dollar business from serious, often professional musicians. Usually, it is made from only the highest quality materials, and has finishing touches made by hand from luthiers. For Fender, that crown jewel is the American Deluxe Stratocaster. It has all of the above qualities, and is made to only the highest possible standards. Let's take a closer look to see just how high those standards are.

Features: The American Deluxe Stratocaster has a body made from select alder wood. Only the highest quality wood is selected for the Deluxe Strat, and you can pretty much tell as soon as you pick it up. There definitely aren't any scraps that go into this guitar. There are several finishing options available on the Deluxe Strat. These include all the classics, from vintage Arctic White to Three Tone Sunburst. There are also several pickguard styles available. They range from stark white to just about every type of tortoise shell finish imaginable. The neck is made of maple, and has a modern C shape to it. The finish on the neck is highly polished and clearly taken much care into, especially considering its edges are hand rolled. With each type of finish, you can choose between a maple or rosewood fretboard. As a special (and high class) touch, the inlays are abalone dots. The hardware, including the tuning heads, input jack, and bridge, is all chrome. And the bridge itself has six stainless steel saddles with a design that minimizes tuning issues. Electronically, the Deluxe Strat has three Fender SCN single coil pickups, one volume and two tone control knobs, and a five way S-1 switching system.

Playability: The quality craftsmanship of the Deluxe Stratocaster really shines through in how nicely it plays. The specialized bridge and locking tuners combine to make tuning difficulties a non-issue. The specially finished neck makes moving up and down the fretboard extremely comfortable, and the action of the strings is pretty much a perfect height.

Sound: The Fender brand SCN pickups are designed to eliminate all mechanical and electrical noise. And, to my ears, it sounds like they did a great job in doing so. You won't get any feedback or switching issues with these pickups. And, speaking of switching, the S-1 system allows for a huge range of tonal possibilities. In fact, I can't even relate to you some of the sounds you can get out of the Deluxe Strat.

Overall: If you've got pockets deep enough and are looking for a premium quality instrument, the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster is a great choice. It is certainly a well-known classic in the style department, and offers some amazing features that must be experienced to be appreciated. You can find the Deluxe Strat in music stores for about $1,250.