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Fender Deluxe Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Maple Fingerboard, with Gig Bag)
Boasting performance upgrades like a two-point synchronized tremolo, Noiseless pickups, and locking tuners, the Deluxe Stratocaster lives up to its name.
Overall User Ratings (based on 10 ratings)
Submitted October 21, 2016 by Jerry L in PHILLIPSBURG, KS
"Great Guitar! Great Price!"
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I've had this guitar about 6 months now and I love it! ISounds great! I got the red one. It has the noiseless pickups which some people say don't sound as good as the regular ones. I disagree. I can't tell the difference. While most strats just have the five selector switch, this has a push button that gives you two more postions when the selector is in the fourth or fifth positions. My favorite is the fifth position with the push button in. In this position you get an extremely clear and glassy tone that combines the bridge and neck pickup. Using it for some Jimi Hendix tunes right now. Can't afford one of the higher priced strats I recommend trying this one.
Sound
Sounds great. I don't use any pedals or anything like that. It's plugged right into the amp. I play blues and rock. Works great for both of those styles.
Features
I really like the push button that basically gives you two extra positions. I think it gives you different sounds you can't get with the regular strats
Ease of Use
Very easy to get an array of different tones and sounds playing clean or with distortion. Works well with my fender amp.
Quality
It looks and feels very well made.
Value
I think its worth the money.
Manufacturer Support
Never needed them as yet
The Wow Factor
I've always thought strats were one of the best looking and versatile guitars around.
Musical Background:
Been playing guitar about 14 years. I just play at home
Musical Style:
Rock , Blues
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Submitted April 2, 2019 by Del H in Boise, ID
"Great gigging & session guitar"
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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
I’ve had the sapphire blue version of the Strat Deluxe since February. After receiving the guitar which was well packed, I had to set up and re-intonate the guitar for the strings and tuning I use (1/2 step down). The overall build quality and sound met or exceeded my expectations.
Sound
The noiseless pickups sound great, whether played through my Fender or Marshall amps. While not quite vintage in sound (they are slightly warmer) the guitar still has an unmistakable Fender Strat tone. The addition of the push switch does provide a hybrid Strat/Tele tone in position 5. Meaning the tone isn’t quite a Tele mid position sound, but it isn’t Strat like either.The tonal pallet though lends well to session and gig work. From glean to overdrive, the guitar works well with tube amps.
Features
The most useful features of the Deluxe Strat are the locking tuners, the noiseless pickups, the two point trem and the push switch to add the bridge pickup to positions 4 & 5. This makes the Deluxe Strat a very versatile session and gigging guitar.The real upside though is the 12” radius fretboard. For a guitarist used to Les Pauls this was a comfortable neck to play on.
Ease of Use
If you know how to set up a guitar or have a guitar tech set up the guitar for the way you play and like it’s a pleasure to play. Definitely not a guitar you have to fight to get a good tone out of.
Quality
The quality of build is excellent. The parts used are all from American made series of the past making this MIM Strat a huge value for the money spent.
Value
The selling price for the Deluxe Strat offers features that can be found only on Fender American guitars in previous years. The value is so good I’ll be looking for another in the near future.
Manufacturer Support
I haven’t had to use Fender Support for this guitar.
The Wow Factor
The features combined with the transparent sapphire blue finish really is striking. I get compliments on this guitar every time it’s out. I’m partial to the CBS era headstocks and blonde maple necks which really is a personal preference.
Musical Background:
I’m a working composer and musician.
Musical Style:
I play jazz, country, hard rock, metal, pop, or whatever the situation demands.
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Submitted February 6, 2017 by Jerry G in Portage Lakes, OH
"About those "noiseless" pickups."
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I bought one of these Sapphire blue Deluxe 2016 Strats from zZounds about 2 weeks ago. It arrived quickly via FedEx. The fit and finish was superb, although I had to make a few adjustments to truss rod tension and saddle height to suit my personal playing preferences. Also, the string slots in the nut needed to be fine tuned with narrow files a little bit.
The noiseless pickups are not exactly. When I plugged her into my VOX amp normal channel, where I go with my other electric guitars, the tone from this Strat was quite muddled and weak, so I connected to the Top Boost input, cranked up the volume until I got the Strat sound I was hoping for. There is some hum in that configuration. No big deal.
This Deluxe Stratocaster is the first guitar I have ever possessed with a tremolo bar. I am satisfied with how well this guitar stays in tune. I don't use the tremolo much but I have experimented with it a little.
I own another Fender, the 2012 American Standard Telecaster. I would judge them equal to my Mexican Stratocaster, my newest axe.
Musical Background:
Music student
Musical Style:
Rock, blues, surf
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Submitted August 5, 2017 by Casey S in Palisade, CO
"Great guitar in every way but one"
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This guitar is an exceptionally solid one. I have had two of the same model. The neck is rock solid. The fit and finish is exceptional even if it was twice the price. Seriously, the blue finish looks amazing in person, the photo doesn't do it justice. Mexican construction, but American hardware. Keep that in mind when you may want to mod. The American dimensions are slightly different, so don't buy things for Mexican Strats.
I have used the model I currently own for about seven years on stages from California to Texas and it has never needed a single repair and barely even needs tuned when it comes out of the case (I lubricate the nut and B and E string hangers with graphite).
The bridge is WAY more solid than it's other Mexican brethren. No wobbling in the saddle or rolling when you dive bomb it.
So, the way it is NOT a great guitar out of the box: the pickups are terrible. They are neithdr vintage sounding or noiseless. They make more racket than the cheap Mexican pickups in my 400 strat. I tried to use the guitar the way I bought it on stage, but the complicated electronic environment caused so much noise I couldn't. And the pickups are so pathetically weak that a bright switch doesn't even help. You basically have to have something like a TS9 with the tone cranked all the time to get a good Fender tone.
Long story short, put some GFS pickups in it. Fat Pat 750k in the bridge (I like HSS strats) and GFS Texas Specials 500k in the neck and middle. Also replaced the caps since I was already in there. Left the rest of the circuit alone since the American jacks and buttons are solid. The guitar is now amazing. I can play shred metal stuff and roll back the volume and sound like Nashville if I want. The noise is gone, at least in most cases. Lots of harmonics you would never hear with the Vintage Noiseless pickups. So, after about $100 on top of the cost of the guitar, I have the best guitar I have ever owned. Better than my Les Paul's, better than my Jaguars, better than my PRS, or my Tele.
If you buy this guitar, as well built as it is, you can mod it into anything you want and have a legitimately great guitar.
Musical Background:
Professional.
Musical Style:
Everything.
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Submitted March 10, 2019 by Bob H in Gardiner, NY
"Middle pickup died"
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Great rig besides this issue. In less than a year, the middle pickup died. This was a blem (could not find the blem), so no support, which would have been nice, and I have to buy a new pup. Replacing it with a SD, which could be a cool mix with the stockers.Still love the guitar!
Musical Background:
Over 50 years...first time I've ever had a pickup fail.
Musical Style:
I always get funny looks.
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Submitted March 21, 2018 by Tom B in Sacramento, CA
"Love it"
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I received the Blonde Strat a couple hours ago, and I've put in a bit over an hour of putting it through its paces. Already stays in tune perfectly. The set-up was near perfect. The fret edges are a bit sharp for a Strat at this price point, but I am no slouch when it comes to working on guitars, so it's not an issue to file them down. The strings need to be changed, but that's quite common.
I'm a huge fan of the large headstock. The body is flawless. The pickups are, indeed, something to get used to, but they are fantastic, and dead-bang quiet. Put some overdrive on them, and they sing with bags of sustain. If metal sounds is what is desired, one must look elsewhere. The push/push button is a little odd with the sounds that it produces, but I can grow to like them. The 12" radius neck is a dream. I have MS and arthritis, so the flatter radius is much desired. It's not too heavy, either. I look forward to gigging with this Strat in the near future.
Musical Background:
29 years of playing and teaching guitar. I play Strats only. I've been in gigging bands at different times, played for churches
Musical Style:
Blues, Christian and Neoclassical
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Submitted November 5, 2016 by Jerry/Yona Edwards in Burnside, KY
"Stratahappy"
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I have had my new Strat for about a month now. For a Mexican, this thing outdoes itself. I have owned American Standard Strats, but none can outdo this guitar. Noiseless pups, Locking tuners, a button that gives you various combinations of the pups. It has an Ash body, which I dearly love the brightness I get out of it. This guitar has more tonal variations than any of the others II have picked up. I made a great find when I checked this guitar out and bought it..
Musical Background:
I have been playing guitar for around 59 years now. I have played music all over this country.
Musical Style:
Classic Rock and the Blues are my favorites
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Submitted May 15, 2018 by ruben trevino in katy, TX
"Best strat made in my opinion"
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Just bought the Fender Deluxe Strat in sapphire blue. Its got a great 12 inch radius neck which to me is perfect. Love the finish, like the extra 2 tones from the switch, and the 70s style peghead. Like the tone knob for the bridge pickup. And the noiseless pickups to my ears sound great. Its just a great axe for the price, and it includes a gig bag.
Musical Background:
been playing guitar for 30+ years
Musical Style:
rock, blues,
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Submitted November 15, 2017 by a customer from att.net in Fremont , CA
"Plays like a dream after set-up"
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2017 model that I play at home. Added a brass tremolo block, rolling string tees, and set it up for 10 gauge strings. Also placed a fish aquarium oxygenator in hope of achieving acoustic bliss. This IMHO allowed the new strings to settle in. Future buyers of this model either upgrading or downgrading should be pleased. Allow it time to break in and it opens up well.
Musical Background:
Started playing at 14 of age with lessons, then took up piano to understand composition and creation better.
Musical Style:
Familiar with rock, blues, funk and classical guitar.
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Submitted September 12, 2017 by Rob D in Fremont, CA
"Problematic guitar"
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I had high hopes that this guitar would resonate more. The bad: G-string spring inside of the bridge was loose causing a buzz. Tweaked it and it stabilized. Put on 10s, but that problem still lingered.
Musical Background:
Age 55. started at age 14; garage band level. Piano lessons to 3 years. Guitar mostly from other people and books.
Musical Style:
modern rock, entry-level jazz, country rock
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