2010 fender american deluxe stratocaster hss review

Both the Bridge and Neck pick-ups work well when you begin to wind up the gain, although you do need to roll the tone back slightly.

Hardware:- Fender Deluxe two-point synchronised Tremolo with Pop-in Arm, Fender Deluxe Staggered-Post Tuners - all chrome plated.

Electrics:- 3 x Fender noiseless N3 Strat stacked-coil Pick-ups, 5 way lever pick-up selector switch, master volume with Fender S-1 switch, tone (neck), No-load tone control (bridge and middle.).

Im guessing that this model is being aimed at players who want something classic looking yet versatile and arent purist enough to want the normal vintage hardware.

My review model comes in a very pretty 2-tone orange sunburst topped with an amazing metallic gloss urethane finish.

Underneath this stunning finish is an Alder body, although Ash models are also available as is an HSS set up too.

This particular model has a slightly deeper Belly Contour and the edges have more of a radius than on other models and this makes the whole feel of the guitar a bit more refined and not so rough around the edges compared to the lower and mid priced range instruments.

The neck on this particular instrument has a very comfortable C profile that feels very modern and shallow.

It seems to keep a fairly uniform depth for the whole length of the neck until it gets to the Heel turn out.

The finish is beautifully smooth and semi-gloss, almost satin like.

The fingerboard has a rolled edge, is lovely, dark and also well-oiled.

The frets have been very well finished too, which youd expect from an instrument in this price bracket The fingerboard has what is known as a Conical Radius along its length.

This basically means that it has a radius of 9.5 inches at the first fret and one of 14 at the top end of the neck.

This is designed to make chord work feel more comfortable and then, when playing at the top end, theres no choking out when bending strings.

The two-point tremolo system comes equipped with a push-in type arm (think Floyd Rose) and saves you from all the screwing in and out that you have with a vintage six-screw type.

Its also set up to be floating which, if youre used to the vintage style tremolos, could cause a bit of trouble whilst Palm Muting.

Its not as tightly sprung as a vintage unit either which makes it feel a lot more loose.

I dont see as it would be too much bother to add another spring to alleviate this feeling, but only if it really bugs you that much It stays in tune too Well, unless you go Dive Bombing excessively Vai and Satch play-alikes beware.

Theyre still of a stacked coil design but where the old ones had Samarium Cobalt magnets these new ones sport Alnico.

The bridge has an Alnico V for a slightly hotter sound, the middle is Alnico II and the neck is Alnico III.

Its an interesting idea that seems to work and give quite a good tonal response across the pick-ups.

Now, that leads us nicely on to the switching options, which, courtesy of the S-1 system gives more than the usual 5.

In the centre of the Volume knob is a push button switch that either engages or disengages the S-1 system.

With the switch out the 5 way switch works exactly as normal but once depressed the positions become the following configurations:- Position 1 All 3 pick-ups in series.

2010 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster Hss Review