(SOLD) Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS Sunset Metallic 2012
Fender American Deluxe Strat, sunset metallic, made in USA 2012. I got this one in a trade from one of my favourite customers. I like this guy for a couple of reasons: first, he's a gentle and radiant soul that's just fun to be around, and second, because his hobby is taking normal guitars and making them really, really good, just for thrills. This started life as a stock Am Deluxe HSS Strat, but it's been modded under the hood to great effect. The best stock stuff is all there still: locking tuners, two point smooth trem bridge, compound radius neck, easy access join, fancy inlays etc. The goods are inside: a set of delicious Suhr pickups and some wiring to get the best out of them. Now, one issue with an HSS style Strat is pot and cap values: single coils work best with a 250k pot and 47 cap, which is what you get by default, but the humbucker would prefer to have a 22cap with a 500k pot to bring out the brightness and life and taper properly. This ticks all those boxes via a fancy double sized switch under the hood. The result is you get a humbucker living it's best life, and a good HB at that. It's warm and bristling, with heaps of bark and bite to balance the buttery breakup. The single coils are an overwound 60s style, so they're delicious too: clean and clear, but with girth and weight where it matters. Anyone familiar with Suhr stuff will know how good these pickups are, they're truly among the finest readily available options out there. The neck feels slick and quick, with easy access all the way up and intuitive feel via the compound radius. The finish looks great too: like a cherry burst, but all metallic and shiny to give it a bit of Autobots-hit-Miami swagger. Deluxe indeed.
Model: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster
Made: USA, Corona plant, 2012 (serial US12193628)
Finish: sunset metallic, gloss poly
Body: alder
Neck: maple with rosewood board, 25.5” scale, 9.5-12” compound radius, slim C profile, easy access join
Weight: 3.645kg
Mods: pickups replaced, re-wired with new pots and switch
Switching/controls: single coils on positions 3-5 of switch use a 250k pot and 0.047 uF capacitor on the first tone knob, humbucker uses the second tone control with a 500k pot and 0.022 uF capacitor, position 2 is inner coil of humbucker + middle single coil in a hum cancelling configuration
Pickups: Suhr Mike Landau single coil x2, Thornbucker humbucker
Case: Fender Deluxe ABS moulded hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some minor dimples on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples near the nut and minor rub wear on the back only. The back has some minor scuffs on the belly carve and some dimples in the elbow area. The sides have minor dimples near the jack. The front has minor dimples near the jack and behind the bridge, as well as some light play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: excellent condition (9/10).
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. The frets look great, 9/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 9/42 D'Addario strings.