This is it, the very beginning of the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster line. In this article we examine the 1998-2003 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster. Firstly, I think we need to discuss why the Fender American Deluxe Strat was created. Fender corporation had seen for years how players would buy Stratocasters and modify them. They would hot rod their guitars by changing pickups, rewiring electronics, changing necks and replacing tuners in addition to any number of other modifications to the Stratocaster. 

The Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster was created as a top-of-the-line American production model. The most sought after modifications were built right into the guitar. Obviously this makes the line appeal to the most discerning players who want the best guitar that Fender can roll off of a factory production line. It was created to replace the Strat Plus that filled the same market niche in the early to mid-90’s.

The American Deluxe was chiefly created to meet the demand for higher performance. Players had long been changing the pickups in their Stratocasters to get less noise. As a matter of fact, Fender had been using the Lace Sensor pickups in the Strat Plus line for just that reason. The American Deluxe featured the newly designed Vintage Noiseless Strat pickups. It had 3 Vintage Noiseless pickups (neck/middle/bridge). The switching for this guitar was handled by the standard Fender 5-position blade switch

This guitar has been setup by our luthier and comes with the upgraded Fender hardshell case is completely ready to gig.