Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster Maple User Reviews at zZounds

"Nice axe." submitted November 24, 2011

By a customer from msn.com

Overall

Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: 35 years as a weekend warrior

Music Style: Classic rock, Christian, blues, country, 50s, 60s.

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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

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Sound: The noiseless pickups on this guitar are sweet, and completely noise-free, without squashing the famous "strat edge." I play classic rock, blues, and country, and this guitar fits right in. Each of the five settings is noticeably different, and on the 4 and 5 positions, when you push that button to combine with the bridge pickup, it sounds sweet and round. I use a class A 15 watt "Crate palomino" and a rat pedal turned down low for a little punch. I love the quack on position 2. Feature: I am not a heavy dive-bomber, but everything on this guitar is top quality, I would change to locking tuners someday, but not a big deal right now. The finish is beautiful in the sapphire blue, and I have the maple neck. The gold hardware looks rich and striking. The neck is a fatter, flatter-radius, which feels beefier than the other three strats I have owned. In person, this thing is gorgeous to look at. Ease of Use: It's easy to get your sound by flipping the switches and pushing the button on positions 4 and 5. It has a little fatter sound without taking away from the classic strat sounds. For me there was no learning curve, if you could play your guitar yesterday, you can play this one today. This guitar feels solid and strong. Quality: This thing was barely out of tune when I opened the box. After 20 minutes, I had the set up just right. Fender does a world class favor by including precise directions on how to set up the action for best playing. This should last me 20 years or more, you can tell that this is great quality work. It is as good as the three American strats I had in the past Value: This is a Fender, and well worth the price listed. Manufacturer Support: I give them a "10" because the best support is an instrument that is well made, and needs none. Zzounds on the other hand, has a great support team and has made my day by offering their payment plan. The Wow Factor: Since I have had a number of good guitars, including an American deluxe, and an American standard tele, you would think this is no big deal. It is a big deal to me when you can have the "cleans" you get from the oh-so-quiet pickup system. I was and still am, very excited to have this guitar, it is very appealing in looks and sound. Overall: This is a very good guitar at a very good price, I'm keepin' it. I would replace it if it was stolen or lost. You can spend more, but will you get more? The difference between this and more expensive instruments is not worth the difference in price to me.

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"Don't my a standard, buy this!!" submitted August 5, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Hobbyist

Music Style: Blues, modern and classic rock

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VERIFIED BUYER

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Sound: I've owned the Deluxe Player for about a year now and will say that for cleans it sounds amazing. Bridge pickup twangs like a strat should. The middle pickup is great for leads and the neck pickup is very smooth and glassy. It handles distortion ok. This wouldn't be my guitar of choice for hard rock or metal though. Feature: The deluxe player comes with a average quality gig bag. Not a deluxe bag but not a cheap $15 bag either. It will easily transport the guitar without the worry of damage. It also comes with Alan wrenches for the bridge and truss rod, tremelo bar and an extra spring. The guitar also has a button that will activate the bridge pickup from any switch selection so you can utilize the bridge and neck pickup together and all three pickups. This feature is usefull and adds more tone availability. Being mainly a Les Paul player, I found it an easy transition to this guitars neck due to the 12" radius. This was a plus for me. Ease of Use: Mine came with a fairly good set up out of the box. Much better than most other guitars I've owned. For me changing the pickguard on my transparent blonde was a must. It was a pretty simple task although you won't find a pickguard anywhere already pre-drilled for the additional button. I just used the original as a template and drilled a 3/8" hole in the new guard myself. Glueing the button to the pickguard will also need to be done. Quality: I can't give enough praise here. This Mexican strat was in my opinion higer quality than my Highway One. I've had no issues with it at all. Frets are level, no sharp edges and electronics work flawlessly. Not something that you cans say for most sub- $800 guitars. Value: I feel this guitar is worth the price. $100 over a standard strat and you get highly upgraded pickups,vintage tuners, an ash body vs. alder and the cool spagetti logo is much cooler than the standard fat logo too (IMO). Manufacturer Support: I've never had to deal with Fender in reguards to this guitar but I did once have an issue with a vibro champ amp that I bought new. After a few months sound would cut in and out. I called them and they directed me to a authorized service center near me. The service center verified the problem, kept the amp and Fender shipped a new one to my door within a weeks time. This isn't the norm. They will most likely only do this if the item is more cost effective to replace than to fix but I was very happy with their resolve. The Wow Factor: The deluxe player is a cool alternative to a standard strat. The transparent colors look great and it's easily customizable. I've recieved a lot of great comments from people on my transparent blond when I changed the pickguard to white 3 ply. Overall: This guitar will go to the grave with me! Enough said!

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Fender Deluxe Strat Customer Review submitted November 12, 2004

By a customer from comcast.net

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Features

Quality

Value

Musical Background: 2 Years

Music Style: Classic Rock

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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

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Sound: THe guitar's sound is very versital and has a huge tonal range. I gave it a 9 because if you sit there for a while you can hear a SMALL difference between it and the one thousand plus dollar Fender. Feature: It may not have S-1, but Fender gave it a switch that is like Mexican S-1. The tremelo is nice and the tuners are locking (or at least the trem doesnt cause them to go out of tune). Quality: This guitar is of amazing quality esp. when you consider the price of it. Value: It's a great deal for the money. Buy it now. Overall: It's an amzing guitar.

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"Great Price for the Best Guitar." submitted November 28, 2006

By a customer from adelphia.net

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Musical Background: experienced hobbyist

Music Style: classic rock, blues, light jazz, altenative

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VERIFIED BUYER

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Sound: The sound is, in a word, perfect. For Stratocaster lovers, it's right-on. The Stratocaster by nature is one of THE most beautiful electric guitars in the world, and this model totally lives up to anyone's expectation. For best results, most players already know to fit a Strat with at LEAST 10-gauge strings, and possibly up to 12-gauge, depending on one's style. Feature: The 5-way Pup switch goes without mention ... pretty typical for Strat's, as are the 3 dials (1 vol, 2 tone.) The push-combo button is a nice added feature, as it allows the player to include the bridge Pup in the mix for toggle positions 4 & 5, thus adding to the guitar's versatility in getting distinct sounds. This guitar comes with a "gig" bag, not a case ... but that's okay with me, as the bag is useful, and padded. The vibrato stick screws into position, and is easily adjusted or removed by simply un-screwing it. The Pups are good, and pretty much noiseless, as they're advertised. Ease of Use: VERY EASY to get great Strat sounds. Just flip the toggle Pup switch, push the combo button in to add the bridge Pup to the 4/5 position settings. Classic Stratocaster beautiful sound all the way. Great neck action ... smooth and sexy, though i had to have my action fine-tuned at the shop, as it was too high when i got it. Also, Strat's are known for being a bit tricky to tune and intonate correctly, so you'll probably have to have it adjusted at your shop (or yourself if you're able to) - but once you do, guitar heaven is waiting. Strat players know about the string thing - changing strings is a bit more "rigorous", since they thread from the back side. Also - this guitar is fitted with Fender "bullit" strings on arrival; i don't like these strings, as they can be difficult to un-seat when you change them, and i don't derive any sound benefit from them either - any good set of strings will play and sound fine. Quality: The finish was beautiful. No flaws that i detected in any component - electronics, machine heads, bridge machinery, etc. After i had it adjusted for intonation and tuning issues, it's been playing pretty good. I'm currently experiencing repeated out-of-tune problems with the higher strings, as they seem to be getting stuck on the nut sometimes, and then "click" when re-tuning. I'll have to just work this out, but basically, this model is great. Value: At $600, this model is a great buy, especially with the Pup-switching option and noiseless Pups. It plays great, looks great, feels great. Unless you're into "signature" versions for namesake, i'd skip over higher-priced models that can run up to and over $3000. This model is pure Strat all the way. Manufacturer Support: No opinion on Fender....haven't had to contact them. The Wow Factor: I own it. Overall: This is my first Strat, as i've been an LP / Gibson guy, but i'm totally pleased with this guitar, and now play it exclusively. I love the "feel", unlike Gibsons, to me it has a much more "discernable" character about it as you fret....i don't know quite how to describe it ... more "direct" in the way the strings feel under your fingers .... every motion has a unique, more physical - "organic" - touch. I've become much more "emotional" in my play with this baby ... i guess that's why it's the #1 blues axe. Not so much just raw power as with a humbucking Gibson ... a lovely mix of subdued power with more personality - "character".

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"Excellent guitar, great playability, best band for your buck!" submitted October 27, 2011

By a customer from msn.com

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Features

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Musical Background: Active musician

Music Style: Rock, country

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VERIFIED BUYER

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Sound: I was concerned about the fact that this Strat is a low end model and may not deliver the same quality as the higher end models but was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the sound it produces. I run the Strat through my Line 6 Floor pod plus and the two of them compliment each other beautifully from the cleanest to the dirtiest patches. I have two friends that own Strats they payed a good deal more for and the sound of my Strat stacks up well to thiers. Feature: This model has a very basic bridge with a tremola bar. I don't really have a need for the tremola now but it might be useful in the future. The one thing I am really impressed with is the number of combinations for the pickups. Between the switch and the button, you have a a wider range of choices on which pickups you are using. Ease of Use: The action on this model is wonderful. I have spent most of my life playing accoustic and switching over to electric is light night and day. I don't have what would be considered "Guitar players fingers" Short and stubby to be exact. So, I have trouble producing clean barred or power chords. I am having a much easier time with that on this fret board, given the style of the neck and the larger frets. And again, I run this through my Line6 Floor pod...no problems there at all. Quality: Given that this model was built in Mexico and not the States, I am really impressed with how solid it is. The weight is well balanced. Beautiful finish on the body. Value: Worth every penny. This guitar could easily sell for a lot more that I payed. The best bang for your buck! Manufacturer Support: Haven't needed to use that yet. The Wow Factor: This model is a deep red with a redish brown pick guard, gold bridge and gold machine heads and gears....it looks hot and feels very comfortable to hold. Overall: The next guitar I buy will be a Gibson Les Paul but I expect to hold on to the Strat for a long time and would buy the same model should anything happen to this one.

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"Big bang for little bucks!" submitted October 13, 2010

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: Musician

Music Style: Jazz, Blues, Funk, Rock, Acid Jazz & Techno

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VERIFIED BUYER

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Sound: This guitar is so sweet! The versatility of this guitar is amazing! Feature: Comes with the standard Fender accessories. Ease of Use: You can get various tones from the selector switch and the push button switch. This feature makes this guitar very unique. Quality: This guitar was ready to play right out the box (Which I did!) No set up required. The maple neck and the ash body was crafted very well IMO. For a Mex Strat, the quality of the workmanship is superb. Value: This guitar is well worth it's value. I got a great deal from Zzounds on this baby. I truly enjoy buying from these guy. Their customer service is is 5 star rated IMO. Manufacturer Support: None needed. The Wow Factor: The lines look like they were cut with a diamond blade. Overall: If it was lost or stolen I would definitely buy it again.

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Fender Deluxe Strat Customer Review submitted November 9, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: Over thirty years on guitar

Music Style: Rock and blues

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Sound: The pickups are everything they said they are. Work great. Not sure about the button though can't really tell a difference with it engaged or not. But I'm not exactly sure how it would change the sound so I could listen for it. Ease of Use: Very easy and straight forward design. Easily can pull several tones out of this guitar. Quality: For what I paid, this instrument is of very high quality. I have more expensive guitars that are not as well built and finished. The finish is more beautiful in person. Value: Worth more than I paid for it. Manufacturer Support: Haven't needed them. Overall: Still want to get a les Paul but I do not feel I could have gotten any other strat that would have made me this happy!

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"Halfmoonstudio seadrift tx." submitted October 18, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: recording engineer/musician

Music Style: alls

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Sound: The deluxe series stratocaster is on of the best sounding guitars i have owned. The price is right and the craftsmanship is superb. I am (was) a die hard gibson les paul fanatic but i just couldnt that SRV sound out of a lles paul..the fender deluxe has that sound and more the extra pickup setting push button is perfect for hendrix sound..i love this guitar it has been added to my stage guitar collection.. Ease of Use: Its playability is no.1 action is fast and all the sound thar the big expensive models have at a fraction of the ptice Quality: Beautiful guitar Value: Excellent for the ptice Manufacturer Support: Dont know havent had to use them csuse this rig was ready to play right out of the box.. The Wow Factor: Beautiful Overall: 100% satisfied

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"Forget American Standard Strats, this guitar is the best value" submitted October 31, 2011

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: Active Musician

Music Style: Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz

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Sound: I used to own an American Standard Strat, and the pickups on it were extremely noisy, so I had to change them to Demarzio stackable humbuckers. This guitar comes with noiseless pickups, which are very similar. Feature: Well, I would change two things on this particular guitar: 1. Add an American Standard roller string tree (the string tree on the Mexican strats is terrible) 2. My preference is to use the Fender Locking Tuners (I know some players don't like them, but it makes changing strings a piece of cake) Ease of Use: Quite easy, although I don't see much of a difference using the push button to add in the 3rd pickup. Quality: Very well made, no loose parts, will hold up quite well. Manufacturer Support: Never had to deal with Fender at all, which says a lot about the quality of their products. Overall: I will die with this guitar, unless I give up playing completely.

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"This is a great buy! Beautiful guitar all around!" submitted February 3, 2011

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: active musician, recording engineer, band director

Music Style: Rock, Country

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Sound: Great Strat sound but with noisless pups! awesome! Feature: Tremolo is nice, looks like I will need to do some graphite lubricating and tightening of the springs to make it useful however. The guitar comes out of tune when using the tremolo even slightly. I would like to find a roller nut setup in gold tone to add to this beast! no luck yet. Manufacturer Support: haven't had to use them yet. The Wow Factor: Beautiful guitar, I got the honey blonde, my wife is jealous!

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"You won't need a vocalist, this this sings!" submitted February 25, 2005

By a customer from new.rr.com

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Musical Background: 20 year hobbyist

Music Style: No Country!

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VERIFIED BUYER

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Sound: The sound from this is just fantastic... great resonance! After a month after I bought it, I'm still stoned from the sound it gives. Feature: Although the button switch gives you some additional pickup tones, I wouldn't buy it for that. It's a nice feature though. Quality: I looked the strat over and found not a single flaw. Everything was nice and tight. Value: For the price, this is almost a steal. Manufacturer Support: Considering the quality, I can't imagine calling support for anything. The Wow Factor: The gold hardware really stands out. It's a beautiful guitar! Overall: I was so pleased that this is the first time I've taken the time to rate anything! The local stores did carry the Player's model and so I couldn't try one out. I almost spent the bucks for an American strat because I thought for the price on the Player's strat I would get much less quality. Now I'm really glad I didn't.

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"Strat for the masses" submitted February 5, 2008

By a customer from comcast.net

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Musical Background: exp. hobbyist

Music Style: blues, rock, alternative

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Sound: It's possible to get a few decent "Strat-y" sounds, but overall, the tone is flat and lifeless. Esp. the neck pup .... screechy, not smooth. I originally replaced the bridge pup with a DiMarzio HB which helped add some push to the blended pup settings. The extra pup combinations help to an extent, but overall, this Strat is a cheap Fender production model, and it sounds like it. Feature: There's a push-button for adding the bridge pup to a couple of the blade settings, which is nice. The brige hardware is cheap. There's a vibrato stick that screws into the base of the bridge. The typical three-dial layout ... master vol, 2 tone dials. Ease of Use: "Ease of Use" .... well, it 'feels' like a strat. But it's a battle to really SOUND good, because the pup's are just junk, plain & simple. You can a couple of decent "Strat-y" tones within the blade's sweep, with proper amp EQ'ing. Overall, the pup's have gotta GO. Your intonation will be on the fritze too with this axe, because the bridge H/W is cheap, and is very sensitive to the strings you use. Suggestion: decide on the type & gauge string, then get it set up by a professional and never vary after that. Quality: The build seems okay. The finish is nice and i haven't noticed any structural defects. PROBLEMS: (1) watch out for the jack .... mine constantly comes loose, and if you re-tighten the external nut, you can loose your ability to plug in. (2) The fret work is....well, cheap. The ends are rough; and the frets don't wear very well. Value: Well, for $600, you start out with a base, standard Fender production Strat. Decent build & finish; poor quality materials and workmanship. If you're serious about having a Strat in your life, you'd better find a good professional tech and get some UPGRADES. I'd forget about the run-of-the-mill pup's (Seymore Duncan, DiMarzio and such), and focus on top-of-the-line products like Joe Barden's or Lindy Fralin's. Then, get some decent fretwork done. Set up the H/W with your favorite string, and stick to them. Finally, get any defects fixed. Then, you'll have a Strat that'll work for you, and will satisfy your ears and your listener's ears. And, the guitar plus upgrades will still be lower-cost than one of those "signature" models that are basically just the std American Fender Strat model (which is over-priced BTW.) Manufacturer Support: No opinion. (This is a stock Fender production Strat .... beyond std "support" ... i wouldn't count on ANYthing.) The Wow Factor: It's a cheap, middle-of-the-road Fender production model. "Sexy" .... well, visually, Yes; but in your hands, it don't put out on the first date; or the second; or the third; or the .... Overall: Not satisfied with the stock version. See "value" section. I guess you could consider this a reasonable 1st-Strat kind of thing, if you're like me & never had owned a Strat before. The base price plus all the needed upgrades will result in a more useable instrument. If you've got some bucks and want either a replacement for an old Strat that you own, or want to begin your Strat life in the driver's seat, i'd look at G&L or Suhr guitars. Otherwise, just bite the bullet and settle for less.

5 of 13 people (38.46%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Maple, with Gig Bag)

User Ratings

"Nice axe." submitted November 24, 2011

"Don't my a standard, buy this!!" submitted August 5, 2011

Fender Deluxe Strat Customer Review submitted November 12, 2004

"Great Price for the Best Guitar." submitted November 28, 2006

"Excellent guitar, great playability, best band for your buck!" submitted October 27, 2011

"Big bang for little bucks!" submitted October 13, 2010

Fender Deluxe Strat Customer Review submitted November 9, 2011

"Halfmoonstudio seadrift tx." submitted October 18, 2011

"Forget American Standard Strats, this guitar is the best value" submitted October 31, 2011

"This is a great buy! Beautiful guitar all around!" submitted February 3, 2011

"You won't need a vocalist, this this sings!" submitted February 25, 2005

"Strat for the masses" submitted February 5, 2008