2004 Fender 50th Anniversary American Deluxe Fat Strat HSS

Specifications
Finish: Three tone sunburst
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple/skunk stripe/Micro-Tilt adjustment/headstock-end truss rod adjustment/'spaghetti' logo/Schaller locking tuners (no logo)/LSR Roller Nut
Fretboard: Maple/25.5" scale/9.5" radius/22 medium-jumbo frets/rolled edges/abalone dot inlays
Bridge: Fender-Floyd Rose Tremolo System aka 'Blanda Bridge'
Pickup Configuration: HSS
Neck/Middle Pickups: Fender Samarium Cobalt (SCN) Noiseless Single Coils
Bridge Pickup: Fender DH-1 Humbucker
Special Features: S-1 Switching System/Oak Grigsby Super Switch/beveled neck-body joint/50th Anniversary neck plate

References
The Fender Stratocaster "Strat" Plus Deluxe Series
The New Fender-Floyd Rose Tremolo System
Fender American Deluxe Stratocasters

What Went Down
This guitar was de-gunked, de-grimed and de-rusted; amongst a host of other cleanup tasks. As the existing frets were worn out, the neck was refretted with Dunlop 6000s, as per the owner's request. He also had just about had it with the S-1 switching System; and was terribly unhappy about inconsistent performance, hum and crackling. In short, he missed the straightforward control configuration and 5 distinct sounds he could get out of a typical Strat, especially in switch positions 2 and 4. A peek under the hood revealed extensive corrosion, oxidation and a rat's nest of wiring; which explained the problems he was facing.

And so, to give him what he craved, I gutted the innards and installed new CTS 250K pots, CRL 5-way switch, Russian PIO tone cap; and Switchcraft #11 output jack. Yes, it was back to a master volume, two tones; and in-your-face stratty goodness. Looking back, I have to admit that servicing and setting up the 'Blanda Bridge' was a complete PITA. You can download a setup guide HERE if you'd like more information on this bridge.

2015 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker

Preamble
The inspection tag reads 'AM DLX STRAT HSS SHAW MN 3TSB' which translates into 'American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker Maple Neck Three Tone Sunburst.' This Strat was sent in for a string change and setup. As I was granted permission to open her up, I did not waste the opportunity to have a look at the insides and take as many pictures as I could. It's not your run-of-the-mill Fender Strat, for sure; but ever having to work on the complicated electronics and wiring is not a task I would relish.

Specifications
Country of Origin: USA
Year of Manufacture: 2015
Body Material: Alder
Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Color: 3-Tone Sunburst
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Shape: Compound, modern "C" to "D"
Fretboard Radius: 9.5"-14" compound
Fretboard Material: Maple
Fretboard Inlay: Black pearloid dots
Number of Frets: 22, medium jumbo
Scale Length: 25.5"
Neck/Body Joint: Bolt-on, treble-side heel contour
Nut: LSR Roller Nut
Nut Width: 1.685"
Bridge: Two-point Synchronised Tremolo with pop-in arm
Saddles: Stainless steel
Tuners: Locking, staggered-height posts
Strap Buttons: Schaller Strap Lock
Switches: 5-Way Blade Switch, S-1™ Switch, Passing Lane Switch

Pickups
Bridge Pickup: Shawbucker™ Zebra
Middle Pickup: Noiseless™ N3 Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup: Noiseless™ N3 Single-Coil Strat

Controls
Master Volume (with S-1™ Switch)
Tone 1 (Neck Pickup)
Tone 2 (Middle and Bridge Pickups)

Pickup Switching
Position 1: Humbucking Pickup with Coils in Series
Position 2: Middle Pickup/Inside Coil of Humbucking Pickup in Parallel
Position 3: Middle Pickup Only
Position 4: Neck/Middle Pickup in Parallel
Position 5: Neck Pickup Only

S-1™ Switch
OFF: Normal Operation (pickups in parallel)
ON: Pickups in Series

Passing Lane Switch
OFF: Normal Operation
ON: Routes bridge pickup signal to the output jack, bypassing pickup selector, volume and tone circuitry

References
Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker Review
Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker
Fender 2015 - American Deluxe Shawbucker Strat (Video)