Strat Plus
1989 Fender advert: American Standard and Plus Series
Fender Lace Sensor made their first appearance in 1987 on the new Strat Plus, which could be considered an American Standard premium version. This guitar was born on the ashes of the Vintage Plus, never entered production. Although Strat Plus appeared on March price list, its debut took place a few months later. Some of its first prototypes, designed by the Custom Shop, had an active circuit and stacked coil pickups; however, the original project was modified with the introduction of the Lace Sensor Gold pickups, that imitated the sound of 1950s Stratocasters but eliminating the 50/60 Hz (cycle) power line related hum problems, and with the use of the locking tuners (at first Sperzel, then Schaller) and the Roller Nut, designed by Trevor Wilkinson to reduce string friction during the use of tremolo bar. At the beginning Fender utilized the “Split” Roller Nut, that was gradually replaced by the end of 1988 by the “Full” one. As Wilkinson Roller Nut caused many problems to whom used larger diameter stings, towards the end of 1993 Fender abandoned it in favor of the new and more performing LSR Roller Nut, that let the strings slide in a roller pads system.
Split Wilkinson Roller Nut
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Full Wilkinson Roller Nut
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LSR Roller Nut
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Locking Tuners Shaller
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Locking Tuners Sperzel
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Wilkinson Split instructions
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Wilkinson Full instructions
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Another feature of the Strat Plus was TBX, already present on Elite and American Standards, on the second tone control. TBX, acronym of Treble Bass eXpander or Treble Bass Cuts (X), allowed to cut the bass and treble frequencies by rolling the tone knob, unlike the classic tone pot that cut only the treble. However, the exaltation of the mids that resulted from the attenuation of the other two frequencies, let often suppose that it was an active system like the one used in the Clapton Strat signature (which had also a boost on the mids); in reality, it was a passive system as it cut and did not amplify.
1987 Strat Plus pickguard and Pickup
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1994 Strat Pus pots: TBX is on the right
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Strat Plus’s bridge was the same mounted on the American Standard, with two pivots and inertia bar powder coated (or, rarely, among the first examples, nickel plated).
1989 Strat Plus (Courtesy of Reverb)
It is interesting to note how this guitar was linked to Jeff Beck. In that period Fender was discussing with the guitarist about his signature; one of the prototypes, with stacked coil pickups, rejected by Jeff, would have then originated the Strat Plus. During the meetings between Fender and Beck, the guitarist expressed the desire that the Stratocaster dedicated to him was painted with the same yellow finish of his 1932 Ford Chopped Deuce Coupe, which could also be admired in the movie American Graffiti, hence the color designation Graffiti Yellow. This color appeared on the Strat Plus, but, paradoxically, not on the future Jeff Beck Stratocaster signatures, which at the beginning were available only in the Midnight Purple, Surf Green and Vintage White colors. Contrary to many beliefs, the first Graffiti Yellow Strat Plus are not Jeff Beck prototypes!
1932 Ford Chopped Deuce Coupe of American Graffiti movie
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Jeff Beck and his "graffiti yellow" Ford
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Deluxe Strat Plus
Catalogo Fender del 1995
Because of the success of the new guitar, Fender realized a Plus Series new model: the Deluxe Strat Plus, presented in January 1989. In reality, this guitar was not so different from the previous one but it distinguished for the pickups, the body and, at a later time, the bridge. The first Deluxe Strat Plus models mounted a Lace Sensor Silver at the mid and at the neck and a Blue at the bridge. However, in 1990, a Lace Sensor Red substituted the Blue at the bridge and, during the summer, a Lace Sensor Blue replaced the Silver at the neck.
While the Strat Plus’ body was usually in alder (or poplar, between 1990 and 1994), Deluxe Plus’ was in alder with top and back in ash, while the Natural finish was completely in ash. The finishes and the pickguards also could be different: for example, between 1994 and 1997, a white or brown shell pickguard was applied on Deluxe Strat Plus, while Plus usually had a white pickguard.
At first, Deluxe Strat Plus bridge was, as for the Strat Plus, the two pivots American Standard Tremolo with screwed bar; however, in 1991 it was replaced by the Deluxe Strat Tremolo System (which often had a black inertia bar) with pop-in tremolo bar, and, in 1994, by the Fender/Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo System, also known as Fender Deluxe Locking Tremolo System and sometimes nicknamed Mini Floyd, different from the classic Floyd Rose, despite having in common with it the strings inserting and locking system.
While the Strat Plus’ body was usually in alder (or poplar, between 1990 and 1994), Deluxe Plus’ was in alder with top and back in ash, while the Natural finish was completely in ash. The finishes and the pickguards also could be different: for example, between 1994 and 1997, a white or brown shell pickguard was applied on Deluxe Strat Plus, while Plus usually had a white pickguard.
At first, Deluxe Strat Plus bridge was, as for the Strat Plus, the two pivots American Standard Tremolo with screwed bar; however, in 1991 it was replaced by the Deluxe Strat Tremolo System (which often had a black inertia bar) with pop-in tremolo bar, and, in 1994, by the Fender/Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo System, also known as Fender Deluxe Locking Tremolo System and sometimes nicknamed Mini Floyd, different from the classic Floyd Rose, despite having in common with it the strings inserting and locking system.
Il Fender/Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo System
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Il Fender/Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo System
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Deluxe Strat Plus nut was at first the Wilkinson Roller Nut Split; although Strat Plus had already the Full nut, Deluxe mounted it only in 1990 with the Schaller Locking Tuners. Finally, towards the end of '93, both the Strat Plus and the Strat Plus Deluxe were sold with the LSR Roller Nut.
Una Deluxe Strat Plus del 1997 (reverb.com)
La Strat Ultra
Strat Ultra
The latest Plus Series Stratocaster was released in January 1990: theStrat Ultra. This guitar featured a special pickup configuration using four Lace Sensors: two Reds placed side by side at the bridge, one Blue at the neck and the other Silver at the mid. These pickups could be selected through a five-way switch - even if an old Fender advert said three way one. In addition, a three-position mini switch allowed to choose whether to use one of the two Reds or their combination, making a wide variety of sounds possible.
It was also the first Stratocaster equipped with the Hipshot Trem-Setter, associated with the Deluxe Strat Tremolo System, or (since 1994) with Fender/Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo. This new bridge adjustment mechanism, by acting on the screws, compensated for string tension allowing the return to the initial position after using the tremolo. Even with a broken string, the bridge was self-regulated to leave the guitar tuned, if it had been set well. After the release of the Strat Ultra in 1990, the Deluxe Strat Plus and the Strat Plus could also be equipped with a Hipshot Trem-Setter.
Strat Ultra's tuning machines were the Schaller Locking Tuners, while the Wilkinson Full Roller Nut was replaced by the LSR Roller Nut at the end of 1993.
It was also the first Stratocaster equipped with the Hipshot Trem-Setter, associated with the Deluxe Strat Tremolo System, or (since 1994) with Fender/Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo. This new bridge adjustment mechanism, by acting on the screws, compensated for string tension allowing the return to the initial position after using the tremolo. Even with a broken string, the bridge was self-regulated to leave the guitar tuned, if it had been set well. After the release of the Strat Ultra in 1990, the Deluxe Strat Plus and the Strat Plus could also be equipped with a Hipshot Trem-Setter.
Strat Ultra's tuning machines were the Schaller Locking Tuners, while the Wilkinson Full Roller Nut was replaced by the LSR Roller Nut at the end of 1993.
Unlike the other two Stratocasters in the Plus series, which had only the Fender logo engraved on the neck plate, the term "ULTRA" was also found in the Strat Ultra (except for the very first Strat Ultra produced). Fender equipped this guitar with an ebony fretboard with abalone markers and an alder body which had a top and a back in highly figured maple in order to make it more desirable. It has been equipped with White Shell pickguard since 1994.
Screws and springs in the Hipshot Trem-Setter
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Strat Ultra back contour was black in order to hide the veneer back
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Strat Ultra Neck pocket
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Strat Ultra Neckplate
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Strat Plus Neckplate
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Limited Edition Aluminum Body Stratocaster
Between 1994 and 1995 Fender produced some Strat Plus' (but also some American Standards) with a body in aluminum which was probably left over from the production of the Custom Shop Harley Davidson 90th Anniversary Stratocaster. It seems that about 120 models have been produced, 40 for each available color: Blue Metal Burst, Stars and Stripes and Violet Metal Burst.
An aluminum body Strat Plus in Violet Metal Burst finish (stratoblogster.com)
A "serial" problem
As it happened with the American Standard, also in the Plus series it is possible to find the serial number E4xxxxx on the headstock of the guitars built in 1987 and in 1988, hence the doubt of having to do with a 1984 Stratocaster. In reality, as often happened in the history of Fender, they are just decals left over from the old CBS management used for some years even after the change of ownership.
Also the serial number N9xxxxx can be confusing because it has been used both for the guitars born in 1989 and in 1990, and for those born in 1999 too. So, how can we know that this is really a 1989-1990 Strat Plus?
Also the serial number N9xxxxx can be confusing because it has been used both for the guitars born in 1989 and in 1990, and for those born in 1999 too. So, how can we know that this is really a 1989-1990 Strat Plus?
- The serial number must be at the front of the headstock and not behind it, as Fender shifted the serial number in the back in 1995.
- The nut is the Wilkinson Roller Nut, as LSR has been introduced only in 1993.
- The logo is Whitish Modern: Spaghetti logo has been reintroduced in 1995.
The end of the Plus Series
The production of the Plus series ended in mid-1998, when Fender introduced the American Deluxe Series. However, there are also some hybrid Stratocasters of the end of 1998 and even of the first months of 1999 which were initially sold as Plus because they had the locking tuners and the LSR Roller Nut. They exhibited on the headstock a Spaghetti chrome logo and didn’t mount the Lace Sensors, but the Fender Noiseless or the humbucker Fender DH-1, so they cannot be considered real Strat Plus, but the first American Deluxe models.
Antonio Calvosa
1988 Fender catalog
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1989 Fender catalog
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