AMERICAN STRATOCASTER BASE MODELS
This is a VERY rough outline to be updated and is designed to be a SUMMARY of the important tech specs.
Last Updated: 2024.09.24
Note that Fender often reused their pickups in different guitars, they are known for their “model” names or sayings things like “Vintage style 60s pickups” which is very ambiguous.
See the pickup pages for details on the pickups
1. American Standard v1 (late 1986-some point in late 1996/97): 3 alnico flat-pole pickups, all 3 similar output, TBX tone pot wired to middle and bridge pickups
2. American Standard v1.2 (late 1996/97-mid 2000): Now has “Delta Tone System” – bridge pickup is slightly overwound; TBX tone pot is replaced by no-load tone pot
3. American Series (mid-2000 – end 2007): Multiple refinements like rolled fingerboard edges, pickups are still alnico 5, still has slightly overwound bridge pickup and no-load tone pot but now has staggered polepieces (slightly different from the vintage stagger)
4. American Standard v2 (2008-circa March 2012): more refinements like bent steel saddles on the bridge; pickups were called “improved” but were still alnico 5, staggered polepiece, slightly overwound bridge pickup and no-load tone pot – AM version of TEX-MEX Pickups – Slightly hotter wound American Strat Single Coils
5. American Standard v2.1 (circa March 2012-November 2016): switch to Custom Shop Fat 50s pickups; all 3 pickups now the same output, still has no-load tone pot
6. The Highway one, American Special are from the same line
- Highway One (2002-2006) – FIRST Edition
- Modern C – 9.5 radius – MEDIUM Jumbo Frets
- SSS – “Vintage Style Alnico” – Basically these are like their “70’s pickups”
- HSS (2003-2006) – Atomic Humbucker – Singles – “Vintage Style Alnico”
- Wiring: Stock with Greasebucket on Neck and Bridge (2 instead of just one)
- Highway One (2006-2011) – SECOND Edition
- Modern C – 9.5 radius – Jumbo Frets
- SSS – “Hot single coil Alnico 3”
- HSS – Atomic (again) and “hot single coil alnico 3”
- Note: these pickups are higher output than the V1
- Wiring: Stock with Greasebucket on Neck and Bridge (2 instead of just one)
- American Special (2010-2018)
- Modern C – 9.5 Radius JUMBO frets.
- SSS.-Texas Special pickups
- HSS – Atomic Humbucker (yet again) and the single coils are Texas Special
- Notes: They used the term “Special” as much as they used “Limited Edition” but this was actually a model and not a one off release
8. American PERFORMER – 12/2018 – In Production – Yosemite Pickups – Large Headstock