1980s Fender Elite Stratocaster - MORE GUTS THAN MOST TUBE AMPS!

A Friend lent me their 1980s Fender Elite Stratocaster so that I could film it (and fix it). AND IT'S SUPER WEIRD! Glad the fix was easy because there's no way I was going to tear those guts up.
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[@reggiewallace260]

Absolutely a Free Flyte bridge, made by Schaller in Germany. At the time these came out I was working as a Guitar tech in a large local music store in Florida and we were an authorized Fender repair shop. These were wonderful guitars made in the twilight years of Fender's Fullerton factory under engineer Dan Smith. Of course as you are discovering, an absolute nightmare to set up. The dummy coil you correctly identified is one of the better features of this guitar -- humbucker-type hum canceling made this guitar one of the quietest Strat's ever made with a very "tight" sound. The tone controls are hard to understand because they just odd. You begin by setting them both in the center, which is supposed to give you a normal Strat sound. They are detented in the middle of their so you can find the center easily. turning them up or down from the center does different things in each direction AND different things on each knob. Turning the middle knob (TBX) down from the center acts as a normal tone control while working up from the center boosted presence/brightness. Turning the bottom knob (MDX) down, boosts some lower frequencies while turning up boosts some higher frequencies. Fender boasted that this provided tonal options from Country bright to Funk to Jazz and could also supposedly emulate a humbucker. Or, so they claimed. As for adjusting the tremolo tension, remove the pick guard, the dummy coil and bridge pickup and you'll gain access to the end of the tremolo springs and the spring claw. You then remove the springs and finally you can then move the claw within a very limited adjustment range tighten or loosen up the tremolo a little. None of this is for the faint of heart.... Anyway, this will probably revive nightmares from long ago. lol BTW, there was also a Telecaster model with a similar type of setup, although I never actually physically saw one except at a Summer NAMM show in Chicago in '82 or '83 For me, I bought a '82 Stratocaster Standard (aka by collectors as a Dan Smith Model) in two-tone Cherry Sunburst -- best Strat I've ever owned. Havde a good one Ryan, I love your videos and a Surf music guy.

[@joseislanio8910]

Thanks for the info! I have a question: is the dummy coil connected directly to the pickups, or does it go through the circuit, as a way to cancel the hum without changing drastically some aspects of each pickup (like inductance, resistance, capacitance)? It's one thing I don't like about using dummy coils is how much it affects the pickup.

[@reggiewallace260]

@@joseislanio8910 Hello Jose' As I recall, the wiring for all of the pickups is like a standard strat. Positive lead from the pickups go to the push-button, pickup selector switches. The negative lead go to ground on the back of a pot. From there they go into the pre-amp circuit board. The dummy coil goes directly into the pre-amp, since it is not switched. Can't tell you much about that pre-amp board as I've never seen a schematic for it. But your concern about the dummy coil changing the sound shouldn't be an issue in this case. Tell you why, the pickups themselves are low impedance, active pickups. The on-board pre-amp amplifies and shapes the sound by design. In simple terms, the pre-amp design compensates for any tone loss by the inclusion of a dummy coil

[@therewasascene]

@@reggiewallace260 What an excellent post. Thanks so much for sharing! Maybe Ryan can make a short little vid demonstrating the tone controls with this newfound knowledge 🥺 That trem…. No thanks lol Makes me shudder thinking about trying to fine tune, put it back together, then dive back in to adjust again… you poor soul.

[@harleyhexxe9806]

Actually, only the TBX control has the center detente. The MDX control just gradually dials in the dummy coil through the preamp which is where the added midrange and boost comes from.

[@reggiewallace260]

@@harleyhexxe9806 Perhaps my memory was a bit off on the detente on the MDX control after 40 years. But I think you may be over-simplifying the way it works. The manual from this instrument, taken from Fender's website says "The MDX Control gives a variable boost of up to 6db in a specially selected frequency range. When using this control you can get a remarkably accurate simulation of even the hottest humbucking pickps." So we know that this isn't just 'dialing in the dummy coil' since this would not produce a 6db boost in selected frequencies. Perhaps it causes some combination of mixing in the dummy coil AND boost of some of the lower frequencies, or perhaps not. It is a mysterious as the entire guitar was.

[@Willis_S]

I have one of these. 2nd owner since 1985. Over the years replaced the pickups with EMGs, removed the locking nut, and last year the button array finally died. Thankfully you can order a WD pickguard cut for a 5 way. This guitar is the best strat I've ever played. Pure magic. I'm glad reading the comments that the Elites are finally getting some love.

[@soundsofstabbing3627]

@Willis_S it's too bad you weren't able to keep the buttons, it's such a unique feature for a strat

[@harleyhexxe9806]

I own one of these, and it's the best advanced Stratocaster that was ever made. Mine also has the FTLN on the headstock. The Tremolo adjustment is done with an allen wrench from the top of the bridge. This guitar is only designed for .008s .009s and .010s. You have to move the claw to the correct position for each gauge. The bridge is meant to be decked since most players were doing that in the early 80s. The controls are: Volume, TBX, and MDX. If you have any questions about this guitar, just ask. I've owned one since 1984. I think your claw in that guitar may be set for .010-.042 and that's why you can't relieve the tension with the "Top-just" screw. To adjust the tension for the correct gauge of strings, you need to remove the bridge pickup and dummy coil to access the claw. There are three pairs of holes in the claw plate, and two screws that hold it down. The pair of holes closest to the neck is where you mount it with the screws for .008 gauge sets of strings. The pair of holes closest to the bridge are the ones for .010 gauge sets. The middle pair is for .009s. After that is set up for the correct gauge of strings, then you tune it up and adjust the tension from the top of the bridge by loosening the screw until the back of the bridge starts to come off the body, then tighten it so the bridge just comes to rest on the body without slamming into it.

[@kmabru]

If I'm not mistaken, this has the System II bridge. There seems to be conflicting information about whether the Elite came with a System II or a Free Flyte bridge. From pictures pulled up in a search, the one seen here matched the System II look (unless the picture was mismarked). I have a mid 80's Squier with the System I bridge. I love it....... and hate it at the same time. LOL!

[@harleyhexxe9806]

@@kmabru No Sir! This is the Free-Flyte Tremolo Bridge. I believe the System II was the locking trem on the Japanese Contemporary models.

[@DJBuglip]

Great info.

[@familiarpurrson8744]

The pots and switches make think of G&L’s bass and treble roll off pots. You can also select bridge and neck pups or all by using the push pull on the volume pot. I wonder which came first?

[@jameschamplin1742]

I put a TBX into my 2000 Powerhouse Strat since its actives lacked sparkle, I'm also familiar with it from 90s American Standards. What does the MDX do? Is that simply the control for the boost circuit?

[@-processdrone-]

I'm on studio monitors for all these shows, and that is one of the best sounding SSS Strats I have ever heard! That should be one happy owner.

[@gingerbeer914]

I don't like the sound at all.

[@michaelr.4878]

The Ty Tabor Special! These guitars are responsible for one of the greatest and most mysterious/debated tones in rock history (along with a Lab Series amp,..and an incredible player, of course). Another thing about these guitars is that while not that big names used the actual guitars, quite a few big names used these pickups back in the 80s. Even Clapton.

[@tya8182]

@@michaelr.4878 I love King's X! I was thinking about that amazing tone he got when I saw this video pop up. There are interviews where he talks about why he quit using the Strat Elite/ Lab Series amp set up, I guess it was because they were both extremely microphonic/ sensitive to interference. It was a great sound regardless. I saw King's X in 2022, and while all of their sounds have evolved over time, you still know who it is when you hear it.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

I worked at the brand new Guitar Center location across the street from the original and these new Fenders were just one more delight in my mind that I could buy a vintage Strat on the cheap. If anything it did the opposite. Old amps and effects on the other hand were ripe for the picking. I bought a Vox Pathfinder and a tweed 50's Champ for a hundred bucks each. Then one day I asked a shop if they had any old amps I could buy to learn from. They brought out three Fender chassis without their cabinets and asked, "uh' 75 bucks okay?". I got a brownface Bassman (with the Presence control), a Bear modded '65 Bassman, and a '71 Silver face Twin Reverb. The only thing wrong was the Output transformer was blown on the brown face. I memorized all three of those amps wiring and the mods on the '65 Bassman. Then in '91 I got Aspen Pittman's first edition of the Groove Tubes amp book that has every vintage amp schematic in it. I no longer had to remember anything. lol

[@jampay44]

I have an '83 Elite II P-Bass in Emerald green that I kinda had to rebuild. I can tell you the schematic is crazy. The Elite's all do 20 things of which 3 are useful but cool none the less. Awesome video!

[@-processdrone-]

wow , there's a what now? * googles it so fast you hear the vaccum snap shut where my hands were before i read that *

[@tjzambonischwartz]

I saw the prototype of this guy back in the 90s in the sound room at Fender HQ back when my dad worked there. I got to hold Clapton's original Blackie the same day.

[@handle433]

@@tjzambonischwartz what was Blackie like? Heavy or light? Good resonance?

[@tjzambonischwartz]

@@handle433 I was twelve years old and it was thirty years ago. I didn't know the difference between heavy and light guitars and good resonance at the time. I wouldn't start playing for another 8 years.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

That guitar is so cool! I found a manual for it here - you were right about the spring tension screw for the bridge. There's a diagram on page 8. I'll reply to my own comment with a link to the manual I found.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

Looks like the link is not there. I'm not sure but I imagine it was removed because it was a link. It's easy to find, though.

[@ServingMyJesus]

I remember when this and the 2 knob standard, which I own, came out. I was upset that I could not afford the Elite. I had no idea that it is active with a load of circuitry. Jesus knows that the Elite would not have lasted for me. My Standard, which I named 'Agnetha,' is still going strong. Thank you for the Elite review.

[@ronanzann4851]

Trust me when I say, "your in WAY over your head my friend". When properly set up, these guitars are among THE MOST amazing sounding and playing instruments ever made. They are however not for everyone. I bought mine (a 1983 Gold Walnut Elite) in March or April of 1983 I think ? I'll say one other thing....I own lots of nice guitars as I've been playing about 60 years now. However the Elite Strat. has been in it's case over 10 years now. Watching your video motivated me to get it out. Oh My God...playing it now is like going from a Voltswagon Bug to a Formula 1 !!!

[@49mrbassman]

Certainly the most interesting Strat I've never seen before. Absolutely intriguing. Great video many thanks

[@FuzzImp]

Reading this comment just three elite players looking at each other

[@harleyhexxe9806]

That could be because it's getting harder to find an Elite in original condition that hasn't had the guts ripped out of it and replaced with something else. Unfortunately, that's happened a lot.

[@vincentpritchett1231]

I am old enough to have played one of these new in 1981. IMHO, the best sounding Strat to date.

[@harleyhexxe9806]

@@vincentpritchett1231 They didn't hit the market until 1983 though, but I get you 🤣

[@joermnyc]

Wikipedia says it’s the TBX treble/bass expander and MDX midrange booster tone controls. They tried to wedge a 3 band active eq into two knobs.

[@eljoel89]

So it's kind of like the David Gilmour EMG Strat pickups?

[@n4pwx]

This was the first of your videos that I ever watched and it was a blast. Cant wait to see more thanks my friend. I am now hooked.

[@OutstandingBill1]

You should check out the most recent podcast. There's a section in there where Ryan and Steve end up talking about raccoons. I almost died laughing.

[@loki3292]

the necks on those 80's Fenders are where it's at. I have a coupla modern ones that are close, but when I play my buddy's 85 strat, it's just night and day.

[@benbellomy9274]

Only person I ever saw play one was Ty Tabor from King's X. He rehoused the preamp and continued using it even after he stopped playing the Elite.

[@cadams1607]

@benbellomy9274 on the Pseudo Echo funky town video the guitarist plays one

[@danielbreaux1842]

I did not know about the re housing! Good stuff.

[@93greenstrat]

That dual pot tone control is Fender's TBX tone control which made it over to the American Standard series. The other tone pot is the active MDX mid-boost; the pickups themselves are passive. Eric Clapton was a fan of these guitars which was the inspiration for his signature model by which time Fender moved on from the dummy coil to Lace Sensors (apparently, an updated version was planned which would have used EMG pickups, exotic woods, and I think neck-throu construction). The Bi-Flex truss rod and redesigned string trees (EZ Glyder) also made it over to the Standard Stratocaster (made-in-USA) and the later American Standard. Fender kind of brought this concept back during the mid-2000's (?) with the made-in-Mexico Deluxe Powerhouse Strat; similar electronics to the Elite but in a more traditional Stratocaster form.

[@AM2PMReviews]

I knew it looked familiar to my Powerhouse Strat.😊

[@AJMjazz]

Very nice strat. 80's and early 90's strats were some of the best modern era Fenders.

[@CRiCRiCri694]

There is not just something strange about this strat. It is unique. It is something that needs a professional restoration. I like it. 🤟😎

[@zwastiunburzy3688]

You reckon that's weird. I just bought an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra III. Onboard tuner, Shadow piezo pickup built in to the body end of the neck after the final fret, the volume and tone controls for the Shadow pickup on the 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 of the body, two output jacks for stereo enjoyment, a chambered light weight body with a belly relief, two Probucker pickups that can be in and out of phased, and a satin finish paint on the back of the neck, and a stunning flame maple top. This thing plays and sounds better than some Gibson's that are two or three times the price. I love it.

[@malcolmkendall1547]

Thanks for reviewing this rarity, whiich I haven't encountered since I tried one in a store in the 80s. I remember the look, feel and sound was well above average and very high tech at the time. It had a tidy, hi-fi sound, what we might generically call "digital" today but digital tech hadn't migrated to guitar gear yet. Clearly not "vintage" but the overall build quality was comparable to what we've seen in custom shop models over the past several years and I believe in a blind test it would deliver a sound that many strat lovers idealize and look for.

[@60CycleHumcast]

its 40 years old, that's squarely vintage as far as guitars go.

[@malcolmkendall1547]

@@60CycleHumcast Haha, yes you're right and I'm showing my age. I meant vintage in the sense of those seminal 50s and 60s models that we still love and emulate. Still, I don't remember a better time to buy the variety of excellent, consistant, and reasonably priced guitars that we can today. Wouldn't it be great if we could buy and use vintage style cars at a price and quality relative with today's guitars, like a reissue 57 Chevy for $25k! Please keep the great videos coming.

[@christopheranderson2100]

@@malcolmkendall1547 As someone born in the 70's, I would love it if all cars had wings again. That's crazy 50's American design school was intense.

[@mykhedelic6471]

What a bizarro robo Strat. This is a good video.

[@davidrossmusicalinstruments]

I've seen pictures of this model over the years but never knew how cool and unusual of a beast it was. Thanks for sharing Ryan!

[@Gliese710_]

This actually looks like it’d pretty sick, especially the active pickups and button selectors. May have to find out how to get that to work on the guitar I’m building.

[@MakoGo]

Sounds a lot like my 90s Powerhouse strat, with active 12db boost. I haven't opened it up in a long time, but I think it has a similar circuit board and dummy coil. One of the tone knobs activates the battery/boost.

[@LollygaggerFX]

The Ty Tabor Strat!

[@juanjan__]

Crazy guitar, great video (as per), and AMAZING funky elevator music for the fast forwarded parts! 10/10

[@stratguy1784]

DeoxIT is amazing

[@Frankie_Holt]

I need those deoxit tampons for output/input jacks

[@frankanuzelli3640]

I love that stuff.

[@onlyusernameleft2]

I didn't know 80s Strats came with an on-board ZVex Fuzz Factory. That was really cool, I wish mine did that.

[@TheMusicalSchizo]

My second-greatest gear regret is seeing a red one of these on the wall of my college town's tiny downtown guitar shop in the 90s and not moving heaven and earth to come up with the $400 to purchase it. Especially since I was and remain a MASSIVE Ty Tabor/King's X fan. It was a player, too...unlike some of that era's Fenders.

[@beatfrombrain]

Do more videos like this! This was awesome. Get old unique unknown guitars and break em down, and set em up. Great stuff.

[@ThatMattGoodMusic]

Love the 80s Fender knobs! My Dad has two 80s HM Strats with Kahler trem and flat 24 fret board... awesome guitars.

[@harleyhexxe9806]

Those are 25" scale and come with a TBX control.

[@thisdyingsoul76]

My guitar teacher had one. It was awesome. I'd love to find one.

[@drumsNstuff79]

I watched Dave of Dave's World of Fun Stuff work on one on his channel years ago. He literally had to do what the some of the others who commented have said yo have to do. He removed the pickguard, unscrewed and removed all the pickups, and adjusted the spring claw end to the right holes based on what his re-printed internet PDF of the original manual said was right for the string gauge (9's) his client wanted to change to. All while cursing up a storm and bashing on Fender for having invented the design. Why did they do put an access panel on the back?!? Jeeza!

[@sassycat]

I liked the tones, very twangy. I think they should bring it back in a limited release. Also, Josh would absolutely build a pedal out of that circuit board. 😺😸

[@harleyhexxe9806]

The MDX control has already been built as a pedal. The circuitry was modified to give the midrange boost without a dummy coil and was installed in the original EC model Strat with Lace Sensor pickups. Now, you can get that in a pedal kit too.

[@christopheranderson2100]

.. or build a pedal INTO that circuit board.

[@sassycat]

@@christopheranderson2100 mind. blown. 🤯

[@christopheranderson2100]

@@sassycat mine was already blown trying (and failing) to find the op-amp chips, inductors and capacitors. not convinced that is actually controlling the tone at all.

[@jjcollins]

Honestly, even with all it's "quirkiness" that really is a beautiful guitar. It really was ahead of it's time, and more advanced than anything else at the time. Truthfully it paved the way for many things that were invented later on - TBX tone system, active preamp and booster, and I believe that bridge was on a rail with a combination roller system.

[@stefanwhite3930]

Great video and good to see inside one of these Strats

[@victorbeebe8372]

Aloha. I had a Black Walnut with gold hardware. Heavy but I loved it.

[@rocketsurgeon4461]

Good thing I saw where the mics were setup. I wouldn’t have known which rig you were playing through haha

[@timvanboening9432]

It’s the two Princetons!

[@jan9]

Thanks, great video. First step diagnosis on actives systems is to change the battery. Elite and Contemporary Strats from the 80s are quality instruments. Tell Steve to get in touch if he is interested in a System 2 trem, it's a hens teeth kind of thing, I might have one for sale if the price is right :)

[@peanutygoodness]

I have a 1980’s mij with a Kahler and Seymour Duncan live wires, which were brand new back then. Bought it used already modded. It sounds very similar. The clarity of active pickups makes things different. And yep - batteries can change everything in an active setup. You could charge a few hundred dollars for a couple sprays of that deoxidizer.

[@mdshack6371]

The pickup selection noise is unacceptable. Fun video. Thanks for your personal lab rat experimentation.

[@DanielTroop]

despite not being born in the 80s, instead the early 2000s (not that id change it for the world) i know for a fact, designs, redesigns, and things like that were amazingly wild

[@RobertNolan]

This has some Jeff Beck vibes for sure. Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HENRY!

[@iancurrie8844]

I had a chance to play a sample of this at my local store last month. It’s…not what I expected. I’m glad they tried some new things. Obviously, it didn’t work out.

[@calvinevans6347]

It sounds really good!!!

[@DanielTroop]

"The Wiggle Stick" thats the first time ive heard it called that, as well as the best name. i was introduced to a tremolo bar under the name "Whammy Bar" which was fun, then i discovered later into playing guitar that it was officially called a "Tremolo Bar" which wasnt as fun in my opinion. but "Wiggle Stick" is by far the most fun and cool name ive heard it be called. might call it that fromnow on

[@brandonjackson5865]

Whammy bar , wang bar, wiggle stick I’m sure there’s more names for it but those are the three I’ve always heard

[@asw7696]

Vibrato arm.

[@jameschamplin1742]

I own a '00 MiM Deluxe Powerhouse Strat with a factory active 12dB mid-boost. It has both the dummy coil and the metal screwholes. It ALSO has scratchy pots and a slightly "off" tonal color. A little darker and punchier even with the boost turned off. I replaced the tone pot with the double-stacked "Treble-Bass eXpander" (TBX) control to give it more sparkle on the top-end when I need it. I think the Elite was equipped with that control from the factory. You noticed the detente at 5 on the middle? That's the transition from a standard tone to the TBX.

[@hannuhanhi183]

Actually, the pickups are passive and there is a booster/ tone control circuit before the output jack.

[@guitarzan2626]

Much like 80s musicman guitars of that era.

[@Lorneplumber]

I’ve had my elite telecaster since 83. Puts modern telecaster to shame

[@MrSmiley1964]

First time looking under the hood on one of these, but what I remember from playing one of them back in the day is that it weighed as much as an engine block. Oh and it was red, so very red.

[@jameshalbert181]

If that finish was common I would Hate it but since its rare i LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

[@michaelortiz9318]

I had one back in the late 80's/early 90's. Dog of a trem but dand it sounded fantastic. Wish i didn't let it go.

[@Andy_Yates]

Cool guitar of an era. What an absolute nightmare under that pickguard, and I do know how to work on tube amps 😂

[@danielbreaux1842]

Makes me want to pull my sunburst 83 elite out!! I have literally never tried the whammy!!

[@hughschick6847]

12:31 main feature of a dummy coil is there are no magnet(s), which is why it does not pick up info from the strings. The reason you can still hear hum is that for achieving optimal tone w a dummy coil the coil is often intentionally mismatched with the primary / audible / magnetized single coil. An exact match will completely hum-cancel but sound un-jangley / less stratty. That said I’m not loving the pickups regardless

[@j.jester7821]

i worked at a retail music store in the 80s we stocked these. but the coolest thing during that time period maybe a bit later is the fender performer guitars mij. check out the performer bass guitar too if you can find one.

[@caro_lam]

that's a very 80s sounding strat. sounds like the kind of thing you'd hear on robert plant's cheeserock solo records

[@matthewsommerville88]

Sounds great. Up your alley

[@seanzinger]

It was nice to hear you say 60 Cycle Hum again. I kinda missed that.

[@badscrew4023]

Brilliant! Love it!

[@MisterBurtonshaw]

I remember John Ham's (brother of Peter Ham from Badfinger) music shop here in Swansea had a few of these Elite guitars in , I'd guess 1984 ish. I'm sure he had a Telecaster variant too.

[@nootnoot7396]

That trem looks to work almost exactly like the one on my Ibanez Roadstar II. I’ve never actually used it as a trem since it didn’t come with an arm and I’ve yet to find one that’s compatible

[@JBarber117]

Did I miss it or was the 2 Princeton's jingle left out of this one? 😅

[@robertlathan4639]

Normally with a 9 volt battery I do the toung test and the better it is the more I can feel it. If it is dead nothing If it has a charge you can feel it!! Love you all and have a blessed day!!!!

[@RobertDorschel]

This was a fun watch

[@ethanlowe4681]

Those style of tuners ended up on SRV’s number one

[@ChadwickRider]

That trem is very similar to the Floyd Rose Rail Tail I have installed on my Strat. It decks against the body, dive trem only.

[@thedoyleharcavy]

I wasn’t around when these came out but I was there when the VG Strat was their most hyped guitar of the 2000’s. 😂

[@harleyhexxe9806]

I'm putting my VG Strat up for sale, I don't need it anymore.

[@wilhelmtheconquerer6214]

Noiseless pickups, the Clapton mid-boost mod and a superswitch is plenty advanced tech for any Fender strat IMO. Pair those electronics with an LSR roller nut, strap locks, a 2-point tremolo, staged locking tuners, a compound fretboard radius, assymetric neck profile, stainless steel frets and the American ultra body contours and you have yourself a guitar as advanced as is reasonable

[@monsirto]

Late eighties, by the looks of the pickups. I bought a Westone over one of these, it was a bad time for Fender.

[@danmc_2783]

I love all these weird 70s & 80s oddities. Most weren't well received at the time, though a few have become "cult classics" over the years. The real issue with the guitars of the time was more of a QC issue than anything. If you managed to get a good one then they're still great guitars and they've got these quirky differences that can really standout and be "unique" On the pickups on these ones, the active circuitry was really more about trying to limit the noise from the single coils (hence the "dummy" coil etc.). It adds some compression which the hum from the pickups is below the threshold to activate in order to suppress it. That's kind of why it works though as it results in a kind of "hi-fi" pre-recorded and compressed sound such as you'd hear on any album. Adding in the TBX active tone circuit to boost the highs then helps add back in some of the top end you lose with the compression

[@athanasiuscontra000]

Oooh I want one. "Looks like" Lace pickups or like the guitar's stuff that Clapton played on the Bob Dylan 30th anniversary show. All that cool stuff.

[@gingerbeer914]

The Fender Lace pickups were much better than these.

[@allendean9807]

The Dan Smith era was a weird time… i had a two knob lefty Strat from the same era, that top load trem was garbage, but the neck was great, and pickups were nice

[@gingerbeer914]

I definitely prefer the Fender Strat Plus and the Fender DeLuxe Strat Plus, both with Fender Lace Sensors. They were available between 1987 and 1996.

[@DoomLatveria]

I love these weird guitars... maybe one day you will have mine on the show to ask what I had been smoking while planning it.... I kid... or do i?

[@chrisghiardi117]

Battery is for the MDX midrange boost. Also first TBX knob passive treble boost past the dentente. Dummy coil inside.

[@philcollinshill2951]

Ty Tabor from King's X had the best tone I've heard with an Elite

[@carlton1390]

The "double pot" is the first use what Fender called/call the TBX control- deigned by Paul Gagon. He went on to work at G&L.

[@jrhoadsHTI]

When this started with the statement of this being one of the strangest strats made, I thought "it doesn't look all that different than any other strat." Then, the pickguard came off and I though "my god, that's insanely over complicated."

[@Patrick-857]

These aren't actives. It has an on board preamp, but the pickups are low output passives. I have EMGs in one of my strats and they're pretty different from this, and they are incredibly quiet, and immune to issues that one might get with an exposed circuit board like this. In saying that, you can get close to the sound of one of these with EMGs and active tone shaping controls.

[@owlauxGR]

Very cool strat

[@Flippityflop2350]

I have a black lefty-1983 elite with a original locking nut- with fine adjustment on nut-

[@Thisisrance]

I used to work on watches. That contact spray was my best friend

[@BustedGeezerGarage]

It was nice that you wanted to clean up the body and around the cut-out for the electronics but you used a paper towel to do it. You should have used a microfiber towel which are also used for cleaning the paint on cars. They don't scratch the finish like paper towels do.

[@guitarzan2626]

Actually those are really awesome guitars. Saw Townshend use one in the eighties.

[@menschlicheswesen84]

Hey... Is the little red guitar on the amp for real or is it just a toy...

[@dinein1970]

There is probably a cam and screw system under that trem. Probably like a Schaller Sure-Claw

[@JohnnySokko]

I remember playing those in my local music store in the 80's.

[@knowbody3751]

Wiggle Stik OMG I love it! Ha I’m changing over permanently

[@1-eye-willy]

that thing is so cool i would kill for one of those

[@Bob-Whiting]

I hear Ryan's voice saying "Surf Guitar, Surf Guitar, Surf Guitar" lolin'

[@brandonjackson5865]

That Trem looks like they took a vintage trem and bred it with a Kahler. My Uncle had a Peavey Falcon that had a similar looking trem made by Kahler from what I can remember.

[@hmmmmm6034]

Fender was definitely doing some cocaine in the 80s

[@60CycleHumcast]

its very claptony

[@hughschick6847]

Who wasn’t

[@CRiCRiCri694]

@@hmmmmm6034 🤣

[@DJBuglip]

@@hughschick6847 Lol, was just gonna say that.

[@hughschick6847]

@@hmmmmm6034 I went to a certain college in the 90042 zip. My housemate was in Miles Davis’ band. The manager of my housemate’s (other) band (who once stole then crashed my mint 69 GTO) tried to get me to distribute blow but he was clearly sketch as f. And also: cocaine is wack, it makes people talk about themselves, I was not at all interested in being an agent of self-absorption. So I told him to ask this charismatic yet reptilian dude I knew at a fraternity who immediately agreed to be the college blowmeister. Within a year he was doing stuff like buying a new car with cash. He then proceeded to become filthy crazy rich and now lives in a foreign country in which massive piles of money are routinely stashed away “duty free.”

[@jonathanorenstein4400]

This is like the Eric Clapton strat. Middle tone is tbx tone control and the second tone knob is a boost.

[@handle433]

Top tone control: middle position is normal Strat, rolled up is boosted highs and rolled down is boosted lows. It’s called a TBX (Treble Bass eXpander). The bottom tone is an MDX (Midrange eXpander), rolled down is low boost and up is high boost. On the Clapton is from +5db down to +25db when up all the way. Not sure if it’s the same on this circuit!

[@jeromestevenfaigin6059]

I'm curious? Why spaghetti western and surfing music? I once owned a Casio/Ibanez guitar from the 90s with on board MIDI and expansion cards and sound module. It got to expensive to repair it due to leaky electrolytic capacitors. That happened twice. $800 is too much for my blood. I went to Roland and a GK-3 and the GI-20 the links into any sound modules. I've done gigs with my bass and now getting back to the MIDI stuff again. Fun fun fun?

[@Ferruidoblanco]

she´s got that 80´s sound

[@muddymike10]

Is that a new Fender (stand alone) reverb tank in the background ?