Got my 04 Frontline today...

and in it I saw reference to the American Deluxe series with "samarium Bill Lawrence pickups." What's up with that? Are these replacements for the disappointingly toneless "noiseless" pups that Fender has been using in this series. Is this the same Bill lawrence that TDPRIers have been buying for some time already? Is this new axe in the stores yet? Anyone tried one?
Gosh, I have so many questions.
Any comments greatly appreciated.
Brian

Get Fender's story here:

American Deluxe (http://www.fender.com/misc/winternamm2004/american_deluxe/american_deluxe.html)

Geir :)

Is this the same Bill lawrence that TDPRIers have been buying for some time already?

The same guy, different design. I think Bill Lawrence designed the samarium-cobolt kinda pickups in the 70s, but producing them was too expensive back then.

I had a chance to play the new Am. Dlx V-neck with the SC Noiseless pups...it left me cold. The guitar felt great to play, but that wonderful "quack" you get from the 2 and 4 positions was MIA. The pickups are hot and quiet, but lacked "strattiness" for lack of better wording. Coupled with the S-1 switching, I was faced with 10 varieties of "yeah, whatever." Played it, an Am. Series, and a MIM Std. through the same Classic 50 head and 410 cab. It was disappointing, to say the least....the Am. Ser. and the MIM were much better to my ear than the Am. Dlx. was. A Strat that can't quack is a sad Strat indeed! :D

I love the V-neck, but the idea of dropping $999 on a guitar which I wouldn't be able to get the stock pups out of fast enough just doesn't sit well...

TP

the American Series 50th Anniversary model. More affordable and has a more traditional p'up system.
Brian