NGD! Am Std.

A CL score, and IMO a bargain. Late 1999 (so Delta tone, not TBX) American Standard, sunburst w/rosewood (my favorite), bone-stock with the OHSC. A bit grungy, but otherwise in fantastic shape, and it cleaned up nicely. Pics later...

I haven't had an American strat since the late 80s (though I've been through a half-dozen various MIJs and MIMs since then). The PUs seem a bit lower output than my current MIM (which is an '02), but they're also much warmer and sweeter. And everything is seriously well-built.

I think I'm going to like this one.

+enjoy

That is the nice thing about low output, they can really sweeten up things

Congrats, enjoy that Delta Tone Strat!

The pickups are lower output. But they sound soooo much better. The MIM Standard pickups are hotter and darker. My personal explanation for this (Fender may have a differing opinion, but I doubt it) is that the MIM Standards are lower dollar guitars, more likely to be bought by younger and/or newer players, who are more into gain and distortion. They sound great in that context.

I've always thought the idea was to get young/new players hooked, and then sell 'em the real stuff when they figure out what Fender guitars are really supposed to sound like.

I'm glad you dig your new Strat. The Am. Std. Strats have alwasy been my faves, and I've owned 'em all, from vintage to MIM, MIJ, to Squier, to Custom Shop. Those Am. Std. strats just work for me. I currently have two TBX guitars, and one Delta. I like them both for different reasons. I prefer the TBX for most things, but I think it's just because I'm a lot more experienced with them. I've gigged them for so many years, that the Delta ones sound totally different to me. Not better, not worse, just really different. FWIW, I will use only the TBX guitars with my old school country rock and cowpunk band, and my original project. I will use only the Delta guitar with my more mainstream country project. I like them both with my blues and rock gigs, but tend to gravitate more toward the TBX Strats just because of what I'm used to.

TBX or Delta though, you really can't go wrong with an Am. Std. They are just A-1 quality strats from the word go.