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Malcolm, there was also an Elite Strat in Songbird shop. I don't
think I've EVER seen one of these in person - I guess they're all in
Toronto!
Strat Elite was made around '82-'83 period, and was a big flop. It
predates all the (much higher quality) Lace Sensor Strat Plus and
Strat Ultra models, which were not produced until '88 or '89. Strat
Elite was done in the dying days of Fender CBS, right before they
sold the company to current owners. Fender was bleeding cash very
badly, and CBS finally got a few people in that understood the Fender
legacy. They capitalized on it by starting production of 1) the
ultimately insanely successful and still ongoing Vintage Reissue line
('57 and '62 Strats); 2) a simple, good sounding Strat Standard; and
3) a modernized Strat intended for newer styles of music - that was
the Strat Elite, and I think it was the top of the line. As you
pointed out, it had active pickups with a dummy coil which acted as a
humbucker, while retaining some of the single coil sounds. It had a
radically redesigned tremolo, as well as the entire tone control
circuit, with the pushbuttons. Also, the shape of the pickguard and
the routing underneath is non-standard, so don't buy it thinking
you'll be able to replace the electronics - you probably won't.
There were some good ideas there, but ultimately it all degraded the
sound of the Strat to something quite generic, from what I
understand. In addition, Fenders made during this era didn't have a
good reputation for quality, though I'm sure there were more than a
few that were fine guitars.
That's all I can remember about it. I hope that helps. Unless you
plan on playing in a real, gigging band, don't worry about the trad
sound, etc. Most of the playing done around the house in unplugged
anyway, so the feel is much more important than the sound, I think.
If you love how you feel, then it's got your name written on it!
Have fun.
Ivan
--- In , MalcolmO <MalcolmO@c...> wrote:
> I was in Encore Music on Saturday and saw a Strat. Has a maple
fretboard,
> which I prefer. Has the narrow head and old logo. The neck and
action were
> amazing, played itself. The odd thing was... No pole pieces
showing, just
> white plastic. I thought it was some kind of aftermarket product
but, upon
> closer inspection, "Fender" was impressed in the plastic! I've
never seen
> these pickups before. The control knobs were different too. Had the
F. No
> blade switch. Instead, 3 push-button on/off switches for the pups.
(Allows
> neck & bridge with no swapping.) Finally, although the bridge
assembly
> appeared fused to the wood, there was a hole for a bar. The Fender
name was
> on that too. And it said "elite" on the neck plate.
>
> I'd never seen ANY of this stuff before (I don't get out much. <G>)
The guy
> there told me that this stuff was only used for 2 years in the
early 80s.
> Says there's some hum-cancelling deal inside and that the pickups
are
> active. Also said that the whammy is down-only.
>
> Do we like how it sounds? I didn't have it plugged in. (The wife
had already
> gone outside to wait.) I really really liked how it felt. Would I
like it as
> much to hear it?
>
> Thanks for comments, guys.
> --
> Malcolm <<-- not a signature
> "They should know they're the Grateful Dead now." -- Phil
> "It's never too late to be up-to-date" -- Dan Hicks
> "My clock loses time like there's no tomorrow" -- Malcolm
