Fender Deluxe Powerhouse Strat

[alerich]

I got a new Strat about a month ago. Found a 2000 MIM Fender Deluxe Powerhouse Stratocaster used at GC for $400. It comes with American Standard pickups and has a dummy pickup coil mounted under the pickguard (between the switch and the pots) to provide noise cancelling. It has the on board Clapton mid boost circuit throttled back to a max of 12db gain. Master volume, master "no load" tone control and the bottom knob dials in the mid boost circuit. Even with the mid boost at minimum the preamp is working slightly. This is the brightest , chimy-est rosewood board Strat I have ever played. You can roll back the volume and not lose any of the high end. I honestly haven't used the mid boost turned up all that much but it is pretty cool. Adds a nice thick flavor to the tone.

I am traditionally a Les Paul type player but I haven't been able to put this guitar down. Sounds great through my '65 Princeton Reverb RI with my Jetter Red² pedal. It is the only Strat I have ever liked through my JCM800 clone and my Soldano Hot Rod 50. I have read about these guitars before and saw one on CL a while back in Nashville . This is the first one I have seen pop up locally since I first started reading about them. This is a kick ass Strat. Great cleans. I roll the volume back to about 5-7 normally. Then I can roll up to 10 to get a little clean boost. Kick on the Jetter pedal (these are awesome, too) and it's fun fun fun.

[Platefire]

Congratulations on a new strat. It looks on the surface like an innocent standard strat. You'd never know by looking all the extras that lay within. Some guitars inspire your playing in a different direction, I like that. Sounds like you having a great time with it--Jam on! Platefire

[Ritchie200]

Ha!  That was what I've been telling everyone!!!  Seriously, I agree with Plate, sometimes a guitar or amp or effect that pulls you in a different direction or inspires you.  That is too cool!  I see the red mini stack.  I've got the 25th anniversary silver one! 


Jim

[alerich]

I tried a small mod on the mid boost circuit that consists of lifting two resistors at the pots outer legs. It boosts the circuit from 12db to the 25db commonly found on the Clapton Strat. It was too much for me so I put it back stock. I don't actually even use the mid boost that much. It spoils the wonderful dynamics of these pickups. My Soldano goes to 11. Does that count?

I bought that Marshall micro stack back around the holidays last year on Craigslist. I really got it just for ornamental purposes. Dude only wanted $130 for it. It's a 1986 - first year they offered it - and they regularly fetch $200-$300. I couldn't pass it up.

[Ritchie200]

That micro stack head sounds pretty good through a 4x12!  Or is also sounds good as a preamp using the line out.  It looks in great shape! What a deal!


Yeah, years ago I had the booster in the jack (I forgot who made it..), but I never really used it.  At the time I had a ridiculous pedal board but tried to preserve the tone of the guitar.  The boost was too much.


Jim

[alerich]

I think the key to Powerhouse Strat and why I love it so much is that the preamp is "hot" even with the control at minimum. It doesn't take it out of the circuit. There's no S1 switch to shut it off. So its 'always on' nature gives the guitar a mild clean boost all the time. The guitar is louder than my other strats and just has more clarity and chime - even for a guitar with a rosewood fretboard. I'm certain the no-load tone pot (which I usually run in the no load position) is contributing to this.

After I got this guitar and played it a bit I installed a no load tone pot in my Nashville Tele and I completely disconnected the tone controls in another strat I have that has always been on the darker side ("Use The Force, Luke!"). That helped brighten up both guitars (both with rosewood fretboards). I have an E series MIJ Squier Strat with a System 1 Tremolo with a maple fretboard but it's plenty bright for my tastes. I actually connected the bridge pickup to the middle tone control on that one.

I cannot get over how good a great Strat into a Princeton Reverb can sound. I also cannot say enough good things about this Jetter Red² pedal. It's pricey (I got mine used mint for a nice discount) but it's a great pedal. Two in one stacking - mild and hot. My PRRI loves this pedal.