This is my US Deluxe Strat Plus, bought new in '94 on layaway my senior year of high school. I would go into the shop a few times a month to play while paying it off. Wilkinson style roller nut, Schaller locking tuners, Lace Sensor pickups. This was my main guitar all through university and the very rare occasions I got the itch to play for many years after college.
I never realized how the scale length and string gauge had me doing a death grip on the neck and strings until I picked up a PRS a couple years ago as motivation to really try and get playing regularly again. Picking up the Strat today, and my volume/gain settings throughout my signal chain were really underwhelming. So I guess I need a second rig for single coils now! ๐
I'm super happy with the amp, it's a Crush 35rt. I like both channels but usually play the dirty channel with the medium gain, low enough for dynamics and cleanup with the guitar's volume knob. I almost went for the Katana Mk II 100w head, but I'd rather go the old fashioned route for pedals and have no complaints. My son is playing drums now, so I might still get the Katana as a desktop amp in my office and move the full rig and his drums together, if he's not too embarrassed to jam with his old man.
Sounds like a great plan! I'm sure he'd love to jam especially if he can pick a song or two!