I Played (almost) Every Stratocaster To Find The BEST One
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- Опубліковано 20 жов 2022
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Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster - Lake Placid Blue: $419.99
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Fender Player Stratocaster - Buttercream with Maple Fingerboard: $849.99
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Fender American Professional II Stratocaster - Black with Maple Fingerboard $1,699.99
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Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster Electric Guitar - Olympic White $2,099.99
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Fender Custom Shop 1959 Time Machine Heavy Relic Stratocaster - Aged Daphne Blue with Maple Fingerboard
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The very small difference in sound from the demos just goes to prove a fact most guitarists don't want to admit: your amp is more responsible for your sound than your guitar.
I couldn't agree more!
Yip, $700 guitar and $2500 amp will always sound better than a 4000 dollar guitar and $250 ss amp…
@@Notorious_cgc Thats the point man
Noooo! Let me stay with my boss katana and my 40 guitars in peace!
What u dont talk about is the feel of the neck.
Best sound: American Vintage II
Best look: Custom shop
Best guitar: ... SQUIER BABY THAT THING SOUNDS SWEET
Shut your trap Tyler
Inb4 Tyler's new video titled "Guitars you think are great (but are not)"
Was hoping to see you here in the comments.
Nope. Player Strat sounds better and better bang for the buck. 🎸🤓
@@NytronX link to that video?
I had the same problem with my Player MiM first but then used the little trick, which puts the neck perfectly in the neck pocket: I losened the neck screws maybe a bit less than a quarter while the strings had tension in E-standard tuning and then tightened them up again. This will fix the dead sound of a strat sometimes, cause the neck pops in perfectly and connects tight to the body, which will make it more resonate. Worked for me. Thanks for the great content Rhett (as always)! Best regards from Germany
I have read about it. But on my case I had no results
Can you just replace the neck and the problem will be resolved?
For me, i took the neck off and add a piece of toothpick. That brought all resonance to my squire.
I have a Fender Player Telecaster. I took the neck off in order to travel with it on my suitcase. When I put it back on, the guitar sounded way way better and way more resonant. So I can testify there could be a thing there, yes.
I swap all my fenders to a 50s boat neck anyway
Have to give you props for such a great channel. Your audio/visual is pro level. I appreciate how thorough your reviews are. And your guitar playing is always tasteful, I especially liked the intro you created in this video. Keep up the great work!
I’m surprised at how much I dig all the American vintage II specs actually. If the idea is for a guitar to get you to play differently then this does that for me.
Agreed, I equate the vintage frets the same way that driving a vintage muscle car with bias-ply tires, you're in for the full experience.
That said, the vintage frets would most likely be a no-go for myself.
Also of note, it appears Fender did an excellent job aging the clay dot fret markers, and even the correct inlay spacing at the 12th fret.
I love my 2009 Road Worn strat but I need one of those American Vintage IIs
@@ryangunwitch-black Ditto
They're a surprise hit. I've heard on a few channels that it's Pro 2 necks that are superior to all others, even the Ultra series (You'll be waiting 8 months to get an Ultra in Canada - my town reports a Cobra Blue Ultra Strat HSS would be June '23. The Pro 2 'Dark Night' Tele Deluxe? Sept '23).
I think it'd take less time to get a new kidney.
Are the frets on the AVII's really vintage frets, though? It seems like Fender has been using the phrase "Vintage Tall" to describe their version of 6105-height and width frets. Is that so, or are these something different?
That intro was amazing Rhett....salute
It was the scenery that did it I think…
It was flowing on the clouds
Facts.
Yeah that was quality!
It sounds a lot like The War on Drugs. Killer!
So you've done Les Paul, and Strat. Can you continue the series into 335s, Teles, Jazzmasters, and SG? I think it's the perfect format for people to get a gist of each type of guitar that may not know where to start.
I support this!
This.
Yes, that would definitely be dope, if any kind of promotion or fundage/help permits, Rhett!
would love to see an SG vid like this!!!
I think you nailed it at the very end of the video. Guitars must also feel great when played... I bought a Squier strat yesterday and was just smiling when you we´re talking about how a few of those guitar bodies vibrated when played...
Your title tracks get better and better every week. That octave fuzz ripped!!
I love those inversions and the light touch! That is a great intro!
I'm starting to really like this guy, excellent content and he's cool to listen to.
That intro though ❤ Footage, playing, everything top notch! I also appreciate all the details you mentioned as to what you’d upgrade.
1:53 love the Gilmour nod and totally riffing off of Time. Fantastic take/example of borrowing ideas and inspiration and building your own thing around it!!
Love strats! Your melodies are so good and really captures every character of the strat. My favourite is still the vintage road worn relics Customs. Looks and sounds amazing. But it's really about the feeling of the guitar which means....we all have to go to the local guitar shops to try the best one
Absolutely love my 59 custom shop strat, I would suggest paying slightly more and looking for a used custom shop rather than the vintage 2, but I love that this new series exists!
Beautiful track! Really love the vibe and all the guitar layers. Great work man!
Thanks Rhett. Very informative. I'm looking forward to trying out a new American Vintage II soon.
The playing on this video is out of this world. Excellent work, sir!
Great video as usual❤️. Really love the way you make these videos. I would love this type of video with jaguars or jazz masters.
Love Strats. They are my guitars of choice for what and how I play. The only thing that is a deal breaker for me is the truss rod adjustment at the heel of the neck. I’ve had every level of Strat throughout the years and with a little work and some time, you can get even the most affordable Strat to sound and feel amazing. Great video man. Really love these types. Keep it up.
Holy Toledo Rhett. I was just researching strats to pick one up because I have never owned one. Was leaning towards the pro II, but now you’ve made me reconsider the vintage. Heck. Great video, thanks for sharing your experience with us all.
legend mic man
Lenny! Love it! It’s my go to for testing a Stratocaster! I ended up with a MIM player plus Stratocaster with noiseless pickups (maple neck). Love it! I’ve had Japanese Stratocasters and MIM HSS..but this one is amazing.
Thanks for the video
The intro tracks just keep getting better. Your use of octave fuzz is insane 🫡
Loved the intro jam. Love all the videos, Rhett. Your videos keep me wanting to do more. Thank you!
I think a major factor in choosing a guitar is whether it has been properly setup, some receive a ton of fret work while others might just be right out of the box, a good service by a top luthier can completely change a guitar.
Totally agree, a good setup and some TLC makes a big difference.
yeah most guitarist think the perfect guitar usually come right out of the box, but in reality you gotta put some work into making that good guitar great. My number 1 guitar is my pro 2 strat, and i had to fight that guitar for over a month before i dialed it in! Now the guitar is bullet proof!
@@justaburgscousin My Amer Pro I HSS is my favorite Strat by far. Super versatile and it's just an amazing guitar.
It’s funny you say that but on the flip side a bad luthier will ruin a great guitar
My dad gifted me his ‘62 reissue. Never took it to his luthier he’s been going to for the past 20+ years. I took it in to get it set up and my god what a difference. I do plan on working my way around my own guitars, but your comment does seem to fit more newer guitars that are more manufactured than hand crafted. I may be wrong on that but that’s just my perception
My 2018 player series strat, same colour as the one you play in the video, resonates a lot!! I love to play it even unplugged due to this!!
This is a great series for us guitar nerds, I love it! I hope you keep doing this with other popular models 🙂🤘
Sitting here and listening to you play they all sound good! I do believe that the sound is in the hands more than anything. That old say Is " A bad guitar player can't make a good guitar sound good, But a Good guitar player can make a bad guitar sound Great!"
It is in the hands and then when you get the guitar player/guitar/amp, magic can happen!
Stats are beautiful pieces of art.
Thank you,
B
Great video. I like the Vintage II "as is". I'm a huge tinkerer and learned a bunch of luthier tricks in my time. For a few years, I started with craigslist bought Mexican Strats and upgraded quite a bit that you talked about. Sand the body to wood. Acrylic color, nitro clear. Level and crown the frets and round the finger board edges. Go with better alnico pickups. And the back of the neck gets sanded down then waxed well. A hint too is that old Deluxe Mexican strats (the serial number starts with a D) like a Jimmie Vaughan, a Powerhouse or the like have the wider, US string spacing and bridge with a much bigger block already. Going the extra mile on one of those doing only paint and neck work make them easily outplay a standard American Strat. Now, I'm not a vintage fan, so if I built one of these to take out and gig, I want the top of the neck truss rod, I add a roller string tree and the tuners become lockers. Pop on some 9's or 10's, lube the nut, saddles and let her rip.
I recently bought a Jimmy Vaughan and it's an awful instrument. LIke a toy compared to my Les Paul. The new Ultras feel great though. Should have got one of those.
Obviously the Custom Shop sounded great - but that Vintage strat sounded killer too! A noticeable difference from the lesser expensive versions. Great opener to this video, Rhett! Your content is always solid!
Rhett’s content is the best no bull channel here. I love the way that we can see true worth. A $150 guitar may need $800 before it is fit to record or even play for a saloon. Intonation is important, setup has to be right. You learn about this,when he plecked his LesPaul and had it set up. It was a wow, something was not completely right, but my mind settled afterwards, slight unease was gone. I had no complete thought about it, Rhett sounded really good, but after the plek and setup he was magical! I am a Fender guy I have to admit, Gibsons always sounded a little out of tune for some reason. But seeing that was wow he got to see how it is really done! The truth comes out on any guitar when you play beyond the 12 th fret. If it all goes to heck beyond the 12 th we heard it here… the intonation needs attention. But what if your Epiphone or Gibson LesPaul Special with just the lightning bar wraptail bridge, you can move it around, but you need to have a pro do it who has done SGs to get it close enough. I put a intonatable bridge on the Epiphone with saddles. It is perfect. Too bad that the neck makes my left hand go numb because of the skinny neck profile. My son said that it felt good for him so I will give it to him and he can take lessons.
This is where I landed too. I "watched" the beginning without opening my eyes to see if I had a preference. Strongly preferred the custom shop and vintage, but neither really spoke to me. There are better sounding custom shops out there for sure.
Mexican stratocaster is an excellent instrument and will not hold you back. I use one and love it. It is all stock. Players series are worth checking out.
I love the pickups on it, gives me Hendrix vibes
I agree the player plus MIM is an excellent guitar
Great video, Learned a lot. I think your spot on with the 1 thru 5 picks. Cheers.
Just a quick comment on the Classic Vibe.
Most likely you don't need a fret level and crown etc. .Just a simple polish of the frets, maybe starting with 800 grit and working up to 4000 or 8000 will give you great frets. Tape off the fingerboard so you don't scratch it. Cut the "sand paper" into 0.5-1 inch wide strips and maybe use a big eraser to press the strips down against the frets. Or just buy a "fret-eraser" and give it a quick once-over and it will improve the feeling of the frets immensely.
The vintage II model is to die for if you have the budget. Nicely made, sounds great out of the box, and has much of what I would upgrade a lesser instrument to be.
I signed up for Rhett's basic guitar theory course...I write music books...he did a super job. I enjoy seeing how others cover material. Rhett makes it easy.
Nice Jam! Love the channel and humility. Thanks for making educational and inspiring content!
Thanks Rhett for bringing up feel as the most important part of choosing a guitar.
I wish more reviewers would talk about that. I change pickups in almost all my guitars and can make them each sound good but only certain ones feel right-
(for me) even the same model. Most guitars have a feel and that is always the way I make a choice.
Great reviews!! It’s the American Pro 2 for me. I love the tone, feel and modern touches on it.
I love the show, especially this one! I have an American Pro 2 strat, you mentioned that it has a synthetic nut but I bought mine with the understanding that it is bone. Bone is also listed in the specs for a new one. Thanks for letting me be a guitar nerd!
It's bone.
Thank you for confirming!
Its bond indeed.
I have that exact classic vibe Squire and I swapped the electronics to Fender’s second nicest pre-wired pick guard. It made an insane difference and I actually prefer it over many Mexican & American Strats I’ve played.
Nice. Might do some day.
I hated the 50’s vintera fender it was an awful playing a sounding guitar I went with the CV .cheaper ,played better and sounded better ..I tried it through 5 amps and not one did it sound good ..the fat 50’s pickups .didn’t sound like it was ever out of bridge and middle or neck and middle .even when it was on the other positions the selector .for 1200 quid here in the uk it was a big no for me when the CV was just over 300 quid and a fret polish which I did myself it plays better too ..
@@craigpimlott204 same here, but I think the Vintera I tested had something bad. Other Vinteras I heard weren't so awful.
@@MaurizioFirmaniElectronics have gotten better on MX Strats, but the woods/builds are pretty average. The Classic Series are far better instruments than the Vinteras.....especially the late 90s and early 2000's models
Rhett seems to be the only youtuber shitting on the Squire Classic Vibe
I so agree with his reasoning for spending the extra money on the custom shop. I own a 59 american vintage I and a custom shop. The feel is just on another level with the custom shop and you really feel the quality holding it in your hand. Mine is a relic too which I love especially the worn in neck.
Rhett your rapid-fire articulations of super specific differences throughout the range of these guitars is excellent. You always state then refine and finally clarify your points. You just do such a great job throughout. It's not the editing (which is excellent) or the camera work (ditto). It's the way you keep viewers engaged. I play a 1984 Hondo H-700 MR/R that every time I'm in the basement doing laundry I pick it up it sounds excellent. But this video gives me some insight on what I might upgrade to some day.
I’ve played and owned so many strats. I even had the guy who made the SRV number 1 replicas make me a special LPB Strat with an upside down tremolo. The great vintage strats are in a class of their own - at high volumes they get creamier and creamier whereas newer guitars sound harsh. But finding that great vintage Strat is a very costly experience.
I've played vintage guitars, Fender included, that were nothing special at all. They all aren't winners for sure.
Great summary! I went through a similar exercise in my quest for an HSS Strat a few months ago. I tried the Player, Player Plus, JV Modified, American Pro II, and the American Ultra. I ended up with the American Pro II and absolutely adore it. It really felt like the sweet spot for me - fairly modern, but not quite to the extent of the American Ultra or Player Plus (not a fan of the noiseless singlecoils). Build quality, fretwork, resonance, and feel are excellent. The narrow tall frets were new to me, and I can definitely say I'm a fan. It's also just crazy versatile, with that humbucker happily going into chuggy modern metal territory. It really just feels like a quality instrument that I know I'll be able to count on for decades without much of any fuss.
Also am going through an HSS strat phase. Have you considered suhr? I'll be going with american pro II too but am still struggling to make a good decision between suhr classic pro and fender american pro II. Your input would be valuable to me since you've tested out many guitars.
@@coomplyingconsoomer4685 While I've heard of Suhr, I never really considered one, as I wasn't able to try one out. And, honestly, I kinda just wanted a Fender for subjective reasons. So, I can't really comment on that part. But, as I said, I'm absolutely loving my American Pro II. Mine is the three-colour sunburst with a maple fretboard.
The only other Strat I've owned was a Highway One HSS from roughly 2003... the Pro II blows it out of the water in every way. It holds tune dramatically better and is much easier to setup (I made a few tweaks when I changed to 10s). Tone-wise, you heard how the V-Mod II single coils sound in this video. The humbucker is honestly great. It's more medium output (the difference in output between it and the single coils isn't as jarring as it is on most HSS guitars I've tried), very expressive (dig in more, and it responds really well), and splits really nicely. The push/push switch on the HSS splits the humbucker in position 1. While it won't sound exactly like an angled single coil, it's a very good, useable tone that I actually find myself switching to frequently. I didn't expect to be doing that.
Of all the Strats I tried out this time, I'd put the JV modded one second to the Pro II, personally. It sounded and looked awesome, was priced really competitively, and was seriously comfortable. But, I had a feeling I'd grow tired of the V-shaped neck eventually, the vintage tremolo scares me, having only 21 frets can be annoying, and the less-than-ideal truss-rod access would just suck. The Ultra was in third place... really damn nice, but was a pretty big price increase over the Pro II, and the noiseless single coils really weren't doing it for me. After that, I liked the Player over the Player Plus, almost entirely because it didn't have noiseless single coils.
My only other guitar these days is an Ibanez RGD 7 string - one of the Japanese made Prestige versions. Both guitars are priced pretty similarly, and I'd say build quality and feel (resonance, comfort, fretwork, etc... they're obviously very different guitars) is comparable - though the Strat wins hands down on stock pickups.
Excellent comparison video. The only thing missing was including the nut widths, fret radius specs, and weight. I know we could maybe dig these specs off Fender site, but these 3 things are super important to nerds like me. Keep up the good work!
Except for the custom shop ones, for which they pick light woods, the weight of the others wouldn’t mean much, as you could get a light MIM and a heavy AV II, or the other way around. And Fender doesn’t publish weights for that reason.
Such an honest review. Most people would never say get the one that you connect with. They would push their favorite one and call it a review
11:38 The nut on the American Pro II is bone, not synthetic. Edit: 19:30 Gritty frets don’t necessarily need to be crowned and leveled. They’re often the result of skipping the final step of polishing the frets after they’ve already been leveled. If you’re on a tight budget and have DIY skills, polishing frets is easy and would make those frets feel fine.
I am constantly surprised about how I convince myself of one spec over another until I play an instrument and it just feels great. I thought I loved thick necks because I loved my Tele, but then I played a much thinner strat neck and loved it too 😅 Same with radius 🤷
The way this whole video is set up is legitimate perfection. Thank you not only for the review, but attention to quality!
Thank you Rhett, this is exactly what I've been looking for a video on the different types of fender strats, it is very hard to choose with the variety of models and prices, specially coming from "superstrats" like ibanez and the like. I think I will go with the American Professional II. Now if I could only find a video up close of the colors...hmmmm .Thank you.
I actually just bought the squier last month and did the exact things you mentioned: new pickups, pots, 5-way switch, pickguard, had the frets polished & leveled, then properly setup and wow it’s amazing! I’m blown away that it’s even a squier. Looks and plays amazing! As an intermediate/late beginner, this guitar and upgrades for under $800 is totally worth it! Awesome video
I did the same thing! All because of the colour. Turned out to be a great guitar.
It was a squier.. you swapped out half the guitar hah
@@maxpower6706 , got a point Homer?
@@onlyfromadistance7326 I think I made it there pingu
@@maxpower6706 some people can't afford a great guitar right off. But they can get a good guitar and over time make it great. Now shut up and go make me a sandwich...
I went to buy my brother a guitar for his birthday last week and played some strats. The imports are getting pretty expensive and becoming a little less worth it. When I got my strat about three years ago, they felt the same and we’re about 200 cheaper. Also, I’d like to see the kind of video for prs. They make great imports, have a lot of different models in their American made line. I know it’s not always your cup of tea but could be a fun one
Hi Rhett, great demo of the five strats! Your comments on the switch/ pots quality of the Squier is particularly relevant. On a guitar costing nearly £400 there's no reason to use very cheap electrics. A Fender 5 way switch and three cts pots can be bought for about £20, probably costs Fender a tenner or less! Cheers and keep up thegreat work! Stephen from Scotland
Thanks again, Rhett and Fender! The '61 Strat arrived yesterday. It was worth the five month wait!
Out……standing into! You’re easily one of the best creators right now…Musical or otherwise. Great job Rhett. Your commitment to sound quality, quality videography/photography, and presentation is very evident and does not go unnoticed. I feel like I get a full and professional production to view and enjoy every time I click on a Rhett vid.
IMO the Pro 2 sounded the best. Something about the crunchiness and brittleness of the tone. Just great.
Sweetwater Exclusive American Professional in Surf Green with roasted maple neck and rosewood fingerboard - CS 69' pickups, locking tuners, jumbo frets. My dream guitar. I'll never sell it. Playability and the sound are out of this world. Can't get any closer to a custom shop than that. Amazing intro by the way. Cheers
Hi Rhett,
Wonderful video as always. I am personally hoping that you can do a breakdown of your intro compositions for these comparison videos. It would be awesome to see your creative process from start to finish in terms of composition - even as far as going within your chosen DAW and nerding out with routing, sound finding, etc.
Wishing you the best!
I’m with you on the CS necks. That worn finish feels incredible. I have a 1956 in Sherwood green that gets a lot of play time. Pretty much stays on position 4. Still the Plus series from 1987-1993 with the Lace Sensors are my favorites
Is that Sherwood Green kinda dark in color, I saw a picture of an old Green Strat that was stunning, I can't remember the name of the color. Would love to see yours.
I have a strat by a brand I've never heard of called Crescent. I think its one of those brands that you can find on places like ebay or something. I got it for 30 bucks used from a pawn shop. Its currently my main guitar lol. I love it. Some of it might be sentimental tho because it was my first guitar. it has surprisingly good action. Main things that could be upgraded are The Pickups and the nut and tuners. It's still really playable even with what it has
So many good points! My thoughts exactly about the playability of the guitar, I'm leaning toward this attitude more and more, unfortunately it almost always comes with the price.
Just discovered your channel & subscribed didn't hurt the giveaway is active. I was leaning towards the vintage reissue. Looking forward to exploring your content. I've got a few beautiful guitar's and ukuleles. Truth be told haven't been playing recently. Been wanting a Fender Stratocaster for years. Cheers from Northern California!!!
you really nailed that David Gilmore / Pink Floyd sound on the intro! With a next level feel with the last notes of the solo. Kudos!
David Gilmour has hands like mine , like a stone mason and he uses a 7.25 C neck as far as I know still yet, like BB King asked him once
“Boy You sure you wasn’t born in Mississippi?”
Funny thing about Gilmour and these modern "premium" 2-point trems - he prefers a 6-point.
@@Bbbbad724 wait your thought about this is your 😄hands are like David’s? That is such a creepy comment for some reason.
@@mattier3030 No, I did a lot of manual labor and my hands are pretty big and well used. Before I destroyed my shoulder I had to have a C neck with a 7.25 radius. Gilmour preferred the 57 V 7.25. I have played both and the 61 is more comfortable. I may never play again. I have a Silvertone with a pretty decent neck and a 9.5 radius and practice is hard. I just have beat up hands that’s all I was saying, but I am getting discouraged with the nerve in my thumb.
@@mattier3030 No, I did a lot of manual labor and my hands are pretty big and well used. Before I destroyed my shoulder I had to have a C neck with a 7.25 radius. Gilmour preferred the 57 V 7.25. I have played both and the 61 is more comfortable. I may never play again. I have a Silvertone with a pretty decent neck and a 9.5 radius and practice is hard. I just have beat up hands that’s all I was saying, but I am getting discouraged with the nerve in my thumb.
I began my guitar journey 3 months ago with a Squier Affinity Strat, $279 at my local music shop. My teacher shows up with a Squier Bullet, $179 at the same shop. I'm a long way from being able to justify a Made in Mexico, much less a Custom Shop. For now, I'm happy to spend money on lessons and maybe a couple of upgrades on the Squier in the next year or so.
Do as I did many years ago... when you come to a proficient level you want, then go for a new and better guitar. And if you end up being a pro guitar player like Rhett, then you can also afford a custom one. During your learning years, you will find different kinds of guitars with different feels, and your music style will also evolve.
Rock your Squier!! when I was starting to play the guitar (in the 80s/90s I wish low priced guitars where as good as they are today). Heck... I played/practiced 2 years (in my room), before I knew what a distortion pedal was!!, today you can get a myriad of effects on your pc or even mobile for the cost (or less) than just one pedal back in the day... just crazy!
buy the custom shop heavy relic...you wont regret it ... i have 3, they are amazing
@@rv6205 Maybe as an investment, but you'd have to keep it from harm to retain its value. There are arguably better things to invest in than guitars.
@@GCKelloch I thought i was smart putting $644,000 into tesla and Voo stock and now it down 34 percent ....i think i could have been better buying a 59 Gibson Les Paul
You don't necessarily need to change pickups, but there are excellent options for under $100/set. First determine what about the sound you would change. Also great noiseless for under $200. Changing pots and wires won't affect the sound, but you might like the feel of certain pots.
This was awesome. Thank you. The neck on the American Professional is the best I ever felt. I bought an American Professional II neck and put it on a thin nitro vintage Strat body with Custom Shop 60s pickups. Bottom line, I sold most of my other Strats. Really enjoyed this video. Thanks
Thank you!!!! Yes, its what you said at the end which is gold. What we hear through YT vids is one thing. But how it feels is something totally different which a YT vid can't convey. Excellent Rhett.
I have the American Pro2 and it has amazing clean tones. I'm thinking of switching the bridge pickup to a tele style and it should be perfect.
Great video. Just a bit to note, the American Professional II Strat does in fact have a bone nut per Fender specifications. Perhaps they switched over to them sometime after this video was made? That is one of the main features that attracted me to that particular model. In addition to the fact that I personally think it sounds and feels absolutely phenomenal! Even up against a 1974 hardtail Strat that I also own.
Mine is an earlier one and the nut is bone. I think he just got mixed up for a moment while filming.
Cool! I’m thinking of nabbing the roasted pine version of the Am Pro II, but was flummoxed how the series ranked within the 180 odd models that Fender produces.
The Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster Electric Guitar checks all my boxes. Wish it was road worn but maybe I could do that myself.
Great video. Thanks so much.
Got to agree,the custom shop ticks all the boxes in the kind of guitar (particularly strat) that I like 👍. Great demo
Really cool comparison! I actually own that exact model of the Classic Vibe and absolutely love it! Maybe I just got lucky but my pickup switch is shockingly good and the frets felt like like had been played in for years from the day I got it. Those budget guitars can be real hit or miss but when you find a good one, they can be an unbelievable deal!
A setup/tidying up and perhaps some pickups - all the start you need
Same....experience...was in a guitar center the other night looking for a cheapo electric just to have for alternate tunings and picked up a Squier telecaster cause I thought the finish looked nice and the thing played like a it was 500 dollars more. New tuners and New pickups it would been a beast.
Thank you for this. I have been looking at Strats and it really does clarify things to hear them side by side. I was very excited about the specs of the American Pro II (in Mystic Surf Green), but then you played the AV II right after and the difference in sound was undeniable. That (AV II) is definitely where the most classic Strat sounds starts, even through my phone speaker!
Honestly, if you’re in the market, I would try to play each of them *yourself* before drawing conclusions. In this video, he’s using different effects on each of those two guitars, and maybe a different amp (or amp model in his AxeFX) too.
I say this as someone who owns an American Pro I and several American Original strats (the predecessors to the American Pro II and American Vintage II, and hardly any different from the new versions). They definitely sound different, but not necessarily as much as the clips here might suggest.
@@400_billion_suns Whats your favorite strats for cleans ? Clean beautiful glassy sparking cleans for those 80’s styled chords with chorus
@@24MusicCarats Honestly the stock V-Mod pickups in the American Pro and American Pro II are probably best for those sparkling glassy 80s cleans. They don’t have quite as much low-end as the 60s-vintage pickups, but their clarity is noticeably better. The 60s vintage pickups have a tiny bit of grit to them, which can sometimes make low frequencies sound a bit less articulate, but the V-Mods are crystal-clear across the entire spectrum.
If you want something more in-between, with sparkly treble but a bit more low end fullness than the V-Mods, the pickups in my American Original 50s strat would be my pick. They’re Fender Pure Vintage 59s.
@@400_billion_suns
I have a set of classic vibe 60’s on my Mexican standard Strat, I really love those.
In going to try the v mods and others you mentioned 🙏
@@24MusicCarats I’ve never tried those myself but I’ve read only good things about them, and the Classic Vibe series in general. Let me know what you think if you try a different set. You might be able to find a cheap deal on a set of V-Mods, because they were the stock pickup in the American Pro and a lot of people swap stock pickups whether they need to or not ;) But if you really want a set that does the whole strat thing from vintage to modern, and still has sparkle, I’d splurge for the Pure Vintage 59. Good luck!
I agree so much with you on the mexican player series. That one was my first electric and it always felt like something was off. I now have a PRS silver sky and the difference is so big. I immediately progressed and just played a lot more since I got the new guitar.
I love guitars of all types, but the Stratocaster is beyond my favorite. Buddy Holly, Hendrix, Cobain, Gilmour, Clapton, SRV. And many others. Such a beautiful instrument.
Those are some great instruments you listed
I watched a SRV tribute concert his brother Jimmy put together that featured all the top blues guitarists on the planet 10 years after SRVs death. I believe Jimmy actually got up on stage with each of them if memory serves me correctly. With the exception of BB King, every single one of them played a Fender Strat. That should tell you something.
RoryGallagher used a C neck 7.25 . It makes a difference! And Rhett you nailed it.
Cobain played a jaguar
The black one. The Professional II. I like the clarity. I thought it sounded terrific, very expressive and versatile. I like the 2 point trem. I do not like the lack of easy adjustability on the neck for the Vintage pair. I really liked the way you can blend neck and bridge pickup. That had a sound to it I really liked.
I so love my America Pro II. I feel naked without it.
Pro II sounded like shit. Harsh on all positions.
My favorite too.
The custom shop and vintage series sounded the best, not necessarily one better then other just a bit different voicing
@@gffg387 yep, but he has very bright hands too
Thanks for this. I appreciate you doing the Squier. I could hear the switch was a problem while you were playing. I have a CVs 50 Tele, and decided to do a 4-way switch, so I upgraded the wiring, pots, switch and plate and the difference is slightly noticeable. The pickups on that thing sound great for what I use it for (recording albums in Garageband and screwing around in the basement).
Great review, Rhett! I purchased a Squier Classic Vibes as a project guitar. I updated to Alnico 5 pickups, Orange Caps, Wiring, and Rolled in the frets. around $75 out of pocket upgrades. Definitely a great starter guitar.
👆 chat me up🎉🎉
Cool intro! What a great vibe your music has. Love your channel! Keep up the great work.
Fender are on another level right now. Almost every single offer at any price point is spot on on quality and tone delivery (based on the money you pay), and the finishes are stunning.
Loved your little take on Lenny!!! Don’t get to hear too many people pulling it off in such a genuine way…. But with some of your own flare! For me the American vintage series 2 (50’s particular) is my fave and what I’ll be looking for after the holidays. Your right, the custom shop guitars are incredible and like Gibsons are the closest thing to a vintage model, but even with the feel it’s not enough FOR ME to justify the money.
Love the sound of the #1 choice! I have a 1981 Blue 'Roland' Strat that came with the GR 300 guitar synth (Ibanez made I think?) which is beautiful, and recently a MIM Fender / Roland Strat that came with the GR 55 guitar synth - also really nice. Both maple fretboards. I've recently compared the American Pro & Ultra (Rosewood fretboard) and the S1 Bridge / Neck combo on the Ultra is really something - probably my next purchase at some point . . .
That American Vintage II sounds like absolute perfection to me. The custom shop also has a lot going for it. But for the price, Vintage II for sure.
Definitely
Loved listening to this on headphones. Great sound. 👍😎
I already have an AmPro II and I'm waiting on my Vintage 2 so I can decide which one becomes my main. Great video man.
Rhett..Loved the song at the beginning . …The Edge during Rattle and Hum mixed with Clapton and a touch of Satriani🤘
My favorite was the American Vintage 2. It has the right sound and vibe and the price, while out of my reach completely, isn’t ridiculous. As for which one I’d buy, the Squier. The price is right and I’d have fun tinkering and upgrading it. I’d be more likely to get the 70’s one though.
What you say about actually getting the different guitars in your hands and playing them to tell the difference is the most honest truth about how to choose a guitar. UA-cam can not replace getting your hands on the instrument and feel you get when you know this guitar is special and the one I can’t live without. 👍🎸
One likes to look for the little things. How's the balance on the lap? Good? Stay in place? Or does it want to neck or butt dive? How does it react to a strap? Does it spin awkwardly when you touch the body with your picking hand because of how the strap is placed? Does it balance and lean at a funny angle? Or does it sit where it's supposed to, and stay pretty much in place without you having to hang onto the neck all the time? How's the neck? Good feel? Fit your hand the way you want? Sticky in the back? Can that be solved with scotchbrite and a bit of wax?
But finally, and most importantly, how does it ring? It's almost more important unplugged, because a guitar with a dead ring and no resonance unplugged isn't going to suddenly come alive through an amp. I spend time playing unplugged before I flip the on switch on the amp. I find it helps.
@@seanbaines Sean, good analysis, the only thing you left out was the price and that doesn’t really matter if it is the magical one in a million guitar you are looking for. Heck, you covered that about like Bubba did on how many ways there are to cook shrimp. LOL 😂
@@VonBluesman I just got back from trying out a new guitar. Fresh in my mind. :)
Killer tunes Rhett. If my new Squier Starcaster is anything to go by, I'd be pretty happy with a Classic Vibe.
Excellent comparison Rhett! My favorite was also the Custom Shop. Cheers
I played most of the Strats at CME and ended up with a partscaster and a Korean Squier II with a plywood body that’s more on the Mark Knopfler side. Since then the best strat I’ve found is the PRS John Mayer and it’s basically because of the volume and tone pots/wiring which isn’t expensive.
Fender killed it with this new vintage reissue series, they sound great in every youtuber video
Back in the late 80's, I owned a Squier that was built in Japan that was an awesome workhorse. I played it on stage for 4 years and never had to have it repaired. I did a couple mods on it myself but it never had to visit the repair shop. Wish I'd have kept that one.
Today, my Strat is a 2014 US/ Guitar Center limited edition (guitar center specs). It has a solid rosewood neck and Custom Shop Fat 50's. I swapped out the stock bent saddles for saddles from a Strat Plus, added a mini-toggle to turn on the bridge pup any time, swapped the pickguard for one of my choosing and installed rosewood pot knobs and switch knob. This guitar quickly became my main player. Great tone and resonance. I'm a bit puzzled that these GC Strats haven't become highly sought-after.
I highly recommend trying a solid rosewood neck. And if you never use a trem, try a hardtail version. Those hardtails just seem to have a little extra "mojo".
😊😊😊
Great video, Rhett! Especially since I’m in the market for a Strat. However, you forgot to include the “Performer” line! I was hoping for some compare/contrast between that and the AmPro II.
There’s never been another video that has made me wanna go pick up my strat 👍🏼
Great video, you are a fantastic guitarist and video maker.I watch your videos all the time. All of your content is great.👍🏻
Thanks, nice vid! My own Strat is a MIJ '62 reissue with which i am very happy indeed! I'd love a SG-shootout, especially the '61 Les Paul/SG transitional model and clones.
Cheers!
I have an Am Pro II and it’s fantastic. I love the pickups and neck. And TBH, Miami Blue is one of my favorite guitar colors Fender has ever done.
Me 2. I thought the Nut was Bone?
Is it?
Me too, I have the Dark Knight finish and it’s amazing.
@@danabiondo9243 so did I, but he said it wasn’t. 🤷🏼♂️
the nut is bone! that’s the only thing he got wrong in this video
I am having a Pavlovian response to the “That Pedal Show” chord you’re playing. I just want to hear Mick and Dan after it!
Beyond excellent capturing different strengths of the Strat. Superb. My 2009 Highway One has similar qualities to the AVRI II at $800. Resonance, finish and specs.
I like the articulation regarding the dead feeling of a guitar (MIM). That is a thing. I actually love the S1 switch on the Am Pro ii. With the modern bright tone of these pups, you can get away with a decent Jazzmaster tone in 5/1 position. Plus, brightness can easily be accommodated wit eq. Its a bit easier to fatten up a bright pup than brighten up a darker pup.
I've been a beginning guitar player for twenty years and....
Actually, there's no substantial difference in tone if you plunk more down on a good amplifier. However, these ease of use is substantial, just like anything you invest in, the real payoff is consistency.
You'll notice, they are more consistent in performance and quality than the lower end.
Thank you for sharing this video.
I’ve never related more to a phrase than “a beginning player for twenty years” 🤣🤣🤣
I've got a Fender Player from 2019 that i changed out all the hardware and electronics in, but the guitar itself feels and plays wonderfully. It's super resonant. It's too bad the one you got sent felt bad. Mine is my all time favorite, and I wouldn't sell it for the world
I have a 2020 HSS Player strat and it's very resonant as well. I had it professionally set up and put locking tuners plus a Graphtec nut and string tree. I understand that you get what you pay for and that this video isn't about dollar value per guitar, but to compare $400 and $800 guitars to $2000/4500 guitars is a little disingenuous.
@@retiredguyadventures6211 I sold my american Fenders because I liked my Player better 🤷♂️
When I got mine, I had the advantage of being able to go to my LMS (Local Music Store), which is a pretty big one, and try out all the Players on the floor. I narrowed it down to the two that felt/played best unplugged, then put them through an amp. The one I chose has worked out pretty well.
I had an "American Series" 2003 or so, as body and thick gloss paint, beautiful guitar but... the Player I have now is way resonant than that USA. Is a step down in certain things but is a really good guitar. I was in shock when Rett put the player in last place. Regards!