There are tons of folks out there who DO NOT use or WANT any type of tremelo, whether it be a Strat, Jaguar, Gibson Maestro, Bigsby, etc. Those of us who grew up with Teles, love the sound of that string-thru design and besides, it makes the Strat sound so much better without that brick of wood removed from the body.
Plenty of excellent playing to satisfy AND I really like the the "asides" (?) done on this video in which the staff members weigh in with their opinions of the hardtail arrangement, which I have zero experience with. Nicely done.
I once handed my decked Strat Plus to Adrian Belew to sign and the first thing he said was "Where is the Whammy Bar? It's not any good unless it has the Whammy Bar!" I guess that is why he is the Twang Bar King :)
This video gave me a better understanding of the Strat Hardtail. At 61 I began teaching myself guitar playing using a Squire Sonic Strat Hardtail because I had this fear that the Tremolo would give me more problems than it was worth for a low cost guitar. So I am now convinced that I made the right decision. BTW, that dude plays cool stuff 👍👍👍🤘.
Just bought a Squier Bullet hardtail (red sparkle) restrung it (top-loader) and set it up and damned if it doesn't play and sound awesome! HT strats are definitely the jam😁
Have to disagree with the comment about why would anyone choose a hardtail in 1960, and was it just a cost thing? In 1960 nearly every guitarist would have grown up playing a guitar without a tremelo, only a few actually had tremelos and even then only easily available (Strats) for about 6 years! eg Strats, Gretsch and a handful of Gibsons. So hardtail guitars would very much have been the preference - and I can imagine a huge % of guitarists saying "I'd love a Strat for the pickup sounds, but hate the tremelo, why put that on a guitar!?". It's a natural thing for Fender to make a Strat hardtail back then.
I have been playing for 60 years and worked in several music stores ... I cannot remember ever seeing a hardtail Stratocaster. Without that bridgeblock, I reckon it IS light in weight! I currently have a Gibson Custom Shop VOS 1964 SG Standard that comes in at 6.9 lbs. I have a friend who has a 1958 hardtail, and he swears by that thing ... But for me, using the trem, is half the fun of playing a Castastraster. But I would highly advise buying this one if you are in the market for a good Fender. And buy the way, IIRC, the Pro Reverb is the only 40 watt, 2X12 handwired reverb-equipped amp Fender ever made ... AND MIGHTY FINE GUITAR PLAYING!!
Such a great pairing! Sounds ace. I don’t mess with my Tremelo too much on my Strat, and I would love the weight relief and improved sound qualities of a Hardtail…Vintage ain’t happening, short of Lotto or a crazy find? Super sweet guitar!
Such a cool guitar. I’ve got a Custom Shop version, 6lbs, 12oz. Almost too light. But I’m wondering if the metal shavings on the pole-pieces (maybe from fret work?) @3:07 could damage the pickups eventually? Anyways, great video!
I recently sold my 2012 Fender Strat for a hard tail and there’s such a noticeable difference in the feel and tone. The notes are a lot more punchy and resonant. Plus I hated dealing with a tremolo that I never used anyway. Everyone thinks the Strat tone comes from the springs but that’s totally not true. Try out a hard tail and you’ll know exactly what I mean.
How common is it that the serial number was stamped on the bottom of the plate as opposed to the top? I can say I’ve not seen that before and I’ve seen a few I suppose lol
It is one of the documented Fender oddities. You don't see many. Probably a stamping mistake by an outside vendor (I don't think the factory made its own plates and stamped them). Fender probably wasn't going to turn the order away when it showed up with such an inconsequential detail. Probably made zero difference on the manufacturing level, and who knows? Forest White (operations manger back then) might have even negotiated a discount because of the error!
@@anthonyc1883 Very cool, I love the oddities in this era. It adds mystique and intrigue to something that already has it in droves. Appreciate the knowledge! Just when you thought you knew it all lol!
@@ryanfulldark2775 There is so much great trivia that I've learned over the years thanks to all the super-detailed, incredibly researched books that have been released since about the mid-1990s.
@@anthonyc1883 Indeed, I must admit my knowledge lies more on the Gibson side of things but I’ve come to greatly appreciate Pre-CBS Fender history in recent years. Leo was a legend.
@@ryanfulldark2775 You'll love this about Leo: Sales chief and Leo's partner Don Randall, in a handwritten letter, urged their other partner at the time Francis C. Hall (who later owned Rickenbacker) to "get a goon squad, get a gun" to force Leo to get cranking on production of the Broadcaster. Initial samples had been released but production was apparently very slow at the very beginning and Randall couldn't get the guitars he needed. WTF!! My source is Richard Smith's book "Fender: The Sound Heard 'round the World." (edited for typo)
What an annoying naïve hot take: hard tails are an economic choice only. I would choose a hard tail all day every day. For any tele lover looking for a #2 would be shocked at how awesome the hard tail is
There are tons of folks out there who DO NOT use or WANT any type of tremelo, whether it be a Strat, Jaguar, Gibson Maestro, Bigsby, etc. Those of us who grew up with Teles, love the sound of that string-thru design and besides, it makes the Strat sound so much better without that brick of wood removed from the body.
Back 2 years later. Just landed a 1960 hardtail Strat! So dang happy I could cry!
Greetings from England. Such a cool video, love hearing from the team and WHAT.A.DEMO! Gorgeous sounds.
Plenty of excellent playing to satisfy AND I really like the the "asides" (?) done on this video in which the staff members weigh in with their opinions of the hardtail arrangement, which I have zero experience with. Nicely done.
I once handed my decked Strat Plus to Adrian Belew to sign and the first thing he said was "Where is the Whammy Bar? It's not any good unless it has the Whammy Bar!" I guess that is why he is the Twang Bar King :)
I bought a 1960 Strat with whammy for $100 in 1973. I sold it a year or 2 later for $300.
Don't feel bad...lots of those
Wow what an amazing guitar and amp, wonderful player, great team and video! Thank you. Cheers from Spain 🔥❤️🔥
This video gave me a better understanding of the Strat Hardtail. At 61 I began teaching myself guitar playing using a Squire Sonic Strat Hardtail because I had this fear that the Tremolo would give me more problems than it was worth for a low cost guitar. So I am now convinced that I made the right decision. BTW, that dude plays cool stuff 👍👍👍🤘.
This is a good Strat. I mean vintage strats all sound awesome but this one has holy grail tone!
Awesome guitar, tasty playing 👌
Nice !!!
I bought a '75 HT in '76.
A friend who didn't like to play a Strat then (Gibson SG Special) loved it.
Just bought a Squier Bullet hardtail (red sparkle) restrung it (top-loader) and set it up and damned if it doesn't play and sound awesome! HT strats are definitely the jam😁
Have to disagree with the comment about why would anyone choose a hardtail in 1960, and was it just a cost thing? In 1960 nearly every guitarist would have grown up playing a guitar without a tremelo, only a few actually had tremelos and even then only easily available (Strats) for about 6 years! eg Strats, Gretsch and a handful of Gibsons. So hardtail guitars would very much have been the preference - and I can imagine a huge % of guitarists saying "I'd love a Strat for the pickup sounds, but hate the tremelo, why put that on a guitar!?". It's a natural thing for Fender to make a Strat hardtail back then.
I have been playing for 60 years and worked in several music stores ... I cannot remember ever seeing a hardtail Stratocaster. Without that bridgeblock, I reckon it IS light in weight! I currently have a Gibson Custom Shop VOS 1964 SG Standard that comes in at 6.9 lbs. I have a friend who has a 1958 hardtail, and he swears by that thing ... But for me, using the trem, is half the fun of playing a Castastraster. But I would highly advise buying this one if you are in the market for a good Fender.
And buy the way, IIRC, the Pro Reverb is the only 40 watt, 2X12 handwired reverb-equipped amp Fender ever made ...
AND MIGHTY FINE GUITAR PLAYING!!
I spent years trying to find an affordable hardtail. Gave up and just got a regular strat. I wish fender made more
Wow. I have a 60 hardtail Strat. Refin and rewound pickups but it’s the one that I’ll never give up.
Such a great pairing! Sounds ace. I don’t mess with my Tremelo too much on my Strat, and I would love the weight relief and improved sound qualities of a Hardtail…Vintage ain’t happening, short of Lotto or a crazy find?
Super sweet guitar!
Such a cool guitar. I’ve got a Custom Shop version, 6lbs, 12oz. Almost too light. But I’m wondering if the metal shavings on the pole-pieces (maybe from fret work?) @3:07 could damage the pickups eventually? Anyways, great video!
Very nice....I have one of those new Troposphere hard tails 6.11 lbs
That amp is amazing!
Sounds amazing!
I recently sold my 2012 Fender Strat for a hard tail and there’s such a noticeable difference in the feel and tone. The notes are a lot more punchy and resonant. Plus I hated dealing with a tremolo that I never used anyway. Everyone thinks the Strat tone comes from the springs but that’s totally not true. Try out a hard tail and you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Lol i have a 2012 strat cAuse i couldnt find a good hardtail less than 2 grand
Great guitar ….. incredible tone!
0:32 What's lemony doublecut hanging on the wall?
Although i dont use the trem a ton and have it backed onto the body , i still prefer the look and sound with one . Each to their own as they say .
nice
This channel is just delicious.
what a dream!
I want this.
Light...... because it doesn't have the heavy block, springs and claw that the trem models do.
Oh yes !!!
How common is it that the serial number was stamped on the bottom of the plate as opposed to the top? I can say I’ve not seen that before and I’ve seen a few I suppose lol
It is one of the documented Fender oddities. You don't see many. Probably a stamping mistake by an outside vendor (I don't think the factory made its own plates and stamped them). Fender probably wasn't going to turn the order away when it showed up with such an inconsequential detail. Probably made zero difference on the manufacturing level, and who knows? Forest White (operations manger back then) might have even negotiated a discount because of the error!
@@anthonyc1883 Very cool, I love the oddities in this era. It adds mystique and intrigue to something that already has it in droves. Appreciate the knowledge! Just when you thought you knew it all lol!
@@ryanfulldark2775 There is so much great trivia that I've learned over the years thanks to all the super-detailed, incredibly researched books that have been released since about the mid-1990s.
@@anthonyc1883 Indeed, I must admit my knowledge lies more on the Gibson side of things but I’ve come to greatly appreciate Pre-CBS Fender history in recent years. Leo was a legend.
@@ryanfulldark2775 You'll love this about Leo: Sales chief and Leo's partner Don Randall, in a handwritten letter, urged their other partner at the time Francis C. Hall (who later owned Rickenbacker) to "get a goon squad, get a gun" to force Leo to get cranking on production of the Broadcaster. Initial samples had been released but production was apparently very slow at the very beginning and Randall couldn't get the guitars he needed. WTF!! My source is Richard Smith's book "Fender: The Sound Heard 'round the World." (edited for typo)
Fender should make a couple thousand hardtail Strats.
TONE MONSTER
If i owned a strat id own me a hardtail.
Said it before say it again...trev knows fender
i was gonna guess 6 8
Steel wool reminiscence on the magnets ??At least take the time to remove them ..As you all must know they can cause the coils to fail!
Liz cheated !
HahHa
Why do these guys grab and swing and thump with rings on fingers like its a $100 guitars 😖
What an annoying naïve hot take: hard tails are an economic choice only.
I would choose a hard tail all day every day. For any tele lover looking for a #2 would be shocked at how awesome the hard tail is
It was in the context of the time period, so I don’t think it was naive. Just an opinion lol.