I thought A sounded much better and was sure it was the Fender, but it came as quite a shock when it turned out to be the Aria! Incredible playing and great comparison! 👍
Thanks, it does show the difference between alnico and ceramic i think. Were all much more familiar with the sound of alnico magnet pickups especially on strats - i think thats why the newer player series mex fenders ditching the ceramic pickups was a hit.
I have an Aria and a Mexican Fender Strat so the blind test was easy for me to tell apart haha. Regardless cool comparison video, I always tell everyone that my Aria is just as good as the strat minus the stock tuners. I prefer the brighter sound of the Aria because I do a lot of recording and it leaves more options.
How odd - I am a beginner and have an Aria Pro II STG-62 - someone is selling a Fender Player near me and I got all excited - until now - my my on this video I ADORE the sound of the Aria - bloomin' beautiful and no I wouldn't swap - top video
Hi and thanks for watching! This was a pre player series mim strat. The player ones have far far better pickups. So if someone near you is selling it for a good price - its still worth it. But the Aria STG62 is a great guitar. Very underrated
@@Paul-D Brilliant video - great for us 50 year old beginners - thanks for the advice - I do love my Aria 62 - its lovely - but there are always shiny things in a shop ......
Guitar A has more clear, bright and trasparent sound. While B Is more muddy and have more bass... Basically that's the differenze between ceramic and alnico pick-up.
A on the blind. Seemed less muddy/mushy, but probably nothing a twiddle of B's tone wouldn't change. Mostly A on the non-blind, for the same reason. Though I preferred B on the bridge. I bet in a full mix I couldn't tell them apart.
Interesting that what your'e hearing is the subtle difference between alnico and cereamic pickups. Once your brain hears it you can usually always tell the difference. But your right, in a mix would be very hard. Just goes to show you shouldnt buy into any marketing hyperbole lol
I prefer the Aria I have an old one I got for $50, its a bit ratty and rusty but sounds great. I also have a US strat to compare it to so I already kew how good they were. But it really is the difference between Ceramic and Alnico 5 pickups that you hear that someone else pointed out and I have been going back and forward between guitars equiped with each for as long as I have been playing. I like ceramics with a 6L6 amp and alnicos with a 6V6 or El84 amp if that makes sense.
У меня был Fender deluxe Mexico! Вчера я зашёл в магазин и поместрел Aria stg 62 и скажу вам что она лучше по качеству сборки чем deluxe и стоит в 5 раз дешевле! Поэтому Aria stg очень качественная гитара!
Guitar B for me. That neck PU sound is what I want from a Strat, and B seemed to have the more "authentic" tone (it seemed hotter too). No real preference otherwise. Would have been good to hear comparisons of the other PU configurations, maybe.
Guitar a is the Aria was too bright/harsh on the bridge...alnico pups? They did sound different, I'm writing and paused your vid before you play with us also seeing. It's inserting b/c the use of tone controls and the amp itself will change the sound anyway. So really not much in it. Guess it boils down to feel, your budget etc. And add the sound to a mix even less important. And this is why, back to your acoustic video, I spent big, because the woods and essentially cleans are drastically different between brands, models etc. I think a lot of us have grown up wanting a certain brand in an era when 'cheap' guitars were basically rubbish. It's just not the case anymore. If you think it was good enough for George Harrison to use a Squier strat for a while, albeit in that period when Fender were having troubles, then it should be good enough for the average player to use something other than the big names, on the basis they are good. In reality it's much wiser to get something like the Aria and a great amp, than blow the bulk of your budget on an expensive guitar and a cheap amp. Cheers 🎸🎸🎸
@@Paul-D even the cheap alnicos are quite alright, I do not really see why cheap guitars are not equipped with them technically they cost nearly the same amount of money
The 2016 MX Strat had horrible montonous ceramic pickups. Put in a set of USA Fender pickups and your half way there, but the playability will never be on par with a USA-made one. The specs are different, and are not always interchangeable, ie the tremblock and even the pickguard The string spacing differs. And please dont fall for the MIJ hype. They are not much better than a Squier Classic Vibe which is half the price.
I did prefer the same one both times. Not sure why, sometimes what I prefer sound wise changes with my mood so I might give a different answer tomorrow!
I think some people pick out the difference between alnico and ceramic and once you hear it, youll always prefer the alnico sound. Then it's another rabit hole of which alnico magnet lol.
MX Strats are not same spec's as USA ones. The wood is cheaper, as are all the parts right down to the grub screws. They tend to wear more (less aged wood, more piece glued together to form the body ). That doesn't mean they cannot soudn better. But playability is something one notices and it can grate over time.
Wonder how many workers in the Fender American factory are of Mexican origin! When I was on holiday in LA in 2009 I saw that the Mexican workers are doing the lion's share of all the hard work in LA e.g building, gardening etc.
The arias alnico pups sound better then the old mim ceramics i think for sure. Course these days ceramics are long gone on the mex player but so is rosewood which is unforgivable haha
I thought A sounded much better and was sure it was the Fender, but it came as quite a shock when it turned out to be the Aria! Incredible playing and great comparison! 👍
Thanks, it does show the difference between alnico and ceramic i think. Were all much more familiar with the sound of alnico magnet pickups especially on strats - i think thats why the newer player series mex fenders ditching the ceramic pickups was a hit.
I have an Aria and a Mexican Fender Strat so the blind test was easy for me to tell apart haha. Regardless cool comparison video, I always tell everyone that my Aria is just as good as the strat minus the stock tuners. I prefer the brighter sound of the Aria because I do a lot of recording and it leaves more options.
How odd - I am a beginner and have an Aria Pro II STG-62 - someone is selling a Fender Player near me and I got all excited - until now - my my on this video I ADORE the sound of the Aria - bloomin' beautiful and no I wouldn't swap - top video
Hi and thanks for watching! This was a pre player series mim strat. The player ones have far far better pickups. So if someone near you is selling it for a good price - its still worth it. But the Aria STG62 is a great guitar. Very underrated
@@Paul-D Brilliant video - great for us 50 year old beginners - thanks for the advice - I do love my Aria 62 - its lovely - but there are always shiny things in a shop ......
Haha definitely. Welcome to the mad house 😅
Guitar A has more clear, bright and trasparent sound. While B Is more muddy and have more bass... Basically that's the differenze between ceramic and alnico pick-up.
Yup well spotted
A on the blind. Seemed less muddy/mushy, but probably nothing a twiddle of B's tone wouldn't change.
Mostly A on the non-blind, for the same reason. Though I preferred B on the bridge.
I bet in a full mix I couldn't tell them apart.
Interesting that what your'e hearing is the subtle difference between alnico and cereamic pickups. Once your brain hears it you can usually always tell the difference. But your right, in a mix would be very hard. Just goes to show you shouldnt buy into any marketing hyperbole lol
So you're saying that the Fender had the muddier alnico pups?
They sound different enough that I now want both.
😄🤟
I prefer the Aria I have an old one I got for $50, its a bit ratty and rusty but sounds great. I also have a US strat to compare it to so I already kew how good they were. But it really is the difference between Ceramic and Alnico 5 pickups that you hear that someone else pointed out and I have been going back and forward between guitars equiped with each for as long as I have been playing. I like ceramics with a 6L6 amp and alnicos with a 6V6 or El84 amp if that makes sense.
Yeh totally agree
Pickups II are Alnicos and guitar II was quieter and fuller sounding (think You should have pushed volume on second a bit)
I listened to it three times via headphone, still like the A., it is more well-defined in notes and more "straty" .
Funny, I preferred the fender in the blind test and the Aria when I could see them! But I think the playing showed them off better the second time
It's all about the pickups and electrics
Overall on any electricid say about 70% of it is yeh
Preference B.. nice comparison..👍🇦🇺
I like both, nothing between them imo.
У меня был Fender deluxe Mexico! Вчера я зашёл в магазин и поместрел Aria stg 62 и скажу вам что она лучше по качеству сборки чем deluxe и стоит в 5 раз дешевле! Поэтому Aria stg очень качественная гитара!
Same timber. Fender seems a little bit louder, thought
Guitar B for me. That neck PU sound is what I want from a Strat, and B seemed to have the more "authentic" tone (it seemed hotter too). No real preference otherwise. Would have been good to hear comparisons of the other PU configurations, maybe.
Your hearing the difference between Alnico and Ceramic which not everyone picks up on tbf. Thanks for stopping by
@@Paul-D Interesting, thanks.
Hi paul found your channel 👍👍👍👍
Keep at your videos 🤘🤘
Guitar a is the Aria was too bright/harsh on the bridge...alnico pups?
They did sound different, I'm writing and paused your vid before you play with us also seeing.
It's inserting b/c the use of tone controls and the amp itself will change the sound anyway.
So really not much in it. Guess it boils down to feel, your budget etc. And add the sound to a mix even less important.
And this is why, back to your acoustic video, I spent big, because the woods and essentially cleans are drastically different between brands, models etc.
I think a lot of us have grown up wanting a certain brand in an era when 'cheap' guitars were basically rubbish. It's just not the case anymore.
If you think it was good enough for George Harrison to use a Squier strat for a while, albeit in that period when Fender were having troubles, then it should be good enough for the average player to use something other than the big names, on the basis they are good.
In reality it's much wiser to get something like the Aria and a great amp, than blow the bulk of your budget on an expensive guitar and a cheap amp.
Cheers 🎸🎸🎸
You were right, yeh the Aria 57 & 62 have alnico pups. They dont specify brand though.
I agree though with what you said about the amp too
Whats the difference between the STG 57 and the 62? Is it just the string spacing?
That and the maple/techwood fingerboards. They have all the same hardware/pickups though
Awesome, thanks!
A for me, it is more full of life and chime, I prefer Alnicos they are significantly different from ceramic one
For sure, I can generally tell the differnce from Alnico to ceramic tbf
@@Paul-D even the cheap alnicos are quite alright, I do not really see why cheap guitars are not equipped with them technically they cost nearly the same amount of money
The only obvious differences are the headstock and brand name
Thats the only difference needed most of the time it seems haha
@@Paul-D 😅🤘
I prefer B
The 2016 MX Strat had horrible montonous ceramic pickups. Put in a set of USA Fender pickups and your half way there, but the playability will never be on par with a USA-made one. The specs are different, and are not always interchangeable, ie the tremblock and even the pickguard The string spacing differs. And please dont fall for the MIJ hype. They are not much better than a Squier Classic Vibe which is half the price.
Guitare b for me
Lower the pickups on aria and repeat the test
They would always be different. Ceramic and Alnico is one of the few really clear differences in strat pickups
🤟🏻
Guitar A for me
I did prefer the same one both times. Not sure why, sometimes what I prefer sound wise changes with my mood so I might give a different answer tomorrow!
The STG (A) does have a more vintage voice were all so familiar with i feel
Aria sounds better to me.. it sounds tighter
The old ceramic pickups on standard mim strats were never great imo. Much better with the Alnicos
I liked A better.
I think some people pick out the difference between alnico and ceramic and once you hear it, youll always prefer the alnico sound. Then it's another rabit hole of which alnico magnet lol.
Mmm.I wonder what an american strat would sound like if it was made by a mexican?
Would you be able to tell the difference? Bet Chappers could!
You have to be very careful what marketing hype you buy into put it that way haha
@@Paul-D He wasn't being serious, probably :).
MX Strats are not same spec's as USA ones. The wood is cheaper, as are all the parts right down to the grub screws. They tend to wear more (less aged wood, more piece glued together to form the body ). That doesn't mean they cannot soudn better. But playability is something one notices and it can grate over time.
Wonder how many workers in the Fender American factory are of Mexican origin! When I was on holiday in LA in 2009 I saw that the Mexican workers are doing the lion's share of all the hard work in LA e.g building, gardening etc.
I prefer the aria...I have an rs plus a Japanese strategy but I still prefer the aria I bought it new in 84
The arias alnico pups sound better then the old mim ceramics i think for sure. Course these days ceramics are long gone on the mex player but so is rosewood which is unforgivable haha