I miss Michaels playing so much. What a loss to all of us. I have this guitar and although I will never reach mike's playing I will never part with this great guitar. RIP.
Phenomenal guitarist. Great sounding guitar too. Of course, in the hands a master like Michael, anything would sound great, but this Shawbucker Strat is killer. So sad that this gifted musician passed away so young. RIP.
I bought this guitar a couple months ago, and man is it awesome. I hadn't bought a guitar since I was in my teens 8 years ago, and after finishing school and getting a job, this was by far the best, most rewarding gift I've given myself. If your guitar store has this available, you won't regret giving it a play. Came with the case, patch-cord, strap, and a stool!
Such a shame that Michael's no longer about as it's a treat to see a guitar REALLY being put through it's paces by someone who really knows what they're doing
For the record and for those interested, the solid colors are Alder and the translucent are Ash. Verified from Fender. Great video, this guitar sounds awesome
Just bought one (Tobacco burst with rosewood fretboard) on Amazon for amazing price of £999. I have two Teles - one Mexican 72 Custom and one Japanese 62 Custom, which I love. I've had Strats before and a Les Paul (which I didn't get on with) but this is seriously the best buy I have ever made.
budgetguitarist.com Came here to say that! OMG, that was simply amazing! I actually started hoping that he would be playing for the entire 20 minutes of the video hahaha
Thanks Mike for great review and very nice playing. I really enjoy it. Inspired by your nice playing and review, I bought the same one in sienna sunburst yesterday.
JUST Bought This in the SERIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL 'Sienna Sunburst' From Musician's Friend at a Truly Great Price. The Shawbucker Humbucker Combined with the 2 Custom Shop Fat '50s Single Coil Make for an Incredible Plethora of Sounds and Tone !!! (I Played One at Another Guitar Shop Here in Boston but Musician's Friend Had/Has a MUCH Better Deal Going on IF You Know How to Work Buying a Guitar !!!)
Awesome player indeed. Would've liked to have seen a side by side comparison with the standard deluxe version and Michael's opinion on the differences.
I like your trem style, thx man :) Now that i've heard more i like your style period. Great playing man. Are you influenced by lap steel players at all? That's my main axe but i also have a shawbucker strat and play it at least once every day of my life. I'm also hearing a bit of Holdsworthian influence near the end, that fusion jazz style, nice that you outro with a bit of reggae. It's a great versatile high quality instrument, the shawbucker strat, plays like butter and sounds amazing. I just spent most of this past winter playing with tones and finally get exactly what i want, with a really popping solid bass and and nice sustaining lead with vintage reverb. I feel very blessed to have her. Thx for sharing this, i feel inspired by it, though i play in a different style, my own u know. Peace and love from Pacific Northwest Canada, paradise farm on Salt Spring Island, BC.
He really was a special talent. Even if I had no interest in the product he was reviewing, I'd watch it because I knew I'd be in for a treat listening to him.
I played one of these in the store one day and the Shawbucker is definitely one of the nicest and most musical bridge pups I have ever played. However, I still don't think it pairs well with the Fat 50s. I'd like to hear how the deluxe sounds with the N3s.
sweet christmas...this guy can play. such a cool subtle bluesy jeff becky meets face melting shredder vibe. some of the phrases he plays im like....wait wtf.
Swamp ash can be heavy. My last guitar was a Les Paul-shaped Schecter Blackjack Solo II. It weighs 10 lbs. I had to sell it. It was a cervical nightmare for my neck stenosis. But a hell of a great axe. I have one of these Shawbucker Fenders (siennaburst) coming tomorrow. It weighs 8 lbs on the nose (and alder averages about 7.5). So it shouldn't quite be the beast of burden on my neck that the other guitar was. Fingers crossed.
+Cybernauts, Terranauts and Astronauts Well, how do you like it? I'm thinking about one. The weight doesn't bother me, I just am not sure about the humbucker in the bridge. Can you still get that Fender tone?
+jim leiss I'm loving it. It's not heavy at all. The Shawbucker is versatile. I've been tweaking it--the micro-tilt and I added a spring. It has great action now.
+jim leiss Yeah, the single coils have that wonderful "plooky" "Wind Cries Mary" "Wicked Game" type sounds. I use Native Instruments Guitar Rig and there's an amp model combo that really makes it sound like those sounds. The humbucker is just right--it doesn't growl with overtones unless you're between 8 and 10 on the volume. Beneath that it tuns back into an great rhythm sound I have been using on a "50 Licks" course of soul and R&B licks many by Steve Cropper. "Soul Man" et al. It can pass for that third single coil--is noise free, and it spaks hard when you up the volume. They knew they they were doing in this design.
Awesome review from a guy who definitely knows his way around a Strat! That being said, I would happily forgo Michael's reviews if he would make a Jeff Beck Vol 2 DVD for LL ;-)
what amp and setting r u using mike??sounds great!!just bought one of these although I'm getting an incredible hum and have to return it for another bc the pot may b bad
I've just bought one yesterday and have the same issue. Try with the same amp and a Squier with hot rails and the massive hum disappeared. Later discovered that when I turned off some lights the hum in the shawbucker disappeared and I' now wondering if something is wrong with the guitar or it is what it is. How about the replacement ? Did you have the same issue with it?
+Luis Rodz hey man I ended up taking the pickups out and putting in hs 3s and a paf for the humbucker and I'm a happy camper now because they sucked I felt..hope u had a better experience :)
"This (pick guard color) will stay as it is 'forever'"... "It's not going to change color." I don't think anyone can make such a prediction about the long-term color of such materials, particularly when the historical performance of plastics (on more than just guitars, btw) demonstrates otherwise. I know it's a nit-pick, but that opinion was offered comfortably as fact, when history bears out the opposite phenomenon. Otherwise, a very good demo, and focusing on various relevant details with great playing.
Is there any way to get hands on the tabs for this amazing intro, or is it an existing song, because i just started the video over and over and it sounds so god damn amazing
I really like this awesome amazing f a s sh actually when I miss that great sound go to show this video again and again that's all I can do but I can't have it now I turn back to my bad old Chinese sss what sorrow anyway fender american standard Shawbucker hss spicaly ocean blue is a best guitar sound for many kinds of music
+seansixfive Thanks! I found out on Phillip McKnight's channel. I thought mine had the spring in it but lost it. I put tape on it now! I also did not know what the spring did. Thank You!
Lufie Alice because it distracts from listening to the instrument. it can be used slightly at the end of the part, but here is an obvious overdose... you came to show the instrument, not your playing...
What a fucking nightmare to lose Michael so soon ,he was great man and amazing player,Michael we miss you!
I miss Michaels playing so much. What a loss to all of us. I have this guitar and although I will never reach mike's playing I will never part with this great guitar. RIP.
Phenomenal guitarist. Great sounding guitar too. Of course, in the hands a master like Michael, anything would sound great, but this Shawbucker Strat is killer. So sad that this gifted musician passed away so young. RIP.
I bought this guitar a couple months ago, and man is it awesome. I hadn't bought a guitar since I was in my teens 8 years ago, and after finishing school and getting a job, this was by far the best, most rewarding gift I've given myself. If your guitar store has this available, you won't regret giving it a play.
Came with the case, patch-cord, strap, and a stool!
Your passing is a tremendous loss for all of us!...RIP Michael. Thanks for the music.
I will miss Michael's thoughtful well played reviews. RIP.
how did he die|||||||||||||?
Fantastic playing , there's a lot of Jeff Beck there :)
+Stratblooz Yes, I agree.
+Stratblooz Nothing wrong with a little JB influence! Another great player who has a huge Jeff Beck sound is Steve Lukather.
I also hear a Mark Knopfler influence too.
Oh man, I could listen to this guy play all day long!
Such a shame that Michael's no longer about as it's a treat to see a guitar REALLY being put through it's paces by someone who really knows what they're doing
Beautiful playing, mate, and I bought this exact model on the strength of this video. It doesn't disappoint!
For the record and for those interested, the solid colors are Alder and the translucent are Ash. Verified from Fender.
Great video, this guitar sounds awesome
Love Michael Casswell, such a good player. With Tom Quayle and Lewis Turner, Guitar Interactive is the best out there at the moment...
Lufie Alice Thanks!
Lufie Alice indeed,also get Michael album such a good thing...:)
I've never played one normal bridge whammy stay in tune. Must of good a real good one .great video
Just bought one (Tobacco burst with rosewood fretboard) on Amazon for amazing price of £999. I have two Teles - one Mexican 72 Custom and one Japanese 62 Custom, which I love. I've had Strats before and a Les Paul (which I didn't get on with) but this is seriously the best buy I have ever made.
I gotta say - that's crazy, crazy good playing. Wow! Very good review. Guitar Interactive Magazine is killing it right now. Great Ford interview too.
budgetguitarist.com Came here to say that! OMG, that was simply amazing! I actually started hoping that he would be playing for the entire 20 minutes of the video hahaha
budgetguitarist.com Spread the word good friend!
Rafael Bulsing it's all about how you play them notes Rafael and Mike plays them with real feel.
Thanks Mike for great review and very nice playing. I really enjoy it. Inspired by your nice playing and review, I bought the same one in sienna sunburst yesterday.
Me too Sienna sunburs is a very great color
JUST Bought This in the SERIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL 'Sienna Sunburst' From
Musician's Friend at a Truly Great Price. The Shawbucker Humbucker
Combined with the 2 Custom Shop Fat '50s Single Coil Make for an
Incredible Plethora of Sounds and Tone !!! (I Played One at Another
Guitar Shop Here in Boston but Musician's Friend Had/Has a MUCH Better
Deal Going on IF You Know How to Work Buying a Guitar !!!)
I own one and it sounds just as good in person. It's a beautiful looking and sounding guitar.
Awesome player indeed. Would've liked to have seen a side by side comparison with the standard deluxe version and Michael's opinion on the differences.
Didn't realize he had moved on since 2016. I just started to appreciate his playing.
I like your trem style, thx man :) Now that i've heard more i like your style period. Great playing man. Are you influenced by lap steel players at all? That's my main axe but i also have a shawbucker strat and play it at least once every day of my life. I'm also hearing a bit of Holdsworthian influence near the end, that fusion jazz style, nice that you outro with a bit of reggae. It's a great versatile high quality instrument, the shawbucker strat, plays like butter and sounds amazing. I just spent most of this past winter playing with tones and finally get exactly what i want, with a really popping solid bass and and nice sustaining lead with vintage reverb. I feel very blessed to have her. Thx for sharing this, i feel inspired by it, though i play in a different style, my own u know. Peace and love from Pacific Northwest Canada, paradise farm on Salt Spring Island, BC.
Great review. ...What a great player too! Love Mikes's personal touch and feeling! Amazing. .!
Michael's lick library is still online for anyone interested:
www.licklibrary.com/tutors/mike-casswell
Killer playing, respect! 👍👍👍
Will get the shawbucker strat in bordeaux next days. I love it.
Great review, detailed and sweet playing too. Love the Shawbucker!
The body of these guitars are Alder not Ash. The only versions that come in Ash are the Sienna Sunburst models.
what is the amp and effect you had used for this awesome sound?
Great review and info and the playing?...well amazing!!!
best review Ive ever seen on a strat!
He was an amazing guitarist
Sure do miss MC always enjoyed his vids especially his playing 👍🔥🎸🦅
He really was a special talent. Even if I had no interest in the product he was reviewing, I'd watch it because I knew I'd be in for a treat listening to him.
Ben G Thank you for sharing 👍🔥🎸🦅
I played one of these in the store one day and the Shawbucker is definitely one of the nicest and most musical bridge pups I have ever played. However, I still don't think it pairs well with the Fat 50s. I'd like to hear how the deluxe sounds with the N3s.
Certainly knew his stuff. Top shelf playing.
Such rich harmonics, Awesome!
Wow man! You are a first class player! Love the guitar too!
Great sounding guitar and great chops.
sweet christmas...this guy can play. such a cool subtle bluesy jeff becky meets face melting shredder vibe. some of the phrases he plays im like....wait wtf.
Shit! Micheal, that is one sick Reggae/Rock Tune you threw together for the Demo. Might want to throw that on the next CD, Great Demo BTW.
Very nice review. Very well done. One thing, I wish you turned the guitar over to show whether the neck had varnish or a satin finish.
Back of the neck has a satin finish. Fretboard surface on the maple-neck version has a gloss finish.
Nice review and neat playing!
Swamp ash can be heavy. My last guitar was a Les Paul-shaped Schecter Blackjack Solo II. It weighs 10 lbs. I had to sell it. It was a cervical nightmare for my neck stenosis. But a hell of a great axe. I have one of these Shawbucker Fenders (siennaburst) coming tomorrow. It weighs 8 lbs on the nose (and alder averages about 7.5). So it shouldn't quite be the beast of burden on my neck that the other guitar was. Fingers crossed.
+Cybernauts, Terranauts and Astronauts Well, how do you like it? I'm thinking about one. The weight doesn't bother me, I just am not sure about the humbucker in the bridge. Can you still get that Fender tone?
+jim leiss I'm loving it. It's not heavy at all. The Shawbucker is versatile. I've been tweaking it--the micro-tilt and I added a spring. It has great action now.
+Cybernauts, Terranauts and Astronauts but does it get that fender sound also, like the single coils?
+jim leiss Yeah, the single coils have that wonderful "plooky" "Wind Cries Mary" "Wicked Game" type sounds. I use Native Instruments Guitar Rig and there's an amp model combo that really makes it sound like those sounds. The humbucker is just right--it doesn't growl with overtones unless you're between 8 and 10 on the volume. Beneath that it tuns back into an great rhythm sound I have been using on a "50 Licks" course of soul and R&B licks many by Steve Cropper. "Soul Man" et al. It can pass for that third single coil--is noise free, and it spaks hard when you up the volume. They knew they they were doing in this design.
+Cybernauts, Terranauts and Astronauts Thanks!
Awesome review from a guy who definitely knows his way around a Strat! That being said, I would happily forgo Michael's reviews if he would make a Jeff Beck Vol 2 DVD for LL ;-)
briellespop you never know what the future may bring.
was this song recorded only for this video or is there anywhere i can find it
Great work Michael!
Amazing as always, I'd love to know how you put that tone together, please tell !!!!!!!
i like the sound the american fender strat with shawbucker. this guys playing is impressive as well!
I've got one of these. Had it for years. It is a Yamaha PAC112V...
He's got his own sound . Sounds great .
What amp , pedals etc are you playing on in this demo ?
what amp and setting r u using mike??sounds great!!just bought one of these although I'm getting an incredible hum and have to return it for another bc the pot may b bad
I've just bought one yesterday and have the same issue. Try with the same amp and a Squier with hot rails and the massive hum disappeared. Later discovered that when I turned off some lights the hum in the shawbucker disappeared and I' now wondering if something is wrong with the guitar or it is what it is. How about the replacement ? Did you have the same issue with it?
+Luis Rodz hey man I ended up taking the pickups out and putting in hs 3s and a paf for the humbucker and I'm a happy camper now because they sucked I felt..hope u had a better experience :)
I have a roadhouse 08 MIM strat and it was fun but I put a hotrail in it and I love it
Which amp and effects are you using? Thanks
"This (pick guard color) will stay as it is 'forever'"... "It's not going to change color." I don't think anyone can make such a prediction about the long-term color of such materials, particularly when the historical performance of plastics (on more than just guitars, btw) demonstrates otherwise.
I know it's a nit-pick, but that opinion was offered comfortably as fact, when history bears out the opposite phenomenon. Otherwise, a very good demo, and focusing on various relevant details with great playing.
insane playing!
Is there any way to get hands on the tabs for this amazing intro, or is it an existing song, because i just started the video over and over and it sounds so god damn amazing
MrMarco0676 might be worth dropping Michael a line facebook.com/MichaelCasswellOfficial
What's a pentometer?! I prefer potentiometers in my guitars.
sihall1975 It's a thing that only measures multiples of five. :D
he improvises? or is its composition?
I really like this awesome amazing f a s sh actually when I miss that great sound go to show this video again and again that's all I can do but I can't have it now I turn back to my bad old Chinese sss what sorrow anyway fender american standard Shawbucker hss spicaly ocean blue is a best guitar sound for many kinds of music
Where'd the backing track come from..?
best review I've ever seen
what colour is this? mystic blue or ocean blue metalic?
Liam Cleaves it's Ocean Blue Metallic.
How did he get a Fender trem bar to stay in place?!!
+jim leiss There's a small spring that goes in the hole before you screw the trem' arm in place. Just enough to put the arm under tension.
+seansixfive Thanks! I found out on Phillip McKnight's channel. I thought mine had the spring in it but lost it. I put tape on it now!
I also did not know what the spring did. Thank You!
What about the S1 switch? Did I miss you pressing in that button to cut the humbucker in half?
This incarnation of the American Standard HSS Stratocaster doesn't have the S-1 switch.
I've seen a lot of guitar reviews but this guy's playing ability and demo was far out!
Holy shit Mike what happened to your hair?!
What s amp on this demo please ?
WOW ...good Play ...... it`s very great & Amazing !
Michael Casswell is da man!
Super guitarist!! Anyone know the scale hey plays?
+Bjorn Oudenalder
Hey???? I mean he!!!
+Bjorn Oudenalder mostly he's using the octavarium scale
God damn mike!!! Smokin' playing!!!
Just got one. T bar screw in sucks must rap plumping tape around treads 😓🎸
GREAT PLAYER!!!!
Sucks he's gone, RIP Bro
Mike was awesome
How does anyone get so good
American elite has n4 noiseless and these humbuckers
One of the best players :D
Great player
Casswell can sell anything...
WOOOOOOW!!!
RIP Mike
How did he die?
CanningPetto He drowned last week in Spain.
holy smokes. I just found out about this guys 6 minutes ago. what a crazy up and down ride.
Oh No!
Nice with a demo that doesn´t play fucking hardrock (from a old punker) Nice review also
Please send the guitar as a gift. I will never be able to afford it
they only run about $1450 retail
Guy kinda looks like "Tom Green!". Lol
This guy look just like Gary Oldman.
Rip
Amazing player 😞
very cool lol
Don't use tremolo bar in guitar demos.
Why?
neteraser ALWAYS use tremolo bar in guitar demos...and in every other application of the guitar in all genres of music.
Lufie Alice because it distracts from listening to the instrument. it can be used slightly at the end of the part, but here is an obvious overdose... you came to show the instrument, not your playing...
+neteraser don't agree, but there you go...
+neteraser Surely it's the other way round no? In the olden days, apparently some guitars didn't have whammy bars!!! Bat shit crazy right?
Boy Jeff beck whammy technique is terrible. I will not say Jeff wasn’t innovative, but that “out of tune” whammy technique is horrendous.
why do all off you demo the distortion and not what the guitar actually sounds like...waste of time
He DID demo clean sounds along the way. He went back and forth between clean and overdriven sounds.
19:53 blows my mind, incredible playing.
i believe the body is alder.