@@GuitarsAndTea Amazing! So good being able to look back & actually see some form of progress... I'm guessing it's typically really difficult to notice it on a day by day or week by week basis!
I got that exact surf green player with fat 50's and roasted maple neck a few weeks ago. Mind blown. I never took MIM fenders seriously in the past, but this is not your dad's MIM. The neck feels great and i personally think the fat 50's sound better than just about any other fender strat pickups available. Best value strat for sure!
Man it has to be the best value for money hands down, and since it's a limited run it's either buy it now or regret it later when its gone haha, enjoy that new guitar!
I have an 06 sunburst mexican strat ive never really liked the way it felt its got medium frets which are now worn halfway down, the 6 screw bridge was always fighting me so i changed it to a wilkinson 2 point and it plays better but still didn't suit me. last year i build a evh frankie partscaster and really paid attention to the details shimmed the neck and bought a 1984 reissue floyd rose taught myself airbrushing and leatherwork for the dog leash strap i really learned alot about how big a difference using high end materials makes in a build, i think i could really improve my mexican strat with a maple neck with huge frets, a shim and a fender 2 point bridge with a brass tone block the added mass and sustain can make the bridge flutter which is an effect I've chased since DLRs first solo album you need a heavy bridge that perfectly floats to get that cat purr sound vai uses.
Nice collection, thank you for sharing. Its odd seeing an Olympic White Strat , tortoise pick guard with a maple fretboard. Usually see that combo with a rosewood. Again, great post.
You forgot the nut width, the performer and pro ll have the wider nut. It makes a difference to me because I have large hands and I preffer 43mm verses 42mm nut widths.
They're all the same size, but I did miss one detail on the body, the Pro-II has a contoured neck heel, where the neck joins the body, other than that no differences in body
I have played loadsa pro 2 and every time it was just yuck. For the money i could not figure out why they felt imo so cheap. Then i had a usa tele and loved it once i had set it up correctly but it was still missing that wow factor in tone. Then i had a tele shape from ltd esp and wow knocks the fenders own version out of the park for the park for quality you get against the amount of money you spend. Then bought a road worn pink shell fsr which had mex pickups and was so shocked by the built so they sent out a replacement and that was even worse with neck plate hanging 3 mm over the edge. Then the other day stumbled across this strat with fat 50 same as in this vid but in sonic blue and for onec i was blown away with an actaul fender. Never thought this would happen lol made all other expensive fenders iv tried seem like childs toys.
Best Strat? After owning a Fender American Standard Stratocaster and a Mexico Strat, to, my best Strats are ESP 400 Series-Strat and BLADE Texas Standard Pro and BLADE Texas Classic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The main thing is: On the headstock is no Fender-Logo anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After more than 2 years of abstinence, I went to the Music Station again and played 3 Fender American Professional II Strats, and again I noticed that the woods had little vibrancy, the maple necks were not very dense and responsive, there was little twang, little crunch , wiry-glassy, few overtones, sustain, attack, everything you associate with Fender guitars, everything is less than on my ESP 400 Series Strats and less than on my BLADE Texas models. This can be tested objectively and I can only say that I am extremely disappointed with this price-performance ratio. No, I can no longer objectively understand this adulation regarding Fender Strats. My first Stratocaster was a Fender American Standard Stratocaster and that was my worst guitar of all, a Fender Mexico Standard followed after that, but after I played the ESPs and the BLADEs everything was clear to me, and that proves itself again, every time, when I compare, the same result always comes out - what else can I say, it is true! The ESP-400-Series Strats and the BLADEs have objectively, noticeably and audibly better tonewood, the BLADEs even have a flattened neck-body-joint and covered fret slots and therefore much better playability!!! So, I'm done with Fender, I'm playing something clever, and at a much cheaper price. I don't want to talk anyone out of their love of Fender, I have nothing against you buying the (usually) worse guitars for a far too exorbitant price, you're welcome to do that. Then there will be more BLADEs for me, very simple! Thanks for listening!
But i´ve to be honest, on BLADE or ESP it´s necessary to choice the right one, but on new produced Fenders theres nearly no resonance, but on new MusicMan (cutlass) there is truly, so that´s the proof that i´am right with my own commentar above!
There's hardly any difference between a low end Fender and a hugely overpriced "master built" "custom shop" Fender, in terms of sound and feel. Pick up any of the literally hundreds of models of strats that have been made over the years, blindfolded, and play them, and you'll have no idea which model MOST of them are, even if you're intimately familiar with them all.
@@GuitarsAndTea I'm more of the opinion that it's hard to get the feeling that you got your money's worth out of ANY of the more expensive Fenders. Anything over about a thousand bucks starts to enter rip-off territory.
I think you have the feel wrong. Set up and feel, American to Mexico is night and day. Wouldn’t buy a Mexico strat at all I’d date a classic vibe squier over the MIM strats today.
@@xfighter1117 I've played hundreds of Strats over 35 years. They're all very much the same, or close enough that a good setup will make the difference. I speak as an experienced guitar tech and the maker of many scratch built guitars as well. NOT IMPRESSED. I see Fenders as the factory made mass produced cookie cutter instruments, assembled by hourly workers with screwdrivers, that they REALLY ARE. Nothing special, just a competent product.
@@Turboy65 ya and I speak as a guitar player. that’s the issue I just brought to attention the MIM are being let go with a horrible setup almost un playable to some. And to pay $1000 roughly now for a new mim strat then have to pay a tech to do a full setup on it which most people do instead of learning themselves is a major issue, the sound/tone between them isn’t enough to argue about. A low end strat of any kind vs a USA strat as far as feel goes is night and day in my eyes again a diy guy can fix this stuff but 80% of people don’t do that it may be small into the eyes of someone like you and I where we know how to fix these issues but to a beginner or something it should be noted there is a big difference in these things does it justify the price? I don’t think it should but that’s the world we live in. I’ve owned hundreds, built and repaired many. Sure they are close to the same thing it’s not a complex instrument to copy and build. But to say there’s hardly a difference between a MIM and a masterbuilt is blasphemy.
@@Turboy65 Well as a player for 40 years I somewhat disagree. I'm of the opinion that the standards of the past and the current Pro ll can be a better than average guitars and have found they differ significantly from the MIM's, Specials, etc. I'd like a CS but wouldn't pay the difference.
I only started learning how to play the guitar a little over a month ago & I'm documenting my entire journey on here so this was super interesting!
Nice! That's pretty much what I'm doing as well 🤘
@@GuitarsAndTea Amazing! So good being able to look back & actually see some form of progress... I'm guessing it's typically really difficult to notice it on a day by day or week by week basis!
I got that exact surf green player with fat 50's and roasted maple neck a few weeks ago. Mind blown. I never took MIM fenders seriously in the past, but this is not your dad's MIM. The neck feels great and i personally think the fat 50's sound better than just about any other fender strat pickups available. Best value strat for sure!
Man it has to be the best value for money hands down, and since it's a limited run it's either buy it now or regret it later when its gone haha, enjoy that new guitar!
I have that exact same American professional II , I love mine
Yeah that’s my go-to. Really nice instrument
I have an 06 sunburst mexican strat ive never really liked the way it felt its got medium frets which are now worn halfway down, the 6 screw bridge was always fighting me so i changed it to a wilkinson 2 point and it plays better but still didn't suit me. last year i build a evh frankie partscaster and really paid attention to the details shimmed the neck and bought a 1984 reissue floyd rose taught myself airbrushing and leatherwork for the dog leash strap i really learned alot about how big a difference using high end materials makes in a build, i think i could really improve my mexican strat with a maple neck with huge frets, a shim and a fender 2 point bridge with a brass tone block the added mass and sustain can make the bridge flutter which is an effect I've chased since DLRs first solo album you need a heavy bridge that perfectly floats to get that cat purr sound vai uses.
Nice, I love EVH Frankenstrats 🤘
Nice collection, thank you for sharing. Its odd seeing an Olympic White Strat , tortoise pick guard with a maple fretboard. Usually see that combo with a rosewood. Again, great post.
Yeah I wasn’t sure about the tortoise 🐢 at first but wouldn’t have it any other way now 🐢🐢
You forgot the nut width, the performer and pro ll have the wider nut. It makes a difference to me because I have large hands and I preffer 43mm verses 42mm nut widths.
Doesnt seem like too much difference between the player and professional, interested to see part 2
Yeah, most important would be the frets and pickups I'd reckon. I like the taller frets and V-Mods on the Pro-II
you didnt talked about the body shape
i guess performer has a bigger body than pro 2 and player fsr
plz correct me if i am wrong
They're all the same size, but I did miss one detail on the body, the Pro-II has a contoured neck heel, where the neck joins the body, other than that no differences in body
I have played loadsa pro 2 and every time it was just yuck. For the money i could not figure out why they felt imo so cheap. Then i had a usa tele and loved it once i had set it up correctly but it was still missing that wow factor in tone. Then i had a tele shape from ltd esp and wow knocks the fenders own version out of the park for the park for quality you get against the amount of money you spend. Then bought a road worn pink shell fsr which had mex pickups and was so shocked by the built so they sent out a replacement and that was even worse with neck plate hanging 3 mm over the edge. Then the other day stumbled across this strat with fat 50 same as in this vid but in sonic blue and for onec i was blown away with an actaul fender. Never thought this would happen lol made all other expensive fenders iv tried seem like childs toys.
Which do you like the most?
The Performer. Now that I've had several months to play them I need to make a follow-up video. They're all good, but the Performer is my favorite.
Dollar for dollar, The player by far !
The roasted neck and custom shop pickups are certainly nice to have 💯
Best Strat? After owning a Fender American Standard Stratocaster and a Mexico Strat, to, my best Strats are ESP 400 Series-Strat and BLADE Texas Standard Pro and BLADE Texas Classic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The main thing is: On the headstock is no Fender-Logo anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After more than 2 years of abstinence, I went to the Music Station again and played 3 Fender American Professional II Strats, and again I noticed that the woods had little vibrancy, the maple necks were not very dense and responsive, there was little twang, little crunch , wiry-glassy, few overtones, sustain, attack, everything you associate with Fender guitars, everything is less than on my ESP 400 Series Strats and less than on my BLADE Texas models. This can be tested objectively and I can only say that I am extremely disappointed with this price-performance ratio. No, I can no longer objectively understand this adulation regarding Fender Strats. My first Stratocaster was a Fender American Standard Stratocaster and that was my worst guitar of all, a Fender Mexico Standard followed after that, but after I played the ESPs and the BLADEs everything was clear to me, and that proves itself again, every time, when I compare, the same result always comes out - what else can I say, it is true! The ESP-400-Series Strats and the BLADEs have objectively, noticeably and audibly better tonewood, the BLADEs even have a flattened neck-body-joint and covered fret slots and therefore much better playability!!! So, I'm done with Fender, I'm playing something clever, and at a much cheaper price. I don't want to talk anyone out of their love of Fender, I have nothing against you buying the (usually) worse guitars for a far too exorbitant price, you're welcome to do that. Then there will be more BLADEs for me, very simple! Thanks for listening!
But i´ve to be honest, on BLADE or ESP it´s necessary to choice the right one, but on new produced Fenders theres nearly no resonance, but on new MusicMan (cutlass) there is truly, so that´s the proof that i´am right with my own commentar above!
There's hardly any difference between a low end Fender and a hugely overpriced "master built" "custom shop" Fender, in terms of sound and feel. Pick up any of the literally hundreds of models of strats that have been made over the years, blindfolded, and play them, and you'll have no idea which model MOST of them are, even if you're intimately familiar with them all.
@@GuitarsAndTea I'm more of the opinion that it's hard to get the feeling that you got your money's worth out of ANY of the more expensive Fenders. Anything over about a thousand bucks starts to enter rip-off territory.
I think you have the feel wrong. Set up and feel, American to Mexico is night and day. Wouldn’t buy a Mexico strat at all I’d date a classic vibe squier over the MIM strats today.
@@xfighter1117 I've played hundreds of Strats over 35 years. They're all very much the same, or close enough that a good setup will make the difference. I speak as an experienced guitar tech and the maker of many scratch built guitars as well.
NOT IMPRESSED. I see Fenders as the factory made mass produced cookie cutter instruments, assembled by hourly workers with screwdrivers, that they REALLY ARE. Nothing special, just a competent product.
@@Turboy65 ya and I speak as a guitar player. that’s the issue I just brought to attention the MIM are being let go with a horrible setup almost un playable to some. And to pay $1000 roughly now for a new mim strat then have to pay a tech to do a full setup on it which most people do instead of learning themselves is a major issue, the sound/tone between them isn’t enough to argue about. A low end strat of any kind vs a USA strat as far as feel goes is night and day in my eyes again a diy guy can fix this stuff but 80% of people don’t do that it may be small into the eyes of someone like you and I where we know how to fix these issues but to a beginner or something it should be noted there is a big difference in these things does it justify the price? I don’t think it should but that’s the world we live in. I’ve owned hundreds, built and repaired many. Sure they are close to the same thing it’s not a complex instrument to copy and build. But to say there’s hardly a difference between a MIM and a masterbuilt is blasphemy.
@@Turboy65 Well as a player for 40 years I somewhat disagree. I'm of the opinion that the standards of the past and the current Pro ll can be a better than average guitars and have found they differ significantly from the MIM's, Specials, etc. I'd like a CS but wouldn't pay the difference.