I think the main difference is that the Original has a lot more life about it. It sounds more open and has a bit more presence ( brightness). I think the output is stronger, too. ;) The new one sounds a bit more mid range with less clarity , that said, it still sounds and plays amazing ;)
@@MartinWaughGITAagreed but that open sound comes from playing it in. That will only happen if the new one is played and it wont take as long as u think. The one thing these videos never show is also feeling.. how do they feel? I think the new one would certainly feel tighter and that is a big diff. That also affects tone and how it feels tonally as well. Ultimately it may not even be abt age but abt how broken in one is vs the other. And thats why relic custom shops exist.
Wow, what a fabulous guitar player and demo. It’s great to see a review where the tremolo arm is used to great effect. Thanks for posting I really enjoyed your enthusiasm 😃🎸
Here's a tip for anyone with a strat that has a loose switch tip (like this one). Cut a small piece of notebook paper that just fits over the blade of the switch, folded over, and press on the plastic tip. Easy as that. Do not glue it on, someday you might need or want to replace it or remove the switch if you change the pickguard. To remove the tip, pull up on it while the pickguard is still screwed on or pry up on it with needle nose pliers being careful to not scratch the pickguard.
What a fab fun video and awesome playing & tone too! I've had custom shops and there great, until i bought an original 62' and then, just like this guy, I saw & heard the difference, more sustain, glassier and more bite and because its been played for so many years, more comfortable to play too.
Both sounded amazing but in different ways…u can tell the original was open and broken in, but the new one was still incredible and can’t wait to play it in 2087! Actually, never mind, I’ll be dead lol
Ive got a vintage 50's Stratocaster body that i paired with a reverse headstock 70s standard Squire neck. I put 10s on it. Its the sweetest guitar but im still partial to my 86 Squier bullet 1 contemporary stratocaster.
Wow...was in for a Ventura 2, but I how can I get a fiesta red one? Have to chip in some more dough. What a great playing and it really showed what a Strat can do. Thanks!
Great video! You can tell a guy who owns a ‘61 by the joy he infuses into his fingers. That said, the reissue is fantastic, I know, I have one too. The final comments say it all, 60 years of sonic vibration make a difference. I also have a 1982 ‘57 AVRI. 40 years of playing and it’s better than my ‘61 reissue.
Man is there really nobody talking about how good the wet tone sounds?? So schmoo. I would really like to know about the pedal chain used in this video. I LOVE IT Also love Martin's playing and energy. He really enjoys it. First time hearing him!! He's great!
I love this video. Your uncle(?) Made the vid. His pure joy and skill had a smile on my face. Oh... and Fender? Take a look at that guitar body... that's how you relic a strat! Thanks for sharing this!
Original all the way, the glassy sound is amazing… having said that, the AVII is not half bad. As a side note, loved the player, his enthusiasm is contagious!
I'm looking at a storage unit that has at least four original Strats, a Dean V, two Fender Jazz basses, and probably another 10 guitars you can't see the headstocks on.
Great playing, the master are not the guitars but YOU as a player!!!! 😁 Both guitars are great, the knew one seems a little spankier, the old one is a little softer, both interesting characters.
Huge vintage market among Baby Boomers and especially Gen X. All grew up dreaming they could be Edward, Jimi, Stevie and now make enough money to fuel this market.
An outstanding and fun video,... my question is this; are the pole pieces on the original 61 beveled or flat? The reissue has beveled ... so I'm curious about that detail lol... as things typically go, what can be said about the original is 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts' lol ... just absolutely loved the video thanks a bunch !!
Thanks Mark, really kind words. I'm just in from a gig and have the 61 with me. I will check it tomorrow morning and let you know about the pole pieces ;)))
@@MartinWaughGITA I sure am enjoying my Fiesta Red 61 AVRI ii ... but I'm always interested in the details !! Haha Thank you for your time and look forward to your reply :-)
@@MartinWaughGITA Greetings and thank you !! :-) I thought it sounded a little too sparkly to be a CE-2,... doggone,... now I 'NEED' a Dimension C !! Hahaha
The new one was brighter and had more clarity IMHO. The Vintage had a much mellower (and even a bit muddy with the distortion) probably played better but I know I'll be in the minority but just telling it the way I heard it. That said, recorded sound, compared to being the room sound can be completely different. Teles always sound too bright and harsh when I'm playing them but when I hear a playback they always sound perfect in the mix.
Hi there, many thanks for the kind words, I spent a lot of my session years touring and recording with pop acts, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Mika, Lilly Allen, One Eskimo Kylie and a few more pop acts.
Different yes. Better? Subjective. Without seeing them you'd get a split on what people thought was better. Now a $60-$70,000 price difference is silly and nothing about the '61 besides rarity makes it that much better.
@@thesimulations8900 Yeah, the vintage market is mostly hype. Don't blame the guy for loving his guitar tho as it's obvious he has spent a huge amount of time with it and doesn't own it for the value of the vintage label.
@reijerlincoln Hi there, many thanks for the kind words. We will be looking to grow the channel this year with more content, tuition may well be an option. ;)
What pedal are you using for the gain and chorus please? Sounded fantastic. I use a strat/lonestar too, great combination. Really enjoyed the video, you're an excellent guitarist.
@@MartinWaughGITA That "80's tone" from about 6:24 ... *WOW* I could almost envision video game arcades, roller skates, and VHS tape rental shops. Thanks for showcasing the pedals and the Strats. I stumbled into a MIM Player recently but have since been hankering for a Vintera of sorts as a result of the Player Strat. Seriously, Strats (and guitars in general) are like Pringles.
hey, congrats! I am hesistating pulling the trigger on an Olympic white AVII 61. Which colour did you get? the fiesta red? no QC issues? I heard there was common issues like the neck not properly setup in the neck pocket... some problems with the nitro finich too... like they overspary it on the fretboard etc.. Would be nice if you could share your experience. I unfortunately have no shop selling this model near me.. I will have to buy online through thomman so a bit scarred to go for it.. at 2200 EUR the guitar ;)
@@KRSinDUB no problems here and it is a 2024 build, you will never satisfy the critics worried about the "thread count" in the wire covering etc LOL, but they have other places to spend their imaginary money, just have fun like Martin does
As much as we love our vintage instruments, the chance of finding one in decent shape, or even in playable shape, are not in your favor. That's one of the reasons Fender perpetuates the American Vintage line. I have several of the later AV line, and they all sound incredible.
L'original 61 est bien meilleure, mais avec le temps et déjà une bonne planif des frettes, la nouvelle devrait sonner aussi bien, la touche en ébène est un bonus pour moi, c'est rare
Do you know what I agree with that, it's the only thing I find with mine is that the low E sometimes gets lost, I wonder what and why that is;)'s a great spot😊
I'm very open to the new one being better then the old one.. but the reality is that vintage 61' had something special going on with the tone. When they swapped from old to new at the end it felt dead in comparison. So weird.
@@MartinWaughGITA he said in the video that it has the fretboard changed. It had some electronics added and god knows what’s underneath the pickguard. It has some switches that you can see
Hi there, it's been in my family since my father bought it new, yes its had a new fret board as the original wore out, the nut has a brass one as its my preference and the volume and tone knobs were replaced early 80s, The rest is ORIGINAL. ;))
Dumb comparison. Obviously the '61 sounds better. You can't beat 63 years of wood with string tension on it. The Reissue does sound remarkably good, but it's a bit too much to ask a production line guitar to go up against a true vintage model. Now, if you put Fender's custom shop wizards to the task to beat it they would very likely come much, much more close and might even equal it.
You say that you can't beat 63 years of wood with string tension and then go on to say that the the 'custom shop wizards' might do it. They may be wizards but they're not magicians. There's simply no substitute for age and no way to fake it. Even their relicing looks nothing like this one does!
The original sounds amazing but the new one hangs with it better than you'd think.
Completely agree, you can't really compare them directly if one has an ebony board anyway. But they both sound great.
In what way do you think they sound different? Sounds the same to me but maybe if you point it out I'll be able to hear it.
I think the main difference is that the Original has a lot more life about it. It sounds more open and has a bit more presence ( brightness). I think the output is stronger, too. ;) The new one sounds a bit more mid range with less clarity , that said, it still sounds and plays amazing ;)
@@MartinWaughGITAagreed but that open sound comes from playing it in. That will only happen if the new one is played and it wont take as long as u think. The one thing these videos never show is also feeling.. how do they feel? I think the new one would certainly feel tighter and that is a big diff. That also affects tone and how it feels tonally as well. Ultimately it may not even be abt age but abt how broken in one is vs the other. And thats why relic custom shops exist.
Wow, what a fabulous guitar player and demo. It’s great to see a review where the tremolo arm is used to great effect. Thanks for posting I really enjoyed your enthusiasm 😃🎸
I think this fella could make even the cheapest guitar sound great
What a fun video and fun guy. The 62 Strat has a BEAUTIFUL clean sound. Loud and ringing.
Here's a tip for anyone with a strat that has a loose switch tip (like this one). Cut a small piece of notebook paper that just fits over the blade of the switch, folded over, and press on the plastic tip. Easy as that. Do not glue it on, someday you might need or want to replace it or remove the switch if you change the pickguard. To remove the tip, pull up on it while the pickguard is still screwed on or pry up on it with needle nose pliers being careful to not scratch the pickguard.
HOLY CRAP. I have an American Special Tele with a switch tip that is always coming off and I never thought of this. Works a treat!
What a fab fun video and awesome playing & tone too! I've had custom shops and there great, until i bought an original 62' and then, just like this guy, I saw & heard the difference, more sustain, glassier and more bite and because its been played for so many years, more comfortable to play too.
Wow, such a sweet sound out of that new guitar!
Everyone is gonna hate me but I like the reissue more. Great video!
The original one sounds like Professional series.
No one hate u but just smile
i hate u
The vintage is always something different
Both sounded amazing but in different ways…u can tell the original was open and broken in, but the new one was still incredible and can’t wait to play it in 2087! Actually, never mind, I’ll be dead lol
Great guitar players like this guy can make any guitar sound good or better as for the 61 original ...want one...
Ive got a vintage 50's Stratocaster body that i paired with a reverse headstock 70s standard Squire neck. I put 10s on it. Its the sweetest guitar but im still partial to my 86 Squier bullet 1 contemporary stratocaster.
Wow...was in for a Ventura 2, but I how can I get a fiesta red one? Have to chip in some more dough.
What a great playing and it really showed what a Strat can do. Thanks!
Love this chaps enthusiasm...its contangious
Cheers fella ;)
Can't beat that excitement as you're handed the guitar. Love it
have the vintage II in 3tsb ...incredible guitar but the original is also very cool and sounds great too😊
That’s similar to my attack and I have a red 60 strat..parts mainly swapped out.. been researching tbe vintage 2 line.. fab video and playing
Cheers John ;)
My Original 60’s Strat is special to me 🎸
Great video! You can tell a guy who owns a ‘61 by the joy he infuses into his fingers. That said, the reissue is fantastic, I know, I have one too. The final comments say it all, 60 years of sonic vibration make a difference. I also have a 1982 ‘57 AVRI. 40 years of playing and it’s better than my ‘61 reissue.
Beyond surprised that the originals’ slab board had to be removed, it must have been played to absolute death!
What a great guitar, and what a great guy
4:51 and I thought I had seen everything hahahaha! Martin, what a GREAT player, thank you!!!
“And that’s about it… it’s as original as you can get!“ < after describing a dozen major changes>. 😂😂😂
I'd be surprised if it still has the original pickups in it with as much dickery his uncle did to it.
There all orginal. ;))
Man is there really nobody talking about how good the wet tone sounds?? So schmoo. I would really like to know about the pedal chain used in this video. I LOVE IT
Also love Martin's playing and energy. He really enjoys it. First time hearing him!! He's great!
Thanks so much for the kind words, I will be doing a video of the board soon. Stay tuned ;)))
@mwaugh94879 thank you for getting back!!! That would be awesome man. Wish you the best
@@MartinWaughGITA I also love your playing. Heard no one demo the guitar this beautifully.
BTW...WHO is playing? I really enjoyed his playing and enthusiasm! A great story teller too.
Many thanks for the kind words Mike, Martin Waugh.
I love this video. Your uncle(?) Made the vid. His pure joy and skill had a smile on my face.
Oh... and Fender? Take a look at that guitar body... that's how you relic a strat!
Thanks for sharing this!
Love both guitars. But I always love his enthusiasm, I apologise I don't know his name 😔
Does Martin have his own channel? I could watch him play all day! Just a fantastic player and personality.
Many thanks for the kind words Max, Im solely involved with GITA and we are moving forward to regular weekly uploads;))))
@@MartinWaughGITA Yesssssss!!! Cannot wait for that! 🙌
Original all the way, the glassy sound is amazing… having said that, the AVII is not half bad. As a side note, loved the player, his enthusiasm is contagious!
Amazing playing
Many thanks😊
Most sound informative video, great playing man.
for 1/38th of the price the new one stands on its ground pretty well
Great review 👍🏻 thanks 👍🏻 the 61 is just amazing. Let’s face it ………. Strats are brilliant 🤩
I'm looking at a storage unit that has at least four original Strats, a Dean V, two Fender Jazz basses, and probably another 10 guitars you can't see the headstocks on.
Talented player and great production!
As soon as they make a sonic blue one, I'm in.
Great playing, the master are not the guitars but YOU as a player!!!! 😁
Both guitars are great, the knew one seems a little spankier, the old one is a little softer, both interesting characters.
So glad I found this channel! You're ripping brother!!
Cheers Bobby;)
@@MartinWaughGITA 🎶🎸🔥
I love my AVII ‘61 Strat.
Love the sound of the new one! I prefer the new one!
Huge vintage market among Baby Boomers and especially Gen X. All grew up dreaming they could be Edward, Jimi, Stevie and now make enough money to fuel this market.
Nothing like a comparison. Great job!
The OG sounds better, but the reissue sounds great and wouldn’t be mad having one. Martin’s playing is dope! 🫡
Many thanks for the kind words ;)
Many thanks for the kind words;)
Really hard to tell because he played his ‘61 with much more fire and passion than the AVII, which is natural, bc it’s his guitar.
I believe the pickups in the MIM Classic strat come closer in sound/presence to the original.
That '61 has had 63 years worth of juice running through those pickups ... makes a whale of a difference that people ALWAYS fail to mention.
Wtf is juice?
Yeah great video, the original sounds awesome!
The new guitar sounds very nice and new, still a great US Fender!
An outstanding and fun video,... my question is this; are the pole pieces on the original 61 beveled or flat? The reissue has beveled ... so I'm curious about that detail lol... as things typically go, what can be said about the original is 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts' lol ... just absolutely loved the video thanks a bunch !!
Thanks Mark, really kind words. I'm just in from a gig and have the 61 with me. I will check it tomorrow morning and let you know about the pole pieces ;)))
@@MartinWaughGITA I sure am enjoying my Fiesta Red 61 AVRI ii ... but I'm always interested in the details !! Haha Thank you for your time and look forward to your reply :-)
@@MartinWaughGITA oh also,... what was generating the chorus effect? :-)
Hi Mark, hope your well. Yeh my pole pieces have got a slight bevel on them.
The chorus is a vintage Boss Dimension C.
@@MartinWaughGITA Greetings and thank you !! :-) I thought it sounded a little too sparkly to be a CE-2,... doggone,... now I 'NEED' a Dimension C !! Hahaha
Wondering what the pickup height of the original is? Bass/Treble
Nobody seems to talk about Fender's American Original series. I have the '69 Tele Thinline and it's pretty much period-correct.
Poly finish?
@@IsmailsGuitarWorld Nitro.
The new one was brighter and had more clarity IMHO. The Vintage had a much mellower (and even a bit muddy with the distortion) probably played better but I know I'll be in the minority but just telling it the way I heard it. That said, recorded sound, compared to being the room sound can be completely different. Teles always sound too bright and harsh when I'm playing them but when I hear a playback they always sound perfect in the mix.
Talented player. For a little over 2 grand that Vintage II strat is worth every penny without having to spend custom shop or original strat money.
got the Boogie now too 100 water - Thanks !!!
Nice one, I also love my Express. ;)
Amazing playing! Great video overall. I’m not familiar with this particular player who did he play for/with?
Hi there, many thanks for the kind words, I spent a lot of my session years touring and recording with pop acts, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Mika, Lilly Allen, One Eskimo Kylie and a few more pop acts.
Different yes. Better? Subjective. Without seeing them you'd get a split on what people thought was better. Now a $60-$70,000 price difference is silly and nothing about the '61 besides rarity makes it that much better.
@@thesimulations8900 Yeah, the vintage market is mostly hype. Don't blame the guy for loving his guitar tho as it's obvious he has spent a huge amount of time with it and doesn't own it for the value of the vintage label.
@@MartinWaughGITA I hope you do more demonstration vids and perhaps lessons. Really enjoyed hearing you play and talk.
@reijerlincoln Hi there, many thanks for the kind words. We will be looking to grow the channel this year with more content, tuition may well be an option. ;)
Pickups affect the sound the most here. It would be good to change the Pickups with it and do the presentation again....
You know what, that's not a bad shout. I quite like the idea of swapping the full pickup assembles around.
What a cool dude,
Many thanks 😊
I’m sorry but age can not be replicated. That guitar playing was absolutely out of this world!!
What pedal are you using for the gain and chorus please? Sounded fantastic. I use a strat/lonestar too, great combination. Really enjoyed the video, you're an excellent guitarist.
Hi there, the distortion is a Radial Trimode with the valve swapped out for a Boogie Valve. The Chorus is a vintage Boss Dimension C. ;)
@@MartinWaughGITA thank you!
@@MartinWaughGITA That "80's tone" from about 6:24 ... *WOW* I could almost envision video game arcades, roller skates, and VHS tape rental shops. Thanks for showcasing the pedals and the Strats.
I stumbled into a MIM Player recently but have since been hankering for a Vintera of sorts as a result of the Player Strat. Seriously, Strats (and guitars in general) are like Pringles.
I think the 61 sounded best but the reissue sounded better in this case when he played the sustain/lead parts. Two great guitars.
Hard to compare to the mojo of a road proven vintage, but the reissue ain't bad.
Who Is this guy? He's a great guitarist!!!
Many thanks for the kind words. Martin Waugh 😊
just picked one up, 🤘
hey, congrats! I am hesistating pulling the trigger on an Olympic white AVII 61. Which colour did you get? the fiesta red? no QC issues? I heard there was common issues like the neck not properly setup in the neck pocket... some problems with the nitro finich too... like they overspary it on the fretboard etc.. Would be nice if you could share your experience. I unfortunately have no shop selling this model near me.. I will have to buy online through thomman so a bit scarred to go for it.. at 2200 EUR the guitar ;)
@@KRSinDUB no problems here and it is a 2024 build, you will never satisfy the critics worried about the "thread count" in the wire covering etc LOL, but they have other places to spend their imaginary money, just have fun like Martin does
As much as we love our vintage instruments, the chance of finding one in decent shape, or even in playable shape, are not in your favor. That's one of the reasons Fender perpetuates the American Vintage line. I have several of the later AV line, and they all sound incredible.
New one sounds warmer, pretter good for just out of 5he box too.
Who is this chap? He could make anything sound great, are you kidding?
Many thanks for the kind words Joe ;)
great playing, both guitars sound great.
Original one ❤
Amazing guitarist ❤
A genius
question though - is he getting fret buzz on his original guitar? or not at all?
Yeh I do sometimes on the low strings, but I find it a bit rock n roll. ;)))
What is the pedal that Martin uses at around 3:23 ???
Hi there its a Boss Dimension C with a touch of delay and reverb ;)
@@MartinWaughGITA thanks!!!
original has more output and mids. reissue is clearer when in OD. could be somewhat down to pup height
What mesa boogie combo is this amp guys?
Hi there, it's an early Lonestar 100/50
OOOF…. The real one just sounds so loose and broke in… but it COOKED. The new one lol
I was going to by the original 61 or 62 strat, but after this video, I'll settle with the AVRI one...
Jumping toggle switch tells you all about QC of modern fenders…
I’ve had my AVii 61 for over a year and that doesn’t happen
This dude is a hitting the switch harder than one usually would.
2:38 £1,859 genuine
Should have got the pickups to the same height for a better tone comparison.
L'original 61 est bien meilleure, mais avec le temps et déjà une bonne planif des frettes, la nouvelle devrait sonner aussi bien, la touche en ébène est un bonus pour moi, c'est rare
Play the new one for 50 years and it will sound like the 61.
As much as I appreciate vintage instruments, I find the low A and E strings to be
too Flubby for my taste anything else sounds just magical.
Do you know what I agree with that, it's the only thing I find with mine is that the low E sometimes gets lost, I wonder what and why that is;)'s a great spot😊
@@MartinWaughGITA maybe like us humans as we get older our voice gets flubbier.
Martin who? What’s his last name?
Waugh ;)
Stick yer fingers in yer ears 'n fart, same same but different...great guitars!
😂❤
Too bad the original fretboard was replaced. That kinda killed a lot of the vibe.
For me a mix out of both guitars would be perfect. The modern sounds too oomphy and the vintage too bright.
I'm very open to the new one being better then the old one.. but the reality is that vintage 61' had something special going on with the tone. When they swapped from old to new at the end it felt dead in comparison. So weird.
Not a fair video... intentionally. The new guitar sounded great, but how did you expect it to shine in this scenario? You didn't. Clickbait.
That's a pity you feel that way, we actually thought the new Strat performed really well. Many thanks.
Reusssue has newer unused sound
But the old one is not full original. So many things have been changed.
Hi there, as I've known the guitar from birth, the main parts are orginal. ;)
@@MartinWaughGITA he said in the video that it has the fretboard changed.
It had some electronics added and god knows what’s underneath the pickguard. It has some switches that you can see
Hi there, it's been in my family since my father bought it new, yes its had a new fret board as the original wore out, the nut has a brass one as its my preference and the volume and tone knobs were replaced early 80s, The rest is ORIGINAL. ;))
@@MartinWaughGITA
Quod erat demonstrandum!
Thanks 🙏
As its not for sale, there's no need to open the guitar up;)))
Marketing..
New one sounds like junk.The old blows it out of the water easily
Dumb comparison. Obviously the '61 sounds better. You can't beat 63 years of wood with string tension on it. The Reissue does sound remarkably good, but it's a bit too much to ask a production line guitar to go up against a true vintage model. Now, if you put Fender's custom shop wizards to the task to beat it they would very likely come much, much more close and might even equal it.
Not a bad idea for another video. Many thanks ;)
You say that you can't beat 63 years of wood with string tension and then go on to say that the the 'custom shop wizards' might do it. They may be wizards but they're not magicians. There's simply no substitute for age and no way to fake it. Even their relicing looks nothing like this one does!
Ebony fingerboard on that feels disrespectfully, even you being IRISH MAN, GIVE IT THE ROSEWOOD FOR RORY MAN!!!
😂 Scottish ;))))
@@MartinWaughGITA GIVE IT THE ISH TREATMENT REGARDLESS🙏🏻🙏🏻 lol
Might have to look into pal;)) thanks for the love ;)))😊
@@MartinWaughGITA You're amazingly respectful for a Scotsman who's just been accused of being Irish and disrespectful to Rory Gallagher!
this line sucks, QA is bloody miserable, just rubbish and the poiy undercoat is lame