"Forget" The Number. It's Just a Number. Start Telling Your Self, What Ever Number. Sounds Good to You. "Maybe" 30, 32, 38, 44. 55. You Choose. You have Nothing to Loose. ✨️✨️✨️🙂
LOL! I'm 76! My very first guitar was a '54 I got for Christmas of 1963. $75 from one of the downtown Jacksonville pawn shops on West Bay Street. This is probably just another Stratocaster they are calling a "1954." But it darn sure looks tempting ...
They age well... our husks do not. :-) I thought I had a couple more decades in me, but my skin and Psoriasis has other plans. Happy 70. And the Strat too.
I graduated in ‘96, which was Fender’s 50th anniversary. I used some scholarship money I received from the local Masons to buy myself a brand new American Standard 3-tone sunburst Strat with a rosewood fretboard. Still have it. Hadn’t played it in a few years because the frets were shot. Intonation was out of the question. Watched some TH-cam videos to gain some tips and successfully refretted it myself. Now it’s back in playing order and in the fold. Thank you TH-cam. I wish you were around when I was a kid. I’d probably be doing something in the music industry instead of testing switchgear.
This guitar isn't for the 70th Anniversary of Fender as a company. It's a guitar to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the first Stratocaster which was introduced by Fender in 1954. They also did this in 1979 (25th), 1994 (40th), 2004 (50th) and 2014 (60th). To me the most valuable one would be one from 1994 because they only made 1,954 of them and were numbered on the back of the headstock. I had one but sold it 4 years ago. It sounded great, but I couldn't get used to the obscenely, heavily lacquered maple fretboard.
The Stratocaster body design simply cannot be beaten in my humble opinion. I finally managed to buy a new sunburst USA Highway One in the mid-2000s, and I’m never going to part with it. Yes, I am currently having an affair with a low-cost pretender, more precisely, with its streamlined heel joint which suits my ageing digits, but in the end, it’s the Fender that will stay with me forever. Thank you so much Mr Leo Fender for creating this iconic instrument.
The unique and priceless thing about Leo Fender's original design (apart from body and neck shape) was the three pickup, single coil configuration and exactly where (harmonically) and at what angle they were positioned. I recently purchased a second hand Squier Strat for £60 and after some hours filing and smoothing fret ends, adjusting nut, truss rod, intonation etc she has at least 90% of the very best of the very best Fender sound. Plays beautifully and stays perfectly in tune after using extensive trem ♥ Never owned a Strat of any kind before but they're amazing!
I have several Strat type guitars, and while I like a lot about the pickup configuration, I think, much like the 6 screw trem bridge plate, the spacing of the pickups had more to do with looks than string harmonic mode considerations, with the exeption of the angled bridge pickup and posssobly the neck pickup pos. The Strat has a well-proportioned look, and people are attracted to things that look that way i.e.facial feature proportions.
I am very eskeptical a Squier can be as good as a Fender. Very skeptical. My first guitar was a Squier and it was a very bad guitar in comparison just with a Koean Fender, not even American (however, my Korean is probably better than many Americans...). I also have a modern Squier and it is way better than my first guitar but still, miles away from a good Fender. Bridge has a bad design that can hurt you. Tunners are terrible. Pickups have less dynamics. The neck is a good Squier one, but still, miles away from a good Fender in playability. Now, regarding recorded sound, that is no longer a point because you can play with a milk carton that can sound as good as a custom masterbuild Fender...
Absolutely. The Fender Stratocaster has that shape and ergonomy that makes you always feel comfortable when you play them, they (the Fender Strats) are easy to equalize and they are reliable instruments (even if you use their tremolos in a soft way). To me, Fender electric guitars and amps are the best for bright and clear sounds... Maybe their weak spot (and maybe this is not the best way to express it) might be when you try to create dark sounds... Especially, when I look for distortion and darker tones, I confess, I don't achieve or get those tones when I look for them through the Fender amps... Don't missunderstand me, I love Fender amps for playing slide electric guitar lines... But maybe not the most proper amps for the heavy metal style...
I'm an old guy that's been playing guitar since surf music was popular back in the sixties. I've owned two fifty four Stratocasters I paid less than a thousand dollars for each of them. To be perfectly honest I really didn't like the way they played. The best stratecaster I ever owned was a nineteen sixty three with the b neck. Absolutely fantastic. Really should have held on to that one. Oh well.😢
I've had the good fortune to play a couple of '54 Strats. One was okay, the other was not. It hummed, squealed, had thin, short frets and didn't feel right in my hands at all.
The Fender 60th anniversary '54 Strat is actually more period correct (including the single-seam, center pocket case and pickups); and the bodies are noticeably lighter (mine only weighs a hair over 6.5 lbs-2 piece swamp ash...)!
Agreed! I own a 60th Anniversary '54 Stratocaster Relic w/gold anodized pickguard. It's light, looks stunning and sounds magnificent. My only complaint is that -- having had it for 10 years -- the bakelite volume and tone knobs have developed hairline fissures, though they remain stable and haven't broken off. I've tried contacting Fender Customer Support, but they're loathe to provide replacements to purchase unless you go through a whole involved process to get them through the Custom Shop.
Awesome video. I always dreamed of owning a Les Paul as a kid. They're all I dreamed about. As I became a gigging musician years ago, despite my best efforts at resistance, I fell in love with Fender. My #1 is a 1959 Custom Shop relic Strat. To say I love that guitar would be an understatement. I have a Mexican Stratocaster that I bought new when I was 16 (I'm 44 now) and that thing has traveled with me all across the US and EU during the late 90s and early 2000s. Our band was playing festivals and opening for larger acts, and the scars and memories that thing holds are priceless. I know that once I'm dead and gone it will just be a beat up junk Mexican Strat for someone to throw away, but there is no amount of money I could be offered to part with it. I don't believe Mexican Strats are junk, but lets face it, unless it is American made, a beat up Strat has no collector or "vintage" value outside of its sentimental worth to me.
I love your story. I’m 45 and I also have a 90s Mexican Strat that I absolutely love. I learned to play guitar on it. I upgraded it to Fender 57/62 reissue pickups back in the 90s. I also wouldn’t get rid of it.
My mexican Jim Root Telecaster is one of the most stable and in tune instruments I ever played. An absolute workhorse for gigging. I replaced the EMGs with passives and the black hardware with chrome so it is more traditional and less metal and I play lots of blues and hard rock on it. She's beaten and the nitro finish is wearing but damn she's great! Guitars are tools, you just need to find reliable ones. Doesn't matter if Mexican or US :)
Rhett Shull said head over here for a review by Matt Scott who does a good job and really knows what he's talking about. Thank you Matthew! I am 70 and have been guitar in hand for 66 years. Great review. I will start looking!
Here's my little PSA to you all: If Fender has done the same thing with this reissue as they did with the 60th, remove the knobs immediately if you'd like to play it regularly. The knobs will inevitably crack if they are using the period correct bakelite knobs. I had one crack on mine and when I listed it for sale, I got TONS of inquiries of people asking if I'd be willing to sell the knobs, (even the cracked one). Great playing as always Matthew.
I contacted fender to get a replacement knob for one on my 60th custom shop strat that cracked, and they told me to take the guitar to a repair center, which would involve shipping it…just for them to give me a damn knob!
I wish they'd make the 54 knobs available separately (and more robust). I bought a 60th anniversary strat from someone but the knobs were later replacements as presumably the originals had broken. Nice guitar though and luckily the switch tip and pickup covers were intact.
Matt, you sound so good playing your 59 thru a Super Reverb or your Bassman. You have your own unique sound. When you play through something else or you play a different guitar, you sound like anybody else.
Beautiful playing Matt, the incredibly crisp snap of the new strings on new frets give it away as just off the line, regardless of the 'vintage' tag. Really highlights your love of well played instruments and their unique character. I'd bet in a head to head, same guitar/different (modern) amp it would not sound 'special'. Appreciate you taking the time and effort/equipment for us to evaluate.
Hey Mr. Matthew Scott, congratulations on having your very own 1954 Fender Stratocaster! I saw you did a video about it years ago despite it wasn't yours, but I'm happy to see you finally have your dream guitar from Fender. Happy 70th Anniversary, Fender Stratocaster. From Vietnam with love. P.S. I also have that same guitar as well, but it's Vietnamese made based on the original design.
The first few years of the Stratocasters were all over the map in terms of shapes and contours. I wonder if sourcing the lightweight ash is hard even for Fender. Nice playing as always! 👍
I think it’s an awesome guitar. I bought and sold a number of the 50th anniversary years back. I kept one, and I love it. As for this one, ash bodies can vary in weight, but are as a general rule a heavy wood. I play LP’s too, so the weight doesn’t concern me. This on is everything I wished the 50th anniversary model was with the exception of not being able to set the switch in the “in between” position. Hopefully Fender fixes this so it can be done. Other than that, this is one awesome guitar!
Great reviews! First thing I noticed that was NOT present was the body neck pocket corner angles are not the sharp 90*... they have the curve of later models.
What a guitar. Sounds better than anything sold by Fender right now. This strat provides evidence that the 54strat is the holy Grail of the stratocaster by far. Fender pulled this off again. Modern players will push back! There is nothing sold by Fender including the ultra or pro II that touches this guitar for tone and playability ..The soft V neck is awesome too ..
I would agree. Best guitar, period. And the early '54s had the serial numbers in the top of the springs plate. Mine was 0517. This thing sure sounds good!!
Luvit Matthew! And I hav to say, Fender seem to've tried a LOT harder with this than my one... I bought the 25th Anniversary Strat as a youngster, (God I can'tbeleive they're on 70 years already! 😱). It was ridiculously heavy, (and quite possibly damaged my left shoulder over time...). Also, some bad-mouthers said that Fender made the '25th' from 'Old Unused Parts' swept up at the factory!... Not sure that's true, but can definitely say this '54/70th sounds wonderful in your capable hands mate... Lovely stuff, thanks!... Bobby 🙏
I looked it up on Sweetwater & these 70th Anniversary Stratocasters are all over the ma as far as weight goes, ranging on the low side from 7lb 8oz up to 8lb 12oz (whoa!)
Maybe I should have paid more attention to what was said during that excellent video but I was just wondering if the neck had a 7.25" radius and a 3-way switch like the original models ?
Back in the days before the internet very few people cared about the weight of a guitar. In fact, at the local stores the heavier guitars were more likely to sell quicker than the lighter ones. Of course, we were in our teens and 20’s then. As we age or deal with health situations heavy has fallen out of favor. Interestingly enough the best sounding Strat I ever had was 9 LBs. A fantastic ‘69 Strat I wish I’d kept. Thanks for the demo and rundown. For what it’s worth, I think it sounds really good.
If you started out in the neck position, the guitar sounds extremely bright to me. -Nice looking. If it doesn't break the bank, it would be a nice addition to a player's arsenal.
I have a 1994 anniversary strat i bought new back in the day. After pre agreeing on price i spent a few hours in a room full of strats being able to pick whatever one i wanted. While some had more expensive options the one i choose was basically a straight up American standard with the anniversary badges on it. I still use it everyday especially when recording because it just records better than any other guitar i own. After all these years its never needed to be set up or repaired, although well worn the frets dont buzz and the intonation is good. My old hands prefer my tele these days, but when i want to lay down something i always end up using my trusty old strat to avoid disappointment during playback.
IMO I’m with you on the weight. Lighter body less finish more resonance.However; I believe that the thicker the neck the better the tone, and roasted necks are even better. IMO I did and A/B with a 54 reissue that had a smallish C and put a Mayer Sig USA neck on it and it was so much fuller, warmer and just more everything period. I do like what I’m seeing here, how big is the neck? Is it 59 John English big or maybe more Mayer US big if you’ve played one? Thank you for what you do. You’re doing what you love and doing it well.
Good on Fender for at least trying to keep the history / legacy of Leo’s original masterpiece alive . Too damn many things these days that are “ Old or outdated “ just get passed over or buried in history books somewhere. At least we can get a small peak at what it must have been like when these first burst on the music scene back then . To say these Fender Stratocasters changed the course of electric guitar type music is about the greatest praise anyone could get, and change music they did . My buddy had an original ‘57 Strat , and it was a fantastic guitar. He’s long gone now unfortunately, but I believe either his widow or oldest daughter still has it stashed away somewhere, and it was signed by One Edward Van Halen who actually played it a bit one afternoon out here in California at Valley Music in El Cajon around ‘82 or ‘83 when they played here at Sports arena . To say it’s probably worth a few dollars now would be an understatement. Thanks Matthew , as usual , For your great content & playing 😎👍
My one and only electric 6 is a 2010 Standard Strat, two piece ash body, one piece maple neck. Sunburst too. Looks remarkably like that one, but cost £500 and weighs a gnat's under 7lb. Maybe the extra thousands in that 70th's price is all down to that extra 1lb. Bar o' gold, maybe?
Amazing Fender is killing it! I got my first strat 2 years ago the MiJ limited re-issue “HM” Stratocaster and currently using as my main gig and studio guitar 🤘🎸🤘
First I have heard of the 70th. I currently own a Custom Shop 2004/5 50th anniversary Strat built by Master Builder JT English. Found it at a little boutique online shop... it included the original 2 cases and all case candy... I'm a nut so I put together a little time capsule with the original Fender Frontline 2004 catalog with the add for the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary Stratocaster, a Fender Authorized 1995 reprint of the original folding Sales Catalog from 1954, a reprint of the Custom Shops JT English obituary found online on Fenders website in 2008, a 1954-2004 Custom Shop license plate, Tom Wheelers "The Stratocaster Chronicles" a history celebrating 50 years of the Stratocaster and a real 1954 Franklin Half Dollar (for posterity). I also own the 2004 American Deluxe Stratocaster 50th Anniversary Edition. At the age of 42 in the year 2000 I began a serious journey of learning to play guitar and the above equipment was all part of that journey. Today I am 65, have been playing for 23 years and have never regretted one moment of guitar collecting and playing. Thank you Matthew for your videos, I love seeing your journey of the older equipment finds you have made. Keep up in tune...! nwh
a short guitar cord into the jack, connect an OHM meter ? the toggle switch to chose a pickup ? and find the OHMage I just learn t something no more taking the pickups out of the guitar first thanks Mathew😊
I fell in love with Strats as soon as i saw one. They look like rock and roll to me. I'm on the cusp of 69. I have a late 90s MIM one and a much newer, bought in a garage sale, MIC Squire. Love them both and wouldn't sell them for the world. A real Fender is sadly out of my budget.
What back in 54 that cost about $100....How much is it now?I love all strats.A heavier strat is better.Susutain.The 70's strats lighter.Neat guitar overall.
I wanted to share something with you Matt. The crack on the head stock of the 54 Les Paul Jr, you glued the crack. My dad was one of the greatest gunsmiths in the country. When repairing a crack in a rifle stock or shotgun stock, he would glue the crack. What he did, though, he ran a bead of glue along the crack, then he would take a rag and rap it around that glue. Then, he would use compressed air to force that glue into the crack. Then he'd clamp it. You may get a better repair if you try this method. Oh, the rag was so he didn't blow glue all over his machine shop. Lol. Just in case people say, well, what's the rag for. Anyway, I love those old vintage guitars, and you are getting better at repairing them and making even the shittiest looking guitar soung amazing. Please keep the videos coming brother. PEACE ✌️
Dunno if it’s the guitar or you, but man it sounded good. Probably you. Dang I love strats. Every time I just start thinking a teeny bit about playing something else I am reminded why I love them so much.
The Mirrors album has no filler songs. My man is out here putting his soul into these songs and making a true classic album from start to finish. I think Matthew has too much respect for the culture to give anything less. I don't wanna hear anyone cry about the state of music if they aren't out there buying this album 😉 seriously.
Are these US made, or are they MIM like the 75th Anniversary Teles ? I got one for my B'day when they were released, I love my Tele, in the silver metallic Diamond.
I ordered a Strat through the MOD shop. I wanted a '57 looking Strat like (Buddy Holly) but with a modern compound radius neck. Mine came in at 7lbs 7ozs. alder body that looks like 1 piece, 2 tone burst. single ply pickguard etc. Fender far exceeded my dreams, it's incredible and I'm super picky. Even 8 lbs seems heavy now, close to 9 lbs would be tough to live with.
My 57 re-issue Strat is fairly heavy too, but it sounds awesome. I bought it (second hand) without plugging it in, because someone had pit white EMG's on it and I wanted to hear it acoustically and feel the neck etc. For many years I played a 72 Tele thinline, which despite the hollow was also quite heavy. The idea of a light solidbody was new to me 'til I resd in Guitar Player mag someone enthusing on the idea of a light body sounding better. I've never found this to be true except with my PRS bolt on, which was made in 89, right about the time when light bodies were more in vogue. It too siunds good, so to me it makes nobsense to generalise about body weight in a solid body electric. I would agree that starts are probably the best guitars ever designed, but only if you mean " electric" solidbodies.
This is a good example of how with heavy guitars you only hear the strings and pickups. The wood tone doesn't come through resulting in a less "open" sound.
I have an American 50th Anniversary and LOVE it. It's not a Deluxe, but a Standard (difference is the Deluxe has gold hardware). I didn't like the one ply pick guard and replaced it with a three ply (keep the one ply -- just in case).
I bought one of these 70th anniversary '54 Strats last month. It weighs 8 lbs. 2 ounces, so it is lighter than the one you reviewed. The quality was there (this is my 5th Strat since 1973). Neck is great. I really like the vintage high frets and all the hardware, but the ashtray doesn't fit on the bridge - I bought my 1972 Strat used in 1973, but the ashtray fit the bridge (maybe the only thing that worked right on that guitar). However, the term was set up as decked and I now use a floating tree, so that might have something to do with it. This is not important at all because who needs a cover for the trem? I didn't like the stock pickups on the new guitar, but I have not liked Fender stock pickups on any of my Strats, even the 30-40 year old ones. About 5 years ago I 'discovered' Lindy Fralin pickups: I put Vintage hot strat pickups on my two other (current) Strats (2000 am deluxe and 1987 am std) and they sound great. Also got Fralin's for my Les Paul and my Jazzmaster. I guess I am a fan. So I ordered Fralin Real 54's for this new guitar (ah, the advantages of an advanced degree! - I know it is a luxury). But the Real 54's sound much better than the Fender Vintage '54's that came with this guitar: very full and clear sound. I know they are supposed to be weaker than the Alnico 5 pickups on my other Strats, but they sound very full and loud. I know not everyone likes the neck on the 1954 70th anniversary reissue but the vintage high frets and the 7.25 inch fingerboard radius just really suit my small hands. I am an old rocker who has since learned Jazz and music theory. The guitar sounds great on any amp I play it through (and I have many vintage and modern amps) and the glassy sound of the Fralin Real '54 pickups works for me. It's been 50 years since I played professionally and gigged regularly (remember the part about the advanced degree above, haha) but I am entering into a time when I might be able to start doing that again. This guitar is certainly inspiring me.
my wife got me a 75th Anniversery, let me pick out the pickupd setup. i never had a strat before. i got it like my Ibanez Jem: Double, Single , Double. I love the single in the middle for cleaner stuff and somewhat dirty picking. I dont like single in neck or bridge, but these doubles came with issues. I had to turn both around so i can raise the posts to improve the sound at the right locations. I lowered the neck one and really brought out magnet posts away from neck, sounds like a p90. Bridge was too bright on 10, so i slightly lowered it and slightly brought up magnet posts away from bridge. Sounds like a p90 backed off to 7 or 8 and now very ballsy and not brittle on 10.
Maybe it's just the nerd in me, but I wish Fender would have made just a genuine 1954 Reissue..instead of close but not 100% accurate American Vintage for $2500 or the on spec Custom Shop for $5k..the necks on these AV are a golden orange..in fact they came from the factory with clear lacquer and some turned yellow from smoke, sunlight, and age..not to mention how damn heavy they're making these..a 9lb 54 Strat..Really?
thank you for your video on the 70th anniversary i like that Antigua Finish , it appears to be the only large headstock limited 70th i have seen so far .
I played a 1954 strat owned at the time by jackson browne around 1984. the neck was an insane V almost unplayable and it was setup with the factory correct heavy strings with a wound G. Jackson bought it as an investment since it was kind of unplayable I believe most 1954 strats had the same V shape neck.
Hey, Matthew, I'm local to the Oklahoma area, and recently came into a rather large collection of 50s, 60s, and 70s guitar parts, mostly Fender. If you're interested, let me know!
What is the difference between the 70th and the 60th anniversary one ⁉️ I was thinking about getting me the 60th anniversary one. What is your favorite guitar from the strat line. I want to add a strat to my collection and I am not a lead player I'm more rhythm.
"Perfection" As We Know. Is a Killer. The Strat Sounds Great ! Looks Great! Not just Because of Matt. Although. He Does Give it The Magic. ✨️✨️✨️☀️. And The # 8. Is Infinity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️🙂. Fender For Ever ! 🙂
Thank you!! Great video and beautiful sounds. One question, can we change the 3-way to 5-way? Or just put something to keep the switch position in-between, with 3-way switch. Thank you again I love your channel.
I think this is a total myth, no offence intended, but think about a les paul. Much heavier than a strat, no? do they resonate? of course! and sustain amazingly well, also, I've had many strats and teles that resonate like CRAZY acoustically and sound thin and weak when plugged in. So, there is clearly more to it. The guitar has to resonate in a particular way in which the guitar holds everything together nicely producing nice sustain and a bold sound. It's very easy for a guitar to be really resonate and vibrate like crazy and not sound that great when plugged in. All of my 3 8 pound strats have been the biggest baddest sounding strats I've ever played. I'm sure there are nice light ones out there that sound good, but I think it's much safer to build them slightly heavier to achieve consistent body to the sound.
First of all, i always love watching your videos. You're an amazing guitar player. Now about this guitar, i'm not gonna buy it because the knobs and the back plate holes are '54 accurate or because it comes with a strap and a cloth (also '54 accurate 😀) The main issue i have with these models is they have 7'25" radius and vintage frets which honestly sucks. In all honesty if you buy a MIM Player or an American Player Stratocaster and change the pickups to '50's something you're gonna end up with a much comfortable to play guitar. Therefore you're gonna have a better sounding guitar.
Could it be that the weight difference is that there is moisture in the wood vs. an original '54 which has been drying out for 70 years? Great video though...
Thank you for testing this Anniversary Strat right away. I own an American Vintage II Strat and I wonder if the Anniversary version is really worth it for a US$1000.- more (in Europe) than the AVII?
The weight is all over the place with ash guitars, surprising Fender wouldn't sort for weight with these though. I played several of the 60th anniversary '54 american vintage and they were all low/middle 7 lb range and were incredible. Main issue is you'd look at the bakelite knobs funny and they'd crack.
I also just turned 70.
Damn.
Happier for the Strat!
"Forget" The Number. It's Just a Number.
Start Telling Your Self,
What Ever Number. Sounds Good to You.
"Maybe" 30, 32, 38, 44. 55. You Choose.
You have Nothing to Loose. ✨️✨️✨️🙂
LOL! I'm 76! My very first guitar was a '54 I got for Christmas of 1963. $75 from one of the downtown Jacksonville pawn shops on West Bay Street. This is probably just another Stratocaster they are calling a "1954." But it darn sure looks tempting ...
@@TonetwistersDo you still have it?
They age well... our husks do not. :-) I thought I had a couple more decades in me, but my skin and Psoriasis has other plans. Happy 70. And the Strat too.
What's your serial number? JK, Happy 70 laps around the sun!
The only thing wrong with your videos, is that we have to wait too long between them!! Nice to see you again, young man! Play those guitars!!
I'm sorry I was gone too long. I'm back on it. ✌🏻👊🏻
Quality takes time my friend!
The greatest joy is in the expectation - science actually bears that out, it’s how the brain chemistry works …
@@MatthewScottmusic man!! I'm just teasing!! I Love your work! Just keep em coming!!
It’s always a nice gift to see anew vid drop! This one doesn’t disappoint!
I graduated in ‘96, which was Fender’s 50th anniversary. I used some scholarship money I received from the local Masons to buy myself a brand new American Standard 3-tone sunburst Strat with a rosewood fretboard. Still have it. Hadn’t played it in a few years because the frets were shot. Intonation was out of the question. Watched some TH-cam videos to gain some tips and successfully refretted it myself. Now it’s back in playing order and in the fold. Thank you TH-cam. I wish you were around when I was a kid. I’d
probably be doing something in the music industry instead of testing switchgear.
96 would have been their 42nd anniversary considering 2024 is their 70th?
@@RoryOBrien85
Fender was founded in 1946.
This guitar isn't for the 70th Anniversary of Fender as a company. It's a guitar to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the first Stratocaster which was introduced by Fender in 1954. They also did this in 1979 (25th), 1994 (40th), 2004 (50th) and 2014 (60th). To me the most valuable one would be one from 1994 because they only made 1,954 of them and were numbered on the back of the headstock. I had one but sold it 4 years ago. It sounded great, but I couldn't get used to the obscenely, heavily lacquered maple fretboard.
The Stratocaster body design simply cannot be beaten in my humble opinion. I finally managed to buy a new sunburst USA Highway One in the mid-2000s, and I’m never going to part with it. Yes, I am currently having an affair with a low-cost pretender, more precisely, with its streamlined heel joint which suits my ageing digits, but in the end, it’s the Fender that will stay with me forever. Thank you so much Mr Leo Fender for creating this iconic instrument.
The unique and priceless thing about Leo Fender's original design (apart from body and neck shape) was the three pickup, single coil configuration and exactly where (harmonically) and at what angle they were positioned. I recently purchased a second hand Squier Strat for £60 and after some hours filing and smoothing fret ends, adjusting nut, truss rod, intonation etc she has at least 90% of the very best of the very best Fender sound. Plays beautifully and stays perfectly in tune after using extensive trem ♥ Never owned a Strat of any kind before but they're amazing!
I have several Strat type guitars, and while I like a lot about the pickup configuration, I think, much like the 6 screw trem bridge plate, the spacing of the pickups had more to do with looks than string harmonic mode considerations, with the exeption of the angled bridge pickup and posssobly the neck pickup pos. The Strat has a well-proportioned look, and people are attracted to things that look that way i.e.facial feature proportions.
I am very eskeptical a Squier can be as good as a Fender. Very skeptical. My first guitar was a Squier and it was a very bad guitar in comparison just with a Koean Fender, not even American (however, my Korean is probably better than many Americans...). I also have a modern Squier and it is way better than my first guitar but still, miles away from a good Fender. Bridge has a bad design that can hurt you. Tunners are terrible. Pickups have less dynamics. The neck is a good Squier one, but still, miles away from a good Fender in playability. Now, regarding recorded sound, that is no longer a point because you can play with a milk carton that can sound as good as a custom masterbuild Fender...
@@predigr Times have changed. The tolerances are perfect now.
@@scottnathanphoto yes, I see price now means mainly "more beautiful guitars". That is what you are paying for.
Absolutely. The Fender Stratocaster has that shape and ergonomy that makes you always feel comfortable when you play them, they (the Fender Strats) are easy to equalize and they are reliable instruments (even if you use their tremolos in a soft way).
To me, Fender electric guitars and amps are the best for bright and clear sounds... Maybe their weak spot (and maybe this is not the best way to express it) might be when you try to create dark sounds... Especially, when I look for distortion and darker tones, I confess, I don't achieve or get those tones when I look for them through the Fender amps...
Don't missunderstand me, I love Fender amps for playing slide electric guitar lines... But maybe not the most proper amps for the heavy metal style...
I'm an old guy that's been playing guitar since surf music was popular back in the sixties. I've owned two fifty four Stratocasters I paid less than a thousand dollars for each of them. To be perfectly honest I really didn't like the way they played. The best stratecaster I ever owned was a nineteen sixty three with the b neck. Absolutely fantastic. Really should have held on to that one. Oh well.😢
I've had the good fortune to play a couple of '54 Strats. One was okay, the other was not. It hummed, squealed, had thin, short frets and didn't feel right in my hands at all.
@@GreenDistantStar I agree. The ones I had were really hard to play.
dont be afrraid to type numbers out
Early 60s strats are the best
@@colevanbalen7205😂
The Fender 60th anniversary '54 Strat is actually more period correct (including the single-seam, center pocket case and pickups); and the bodies are noticeably lighter (mine only weighs a hair over 6.5 lbs-2 piece swamp ash...)!
Agreed! I own a 60th Anniversary '54 Stratocaster Relic w/gold anodized pickguard. It's light, looks stunning and sounds magnificent. My only complaint is that -- having had it for 10 years -- the bakelite volume and tone knobs have developed hairline fissures, though they remain stable and haven't broken off. I've tried contacting Fender Customer Support, but they're loathe to provide replacements to purchase unless you go through a whole involved process to get them through the Custom Shop.
Awesome video. I always dreamed of owning a Les Paul as a kid. They're all I dreamed about. As I became a gigging musician years ago, despite my best efforts at resistance, I fell in love with Fender. My #1 is a 1959 Custom Shop relic Strat. To say I love that guitar would be an understatement. I have a Mexican Stratocaster that I bought new when I was 16 (I'm 44 now) and that thing has traveled with me all across the US and EU during the late 90s and early 2000s. Our band was playing festivals and opening for larger acts, and the scars and memories that thing holds are priceless. I know that once I'm dead and gone it will just be a beat up junk Mexican Strat for someone to throw away, but there is no amount of money I could be offered to part with it. I don't believe Mexican Strats are junk, but lets face it, unless it is American made, a beat up Strat has no collector or "vintage" value outside of its sentimental worth to me.
Groove it's really great to read your post thanks this.
I doubt it will be considered a junk Strat... I think it would live on and be making cool music for a long time to come !
What type of music did your band play?
I love your story. I’m 45 and I also have a 90s Mexican Strat that I absolutely love. I learned to play guitar on it. I upgraded it to Fender 57/62 reissue pickups back in the 90s. I also wouldn’t get rid of it.
My mexican Jim Root Telecaster is one of the most stable and in tune instruments I ever played. An absolute workhorse for gigging. I replaced the EMGs with passives and the black hardware with chrome so it is more traditional and less metal and I play lots of blues and hard rock on it. She's beaten and the nitro finish is wearing but damn she's great!
Guitars are tools, you just need to find reliable ones. Doesn't matter if Mexican or US :)
the custom shop should relase a 140th anniversary strat NOW !! thats
how ahead of his time leo was back then, what a guy 😇thanks
matthew, superb 👍👌
I got that “HM” strat re-issue been my main gig guitar since. Fender is killing it 🤘🎸🤘
Rhett Shull said head over here for a review by Matt Scott who does a good job and really knows what he's talking about. Thank you Matthew! I am 70 and have been guitar in hand for 66 years. Great review. I will start looking!
Thank you!! I’ve been listening to your album almost daily since it came out. Awesome stuff.
Here's my little PSA to you all: If Fender has done the same thing with this reissue as they did with the 60th, remove the knobs immediately if you'd like to play it regularly. The knobs will inevitably crack if they are using the period correct bakelite knobs. I had one crack on mine and when I listed it for sale, I got TONS of inquiries of people asking if I'd be willing to sell the knobs, (even the cracked one).
Great playing as always Matthew.
Selling your knob. Sounds like a dream job.
@@BeefNEggs057lmao
Good point. Thanks for the tip.
I contacted fender to get a replacement knob for one on my 60th custom shop strat that cracked, and they told me to take the guitar to a repair center, which would involve shipping it…just for them to give me a damn knob!
I wish they'd make the 54 knobs available separately (and more robust). I bought a 60th anniversary strat from someone but the knobs were later replacements as presumably the originals had broken. Nice guitar though and luckily the switch tip and pickup covers were intact.
Matt, you sound so good playing your 59 thru a Super Reverb or your Bassman. You have your own unique sound. When you play through something else or you play a different guitar, you sound like anybody else.
8 lbs? What a tank!! My 50th Anniversary 54 was 6lb 14 oz. I regret selling it now.
Beautiful playing Matt, the incredibly crisp snap of the new strings on new frets give it away as just off the line, regardless of the 'vintage' tag. Really highlights your love of well played instruments and their unique character. I'd bet in a head to head, same guitar/different (modern) amp it would not sound 'special'. Appreciate you taking the time and effort/equipment for us to evaluate.
Hey Mr. Matthew Scott, congratulations on having your very own 1954 Fender Stratocaster! I saw you did a video about it years ago despite it wasn't yours, but I'm happy to see you finally have your dream guitar from Fender. Happy 70th Anniversary, Fender Stratocaster. From Vietnam with love.
P.S. I also have that same guitar as well, but it's Vietnamese made based on the original design.
Great video - loved how you verbally covered the bases before playing. Nice and unique.
The first few years of the Stratocasters were all over the map in terms of shapes and contours. I wonder if sourcing the lightweight ash is hard even for Fender. Nice playing as always! 👍
Apparently, it is. I believe they save the lightweight ash for the custom shop guitars. But 8 lbs 12 oz is Les Paul territory!
I could just sit and listen to jam sessions all day! Thanks for putting out the videos. 🤙🏼
Beautiful guitar! Congrats. Dude… your videos are SO GOOD!
Wonderful playing as usual. Always a pleasure to hear you play!
I think it’s an awesome guitar. I bought and sold a number of the 50th anniversary years back. I kept one, and I love it. As for this one, ash bodies can vary in weight, but are as a general rule a heavy wood. I play LP’s too, so the weight doesn’t concern me. This on is everything I wished the 50th anniversary model was with the exception of not being able to set the switch in the “in between” position. Hopefully Fender fixes this so it can be done. Other than that, this is one awesome guitar!
It does not matter which guitar you play, everything you play sounds warm and nice! And most of the time no effects! ❤
Great reviews! First thing I noticed that was NOT present was the body neck pocket corner angles are not the sharp 90*... they have the curve of later models.
What a guitar. Sounds better than anything sold by Fender right now.
This strat provides evidence that the 54strat is the holy Grail of the stratocaster by far.
Fender pulled this off again. Modern players will push back! There is nothing sold by Fender including the ultra or pro II that touches this guitar for tone and playability ..The soft V neck is awesome too
..
Sounds incredible to me!! I could listen to you play all day long. Great vid!!
I would agree. Best guitar, period. And the early '54s had the serial numbers in the top of the springs plate. Mine was 0517. This thing sure sounds good!!
Luvit Matthew! And I hav to say, Fender seem to've tried a LOT harder with this than my one... I bought the 25th Anniversary Strat as a youngster, (God I can'tbeleive they're on 70 years already! 😱). It was ridiculously heavy, (and quite possibly damaged my left shoulder over time...). Also, some bad-mouthers said that Fender made the '25th' from 'Old Unused Parts' swept up at the factory!... Not sure that's true, but can definitely say this '54/70th sounds wonderful in your capable hands mate... Lovely stuff, thanks!... Bobby 🙏
Enjoyable as always. Love your Toys. Good to see & hear you again.
Best Regards Always.
I looked it up on Sweetwater & these 70th Anniversary Stratocasters are all over the ma as far as weight goes, ranging on the low side from 7lb 8oz up to 8lb 12oz (whoa!)
That is a sweet guitar & case combo.
can’t wait to come back and watch this one after work. always inspired when you upload matt.
Maybe I should have paid more attention to what was said during that excellent video but I was just wondering if the neck had a 7.25" radius and a 3-way switch like the original models ?
Back in the days before the internet very few people cared about the weight of a guitar. In fact, at the local stores the heavier guitars were more likely to sell quicker than the lighter ones. Of course, we were in our teens and 20’s then. As we age or deal with health situations heavy has fallen out of favor. Interestingly enough the best sounding Strat I ever had was 9 LBs. A fantastic ‘69 Strat I wish I’d kept.
Thanks for the demo and rundown. For what it’s worth, I think it sounds really good.
If you started out in the neck position, the guitar sounds extremely bright to me. -Nice looking. If it doesn't break the bank, it would be a nice addition to a player's arsenal.
Yeah all I heard in this demo was treble and bite. Some off-putting overtones too. Maybe it's the heavy ash body?
Matthew, You should give me this Guitar, I was Born in 1954, And I turn 70 this Month, Thank YOU , Cousin Figel
I concur wholeheartedly.
@@Em_Dee_Aitch Thank You,
Agreed , you deserve it!
I have a 1994 anniversary strat i bought new back in the day. After pre agreeing on price i spent a few hours in a room full of strats being able to pick whatever one i wanted. While some had more expensive options the one i choose was basically a straight up American standard with the anniversary badges on it. I still use it everyday especially when recording because it just records better than any other guitar i own. After all these years its never needed to be set up or repaired, although well worn the frets dont buzz and the intonation is good. My old hands prefer my tele these days, but when i want to lay down something i always end up using my trusty old strat to avoid disappointment during playback.
IMO I’m with you on the weight. Lighter body less finish more resonance.However; I believe that the thicker the neck the better the tone, and roasted necks are even better. IMO I did and A/B with a 54 reissue that had a smallish C and put a Mayer Sig USA neck on it and it was so much fuller, warmer and just more everything period. I do like what I’m seeing here, how big is the neck? Is it 59 John English big or maybe more Mayer US big if you’ve played one? Thank you for what you do. You’re doing what you love and doing it well.
It sounds crisp like my old 74 ash strat. Great demo.
That’s just like the one I just bought! I LOVE IT! I did a complete setup, and it’s now amazing both to play as well as look at!
That bridge pick up though 🔥🔥🔥
Good on Fender for at least trying to keep the history / legacy of Leo’s original masterpiece alive . Too damn many things these days that are “ Old or outdated “ just get passed over or buried in history books somewhere. At least we can get a small peak at what it must have been like when these first burst on the music scene back then . To say these Fender Stratocasters changed the course of electric guitar type music is about the greatest praise anyone could get, and change music they did . My buddy had an original ‘57 Strat , and it was a fantastic guitar. He’s long gone now unfortunately, but I believe either his widow or oldest daughter still has it stashed away somewhere, and it was signed by One Edward Van Halen who actually played it a bit one afternoon out here in California at Valley Music in El Cajon around ‘82 or ‘83 when they played here at Sports arena . To say it’s probably worth a few dollars now would be an understatement. Thanks Matthew , as usual , For your great content & playing 😎👍
My one and only electric 6 is a 2010 Standard Strat, two piece ash body, one piece maple neck. Sunburst too. Looks remarkably like that one, but cost £500 and weighs a gnat's under 7lb. Maybe the extra thousands in that 70th's price is all down to that extra 1lb. Bar o' gold, maybe?
Amazing Fender is killing it! I got my first strat 2 years ago the MiJ limited re-issue “HM” Stratocaster and currently using as my main gig and studio guitar 🤘🎸🤘
Woow congrat's to your MIJ 👍
First I have heard of the 70th. I currently own a Custom Shop 2004/5 50th anniversary Strat built by Master Builder JT English. Found it at a little boutique online shop... it included the original 2 cases and all case candy... I'm a nut so I put together a little time capsule with the original Fender Frontline 2004 catalog with the add for the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary Stratocaster, a Fender Authorized 1995 reprint of the original folding Sales Catalog from 1954, a reprint of the Custom Shops JT English obituary found online on Fenders website in 2008, a 1954-2004 Custom Shop license plate, Tom Wheelers "The Stratocaster Chronicles" a history celebrating 50 years of the Stratocaster and a real 1954 Franklin Half Dollar (for posterity). I also own the 2004 American Deluxe Stratocaster 50th Anniversary Edition. At the age of 42 in the year 2000 I began a serious journey of learning to play guitar and the above equipment was all part of that journey. Today I am 65, have been playing for 23 years and have never regretted one moment of guitar collecting and playing. Thank you Matthew for your videos, I love seeing your journey of the older equipment finds you have made. Keep up in tune...! nwh
That’s John English! Never let it go!
Great !! Rocking Out !!
a short guitar cord into the jack,
connect an OHM meter ?
the toggle switch to chose a pickup ?
and find the OHMage
I just learn t something
no more taking the pickups out of the guitar first
thanks Mathew😊
Nice playing!
I never wanted a '54 Strat before - but I do now.
Dude, I could listen to you play for hours
I fell in love with Strats as soon as i saw one. They look like rock and roll to me. I'm on the cusp of 69. I have a late 90s MIM one and a much newer, bought in a garage sale, MIC Squire. Love them both and wouldn't sell them for the world. A real Fender is sadly out of my budget.
What back in 54 that cost about $100....How much is it now?I love all strats.A heavier strat is better.Susutain.The 70's strats lighter.Neat guitar overall.
I wanted to share something with you Matt. The crack on the head stock of the 54 Les Paul Jr, you glued the crack. My dad was one of the greatest gunsmiths in the country. When repairing a crack in a rifle stock or shotgun stock, he would glue the crack. What he did, though, he ran a bead of glue along the crack, then he would take a rag and rap it around that glue. Then, he would use compressed air to force that glue into the crack. Then he'd clamp it. You may get a better repair if you try this method. Oh, the rag was so he didn't blow glue all over his machine shop. Lol. Just in case people say, well, what's the rag for. Anyway, I love those old vintage guitars, and you are getting better at repairing them and making even the shittiest looking guitar soung amazing. Please keep the videos coming brother. PEACE ✌️
Dunno if it’s the guitar or you, but man it sounded good. Probably you. Dang I love strats. Every time I just start thinking a teeny bit about playing something else I am reminded why I love them so much.
Nicely done,got some great tones out of that Strat.
Looks gorgeous! Also sounds fantastic in Matthew’s hands! 🎸🔥🎸🔥🎸
In your demos regular open chording will also show extra tones of the guitars rather than only ever single notes,
The Mirrors album has no filler songs. My man is out here putting his soul into these songs and making a true classic album from start to finish. I think Matthew has too much respect for the culture to give anything less. I don't wanna hear anyone cry about the state of music if they aren't out there buying this album 😉 seriously.
Wow thank you so much. Record #2 inbound! 🙏🏻🤟🏻
@@MatthewScottmusicwoohoooooooo
Matt's our Stevie Ray 😊
Beautiful...From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ✌
What do you have?
Are these US made, or are they MIM like the 75th Anniversary Teles ? I got one for my B'day when they were released, I love my Tele, in the silver metallic Diamond.
Purty and it sounds good but you always sound good brother
I ordered a Strat through the MOD shop. I wanted a '57 looking Strat like (Buddy Holly) but with a modern compound radius neck. Mine came in at 7lbs 7ozs. alder body that looks like 1 piece, 2 tone burst. single ply pickguard etc. Fender far exceeded my dreams, it's incredible and I'm super picky. Even 8 lbs seems heavy now, close to 9 lbs would be tough to live with.
i listen to your albuns everyday bro. Love your stuff
While interesting, your videos of true vintage guitars are more exciting to me.
It is always a pleasure to hear your playing.
8lbs 12oz. heavy ha ha - my Les Paul is 11lbs (and I like it that way). great playing as always mate
Fender just casually sends you a 70th Anniversary Strat....that's wild!!!!
Don’t worry, they will have it back, after he makes his videos.
My 57 re-issue Strat is fairly heavy too, but it sounds awesome. I bought it (second hand) without plugging it in, because someone had pit white EMG's on it and I wanted to hear it acoustically and feel the neck etc. For many years I played a 72 Tele thinline, which despite the hollow was also quite heavy. The idea of a light solidbody was new to me 'til I resd in Guitar Player mag someone enthusing on the idea of a light body sounding better. I've never found this to be true except with my PRS bolt on, which was made in 89, right about the time when light bodies were more in vogue. It too siunds good, so to me it makes nobsense to generalise about body weight in a solid body electric. I would agree that starts are probably the best guitars ever designed, but only if you mean " electric" solidbodies.
This is a good example of how with heavy guitars you only hear the strings and pickups. The wood tone doesn't come through resulting in a less "open" sound.
I have an American 50th Anniversary and LOVE it. It's not a Deluxe, but a Standard (difference is the Deluxe has gold hardware). I didn't like the one ply pick guard and replaced it with a three ply (keep the one ply -- just in case).
Nice tone
I bought one of these 70th anniversary '54 Strats last month. It weighs 8 lbs. 2 ounces, so it is lighter than the one you reviewed. The quality was there (this is my 5th Strat since 1973). Neck is great. I really like the vintage high frets and all the hardware, but the ashtray doesn't fit on the bridge - I bought my 1972 Strat used in 1973, but the ashtray fit the bridge (maybe the only thing that worked right on that guitar). However, the term was set up as decked and I now use a floating tree, so that might have something to do with it. This is not important at all because who needs a cover for the trem?
I didn't like the stock pickups on the new guitar, but I have not liked Fender stock pickups on any of my Strats, even the 30-40 year old ones. About 5 years ago I 'discovered' Lindy Fralin pickups: I put Vintage hot strat pickups on my two other (current) Strats (2000 am deluxe and 1987 am std) and they sound great. Also got Fralin's for my Les Paul and my Jazzmaster. I guess I am a fan. So I ordered Fralin Real 54's for this new guitar (ah, the advantages of an advanced degree! - I know it is a luxury). But the Real 54's sound much better than the Fender Vintage '54's that came with this guitar: very full and clear sound. I know they are supposed to be weaker than the Alnico 5 pickups on my other Strats, but they sound very full and loud.
I know not everyone likes the neck on the 1954 70th anniversary reissue but the vintage high frets and the 7.25 inch fingerboard radius just really suit my small hands. I am an old rocker who has since learned Jazz and music theory. The guitar sounds great on any amp I play it through (and I have many vintage and modern amps) and the glassy sound of the Fralin Real '54 pickups works for me.
It's been 50 years since I played professionally and gigged regularly (remember the part about the advanced degree above, haha) but I am entering into a time when I might be able to start doing that again. This guitar is certainly inspiring me.
my wife got me a 75th Anniversery, let me pick out the pickupd setup. i never had a strat before. i got it like my Ibanez Jem: Double, Single , Double. I love the single in the middle for cleaner stuff and somewhat dirty picking. I dont like single in neck or bridge, but these doubles came with issues. I had to turn both around so i can raise the posts to improve the sound at the right locations. I lowered the neck one and really brought out magnet posts away from neck, sounds like a p90. Bridge was too bright on 10, so i slightly lowered it and slightly brought up magnet posts away from bridge. Sounds like a p90 backed off to 7 or 8 and now very ballsy and not brittle on 10.
The fender Stratocaster is definitely the best model and guitar ever invented.
Sounds great Matthew. For a heavy guitar it has great tone.
This is basically the Fender 75th Commemorative Anniv Strat!
I think I prefer this to the vintage ii. Better case and candy and love the sound
Maybe it's just the nerd in me, but I wish Fender would have made just a genuine 1954 Reissue..instead of close but not 100% accurate American Vintage for $2500 or the on spec Custom Shop for $5k..the necks on these AV are a golden orange..in fact they came from the factory with clear lacquer and some turned yellow from smoke, sunlight, and age..not to mention how damn heavy they're making these..a 9lb 54 Strat..Really?
I think the 60th Anniversary Version is the best reissue they've made, Pure Vintage I think they called it
Sounds terrific by the way!
Great video, thank you
thank you for your video
on the 70th anniversary
i like that Antigua Finish ,
it appears to be the only large headstock limited 70th
i have seen so far .
I never take the back plate off to change strings . Just push down the trem arm and the holes line up with the block 👍
I played a 1954 strat owned at the time by jackson browne around 1984. the neck was an insane V almost unplayable and it was setup with the factory correct heavy strings with a wound G. Jackson bought it as an investment since it was kind of unplayable I believe most 1954 strats had the same V shape neck.
Hey, Matthew, I'm local to the Oklahoma area, and recently came into a rather large collection of 50s, 60s, and 70s guitar parts, mostly Fender. If you're interested, let me know!
What is the difference between the 70th and the 60th anniversary one ⁉️ I was thinking about getting me the 60th anniversary one. What is your favorite guitar from the strat line. I want to add a strat to my collection and I am not a lead player I'm more rhythm.
I would have to say I've picked up super light guitars that had awesome tone as well !
Me to I have a pine telecaster sounds beautiful being old I only buy light guitars
"Perfection" As We Know. Is a Killer.
The Strat Sounds Great ! Looks Great!
Not just Because of Matt. Although. He Does
Give it The Magic. ✨️✨️✨️☀️. And The
# 8. Is Infinity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️🙂. Fender For Ever ! 🙂
As someone who saved up as a 21 year old to buy the 50th anniversary Strat, this makes me feel old
I will always be a Stratocaster player.
What a great guitar, you really show cased this one well brother 👌🤙
Thank you!! Great video and beautiful sounds. One question, can we change the 3-way to 5-way? Or just put something to keep the switch position in-between, with 3-way switch.
Thank you again I love your channel.
As Matt has mentioned at the beginning, I prefer the lighter guitar as well. I think they resonate better.
I think this is a total myth, no offence intended, but think about a les paul. Much heavier than a strat, no? do they resonate? of course! and sustain amazingly well, also, I've had many strats and teles that resonate like CRAZY acoustically and sound thin and weak when plugged in. So, there is clearly more to it. The guitar has to resonate in a particular way in which the guitar holds everything together nicely producing nice sustain and a bold sound. It's very easy for a guitar to be really resonate and vibrate like crazy and not sound that great when plugged in. All of my 3 8 pound strats have been the biggest baddest sounding strats I've ever played. I'm sure there are nice light ones out there that sound good, but I think it's much safer to build them slightly heavier to achieve consistent body to the sound.
I see the slope behind the nut is sharp like the Eric Johnson Strat. Quite different than my '62 CS reissue. I noticed Matt tunes a half step down.😊
towards the tuners ? or
sloping towards the pick-ups ?
Yup, test 'em in E standard.
Nice demonstration.
First of all, i always love watching your videos. You're an amazing guitar player. Now about this guitar, i'm not gonna buy it because the knobs and the back plate holes are '54 accurate or because it comes with a strap and a cloth (also '54 accurate 😀) The main issue i have with these models is they have 7'25" radius and vintage frets which honestly sucks. In all honesty if you buy a MIM Player or an American Player Stratocaster and change the pickups to '50's something you're gonna end up with a much comfortable to play guitar. Therefore you're gonna have a better sounding guitar.
Could it be that the weight difference is that there is moisture in the wood vs. an original '54 which has been drying out for 70 years? Great video though...
Matthew. Mirrors. Music. Its all right here.
Thank you for testing this Anniversary Strat right away. I own an American Vintage II Strat and I wonder if the Anniversary version is really worth it for a US$1000.- more (in Europe) than the AVII?
WOW. That Strat sounds amazing… I’m more of a telecaster guy. But if I had a Strat that sounded like that, I would play that.
Maybe it’s the ash?
The weight is all over the place with ash guitars, surprising Fender wouldn't sort for weight with these though. I played several of the 60th anniversary '54 american vintage and they were all low/middle 7 lb range and were incredible. Main issue is you'd look at the bakelite knobs funny and they'd crack.
Im always interested in the trem set. Free movement up and down? Sounds beautiful.