Mick’s New Strat - First Impressions, Future Plans & Fender's Golds
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ค. 2024
- Like I need another Strat?! Okay, but this one is different. Isn't it?!
Life too short for long TH-cam videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.
Welcome to the show. I recently acquired a new Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster and in the tradition of me being on this channel wibbling endlessly about Strats, let’s fire up the S-Shaped Charabanc and take a journey up New Guitar Boulevard.
If you don’t love Strats, go and do something that will make you less angry. If you love 'em like I do, please enjoy the video!
Pedals used in this episode…
• TheGigRig Three2One
www.thegigrig.com/three2one
• Sonic Research ST-200 Turbo Tuner
Australia: bit.ly/2mR1s8c
• Vahlbruch Kaluna
www.vahlbruch-fx.com/en/
• Nobels ODR-1
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: bit.ly/3BoLto6
USA Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/P0EKEQ
• J Rockett Archer
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: bit.ly/3q8FPSN
• Strymon Volante
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: bit.ly/2Ie0UZe
USA Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/DVOvXa
• Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: bit.ly/2Ovelqa
• Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man
No longer made
• TheGigRig G3
www.thegigrig.com/g3
Interesting bits and go-to sections…
0:00 Hello - new guitar!
1:20 Old ones are out of reach
2:25 The Holy Trinity of guitar buying?
2:55 I’ve played a lot of guitars
4:00 What a lovely neck!
7:05 Relics?
08:30 Purchase day
10:15 The Captain
11:18 Open the case?
11:52 Apparently I specced this guitar
13:48 A bit of gold colour history
19:42 Nitrocellulose & acrylic finishes?
21:11 Shoreline, Aztec, Firemist
22:06 Back to Andertons
23:22 First plug-in
25:38 The day after purchase
27:25 First play at TPS!
29:20 And what of blue?
37:03 Texas Specials & enamel wire?
38:18 What’s holding me back?
39:15 Bridge and springs, take 5
45:32 Lower the pickups?
48:52 Closing thoughts
Guitars in this episode:
• Fender Custom Shop ’62 Relic Stratocaster - this video
• Fender American Vintage ’62 Stratocaster - Mick’s video here: • That Pedal Show - Our ...
Amps in this episode:
• Tone King Imperial MkII & 112 extension cabinet / standard speaker
• Marshall 1987x & Zilla Custom 212 with Celestion Alnico Ruby speakers
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
USA That Pedal Shop: bit.ly/3v3Xazc
We hope you enjoy this episode. Please subscribe to our channel.
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Please visit our preferred retailers!
UK & Europe: Andertons Music bit.ly/3zaTX5Z
Australia: Pedal Empire bit.ly/2mWmJQf - เพลง
![Three New Strats For Mick?! [1961, 1970, Fender Custom Shop & AVRI Compared]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WOMHUQeHGRQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Three New Strats For Mick?! [1961, 1970, Fender Custom Shop & AVRI Compared]](/img/tr.png)
![Pimp Your Vintage Guitar? [Dan’s ‘65 Fender Tele or Custom Shop?]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EwBXaq72jQI/mqdefault.jpg)
![Let’s Talk About Fender Strats [Sounds, Bridge Setup, Pickups & More] - That Pedal Show](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-ndkUzSGKNA/mqdefault.jpg)
Fantastic blog Mick - so happy we could help you find this guitar. Honestly the comparison to the blue guitar was fantastic. I thought the gold one was smooth & balanced across the whole spectrum. Maybe you’ll hear it back when you watch the video but I preferred the goldie at all times regardless of what you played. I’m not sure you should change anything!!! Anyway - note for myself on Monday morning… order more of that spec guitar 😂😂
Thanks Lee! I’ll have 3 tone sunburst with Fat 60s and 6105s on the next run. :0)
Agree. That pickup set is a screamer. Beautiful strat sound.
I work just around the corner from there!
Right on I could not afford so I settled for an 87 mij mij strat a 87 ri 57 mij 86 Squier mij 94 Squier mij and 2 ment condition squers e series one black and one lake placid blue and 8 system one tremello brings . my boss mini amp was stolen so my next purches I'll get a decent combo amp my style of playing anything any comment on a nice combo amp been looking for over a year to many choices and I really don't want Asia made but 5hey do make the marshell ds40 I see in reviews is number one amp please desperate for a combo to play from my room to outside gig and small places..Thank you respectfully, Roland J Gutierrez from Magdalena New Mexico USA 🇺🇸 🇬🇧..
@@rolandjgutierrez7737 Considering what you want to do, a solid state combo might do you better, something like a Boss Katana or a Fender Mustang GTX. Both sound VERY good. I've owned both and I personally prefer the GTX 100 over the Katana. Both of those 100 watt models are PLENTY loud, and both are less expensive than a DS40. If you're dead set on a 40 watt tube amp, while I have zero experience with the DS40, my brain says it will NOT be good as a bedroom amp, at least to sound good at lower volumes, unless it has some kind of limiter on it (I haven't looked it up). Just offering my personal advice, I'm not an expert. Advantage of Katana: Sounds better for harder stuff. GTX needs tweaking on some of its harder tones to make it sound good. Advantage of GTX 100: Included footswitch, cellphone app is WAY easier to use than Katana's "connect to computer" to deep dive tweak, and clean tones, if you're looking for Fender tones, are VERY good. Just ignore the presets and overwrite them ;)
This video is infinitely more satisfying knowing that just a short while late Mick got that '61. Hearing him talk about it at the beginning, knowing he then acquired it, made me very happy. Serendipitous indeed. Congrats Mick.
as far as i can tell Mick deserves ANY and AS MANY Strats he wishes to have...for his spectacular playing and the huge service he's been doing to all of us guitar nerds...congrats to tour new strat,Mick!
Ah man, that is tremendously kind, thank you.
Yeah, it's funny Fender doesn't give him a nice custom-shop one at this point
@@kilgoretrout321 it’s true. Mick has probably encouraged the purchase of so many custom shops at this point just by his sheer passion for the darn thing. I know I got one by learning from him.
I really hope to see more vlog on this strat’s setup and pickup swap. I thoroughly enjoyed watching (and rewatching) Blue’s journey.
I shall do it!
Completely agree!
These Mick's _"vlogs"_ are such great content. 👍 Really enjoyed the history part.
I could listen to you talk strats all day Mick. Love it
There’s a lot you can learn about pedals, amps and guitars from articles and websites, but there’s a kind of credibility and first hand experience Dan & Mick bring that make TPS one of my favourite shows and places to learn about gear (along with Micks near infectious fetish for strats!)
Thank you Alex!
I don’t even care if they turn out to be wrong! I just enjoy watching them say it so much! (But I doubt they’re often incorrect.)
Infectious Fetish would be an awesome/terrible TPS band name.
@@ryangunwitch-black the TPS boys surely are gracious in defeat aye
@@biznatcho7 Greg Koch and Chris Buck MUST be in that band
Loved this episode, the history of Fender guitar colours was fascinating, Goldie sounded incredible to me, I preferred it to blue in many ways but they both sound awesome, looking forward to more vlogs on the new strat 😄🎸
Absolutely love TPS vlog’s. We were spoiled with Dan’s lovely acoustic series recently. I really enjoy the effort and thought you both put into this channel. Very much looking forward to part 2.
The new Strat sounds fantastic on my side of TH-cam. I’m enjoying sitting here in my warm Australian home enjoying watching you drive around in the icy drear of my former home of Guildford.That was the moist interesting video in ages. Thanks Dan and Mick. 😁👍
Mick - love this episode. Great, detailed beginning of your journey to get another Strat that is "your own". Looking forward to your updates on your new Strat. I always enjoy watching you and Dan.
I loved this video almost as much as Dan’s acoustic journey. More on this please. Mick, I had a very similar experience with the custom shop Tele that is now my no 1. I tried several in the store (PMT), and this one really stood out for me - lighter body, really nice finish, very resonant when played acoustically and so on. I had it set up by the store and then tweaked it myself over the next year or so. It took that long to get it how I needed it to be and so I could really bond with it. I changed the bridge for a Kluson with the low profile semi-cutaway sides, swapped the single ply pickguard for a bacolite pickguard, and tweaked the truss rod and intonation over the months. I’ve played the hell out of it for 5 years and I wouldn’t swap it for anything else (except maybe Robben Ford’s blonde tele!). It’s now where I need it to be, though I also long for different pickups. I’m thinking Julian Lage’s Ron Ellis set (I play a lot of jazz…). I think if you find the guitar to be perfect from day one it’s probably because your expectations are too low and you just arent paying enough attention to the fine points (and if you aren’t interested in the fine points why drop 3-5k on a guitar?). That strat looks a beauty. Enjoy the journey of getting it under your fingers.
Falling in and out of love with our guitars is a natural thing. Developing a relationship, understanding the strengths and weaknesses, what we like and don’t like, what needs to change are a process.
It took me a long time to acquire a Strat guitar (Partscaster). Now I keep coming back to it for all the reasons you spoke about. The sound, the feel, it’s modular nature, it’s not too precious are all part why I love it. It’s not that it’s the easiest guitar to play, and get great sounds out of, it’s just that it’s Home?
What a brilliant vlog! Thanks for taking the time to produce it all, I loved the fact we took the journey to Andertons with you, proper NGD feelings!
Looking forward to seeing to fettle this strat into being how you want it, pickups, setup etc. Congratulations on a beautiful instrument.
Love VLOG days! Mick’s knowledge of the Strat and especially the heartfelt sentiment at the conclusion of the video we’re just great! Thank you for sharing this experience and we look forward to more music from “Goldie”! 🤘🎸
brilliant vlog!! guitar sounded amazing to my ears and also it looks stellar!
And thanks for sharing so much knowledge again!
Made me think of my personal acquisition of a strat.
I really wanted to do it right and do myself a huge favour. So I went into the shop wanting to check for a nice red alder strat..
..and left the shop with a green Ash-Body-Maple-Neck Strat.
It was the neck that spoke to me immediately when I picked it from the shelf. It's a profile they call "10/56 V".
And I still love it after ~6 years of playing it ;)
Enjoy your nice instruments and thanks again for what you're doing !!
I agree with your assessment on relics. In 1984 when I was barely 18 I got my first strat, a 57 reissue. I was looking at new guitars recently and came to the realization that if I bought a new guitar I would have to wait 37 years for the guitar to be as broken in as my strat! That would make me 92(if I am lucky enough to make to 92{my dad is 93 so it might be possible})
I have the same guitar (62' customshop) in Sunburst. I've never been a Strat guy but that guitar changed everything for me. I've put more miles on it than any other guitar I've owned by far they are astonishing guitars.
Brilliant, Mick! I appreciate the honesty in relating your process about acquiring, assessing and playing a Fender Stratocaster. It was also good to hear your personal opinion on a subtle relic job. I'm right there with you.Thank you!!
Another great vlog. And thank heavens for Fender Custom Shop keeping that simple, perfect build alive. Imagine a world without them! I can tell that guitar has great resonance, even when Mick played the first E chord out of the box, it sang. As Gilmour once said, if it sounds good unplugged, it's usually a good one! Just needs a tweak or two methinks. My '52 CS Tele was the same - getting a setup to spec is actually very important. But the biggest takeaway again for me (and I think I can speak for all TPS subscribers here) is the honesty you two impart into all you do in this truly encyclopaedic channel. That's what sets it apart. Keep up the great work, gents.
Just a thank you for all of the information you guys put out there. I've been a drummer for decades. Like many people, I picked up playing guitar during the pandemic. Your videos have helped me so much as I've learned about pedals, amps and how they marry together. I will be going beyond simply liking and subscribing.
Cheers!
Thanks so much Rick!
Loving it, Mick. As a strat guy, I always love to hear you talk about your journey, knowledge learned through experience, and opinions on strats. And specially with all that passion with which you talk about what you love. Awesome, dude. Glad for your new purchase. Best regards!
Thank you Marc!
Just watched this again! Your Strat vlogs have taught me so much about my own Strat-shaped object (Silver Sky) and how to love it even more. Thank you!
Thanks for posting this, Mick. I'm sure many here can relate to the experience of bringing another guitar into the fold. The weight of the decision, the joy of trying it out and realizing it is indeed a good one. What a great guitar.
I love these Strat shows. Though I’m a Les Paul guy, I can see that the Strat is infinitely more tweakable. So many options to consider!
What a fantastic Vlog Mick! My road worn 62 vintera in Firemist has nearly the exact same neck shape, thanks for the measurements! And thanks a lot for the history of fender gold colors, very interesting! Hope you fell in love with this guitar and stick to it. :)
Really enjoyed your process of choosing this guitar plus all the background information you shared. Your connection with a Strat really comes through in you playing.
Nothing compares to a strat, the good ones sing like no other guitar. My first strat an original elite model built in 82 or 83 (I'd tried loads over 2 years until finding the right one for me in 84). was stolen in a burglary in London in 1991. WIth the advent of the internet and ebay/reverb I looked and looked for it (even though I had 4 others by then). I found it a few years ago, or maybe it found me. Still love it more than any of the others (and love all of them). Couldn't imagine life without a strat. TPS still the best thing on youtube. thank you!
Love the video. The search for a guitar is so much fun, especially when you put in this much time and effort into the process. My first strat (fender MIM, Classic player, Sonic blue) was inspired by Mick’s blue guitar, and I love it.
Ah man, thank you T!
Mick, I just love these vlogs!
Its so interesting... your journey with this new guitar is not terribly different from mine with my Custom Shop '59 Strat. It took a couple of years, going around LA to every shop that had Custom Shop Strats, playing them all, looking for that one that I really connected with... and after playing something like 15-16 guitars, I had learned enough about what I was looking for. But still couldn't seem to find it one that reached me enough to spend that kind of money.
Funnily enough, I ended up taking a chance on a Custom Shop Strat from Sweetwater. They had so many guitars in stock, and it really helped in finding the right one with the specs that I was looking for. Now, I still couldn't find 100% exactly what I wanted, because I would have had to special order it---and I would still probably be waiting for it to be built. But they had one guitar that was close enough, and they were 100% willing to take it back at no charge if I wasn't happy. So nothing to lose!
At first I wasn't sure about it... the color, Faded Tahitian Coral, was a little odd (I wanted Fiesta Red) and the neck was a bit slimmer than I wanted, but it had everything else, sounded incredible and was very light. After playing it for a few days I realized the neck was actually really amazing! Its a rift sawn neck with a little touch of flame here and there. It is very stiff and just feels so solid, and so connected with the body. It is thicker without being too chunky and has a great taper. The guitar is 7.2 lbs, is well balanced, and is amazingly resonant and LOUD acoustically.
Then I did the same thing you did. I wanted that bridge flat against the body, so I started tweaking, adding springs, moving the saddles, tweaking the intonation... and completely screwed the setup! So down to my local shop it went for a new setup... which didn't improve things much. I still had a buzzy E and A, and the G sounded like a sitar. I had a fret dress done at another shop and that helped a lot more. Finally what worked for me was tweaking it a bit more myself and experimenting with different strings. So... after more than 2 years, two setups, a fret dress and 8 different types, sizes and brands of strings... I finally have a guitar that I can't put down.
I guess what I am saying is that you are far from alone in what you are doing here... its a one in a million occurrence to pick up a new guitar and have everything be perfect. It is much more realistic to find a guitar that gets you 90% of the way there and then to spend significant time and effort to get the rest of the way.
But once you do, it will be great!
Can't wait for the next vlog!
Thanks for sharing the story so far, I continue to learn so much from these about strats, set ups and my own taste. It’s all about the journey and the right kind of problems.
Absolutely riveting vlog Mick. It's inspired me to spend the evening playing my Strats, something I have to confess I rarely do these days. Personally, I loved the sound of both your instruments, equally good despite their being different in character. And your playing never disappoints. Thank you for a great watch. Best wishes.
I’m a 7.25 Strat radius guy, myself. Ohhh the vintage feels 😋
These vlogs are fantastic. Best feel good television i can watch. And that Strat !!! What a gorgeous thing. I have been thinking about getting a custom shop myself lately but haven't been quite sure about what finish to choose. Now i know:) Thanks Mick and Dan. Let the golden age begin.
Thank you Matt!
Thanks for a great episode! Gorgeous new guitar (congratulations there!), wonderful playing and really informative content.
But, above all, I really appreciate your parting comment about making the time to actually play your guitar! That's a timely reminder for us all, whatever guitar(s) we own and our level of ability. This episode has inspired me check out my old '80s Strat again that I've neglected for far too long as I've added other guitars to my collection. It's a genuine "heavy relic" - it came off its strap and landed on a concrete floor during a video shoot back in the day! (This was a few minutes after the cameraman had offered to buy it... groan...)
Beautifully documented. Loved the history and the cut back to you seeing/trying the guitar. Well done!
Re:Relic'ing, I'm with Mick. If it's new an shiny, I find myself babying it, obsessing about every nick and ding, then I seem to fall out of love with it. It's stressful to me. If it's a little beat up, I find that I don't stress about accidentally nicking it on a stand. They just feel better to me, emotionally and physically.
you feel the same about your electric drill too? Guitars are tools not dolls. grow up.
I have the exact same! I just wasn't able to play them hard
It took me 10 years to figure this out - so true :D
@@TheFissionchips Guitars are instruments. If you treat your guitar like you treat your electric drill I feel sorry for your guitar.
@@kellykeegan2608 instrument is just a word for a specialized musical tool. Take the fantasy glasses off and come back to a globe Earth.
Brilliant vlog as usual, I love the small bits on motivation, the “whys”, mental health and just the quick stop to appreciate some music in between the gear talk, after all those are just as important and it’s something that it’s easy to forget.
Also want to mention that those wayfarers look great on you.
Now back to gear talk… I know you probably already considered and they’re a pain to get, but give some Don Mare pickups a go on that strat. I’ve been in a pickup rabbit hole for many years and tried all the major boutique builders and whilst all sounded great there was that 5% that I could only find on the great vintage examples. Finally decided to pull the trigger on a Don Mare pickup (went for a ZepOtone Live paired with VIPots) and I couldn’t believe my ears. I just had no idea my guitar could sound like that and everything I’ve heard on old pickups was there. I didn’t believe the hype but Don is a wizard. I live fairly close to his shop so I got to pick it up in person and spent some time chatting with him and his excitement, knowledge and experience is very inspiring, now I have two more of his pickups coming!
Nice! Never actually played a Mare Strat set but I think once you’re into Klein/Ellis/Kloppmann/Foley and I guess Mare territory, it’s as ethereal as the difference between a couple of Strats. Comedy is, I’m pretty much always happy with standard Fender CS pickups for the most part….. as long as they’re not too overwound. So maybe one day.
Absolutely brilliant. Producing such high quality micro-history is a public service of the first order -- for the guitar community first and foremost, of course, but more generally as well. THANK YOU for all the amazing content you produce, guys.
Great stuff,especially Mr. Lee reminding you that it was “your” spec guitar. I have a mid 80’s FCS Strat with the lacquered neck. Now 40 years later it is absolutely perfect and I have yet to play a guitar that compares. I love how you said that the stripped necks are cool just not your thing. I wish everyone would think that way. Guitar is so personal and it has to feel right to you not look right to everyone else. Well said and can’t wait to see more of it!!
Tis a beauty. Just got a new guitar myself. An Eastman T486. It’s an ES-335 style guitar but I couldn’t afford a Gibson. Really really happy with it for less than half the price of the Gibson.
Also Mick, I share your love for certain colors. Gold guitars, and surf green. I can’t resist either.
A gold top SG is at the top of my list.
I LOVE this new Strat and this thoughtful, in-depth video explaining it all! That color is excellent as well!
bought a fender ultra strat in Cobra blue, absolutely love it.
I love this, Mick. The crazy attention to detail with which you approach all of this is very familiar to me. I, like you, wanted a vintage Fender, and also like you, I couldn't spend the crazy money on an original. My dream was a 1960 Tele. I wanted the slab board, a chunky neck, lightweight, 7.25 radius, and Sherwood Green Metallic. And yes, I checked the custom color charts from 1960 to see if Sherwood Green was available in 1960 (it was). I basically wanted a Custom Shop tele that could have been made in 1960, as accurately as possible. I couldn't find it used or new. As you well know, real vintage specs are hard to find on recent Custom Shop guitars. So, I ordered it from Fender. I've been waiting almost ten months. It MIGHT be ready in April. I'm extremely excited and also a little worried that I'll be TOO pedantic about it when I get it. I've decided though: that tele will be MY tele, and I'm going to live with it and love it. I may tweak a few things, but it will be MINE for the long haul. I think you've found something special there, and I hope it truly becomes yours sooner rather than later. Cheers!
the fact in the neck side by side view you can SEE the neck differences is awesome. great video mick, you've got me wanting a stratocaster...again.
EDIT: Meant to also mention, the relic argument: people forget that the new guitars you can get don't wear the same at all. I LOVE how relics feel and look to boot.
Very true about new guitars not wearing the same, but another point to mention on that thought, is that a new "reliced" guitar with a *poly* finish is never going to seem like natural wear, neither in looks or feel. I've seen some videos where people have tried to do relic jobs on their poly guitars, and holy shit, they came out looking terrible. The only way to do a natural looking relic on a poly guitar would to be to just scuff it up a bit, as that's all that would happen naturally after years. Going down to the wood on finish that thick won't ever look like anything other than deliberate damage.
I almost can't state how right-on this video is and how familiar this journey is to me and many of us, I'm sure. I'm taking a similar walk right now with a guitar that I just finished building (my fourth) and can unequivocally state that the magic and the feel is in the set-up and the subtleties, be it a guitar built at home or one from the best builder in the world. Keep on with stuff like this. You guys really are tops.
Amazing work that you put in Mick! It's great to tag along on your journey 👌👍
Beautiful guitar, absolutely love you guys!
Those Texas Specials sounded pretty good. Usually I think they are a little too hot to play clean but the height on those were dialed in perfect. Sweet guitar.
Agreed, I also don't usually care for them, but Mick's rang just like I want a Strat too. Fantastic!
Lighter guitar too...takes them better
For real. I love these history lessons and guitar vlogs. You guys are awesome.
dude these guys and the JHS guys are my faves.
Mick, love you sound logic hear. Grass is always greener on the other side, but that bs is for those who can't find happiness, optimism, attitude in the beautiful things they already have. I dig it. FYI, I have a lot of strats and my favorite is a Chinese model I bought 10 years ago and guess what? It's is based off a 60's strat! Maybe I will follow you down the custom shop route. I shed a lot of leaves the last two years. Looking forward to growth. This episode was very rewarding for us watchers that have followed TPS over the long run.
Very, very enjoybable - the joy is palpable. I'm thrilled for you. I loved the bit about core tone and neck. The idea that it feels "live" in your arms, ringing and vibrating like that... it's a pleasure to watch you experiencing it, first hand. Plus a massive tip of the hat for the precision with which you hit the segues in Andertons, on the spot.
More like this and Dan's jazz idioms, please.
I really enjoyed this episode. Mick's playing was strikingly beautiful there when first playing the guitar in the studio. Hard to put into words, but it was like the normal day to day pretense or reasoning for playing in the normal day to day routine was stripped away and it was a man whose inspiration was his love of playing guitar and listening to how his new baby sings. I have to admit I personally thought that the new guitar had a more sparkly sound that I liked slightly better than his number one (opinions are like....), but both sounded fantastic. Thanks for taking us on that journey with you. This was much better than the thousands of 'unboxing' videos out there on You Tube. There is nothing like getting a new guitar you put much thought into and love!!
Congrats on the NGD Mick. Beautiful instrument you've chosen there. I have 5 Strats and wholeheartedly agree that they all have very distinct characteristics and tonal differences. I'm drawn to each one for different reasons.
Same here ....
Mick, I'm glad you've started a new Strat vlog. Your vlogs are among my favourite TPS episodes. Your Strat journey gave me renewed interest in my own Strat, which hung on my wall for years untouched. Your Casino vlogs led to me getting a 335 (I didn't want to go full hollowbody). I find them super informative and personal. I'm looking forward to this next journey. Cheers.
Wow, great stuff Nick! Hope you’re enjoying the 335… and the Strat of course. Cheers!
Great vid Mick - really appreciate how knowledgeable and passionate you are about Strats. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a decently priced used '56 RI last year. Love how the black flash paint coat is already fading and cracking. The neck, tho not the easiest to play, has a wonderful feel. Thanks for the inspiration.
I really, really resonate with what you said about the guitar's core tone which you can hear and feel unplugged. That really means something, and I feel that with both my Les Paul and my strat. It's one of the reasons I'll still often play my electric guitars unplugged, people should at least try to appreciate that about the guitar itself, in my opinion.
10:00 There's no way Mick and Dan managed to find a parking spot outside Andertons. Its simply not possible. Ever. Seriously though great video as always!
Hah, was thinking the same - I live in Guildford and have driven back and forth on numerous occasions trying to find a parking spot and failing. Think Mick was round the back of the store and I suspect had certain parking privileges for the occasion!
They get special privileges round the back! Oh er missus!!!
Great video Mick, really enjoyed all of the knowledge shared. I have played guitars for over 25 years and learned on a 90s Vester superstrat (I still play that guitar) but had never played a classic strat until last year, when I immediately fell in love with the instrument and my fascination with it has grown. So it gave me great pleasure to listen to this video and your knowledge and insights into the history of the instrument. Like many, I don't really want to invest huge sums into getting that genuine classic experience, so go faded, why not! Again, thanks for the video, and all the other videos for that matter.
Awesome video, Mick!
I, too, recently purchased a fender cs strat in the journeyman relic finish…. For the same exact reasons as you stated. You took the words right out of my mouth regarding playing “new" guitars vs "worn." Thank you for sharing your experience.
Congratulations on the new guitar Mick. I am fortunate to own a first edition Fender logo' d JV '62 Squier (April 1982). It has the original USA Fullerton pickups and hardware, 7.25 radius, rosewood neck. I think that this guitar although in three colour sunburst, has a lot in common with yours. If you get a chance (assuming you haven't already) to engage with an '82 JV Strat, please do. They are among the best Strats I have ever played, bar none. Apparently, when the USA Fender guys visited the Japanese plant to QA, they nearly wept at the quality they found.
Yeah man, I have played a few and owned one. Even interviewed the guy who handled the project at the Japanese end. Groovy things, nice one!
@@ThatPedalShow Wow Mick. You're way ahead of me. I attended the JV convention in Bournemouth in February 2016. Great to see and play so many great guitars. Hard to believe that those guitars are approaching 40 years old in a month or two. Maybe feature a couple on TPS? Congrats on the Goldie once again.
For the others on my side of the pond who never use metric (although we should). Neck measurements in inches:
Gold
1st fret - 0.846”
4th fret - 0.888”
7th fret - 0.933”
10th fret - 0.969”
12th fret - 0.988”
Blue
1st fret - 0.848”
4th fret - 0.858”
7th fret - 0.878”
10th fret - 0.874
12th fret - 0.900”
Thanks man, I should've checked the comments first... I'm sitting here watching with my calipers in hand switching from MM to Inches to do the conversion!
Lol. Yes, my fellow Yanks, lets enter the 20th Century and make better use of the metric system.
Thankyou!!
I retired my 64 Mustang and am a Strat convert, you are my resident expert! Keep up the amazing work, this and the strat video were invaluable!
Could watch one of these every week, love it, great content as always, thanks!
The comment about the time spent looking/thinking about gear vs time spent playing gear, hits close to home... Going through a very similar scenario currently, both an enjoyable and frustrating experience.
Wow. Thanks Mick. I absolutely loved almost every second of this. Very, very interesting. Really well edited.
I know you went through personal time sacrifice to bring this to us. Much gratitude is needed.
I enjoyed all about the colours, how they were chosen, the fading, the yellowing etc etc. Thank-you.
Neck profile and taper I get. I've played a fair few different Strats. Your preference on the neck finish is your personal choice. The reason you love relics is also absolutely spot on.
Your strap length seems to be on the low side mind, so maybe that's why your playing stood up suffered, rather than setup?
Anyway, sorry to query, but I'm not sure I understand about the Anderton's thing? So, apparently you specced it a couple of years ago, but is it new or used, (as you indicated at the start, it's why you could justify spending)? Does it now have Texas Specials, because they been changed since, or was that what you specced?
The only part that was a little bit strange was the 0.7 lbs becoming a possibly a deal breaker 🙄
I'm not a physicist or any kind of scientist, but over the length of that guitar, you have the sensitivity to know when an extra ounce every 2.3 inches.
Overall, it's less than 1/3 kg and I bet your watch weighs about half that. If you're strong enough to change Strat springs without any tools, I'm sure you can cope with that kind of extra load 😂
I spent many, many years loving the tone of a Strat in the hands of other players. When I grabbed one, I sounded like garbage.
A few years ago, I bought a cheap Squier CV and modded it. Funny enough, I fell in love with the darn thing. Now, I love playing Strats.
I've been eyeing USA Strats lately, this video has only increased my G.A.S. for one. Cheers
Absolutely fascinating and brilliant episode, thank you Mick for the information. And congratulations on the stunning new Strat purchase, I have a very similar spec ‘60 Custom Shop in Black/Tort Guard.
Great strat you have sir, and now you really need to dig deep with it! Great playing again and thanks for this video, you really know your stuff and we mortals can learn by wathcing. Thank you so much and cheers from Finland!
Mick, I know this is an older video, but I just wanted to say I think it sounds great with these pickups. Also, I think there is something to be said for having something "different". Swapping pickups to have them all try to arrive at the same-ish sound seems to defeat the point of having a collection of strats. Anyway, thanks for the great content.
I love this episode. Thanks, Mick!
Thank you H!
What a joy filled journey - and love the loose changes bits of information transformed into meaning. And, you djents are perfect, but I think we need more Catherine!
Mick, I totally enjoyed everything you did with Blue (watched and rewatched) and am looking forward to everything you do with this new Strat! I too, have a thing for Strats, which is why I love your Strat vlogs. Keep up the great work and good luck!
Re: relicing. What I feel it gives me is the freedom to use my guitar completely without having to feel that fear of giving it a ding or a scratch. I’m not too crazy about the heavy relicing, but journeyman level is just perfect for me. From there it can - and will - get the wear I put on it, with no need to care about cosmetics.
Spot on
This is, imo, the only reason to go for relicing. Otherwise you’re just pretending you have an original ‘59 or whatever
Why the fear of scratching or dinging a new guitar? You obviously dont care if your guitar gets minor damage, if youre willing to buy one off the shelf that already is. Theres a cognitive dissonance there that I dont understand.
@@hughjass5156 Completely disagree. I’ve bought used guitars with different levels of damage and within reason not been concerned if they’ve suffered further dinks. The same goes for my latest purchase, a Road Worn Vintera Strat, which is easily the best Strat I’ve owned. On the other hand I’d be mortified if/when my pristine brand new guitars get damaged. I try and take good care of all my guitars, but especially if you’re gigging or even just rehearsing, it’s hard to avoid the occasional knock. Just a state of mind I accept, but it certainly works for me.
@@paulohalloran6715 Again, youre obviously fine with playing damaged guitars if youre willing to buy one off the shelf that is already damaged. So why do you care if it gets dings or scratches?
Brilliant vLog Mick, thanks for posting the neck carve measurements that's really interesting and good to know......same as you, for me Relic means you play it without fear of that first scratch/chip even though its kinda false, not sure why Fenders lacquer is sticky sometimes and sometimes not, I've got several CS Strata mostly maple and some are great and some are not good. All the best Chris
Loved this, Mick. Genuinely engaging film of a guitarist tentatively working with a new guitar. Loads here for us all to consider. Top man. Hope Goldie works out for you, man.
Super excited to see your journey with this guitar! I was a Tele guy until I played my Custom Shop Sonic Blue 1963 Strat - I’ve been a Strat player ever since and love it.
Wonderful VLOG Mick!! This was dearly appreciated. Quick question: Have you seen Matthew Scott's offering of the '54 Strat he recently posted, and if so, what do you think of THOSE pickup tones? I ask simply because I believe that is what Leo originally intended for the single coil pups back in the day, and I'd like to get your opinion. Wow, I REALLY enjoyed this workup gents! Thank you, kindly!
I haven’t heard it Sammy, but that early maple neck tone is a magic thing…. Albeit quite different from where we were come 61/62/63. I shall have a listen!
I think the new one sounds amazing.
Both sounds good but the blue is more “hifi”(?).
I guess the new one will find it’s place direct in a mix or band situation.
48:20 and onwards is tonal heaven. Congrats Mick! Love the bottom end and fullness to it.
This is a great video, interesting look into getting a new guitar and what some of us go through with getting it to the point where we don't want to put it down. Wished I would have done this type of video when I got my PRS Silver Sky SE. Keep up the great content!
If the neck is the best part, swap it over to Blue for a while. Strats were made to swap pieces out when worn down, so why not swap things around as you feel? Finally a video about this guitar, I've been so interested to hear your thoughts. Happy NGD (even though it's a while ago) :-)
Just reinforcing my idea that all fenders are just partcasters.
The number of partscasters I've seen with poorly aligned necks or badly positioned bridges I do wonder if this is a myth. The worst I've seen was a partscaster on ebay where the high E string wasn't over the fretboard after the 7th fret. Maybe if they're both from the same factory, same series and close serial numbers...
That is exactly what I was thinking, also to judge it on those Texas specials when you are biased against them is a pretty hard go. I would have changed pups immediately.
I’ll have to agree. I went through A LOT, like… A LOT of teles and whilst most were great none was the one. Eventually I fell in love with the body on one, swapped the neck a few times until I found the perfect slabboard that worked perfectly with the guitar. Got a Callaham bridge, turned it into an Esquire, added a Don Mare pickup with 280k VIPots, PiO caps, added a Bigsby and it’s hands down my favourite tele I’ve ever played. Costed me a fraction of any Custom Shop, has no resale value but I don’t think I can find a tele that I love more than that one.
@@Subropontes Exactly. That was my process as well. MJT build with a neck that suits me is what I opted for, fiesta red 62/63 strat with a chunky neck with a slab board. Resonates more than any strat I've ever played, and it cost me around 800 dollars to put together. Nobrainer.
I do love the relics! Being able to not worry about new scratches is nice.
Ive found you can not worry about scratches on a new guitar too if you just aren’t anal
I can understand that, but would you use the same logic in buying a car? I guess if you're buying it as a working "tool" which will get dings (ie farm vehicle) then that's a separate thing.
@@davidf8749 yeah! I haven't bought a brand new car since 2000 and I just sold it 2 months ago and replaced it with another 2000 model year car that had half the miles on it! My other car is a 1967 Chevelle.
Thanks for the Vlog Mick. I always love your playing, whether it’s a Squier or a 61 Strat. I hope you can find the time to play it!
Man, The Mick Strat videos are hands down my favorite of all of TH-cam. Just so, so good.
For me, quarter-sawn adds an immediacy that can make the guitar feel less forgiving.Never been a deal-breaker. Just something I've discovered over my forty-five ish years of guitar obsession. They both sound great by the way.
I agree! Add Texas Specials and 6100 frets and goodbye subtlty
Great stuff Mick. Love the feel and spontaneity to the vlog. Looking forward to the development of this new partnership ;)
Hey Mick. Just wanted to say that you're a big inspiration of mine. I love your enthusiasm surrounding our favorite guitar: the strat. I hope you will enjoy your new strat journey as much as I enjoy watching your vlogs about it. They feel so comfortable, like getting together with a friend and just talking about guitars. Have a good day!
Thank you kindly. Happy to report that the relationship is blossoming. Just awaiting delivery of some new plastics then we’ll be back with another vlog. :0)
@@ThatPedalShow Have you ever done any episode/discussion on plastic? I seem so recall you mentioning trying to buy some aged knobs, but not being what you had hoped. I'm currently considering doing the same and might like some free knowledge...
Mick, I love that cool rub you do holding the low E and bending the B up from a 6th! Had to stop the video to get it after hearing you play it a few times. Would love a video containing more of those type of unique sounds!
Congrats on the new strat! It sounds fantastic. I hope the weight doesn't bother you *too* much considering everything else seems to be in place just the way you want. Looking forward to future videos featuring Goldie. :)
Am I adding this to the playlist of Mick's various Vlogs on fixing stuff that I put on while grading? Hell yes. Beautiful, Mick-
Great production on this video, Mick - nicely done mate. At the end of your video you talk about making time to play the guitars, you're bang on mate and, like some of your previous videos, you've inspired me to get my guitars out of their cases. Thanks for doing what you do.
Loved that, and on the day my new pickups arrived for my partscaster from the creamery too.
I am so putting 5 springs in all of mine now.
Thoroughly enjoyable watch. I had to pause it halfway through and play my Strat for a bit, then resume. Got me all Stratted up.
I was really excited to see this! Last year, in 2020, as a senseless lockdown purchase, I ordered a Custom Shop Strat. I'm normally a Tele guy, but wanted one Strat to be my "one Strat." I spent days upon days trying to determine a color I would never grow tired of. After lots of research and going back and forth, I landed on Firemist Gold. Gold, but not "Elvis gold lame suit" gold - more like a stately copper, complemented by rosewood board and mint green pick guard. I chose NOS finish. Unfortunately, I'm an expat working abroad, and have yet to get back to the States to play it! But somewhere in a closet at my sister's house, it awaits.
Love that you guys are doing more jam clips recently on this channel. 👍
Incredible episode gentlemen. Congrats on your journey and purchase Mick! 🙌🏼🎸
That volantes sounding just stellar! The strat is also sounding stellar like its got very high potential of becoming exactly what you want out of it! Volante has just recently found its way onto my board for the indefinite future. Looking forward to further journey of this guitar!!!
As a guitarist, chemist and vintage car enthusiast, your discussion of colors was exceptionally interesting!
Beautiful guitar, great vlog. I’m rooting for you to find the perfect pickups for it so that it shall never abscise from your hands.
Side note, took some measurements of the neck of my 2013 MIM Classic Series Lacquer Strat and was pleasantly surprised at how much closer they were to the gold one than to Blue. Made me happy.
"99% I'm not gonna keep these pickups.." man after my own heart.... love it...Congrats on the new addition to the collection!!