Guga Sanva amen. Guitar is a minimal contributor to tone relative to hands and amp. I watched this and heard 5 strats, with squire & MIM delivering BY FAR the best value
The most important thing on the guitar are the pickups and the neck (i.e., so it's actually playable and has decent tone in and of itself). And yeah, a $2000 guitar through a $200 amp will sound like a $200 setup; a $200 guitar through a $2000 amp will actually sound really good.
Not necessarily. Maybe hotter pickuos, maybe it's just giving the pickups more sound and therefore driving the amp harder simply because the wood resonates more freely. Or the pups are cranked up higher
Someone already took timestamps, but here you really compare them back to back: 1:22 Squier Vintage Modified 2:49 Made in Mexico (not Player!) 4:20 American Standard 5:25 Custom Shop 6:35 Vintage 60's
This is a great illustration of how there's almost literally no difference between collections of bits of wood and magnets made by the same manufacturer in different factories for different labour costs.
It's definitely a law of diminishing returns. A better amp and some EQ tweaks will resolve most tonal variation between these guitars. The main difference is durability of some of the components - and this is more important to regular gigging musicians etc. Components are easy to swap. Buy a used Squire Classic Vibe and mod it to your liking. Voila! Instant personal signature model..
Hard to see how you couldn't tell a difference. Tones got progressively better up until they masked the vintage with too much reverb. American is hands down better than all of them.
1/3 of guitarists can't hear the difference. 1/3 of guitarists can but don't think it's worth breaking the bank. 1/3 of guitarists can and are perpetually in trouble with their wives.
You know, after having spent a lot of money on gear I didn't really need, and settling with the cheapest guitar I've ever owned, I've come to the conclusion that what makes a great guitar is the history behind how that instrument came into your hands. The right one chooses you, not the other way around.
I feel the same. I also think that sticking with one guitar for years is how a lot of players end up with their own unique tone. I always go back to my bottom of the barrel behringer strat. Sometimes I'll play a nice guitar for a while, but then I pick up the behringer and that's it. The much better guitar goes back out to the shed. Having said that, when I drag out a mexican fender strat that I've had for 5 or so years I'm amazed at the quality. It sounds amazing. It's like a good amp in that it's just so musical.
Without watching yet, It could have hotter pickups than the rest, which would cause it to hit the reverb with more volume. Usually have the reverb cranked at low volumes and have to turn it way down at high volumes as there's an imbalance
Hi, thought the same my self... its because there really isn't that much between any of them.... it's just about the finish and feel... The higher end modals are actually more likely to have slightly under wound pickups. Theres no way you can get that broken up sound with out cranking the amp or having a pedal. they've back off on the volume on the cheaper models, thats why they sound under powered. form a tone point of view there's not much in it.... there just selling us a dream. ;.)
@@jackdust9478 This ain't it chief. The vintage one just has hotter pickups. And you definitely can get that sound just out of the guitar. Try switching between a humbucker and a single coil guitar in the same amp settings. Set the amp clean or just barely on the edge of breakup on a single coil, and it'll be way more over driven on the humbucker guitar. The last guitar mostly likely just has hotter pickups
No no, you are absolutelly wrong! Imagine - if you can - put a Gibson Paff Pro in a Strat and what will you hear! A better laoder Tone-sognal from your amp - YES - but it´s going to be a Strat-tone and not a Gibson-tone! Right! So:: (?????) A pick-up is picking up, what´s there! That, what´s not there, you cannot pick up! The Wood makes the main sound and the pickup is picking up! You can hear on (shitty) mexican Fender Standard Strat with poplar-body, that it has not the same twang and bone an knack as Alder-wood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys are really knocking these videos out of the park! I love these more nerdy videos, which answers a ton of questions for most of us. Keep them coming!
What makes the guitar unique and worth of spending some money is the feel and the vibe that inspire you to play. That's what you can't find out online, you have to try out.
Agree. Looking to buy my first guitar. Went into guitar center expecting to buy a strat style guitar... Funny thing is, after sitting down and holding tellys & strats, I picked up a Les Paul and it felt perfect LOL. So now I'm on the hunt for the perfect used LP. Go figure LOL.
@@spartan8390 I have a 1997 California Edition, on which I started re-learning guitar after 44 years. The C-Neck doesn't make my arthritis flare up, even after hours of practice. Well, my knuckles did get a little stiff on Day 3 while learning Pipeline, but it went away, which never happened before. I also have a 2011 Les Paul Special on layaway. Lots of players like Strats & not Pauls, or vice versa, but I'm bi. I played a Black Beauty once when I was 9. It was like jumping off my bike & into a Mercedes. Let's see which is crunchier: my knuckles, or the Paul.
My friend runs a music school and needed a beater for the kids to play. I got a Squier Tele for $175 used and donated it to the school. Really surprised how good that guitar is. It looks cool, sounds good and the kids love it!!
My Classic Vibe is a great guitar, it's a full size body too unlike the Bullets. The only mod I've made is a pickguard and a MIM big block bridge, which dropped in perfectly!
Probably he referred to some small batch high-quality production lines like the previous American Vintage (not the AVRI, not the disappointing American Original) which was averagely 2.2k. There are also custom shop guitars that they produce for retails that are a bit cheaper of those directly ordered by you.
Great vid andy🤟 To compare Strats is to take a trip down the rabbit hole....so many models, options, specs, series, price points, factories etc etc. The only thing we can agree on is that we all love em and there's one to suit all tastes. Defo more reverb on the 63 too.....
What I like most about the Strat...Buy the most inexpensive one with the best neck for you and a light body, and mod it with a quality cold rolled steel trem block and bridge, decent tuners and drop in some decent pickups electrics. Pure custom guitar for your specs!
Exactly. I just built my own custom Strat. American Special Body, MIM Neck (love the profile) with Seymour Duncan and Eric Johnson pickups. It's my perfect guitar and was way under $1000
Really impressed by the pickups on the Squier. The AlNiCo magnets make them actually sound like a Strat and not a generic single-coil guitar as those of old with ceramic pickups. (I'm not being snobby about ceramic pickups, there's a time and a place for them.)
I'd put my MIM Fender Roadhouse stratocaster over all of these I own 2 other fenders that i love a lot, but the Roadhouse is where its at The S-1 Switch and knob litrally will get you to any tone your heart desires, My grandfather bought me mine for Christmas, i was originally going to buy a white Hendrix Strat, but the only white fender they had left was the Roadhouse Strat, and i'm really glad that this guitar chose me :D
Bought my American Standard in 1987 when they first came out after CBS era. Hundreds of gigs and BKP Irish tours installed it's still a superb instrument and a worthy investment. Strats are the go to guitar to cover all bases but the last few years I've been hammering a Tele I put together myself and it's a keeper. Just enjoy it.
I have Fender CS postmodern journeyman relic (rosewood fretboard, Ancho Poblano PUs) in daphne blue. Upgraded the saddles to Highwood's (for even better playability) and whole guitar went through CRYO tuning: plays and sounds amazing. Like a real (vintage) deal. Recommending!!
Fantastic value....I've owned 2 MIM strats, plus two MIM teles. I can't justify paying more for the, marginally better, USA versions. Plus, I'm poor! : )
Depending on one's individual perspective, I could see a good argument for both the MIM and the American Standard (now American Professional) being the best value. Again, it depends on one's perspective but it could work both ways.
Agreed. I’ve owned both an American Standard and a MIM Strat Special HSS, (among too many others according to my wife) and the MIM has been the best “bang for the buck” guitar I’ve ever owned.
My Strat started out as a Highway 1, a decent guitar but the body finish (thin nitro) started coming off almost immediately. Replaced the original body with a beautiful Fender sunburst finished body - she's a joy to behold and to play!
This is perfect since Andy is playing the same thing every time (minus the added reverb at the end). You can bounce back and forth and get a side by side comparison. A lot of people do comparison demos and play totally different tunes.
'63 Strat is louder and punchier than the other guitars. Years ago, I had a chance to play a friends '65 Strat through my 1970 Marshall Superlead. I was amazed at how much louder it was than my stock '91 Strat. It almost sounded twice as loud. Much more aggressive and punchy in the midrange. It is a tone I will never forget.
a lot of people got turned off the late 70's due to bad publicity , i had a 78 blond strat , had to sell it for rent , later , bought a mex 70's 2000 model , it is exactly the same feel , weight , sound as my 78 . never discount a used mex strat , you would be supprised , great vid , thanks
VM and CV Squiers are really getting their due recognition. I've played 3 grand Strats and honestly... they're "nicer" but not so nice you can't upgrade your Squier to match it. CV Strats use solid Alder. The 50s Tele is solid pine. Tuners are easily the best on any of the 20 something guitars I've owned. Pickups are Toneriders. Only complaint is the pots did eventually crap out.
What would you do if you bought a new car that was difficult to steer had poor braking and the trim didn't fit properly? So why do we accept that almost all guitars "need" a setup? I think if guitars were setup with low action etc or at least allow you to purchase say low or mid then more beginners may keep playing. The first thing I did on my new acoustic guitar was lower the bridge which helped considerably but doing the nut made barre chords a dream. All new guitars should be setup direct from the factory considering all the CNC machining nowadays there is no excuse. Who agrees?
Well, any new or used guitar I buy, first thing I do is I take it to the bench and set it up for my preferences. Those are probably different from what another player wants.
Robin Bebbington A lot of people have surprisingly different tastes in setups. A lot of people I play with say they fell uncomfortable with how low my action is. As well, I found that a lot of guitars are made and sit for quite some time before being purchased. I’ve bought a few new models online and been surprised to see that the serial number dated back a year or two. Sitting and shipping both affect the guitar and would require some maintenance after the initial setup done in the factory.
Unfortunately (or fortunately who knows) guitars are made of wood and they’re very susceptible to the elements. They change condition fairly often, which is why some people setup their guitars every month. You can’t reasonably expect a guitar to be perfectly setup when it has to leave the factory, get on a truck, then on a plane, then on another truck, go to a warehouse and sit in a box for who knows how long until they put it on another truck and ship it to you. If you’re talking American made guitars same deal, there’s several trucks and cold warehouses always involved so in short - no, guitars are not cars or electronics and you can’t compare them like that.
@@gpesios in this context I am focusing more on acoustic guitars. In that context the nut should be cut correctly from the factory but commonly are too high making the F barre chord harder than it needs to be. Also to adjust the bridge height is not a simple screw adjustment but taking material off. Seems to be fairly simple case of providing 3 bridges with the guitar low, mid, high. And some basic instructions with a guitar on truss rod adjustment. All this should be provided with a guitar but it's not which turns a lot of people off playing. Half the battle for new players in finding out they can change guitar setups and it's massive affect on playability. For younger players whose parents are buying them an instrument to them get them to spend more money on a new guitar is not always an easy task. So in conclusion for electric guitars it's fairly easy to change settings and more action up or down but acoustic can be a little tricky but we'll worth it. So I still stand by my comment that it's simply not good enough for the industry to operate like this and no wonder people are turning away from guitar.
Add in another problem. Most retailers have the 'tech' or just anybody do adjustments on the guitars as needed. At Sam Ash they used to put their name on the tag, set up by Joe. I confronted the guy once about how badly the strings were set up, it was a mile off spec. You won't find a single guitar set up to spec in our local GC. And most of them have crusty strings.
He's using the Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Reissue in this video I have one and it's amazing (especially for the price). I know people talk about the '65 reissue but the '68 is where it's at in my opinion. And for that matter Joe Bonamassa has said the same. But I suck compare to him (and Andy) so ignore me and listen to them.
The amp is generally the great equalizer (no pun intended) when it comes to how guitars SOUND. How they FEEL and their playability is where the price difference shows, but a Squier that is properly set-up will blow a Custom Shop that's poorly set up out of the water.
Player first. Amp improves on sound but lacks the depth and warmth that a good guitar gives you. I agree with what you’re trying to say but unless the custom is unplayable, no Squier will blow a custom. Squiers are low output and have over pronounced highs with no brightness.
Erik LAMF sound doesn’t equate sound spectrum. Just because you have highs doesn’t mean you have a particular sound. The guitar sound lacks brightness.
This is a great video as always. However I have trouble 'remembering' the tone from one guitar to another - would have loved to have Andy play the same thing on each guitar and then cut between each for a direct comparison of pickups etc.
Squire is a mighty nice sounding fiddle. Yes! But I once saw the strap button pull out of a friends Basswood Precision bass in a heart beat. The Roadworn Series are darn decent guitars. I once played a lightweight Telecaster that blew my mind. Wish I had bought that thing.
@@thekitowl - You bet you can still buy Japanese Strats & Teles. The Hybrid models are by far the best and come with USA made vintage pick ups. Check the MADE IN JAPAN line up out for yourself..Cheers : www.ikebe-gakki.com/web-ikebe/Fender-Made-in-Japan/stratocaster.html#trad
Last month I finally got the Surf Green 50’s Strat that’s been on my list for 11 years. It’s spectacular. I’ve always preferred Teles, but wow, after that it’s tough not to love the Strat!
I recently worked on a yuri shishkov master built Brazilian rosewood neck strat and it was absolutely phenomenal. Easily the best modern strat I've ever played.
I feel like not enough is ever said in these reviews about the pickups in the standard Mexican Strats. The only Strats I've ever had where I didn't like the tone was the MIMs. In my experience, the stock ceramic pickups have higher output, but lack a real Strat sound that you get from Alnico pickups. Even the much-maligned noiseless pickups sound waaaaay more like a classic Strat than a standard MIM model. That all said, the MIM body/neck and the rest of the parts are a great platform for a custom pickup/loaded pickguard upgrade. I tell pretty much anyone on a budget to get the Classic Vibe Squier if they don't care about the brand. If they care about the brand, I recommend you find a used MIM model, buy a loaded pickguard or just swap out the pickups, get a pro setup and you'll have a really great-playing instrument that sounds WAY better for the price of a new MIM model.
I think the idea with MIM pickups was to drive a tube amp more easily but you're right, it makes them sound compressed, almost stuffy, compared to the very airy quality of traditional low output alnico pickups. The new Mexican made "Player Series" seem to have taken that into account as the redesigned pickups are of the more traditional Alnico 5 variety.
I totally agree with this, which is why right now I'm debating on getting a mexican made Fender Player Stratocaster or a G&L Tribute Legacy. The Player series is more money at $675 whereas the standard MIM is like $499-$550. The Player Strat has Alnico pickups and I think has that classic fender strat sound you want whereas the standard MIM does not. I'm also debating getting a G&L Tribute Legacy as they do come with Alnico pickups (the same exact ones G&L puts in their american version) for even less than a Fender MIM standard. I've seen them selling anywhere between $399 - $499. Does anyone have any experience with both or advice? Having such a hard time deciding!
If you're a real guitar player, you don't need a "pro setup". Set it up yourself. Strats are one of the easiest guitars to set up, especially the 2-point system. Look up the "Frudua Method" on Google to get a really good explanation of how to properly float a Strat trem and set up the guitar.
braclo93 I do set up my own guitars, but I think that some people shopping for affordable instruments may not feel comfortable doing it. Agreed that it’s pretty easy, but “pro setup” just means “set up by a human who knows how to set up a guitar.”
@@DKprojects9 I have a MIM player series, got it around $675 give or take. It has Alnico 5 magnetics, 2 point trem, 22 frets and it's awesome. I did replace the pickups with Eric Johnson signature pickups ($299 I think,) but even the stock pickups are way better than what this guy was saying. The alnico 5 pickups are the same as in American strats (except the higher end models they're now putting fat 50s in) Great guitar.
I’m blown away every time I pick up my CS. It’s so much better than the standard Americans, but my Eric Johnson Strat gives it a run for its money. My EJ with a rosewood fingerboard is special
Enjoyed the video thanks Andy! Super playing! Here's my take. The best generally is the American Standard, everything about it is a best of all worlds compromise that in the right hands sounds world class. 22 medium jumbo frets, 9.5 radius: you can run the action low enough to shred but it still feels like a strat. Or obv run it higher or whatever you want. 7.5 only lets you go so low then choking happens. Pickups have decent power and tone and most important, bridge pickup is wired to the tone control. 2 Point them is good but you also have micro tilt.. you can really set these things up nicely to do just about anything well enough that the player can make up the rest. On the other hand if you have the skills to change pickups and the resources to maybe get a re fret done, change hardware etc, you could make a good strat out of a Squier or Mexican. But they will never have 22 frets which may limit some players. Also the vibe, something that makes you want to pick it up and play is a good thing! (subjective) I think any other way you approach it, you can't achieve the quality in all areas of the American Standard by upgrading a Squier (using off the shelf prices and man hours, possible re-fret) If doing it all yourself using secondhand, you have a lot more scope. I've played a 60's strat, it was awful! But this collector knew nothing of a proper set up, all his guitars were horrid to play lol.
Sehr gut, es gefällt mir immer wieder, wie Du sehr verständlich und deutlich alles erklärst und sehr schöne interessante Parts spielst! Viele Grüße, Horst Lemke, Germany
The biggest differences between all these models is 1) the price you pay for admission, and 2) players automatically assume you play incredibly well when you pull a CS out of the case VS. not so much when you drag a Squier out of your gig bag. Truth be told...the CS would generally stay at home for gigs while the Squier/Mexi would see most gig duty. Easier to replace a 200$ guitar vs a $5000 instrument. The actual sound difference is negligible to all but he most trained ear.
Exactly! I've been playing for nearly 30 years and for the money the mid level to higher level Squiers over the last 10 years are unbeatable values. I own 3 Squier Teles(Standard, CV and 70's style Custom). Are the Fender MIM or AM versions "better" instruments? Marginally so, but not enough for me to justify the much higher price for them. And you're right; the average person/listener would be hard pressed to sonicaly hear the difference, and even most head-stock snobs, er, guitar players would be too, until they "heard" the guitar with their eyes! 😜
obviously if you can't even afford a decent backup guitar, then "the truth be told" is you need to hu$tle it's that or ...remain content with your lot? delude yourself? truth is often harsh [sometimes delivered by some asshole on youtube like me]...but it can also set you free good luck :-)
shaft9000 yeah ok buddy. I also own Gibsons so I can afford great guitars but having played Fenders and the Squiers I ended up buying, I still stand by my comment. Again I’ve been playing for just under 30 years. Doesn’t take me long to figure if an inexpensive guitar plays/sounds great or an expensive guitar plays/sounds ok but not for the price they’re charging. That’s not to say better woods/electronics/hardware etc can’t make a difference, but sometimes just not enough to justify the extra expense unless you really want it or in the case of custom shop guitars, you’re willing to pay for the vibe of those guitars. Like anything else as prices increase, the law diminishing returns comes into play. And I find it’s the headstock snobs who tend to delude themselves. A quality guitar is a quality guitar, regardless of the price point or name on the headstock.
1 neck - is it playable? Set up correctly, especially nut? 2 speaker 3 pickups I bought the cheapest Squire for my daughter, put in StewMac pickups (Golden Age $90 for the set IIRC), replaced the nut and tuners, and set it up. (Worthless if it won’t stay In tune). Even though the body might as well be balsa wood encased in plastic, it sounds surprisingly good.
The info on the Mexico strat is a couple years out of date. The player series was one of the biggest upgrades for years. This video completely ignores this which I think is a big omission. Also why demo the Mexico line with a 70s player which will be niche compared to the main line ones? ... and yea, the reverb was cranked at the end for the retro strat for some reason??
Cause for some reason the standard MIM strats are not very available right now. Funny how the 50's player has gone to two screw tremolo! That cracks me up!
The vintage sounds the best, but they all sound like Strats. The slight variations can all be dialed in with amps,strings, pedals, etc. If you know what you're doing you can make a Squire sound pretty good.
How did you know I am in the market for a Strat. I have a Squier VM Jaguar and while I really like it and it does a great job. The biggest complaint is the pots and the bridge. Thanks for the video. Hopefully, I'll get an American soon or the Mexican maybe.
I love the sound of Texas Special pickups, so I got a 2014 MIM Deluxe Roadhouse Strat used for $450. I liked it so much I got another. Highly recommended. Just be aware that since 2016, this model comes with Vintage Noiseless pickups instead of Texas Specials.
Literally was in the same boat as you, I have a VM Jaguar and I recently added a CV 60s Strat. It's a great guitar, sounds and plays awesome! If possible buy an older one from 2016 or earlier so you can get a Rosewood board instead of the ugly Indian Laurel (it's too light imo.) Or check out the CV 50s and its sweet maple board!
if you don't have the cash for American made or higher end Fenders there's one huge thing you can do to help; learn to solder. get a Vintage Modified or Mexican made, and then save up for some decent pickups and drop them in and it can make a massive difference. also learning basic guitar maintenance and repair skills can really stretch your money as well. for instance learning how to properly set up a bridge, whether it be a hard tail or tremolo, how to intonate and set your action, etc. spending a little extra money on new hardware like a bridge or new tuners can make the guitar so much more playable, and if you can find good deals and put them in yourself you still end up spending less than you would on higher end models. i bought a Squier VM Jaguar, got some pickups from Curtis Novak (mostly because the ones that came in it stock weren't potted correctly and squealed like crazy) and a Mastery bridge, and it's like it's a completely different guitar from the one i brought home.
Does anyone know if that is an actual song he's playing, or if it's something he made up? Because I absolutely loved it and would like to learn how to play it. If it's something that he made up and there's no tabs available for it then I would like to find something that's a very similar style and learn it. Hell, I don't even really know what genre it is. Thanks in advance.
Like I've always said: The Strat is the best looking, most comfortable & most versatile axe there is! No other guitar comes close in those 3 departments. Can't change my mind!
Just starting out in guitars and to be perfectly honest, I could tell absolutely NO difference in the squire and the vintage strat from a sound perspective
My first axe was a Squier Affinity strat. Then I had a Mexican Fender one, then an American one. I've played original vintage 60s, and maybe 50s (I can't remember). It's true when you have a guitar half a century old it's going to feel and sound a little different, and the video where Eric Johnson compares his 50s vintage to a custom shop shows this. However, my USA strat had issues that some MIMs don't. There was chipping on the frets' finish out of the box (looks like a sloppy factory job), you can see the joints under the sunburst finish where the pieces of the body were glued together, etc. When I was in Eastern Europe I played a Chinese Fender copy that sounded and played just as good and it cost $200. I don't recommend a working musician going above the Mexican model unless you have the cash to spend that much without making a dent in the bank. You can always upgrade pickups and hardware later. Frankly, I've played strats in the $200 range in America that rival Fender's stuff, but it's hit and miss with cheap gear. Low quality control means some Squiers, Indio's, etc will be great by accident, and some will not, so play a guitar before buying if you can. Whatever you do, don't buy an expensive new Fender or Gibson thinking you'll get your money back in collectability. You'll be in a wheelchair before that's the case. Only the original 50s and 60s stuff is going up in value reliably.
I always pick the heaviest Strat, no matter how it sounds. You know why ? "Heavy is good, heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work, you can always hit them with it" (Boris the Blade)
Good video. Of course, there are so many Strat variants at all different price points that you would have to do a whole series of videos to cover all of them. What I would like to see, however, is a comparison video of the Squier Deluxe, MIM Player, and MIA Professional Strats as they have a lot of similar details.
You forgot the American Special Stratocaster. Probably the coolest Strat! Especially if you like swapping factory pickups for handwounds, and doing mods!
@@hiroprotagonitis it's not specifically good for those things, I just think it is because 1. The price is amazing and the woods and quality are on par with any American Strat 2. I don't particularly like Texas special pickups, and I always use Boutique pickups anyway, so since it's a little bit less expensive as a guitar it frees up some money to do those things.
1) American Standard; 2) Mexican Strat. If you’re rich, then go for the high end Custom Shop, otherwise, go for the Classic Vibe Squiers. Final note: I would have liked to hear the same riff across all the guitars. Also you played bridge pickup on low end models and neck pickup on hi-end ones.
Hay, she's the one who will buy the one you want and house your lazy talentless ass. If not, there's one out there for you. What do you call a guitarist without a girlfriend? Homeless or living with mom.
The USA Standard/Professional series is my personal pick of the litter! Custom Shop Fenders tend to be incredible but have rather niche features, like fake aging and a 7.25" radius. They hold their value pretty well, have incredible necks and are certainly not 1/3 of the Custom guitar in terms of quality despite the price discrepancy
01:09 Squier
02:39 Mexican
04:03 American
05:18 Custom Shop
06:35 Vintage
Do do
Thank you...!!
This is great. I feel like Mexican and Squire don't really compete. The vintage sounds best to me, but that might be personal pref.
functionform nah...nah it ain't. That's just how it is
thank do
Marketing
Conclusion: buy a good amp.
Guga Sanva amen. Guitar is a minimal contributor to tone relative to hands and amp. I watched this and heard 5 strats, with squire & MIM delivering BY FAR the best value
The most important thing on the guitar are the pickups and the neck (i.e., so it's actually playable and has decent tone in and of itself). And yeah, a $2000 guitar through a $200 amp will sound like a $200 setup; a $200 guitar through a $2000 amp will actually sound really good.
I just got the amp he's using. 68 Delux Reverb
A good head and a few speakers
And the mexican strats are amazing guitars...
Vintage Strat by far the best, but I've noticed they added more reverb to it to make it sound nicer. That isn't exactly fair play.
Hotter pickups driving the Amp harder?
spot on
BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!
Not necessarily. Maybe hotter pickuos, maybe it's just giving the pickups more sound and therefore driving the amp harder simply because the wood resonates more freely. Or the pups are cranked up higher
komimakojaketu piss on vintage. I’ve played Squiers that I’ve liked better than Americans.
Someone already took timestamps, but here you really compare them back to back:
1:22 Squier Vintage Modified
2:49 Made in Mexico (not Player!)
4:20 American Standard
5:25 Custom Shop
6:35 Vintage 60's
1st - American
2nd - Mexico
3rd - Vintage
4th - Custom Shop
5th - Squier
This is a great illustration of how there's almost literally no difference between collections of bits of wood and magnets made by the same manufacturer in different factories for different labour costs.
It's definitely a law of diminishing returns. A better amp and some EQ tweaks will resolve most tonal variation between these guitars. The main difference is durability of some of the components - and this is more important to regular gigging musicians etc. Components are easy to swap. Buy a used Squire Classic Vibe and mod it to your liking. Voila! Instant personal signature model..
Hard to see how you couldn't tell a difference. Tones got progressively better up until they masked the vintage with too much reverb. American is hands down better than all of them.
1/3 of guitarists can't hear the difference.
1/3 of guitarists can but don't think it's worth breaking the bank.
1/3 of guitarists can and are perpetually in trouble with their wives.
@@86Argonaut I like the american the best but preferred the squier to the mex. Might be because I tend to prefer rosewood fretboards.
@@JohnMichaelBurns I agree. Wish Fender/Squier still used Rosewood on their non-USA guitars. Laurel and Pau Ferro just don't look right to me.
Five kazoos five price points please
Dueling Kazoos
exkazoos you
And triangles after the kazoos.
Joe Misek I’d do recorders first but ok
Juice Harps first.
You know, after having spent a lot of money on gear I didn't really need, and settling with the cheapest guitar I've ever owned, I've come to the conclusion that what makes a great guitar is the history behind how that instrument came into your hands. The right one chooses you, not the other way around.
I feel the same. I also think that sticking with one guitar for years is how a lot of players end up with their own unique tone. I always go back to my bottom of the barrel behringer strat. Sometimes I'll play a nice guitar for a while, but then I pick up the behringer and that's it. The much better guitar goes back out to the shed. Having said that, when I drag out a mexican fender strat that I've had for 5 or so years I'm amazed at the quality. It sounds amazing. It's like a good amp in that it's just so musical.
Why was the reverb cranked highest on the Vintage Fender and not so hard on the rest?
Without watching yet, It could have hotter pickups than the rest, which would cause it to hit the reverb with more volume. Usually have the reverb cranked at low volumes and have to turn it way down at high volumes as there's an imbalance
Hi, thought the same my self... its because there really isn't that much between any of them.... it's just about the finish and feel... The higher end modals are actually more likely to have slightly under wound pickups. Theres no way you can get that broken up sound with out cranking the amp or having a pedal. they've back off on the volume on the cheaper models, thats why they sound under powered. form a tone point of view there's not much in it.... there just selling us a dream. ;.)
@@jackdust9478 This ain't it chief. The vintage one just has hotter pickups. And you definitely can get that sound just out of the guitar. Try switching between a humbucker and a single coil guitar in the same amp settings. Set the amp clean or just barely on the edge of breakup on a single coil, and it'll be way more over driven on the humbucker guitar. The last guitar mostly likely just has hotter pickups
The hotter pickups might add a slight difference, but this is way too huge!
Vintage Strats are not known for hot pick ups. Rather the opposite
I mean you can put a pickup on a potato and it will sound good Through a 68 deluxe
No no, you are absolutelly wrong! Imagine - if you can - put a Gibson Paff Pro in a Strat and what will you hear! A better laoder Tone-sognal from your amp - YES - but it´s going to be a Strat-tone and not a Gibson-tone! Right! So:: (?????) A pick-up is picking up, what´s there! That, what´s not there, you cannot pick up! The Wood makes the main sound and the pickup is picking up! You can hear on (shitty) mexican Fender Standard Strat with poplar-body, that it has not the same twang and bone an knack as Alder-wood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@Ingeborg323 I didn't realize the wood made the sound and not the strings. D'oh.
@Wein Gold Unfortunately, I do not understand your answer, because we are not fishing!
Fender Tatercaster - Idaho factory.
@@Ingeborg323 sorry friendo tone wood only applies to acoustics maybe like 00000000000.1% for electrics.
Should have included Made in Japan series.
Gerti Katro most underrated guitar to exist.
@@josuesamaniego182 without a doubt in my mind, but let's keep it a secet ;)
Still well outside myprice range xD
I concur! Especially the MADE IN JAPAN Hybrid series 50s, 60s and 78 strats.
that and the made in koreas
Woah, the vintage one sounds so much better than the other ones; full, rich and deep tones. Love it.
You guys are really knocking these videos out of the park! I love these more nerdy videos, which answers a ton of questions for most of us. Keep them coming!
Man, previous videos were the worst in the gear reviews youtube world. I wonder why it took them so long to get it right.
It looks like you copied Andertons logo. Just saying.
should have done a honnest comparison, the amp tone is different each time, and the vintage have the reverb cranked on
The squier sound good enought for me
THEN YOU SHALL RMAIN A SQUIRE PLAYER
Looks good also IMO
What makes the guitar unique and worth of spending some money is the feel and the vibe that inspire you to play. That's what you can't find out online, you have to try out.
Agree. Looking to buy my first guitar. Went into guitar center expecting to buy a strat style guitar... Funny thing is, after sitting down and holding tellys & strats, I picked up a Les Paul and it felt perfect LOL. So now I'm on the hunt for the perfect used LP.
Go figure LOL.
Filip Putschögl Nailed it!
Dan Lyons Check Out an Elite Strat or an American with a modern C neck. Also look into headstock issues on the LP’s. I have a buddy in your shoes now.
@@spartan8390 I have a 1997 California Edition, on which I started re-learning guitar after 44 years. The C-Neck doesn't make my arthritis flare up, even after hours of practice. Well, my knuckles did get a little stiff on Day 3 while learning Pipeline, but it went away, which never happened before.
I also have a 2011 Les Paul Special on layaway. Lots of players like Strats & not Pauls, or vice versa, but I'm bi. I played a Black Beauty once when I was 9. It was like jumping off my bike & into a Mercedes. Let's see which is crunchier: my knuckles, or the Paul.
never a truer word spoken, you are spot on
The strat is a jack of all trade guitars despite the price points. A squier strat isn't bad as people say they are.
My friend runs a music school and needed a beater for the kids to play. I got a Squier Tele for $175 used and donated it to the school. Really surprised how good that guitar is. It looks cool, sounds good and the kids love it!!
classic vibes are the best way to go
The problem is they used to be truly awful so i guess they are still trying to shake that reputation.
The squier bullet mustangs are a steal aswell.
My Classic Vibe is a great guitar, it's a full size body too unlike the Bullets. The only mod I've made is a pickguard and a MIM big block bridge, which dropped in perfectly!
DO ONE OF THESE FOR JAZZMASTERS
demezzerate ...and the rest of the offsets!
Please
amen.
demezzerate My thoughts exactly
THIS.
Where can i get a custom shop strat for 1400$
oskar kacin only in Narnia
mine was 1100.00 in 2004. used of course.
Probably he referred to some small batch high-quality production lines like the previous American Vintage (not the AVRI, not the disappointing American Original) which was averagely 2.2k. There are also custom shop guitars that they produce for retails that are a bit cheaper of those directly ordered by you.
@@cawfeedawg wow thats an awesome deal..... And of course i didnt mean you can get a brand new one for 1400.....where did you bought it?
If you live in a bigger city look at Pawn Shops especially if you can find one where the workers don't know guitars.
Great vid andy🤟
To compare Strats is to take a trip down the rabbit hole....so many models, options, specs, series, price points, factories etc etc.
The only thing we can agree on is that we all love em and there's one to suit all tastes.
Defo more reverb on the 63 too.....
What I like most about the Strat...Buy the most inexpensive one with the best neck for you and a light body, and mod it with a quality cold rolled steel trem block and bridge, decent tuners and drop in some decent pickups electrics. Pure custom guitar for your specs!
The lightest i guess is the Indonésia affinitty Strat
Exactly. I just built my own custom Strat. American Special Body, MIM Neck (love the profile) with Seymour Duncan and Eric Johnson pickups. It's my perfect guitar and was way under $1000
cold rolled is too bright and tinny sounding. The vintage saddles that are hot rolled sound much better.
@@cawfeedawg I find it gives more sustain and clarity. It suits me, but I appreciate it is horses for courses.
EXACTLY!!!
Really impressed by the pickups on the Squier. The AlNiCo magnets make them actually sound like a Strat and not a generic single-coil guitar as those of old with ceramic pickups. (I'm not being snobby about ceramic pickups, there's a time and a place for them.)
Totally, I don't know but Alnico have more soul. Ceramics are less dynamic.
I'd put my MIM Fender Roadhouse stratocaster over all of these
I own 2 other fenders that i love a lot, but the Roadhouse is where its at
The S-1 Switch and knob litrally will get you to any tone your heart desires, My grandfather bought me mine for Christmas, i was originally going to buy a white Hendrix Strat, but the only white fender they had left was the Roadhouse Strat, and i'm really glad that this guitar chose me :D
3:48 The new Mexican Strats have 22 frets.
The new Mexico made strats also have a 2 point trem
Oh yeah... true!
And Alnico pickups.
When he said that I literally turned to my strat. Lying ass foo I said lmao
I bought a Mexican Tele and the fit and finish are just as nice as my American Standard Strat.
Bought my American Standard in 1987 when they first came out after CBS era.
Hundreds of gigs and BKP Irish tours installed it's still a superb instrument and a worthy investment.
Strats are the go to guitar to cover all bases but the last few years I've been hammering a Tele I put together myself and it's a keeper.
Just enjoy it.
MIM are my personal favorite, love my Mexican Strat and tele
I have Fender CS postmodern journeyman relic (rosewood fretboard, Ancho Poblano PUs) in daphne blue. Upgraded the saddles to Highwood's (for even better playability) and whole guitar went through CRYO tuning: plays and sounds amazing. Like a real (vintage) deal. Recommending!!
MIM Strat probably the best value here
Fantastic value....I've owned 2 MIM strats, plus two MIM teles. I can't justify paying more for the, marginally better, USA versions. Plus, I'm poor! : )
Depending on one's individual perspective, I could see a good argument for both the MIM and the American Standard (now American Professional) being the best value. Again, it depends on one's perspective but it could work both ways.
Agreed. I’ve owned both an American Standard and a MIM Strat Special HSS, (among too many others according to my wife) and the MIM has been the best “bang for the buck” guitar I’ve ever owned.
mindbodylightsound10 sounds the same as the American standard too
I thought there was a huge tonal difference between the MIM and american standard. Not impressed by the MIM
My Strat started out as a Highway 1, a decent guitar but the body finish (thin nitro) started coming off almost immediately. Replaced the original body with a beautiful Fender sunburst finished body - she's a joy to behold and to play!
Please do this for PRS Guitars!
YES!!!!
PRS SE
PRS S2
PRS Core
PRS Private Stock
This is perfect since Andy is playing the same thing every time (minus the added reverb at the end). You can bounce back and forth and get a side by side comparison. A lot of people do comparison demos and play totally different tunes.
Thumbs up for our boy Andy!
One of that rare videos where you really can listen the difference quality in sound of the different price tags. Great job.
*drowns only the '63 Strat in reverb* ... 'nothing sounds quite like it' ... 😏
'63 Strat is louder and punchier than the other guitars. Years ago, I had a chance to play a friends '65 Strat through my 1970 Marshall Superlead. I was amazed at how much louder it was than my stock '91 Strat. It almost sounded twice as loud. Much more aggressive and punchy in the midrange. It is a tone I will never forget.
Exactly Kieren,The reverb was altered for sure, I agree.
😂 I definitely caught that too!
InspiretoVictory - 😏 Easy to adjust/near match that, using just p/ups and electronics ... ...
listairgin more punchy pick ups do make the volume & in this case the reverb louder.
a lot of people got turned off the late 70's due to bad publicity , i had a 78 blond strat , had to sell it for rent , later , bought a mex 70's 2000 model , it is exactly the same feel , weight , sound as my 78 . never discount a used mex strat , you would be supprised , great vid , thanks
Anyone hear some frusciante and Hendrix in his playing?
I hear Snow
He was playing some of the Dani California rythem part.
I hear all along the watchtower riffage
Dani California lick
VM and CV Squiers are really getting their due recognition. I've played 3 grand Strats and honestly... they're "nicer" but not so nice you can't upgrade your Squier to match it. CV Strats use solid Alder. The 50s Tele is solid pine. Tuners are easily the best on any of the 20 something guitars I've owned. Pickups are Toneriders. Only complaint is the pots did eventually crap out.
What would you do if you bought a new car that was difficult to steer had poor braking and the trim didn't fit properly? So why do we accept that almost all guitars "need" a setup? I think if guitars were setup with low action etc or at least allow you to purchase say low or mid then more beginners may keep playing. The first thing I did on my new acoustic guitar was lower the bridge which helped considerably but doing the nut made barre chords a dream. All new guitars should be setup direct from the factory considering all the CNC machining nowadays there is no excuse. Who agrees?
Well, any new or used guitar I buy, first thing I do is I take it to the bench and set it up for my preferences. Those are probably different from what another player wants.
Robin Bebbington A lot of people have surprisingly different tastes in setups. A lot of people I play with say they fell uncomfortable with how low my action is. As well, I found that a lot of guitars are made and sit for quite some time before being purchased. I’ve bought a few new models online and been surprised to see that the serial number dated back a year or two. Sitting and shipping both affect the guitar and would require some maintenance after the initial setup done in the factory.
Unfortunately (or fortunately who knows) guitars are made of wood and they’re very susceptible to the elements. They change condition fairly often, which is why some people setup their guitars every month. You can’t reasonably expect a guitar to be perfectly setup when it has to leave the factory, get on a truck, then on a plane, then on another truck, go to a warehouse and sit in a box for who knows how long until they put it on another truck and ship it to you. If you’re talking American made guitars same deal, there’s several trucks and cold warehouses always involved so in short - no, guitars are not cars or electronics and you can’t compare them like that.
@@gpesios in this context I am focusing more on acoustic guitars. In that context the nut should be cut correctly from the factory but commonly are too high making the F barre chord harder than it needs to be. Also to adjust the bridge height is not a simple screw adjustment but taking material off. Seems to be fairly simple case of providing 3 bridges with the guitar low, mid, high. And some basic instructions with a guitar on truss rod adjustment. All this should be provided with a guitar but it's not which turns a lot of people off playing. Half the battle for new players in finding out they can change guitar setups and it's massive affect on playability. For younger players whose parents are buying them an instrument to them get them to spend more money on a new guitar is not always an easy task. So in conclusion for electric guitars it's fairly easy to change settings and more action up or down but acoustic can be a little tricky but we'll worth it. So I still stand by my comment that it's simply not good enough for the industry to operate like this and no wonder people are turning away from guitar.
Add in another problem. Most retailers have the 'tech' or just anybody do adjustments on the guitars as needed. At Sam Ash they used to put their name on the tag, set up by Joe. I confronted the guy once about how badly the strings were set up, it was a mile off spec. You won't find a single guitar set up to spec in our local GC. And most of them have crusty strings.
He's using the Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Reissue in this video I have one and it's amazing (especially for the price). I know people talk about the '65 reissue but the '68 is where it's at in my opinion. And for that matter Joe Bonamassa has said the same. But I suck compare to him (and Andy) so ignore me and listen to them.
The amp is generally the great equalizer (no pun intended) when it comes to how guitars SOUND. How they FEEL and their playability is where the price difference shows, but a Squier that is properly set-up will blow a Custom Shop that's poorly set up out of the water.
I thought it was the player...
Player first. Amp improves on sound but lacks the depth and warmth that a good guitar gives you. I agree with what you’re trying to say but unless the custom is unplayable, no Squier will blow a custom. Squiers are low output and have over pronounced highs with no brightness.
@@torta122 'over pronounced highs with no brightness'? That's like saying there's too much bass but not enough low end.... 😅
Erik LAMF sound doesn’t equate sound spectrum. Just because you have highs doesn’t mean you have a particular sound. The guitar sound lacks brightness.
Getting Andy on board was the smartest thing reverb ever did.
The best Strat is a G&L Legacy. Especially that black with maple neck one that Andy rocks from time to time.
Saam I bought a G&L Legacy USA a few years back. Fantastic guitar. Fender custom shop quality at American series prices.
G&L S500 is even better, the MFD pickups are the best of the best
Blasphemy Saam, you will not be allowed back in.
I had a 'Highway One' Strat for a while. It was (at the time) the least expensive American-made strat that I could find. I loved it
The bridge pickups on all models sound thin/brittle to me.
Why not check out the middle pickup more often?
This is a great video as always. However I have trouble 'remembering' the tone from one guitar to another - would have loved to have Andy play the same thing on each guitar and then cut between each for a direct comparison of pickups etc.
5 Jags, 5 prices, when?
XKR for me. Classy car!
Never
Squire is a mighty nice sounding fiddle. Yes! But I once saw the strap button pull out of a friends Basswood Precision bass in a heart beat. The Roadworn Series are darn decent guitars. I once played a lightweight Telecaster that blew my mind. Wish I had bought that thing.
gotta talk about the japanese-made strats! unique in their own right
japan strats are killer
Can you still buy Japanese strats ?
@@thekitowl - You bet you can still buy Japanese Strats & Teles. The Hybrid models are by far the best and come with USA made vintage pick ups. Check the MADE IN JAPAN line up out for yourself..Cheers : www.ikebe-gakki.com/web-ikebe/Fender-Made-in-Japan/stratocaster.html#trad
Japanese and Korean-made Squiers are collectible, and command a pretty hefty price on the used guitar market
CJ and the Music Life thanks for the info.
Last month I finally got the Surf Green 50’s Strat that’s been on my list for 11 years. It’s spectacular. I’ve always preferred Teles, but wow, after that it’s tough not to love the Strat!
The Squier actually sounded closest to the vintage guitar.
Nice looking also IMO
Andy is such a great player. Watching him play for years on the internet.
i’m gonna end up buying a first act
TrapsIsCracked YOU WONT! Lol.
Talk about wirings that are built to last. My 2012 Fender Deluxe's neck tone pot rusted stuck.
You should start with the squier bullet strat
they suck :D
Thats a good guitar. Jack Pearson from The Allman Bros played one for a while.
I recently worked on a yuri shishkov master built Brazilian rosewood neck strat and it was absolutely phenomenal. Easily the best modern strat I've ever played.
I feel like not enough is ever said in these reviews about the pickups in the standard Mexican Strats. The only Strats I've ever had where I didn't like the tone was the MIMs. In my experience, the stock ceramic pickups have higher output, but lack a real Strat sound that you get from Alnico pickups. Even the much-maligned noiseless pickups sound waaaaay more like a classic Strat than a standard MIM model. That all said, the MIM body/neck and the rest of the parts are a great platform for a custom pickup/loaded pickguard upgrade. I tell pretty much anyone on a budget to get the Classic Vibe Squier if they don't care about the brand. If they care about the brand, I recommend you find a used MIM model, buy a loaded pickguard or just swap out the pickups, get a pro setup and you'll have a really great-playing instrument that sounds WAY better for the price of a new MIM model.
I think the idea with MIM pickups was to drive a tube amp more easily but you're right, it makes them sound compressed, almost stuffy, compared to the very airy quality of traditional low output alnico pickups. The new Mexican made "Player Series" seem to have taken that into account as the redesigned pickups are of the more traditional Alnico 5 variety.
I totally agree with this, which is why right now I'm debating on getting a mexican made Fender Player Stratocaster or a G&L Tribute Legacy. The Player series is more money at $675 whereas the standard MIM is like $499-$550. The Player Strat has Alnico pickups and I think has that classic fender strat sound you want whereas the standard MIM does not. I'm also debating getting a G&L Tribute Legacy as they do come with Alnico pickups (the same exact ones G&L puts in their american version) for even less than a Fender MIM standard. I've seen them selling anywhere between $399 - $499. Does anyone have any experience with both or advice? Having such a hard time deciding!
If you're a real guitar player, you don't need a "pro setup". Set it up yourself. Strats are one of the easiest guitars to set up, especially the 2-point system. Look up the "Frudua Method" on Google to get a really good explanation of how to properly float a Strat trem and set up the guitar.
braclo93 I do set up my own guitars, but I think that some people shopping for affordable instruments may not feel comfortable doing it. Agreed that it’s pretty easy, but “pro setup” just means “set up by a human who knows how to set up a guitar.”
@@DKprojects9 I have a MIM player series, got it around $675 give or take. It has Alnico 5 magnetics, 2 point trem, 22 frets and it's awesome. I did replace the pickups with Eric Johnson signature pickups ($299 I think,) but even the stock pickups are way better than what this guy was saying. The alnico 5 pickups are the same as in American strats (except the higher end models they're now putting fat 50s in) Great guitar.
Tbh, the most important thing I got from this video is that I should buy a Deluxe Reverb. Great demo overall!
Toshiro Slimane Get a Kemper. $1800 and you’ll have every amp you could dream of.
I think the quality difference from American->CS is larger than the Mex->Amer jump
agree
I’m blown away every time I pick up my CS. It’s so much better than the standard Americans, but my Eric Johnson Strat gives it a run for its money. My EJ with a rosewood fingerboard is special
i was hearing mostly a difference in pickup output
preamp was working harder
Enjoyed the video thanks Andy! Super playing! Here's my take. The best generally is the American Standard, everything about it is a best of all worlds compromise that in the right hands sounds world class. 22 medium jumbo frets, 9.5 radius: you can run the action low enough to shred but it still feels like a strat. Or obv run it higher or whatever you want. 7.5 only lets you go so low then choking happens. Pickups have decent power and tone and most important, bridge pickup is wired to the tone control. 2 Point them is good but you also have micro tilt.. you can really set these things up nicely to do just about anything well enough that the player can make up the rest. On the other hand if you have the skills to change pickups and the resources to maybe get a re fret done, change hardware etc, you could make a good strat out of a Squier or Mexican. But they will never have 22 frets which may limit some players. Also the vibe, something that makes you want to pick it up and play is a good thing! (subjective) I think any other way you approach it, you can't achieve the quality in all areas of the American Standard by upgrading a Squier (using off the shelf prices and man hours, possible re-fret) If doing it all yourself using secondhand, you have a lot more scope. I've played a 60's strat, it was awful! But this collector knew nothing of a proper set up, all his guitars were horrid to play lol.
the mexican deluxe strats have locking tuners, 22 fretts, american pick ups, some even have a 12 inch radius
If you want a serious strat all you need is a Classic Vibe 50s
Sehr gut, es gefällt mir immer wieder, wie Du sehr verständlich und deutlich alles erklärst und sehr schöne interessante Parts spielst! Viele Grüße, Horst Lemke, Germany
The biggest differences between all these models is 1) the price you pay for admission, and 2) players automatically assume you play incredibly well when you pull a CS out of the case VS. not so much when you drag a Squier out of your gig bag. Truth be told...the CS would generally stay at home for gigs while the Squier/Mexi would see most gig duty. Easier to replace a 200$ guitar vs a $5000 instrument. The actual sound difference is negligible to all but he most trained ear.
Exactly! I've been playing for nearly 30 years and for the money the mid level to higher level Squiers over the last 10 years are unbeatable values. I own 3 Squier Teles(Standard, CV and 70's style Custom). Are the Fender MIM or AM versions "better" instruments? Marginally so, but not enough for me to justify the much higher price for them. And you're right; the average person/listener would be hard pressed to sonicaly hear the difference, and even most head-stock snobs, er, guitar players would be too, until they "heard" the guitar with their eyes! 😜
obviously if you can't even afford a decent backup guitar, then "the truth be told" is you need to hu$tle
it's that or ...remain content with your lot? delude yourself?
truth is often harsh [sometimes delivered by some asshole on youtube like me]...but it can also set you free
good luck :-)
shaft9000 yeah ok buddy. I also own Gibsons so I can afford great guitars but having played Fenders and the Squiers I ended up buying, I still stand by my comment.
Again I’ve been playing for just under 30 years. Doesn’t take me long to figure if an inexpensive guitar plays/sounds great or an expensive guitar plays/sounds ok but not for the price they’re charging. That’s not to say better woods/electronics/hardware etc can’t make a difference, but sometimes just not enough to justify the extra expense unless you really want it or in the case of custom shop guitars, you’re willing to pay for the vibe of those guitars. Like anything else as prices increase, the law diminishing returns comes into play.
And I find it’s the headstock snobs who tend to delude themselves. A quality guitar is a quality guitar, regardless of the price point or name on the headstock.
1 neck - is it playable? Set up correctly, especially nut?
2 speaker
3 pickups
I bought the cheapest Squire for my daughter, put in StewMac pickups (Golden Age $90 for the set IIRC), replaced the nut and tuners, and set it up. (Worthless if it won’t stay In tune). Even though the body might as well be balsa wood encased in plastic, it sounds surprisingly good.
Big diff in the pickups me thinks.
Exactly
neck feel also
Squier pickups use a big bar magnet to cover up for the compromised copper coils. Thats why the expensive ones sound fuller and more resonant
@@jacobbrown1690 yeah, unfinished necks on squire's are sweet...
Yep. Put the custom shop loaded scratchplate in the MIM and you'll have a very lovely sounding guitar.
I never learned to use a pick. I always thought it was a hindrance but watching this dude really inspires me
You do you, bro. Mark Knopfler doesn't use a pick either.
funnily enough, i actually liked the american standard the most. he did play that one for longer though it seems.
Love Andy's videos no matter who he works for. I gotta say though the David from Roseanne hairdo is we bit disconcerting. Haha.
Great vid as always
The info on the Mexico strat is a couple years out of date. The player series was one of the biggest upgrades for years. This video completely ignores this which I think is a big omission. Also why demo the Mexico line with a 70s player which will be niche compared to the main line ones? ... and yea, the reverb was cranked at the end for the retro strat for some reason??
Cause for some reason the standard MIM strats are not very available right now. Funny how the 50's player has gone to two screw tremolo! That cracks me up!
The vintage sounds the best, but they all sound like Strats. The slight variations can all be dialed in with amps,strings, pedals, etc. If you know what you're doing you can make a Squire sound pretty good.
One MIJ to rule them all, One MIJ to find them,
One MIJ to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
the 54 reissue from the mid 90's? correct, Frodo
I have an '83 jv stat and it's better than any American strat I played
I prefer CIJ 😎
Mid-90's Contemporary Strat (Model 27-5700 - HSS with System 3 Trem) FTW!
Andy has been on a roll. His last several videos have been great!
How did you know I am in the market for a Strat. I have a Squier VM Jaguar and while I really like it and it does a great job. The biggest complaint is the pots and the bridge.
Thanks for the video. Hopefully, I'll get an American soon or the Mexican maybe.
I love the sound of Texas Special pickups, so I got a 2014 MIM Deluxe Roadhouse Strat used for $450. I liked it so much I got another. Highly recommended. Just be aware that since 2016, this model comes with Vintage Noiseless pickups instead of Texas Specials.
Literally was in the same boat as you, I have a VM Jaguar and I recently added a CV 60s Strat. It's a great guitar, sounds and plays awesome! If possible buy an older one from 2016 or earlier so you can get a Rosewood board instead of the ugly Indian Laurel (it's too light imo.) Or check out the CV 50s and its sweet maple board!
I was contemplating modding one of the Jaguar circuits with 250k pots but I'm really glad I got a Strat instead.
Hey man, sorry, but what's wrong with the pots? what's their value? I was considering buying a VM Jaguar myself.
You missed the American Professional series, the price is around 1500 and 2000, but i guess is the same as the American Standard. Great video!
Jazz master or tele pls
Good video btw Andy knows how to demo
if you don't have the cash for American made or higher end Fenders there's one huge thing you can do to help; learn to solder. get a Vintage Modified or Mexican made, and then save up for some decent pickups and drop them in and it can make a massive difference. also learning basic guitar maintenance and repair skills can really stretch your money as well. for instance learning how to properly set up a bridge, whether it be a hard tail or tremolo, how to intonate and set your action, etc. spending a little extra money on new hardware like a bridge or new tuners can make the guitar so much more playable, and if you can find good deals and put them in yourself you still end up spending less than you would on higher end models. i bought a Squier VM Jaguar, got some pickups from Curtis Novak (mostly because the ones that came in it stock weren't potted correctly and squealed like crazy) and a Mastery bridge, and it's like it's a completely different guitar from the one i brought home.
Liked it instantly after hearing the Frusciante influence
Otkud si?
@@margareta5519 hollandije brate
And don't forget to crank the reverb and volume between the Squier and the vintage 63
Martin Beaudry indeed
How does he get his fingers to sound like a pick
nails
Anyone know what song/ tune he’s playing? I like it
the vintage 50s is the best but set of custom shop pick ups in a mexican is hard to beat
Does anyone know if that is an actual song he's playing, or if it's something he made up? Because I absolutely loved it and would like to learn how to play it. If it's something that he made up and there's no tabs available for it then I would like to find something that's a very similar style and learn it. Hell, I don't even really know what genre it is. Thanks in advance.
Like I've always said: The Strat is the best looking, most comfortable & most versatile axe there is! No other guitar comes close in those 3 departments. Can't change my mind!
Same settings except for way more reverb on the vintage?
Used Mexico or American alllll daaaaay looooong...... That's just smart money.
I have a modded made in mexico 52 reissue strat as my main. It's amazing.
Just starting out in guitars and to be perfectly honest, I could tell absolutely NO difference in the squire and the vintage strat from a sound perspective
Come back in a year or so. There was a HUGE difference!
They all.sound slightly different but do they really sound 'better' the more cash you lay down? Debatable.
My first axe was a Squier Affinity strat. Then I had a Mexican Fender one, then an American one. I've played original vintage 60s, and maybe 50s (I can't remember). It's true when you have a guitar half a century old it's going to feel and sound a little different, and the video where Eric Johnson compares his 50s vintage to a custom shop shows this. However, my USA strat had issues that some MIMs don't. There was chipping on the frets' finish out of the box (looks like a sloppy factory job), you can see the joints under the sunburst finish where the pieces of the body were glued together, etc.
When I was in Eastern Europe I played a Chinese Fender copy that sounded and played just as good and it cost $200. I don't recommend a working musician going above the Mexican model unless you have the cash to spend that much without making a dent in the bank. You can always upgrade pickups and hardware later. Frankly, I've played strats in the $200 range in America that rival Fender's stuff, but it's hit and miss with cheap gear. Low quality control means some Squiers, Indio's, etc will be great by accident, and some will not, so play a guitar before buying if you can. Whatever you do, don't buy an expensive new Fender or Gibson thinking you'll get your money back in collectability. You'll be in a wheelchair before that's the case. Only the original 50s and 60s stuff is going up in value reliably.
I always pick the heaviest Strat, no matter how it sounds. You know why ?
"Heavy is good, heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work, you can always hit them with it" (Boris the Blade)
Olivier Langlet 🤣🤣🤣
Good video. Of course, there are so many Strat variants at all different price points that you would have to do a whole series of videos to cover all of them. What I would like to see, however, is a comparison video of the Squier Deluxe, MIM Player, and MIA Professional Strats as they have a lot of similar details.
You forgot the American Special Stratocaster. Probably the coolest Strat! Especially if you like swapping factory pickups for handwounds, and doing mods!
That's interesting! What about it makes it good for those things specifically?
JOEYS GEAR it's discontinued, actually
Now there's performer series replacing it
@@janukasik4393 yes I know... Now it's the performer. But it's the same basic thing especially since I always change the pickups anyway.
@@hiroprotagonitis it's not specifically good for those things, I just think it is because 1. The price is amazing and the woods and quality are on par with any American Strat 2. I don't particularly like Texas special pickups, and I always use Boutique pickups anyway, so since it's a little bit less expensive as a guitar it frees up some money to do those things.
JOEYS GEAR I have one and the pickups are amazing imho
Excellent! Thanks, Andy. And now on to those “other” Strats-G&L, PRS, Suhr. They’re waiting in the wings for their turn.
So vintage strats have reverb built in? Who knew
Kantina . Very well said, I agree!
1) American Standard; 2) Mexican Strat. If you’re rich, then go for the high end Custom Shop, otherwise, go for the Classic Vibe Squiers. Final note: I would have liked to hear the same riff across all the guitars. Also you played bridge pickup on low end models and neck pickup on hi-end ones.
A strat is a strat is a strat for the most part
Said every non-guitar player ever.
@@phreak1118 Yea exactly. I watch guitar videos and demos constantly bc I don't play guitar.
@@phreak1118 exactly, if you didn't care about the differences you would have never clicked on this video.
They all sound great and you can't go wrong with any of them.
who else got a RHCP vibe watching this video?
Dani vibe yeah
California Yeah
Could it have been because... he played them?
Not for me. Andy could be playing Gilmore licks and it wouldn't remind me of JohnF.
Who else has a limited musical vocab?
I'm playing the game squier vs the 63 vintage one. 1:22 vs 6:35
Reverb wins....
My GF : “ They all sound and look the same to me what’s the big deal”
Me: “GTFO....”
Matthew Wayne Should have signed up for Tinder immediately. That one may not work out. Lol.
Have her put on a nice quality pair of noise canceling phones, have her close her eyes... and then leave
i dunno, you could play anything through a vintage deluxe and itll sound good
Hay, she's the one who will buy the one you want and house your lazy talentless ass. If not, there's one out there for you. What do you call a guitarist without a girlfriend? Homeless or living with mom.
The USA Standard/Professional series is my personal pick of the litter! Custom Shop Fenders tend to be incredible but have rather niche features, like fake aging and a 7.25" radius. They hold their value pretty well, have incredible necks and are certainly not 1/3 of the Custom guitar in terms of quality despite the price discrepancy
The price is the difference
Are you stupid?
very surprised by the sound of the vintage modified squier. sounded incredible