I love these quick back to back cuts on the edits that stay in time when you compare. I HATE when people compare sounds by playing long passages that change over time forcing me to jump back and forth to hear a proper comparison.
It's like a Venn diagram: they all have sounds that overlap, but each has its own unique space too. Tele bridge, Strat in-between sound (its quackiness depends on the way the middle pickup's wired), Strat neck pickup, etc. And that's why we need so many fenders!
I love how your conclusion is the exact opposite from @scottjones6624 just above regarding the “need” for another Fender guitar. I’d have to agree with you that there’s a great deal of overlap but the subtle differences mean a lot in regards to their sound and playability. It’s not like I suffered playing only a MIJ Strat for the first 10 years but I do love how I’ve since branched out!
The Strat sounds very clearly different to me, especially in the bridge and in between positions. It’s also the most comfortable body shape and has more tuning stability than anything but the Tele. I feel validated as a Strat guy now. Thanks Eric!
Stratocaster has that overall great sound for anything imo, with less work getting that effect than the other 2 pickup guitars from Fender and their circuitry is also a lot more stable than the Mustang and Jazz/Jag. It seems to me to shape tone much better than the rest, not that you can't with the others, but the addition of a third pickup alone means this one has the tone bagged of all the offers. People in chat groups always say snag the Telecaster first, but I gotta disagree if you plan on buying and mastering one guitar, the Stratocaster is clearly more in a guitar than the rest of the offers from Fender. Good on ya for just sticking to the big dog, I have the same sentiment with a full stable of 11 guitars, all great and all are pro level instruments, but I'd never feel good about losing specifically one out of all these, my Sienna Burst American Standard. It is exactly the do all instrument you expect from one.
Don't really agree with that! My experience of offset and Strat vibratos has been broadly similar: cheaply made or badly setup they're both hopeless, but well made and well set up they're both completely fine. Honestly comparable at both ends of the extreme. I also find an offset body much more comfortable than a Strat body. But that, is entirely personal taste and differing body shape/play style. ;) What I love about the standard Fender line is that with the exception of the missing vibrato on a tele, they all have a different sound and different strengths - but they're all similar enough to be broadly interchangeable. It's easy to justify having both a Strat and a Mustang for recording - but also not to need three of each to play at Wembley - break a string on a Tele? Grab a Jaguar and flip the strangle on, close enough. Break a tuner on your strat? Just turn the tone control up full on a Mustang. Close enough!
Tbh I get better intonation/tuning from my jazzmaster and tele than from a strat style bridge guitar I had, but maybe cause it wasn’t fender or squier it was jus trash. The strat trem definitely would make it go out of tune with any slight touch and once one string is tuned the others go out???? Jazzmaster could never
Everytime I see Eric play that telecaster I get telecaster envy. I agree with all points made, but I still want a tele (to go with my strat 😂, the differences are enough to want more, but maybe not nowadays when you can use amp modelling etc!)
Wow, I loved how you played the solo parts with each guitar bringing a different color to the tune. It’s like you played each one highlighting their strong points
Yet again a great reminder that what counts is your playing. Different sound of guitars is subtle. I say pick due to feel, body comfort, even looks if that makes ya happy and then play and practice. It is so easy to think we "need" another guitar.
The most distinct was the strat in-betweens - if you want that sound, nothing comes close. But all in all I think the subtle differences feel more significant when you actually play the instrument.
That's one of the reasons I could never mesh with the strat: pickup positions 2 and 4 are so distinct and recognizable, and immediately remind you of all the songs they've been used for. Ironically positions 1, 3 & 5 are probably more ubiquitous, but they don't stand out as much since they're so omnipresent. If I go to position 4, BAM, it's Mark Knopfler. How could I possibly escape the Knopf sound? How could I, the Joe Schmo, claim that for myself? Not sure why I have this problem with the in-between strat sounds, but I wonder if it's just me. It's a good tone, but it just sounds so 70s+80s rock to my ears.
@ I see what you mean! I rarely use them myself, but it’s nice for that specific flavor sometimes. Reminds me most of John Mayer and even Hendrix (as used in Little Wing). Also good for some gnarly lead sounds with a bit more overdrive.
If you have a single coil Fender and liked this video, it's time for another single coil Fender! I have three and I think I have to get another. Absolutely lovely playing - really dug the solos! Great Eric, thanks!
Never ceases to amaze me. My dad is a player (jazz from back in the day) and I was listening to Soulive back in the 00’s and he assumed the guy was playing a Telecaster.
I agree with your point, but man I love that Mustang! The Tele with the Bigsby too... Can't decide... Multiple guitars truly is the answer! Happy Friday, Eric, everyone!
I’ve got a Godin Freeway Classic, had it for nearly 20 years, and every time I think about upgrading it or getting a new guitar I realise I can already do everything I’ll ever need. HSH with a whammy bar, perfect versatility. Love and understand the gear you have first
Great video that really shows the ‘solid body’ electric guitar chain signal only has three basic elements, pick ups, ‘mid chain effects’ and amplification. If the first part of the chain is just a series of similar pickups (low to mid range single coils in this case) you are not going to get dramatic tonal changes regardless of body styles, pickup positions and/or combinations. If you disregard ‘mid chain effects’ only significant changes to either end of the signal chain will produce enough tonal variation for the naked ear in the mix. Throw those ‘mid range effects’ back in and wow you have a kaleidoscope of tonal possibilities. That’s the whole fun of ‘chasing tone’ and why we love it.
The most distinctive to me will always be the neck pickup on a Strat and the bridge pickup on a Tele. But your Mustang sounds awesome! And appreciate the thumb only on the Wes tune. A proper nod. Cheers!
Still think the tele bridge and the strat in between positions are unlike anything else, but your point absolutely stands. Again, us shiny-thing loving guitarists learn we buy with our eyes more than our ears.
Out of all the TrueFire course ads w the white backgrounds, yours was the only one ive seen where the guitar tone itself wasn't absolute dog water. Keep up the quality content!
Telecaster: The most uniform, even, balanced, and rich tone. Also the least personality of the bunch. Inarguably the most useful if you wanted one guitar to do it all, but also the least unique sounding IMO. Stratocaster: The opposite of the Tele. The most unique sounding. The quirkiest, biggest personality of the bunch. Also the thinnest sounding, with a bright "hollowness" to the tone. Best sounding on funk and solos, but seemed the most limited overall in terms of usability across genres. Mustang: For whatever reason had a unique growl to it, but still had a full tone in general. Would be excellent for rock and types of southern country rock. Perhaps could be used across several genres successfully, great sounding guitar. Jazzmaster: The bassiest, and the smoothest of the group. Very mellow, smooth tone and characters. Has less bite than the other options, but still more than enough brightness to sit well in a busy mix. I think the Jazzmaster is an underrated guitar as a whole, and would be a tremendous rhythm guitar across many genres. I probably wouldn't use it for solos in a busy rock wall of sound, but otherwise a really interesting guitar. Jaguar: Somehow in between all of the others combined. It has a tiny bit of quack like the strat, a rounder fuller depth similar to the tele, the bass smoothness of the jazzmaster, and just a little bite of the mustang. It still sounds open and full toned, but not quite as much so as the tele. I suspect this is a great choice for people who can't decide between a telecaster and a stratocaster as it seems to fit between the two well.
". . . sit well in a busy mix." You stated it perfectly there, but I think it would likely apply across the board in a live situation. Subtleties seem to disappear when other instruments get going, especially when the volume is turned up. However, each of these guitars feels unique when played, at least to me.
Anyone commenting that they sound the same is definitely listening through a phone speaker. Many of them sound similar, yes, but each is unique. Whether they are different enough to warrant someone buying each is up to them. Most of us can simply use any of those and tweak settings to get close enough to cop sounds of another.
While they do sound (slightly) different, I don't think the differences matter in a band or mix with other instruments. In these cases I'd say that the tele bridge and the strat inbetween positions are the only ones where an additional guitar purchase might be warranted. Otherwise: all single coils tend suffice for the same jobs
Jazzmaster is a true beast, almost nobody explores it deeply . She is the best guitar to use with fuzz pedals, specially using neck pick up. I v dropped my jazz to D standard tuning and often to Drop C and it sounds better than an humbucker guitar
I’m recovering from an inner ear injury and consequently can’t wear headphones or sit in front of my monitors at 85db for the next few months: the jazzmaster’s the only one that sounds tonally different to me though my phone speakers. All the rest just seem to sound tonally identical though driving the preamp at different levels of heat
I honestly think they sound so different! It confirmed my love for my old squire Jazzmaster. That said, that mustang has such a great dark sound, something with the shorter scale length and the older pick ups and the broken in wood that makes it sound so good.
I've become a Fender junkie (not afraid to admit it). Mostly teles and strats. Some stock, some modded - the beauty of the design IMHO. AND they keep producing beauties. The new Shifty cleaver is on my xmas list. PLEASE Santa!!
This was a video about how everyone is sleeping on the Mustang!...Wow! I regularly swap between a Tele, Strat and Jazzmaster, so I can really hear the difference - To me, a Strat just sounds like lead guitar tone. The 1 meg pots on the JM really make the sound brighter than the others too. Really cool vid!
Definetly all of them has their unique thing, that you can “explore” and enjoy! I have a stratocater and a Jazzmaster and i love them, and enjoy them in diferent ways, they shine in different music landscapes.
Eric Haugen - hands down my favourite guitar TH-camr. I've been a player and listener for quite some time, like to think I have a broad knowledge of players. Eric just hits all the notes and boxes for me. I imagine he digs the New York guys like Marc Ribot as much as he appreciates the Byrds, Muddy Waters and some bawling Memphis guitar. He even plays my bit of my favourite Mick Taylo on this vid. Oh and that strat sounds great here. It may be currently uncool but that's just fashion!
Got a Rack on the wall right beside me here, with a 1970s fat Strat, Fender Mexicano 1985, A Fender Player Telecaster, and a Harley Benton T-70. Every one has a tone and feel that is unique, just like all those guitars you showed us. Great fun.
My first guitar is an 🇺🇸 strat and still got it. Just bought a 2018 fender player telecaster and it's awesome. I was looking at a professional 2 telecaster BUT I played a G&L FULLERTON ASAT CLASSIC AND IT IS BETTER BUILT GUITAR THAN FENDER PROFESSIONAL 2 TELECASTER AND IT'S ON STEROIDS ‼️ So my next guitar is a G&L FULLERTON ASAT CLASSIC hands down ‼️
I'm without a Fender guitar for the first time in maybe 40 years. This video makes me homesick. In particular, I miss the snap and articulation in the bass notes, the low E and A strings, that I don't have in my new Harmony or my old Gibson.
I have different guitars for different sounds (different pickup combinations) but I also find that the way I play each guitar is different - I approach each instrument in a different way to the others. It's not a conscious thing, it's just something I've noticed in the last couple of years.
Unscientific? Surely, but still a very effective demonstration and comparison of basic differences in sound between single-coil Fender guitars. In the end, you gots to follow the tones that inspire you and, if possible, own multiple guitars. 😄
Wow, you just single-handedly destroyed Fender and Sweetwater's multi-million dollar advertising campaigns, trying to convince us that we all need multiple guitars. Nice job, particularly the observation that these sounds are closer to each other than they are different. Bravo man!
why do you have to pretend to be so smug. am i going to use my dimarzio x2n to play jazz? i could, but there are pickups better suited for that. if you don't care how it sounds, if everything is "close enough" then sure. you enjoy drinking that no name cola with pride. you're not right, but you deserve to wallow
You said the N word. Yes, all you NEED is one guitar, but to think these all sound "similar enough" is hilarious. I have two Modern Player Teles, the HSS and the thinline with P90s. They are both the same basic shape and they have 6 strings, that's it for similarities.
Thanks for the reminder to be excellent to myself as I go off to a church band practice including a band and orchestra that I have to hang with. I just ate some pizza. Carry on my friend!
The other day I was listening to Jack White's "You Got Me Searching" and immediately thought of you and your teaching style. Maybe a good one for the channel.
This is a fun comparison and very useful info, and the shout-outs to Carrboro and Durham, NC are awesome...up the road from me. Btw, what a cool introductory tune by Steppenwolf. 😎👍🏻
I'm a one guitar guy right now. It's a Peavey JF1, basically a 335 copy with upgraded pickups. I can play any style with it and it always sounds great, be it blues, jazz standards, rock or Japanese pop. I've always wanted a single coil and I'm really thankful for this video. Based on what I heard here, a Tele will be my next purchase.
Your mustang is soo beautiful, the dark wood with the red pick guard just gorgeous! Great video as always ❤ Btw in the solo test my favs were the Tele, Strat and Mustang. And I’m considering a Starcaster but I would have to be one in the same Color way as yours lol
I don’t have a favorite, just not how my mind works, same process that leads me to same conclusion regarding “favorite” genre of music, band, song, guitar player…you get the idea. I am drawn in by and passionately fascinated with nearly all things music, including types and styles of guitar and guitar playing. And, yes, I readily admit-really, happily and proudly declare-that I thoroughly enjoy trying out, playing, and owning different guitars. It’s just so darn fun!
I have too many guitars. I’m considering narrowing it down to mostly Strats and Les Pauls. I agree that once you choose your favorite (for me, a Strat), you can choose a Humbucker guitar to switch it up.
Love the video and yeah in a way they do haha. The one thing I'd add is if you run a super clean amp like the DR the differences tend to come out more. What drives me nuts is some YT guitar reviewers run amps and pedals where almost every guitar sounds the same. Like why are you reviewing guitars if you can't pull yourself away from the one sound you're obsessed with? Of course you did them justice with all kinds of different settings and styles. You're the man eric!
I have a Strat with DiMarzio Blue Velvets, a Strat with Lace P900s, a Strat with DiMarzio Blue Velvet neck and middle with a FRED bridge and then another Strat with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge and Air Norton neck. American Standards have been a favourite for a while. Good workhorse guitars at a good price that you can gig with worry free.
What speakers are you using today? 0:27 Riffin’ 0:58 Jazzy stuff 1:47 Jangle 2:48 ‘fÅnk’ 3:22 Favourite? 3:29 back’t’back solo 4:21 pretty similar? 4:46 take-away or to-go? 5:11 Recommendations My takeaway: they sound really different, I especially like the Jazzmaster and Mustang cleans😄 I’ve never owned a Fender but now I’m considering it. That Godin is to die for, but on the home page they don’t mention if there’s a left handed version
I agree they're more similar than they are different but man, that Mustang is such a classic all-American rock tone. You really can't go wrong with that guitar.
I have a Strat, Tele and Jazz and they’re all different, yeah you can get them close to each other, but they all have quirks that are specific to each one, especially when you’re running them through different amp/pedal combinations. I want one of every modification they’ve released! (And a 59 Les Paul, Rickenbacker, and dozens of other newer boutique brands! Lol) But right now I’m happy with what I’ve got! (Also have a 67 SG with P90’s that was stripped and left neglected in an attic for 30 years, now it weighs six pounds and sounds incredible, the pickups are QUIET somehow but still powerful and beautiful sounding!)
The Strat for me is still King , with the Tele right on its heals. The Strat hugs you back as well - most comfortable guitar by far. But I have multiple guitars - love them all.
Strat position 3 would have been a more 1:1 comparison to the middle position on the others. Just shows how versatile 3-pickup guitars really are. Great video!
They all sound different but close to each other, through my iPhone speaker anyhow, BUT this made me really rethink why. The biggest differences I heard were when the scale lengths changed, especially on the neck pickups. Maybe it’s not the output of the pup but the positioning of the pickup that makes the differences? Great video.
I am a huge P-90 fan after getting an old SG Special. There is nothing better, They sound great in my Casino, too. BUT that said, this video should make everyone realize that a Tele is all you will every need. They are so versatile and sound great for a lot of things. I was surprised at how great the Jaguar sounded, though, as others have mentioned below. As a single coil fan, I will add that the hum can easily be tamed with an EHX Hum Debugger.
This is great, my humble opinion having watched it twice. The strat is just strat all the way. The Jazzmaster sounded a little washy, perhaps vague. I love Jazzmasters. The Tele was stoical and firm. Jag and Mustang are very close and are the overall champs 😅
@thomasachambers7318 Haha, yes indeed, I was really impressed with the Mustang, seemed like a guitar that required effort but appreciated the attention 😄
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love the steppenwolf jupiters child cover at the beginning
What I hear: Strat: the clearest; Tele: middle of the road; Jazzmaster: too much; Mustang: small; Jaguar: pretty neutral and close to the Strat. I own a Strat and.a Jazzmaster and I can cofirm the above. S'all good, man!
They all sound different...but tbh, the sound is not the first thing I consider when choosing a guitar. Love the Strat and Tele and really would not complain about a Jazz master. Thanks for the fun video!
I liked the fender the best.
Me too! All the other guitars sucked
They are all fenders
I like the Fender SG
I like Tuttles....
I love these quick back to back cuts on the edits that stay in time when you compare. I HATE when people compare sounds by playing long passages that change over time forcing me to jump back and forth to hear a proper comparison.
It's like a Venn diagram: they all have sounds that overlap, but each has its own unique space too. Tele bridge, Strat in-between sound (its quackiness depends on the way the middle pickup's wired), Strat neck pickup, etc. And that's why we need so many fenders!
I love how your conclusion is the exact opposite from @scottjones6624 just above regarding the “need” for another Fender guitar. I’d have to agree with you that there’s a great deal of overlap but the subtle differences mean a lot in regards to their sound and playability. It’s not like I suffered playing only a MIJ Strat for the first 10 years but I do love how I’ve since branched out!
The Strat sounds very clearly different to me, especially in the bridge and in between positions. It’s also the most comfortable body shape and has more tuning stability than anything but the Tele. I feel validated as a Strat guy now. Thanks Eric!
Stratocaster has that overall great sound for anything imo, with less work getting that effect than the other 2 pickup guitars from Fender and their circuitry is also a lot more stable than the Mustang and Jazz/Jag. It seems to me to shape tone much better than the rest, not that you can't with the others, but the addition of a third pickup alone means this one has the tone bagged of all the offers. People in chat groups always say snag the Telecaster first, but I gotta disagree if you plan on buying and mastering one guitar, the Stratocaster is clearly more in a guitar than the rest of the offers from Fender. Good on ya for just sticking to the big dog, I have the same sentiment with a full stable of 11 guitars, all great and all are pro level instruments, but I'd never feel good about losing specifically one out of all these, my Sienna Burst American Standard. It is exactly the do all instrument you expect from one.
It sounds exactly like garbage.
Don't really agree with that! My experience of offset and Strat vibratos has been broadly similar: cheaply made or badly setup they're both hopeless, but well made and well set up they're both completely fine. Honestly comparable at both ends of the extreme.
I also find an offset body much more comfortable than a Strat body. But that, is entirely personal taste and differing body shape/play style. ;)
What I love about the standard Fender line is that with the exception of the missing vibrato on a tele, they all have a different sound and different strengths - but they're all similar enough to be broadly interchangeable. It's easy to justify having both a Strat and a Mustang for recording - but also not to need three of each to play at Wembley - break a string on a Tele? Grab a Jaguar and flip the strangle on, close enough. Break a tuner on your strat? Just turn the tone control up full on a Mustang. Close enough!
Strat actually has the least comfortable body shape for me, which is why a Jazzmaster will win for me every time.
Tbh I get better intonation/tuning from my jazzmaster and tele than from a strat style bridge guitar I had, but maybe cause it wasn’t fender or squier it was jus trash. The strat trem definitely would make it go out of tune with any slight touch and once one string is tuned the others go out???? Jazzmaster could never
I love that despite how unique they all are, they all still sound like Fenders.
Gosh that Telecaster sounded fantastic.
Everytime I see Eric play that telecaster I get telecaster envy. I agree with all points made, but I still want a tele (to go with my strat 😂, the differences are enough to want more, but maybe not nowadays when you can use amp modelling etc!)
Eric's Tele is like the platonic ideal of a telecaster. I love my telecaster (blonde Baja tele) but secretly wish it looked like Eric's japanese one
Wow, I loved how you played the solo parts with each guitar bringing a different color to the tune. It’s like you played each one highlighting their strong points
Yet again a great reminder that what counts is your playing. Different sound of guitars is subtle. I say pick due to feel, body comfort, even looks if that makes ya happy and then play and practice. It is so easy to think we "need" another guitar.
The most distinct was the strat in-betweens - if you want that sound, nothing comes close. But all in all I think the subtle differences feel more significant when you actually play the instrument.
That's one of the reasons I could never mesh with the strat: pickup positions 2 and 4 are so distinct and recognizable, and immediately remind you of all the songs they've been used for. Ironically positions 1, 3 & 5 are probably more ubiquitous, but they don't stand out as much since they're so omnipresent.
If I go to position 4, BAM, it's Mark Knopfler. How could I possibly escape the Knopf sound? How could I, the Joe Schmo, claim that for myself?
Not sure why I have this problem with the in-between strat sounds, but I wonder if it's just me. It's a good tone, but it just sounds so 70s+80s rock to my ears.
@ I see what you mean! I rarely use them myself, but it’s nice for that specific flavor sometimes. Reminds me most of John Mayer and even Hendrix (as used in Little Wing). Also good for some gnarly lead sounds with a bit more overdrive.
The thing that surprised me the most was how hugely different the strat sounded from the others. Great comparison.
If you have a single coil Fender and liked this video, it's time for another single coil Fender! I have three and I think I have to get another.
Absolutely lovely playing - really dug the solos! Great Eric, thanks!
Tele and the Jaguar my favorite, but you play that Strat really well; also that Mustang has a vibe.
Same
A/B timestamps
Bridge Riffin':
0:31 Telecaster
0:36 Stratocaster
0:41 Jazzmaster
0:46 Mustang
0:51 Jaguar
Neck Jazzy:
1:03 Telecaster
1:11 Stratocaster
1:20 Jazzmaster
1:29 Mustang
1:37 Jaguar
In Between Jangle:
1:50 Telecaster
2:01: Stratocaster
2:13 Jazzmaster
2:24 Mustang
2:35 Jaguar
In Between Funk:
2:51 Telecaster
2:57 Stratocaster
3:03 Jazzmaster
3:09 Mustang
3:15 Jaguar
Solo:
3:30 Telecaster
3:41 Stratocaster
3:50 Jazzmaster
4:00 Jaguar
4:09 Mustang
Thanks.
Never ceases to amaze me. My dad is a player (jazz from back in the day) and I was listening to Soulive back in the 00’s and he assumed the guy was playing a Telecaster.
I agree with your point, but man I love that Mustang! The Tele with the Bigsby too... Can't decide... Multiple guitars truly is the answer! Happy Friday, Eric, everyone!
I’ve got a Godin Freeway Classic, had it for nearly 20 years, and every time I think about upgrading it or getting a new guitar I realise I can already do everything I’ll ever need. HSH with a whammy bar, perfect versatility. Love and understand the gear you have first
Gotta love Godin
@ underrated guitars
Great video that really shows the ‘solid body’ electric guitar chain signal only has three basic elements, pick ups, ‘mid chain effects’ and amplification.
If the first part of the chain is just a series of similar pickups (low to mid range single coils in this case) you are not going to get dramatic tonal changes regardless of body styles, pickup positions and/or combinations. If you disregard ‘mid chain effects’ only significant changes to either end of the signal chain will produce enough tonal variation for the naked ear in the mix. Throw those ‘mid range effects’ back in and wow you have a kaleidoscope of tonal possibilities. That’s the whole fun of ‘chasing tone’ and why we love it.
I just like the way you pick the appropriate songs to play for each guitar, when you go to the other (non-Fender) guitars.
Enjoyed all of them but the Tele reigned supreme!
Thumbs up just for using Heart’s “Sing Child”!
The most distinctive to me will always be the neck pickup on a Strat and the bridge pickup on a Tele. But your Mustang sounds awesome! And appreciate the thumb only on the Wes tune. A proper nod. Cheers!
I agree.
Still think the tele bridge and the strat in between positions are unlike anything else, but your point absolutely stands. Again, us shiny-thing loving guitarists learn we buy with our eyes more than our ears.
I prefer all the time your Mustang !
This was awesome. I love the color of that Mustang. Looks like you had to do a whole lotta editing for this vid, thanks!
Out of all the TrueFire course ads w the white backgrounds, yours was the only one ive seen where the guitar tone itself wasn't absolute dog water. Keep up the quality content!
Telecaster: The most uniform, even, balanced, and rich tone. Also the least personality of the bunch. Inarguably the most useful if you wanted one guitar to do it all, but also the least unique sounding IMO.
Stratocaster: The opposite of the Tele. The most unique sounding. The quirkiest, biggest personality of the bunch. Also the thinnest sounding, with a bright "hollowness" to the tone. Best sounding on funk and solos, but seemed the most limited overall in terms of usability across genres.
Mustang: For whatever reason had a unique growl to it, but still had a full tone in general. Would be excellent for rock and types of southern country rock. Perhaps could be used across several genres successfully, great sounding guitar.
Jazzmaster: The bassiest, and the smoothest of the group. Very mellow, smooth tone and characters. Has less bite than the other options, but still more than enough brightness to sit well in a busy mix. I think the Jazzmaster is an underrated guitar as a whole, and would be a tremendous rhythm guitar across many genres. I probably wouldn't use it for solos in a busy rock wall of sound, but otherwise a really interesting guitar.
Jaguar: Somehow in between all of the others combined. It has a tiny bit of quack like the strat, a rounder fuller depth similar to the tele, the bass smoothness of the jazzmaster, and just a little bite of the mustang. It still sounds open and full toned, but not quite as much so as the tele. I suspect this is a great choice for people who can't decide between a telecaster and a stratocaster as it seems to fit between the two well.
". . . sit well in a busy mix." You stated it perfectly there, but I think it would likely apply across the board in a live situation. Subtleties seem to disappear when other instruments get going, especially when the volume is turned up. However, each of these guitars feels unique when played, at least to me.
This is cool, and I can hear every little thing that is different on every one of them
Anyone commenting that they sound the same is definitely listening through a phone speaker. Many of them sound similar, yes, but each is unique. Whether they are different enough to warrant someone buying each is up to them. Most of us can simply use any of those and tweak settings to get close enough to cop sounds of another.
@callaway5148 To me, they are worlds apart. Did you notice the similarity of the Mustang and Jag? All very cool individuals 😎
even listening out of phone speakers theres still a difference i think people are just getting old
@LizordSword yeah, I'm listening on my phone, and it's a really clear comparison 👌
I’m listening on a phone speaker and they all sound wildly different to me.
While they do sound (slightly) different, I don't think the differences matter in a band or mix with other instruments. In these cases I'd say that the tele bridge and the strat inbetween positions are the only ones where an additional guitar purchase might be warranted. Otherwise: all single coils tend suffice for the same jobs
Jazzmaster is a true beast, almost nobody explores it deeply . She is the best guitar to use with fuzz pedals, specially using neck pick up. I v dropped my jazz to D standard tuning and often to Drop C and it sounds better than an humbucker guitar
I think all guitar players know deep down that they’re almost all the same, but we keep up the charade to justify new gear.
I think your right, lol
However different if use a delay or echo, at same amp settings?
Maybe it’s in my head but they sound distinctly different to me.
And most important, never tell this to your spouse 🤣🤣
I’m recovering from an inner ear injury and consequently can’t wear headphones or sit in front of my monitors at 85db for the next few months: the jazzmaster’s the only one that sounds tonally different to me though my phone speakers. All the rest just seem to sound tonally identical though driving the preamp at different levels of heat
I honestly think they sound so different! It confirmed my love for my old squire Jazzmaster. That said, that mustang has such a great dark sound, something with the shorter scale length and the older pick ups and the broken in wood that makes it sound so good.
I've become a Fender junkie (not afraid to admit it).
Mostly teles and strats. Some stock, some modded - the beauty of the design IMHO. AND they keep producing beauties.
The new Shifty cleaver is on my xmas list. PLEASE Santa!!
This was a video about how everyone is sleeping on the Mustang!...Wow! I regularly swap between a Tele, Strat and Jazzmaster, so I can really hear the difference - To me, a Strat just sounds like lead guitar tone. The 1 meg pots on the JM really make the sound brighter than the others too. Really cool vid!
Definetly all of them has their unique thing, that you can “explore” and enjoy!
I have a stratocater and a Jazzmaster and i love them, and enjoy them in diferent ways, they shine in different music landscapes.
Eric Haugen - hands down my favourite guitar TH-camr. I've been a player and listener for quite some time, like to think I have a broad knowledge of players. Eric just hits all the notes and boxes for me. I imagine he digs the New York guys like Marc Ribot as much as he appreciates the Byrds, Muddy Waters and some bawling Memphis guitar. He even plays my bit of my favourite Mick Taylo on this vid. Oh and that strat sounds great here. It may be currently uncool but that's just fashion!
Absolutely agree, Haugen is the man!
Got a Rack on the wall right beside me here, with a 1970s fat Strat, Fender Mexicano 1985, A Fender Player Telecaster, and a Harley Benton T-70. Every one has a tone and feel that is unique, just like all those guitars you showed us. Great fun.
What's a Fender Mexicano?
All great. I thought would the jazz would blow them out, but Tele and Jag felt more balanced throughout.
My first guitar is an 🇺🇸 strat and still got it. Just bought a 2018 fender player telecaster and it's awesome.
I was looking at a professional 2 telecaster BUT I played a G&L FULLERTON ASAT CLASSIC AND IT IS BETTER BUILT GUITAR THAN FENDER PROFESSIONAL 2 TELECASTER AND IT'S ON STEROIDS ‼️ So my next guitar is a G&L FULLERTON ASAT CLASSIC hands down ‼️
That Fender clearly rules 👍
But your favorite should be the one that "feels" the best to you.
Came for comparison stayed for the diverse musical styles
That mustang was so aggressive. Loved the sound.
The wand chooses the wizard Harry
End of the line really brings the Strat chime out. Surprised by how much that little riff makes the guitars sound different.
Impressed with that Mustang
that jam you played was fucking AWESOME!!!!!! The mustang bit was absolutely banging. so sick.
I love that walnut mustang! Killer!
I'm without a Fender guitar for the first time in maybe 40 years. This video makes me homesick. In particular, I miss the snap and articulation in the bass notes, the low E and A strings, that I don't have in my new Harmony or my old Gibson.
The strat has its own thing going on, as usual. 😍
Happy Friday, Eric!
I have different guitars for different sounds (different pickup combinations) but I also find that the way I play each guitar is different - I approach each instrument in a different way to the others. It's not a conscious thing, it's just something I've noticed in the last couple of years.
Funny how similar they all sound in some of the applications. The most noticeable standout was the snottiness of the strat's bridge pickup.
Unscientific? Surely, but still a very effective demonstration and comparison of basic differences in sound between single-coil Fender guitars. In the end, you gots to follow the tones that inspire you and, if possible, own multiple guitars. 😄
Wow, you just single-handedly destroyed Fender and Sweetwater's multi-million dollar advertising campaigns, trying to convince us that we all need multiple guitars. Nice job, particularly the observation that these sounds are closer to each other than they are different. Bravo man!
why do you have to pretend to be so smug. am i going to use my dimarzio x2n to play jazz? i could, but there are pickups better suited for that. if you don't care how it sounds, if everything is "close enough" then sure. you enjoy drinking that no name cola with pride. you're not right, but you deserve to wallow
You said the N word. Yes, all you NEED is one guitar, but to think these all sound "similar enough" is hilarious. I have two Modern Player Teles, the HSS and the thinline with P90s. They are both the same basic shape and they have 6 strings, that's it for similarities.
Just telling everyone you have bad ears
Thanks for the great video, Eric. You sound great!
The "Jangle" comparison really accentuated the differences. I have a Duo-Sonic and a Jaguar, completely different and both 24" scale.
Oh man! Your Wes stuff is great!
Thanks for the reminder to be excellent to myself as I go off to a church band practice including a band and orchestra that I have to hang with. I just ate some pizza. Carry on my friend!
Very good Eric
Great, now I need a strat
Hey, that's my Jaguar! I bought the exact one you're using in this video from Twin House lol.
Cool - I really liked the neck on that one!
The other day I was listening to Jack White's "You Got Me Searching" and immediately thought of you and your teaching style. Maybe a good one for the channel.
Dude great video. That Jaguar is pretty cool.
Very cool comparison! I really liked the Tele, Strat, and Jazzmaster. I've got one of each and trying to make sure I keep their unique voices.
This is a fun comparison and very useful info, and the shout-outs to Carrboro and Durham, NC are awesome...up the road from me. Btw, what a cool introductory tune by Steppenwolf. 😎👍🏻
I'm a one guitar guy right now. It's a Peavey JF1, basically a 335 copy with upgraded pickups. I can play any style with it and it always sounds great, be it blues, jazz standards, rock or Japanese pop. I've always wanted a single coil and I'm really thankful for this video. Based on what I heard here, a Tele will be my next purchase.
Chris Cain has the literally the best guitar tone and he uses a 335 type guitar.
Thank you, Mr. Haugen, this was very informative.
Your mustang is soo beautiful, the dark wood with the red pick guard just gorgeous! Great video as always ❤
Btw in the solo test my favs were the Tele, Strat and Mustang. And I’m considering a Starcaster but I would have to be one in the same Color way as yours lol
I don’t have a favorite, just not how my mind works, same process that leads me to same conclusion regarding “favorite” genre of music, band, song, guitar player…you get the idea. I am drawn in by and passionately fascinated with nearly all things music, including types and styles of guitar and guitar playing.
And, yes, I readily admit-really, happily and proudly declare-that I thoroughly enjoy trying out, playing, and owning different guitars. It’s just so darn fun!
An electric guitar is the coolest belt buckle one could own - that's why I have so many!
All rockin’ my friend! 👍
I have too many guitars. I’m considering narrowing it down to mostly Strats and Les Pauls. I agree that once you choose your favorite (for me, a Strat), you can choose a Humbucker guitar to switch it up.
The ultimate tone tour. Takeaway? It's all good!
Hey, Twin House Music reference! Those guys are awesome, cheers.
Love the video and yeah in a way they do haha. The one thing I'd add is if you run a super clean amp like the DR the differences tend to come out more. What drives me nuts is some YT guitar reviewers run amps and pedals where almost every guitar sounds the same. Like why are you reviewing guitars if you can't pull yourself away from the one sound you're obsessed with? Of course you did them justice with all kinds of different settings and styles. You're the man eric!
I have a Strat with DiMarzio Blue Velvets, a Strat with Lace P900s, a Strat with DiMarzio Blue Velvet neck and middle with a FRED bridge and then another Strat with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge and Air Norton neck. American Standards have been a favourite for a while. Good workhorse guitars at a good price that you can gig with worry free.
What speakers are you using today?
0:27 Riffin’
0:58 Jazzy stuff
1:47 Jangle
2:48 ‘fÅnk’
3:22 Favourite?
3:29 back’t’back solo
4:21 pretty similar?
4:46 take-away or to-go?
5:11 Recommendations
My takeaway: they sound really different, I especially like the Jazzmaster and Mustang cleans😄
I’ve never owned a Fender but now I’m considering it.
That Godin is to die for, but on the home page they don’t mention if there’s a left handed version
That Tele sounds tuff! 😎
The Mustang was great too. I still want a Jazzmaster though!
Not expecting that your beautiful mustang would be my favorite. Great, now I need a mustang.
love the jazzmaster
I play a tele, mostly, but the Jaguar sounded really good to me here.
Tele for overall tone but damn that Mustang has so much character
I agree they're more similar than they are different but man, that Mustang is such a classic all-American rock tone. You really can't go wrong with that guitar.
I have a Strat, Tele and Jazz and they’re all different, yeah you can get them close to each other, but they all have quirks that are specific to each one, especially when you’re running them through different amp/pedal combinations. I want one of every modification they’ve released! (And a 59 Les Paul, Rickenbacker, and dozens of other newer boutique brands! Lol) But right now I’m happy with what I’ve got! (Also have a 67 SG with P90’s that was stripped and left neglected in an attic for 30 years, now it weighs six pounds and sounds incredible, the pickups are QUIET somehow but still powerful and beautiful sounding!)
And that mustang sound its really thick! Love it
The Strat for me is still King , with the Tele right on its heals. The Strat hugs you back as well - most comfortable guitar by far. But I have multiple guitars - love them all.
Strat position 3 would have been a more 1:1 comparison to the middle position on the others. Just shows how versatile 3-pickup guitars really are. Great video!
I've never gravitated towards Stratocasters, but the one you're using has the edge here, I reckon.
Same! Strat sounded so good on these clips.
They all sound different but close to each other, through my iPhone speaker anyhow, BUT this made me really rethink why. The biggest differences I heard were when the scale lengths changed, especially on the neck pickups. Maybe it’s not the output of the pup but the positioning of the pickup that makes the differences? Great video.
those mini humbucker LP look so good
Think it’s more how they feel to play more ,as very little between the sound of many different guitars
Love the tele with bigsby I own 72 thin line with bigsby had it since I was 13 years old I'm now 60
I am a huge P-90 fan after getting an old SG Special. There is nothing better, They sound great in my Casino, too. BUT that said, this video should make everyone realize that a Tele is all you will every need. They are so versatile and sound great for a lot of things. I was surprised at how great the Jaguar sounded, though, as others have mentioned below. As a single coil fan, I will add that the hum can easily be tamed with an EHX Hum Debugger.
Cool video!
Your Tele and Mustang sounds like bad boys. Love it.
Yes, this was fun 😃
Nice Job!
The stock pickups on the CIJ Jazzmaster are known to be very "strat-like".
This is great, my humble opinion having watched it twice. The strat is just strat all the way. The Jazzmaster sounded a little washy, perhaps vague. I love Jazzmasters. The Tele was stoical and firm. Jag and Mustang are very close and are the overall champs 😅
Haha just shows they ain’t the same as I prefer the strat and tele. Something for everyone 😂
@thomasachambers7318 Haha, yes indeed, I was really impressed with the Mustang, seemed like a guitar that required effort but appreciated the attention 😄
love the steppenwolf jupiters child cover at the beginning
What I hear:
Strat: the clearest; Tele: middle of the road; Jazzmaster: too much; Mustang: small; Jaguar: pretty neutral and close to the Strat.
I own a Strat and.a Jazzmaster and I can cofirm the above.
S'all good, man!
Don't think it's about the sound, it's the feel. And they all feel different, inspire you differently and make you play in different ways.
They all sound different...but tbh, the sound is not the first thing I consider when choosing a guitar. Love the Strat and Tele and really would not complain about a Jazz master. Thanks for the fun video!