5 GREAT Cheap Stratocasters (Instead Of A Fender) 

Check out some more cheap options: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dM9zKKiZoxc.html

If Yamaha has ever made a bad guitar I’ve yet to play it. Still have my FG 420C from 1985 I recently replaced the tuners and adjusted the truss rod and now my son has it for another generation

Great demos. Great video. It's important for players to know there are alternatives. The best strats are not necessarily Fenders. This is no dig at Fender, they make some great guitars. My first guitar was a strat. I've owned many over the years. But some of the best strats I've owned were everything from a Yamaha Pacifica to an old Holdsworth Charvel. It's importat for players to keep an open mind and not get hung up on legacy brands and get pretentious, thinking they're too good to buy a budget instrument. Don't forget, the strat, as envisioned by Leo Fender, was meant as a durable, upgradable, workingman's guitar. That's the whole purpose of bolt on construction, so players could switch around the necks and bodies. This is also why for every '58 Les Paul there are ten '58 strats still around. Because they are durable. Even back then they were more affordable than a Les Paul. If an LP takes a spill it can be curtains. Even if you get it repaired it will never sound the same. A strat, or bolt on, is much more likely to survive a drop and if the headstock breaks you can replace the neck. This happened with one of my old Kramer Baretta's in '88 when I did a stupid stunnt to show off in front of my friends. After the laughs faded I knew what I had to do. I took my guitar to my local shop and got a Chandler replacement neck put on. The guitar sounded a thousand times better than it did with the lower quality maple neck because the rosewood dialed back the brightness. Anyhow, bolt-on strats have always been my thing. I also love the punchiness. Nothing else will sound as punchy, and my style requires a lot of punch because I want those notes to pop. With set-necks and neck-thrus the notes never pop in quite the same as with a strat. I played in the Sunset Strip metal scene in the 80s during the height of the shred years and super strats were all the rage. The most common guitar you would see, regardless of brand, was a single bucker strat with a volume and a Floyd. I owned several like this. In those days if you played the neck pickpup without good reason they thought you were just being pretentious. It was a bit of a closed off, sandboxed scene, but I had a good time. You could watch fives bands in a row at Gazzari's The Roxy, Whiskey, Coconut Teaszer, and you could bet that 99% of the time the guitarists had a single bucker, Floyd equipped shred stick. Most bands played no more than a half hour and most songs were little over three minutes and sounded the same.

I love videos like this. Sure, it's fun owning a really nice Fender but there are SO many great alternatives now for people looking to start playing or to just have an inexpensive guitar around.

Great job Elmo that eart really screams looked like it played smooth and effective

Hi, Thanks , great videos and reviews

Great Job on Demos & Playing is Great. New Sub from Burbank Ca, We'll be Touring Europe 2024. Das Klown.Punk Style Keep up The AWESOMENESS. Tanx: Mate 😁

I picked up a daphne blue sawtooth strat for $120 u.s.. excellent guitar. MAB has his own line as well. Worth checking out if you haven't yet.

Got a 90s Pacifica with locking tuners and a Wilkinson trem. Had Dimarzios installed and it’s off the charts lovely to play and beautiful looking. And I’ve got the Tokai you reviewed recently. Also great to play. Buy a Fender if you like but I’ve never picked one up yet I’ve connected with.

ROFLMAO! :) I like your face during those crazy guitar demonstrations! Very funny. Very great reviews ! You are a serious guy. I have also been looking for a cheap guitar , to later do some extra "mods". Thank you very much

Hey guy, the Indio flashes all sounds so pretty well for only nearly 💯 bucks! But best of all is the Eart! Great deal!!! Great playin!!!!

Excellent..... all the way around.... and a great reminder that you don't have to break the bank to ge a nice axe... BRAVO!!!

I have a late 70’s Aspen strat in natural blonde. Japanese “lawsuit” era. It’s a large headstock copy of a 1969 strat. Very good reproduction that has a maple slab fretboard on top of a maple neck just like the fenders did. Great tremolo and very chimey pickups. Long story short, my buddy sold his Antares hard tail 70’s lawsuit strat, String through body, with upgraded Texas specials to a local shop for 200 bucks 8 months ago and it’s still there for sale. Shop only wants 250 bucks for it. I’ve been sleeping on purchasing it, but I probably should pull the trigger on it, even though I don’t need it. Oh wait! It’s a hard tail and I don’t have a hard tail, so yeah, I need it!

Great video, Elmo. Strats in my price range ☺

Good review. If you still own them can you do a comparison between the Classic Vibe vs Jet guitar?

hanks for the review! Choosing a guitar between the EART YMS-SG3 and JET JS-450 (or JS-400)? Which one do you think is better?

Hey Elmo.. Long time no see sir.. I've been busy helping my mother and step father.. They're old and sick. Anyway, I am glad to see you're still at it and reviewing as always.. Always good stuff from you sir.. I'm building a strat now.. I bought a warmoth neck and putting it on a mexican body.. I don't care what the wood is on bodies, etc.. The neck however is where I'm picky! 😛 So, I got maple neck with maple fretboard 10 to 16" radius and stainless 6100 frets.. I may scallop it, but may not.. The frets already make it feel that way.. I checked and no need for a level and crowning which I though I would need, but didn't.. Very good of you sir to do reviews for the younger folks to allow them to get a guitar that they can learn on.. When I was a kid (probably you too) there was Gibson and Fender and everything else for the most part was junk. My first guitar felt like pushing barbed wire against a fence post, but I struggled thru it. 😛 We live in a great time for gear.. I just wish it had come about 40 years ago.. 😛 Cheers sir.. Tim

Hello Elmo, great video as always! Considering your experience, Is the Jet JS400 better than these ones?

Don't forget the neck adjustment wheel on the Eart!!😎😎

Damn. Nice playing on all of them. I would love one I can adjust the truss Rod on. Without taking the neck off.

I want more strats, lot more strats! I have 3 Americans, 1 Mexi and 1 Squire. I have an original 92 SRV, an American Standard and a 08 Malmsteen. A mexi Fat strat and one of those really cool Squire Stage Masters with a Locking Tremolo (which was scalloped as well). Also have that Harley Benton Hot Rodded Strat with roasted maple neck which is really sweet. I want a classic Vibe 70s Strat, A sire S7, and probably a couple other cool strats.

I Hand Scallop necks Made a custom bow/ band sander that rides the bench (for consistency) And sections of umbrella ribs to protect the Frets as I work the neck Comes out great Not as severe as the Yingay one But between that and a Blackmore scallop Next one will be a Maple

Cheers for the review Elmo ;)

Fender... With its luxury high priced brands the quality control and attention to detail is still up there mostly. But its less expensive brands not so much and can be hit and miss at times. Back in the prehistoric days of the 1950's and 1960's Fender and Gibson were the bomb. But, over the years other manufactuerers like Ibanez, Harley Benton, Eart, Indio, Yamaha and others have caught up to them.

Love your videos Elmo. I started playing guitar almost 8 months ago. can you tell me which pick I should use for speed picking and that kind of stuff ?

Yeah it’s Monday 🎉 another review from Elmo. Thank you have a great day.

Could you make a video for stagg ses-30 or perhaps a video for best left handed guitars to buy on budget

Hi Elmo great review on the strats the Yamaha pacifica seems great I haven’t got a strat at the moment I really like the squire comtemporary which has a roasted maple neck alnico pickups slightly angled different to the normal strat I think they are in the 400euro range what are your thoughts on this maybe you could do a review on this thanks Elmo.

Your playing is phenomenal

Hey Elmo, thanks for the video! Just wanted to notify you that Thomann links from the description don't seem to work anymore (even on newer videos) - hope that helps! :)

Elmo what do think is the best era of cheap electrics? I remember the new ones were pretty awful in the 90s when I started.

Thanks man I have G110 the same colour 😊 It's my 1st one n I can't complain Fixed the bridge tho cuz no using tremolo but it stays in tune much longer 😅

Dude I wanna say a massive thank you. Your videos are so helpful. By the way, sorry if u already made a video for this....Would you choose a cheap Jet or Harley Benton Telecaster? ( Mainly in terms of the neck quality, but also generally)

Hi Elmo I have 3 of the 5 guitars in question the Eart is as good as any thing going at this price I paid like $232 to the door every thing about this guitar is sweet I think that I'm going to put fender tex Mex pickups in it and I think that I will have a guitar that is as good as a higher end MiM

I've had the Indio for a couple of years. It has amazingly good pickups for the price. I put a Wilkinson rolled steel bridge with the big block and it really sings. Oh yeah, I forgot the Jin Ho locking tuners and a cts volume pot and it's way better than squires I've played.

Which is better the jet js 300 or the Eart strato guitar?

woow Eart !! every day u discover something new in utube

You should try cort G 200 sp and cort G200 idx which is new model with locking tuner.which is quite good

Led Boots, nice! (On the Yamaha Pacifica.)

What Color and series is the ‘Squier?’ In the video thumbnail???

I could listen to your jam for hours. There will also be a test of cheap Gibson SG imitations?

another good video thanks. What do you recommend in the sg style $300-400 range

I wonder how the Eart compares with a Sire S3

love to hear some Jeff Beck chops here, respect.

I can thoroughly recommend the Jet JS 300 if you can find one. Roasted maple necks and bone nuts. Look great too.

Good alternatives here! Btw, have you tried Jet guitar's moderately priced (read: cheap) stratocaster or telecaster models? I've been looking to buy one, but I would like to hear your opinion first. :)

Great video! I believe that Elmo could even make a Donner sound good.

Bonjour Elmo. Thx for the jobs done. Would you rather pick an eart, a sire or a fender mim? Merci

Hello sir which is better cort g110 or cort x100

I have an Indiana strat I got new at a pawn shop for $100 including tax. Still had the plastic film on the pickguard. One of the best guitars I've had. Very hard for it to go out of tune.

that “earth” strat made you play, haha… it does look like great gitar! cheers

I recently played a G&L buttercream stratocaster: around 500 euros (new), it was very very good!

Hi Elmo, Great video as always. Have you had a chance to check out the Sire 3 or do you plan to check it in the future? It seems that it is a great value for the money guitar. I would really liek to hear your comments about that one. Cheers Mate!

I am lucky in that i have genuine Fender USA Strats and two custom shops to choose from. But the one thing that bugs me about them are the necks, hence my preference for other S shaped guitars with far better necks. Re the Eart, i have their superstrat the E-3S and it is a stunning guitar, i was lucky to buy one when they were first released, today the price has increased a lot. If you can find any Eart Strat, don't let the strange mint pickguard put you off, with care they can be replaced.

Nice thank you 😊

Check also: Vintage v6, Jet 400, Bill Lawrence swampcaster, Harley benton 62 series

Hey Elmo I have a question for you. Is it worth buying a fender made in mexico instead of a squier affinity considering these things: I will change the tunning machines on both, the trem system on both, and if I go for the squier I am willing to mod it a lot with pickups, neck adjustments, etc. So I guess my question is : Is the “Canvas” the fender will provide me be worth all that extra money or should I go with the squier with worst wood and quality. Thanks a lot :)

What is the weeping song Elmo plays in 11:25? I know it but can't remember title...

Obviously we all cannot afford yngwie fury pick ups but wanted to ask you if you think alnico pick ups are any good as i think i might seop for them in a cheapo strat i have ?

Hey Elmo I’m curious to ask… do you have a Marshall yjm100? I also see plexis in the back of a lot of your vids but I’m just curious

Good video. You gave the Cort quite a ride, but it got you where you wanted to go. Do you own one now?

I like how the Cort sounds best.

The Eart sounds like a much more expensive guitar to my (ageing) ears. I can see why you made it no 1. I’m not a guitar snob, I have a Mexican Tele, a Korean Strat & a Classic Vibe 70’s. I was stunned how good the Classic vibe is for the money. I’m lucky to have 3 high end Fenders too, and there’s no doubt that with all the gear available you don’t have to spend megabucks to sound good. Young players starting out take note. It’s in the fingers.

Hey what about the revamped version of Cort g200?

SX makes a solid strat & tele for very little money I would rank them same in quality & performance to aquire classic vibe series for far less money. My favorite affordable strat is made by Tagima $200 to $300 USD. Smokin guitars.

What happened to the Sire S3? Didn't make the list at 399?

What about the yellow scalloped guitar during the intro?

The thing with the Earth was the high frets that needed work. To me that’s discouraging because a new player won’t know about these issues and may cause a person to stop playing. I consider anything that needs work other than the truss rod to be defective. I don’t care how good it sounds after fret work. It’s all about how it sounds out of the box to me.

What are some alternatives for small hands?

Did I understand correctly that you had to hammer in some frets on the Eart?

where can i by in Europe de indio strat?

I wish I could find a cheap Cort. I've got a handful of other cheap gems in Strat style, but no Cort.

21:12-21:30. Frank Marino/Mahogany Rush "Poppy" ??

Indio sounds great! T. Late!

None of these guitars need to apologize for their tone!

I thought the SX natural Ash would have been in your choices.

what about azes or sire s3 ?

would love to buy one of those and refret to stainless steel 🎸

Strats have alwayz been my favourite since deep purple with Blackmore.....

I can't wait till the day that all companies use stainless frets.. It's about time..

Cort and Eart👌🏻

Maybe nice instruments, but I always hated Yamaha playabillity feel. Strange.

Any strats out there with jumbo frets? they all like like they have fishing wire on em.. yick!

Boy, when you say "cheap" alternatives, your not kidding. Nowadays "cheap" to me is under $500 dollars. Some of the S types in the 5-6 hundred range are great. When you spend less than $400 the QC can be pretty spotty.

Did you have work done on the nuts of the guitars your really yanking on the trem bar and they are not going out of tune.

ok.. indio looks like 12 inch radius

Good video. First off, and no offense to anyone but I hate basswood bodies...they are cheap crappy pieces of wood and now Fender is trying to pawn it off on the public as a great tone wood! It's not! $100.00 or so is about right for that INDIO but honestly, I wouldn't pay more than $50.00 for it. Secondly, and jumping the track a little, none of these guitars have any imagination, as all the necks on these guitars are C necks or thinner. No medium C, no Soft V, no Oval C or anything thicker than a C. Disappointing to say the least. Anyway sorry for the tiraid. IMO, the Eart is a nice piece. I have a 335 style and it plays like a dream. However, all the headstocks on these Eart guitars are just awful and IMO, need to be reimagined. Lastly, you did not mention FireFly strats ($169.00). IMO, for the ridiculous price of $169.00, the FireFly's are your absolute best entry level budget guitars, sporting Stainless Steel frets, Bone nut, Roasted ash or Roasted mahogany body, Roasted Maple neck, decent looking headstock, alnico 5 pickups and an HSS configuration. what more can you ask for at that price point? Just my 2 cents worth. Peace.

Guitar fetish has some of the slick SL57 strats and some of the Xaviere strats on sale w/ a promo code for 20% off.

Cort makes good guitars. In the ate 70's I bought a Cortez LP copy and it a great guitar. I played professionally with it for 2 years before I bought a Hamer Sunburst in 1979, I tried to buy a Fender or Gibson but they were just out of my price range. The Hamers were new on the scene and basically a dc lp body with double DiMarzio SD pups, tha tled to me trading the sunbusrt in with some cash for Hamer Standard in 1980. Still have that guitar and have never owned a Gibson. I do own to telecasters. A Deluxe Nashville and an early MIJ butterscotch standard Fender Tele, that guitar needs a bit of work right now. I let my daughter play punk on it for 2 years with her band, she brought it back when she started having issues with it. Obviously she did not learn from me how to maintain a guitar.

Toi Ear vai Eart vaikuttais kiinnostavalta, mistä niitä voi ostaa.😮

💪💪🎸🎸

get the strat out

The only guitars of any manufacturer that I love are those made in USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🔥🎸🔥 Anything else look weird , sound off . Cheers 😊

Hullu video

If it isnt a fender, it isnt a strat.