Fender 1963 Strat and a Masterbuilt Stratocaster 

63 sounds fuller and a more rounded sound, the custom shop is brighter and thinner sounding, given a choice I'll go for the 63.

This 63 sounds wonderful. In my job I have often tuned and played vintage Stratocasters and they rarely sound as good as the one in the video. But I noticed that the 63s were often lighter than the others and had more overtones. In contemporary Stratocasters, the CS and MB have many disparities in sound quality. The best Stratocaster I have played is a 60 relic from 1999-2000 (Cunetto body and neck) and an original 1956, but difficult to tune and play. Thanks for the video.

The wife and guitar are keepers

Nice video and playing. I love the 63. For me it´s far better than the new one. Very transparent ringing sound. Would be interested if it is the wood or the pickups which make the difference in the first place.

What a resonance on the ‘63, maintained so well!👏🏻👏🏻🧿

Wow! beautiful tone! Absolutely brilliant right hand technique - love the hybrid picking!

I could tell within the first 5 seconds of the video which one would sound better (to my ears) - the '63! Both amazing though! Thanks for sharing.

to me ,The 63 is more rounded with far more bloom to the whole sound ,beautiful guitar. I love reliced guitars 😊

It’s so true what they say about how tones come from the players fingers. Both of you made each strat sound so different. They are stunning guitars although I do favour that 60s strat. Great when you have guests on the show too Paul, great video!

Tasty playing and that ‘63 Strat just has that something extra. PRS himself says that his favourite Strat is a ‘63.

Holy shit that 1963 sounds incredible, one of the best strats I’ve ever heard. I’ve always noticed that about newer versions of the classics, they sit in just a different higher mid frequency, and somehow have just less low end and less top end. you can’t sink into them, they’re a lot more pinchy

Ooooh, that '63 looks & sounds fantastic! Treasure. 💎👌🏼 In a metaphore, to me the vintage one sounds like Hendrix, while the masterbuilt sounds like SRV playing Hendrix, and digging in too hard. Also so comforting to see how a real vintage 60 year old guitar is in better shape and not looking even barely close to today's "relics". 👌🏼💯👍🏼 Also, very good detailed expertise on the materials & paint etc!

Paul, Simon?! Lol. I've heard that name before! Nice work gents! You both are have great abilities on the guitar, and great tones! Thank you!

1:46: And it’s still in tune! Remarkable.

That 63 neck pickup was perfect

Both lovely guitars but I’ve got to go for the ‘63. Just forwarding the video to my wife…

love this . In my opinion you should have play them both unplugged , and analyse the tone , loudness , twang etc ..

Cool guitars! Honestly a 63’ strat is the way to go every time, but I’m vibing with the custom shop. I couldn’t tell a lot of difference in tone, and I like the color better. Lastly you said the custom shop currently plays better. I will gladly pay more for a better player than one worth more. I’m not a collector I’m a player. If I got a 63’. It would be mint because I’d never touch it. The guitar owns you at that point.

Absolutely fantastic ❤😊

It's great to see a nice😊 63, like the fact that there no skunk stripe nonsense with the old Rosewood pelet. I had a CBS model about 1980. Was the worst guitar 🎸 I ever had the neck was twisted it was brand new. Best regards. John.

Excellent video with some amazing Strats. I really need to add a Strat to my little collection. Simon is a talented, fantastic player.🎸🎸

The pickups were different but hard to pick a favourite. The '63 probably gets the nod for bridge and neck positions while the Masterbuilt middle sounded best for me. As for frets, I can't think of much worse than 6105 (narrow tall). They're like running your fingers up a washboard. 6150 (medium jumbo) is much the same height but the extra width makes them feel less "abrupt" when you slide past one. I have an obvious soft spot for the '63 because I'm the same vintage, but I'd never be happy with one because they have the fattest neck at the 12th fret. There was some interesting editing at around the 4 minute mark. Simon finished playing the Masterbuilt, and then you handed him the Masterbuilt. Great comparison video! Thanks Paul, Simon and Mrs Piggott.

Very different indeed 🤷❤️

63 sounds awesome; I’m sure with new frets it’ll just feel better to play, Mick from that Pedal Show did that to his Vintage Strat, he said the difference is night and day

I don’t want to believe the hype. I don’t want to believe the hype…but the 63 sounds perfect…

the 63 pickups have a slight hint of microphonics that give the sound of the vintage instrument an edge over the CS... that elusive magic sound

That is the BEST story ever We should had a nice picture of your wife !! Ok the 63 sounded warmer velvety and richer a amazing neck pickup . I had a 63 strat I called it the violin it was just like yours in all honesty you could hear the jimi tones when playing it. She is just special and notches above the others /Not all sound like yours or how mine did I would say this is the absolute best sound to expect when buying one and often others are not all the same. I once had a chance to buy a 63 fiesta red for three thousand, I bought a 65 sunburst instead it was less money was about 1 yr before the prices on them soared, I sold it back to the little shop owner, yes I deeply regret not buying that fiesta red it was amazing condition and sounded great

63 winner . not close

I'm always wondering how much part of all the sonic difference is it the pickups. I would took those '63 and put them in the Master-built one and do the same comparison. I did the same thing with my Master-built and swap the pickups with a better sounding Fullerton Strat. And must say it is ALMOST all in the pickups. Not all, but almost.

Hey guys. I just compared two great guitars and they are different. Wow.

Surprise surprise 63 for me 🤘🏻

The story behind the guitar is what makes it irreplaceable.

63 when Simon plays it Masterbuilt when Paul plays ut

Really interesting vid guys, great playing and that 63 is just to die for! Re the 63 frets are these just worn or were these simply lower even from new and higher frets are simply a playing preference? Sorry for my ignorance here but if Fender used lower frets in the early 60's, what's the issue with these from a playing perspective - why might a player prefer taller frets & wouldn't a lower fret permit a lower action?

It’s all a matter of scale Jeff. LOL. I mentioned Simons wife’s generosity to my wife…..let’s see what Santa brings.🎸🎸

Tone is subjective but tme, the original ‘63 has something special about it - I don’t know if ‘authentic’ is the word to use, or what would explain it - other than, perhaps, the quality of the woods and how they have aged. I appreciate other components have an influence but they can be manufactured to the same (or better) specs. The natural materials seem to make the biggest difference?

I think the newer guitar might be a little better in a crowded mix, but the 63 has a lot of character. What amp? The amp tone was beautiful.

People are constantly comparing assembly line fenders built by Mexican house wives in America to Master built or custom shop guitars and as always, the old assembly line guitar wins. Take a trip to the Corona plant assembly line in 2024. Guess what? The same kind of people are still producing amazing instruments. Don’t fall for the hype. Save your money and buy a regular Fender or American vintage. Pure quality instruments.

I’ll take the custom Shop anytime. No way they were built better in 63

fantastic as always guys!! what are you playing thru??? both were incredible but the original had a bit of a deeper sound

if you get new taller frets wouldn't the nut need replacing too?

Congrats, and the guitar isn’t bad either

Oh yeah? Well my wife bought me a pair of long John's for Christmas!

Regarding changing out the frets on the 63.. If you own a vintage automobile and it needs new tires, you buy new tires. -Enough said.

Agreed with first few comments

Is this Right Said Fred 😂

Drool fest here, thx Paul for this GAS inducing demo ❤

Le 63 plus chaud plus rond rien avoir avec le custom Shop!!

El sonido de la 1963 tiene más cuerpo y definición en graves medios y agudos que la masterbuilt, debe ser por los años de secado natural de la madera y también por los años de uso , tocar y tocar. La Masterbuilt suena muy bien pero le falta ese sonido más nítido que posee la 1963 , también hay que ver si la Masterbuilt tiene pal de rosa de Brazil cómo lo tiene la 1963.

What amuses me is that Fender's masterbuilders make all these heavily reliced 'new' guitars, yet whenever we see an example of an actual original, sixty year old guitar there's generally no more than a crazed finish and the odd ding!

which amp did you use?

It's funny that today people search in Fenders for that slab board, when you can have Yamaha Pacifica with this feature for 150$

11:17 11:31 3:10 3:35

maybe 4 springs in bridge does the differnce

So, we are comparing a random Strat, off of the assembly line, to a custom built Strat? -Hardly seems fair.. :) And yet, I prefer the 63.

How can I make this video appear on my wife’s feed ?? 😂

I think I prefer the 67

What does a motorcycle sound like?

You gotta say the 63s warmer and more open. Its a really good vintage guitar and the MB is not one of the best MBs. I dont like zhe MB Pickups.

So the relic used to kinda look realistic.

The new one sounds weird 😳😳 This shows what a scam MB guitars are 🤷‍♂️ Mexican housewives did a better job for less money

I hate that guitars are reliced.

I got a 1959/60 Players Strat but it got that precisely sound of that much more priceless 1963 you got there. what a precies one. The masterbuilt sounds good and God knows. maybe somewhere in time it will sound like the "nowadays" old ones. The masterbuild sounds a bid thight. It must played I guess. Great video Studio Rats I give it a 👍