Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster. Is this Fender's finest Strat? 

🤣"If you're a right handed player, don't worry Fender have you covered also"🤣🤣🤣🤣. Very Funny!! I'm not sure if that was dripping with sarcasm, but as a lefty, I loved it.

I am a luthier from New Zealand and I bought one of these guitars 4 weeks ago. This is the 5th strat I have owned and I too traded 2 other strats to buy this one, it is the first strat I have owned with a rosewood fretboard as well. When I pt this guitar on my workbench next to a modern strat it is easy to say a modern strat would be much easier to play. But for me, that notion is completely wrong, as soon as I pick the 61 vintage strat up and plug it in I find there is almost something magic in the guitar, serious mojo or something. A bit like tales of the unexplained. This just might be the best fender stratocaster I have owned, might even be the last

I want one in Sunburst and one in Fiesta Red. Throw some medium jumbo frets and raise them strings a tad, and she'll scream all night. These are gorgeous guitars. So glad Fender went back to the American Vintage formula. They did this in 2012 (and slightly more accurate) before going to the American Original Series.

I bought a 1977 brand new in 1977 for $350. It was great, I loved the tilt neck feature, made it easy to adjust the string height. The 3 bolt neck was no problem, I don’t know why people say that. The best feature was the bullet truss rod.

I'm dying for the 3 tone burst AVII 61 strat. I played a red one somebody sold used to a GC here in town and I fell in love. But I need that sunburst. This is basically the exact thing I was going to spec on a Custom Shop in a few years for my 50th birthday. Now I can have my dream guitar sooner and for half the price!

I have the same guitar three tone sunburst in right handed. Just awesome. Wonderful guitar. Nice video!

Good choice, i purchased the Fiesta Red one my self. And I Love it!

Great video and stories about your guitars!

I bought one and received it earlier today. I love it. I also have a 2001 Fat Strat with a maple fretboard which never felt right to me. The Vintage 2 is much better for me. I like it slightly narrower at the nut and a tighter radius, so I can now get my thumb round to hold down the E string a la Hendrix. The rosewood also feels better than maple - smoother bends. It also makes it slightly mellower sounding.

Nice looking guitar. Congrats!

I want this strat so bad, and could probably get it if I traded in my American pro II, but…I love that guitar so much and don’t think I could ever part with it. Great video!!

Some good stories. Really interesting. 🙋‍♂️🇬🇧

Love it! Cheers

The tilt adjustment on the back of the neck plate are brilliant you can have your neck setup perfect and just need a slight adjustment you losen the bottom two screws and pull your Allen wrench in and tighten the the screw about 1/4 turn this will lower the strings on your fretboard making your action perfectly! They have the tilt adjustment on all their guitars can save you from taking off the neck to adjust the neck!😊

I have an '84 made-in-Japan '62 reissue -- exact same specs. including the slab rosewood. The 9.25 radius did take some gettin' used to. Still have to futz with the high E action, and it'll still fret out if not fretted exactly right. But that is my ONLY very minor complaint.

I have the same stratocaster preferences as you it seems, although I'm flexible and like a variety of guitars, neck profiles/sizes, fretboard-neck-body woods, etc. But I like the traditional 1960's strat design the best, with a chunky C neck all the way down, but not TOO chunky. I used to prefer flatter fretboard radius and jumbo frets, but the Vintera original 60's Jazzmaster I just scored has vintage medium frets, and the 7 1/4" radius I used to dislike, but now I love them. Getting back to strats, that IS a beautiful strat, and if I got another Fender strat (got a couple Robert Cray hardtails and a 1997 Hendrix tribute), that would be the model for me. But I've been a "Shijie" fiend since getting one of their TLV classic telecasters last year, which led to getting a STE classic strat. These are under $900USD with a beautiful soft-case worth $100USD itself. I like it more than Fender models costing twice as much, including the Vintage II and Pro II. While they don't use nitrocellulose lacquer, they finish them with a thin coat of poly on the body, and thinner coat of satin urethane on the neck. The necks are quarter-sawn and roasted, a carbon fiber rod added for stability, which helps keep them in tune better. The pickups sound so good I can't imagine changing them. You might want to check them out, but you have to have faith and just buy one online, you can return it IF you don't like it, but you'll love it. You rarely see them used, very rarely. There is a cult following for a reason, and I'd be embarrassed to tell you how many I have now! They also make a TLV classic P-90 model, and those are awesome sounding pickups with 500k pots, which they also use on the HSS strat bridge pickup, which is wired to the tone pot. I got a couple extra, and put TV Jones T'Armond (dynasonic type) pickups in one, and Lollar Firebird pickups in the other, both sound wonderful, you get the Gretch vibe in one, the Firebird vibe in the other, but the tele comes through too. Their wonderful sounding P-90's that came out will go into my Epiphone guitars with P-90 pickups. I sound like a Shijie commercial, but I'm just a cult member. Getting back to your strat: the nitro finish they use now is not like the old nitro, they add plasticizers, making it soft and sticky, and it won't age the same either, people say they don't craze when they give it the cold-hot treatment to cause crazing, or just getting old causes real nitro to craze as it dries and shrinks, and sinks into the wood. People talking about letting the guitar "breath", but until the old finish starts crazing the nitrocellulose lacquer keeps it water-proof and blocks the air too. That's why necks that are finished don't warp from absorbing environmental humidity, and neck sellers say won't warranty against warping on unfinished necks. I''ve found the Fender "road worn" strats and telecasters are the best way to go, although I only have a road worn Vintera telecaster now it's already crazed-up naturally. Those Vintage II ARE beautiful stratocasters, and I wouldn't mind having one, but I'd always be playing my Shijie anyways, so it seems pointless - variety?

Mine should be delivered today or tomorrow. I'm hoping fender fixed the neck joint issue on these. I played a Fiesta red one and a 50s at a store and fell in love with both. I was born in Pasadena aka stinkadena lol

I love Fender products, I am a lefty too. Hope they can address their Quality Control issues, I'm sure they will! Also please leave Controls as righty because virtually all guitars a lefty will play are righty wired pots, most of us are completely familiar and used to it!

That’s interesting that your AVII came with the tweed case and poodle red interior, I just picked up a new AVII 1961 sunburst Strat and it came in the brown Tolex type case with gold interior. The rosewood fretboard on mine is fantastic, perfect how I like them and such a refreshing change from the lately typical Pao Ferro or other type woods used (likely due to material shortages or the ban on endangered woods etc.) I also temporarily had choking out high E but raising the action slightly helped solve that. Funny I never thought about the pots being backward for lefties, and that will likely never be fixed as they don’t require pots to work the opposite way, I can see how that would be annoying. Maybe someone will make reverse pots some day? Nice guitars though, I like mine so far 😁👍🏻

Great review!! I didn't know the issue of rounded necks with bending. But this guitar seems to me the guitar of my teacher long time ago, which I loved. I don't know if this has the same level, but that strato was superb. You felt the wood, the rosewood with the frets seemed to me amazing in that curved neck. I don't know. I am confused :D But I would like to find a guitar like that one.

Strangely similar history. My first strat was a lefty black '78, then a 2000 American Deluxe in translucent red, now a sunburst '61 AVRII. I could live with the numbers on the volume running backwards, but they used right-handed pots so the taper is all wrong. I wonder if its a vintage thing. Out of 5 Fenders, the AVRII and an AO 50's tele were the only 2 that had righty pots. I rewired them right-handed more to match the Epiphone than any other reason. None of the Strats were from Southpaw, but 2 other guitars are. I don't think righties understand the feeling of walking into a store and seeing more than 1 Squier with rusty strings.

Hi, they gave you the wrong flight case for the guitar. You got a tweed case which would be correct for a 57 avri. The 61 has a brownface case.

Hey fellow lefty! . Very interesting review. I have a 2017 Professional 1, which has proper lefty wiring so the tone fully works and lefty knobs, which is just perfect. I don't understand why they cant fit lefty knobs as standard on all their models, its no extra cost. Ive added Fender locking tuners and a set of Lace Hot Gold pickups and now its nearly perfect for me. One thing that bothers me is the ill fitting tremelo arm. Its a bit clacky, so very tempted to replace the whole unit with a Gotoh 510T one which I have used on other guitars. Its super smooth and silent. Cheers.

This was very helpful. I have a 2009 rosewood fretboard American standard. I’m selling it and want either this 61 or the 57 ll. I like the vintage look with correct appointments and imo, I think fender guitars wth the truss rod adjustment NOT in the headstock are better, they seem to have better necks.

Very nice. Unbelievable my 73 Brazilian acoustic (Giannini) has a rosewood fretboard with lovely shades streaking through and the bottom is also rosewood. Got a bit "darker" I admit from greasy fingers over the last 50 years but complaining about rosewood streaky and not dark enough? Buy a brand with ebony fretboard.😂 The rosewood on my 1980's E series MIJ Strat '62 re-issue has a similar rosewood shading has served me for 40 years and still plays perfectly ... unlike me. 😂 Yours looks almost identical to mine (except Candy Apple).! Very nice. 😍 The "ashtray" stays put on mine , quite a firm hold, so maybe just luck of the draw though apparently the E series were mainly assembled from US parts back then? 🤔

I bought one last October (Olympic White)...not my first Strat but I hadn't had one for a while. In the store it was obviously in need of a setup but I felt confident I could sort it myself (playing-for-40-years-worth of self confidence). I couldn't. Spent weeks fucking about with neck relief, action and string gauges to no avail. It buzzed, it had dead notes (the G string sounded like it had palm mute almost everywhere), it choked on bends - you name it...a total dog. Still, I decided I owed it the best chance to earn its £2,000 price tag so I did some asking around about who the pros use for guitar setup in Glasgow and the same name kept coming up. So I made an appointment to let him have a look. His first reaction was "What the fuck?" but assured me it was saveable. The setup wasn't cheap but, like I said, I wanted to give it the best chance. Long story shortened a little...it now plays like butter with 10s. No chokes, no dead notes, nice action (within the boundaries of the 7.25" radius...1961, remember?). And it sounds beautiful. It needed a full fret dress and high spots removed in several places (oh, and the nut recut). Pickup heights set to Fender's '61 specs is also a revelation....rings like a bell now. I'm very glad I toughed it out - it's everything I hoped for now and the more I play it the better it gets. Should we expect perfection out of the box? Is that a little unrealistic? I think the answer to both is "it depends". Fender definitely have some QC issues with this model (YT has many videos along the same lines) but they sold out in weeks and the back order is lengthy so there's "something" about them.

I'm currently waiting for one on order. I hope it is what I think it should be. Keep in mind it's not a dead-on replica. A 5-way switch and bridge tone control are added. There is no aluminum pickguard sheilding plate.

Did you experience any low E string buzzing Dow the fretboard ?

I tried every guitar in the world, always said I would never buy a Strat, do to a money issues I ended up with an old start and now it's all i like. First guiutar I ever played as a kid and I guess it was in my mem and I didn't know it, the feel and sound is my favorite.

My only issue is the truss rod adjustment. I am lefty as well.

Nice to know about left Strats ...

I used the minwax ebony pen on my AVII 1961 and the fretboard basically looks like ebony now

I have the same...but american pro ll series. Pickups are vintage modified. Dont have a preferance other than the nitro finish on the vintage.

I'm too impatient to wait for the end of the video and the possible answer to my question😂. Did they sell you that tweed case with the Strat?

I'm surprised the neck profile on the American Original 50s wasn't to your liking, because it can't have been chunkier than the Les Paul you have. Or the classical, either, although I understand you might use different technique with that guitar! I'm trying out an American Original 60s Stratocaster this weekend and if I don't care for it, I might spring for the American Vintage II.

These are great guitars. I have the exact same lefty..

I prefer the vintage style guitars. I went through the whole modern guitar. Rabbit hole I have a Strat ultra. Haven’t touched it in months feel of the six screw vintage tremolo just feels right. I think Leo got it right the first time.

The lacquer on the frets thing is just how most lacquered fretboards are, maybe some nicer brands clean it off but its not really a knock on general quality... I wouldnt be surprised is the 50s version of your strat is the same way. I used to pass by south paw guitars every day omw to 610. I should have stopped by.

Nice video

The 1st string always requires more lift on a 7.25 radius neck… if your bending a whole step or more. If you your the type to not bend when playing, then you could set it lower.

I ordered one in Olympic white , and with Seymour Duncan Custom Staggers pick ups

Strange question.... I may have purchased your original 50s from Southpaw a few months back. It did not have a certificate of authenticity in the case. Is there a chance that may be something you would still have? I know that's a long shot.

Omg I was loving this video, till I heard that bend choking out 🤣I was trying to gather intel before making a decision, but I'll stick with the 9.5".

One of those made in 1961 would have cost $289… which is about $3k in today’s money. So I’d say, at least in price, the AVII 61 Stratocaster is a bargain at $2k. Though it obviously doesn’t feel like it because $2k is a lot of money.

I am still on the fence about this guitar. I will say this. the Eric Johnson signature strats are awesome quality at about the same price

Loved the bit of "lefty sarcasm" you put in. I don't mind the numbers on the turning knobs as long as they turn the right way. Good thing you didn't mention the case! If there is one thing that infuriates me, it's the righty guitar case these come in. Frankly, it's a total insult to us lefties but nobody seems to care. I feel like that hypothetical guy standing in the desert alone, shouting at the thin air. Just tell me how many more decades I have to wait ...

I did close to what you did. I had at one point a '77 strat...got rid of it, junk! From there on I had 90's strats, and they all left me. I never really jelled with any of them. Now i have a sunburst American Professional II that's OK, but I'm probably going to sell Fender market over saturation willing. I also have a 1961 American Vintage II in Fiesta Red that I found out is NOT true lacquer, and is now finished in Lake Placid Blue. Almost went Sherwood Green. Anyhow, Lake Placid Blue American Vintage II in pure lacquer and left handed is rare enough.

I love southpaw! Jim and Co. Are the best!

I had an ultra so small, like a child's guitar and the pickups were very sterile. I got a 61 custom shop but the sound is so bland, not outspoken and very much low end I am putting oftrading it in scared of my next mistake with stratocasters.

As a left handed player and a strat, and tele owner they’re both wired that way (volume and tone) also own a Les Paul which is the same

Wow

Yesterday I tried the AVR2…57 Strat and did a side-by-side comparison to the American ultra both have maple necks. I really like the vintage sound from the 57 but I found the ultra to be much easier to play. I am considering getting the ultra. I guess I could switch out the pick ups but they didn’t sound that bad pretty good actually but not as good as the 57 in my opinion.

Good guitar...

Brutally Honest Review of the AVII Stratocaster: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yLSZlnV0dc8.htmlsi=iHT3WbqKtIIDm9PN

American Original 50s and 60s beat all.

Absolutely not the best Strat and 50 years I own one , neck buzzes rosewood is cheap pickups are just adequate not a $2300 guitar

Left handed Fenders are wired for lefties...always have been....in fact only snobby Gibson will not nor ever have or had wired their lefties for lefties. Hence the reason I don't and never will own a Gibson..I did however recently purchased a lefty 50's Gold Top Epiphone that is wired correctly. Why Gibson can't do this but their sister company can is just baffling to me.