Just Another Stratocaster Clone?? - NOT SO FAST! 

It's like two guitars in one! Budget brands are killing it when it comes to specing out their guitars without ridiculous prices. This one sounds beautiful too! Enjoy :)

Two things I’ve got to mention: I never set out to make sure I see DBG videos on Friday night, I just find them anyway! (Subconscious?) Second, Darrell is a helluva guitar player! No clams, no bad bends, always on the mark. Impressive!!!

Compound radius with stainless steel is great. Will probably never need to replace frets, and you get the more comfortable and modern fingerboard radius. Very impressive at this price point. I imagine it could take on some $1500 guitars....

I do this kind of wiring on my strat for a darker more humbuckery tone.

That's a nice one Darrell - seems like a pretty good value with great sounds. Thanks for sharing!

Very clearly an Ibanez AZ inspired effort, especially with that mini toggle. XD

This is an incredible guitar, I love all the features and I’m not somebody who’s big on the pickup toggle switches but I love the addition that brings on here. This guitar definitely gives the S-style Sire a run for its value proposition 👌🏾 EART, I shouldn’t forget that name

What a killer guitar! As you stated in your comment, “budget” brand guitar companies ARE killing it! Can you imagine what Fender would charge for even a MIM Strat with those specs? Crazy. I wish all this stuff was available 50 yeas ago, when I started playing!

I added locking tuners, Graphtech string tree, and a Seymour Duncan Trembucker to mine and it is just great. I believe it compares very favorably to an Ibanez AZ Premium.

Really nice sounding guitar.

What a coincidence, I played an Ibanez strat style with the same switch, at first I didn't know what to make of it but after a while I started to dig it. I voiced it through a fender tweed and dialed in presence it started to sweeten up. Thanks Darrel for this video I would like to try that particular guitar out to compare the two.

After seeing your review of the Indio, I bought one off of Amazon for $87 which was great! Because I just wanted something tentatively to hold me over, since I had to sell my Mexican strat years ago. Thanks. I think I’ll give the Indio Cali classic to my daughter (piano player) and by an EART. That to me looks like a better option. Back in the 90’s I had a Lake Placid Blue USA Strat & a Blonde Les Paul, but unfortunately had to part wth them and my Martin OMM Ughhhhhh, but I’ve learned that nowadays there’s a plethora of affordable options . Oh and wow gave Cort guitars came a long way since tge 80’s they were junk. Back then I was 16 and bought a Japanese MATAEO (which I believe would be Ibenez now) Les Paul when I started still have it 38 years later still kicking. Thanks again Cheers 🍻 Speaking of the 80’s I did get a sweet deal on a Kramer Pacer Classic and wow, took me back to 83/84 when Eddie was working with them. Not sure how it would compare to other affordable super strats, but I paid $220 and figured since it came with a licensed Floyd Rose I couldn’t go wrong. Please forgive the dissertation, just jazzed to see what’s out there.

This switch looks very much like the multi tone switch on the AZES guitars from Ibanez ;-) The guitar sounds really nice in clean mode!

It looks and sounds like they copied the Ibanez AZ series wiring on this.

EART is gonna be a brand competing with the Big Boys, instead of an off-brand eventually. It does sound good. I would put Strat pickups in it to get as close as I could to a real Strat sound. No matter how many clones are iut there, nothing sounds as sweet as the real deal. Edit: I don't know if you take requests, but I was looking on Sweetwater today, and I came across this satin black Jackson Dinky arch-top for $200 bucks. It looks really good. It's got the proprietary Jackson pickups in it, the thin 12"- 16" radius neck and a two-point trem. It had great reviews, and would be a great mod project. I just wanted to know if you could look into getting one for review, because I know you'll thoroughly inspect it, and give an honest opinion. Thanks for the consideration in advance.

They should put eart on the back of the headstock and then put a small e on the front of the head stock.

It is hardly subtle the damn thing really has some great sounds. I love the chime it has. A lot of the time on budget guitars I see swapping the PU's so this is a big exception.

Hi Darrell, very nice model by EART, can’t believe the features for that price. Great review. Cheers ✌️🎸

I can’t believe what you get for the money. The fit and finish looks flawless, too. Just one thing… it doesn’t sound like a Strat. That’s not good or bad, but I wouldn’t consider it a replacement for a Strat. It WOULD be a nice addition to the arsenal, though!

I use Freeway 5-Way/10 Position switches in my Nashville Tele and my SSS Strat for that Series Pickup Combo in multiple variations. Love that EART is giving players one of the most usable/least appreciated wiring mods in these guitars. Stainless frets are an awesome bonus too

This is actually the DMX-9TC, because it has a covered humbucker.

That seems like an insanely good deal. I wish you could get a Squier with those options!!

I just saw this guitar comes in gold. Very nice

I just picked up the Eart T380 and it’s awesome for the price! I’m up in Canada so not as good as US prices but great right out of the box!

It's a nice rig for sure. I re-set-up my 2010 black/cream Squire Strat today and fell in love again. Possibly future interest, good review.

Spectacular sounds Darrell. I looked up the price and it is ridiculous . Great video

Polished stainless steel frets play like butter and are no longer a nicety, they're a requirement in my humble opinion. That Eart is quite the feature packed guitar for the price, and the tones are amazing.

The problem with these guitars is they snip off the tangs on the edges of the frets. This allows them to get those nice, super smooth fret edges BUT it also allows the fret end to lift out of the fingerboard. Since there’s no tang, you can tap the frets back in. They end up floating off the fingerboard edges and you’re pretty much S.O.L. Speaking from first hand experience with these.

Ibanez AzES40 has the same switch they introduced it a good couple of years ago and yes it is an extremely good feature. This guitar looks great anyway. This amazing competition on the market serves the guitar players' interests very well: more and more guitar for less money.

Lovely sounding strat clone!

EART Pickups are surprisingly good. Not saying there Seymour Duncan but close. I wish they put on nicer String trees.

The EART EGLP-610 Les Paul version looks like an incredible deal. Stainless steel frets and sparkle finish for a lot less than an Epiphone. Also the strat style pickup switch looks great. Would love to see a review on that beaut!

Why is yours completely different than the one for sale? Yours has a chrome humbucker cover as well as white bobbins and knobs. The one for sale has an uncovered humbucker and black bobbins. If that ain't a ringer idk what is lol

How much value would a push/pull coil split on the bridge pickup add? Awesome review, love your channel!

I'd still go for a $750 Yamaha Pacifica 612 with name-brand hardware/pickups/locking tuners (but not ss frets)

the super switch reminds me of the Ibanez AZ pickups switch.

Stainless steel frets don't wear down like nickle ones, but they chew up your strings more, and to some (me), they sound a little harsh compared to the slightly soft nickle frets ...six of one ,half dozen of the other.. swings and roundabouts, but the sound would take some time to get used to.

For a while I wanted an HSS Ibanez AZ to match my HH AZ. This literally has the same mini switch and tonal capabilities! I'll definitely consider getting one, modding it and remove the Eart badge :D

There is a lot more than meets the eye, as we see, thank you brother!

Darrell, been saying this for almost years now, so glad you are getting this out to younger guitarist. Fender and Gibson have priced themselves out of the market, and the suits at the big two have made a KILLING. Eart, Musi, and others are putting out excellent guitars from $350 and up for models you'd have pay Fender $2600 (Fender Ultra Luxe). Also the electronic you get sound (IMO) as good as anything out there. Even if you want the Fender noiseless pups you can put in a EART or Musi for under $800 (ALL IN). Some may differ in opinion, but if you haven't tried an Eart or a Musi just save the hate or must buy USA comments for the good of the workers. Guitars are still made from wood and wood is still cheap, so why pay a suit for an emblem on the H/S? Regarding buying USA, MIM, or Asian in today's economy get the most for your money and be open to the quality you can get outside of the big two. Plus, if you really hate the guitar Amazon takes it back with no problem. I bought a MUSI Fusion (sale at $309), put on two things (1) set of string trees (S/S for $4) and a S/S trem ($35) and the guitar rings for days, and the pups off that guitar are as good as Seymour Duncan or any high-end aftermarket pups. Been playing Fender Strats and Gibson LP's for over 50 years, but understand there are alternatives that will get the job done just as well. BTW if you want that Fender Ultra Luxe new, pass on it and buy a Ibanez AZ Prestige - it kills the Fender!

I bought one of the original Stratz at $260. Ended up changing out the electronics for a vintage set through Tone shaper. The frats I do have to say do wear a little bit. I have a tendency to bend a lot and play heavily, but they are phenomenal guitars, especially for the price point. I have the explore from EART also and it to is just a Killer guitar.

I just bought one. It is a great overall package. Some great features and the pickups are quite good. My Player HSS Strat has a higher overall quality feel and finishing, but lacks those special features and is much more expensive.

every time Darrell says "well", take a shot EDIT: Hospital

Amazing !! For me, this price point does not need locking tuners. I don't need locking tuners at all.

Can’t find one with the nickel covered humbucker and white single coils, where are they located

I thought it was hard to believe, all these positive reviews about Eart. So, I bought one, the CP-1 model, in light blue (which I love). Well, ... I really love it! Although I'm used to a-brands like Jackson, Charvel, Music Man... This Eart is simply great...

Ok so sounds great clean but what really counts is what it sounds like with distortion! Good value here!

I would add that in addition to locking tuners, some Wilkinson WLS 30 locking saddles would complete this guitar!

These earts were 3 years ago 269 for this highest end strat. They got word out and bam. Prices went up. I know because there was a young man on youtube alone reviewing them and had a very smalll 500 sub count and not mamy views but made excellent videos. He had all of them eart made i guess getting them sent to him. Before long the bigger reviewers got them and bam. 😊

Great demo and guitar playing as usual. Any chance of you reviewing the new Dean Zeleski thin line guitars?

I just bought one of these off of Amazon because of this Video. Eart needs to give U a Cut of the Sale!

Looks like a cool guitar. I have been playing Fender Stratocasters my whole life. That is a very long time.

Say E ( long vowel ) Art Sound good? Got to have this one ,the 355 and the new tele !

Try a PJE strat, handmade in England with fender custom shop quality

So the switch is not just a coil tap? It seems they went after the Fender American Deluxe wiring or something similar.

That switch is similar to the Ibanez AZES40

Geez ,Wish I could Afford one ..,It Sounds AMAZING !!!!!

How does it compare with a Sire S3? I ask because the link prices it at $599 and tfe S3 is $399 I’ve heard great things about both.

Ibanez/Fender mashup? So it’s basically a Charvel, which I LOVE. My favorite axe is a Charvel DK24, so I may need to try this guitar out!

Specs are more or less similar to my Ibanez AZ 2204 prestige. The Ibanez got locking tuners but is also far more expensive. Makes one think ……. Great video as always 😊

Looks like such a sick guitar!

Sounds great I’d add some Grover locking tuners and a good set up and bam you got sweet ax for little cash

So, what are your final thoughts on this special switch ? You said we had to wait a bit later to know...😢

Have ever done a demo on an AIO Wolf ? They are out of LA I think you’ll like them, not only cost, but attention to detail.

This seems to be the better Ibanez AZES40 - similar versatility, better looks (imho) and looks like better quality too! I also like the color options, my choice would be gold with tortoise pickguard, or sunburst with tort, like this one. Not only Fender, but also Ibanez, Yamaha, Sterling by MM, Sire, FGN etc. have some serious competition here!

I was on their website and they have a lot of different instruments in stock. A lot of high quality guitars coming now from China. Maybe this will be increase a better quality for the traditional guitar brands... It will get harder for the smaller companies and I think one trend could go into the special custom made market. Perhaps this will lead also more creativity and innovation. I have a Fender Stratocaster Pro at home and I was a little annoyed that a little later the pro II were released, with better features like the ultra, but with the option of being able to switch on the neck pickup in different positions... I'll retrofit a switch now to get the same effect. But I'm still happy with my Stratocaster. 🤘

My concern is the way the neck is bolted on with these screws without a plate. Would that be an issue down the road?

Wait… where were the thoughts on the super switch you were going to get to?

Another superb review. Thank you Darrell!!

I swapped out the tuners for locking staggered Fenders, £67. To be honest, I haven't really noticed any difference. I could have left the EART tuners on it. Since I got this banjo, my other 23 guitars have been neglected. This thing is the dog's biscuits.... Ta.

Sounds nice in all positions

Eart guitars are the real deal bro. You need to a video on the Eart Explorer one bro.

What a lovely sounding guitar.

Hey Darrel, have you ever reviewed the affordable version of Brian May's Red Special, the BMG Special?? If you did I'll be looking for it and if you don't, I would love to hear your opinion on it, thank you. Leo from Orlando, Florida USA.

It is crazy how so many guitars from big name brands are made to such mediocre at best specs from factories in Asia and some in South America and yet the prices are so inflated. Then you have companies such as Eart, AIO, IYV,and even Harley Benton that bring better spec instruments to market made in these same regions for 1/2 to 2/3 the price. Now, I am not going to totally take a turd on Fender, but if I were going to purchase an intermediate priced guitar from the brand it would definitely be from Fender Japan. I have played instruments from every price tier and manufacturing facility; IMO the best value for a well spec'd, well constructed, and great playing Fender is the Japanese models. They have very consistent quality control, use quality components, and come in at what I believe is a phenomenal price being from Japan. All of that said, I still believe that companies like EART, AIO, Steve Brown Sound, Earl Slick, etcetera, bring outstanding value to market if you aren't snobby about the name on the headstock.

Hi Darrell, can i ask do you notice the fret width is shorter than the fretboard? as that's one of the tricks to making mass produced ss frets like that.

I’d put in some creamier sounding pickups personally, but I like the idea of the switch and what you get for the money. So I’d put in another 300-400

I really need to try an Eart.

Please Review HEX E300S, flagship killer on electric guitar

Would it sound and play better without the string trees?

Any chance you can review the Silvertone 1423?

How about JET guitars ? Place make a review

Y'all gon make me play guitar, up in here! up in here! Y'all gon make me shred some strings, up in here, up in here!

I like regular tuners you just have to know the super fast easy self locking technique. It is easier than locking tuners.

I was looking for a guitar with p90's. When I started looking at the Squires I started to notice something common with all of them. They all have the newer C shape necks! 50's, 60's and 70's included! If I look at a Tele, early 50's type I would expect a chunky/fatter neck, no bueno, apparently not anymore. Just thought that was interesting... 8-/ --gary

Darren Great review Great Guitar but surely the super strat of all super strats needing your review must be the Dean Zalinski . Please.

Great tones!

block inlays would be a nice change.

I still say you could play a wooden spoon with mop strand strings and make it sound like it's worth a million bucks (Canadian).

@darrel : i really like your channel brother, overlooked so many types of guitars .. btw, i hope you can help to solve my problem : I really like playable frets of ibanez, but in same time, love to fender's sound character, which i can't find those two in one guitar. Until i found ibanez az in youtube, specially tff series .. but it so expensive.. so, according to your experience, what brand and type of guitar, which closest to ibanez az character ? I mean cheaper one in any brand.. thank you and success for you 😊👍

Very nice Quality indeed ❤👍✌️🎸🎸

Gawd it's gorgeous!!!

I bought one of the real early strats on Amazon, the cheapest one I think, 150 bucks to the door. Is it perfect, NO. I do really like it and consider it a keeper, I bought some inexpensive Wilkenson pups for it, but having second thoughts if they would be any better. I really wish i had this back in the 60's when I started out. I have US Standard Strat and half a dozen great guitars, and this one I'm kinda fond of..

Very very cool ... Love IT!!

Eart are fantastic guitars I have three of them.

Wish they had this model in lefty!

Is it just me who hates the look of roasted maple necks. I’d honestly love for it to be an option. What’s wrong with plain maple?

Idk if Ibanez was aware, this DMX9 is the straight copy of their Dynamix system...

Great video Darrell! How would you compare it Sire line of guitars?

Ordered a roasted neck Eart ~ sadly things got lost in translation; I received a twisted neck Eart instead. Not concave. Not convex. Not roasted. Twisted.