I am amazed at the quality of the Squier's. It really makes me happy to see that a kid can get a inexpensive guitar that plays well. Not like when I was a kid. Because of guys like Phil, Dan from Stew mac and others, I have kind of become obsessed with guitar repair. I started to buy guitars that need repair or just some setup, fix them up and give them to local schools. Squier's are my go to for that. Dan and Mick probably cost me the most $$ for my own rig. :)
The Stratocaster is one of those legendary designs that not only got so much right, it jumped so far ahead of it's time, that it is STILL modern and relevant. You pick up a good Strat and notice it's comfortable... kinda molds into you. You play it realize it plays really easy (if set up well), balanced, easy upper fret access, the whammy bar is so intuitive you can find yourself using it without realizing... Your playing might alter a little.... Then the SOUND. There is a reason Strats are on so many legendary recordings. Not just a sound, but several, all of them great. Great clean, great distorted. Great straight into an amp, great playing with effects. It's not good at one thing, or a few things, the Strat is a stunning design for the ages because it is good at EVERYTHING. It's the 6 string swiss army knife. Not sure what to bring? Bring a Strat. 'When in doubt, Strat' is actually not bad advice. I love Teles, SGs, Les Pauls... I had a Korina V I'd kill to get back (just an Epi, but loved it, stolen years ago). But stranded on a desert island or selected for a mission to Mars... Only one electric allowed... Gotta be a Strat. Fat Strat (HSS) in my case. No other serious option. It's the one guitar that can do it all well for me. Not even a difficult choice. For me, my tastes, my preferences, my style of playing... Nothing does it as well for me as a good Fat Strat. Followed closely by a traditional SSS Strat. Thus, for my money, the Stratocaster is the single most important musical instrument design in the sum of human history. Again, for ME. For my tastes and my money, absolutely nothing beats a good Strat.
Well put ! Great Advice and opinion I generally agree with for sure. The only difference is I'd choose the SSS configuration and if I need more thump I use the amp for that. I prefer the 3 SSS SET up to slice n dice when needed and love the traditional look and set up. I also love feedback !!
I’m fender for life. Got my first Squier at age 9 played in high school jazz band and started my own band. Got a Mexican fender Stratocaster, telecaster. Kept playing and my grandmother gifted me a 1972 Fender Stratocaster. Got a refret and it plays beautiful. Fast forward to now, I picked up three classic vibe squier guitars. I just love fender all the way down the line, the history the players the colors, the style it’s a dream come true.
Great job guys... Totally enjoyed the conversation. Thank you Guillaume of Thomann and thanks Phil McKnight and Ron Thorn. Wish I could have grabbed a beer and sat down with you... oh yeah, I did.
i was playing some custom shop teles in the same room 3 weeks ago. i remember the carpet XD they have so many amazing guitars there. and i agree with guillaume regarding relic guitars. it is ridiculous until you play one. and then you don't want anything else anymore
Glad you enjoyed !! Meeting Ron was a very humbling experience, he is one of the most knowledgeable builders out there and so generous with it! // Guillaume
Gorgeous guitars and such a great discussion. If I ever manage to justify a custom shop Strat, I'd get Ron to build it, because I wanted a Thorn so bad at one point, and he doesn't build those any more!
I’m a year late but talking about relic guitars made me think of the song “Perfectly Good Guitar” by John Hiatt… Well, he threw one down from the top of the stairs Beautiful women were standing everywhere They all got wet when he smashed that thing But off in the dark you could hear somebody sing: Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars Smashing a perfectly good guitar I don't know who they think they are Smashing a perfectly good guitar It started back in 1963 His momma wouldn't buy him that new red Harmony He settled for a sun-burnt with a crack But he's still trying to break his mama's back Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars Smashing a perfectly good guitar I don't know who they think they are Smashing a perfectly good guitar He loved that guitar just like a girlfriend But every good thing comes to an end Now he just sits in his room all day Whistling every note he used to play There ought to be a law with no bail Smash a guitar, and you go to jail With no chance for early parole You don't get out till you get some soul Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars Smashing a perfectly good guitar I don't know who they think they are Smashing a perfectly good guitar Late at night, the end of the road He wished he still had the old guitar to hold He'd rock it like a baby in his arms Never let it come to any harm Oh, it breaks my heart to see those stars Smashing a perfectly good guitar I don't know who they think they are Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I think one of the best things about a Strat is you can replace or upgrade things (it’s almost modular) easily. Want a new neck made from exotic wood, with stainless steel frets… So easy to do!
Overall the Strat is probably my favourite model ( with modifications) but I also love the bridge tone of a Tele and also various Gibsons , mainly Les Pauls and the 335 etc.
RU-vid has such a brilliantly genius algorithm that it saved this video for today after I’ve spent the last two years obsessively searching for & watching Stratocaster videos on the platform. 😂.
#1 Fender Stratocaster #2 Gibson Les Paul #3 Fender Telecaster/Esquire/Broadcaster/Nocaster i have all 3 they are fun.Just my humble opinion oh and the First Act lineup are #4 alll the way.
Good chat. To me, IMHO, a strat is a particular body and neck configuration that gives the player a particular feel first dating back to 1954. Pickups are secondary, but I must say that the 3 single coils with a 7.5" radius maple neck, 6 screw trem, and maple fretboard and ash body for a classic Fender strat sound. I went a little hybrid with H-S-S (Tim Shaw pickups) with a 9.5" radius maple neck, 2 screw trem and a rosewood fingerboard and an alder body in a fender american professional with a classic 3-color finish and I love the sound. To me it feels and sounds like an original fender strat.
First 10 years playing guitar, Jackson, ESP, 2001 Ibanez RG thru neck (that I still have). Never played a real Strat. 2011 played a friends American Strat and I wanted to take it. Went to guitar center the next day played a few but didn't connect with any like I did my friends, they just did not feel the same. When I was about to leave someone came in to return a 2011 Olympic white American Deluxe. I did not know about compound radius then but turns out I loved it. Got it for a deal because it was a return and it has been my #1 from then on. #2 and 3 also have compound radius necks.
Congrats! Sounds like you got a great deal. Customs are so expensive, but the Deluxe and Elite Series are a little more reasonable, and the ones I've played are next-level! Now, you should buy a Classic Vibe Squier Strat...just for fun, and you will be really surprised at the quality!
Would really have liked to have heard about some of the lesser known Strats or "misfires". Remember the push button controls in the mid 80's? I own a Powerhouse Strat. It's a fantastic guitar, but It's extremely difficult to hear anything about that model!
I'd say simple SSS strat , the original set up is my all around favorite guitar. It can do everything and it's light and comfortable. Believe it or not I prefer the made in Mexico ones even better. I love Les Paul's too with their huge wall of sound and classic design and heritage, however all things being said, I feel the Stratocaster for me, let's me do just a little bit more especially with the tremolo bar. I have both, and I love and play both. However a SSS Stratocaster has to be number 1 !
The strat will always be relevant. It finds it’s way in every decade of music in some form. They can really do anything, and you know the sound of one when you hear it. There’s yet to be a guitar in todays era that has you like, wow that’s a ______
No doubt the Strat is the most important electric guitar, However the later improvements like humbuckers, flatter or compound radius, and Floyd(if you use a trem) are legitimate improvements!
davetbassbos whoops, I fell asleep and seem to have written something. Sorry ‘bout that. Your response is quite funny though. And now that I’m actually seeing the video it’s quite good as well!
I’d love o hear that P90 Strat! Great video, love Fender Strat’s! Question: You see more video’s and more people basically raving about or leaning towards the Fender guitars, but not so much towards G&L or Musicman guitars? Didn’t Leo Fender go on to form those companies after selling Fender!?!
For me it's simple it has"that sound" nothing else has that crispness that strats can produce and yet you can mould that to your sound with how you play it I'll happy act as a test pilot for fender custom shop ! Thanks Gulllome as always
I have a 2009 American deluxe strat - I did at one point out the EMG KH set in it and I shit you not... it sounded like a strat! It sounded completely different to any EMG guitar I had! Now has Bare Knuckles - still sounds like a strat 😂
The Strat shape, with contours is the most comfortable body shape. The beauty of a Strat as a design, is its modularity and the variation that can be brought into it. The Strat sound is a thing as well, but infinitely variable. Because the instrument is so easily modular, you can switch out pickups, and tailor the tone to a large degree. Very hard to make a Strat sound like a Les Paul...impossible to make a Les Paul sound like a Strat.
I love my strat and have played it for years. Yet here lately I’ve found myself wanting a bigger tone, started favoring my 58 explorer better because of the tones I can get. Installing a bridge humbucker is not an option for the strat. I don’t know, I love the thing and find myself wanting it to be my main guitar but i just can’t get the fuller sound I’m looking for.
Thanks Cameron, I couldn't agree more. Change is the spice of life right ? My strat is right up there, but I need some humbucker love too haha / cheers, Guillaume
I don’t get the “no humbucker” thing. The strat’s signature sounds are positions 4 and 5, almost solely. I’d say if anything, a humbucker will make it your main, with more versatility. And if for some reason you don’t like it ... change it back.
C Taylor late reply but if you happen to see this some things I do to get a fuller sound especially distorted on my strat is the bridge pickup or the neck pickup, pick your fav & try raising the pickup height a lil if you need more output, EQ controls as well, I turn the tone down on my strat then eq the treble on my amp add some bass to just before the point of “boom” & a bit of a mid scoop to taste
Tyler L I’m also in the no HSS group. Maybe because I prefer vintage looks and specs but SRV managed to get some decent bridge tones out of the single coil
@@gunkanjima3408 Late for the party - I had the same issue with my guitar so I installed humbucker in single coil case - it look the same and required only soldering. Now I have everything that I ever wanted :)
It's bodyshape has to be the same, the shape has a relationship with its tone and harmonics, I'd say you can have a lefty neck on a righty body or vice versa , that's absolutely fine. I'd also say you could have a bridge humbucker and middle and neck single pickup and it's also still a Stratocaster. If you change the body shape or redesign the neck or headstock then it's NOT A Stratocaster anymore. You simply have to draw the line somewhere or else any guitar then could become a Stratocaster.
My vote - Super Strat: HSS, Wilkenson or top of the line Fender bridge, locking tuners, flatter radius neck, additional switching options... If I had to play a standard Strat, I probably wouldn't play one 😂
The Stratocaster is the Chevrolet of guitars, why I believe that too be true is parts are found very easily almost anywhere, and at very reasonable prices.
That custom shop p90 strat has beautiful flame top. It looks a lot like the new prs on my knee right now... Same orange colour stain... I wonder what they call that..?
The Telecaster is the best guitar ever, the man, the boss, while the Strat is the beautiful younger sister. Strats have changed over the years, in 1987 the American standard introduced 22 frets and that horrible 2 point bridge. There’s Strat plus, Strats with buckers, etc, but in my mind, and my personal favourite specs are prefer is pre CBS, because they botched the headstock. That’s the nicest Strat whether it’s 50s or 60s.
Great point Guillaume... "When does it stop becoming a Strat?" I think that's it. That was the essence of this conversation. "Marketing" perhaps has more to do with "What is a Strat" than the Luthier does. They didn't "Edit" it. They kept it real. This is a legit "Gearhead" gathering. Phil McKnight at the wrap said... "This is the best.". He meant it. No B.S. It was "Live" and it was "Real".
Im trying to gather funds for my first real Fender Strat, i cannot decide yet if i should get some from the player series or classic 60', i love the looks and style of the classic 60', but Player series has more usable tremolo, alnico V pickups (i love alnico V's), and modern tuning keys which i can change to the Fender Locking ones very easily. There is also the classic Player series, and it would be the best for me, but the 12 inch radius is playable for me if the neck is thin, like Ibanez Wizard. Fat neck with 12 inch radius feels strange to play for me. Also if Deluxe series had normal, small headstock i would probably just get hss tobacco sunburst one. It's soo hard to decide, if You live in places like Poland, and have very limited funds... Also not alot of places to see the guitars and try them out..
Hi , I'm in England. Just out of sheer curiosity , I have never been to Poland... Is there a general lack of guitar shops in Poland or just not in your town ? Do you have any Polish family or friends in the UK ? Mexican Fenders are , to coin an Americanism , absolutely the "best bang for the buck" over here .
@@shaunw9270 City of 340 000 people, and 1 normal size and 1 small shop with guitars. I think they are "best bang for the buck" over here too if you want a guitar with single coils. Mexican player strat sss, costs my whole monthly pay, so with my pocket money, i can buy it if ill collect it for 2,5 years :)
@@sak7530 that's what i intended to do, but there is no Fender Classic in shops in my city, only modern 9,5 inch radius ones and 12 inch Deluxes, i have never played 7,25 inch one. Also pau ferro is a hit & miss wood, sometimes it looks nice, and sometimes it looks like someone has stepped on the Snickers bar ;) so getting a guitar with this wood fingerboard is not recommended..
@@lucaszembrzuski I would try the 7.25 before you buy. I'm like the compound radius myself. Look at used ones at the store, you my find the one for you that someone neglected. Craigslist if you feel confident. I have found gems on there but so many scams so be careful. I agree about the pau ferro, function is fine but looks are very hit and miss.
@@MrPhilipcalahan im very sure hes on cocaine the more i watch the video watch 11:12 he does the text book 'im overly surprised at what youre saying' look
Phil definitely needed a save. If I started a filmed interview by telling the interviewee he screwed up a word, I'd spend the next 10 minutes in embarrassment.
Phil & Ron are great to listen to! The Strat Ron was holding was beautiful. I also loved the Peridot green one on the back wall to the right of the THOMANN sign!
It's versatile. Simple. Practically indestructible. Immensely customizable. Some think it looks sexy. It has allowed hundreds if not thousands of guitar builders to make a living. :/
Great discussion. I want everything on the wall plus the strat Phil is holding. BTW if you have been awake for days trying to be a good host to hundreds of you tubers you might be s bit forgetful too. The host isn't awkward...my guess is he is exhausted.
Thank you so much Toney :) I was indeed pretty exhausted when this video happened and in fairness as people spotted rather unprepared. We had no directive line and just wanted to have a nice conversation with passionate people so nothing was scripted. I'm really glad you enjoyed it! //Guillaume
I debated that in my head for sure. I suppose if we are talking rock's foundations then yeah, that would be right. But then I have an SG so I'm partial. :-)
It seems so difficult for the moderator to pose the right questions to get interesting answers, a little bit boring to watch him aching out, stealing the time from the spectators. It could be interesting to think a little bit before switching on the camera, like the first time a school boy trying to come clear with his own thoughts...
Hey Peter, thanks for your comment ! I agree yes, because that video wasn't planned and we were just having a conversation when we walked in this room, I had to think it through as we went. As English also isn't my first language I wanted to make sure I was making sense and had to think about my phrasing. I'll work on my improv skills and get you something better next time :) // cheers, Guillaume
Music Man guitars do have the best build quality in comparison with ANY other guitar out there! Although I prefer the Silhouette over the Cutlass. You can get similar sounds with it, but with the addition of an unique design.
@@itsfailix98 reverend guitars are the best quality off the shelf purely because of the fretwork EVERY guitar is perfectly crowned and leveled unlike basically every company out there
As a model, the Stratocaster is my fourth favorite Fender, behind the Jaguar, Telecaster, and Jazzmaster. But the Stratocaster I own is my all time favorite guitar, if that makes sense.
Why is it the best ever? The quality is good. It looks brilliant - the design has never been surpassed. It’s versatile - you can get almost any tone out of it, particularly if you install a bridge humbucker. It’s affordable - there’s a Strat for almost any price point. In terms of relic guitars, I just don’t get it. Why would you buy a custom shop guitar that someone has attacked with a sand belt? Personally I want to buy a guitar that looks perfect, retains some of the vintage vibe, but has some modern features. Locking tuners should always be standard? Noiseless pickups are pretty much essential? A humbucker in the bridge should be the modern standard - does anyone ever use the single coil bridge pickup unleashed these days?
1989 HAD A H&M STRAT HSS TRAVELED/GIGED FOR 7 YRS WITH THAT GUITAR TILL IT GOT STOLD STRAT WILL COVER ANY STYLE MUSIC THEN AND NOW MOST UNIVERSAL GUITAR MADE. LOVE MY TELE 'S ALSO. STRAT WILL DO WHAT A GIBSON WILL THEN SOME GIBSON'S A GIBSON NOT A BAD GUITAR JUST LIMITED WHEN EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE OF MUSIC.
Keith Clark First of all a strat will not do what a Gibson will do. A strat sounds nothing like a Gibson. Your comment makes zero sense. They are two totally different guitars. They sound completely different.
@@Panic42000 HUMBUCKER ROLL BACK TONE / OVERDRIVE - I KNOW THEIR 2 DIFFERENT GUITARS GIBSON WASN'T DESIGNED FOR SPARKLE STRAT WILL GO DARK I'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH GIBSON OWNERS OVER THE YEARS WHICH MOST NOW PLAY STRATS. IAM NOT TRYING TO SELL BRANDS MY INPUT IS FROM A PLAYER'S VIEW. I STILL OWN 4 L PAUL'S. 2 S'Gs ONLY TIME I BRING THEM OUT IS WHEN A NOVIEST OR SOME YOUNG KID COMES AROUND GETTING STARTED TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY TO GO. CHECK OUT JACK PEARSON A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT A STRAT WILL DO. SQUIRE STRAT OUT OF A PAWN SHOP - JAZZ / BLUES / ROCK / STRAT HAS NO LIMIT.
Keith Clark I’ll stick with my R8. A Les Paul can play everything a strat can. A Les Paul was first used for jazz. Gary Moore , Joe Bonamassa, blues, rock all can be played and sound better on a Les Paul.
GARY AND JOE DIDN'T START BLUES WITH A GIBSON ? YOUR MISSING THE POINT CHILDREN WILL BE CHILDREN YOUR BEST BLUES PLAYERS USE STRATS OR TELES ITS 11:45 GO TO BED WE'LL HAVE MORE FUN TOMORROW TROLLS WHILE YOU DREAM OF GIBSON IAM IN ATLANTA ON STAGE WITH STRAT $3OO.00 A NIGHT 4 NIGHTS A WEEK MOST PRODUCTIVE TOOL IN MY BOX WHERE YOU AT? APPLY@GIBSON.COM PLAYERS VIEW POINT MY POINT. GOOD LUCK DEFENDING YOUR ONION.
A tone is not just what you hear. It's the feel. A strat is the feel, which gives you a single coil tone. Adding humbuckers, it's still a strat. As one will play the guitar as a strat. Playing a Les Paul, the same way you do with a strat, it doesn't work. That feel is missing. So, one has to adapt their playing in terms of the instrument used. Pickups, amp, pedals are after. But an instrument that is not inspiring to play, you can't achieve the tone you are looking for.
The journalist/ interviewer had zero questions prepared. I mean come on man, you got to have at least an outline in your head about how your want this interview to go! You have two great guitar experts with a wealth of knowledge about the subject of the stratocaster, and the best question you could come up with is when is a strat no longer a strat? Then checking the time. This was just awkward and painful to watch.
Ok, if you have 4000 usd to invest then just go tell Mr Ron Thorm to make it happen and just feel happy you did because only then you will find out how really seriously good a Fender can be...it will have no equal.
18:23 I have to disagree with the Great Ron Thorn on this one. That’s not really a Strat. It’s Fender’s official version of something another company would have borrowed from them. But he’s still great. 😂
