The reverb is part of the tone - don't worry about those comments. Part of what makes a Strat sing so well into a cranked Super Reverb is the Reverb tank itself - it's adding to the grit in the most epic way.
MATTHEW ! DO NOT LISTEN TO SUCKERS CRITICIZING YOUR TONE ! ! ! THAT's YOUR SOUND if you want it so NOT THEIRS ! AND SPRING REVERB IS THE REAL FENDER SOUND !!!
Matt, thank you for the Jeff Beck words. I grew up listening to his LPs and seeing him in concert. Matt, be proud of your playing. You're improving every time I hear you, and that's what it's all about.✌️
I built a Warmoth partscaster and went with 9.5 on my fretboard. To be honest though, what strat player in the 50s and 60s cared or even knew what the fretboard raid radius was. Great stuff, keep it up
Yeah I've always felt that when these guitars were made people were primarily more interested in jazz and playing chords and bending hadn't truly become what it soon would. It really only matters these days if you're into bending still. Like if a bluegrass player used a Tele they probably wouldn't think about it either. I will say though that I have the Jimmy Page Mirror Tele and it for sure "frets out" but it's based on a 1959 Tele. It's an awesome Tele but I just can not get that thing set up to not do that and it kills me.
Bending strings back then was considered "that black music." And most of the strings in the '50s were Golden Gate Bridge Cable flatwounds. That's a beautiful guitar Matthew is playing; but a couple years ago, I bought an American Original '50s with a fat neck, narrow tall frets and a 9.5 because I KNEW Fender was going to go back to their old mistakes ... Just my opinion, but after 61 years of this, I have to say that in today's world, there really isn't much use for them to be making 7.25 boards ... not that hard to play chords on 9.5 and you can sure as the Lord, bend a lot better on the 9.5 radius. Again, just my opinion. And that big neck ... oh my Heavens that is perfect! And by the way ... the first Fender, IIRC, to have 9.5, was the Clapton ...
If people don’t like your tone they can move along. Please don’t change bro, we love your channel and the insight you’re able to provide on this much loved vintage gear ❤
It was really appreciated that you had some nice words regarding the passing of Jeff Beck 🙏🏻 Nice one Matthew, your playing is getting better my friend, best of luck for 2023 👍🏻
Matthew you’ve quickly become one of my favorite players! Your tone, the soul in your playing, it’s tasty and warm. Oh so good! I look forward to more songs released from you!
I feel that Fender nails the colors of everything. That American Vintage 2 looks nicely aged with the tinted headstock, the antique white body, and the yellowy plastic of the pickups. I like smaller frets because it helps me not go so sharp on barre chords.
My old early 90's japanese squier strat has yellowed pickups from 30 years of tobacco, hashish and weed smoke lol. They are very yellow, but the white pick guard - not so much
Jeff beck was a big influence to me since guitar shop! I’m shifting over to strand and telecasters now, and have really focused on what you talk about man!
You’ve got one of the best setups on RUclips. I’m always excited to hear ANY guitar you get bc the tone you get out of those old amps ALWAYS kicks ass. I bought and freakin love the tele deluxe you demod. Would buy one of your amps in a heartbeat too! Keep it up bro 👌
Keep doing what you’re doing man. I was looking through all the avii 1961 strat demo videos until I found yours because yours felt like the first that really did it justice. Don’t change. Keep playing and doing you- the listeners and watchers will come.
Ive never left a comment on a video in years. Do not listen to people cryin about your tone. The higher reverb sounded great. Do what your ears like. Keep up the good work
Hi Matthew, my 2 cents, love 7.25 radius boards, super comfy ...and lets not forget all the bendy crazy music played on them throughout the 50's, 60's, 70's and a lot of the 80's. Love your channel.
Sounds great. I have many vintage electrics and acoustics. I have found that you can adjust to any of them. Baseball bat wartime Gibson acoustics, Slim taper gibson necks from the 60s. Every guitar has a personality. If you are open to experimenting and learning it really broadens your guitar horizons.
Interesting topic. Personally I find a taller fret to be more important for me than board radius. As long as I have jumbos and the setup is good, it doesn’t matter so much if it’s an old Fender 7.5”or a Gibson 12”.
You are a very talented young man. Don't listen to people who don't like your tone. I would like to see you go back doing live music in a studio. Loved your earlier videos doing that... Keep up the great content.
My Esquire has a 7.25 radius and I love it. I put .009 s on it and you can bend and get vibrato anytime. And I'm a Gibson player first off. I do love my Esquire though. Great video Matthew, keep up the great work 🎸
I think the case of Fender as a business atm is a win win formula. They get to continually pump out guitars in vintage specifications which works to keep up their brand legacy with an iconic constant instrument, but at the same time in doing so this drives the more 'modern' tasted players over to one of the other Fender owned brands such as Charvel or even Jackson who like the ergnomic idea/aesthetics of a strat, but want the modern spec.
I've been playing a 86 Squier Strat for ages and it's what I'm used to, of course. When I figured out buying a Telecaster I was thinking about that vintage radius choking out thing, too. A friend has a Vintera 2 60s Tele and I got along with it very well, no problem bending even 3 half steps up. Made me wonder... Then I came across a site that listed the specs of the Strat model that I have. I always believed it to be a 9.5 radius - and it wasn't. So no wonder I instantly felt at home with the Vintera because I've been playing the vintage radius for ages without even knowing it.
My 75th Anniversary Commemorative Telecaster is basically a fancier American Pro 2 Series model and it's become my number one over the past year. I'm used to playing guitars with a 12 inch radius and jumbo frets, the Telecaster has the 9.5 inch radius and smaller frets and to be honest I don't have any problems whatsoever, not even with bends. Granted I raised the action a bit but that was more for tonality reasons than playability, the things sounds amazing and plays effortlessly. Fender really knocked it out the park with the Am Pro 2 Series! Great playing as always man, you could make a Harley Benton sound just as amazing, keep up the great work! :)
I'm a vintage lover. 7,25' radius and small frets with a chunky neck are the right things for me. My main Strat is a first generation '59 AVRI with rosewood fretboard which I bought used when the more modern American Original series was introduced.
Please cover your Strat setup! Would be interested in how you set your action, string gauge, vibrato etc. -- I have a Partscaster, with the ‘wood’ coming from Warmoth. I went with their custom 10” - 16” Boatneck, because it was available in their ready to go shop. I’ve worked on the neck quite a bit. I rounded the fret ends, and rolled the edges, re-shaped the back. I love the way the neck has turned out. I think I would love it just as much with a 7.25” radius? I’ve owned a Vintage ‘66 Telecaster before, and it was the thin neck carve that I didn’t like. I feel you adjust your grip on chords, and lead playing to compensate for different fretboard radius? I find nut width, fret dressing and the neck shape more of a factor for comfort. I prefer bigger frets, but 6100 (…which I’ve had before) are a touch too much?
I have a Reissue Strat with a 7.25 radius neck. It was my first solid body electric, and I wasn't sure what specs to look for, so I just went with a guitar that many of my favorite guitarists played. Over time, I discovered that I didn't like a lot of the specs, and just about all my favorite guitarists modified their Strats. I started modifying mine long ago, and I think they are improvements for my way of playing. Over time, I found that I didn't like the 7.25 radius, and decided to flatten it some. But, instead of removing the frets, flattening the board, and refretting it, I decided to take an intermediary step, just in case I didn't like the results. So, several months ago, I only radiused the "frets" to 9.5, and I've been very happy with the results. Bends are so much easier, and everything else feels more comfortable to me. I'll do a full radius of the fretboard to 9.5 when the frets are more worn down.
I got a 2010 Classic Player 60s strat and that was one of the best Fender lineups because it came stock with 69 CS pickups and 12 inch fretboard radius as well as 2 post style tremolo but with vintage saddles. It really plays like a dream and over the years have become even better in terms of a sound. But talking about radiuses, having a 7.5 inch you have to setup a guitar super properly, otherwise notes may fret out while huge bends, especially if frets are worn over time or not leveled. But that's my favourite radius for playing chords, as hand rests much more comfortable on a rounder fretboard.
I bought a Hot Rod series Tele & it's awesome. It has a mix of vintage & upgraded specs. A 52 black guard, swamp ash butterscotch nitro finish one piece body & one piece 9.5 radius maple neck. The pickups are Duncans w/a mini bucker in the neck position. The brass barrel saddles are compensated. So versatile & a True Tone machine. The best of Leo's original design w/modern upgrades...a true rock axe. I have ten electrics inc. Gibson, Fender, Marvin, Guild & Ibanez, & of all it's my favorite.
The Hot Rod had a 7.25-12" compound radius. That's a bit much for me on a Fender. The 7.25-9.5" compound you can get custom is very nice. I saw someone do the math once and allegedly it also had the most accurate intonation. Vintage radius also means vintage pickup stagger-- and for better or worse that's arguably a large contributor to the sound of a Strat.
I like 9.5" radius on both Telecasters and Strats. I mostly play Fender instruments or instruments made of Fender parts I have one Gibson it is a modern Junior that I don't play much. I'm not a great player but I have fun and a couple friends that play, and I play at my house. At 57 years young guitars became a nice hobby at the start of covid before that I was maybe 19 or 20 the last time I picked one up. Matt I would just like to thank you for your great content, and being one of the reason I chose to pick up a guitar after so many years. I have stage 4 cancer and now have time to play when I feel good, and playing makes me feel even better. Keep up the hard work and great content Matt
I have an AVRI 57 Hot Rod from 2011. All vintage spec besides the 9.5 radius and they came with a noiseless neck and middle with a Dimarzio rail pickup in the bridge. Hated them so swapped them out for hand wound custom shop 57 pickups. The guitar is amazing.
I’ve never really struggled with neck radius’s. I have a ‘74 and ‘79 and am more conscious about neck thickness. Luckily both strats have thin necks. I think your tones bring out the best in the guitars you play.
@@MatthewScottmusic I’ve been lucky in picking up some nice 70’s/80’s strats and Les Pauls over the years with thin necks. Seems everyone I tried in a music shop has been a chunky mother. I always prefer the drier tones of aged vintage strats with slightly microphonic PU’s.
I have a 1997 Fender California Series Strat... It has vintage specs with some modifications, like a "modernish" neck but with 9,5 radius. It also has real vintage tuners and bridge (It says on the Wikipedia that these 90´s California series Tuners and Tremolo Bridges were made by the same machines that made it back in the 60´s, How cool is that?) It is equiped with early´s Tex Mex pickups! The only bad things are that the paint job is in PU, and the truss rod is adjustable on the headstock, unlike real vintage guitars. It is my first Fender Guitar, i got it last year as a gift from my dad! He made my dream come true... After discovering your channel in 2019 my life goal and obssesion turned into owning a Fender Instrumment, especially "vintage" rsrsrsrs It was the best we could got! Sadly, fender instruments are extremely expensive here in Brazil... Now im saving money to buy a handmade (fender style) 6w Tube Amp! My musical taste and playing style are heavily inspired by you @matthewscott , you are my favorite guitar player in all over the internet! I love your videos and your original songs. Peace and best regards... Enzo
Interesting about the same machines being used to make the hardware in those. I never knew that. I have a 97 California series Tele for many years, nice guitar. I actually got it refinished in nitro a couple years back, worth doing if you can find a good professional at a reasonable price to do that for you ..
I prefer the 7 1/4 with a "V" or fat "D" shape for bar chords. I have several I have built to try and now I prefer them! Matthew, keep up the great work!!!
Love it. Picked up my Olympic White Vintage II '61 this afternoon and loving it. The last time I owned a '61 Strat was back in '75 and I confess I just couldn't get on with it and after 18 months, I traded it for a Gibson ES-345. Hindsight if s a wonderful thing and if I could have just locked it away until today i would be sitting on a fortune. Back then it cost me around £250 (UK). Over the years i have owned and played numerous Strats including three Custom Shop models. I am really pleased at how good the neck feels on the new V-II '61, much better than I had expected and, that sound!!!! Perfect.
Good topic, My #1 is a 2014 Custom Shop Relic 1960 Surf Green Matching head cap. Large chunky D profile.. 9.5 is where it’s at for me. Just got another from 2012 same specs Olympic white with matching head cap… I am blessed with some great Gibsons & others but these particular strats are perfect playability, tone & feel. 10’s at standard tuning 11’s 1/2 to whole step down
Hi , I own a 2008 62 avri Hot Rod. Best sounding strat I got, 5.9k ohm pickups, really fat neck. Sound better then my 89/93 srv strat! If you Can get your hands on one go for it! Cheers
I didn't know about the 7.25" neck complaints. I have a MIJ ST57 from the mid-90s with a 7.25" neck, and my hands are on the larger side, with very long fingers, and I love the feeling of that neck! Different strokes, as they say!
All my favorite Fenders are 7.25" radius. That said, the two new guitars I grabbed this year are both 9.5" radius. I definitely notice the difference but 9.5 is growing on me. I have one Mustang in 9.5" radius and a Mustang and Bronco with 7.25" radius as a direct comparison. If I can choose, I would probably still go with 7.25" radius. I did find it fascinating the new PRS Silver Sky SE is 8.5" radius.
You are, hands down, one of my favorite guitarists on the web circuit. I watch and listen and can see and understand what you’re doing - sublime simplicity - but the choices you make, the turns and twists, oh man! they beguile me. I’m a fervent student of your approach to the fretboard. Really well done.
I love "too much reverb", but you do whatever you want. I like the Dave's Guitar Shop AV62 Strat. Thin Skin, Ash and Slab Rosewood, 5 way switch with bridge wired to tone, 9.5 inch radius.
I love the aesthetic and tone of this guitar!! I'm going to purchase the white one this week. If Fender develops an updated version with a flatter neck radius I may consider purchasing that and selling this one. All in all this one is OFF THE HOOK in my opinion. Great review as always. Your playing is inspiring to say the least!!
Picked up a 50's American Original Stratocaster and im really blown away. It's my first USA instrument and it just rings and rings. The fat neck took some getting used to but I'm fully accustomed now and totally in love. Great playing as always, your the today's King of Tone in my book!
likewise. fantastic instruments. I actually dont find the soft v neck too fat compared to a modern c, and especially not compared to 60's C. theyre pretty much identical in feel tbh
I have a 2012 57 reissue hot rod, black with maple neck and I love it. I think it has a 9.5 radius, I wish it was true historic spec and had a 7.25 but I am fine with either one.
I have three fenders with 7.25 radius and personally like it and find no drawback at all. I believe that they just require a truly well done setup. I’m a guitar tech and find most players I come into contact with have marginally at best, proper set up. My opinion.
I don't get really hung up on things like neck shape, nut width, or fretboard radius. I play the guitar, the guitar doesn't play me. Adapt and overcome!
I find most guitar techs I come into contact with don't have the necessary skills to come near any of my guitars. With no qualifications and no licensing, anyone can call themselves a guitar tech unfortunately.
I've got an American Vintage Reissue from 2001 and it's a Custom Shop Fiesta Red and it's an amazing Strat. It has an absolutely tiny neck and it's based on a 61. I've actually never played a genuine 61 but I'd be amazed if it had a neck that small. Also the one I have really makes you work to bend on it. It literally feels "tight" if that makes any sense but it virtually never goes even slightly out of tune. I've got a couple of little videos of it on my channel if anyone wants to see it. I really wanna try one of these AV2 Strats just for comparison. Particularly the Fiesta ones since they're my favorite Strats ever.
I fineout that 9,5" radio for stratocaster and telecasters is a good and easy to play than a 7,75 " Older radios ,I mean the fingers s sises are crítical poin ,on my case I preffer 9,5" let you play fast and chording good , thank you for showing those Amasive Vintages guitars,
I really like that Fender brought the AV series back. They seem to be having som QC issues right now, but let’s see where it goes after they get completely caught up.
I've had Fender avri 62 Hot Rod in Sherwood green. Best guitar and biggest neck that I ever played! I've had it for 3 months and then someone stole it from me... Now after 10 years from that I'm looking to buy it again
7.25” radius is my personal preference. Lucked into it with my 40th anniversary strat. Have an American standard with a 9.5” it’s great as well, but with a great setup the 7.25” sings the best.
I got my first custom shop stat back in 2008 7 1/4 radius had nines on it. It was a demo, anyway took it home put tens on it then went out to do a gig and it was brutal on the hand but then I had it set up by a great guitar tech and it’s been awesome ever since play this kid is any of my 9 1/2 radius Strat’s
i prefer 9.5" radius but it usually does not feel like a vintage 60s strat that way. however i really like it. my favourite neck would be kind of like a 1981 ibanez blazer... 9.5" radius and about 40mm nut width.
I bought a 57 AVRI,twenty year ago. Maple neck with 7-1/4 radius. Just bought a 65 American original. Maple neck/rosewood board with 9-1/4 radius. I prefer the 9-1/4,especially with the vintage string space bridge.
The fingerboard radius on my modest selection of guitars is all over the place. For myself my guitars are like owning different cars/trucks, each has a different purpose that inspires a different way of playing/driving. A pickup truck would be terrible at Autocross just as a Corvette wouldn't do very well at 2-Tracking, guitars can be similar. Great content Matthew, thank you.
I've personally never been a big fan of Reverb but I've also never thought Matthew used too much of it. Honestly I don't even notice it when other people use it. I just notice it when I use it.
@@MatthewScottmusic You should branch out and try Vox and Marshall and those other classic sounds. It would be cool to see you get your hands on some old things like Supro too.
Little Brother don't listen to people like that. If you like what you're doing then it's right. You be you! Don't let them change your tone or the way you play. We like what you're doing. Just keep doing, and everything will be alright.
Ive been following your channel for a long time and that closing riff was the cleanest in sometime. That should go up there in the top RUclips strat jams on RUclips
I'm sure Fender experimented quite a bit before settling in the 7.25 radius. It always felt right for me and I've owned many 60's strats (re-issues) and also an original '63 Jazzmaster.
I have a 7.25 radius 60 NOS Strat and it’s amazing how noticeable that little difference is from the more standard 9.5 radius. Doesn’t bother me at all. After about 5 minutes of playing it, it’s a Strat.
i enjoy the pace of your videos. i come to these things for information but i find myself having to skip over the playing parts a lot with other ppl. starting and ending with video with music makes it very easy for those who just want a video essay and those that also enjoy the playing
Hey Matthew, you pose a few questions.. 1) what adjustments do you think would improve the AVII ‘61? Just a flatter board and bigger frets… anything else? 2) aside from more lead work, what styles does the 9.5 serve? What styles does the 7.25 serve best? 3) how would you describe the difference between ‘59 pickups and ‘61 pickups? 4) what does a V maple inspire that is different than the rosewood boards? 5) what’s your rig for this video (aside from the Wah)? Thx! (No worries if you don’t catch this and can’t reply)🙏🏽🙏🏽
When I got my fender Vintera Jazzmaster I was worried about the 7.25 radius and how easy it would be to play, but it ended up being perfectly fine after all. Keep doing what you do man🤙
One of the best strats I ever played was the Am Original 50s strat. Top strat of all time for me is (and I’m being completely serious here) my old MiM standard. It’s been updated sure but off the shelf it smoked every other guitar in the shop even with those terrible ceramic pickups. I’ve shot it out with a custom shop and it smoked the custom shop hands down. I’m not saying MiM strats are better, they aren’t, especially those older ones, but this specific one just might be the best strat fender ever built. I’ve played a preCBS strat but couldn’t shoot the two out but honestly, I still put my MiM way on top.
What year is the Mexican strat? I have a 2006 Fender Classic 50s Strat (MiM) that plays way above its weight class. I have a AVRII 61' in Fiesta Red on the way from FedEx as we speak and I would be surprised if it's better than my Mexican strat.
My favourite strats are an '82 Ibanez Blazer and a '95 Tokai. I got a custom shop Strat for my 50th and flogged it to buy a Maton Mastersound. Having said all that, love me a good Jag and no one but Fender have recaptured that particular magic. Great playing BTW.
I’ve owned Strats, or S style guitars, with both types of fretboards, and have used one with the bigger size for years when I was younger, but the Strat I’ve used for 12 years now, has a neck like you describe liking better. It’s a 1998 American Standard, all factory specs. It felt like the guitar I’d always looked for, the first time I played it. I bought it from my buddy, and have been able to play several different styles of music easily.
I love the 7.25 radius. It makes a strat feel just right to me. Every time I’ve bought a 9.5” radius strat I end up selling it or swapping the neck. One thing they can change is the dark clay dots. I just don’t like them because they blend in to the fretboard in a dim room.
I love the 7.25 and 9.5. To me, the compound radius is the best. Perhaps fender knows that bc those are only available in the custom shop. I previously owned an AVRI ‘65 and found the 7.25 to be great but it did fret out a bit in the higher frets. No big deal, I just played slightly differently and refined my technique. In all, all radius are great and neck shapes too and the differences make me a more well-rounded player (pun intended). I also never judge others for their preferences. All styles and preferences welcome! The more variety the better.
You turned the Reverb off completely, a little reverb is part of that Fender tone that we love. I still have the 60s American Original with the 9.5 radius neck and I play it every day(almost), best version so far of a 60s Fender. I put handwound pickups on it with staggered pole-pieces that matched the 9.5 radius but it is'nt necessary , the Grey bottom pickups they came with are excellent.I would play any Fender Strat that felt right (and have) I had a sb 65 for years and this newer version is more inspiring to play( maybe cos I am doing all the playing in and wear)? Great video, thanks.
The reverb is part of the tone - don't worry about those comments. Part of what makes a Strat sing so well into a cranked Super Reverb is the Reverb tank itself - it's adding to the grit in the most epic way.
Matthew your reverb sounds are glorious! Don’t listen to the critics. Do yo thang!
Thanks Josh!
MATTHEW ! DO NOT LISTEN TO SUCKERS CRITICIZING YOUR TONE ! ! ! THAT's YOUR SOUND if you want it so NOT THEIRS ! AND SPRING REVERB IS THE REAL FENDER SOUND !!!
Dude, how about writing this with your 1-Watt amp?
CAPS LOCK!!!!!!
Whos criticising his tone? It sounds great to me!
@@officialWWM he literally explains that in the video.
Lol, I wrote my comment 2 seconds into the vid, prior to reading your comment. Whomever said his tone is not good can't hear...💚🎸
Matt, thank you for the Jeff Beck words. I grew up listening to his LPs and seeing him in concert. Matt, be proud of your playing. You're improving every time I hear you, and that's what it's all about.✌️
Thank you. I didn't know what to say but I wanted to say something. Jeff will be missed.
I built a Warmoth partscaster and went with 9.5 on my fretboard. To be honest though, what strat player in the 50s and 60s cared or even knew what the fretboard raid radius was. Great stuff, keep it up
Yeah I've always felt that when these guitars were made people were primarily more interested in jazz and playing chords and bending hadn't truly become what it soon would. It really only matters these days if you're into bending still. Like if a bluegrass player used a Tele they probably wouldn't think about it either. I will say though that I have the Jimmy Page Mirror Tele and it for sure "frets out" but it's based on a 1959 Tele. It's an awesome Tele but I just can not get that thing set up to not do that and it kills me.
Bending strings back then was considered "that black music." And most of the strings in the '50s were Golden Gate Bridge Cable flatwounds. That's a beautiful guitar Matthew is playing; but a couple years ago, I bought an American Original '50s with a fat neck, narrow tall frets and a 9.5 because I KNEW Fender was going to go back to their old mistakes ... Just my opinion, but after 61 years of this, I have to say that in today's world, there really isn't much use for them to be making 7.25 boards ... not that hard to play chords on 9.5 and you can sure as the Lord, bend a lot better on the 9.5 radius. Again, just my opinion. And that big neck ... oh my Heavens that is perfect! And by the way ... the first Fender, IIRC, to have 9.5, was the Clapton ...
@@Tonetwisters oh cmon I have a 65 Strat 7.25. radius and it bends great
I like the Warmoth compound radius and the boat neck shape profile. Beefy sound but not too round at the back
@j freed I got the SRV profile. It is almost exactly the shape of the curve between my thumb and index finger
If people don’t like your tone they can move along. Please don’t change bro, we love your channel and the insight you’re able to provide on this much loved vintage gear ❤
Or they can just comment on it. Don't upload to social media platforms if you're not looking for differences in opinions.
Man, you have a best guitar sound ive ever herd in real or in record.
Thank you Noldo.
I love the vintage 2 - I've got one but got my tech te change the radius to 9.5 with a lower action and 6100 frets. This is my go to giutar...
It was really appreciated that you had some nice words regarding the passing of Jeff Beck 🙏🏻 Nice one Matthew, your playing is getting better my friend, best of luck for 2023 👍🏻
I was just thinking the same. His playing is getting more sophisticated, and he's creating his own sound. Bravo 👏
Thanks for saying that. I wasn't quite sure what to say. Jeff inspired us all.
I’ve always been more of a LP guy but there’s something magical about the neck pickup of a Strat.
I have the American Original '65 and it has the 9.5 radius. I love it, plays great.
Matthew you’ve quickly become one of my favorite players! Your tone, the soul in your playing, it’s tasty and warm. Oh so good! I look forward to more songs released from you!
Killer tone! RIP Jeff! I miss his Oxblood Les Paul tone but his Strat stuff was also amazing!
I feel that Fender nails the colors of everything. That American Vintage 2 looks nicely aged with the tinted headstock, the antique white body, and the yellowy plastic of the pickups. I like smaller frets because it helps me not go so sharp on barre chords.
My old early 90's japanese squier strat has yellowed pickups from 30 years of tobacco, hashish and weed smoke lol. They are very yellow, but the white pick guard - not so much
I have one of those 50s American Original strats from a few years ago with the modern radius and the neck feels great, especially it being a soft V
Jeff beck was a big influence to me since guitar shop! I’m shifting over to strand and telecasters now, and have really focused on what you talk about man!
You’ve got one of the best setups on RUclips. I’m always excited to hear ANY guitar you get bc the tone you get out of those old amps ALWAYS kicks ass. I bought and freakin love the tele deluxe you demod. Would buy one of your amps in a heartbeat too! Keep it up bro 👌
Thank you my friend!
Keep doing what you’re doing man. I was looking through all the avii 1961 strat demo videos until I found yours because yours felt like the first that really did it justice. Don’t change. Keep playing and doing you- the listeners and watchers will come.
Ive never left a comment on a video in years.
Do not listen to people cryin about your tone. The higher reverb sounded great. Do what your ears like.
Keep up the good work
if i have to say which guitar player influence me every day i would say matthew Scott. don't stop what you do ! thanks from france
I have an old guitar with a 7.25 and also a compound 10-16" on a strat. If people learn to play and set up their guitars all of it becomes playable.
Hi Matthew, my 2 cents, love 7.25 radius boards, super comfy ...and lets not forget all the bendy crazy music played on them throughout the 50's, 60's, 70's and a lot of the 80's. Love your channel.
Sounds great. I have many vintage electrics and acoustics. I have found that you can adjust to any of them. Baseball bat wartime Gibson acoustics, Slim taper gibson necks from the 60s. Every guitar has a personality. If you are open to experimenting and learning it really broadens your guitar horizons.
Interesting topic. Personally I find a taller fret to be more important for me than board radius. As long as I have jumbos and the setup is good, it doesn’t matter so much if it’s an old Fender 7.5”or a Gibson 12”.
Agreed, I've always, since 1985 anyway, found jumbos easier to play.
Big frets are the best. I bought a beautiful FSR 60's Tele and sold it within a year because I couldn't stand the fretwire...
@@TerryGunnell12 Not worth putting new frets on? I've had more than a few fret jobs, it's not that big of a deal really.
@@TeleCaster66 didn’t want to bother, found an acoustic I loved too locally so I wanted the money and could spare the tele
Yup I totally agree for me it's about set up and frets
You are one of the best "60´s" player alive i know
Matthew is one of the best PLAYERS alive!!
You are a very talented young man. Don't listen to people who don't like your tone. I would like to see you go back doing live music in a studio. Loved your earlier videos doing that... Keep up the great content.
I still dig the reverb. As always, great video
My Esquire has a 7.25 radius and I love it. I put .009 s on it and you can bend and get vibrato anytime. And I'm a Gibson player first off. I do love my Esquire though. Great video Matthew, keep up the great work 🎸
Exactly! Fretting out can just mean too low action.
I think the case of Fender as a business atm is a win win formula. They get to continually pump out guitars in vintage specifications which works to keep up their brand legacy with an iconic constant instrument, but at the same time in doing so this drives the more 'modern' tasted players over to one of the other Fender owned brands such as Charvel or even Jackson who like the ergnomic idea/aesthetics of a strat, but want the modern spec.
I've been playing a 86 Squier Strat for ages and it's what I'm used to, of course. When I figured out buying a Telecaster I was thinking about that vintage radius choking out thing, too. A friend has a Vintera 2 60s Tele and I got along with it very well, no problem bending even 3 half steps up. Made me wonder... Then I came across a site that listed the specs of the Strat model that I have. I always believed it to be a 9.5 radius - and it wasn't. So no wonder I instantly felt at home with the Vintera because I've been playing the vintage radius for ages without even knowing it.
My 75th Anniversary Commemorative Telecaster is basically a fancier American Pro 2 Series model and it's become my number one over the past year.
I'm used to playing guitars with a 12 inch radius and jumbo frets, the Telecaster has the 9.5 inch radius and smaller frets and to be honest I don't have any problems whatsoever, not even with bends.
Granted I raised the action a bit but that was more for tonality reasons than playability, the things sounds amazing and plays effortlessly.
Fender really knocked it out the park with the Am Pro 2 Series! Great playing as always man, you could make a Harley Benton sound just as amazing, keep up the great work! :)
That wah tone @ 40 seconds is awesome !
I'm a vintage lover. 7,25' radius and small frets with a chunky neck are the right things for me. My main Strat is a first generation '59 AVRI with rosewood fretboard which I bought used when the more modern American Original series was introduced.
Not enough reverb!
Always love your sound & attitude, you do you.
Thanks for another great video!
Peace!
♠️🥃🤘🏼🏚️🤠🚬
Please cover your Strat setup! Would be interested in how you set your action, string gauge, vibrato etc.
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I have a Partscaster, with the ‘wood’ coming from Warmoth. I went with their custom 10” - 16” Boatneck, because it was available in their ready to go shop. I’ve worked on the neck quite a bit. I rounded the fret ends, and rolled the edges, re-shaped the back. I love the way the neck has turned out. I think I would love it just as much with a 7.25” radius? I’ve owned a Vintage ‘66 Telecaster before, and it was the thin neck carve that I didn’t like. I feel you adjust your grip on chords, and lead playing to compensate for different fretboard radius? I find nut width, fret dressing and the neck shape more of a factor for comfort.
I prefer bigger frets, but 6100 (…which I’ve had before) are a touch too much?
I have a Reissue Strat with a 7.25 radius neck. It was my first solid body electric, and I wasn't sure what specs to look for, so I just went with a guitar that many of my favorite guitarists played. Over time, I discovered that I didn't like a lot of the specs, and just about all my favorite guitarists modified their Strats. I started modifying mine long ago, and I think they are improvements for my way of playing.
Over time, I found that I didn't like the 7.25 radius, and decided to flatten it some. But, instead of removing the frets, flattening the board, and refretting it, I decided to take an intermediary step, just in case I didn't like the results. So, several months ago, I only radiused the "frets" to 9.5, and I've been very happy with the results. Bends are so much easier, and everything else feels more comfortable to me. I'll do a full radius of the fretboard to 9.5 when the frets are more worn down.
I have an American Original 60's neck on a OW Custom Shop 61 body. I like the 9.5 radius, feels more relaxed. It is my favorite guitar for sure.
I got a 2010 Classic Player 60s strat and that was one of the best Fender lineups because it came stock with 69 CS pickups and 12 inch fretboard radius as well as 2 post style tremolo but with vintage saddles. It really plays like a dream and over the years have become even better in terms of a sound. But talking about radiuses, having a 7.5 inch you have to setup a guitar super properly, otherwise notes may fret out while huge bends, especially if frets are worn over time or not leveled. But that's my favourite radius for playing chords, as hand rests much more comfortable on a rounder fretboard.
That's some of the best tone I've heard on the channel.
I bought a Hot Rod series Tele & it's awesome. It has a mix of vintage & upgraded specs. A 52 black guard, swamp ash butterscotch nitro finish one piece body & one piece 9.5 radius maple neck. The pickups are Duncans w/a mini bucker in the neck position. The brass barrel saddles are compensated. So versatile & a True Tone machine. The best of Leo's original design w/modern upgrades...a true rock axe. I have ten electrics inc. Gibson, Fender, Marvin, Guild & Ibanez, & of all it's my favorite.
The Hot Rod had a 7.25-12" compound radius. That's a bit much for me on a Fender. The 7.25-9.5" compound you can get custom is very nice. I saw someone do the math once and allegedly it also had the most accurate intonation. Vintage radius also means vintage pickup stagger-- and for better or worse that's arguably a large contributor to the sound of a Strat.
I like 9.5" radius on both Telecasters and Strats. I mostly play Fender instruments or instruments made of Fender parts I have one Gibson it is a modern Junior that I don't play much. I'm not a great player but I have fun and a couple friends that play, and I play at my house. At 57 years young guitars became a nice hobby at the start of covid before that I was maybe 19 or 20 the last time I picked one up. Matt I would just like to thank you for your great content, and being one of the reason I chose to pick up a guitar after so many years. I have stage 4 cancer and now have time to play when I feel good, and playing makes me feel even better. Keep up the hard work and great content Matt
I have an AVRI 57 Hot Rod from 2011. All vintage spec besides the 9.5 radius and they came with a noiseless neck and middle with a Dimarzio rail pickup in the bridge. Hated them so swapped them out for hand wound custom shop 57 pickups. The guitar is amazing.
I’ve never really struggled with neck radius’s. I have a ‘74 and ‘79 and am more conscious about neck thickness. Luckily both strats have thin necks.
I think your tones bring out the best in the guitars you play.
i gotta 73 and man its the thinnest neck ive ever felt on a strat i played a 67 and it was ,assive compared to it
Neck thickness definitely changes the way you play!
@@jamesonnewhouse1298 same with my 73, thinnest I ever played for sure
@@MatthewScottmusic I’ve been lucky in picking up some nice 70’s/80’s strats and Les Pauls over the years with thin necks. Seems everyone I tried in a music shop has been a chunky mother.
I always prefer the drier tones of aged vintage strats with slightly microphonic PU’s.
@@arfboucher3855 is urs maple or rosewood?
I have a 1997 Fender California Series Strat... It has vintage specs with some modifications, like a "modernish" neck but with 9,5 radius. It also has real vintage tuners and bridge (It says on the Wikipedia that these 90´s California series Tuners and Tremolo Bridges were made by the same machines that made it back in the 60´s, How cool is that?) It is equiped with early´s Tex Mex pickups! The only bad things are that the paint job is in PU, and the truss rod is adjustable on the headstock, unlike real vintage guitars.
It is my first Fender Guitar, i got it last year as a gift from my dad! He made my dream come true...
After discovering your channel in 2019 my life goal and obssesion turned into owning a Fender Instrumment, especially "vintage" rsrsrsrs It was the best we could got! Sadly, fender instruments are extremely expensive here in Brazil...
Now im saving money to buy a handmade (fender style) 6w Tube Amp!
My musical taste and playing style are heavily inspired by you @matthewscott , you are my favorite guitar player in all over the internet! I love your videos and your original songs.
Peace and best regards... Enzo
Interesting about the same machines being used to make the hardware in those. I never knew that. I have a 97 California series Tele for many years, nice guitar. I actually got it refinished in nitro a couple years back, worth doing if you can find a good professional at a reasonable price to do that for you ..
I prefer the 7 1/4 with a "V" or fat "D" shape for bar chords. I have several I have built to try and now I prefer them! Matthew, keep up the great work!!!
REST .IN. POWER Jeff beck
Was a guitar genius an such an amazing guitarist .❤❤❤❤❤❤
Love it. Picked up my Olympic White Vintage II '61 this afternoon and loving it. The last time I owned a '61 Strat was back in '75 and I confess I just couldn't get on with it and after 18 months, I traded it for a Gibson ES-345. Hindsight if s a wonderful thing and if I could have just locked it away until today i would be sitting on a fortune. Back then it cost me around £250 (UK). Over the years i have owned and played numerous Strats including three Custom Shop models. I am really pleased at how good the neck feels on the new V-II '61, much better than I had expected and, that sound!!!! Perfect.
Good topic, My #1 is a 2014 Custom Shop Relic 1960 Surf Green Matching head cap. Large chunky D profile.. 9.5 is where it’s at for me.
Just got another from 2012 same specs Olympic white with matching head cap… I am blessed with some great Gibsons & others but these particular strats are perfect playability, tone & feel.
10’s at standard tuning
11’s 1/2 to whole step down
Hi , I own a 2008 62 avri Hot Rod. Best sounding strat I got, 5.9k ohm pickups, really fat neck.
Sound better then my 89/93 srv strat!
If you Can get your hands on one go for it!
Cheers
...I just love the vintage radius
I didn't know about the 7.25" neck complaints. I have a MIJ ST57 from the mid-90s with a 7.25" neck, and my hands are on the larger side, with very long fingers, and I love the feeling of that neck! Different strokes, as they say!
All my favorite Fenders are 7.25" radius. That said, the two new guitars I grabbed this year are both 9.5" radius. I definitely notice the difference but 9.5 is growing on me. I have one Mustang in 9.5" radius and a Mustang and Bronco with 7.25" radius as a direct comparison. If I can choose, I would probably still go with 7.25" radius. I did find it fascinating the new PRS Silver Sky SE is 8.5" radius.
When are you going to show all your collections? I’m sooooo excited.🍻
You are, hands down, one of my favorite guitarists on the web circuit. I watch and listen and can see and understand what you’re doing - sublime simplicity - but the choices you make, the turns and twists, oh man! they beguile me. I’m a fervent student of your approach to the fretboard. Really well done.
The American Original series are incredible. One of the few higher end Strats worth the price tag unlike the Ultras and alike.
I love "too much reverb", but you do whatever you want. I like the Dave's Guitar Shop AV62 Strat. Thin Skin, Ash and Slab Rosewood, 5 way switch with bridge wired to tone, 9.5 inch radius.
Fender is the most versatile classic guitar ever. No cap. My opinion. Shoutout from your fan here in PHL.
I bought that same guitar, Olympic White AVRI 2. I haven’t played a 7.25 since my first guitar in the 90s and didn’t notice any difference
I love the aesthetic and tone of this guitar!! I'm going to purchase the white one this week. If Fender develops an updated version with a flatter neck radius I may consider purchasing that and selling this one. All in all this one is OFF THE HOOK in my opinion. Great review as always. Your playing is inspiring to say the least!!
You sir have the best Strat tone I've ever heard. By no means should you change it for anyone.
Picked up a 50's American Original Stratocaster and im really blown away. It's my first USA instrument and it just rings and rings. The fat neck took some getting used to but I'm fully accustomed now and totally in love.
Great playing as always, your the today's King of Tone in my book!
likewise. fantastic instruments. I actually dont find the soft v neck too fat compared to a modern c, and especially not compared to 60's C. theyre pretty much identical in feel tbh
I went with the 60s AO strat. Outstanding guitar. Might buy the tele as well.
I have a 2012 57 reissue hot rod, black with maple neck and I love it. I think it has a 9.5 radius, I wish it was true historic spec and had a 7.25 but I am fine with either one.
I have three fenders with 7.25 radius and personally like it and find no drawback at all. I believe that they just require a truly well done setup. I’m a guitar tech and find most players I come into contact with have marginally at best, proper set up. My opinion.
7 1/4" radius is the best.
I don't get really hung up on things like neck shape, nut width, or fretboard radius. I play the guitar, the guitar doesn't play me.
Adapt and overcome!
I find most guitar techs I come into contact with don't have the necessary skills to come near any of my guitars. With no qualifications and no licensing, anyone can call themselves a guitar tech unfortunately.
@@markseymour8365 Good for you. If more players recognized this you’d think the poseurs would eventually have to find something else to do.
@@markseymour8365 Search for a qualified luthier in your area. Don't settle for a shade tree repairman..
I've got an American Vintage Reissue from 2001 and it's a Custom Shop Fiesta Red and it's an amazing Strat. It has an absolutely tiny neck and it's based on a 61. I've actually never played a genuine 61 but I'd be amazed if it had a neck that small. Also the one I have really makes you work to bend on it. It literally feels "tight" if that makes any sense but it virtually never goes even slightly out of tune. I've got a couple of little videos of it on my channel if anyone wants to see it. I really wanna try one of these AV2 Strats just for comparison. Particularly the Fiesta ones since they're my favorite Strats ever.
I fineout that 9,5" radio for stratocaster and telecasters is a good and easy to play than a 7,75 " Older radios ,I mean the fingers s sises are crítical poin ,on my case I preffer 9,5" let you play fast and chording good , thank you for showing those Amasive Vintages guitars,
Man, that piece you played at the end was beautiful. Just needed a little more reverb 😜
🤣
Woohoo! Offset! Love the swooning psychedelic sounds you coax out of that baby Matthew 🌻
I really like that Fender brought the AV series back. They seem to be having som QC issues right now, but let’s see where it goes after they get completely caught up.
I've had Fender avri 62 Hot Rod in Sherwood green. Best guitar and biggest neck that I ever played! I've had it for 3 months and then someone stole it from me...
Now after 10 years from that I'm looking to buy it again
7.25” radius is my personal preference. Lucked into it with my 40th anniversary strat. Have an American standard with a 9.5” it’s great as well, but with a great setup the 7.25” sings the best.
I got my first custom shop stat back in 2008 7 1/4 radius had nines on it. It was a demo, anyway took it home put tens on it then went out to do a gig and it was brutal on the hand but then I had it set up by a great guitar tech and it’s been awesome ever since play this kid is any of my 9 1/2 radius Strat’s
I absolutely love that sound. Gives me goose bumps. Thanks for the video
i prefer 9.5" radius but it usually does not feel like a vintage 60s strat that way. however i really like it. my favourite neck would be kind of like a 1981 ibanez blazer... 9.5" radius and about 40mm nut width.
Hey Matthew-I like it. It sounds fabulous and looks awesome. Keep playing it because it’s a keeper. 👍☮️🌞🎸❤️
I bought a 57 AVRI,twenty year ago.
Maple neck with 7-1/4 radius.
Just bought a 65 American original.
Maple neck/rosewood board with 9-1/4 radius. I prefer the 9-1/4,especially with the vintage string space bridge.
The fingerboard radius on my modest selection of guitars is all over the place. For myself my guitars are like owning different cars/trucks, each has a different purpose that inspires a different way of playing/driving.
A pickup truck would be terrible at Autocross just as a Corvette wouldn't do very well at 2-Tracking, guitars can be similar.
Great content Matthew, thank you.
That Strat sounds lovely in your hands.
Always love your music. I thought you're supposed to put in all the reverb! Have I been doing this wrong? I don't think so! Keep it up!!
I've personally never been a big fan of Reverb but I've also never thought Matthew used too much of it. Honestly I don't even notice it when other people use it. I just notice it when I use it.
I love reverb but always open to trying something different!
@@MatthewScottmusic You should branch out and try Vox and Marshall and those other classic sounds. It would be cool to see you get your hands on some old things like Supro too.
Little Brother don't listen to people like that. If you like what you're doing then it's right. You be you! Don't let them change your tone or the way you play. We like what you're doing. Just keep doing, and everything will be alright.
Your tone sounds more grounded, earthy, then with the reverb. Rock on dude.
Dude... I love reverb and the old 7radius, and high action.. I dig your playing and tone. Do your thing in good health my friend.
Ive been following your channel for a long time and that closing riff was the cleanest in sometime. That should go up there in the top RUclips strat jams on RUclips
I'm sure Fender experimented quite a bit before settling in the 7.25 radius. It always felt right for me and I've owned many 60's strats (re-issues) and also an original '63 Jazzmaster.
Man, I can listen to your slow blues all day!
I have a 7.25 radius 60 NOS Strat and it’s amazing how noticeable that little difference is from the more standard 9.5 radius. Doesn’t bother me at all. After about 5 minutes of playing it, it’s a Strat.
Matt, I love the reverb… love the tone… do you bro!
i enjoy the pace of your videos. i come to these things for information but i find myself having to skip over the playing parts a lot with other ppl. starting and ending with video with music makes it very easy for those who just want a video essay and those that also enjoy the playing
Hey Matthew, you pose a few questions..
1) what adjustments do you think would improve the AVII ‘61? Just a flatter board and bigger frets… anything else?
2) aside from more lead work, what styles does the 9.5 serve? What styles does the 7.25 serve best?
3) how would you describe the difference between ‘59 pickups and ‘61 pickups?
4) what does a V maple inspire that is different than the rosewood boards?
5) what’s your rig for this video (aside from the Wah)?
Thx! (No worries if you don’t catch this and can’t reply)🙏🏽🙏🏽
When I got my fender Vintera Jazzmaster I was worried about the 7.25 radius and how easy it would be to play, but it ended up being perfectly fine after all. Keep doing what you do man🤙
One of the best strats I ever played was the Am Original 50s strat. Top strat of all time for me is (and I’m being completely serious here) my old MiM standard. It’s been updated sure but off the shelf it smoked every other guitar in the shop even with those terrible ceramic pickups. I’ve shot it out with a custom shop and it smoked the custom shop hands down. I’m not saying MiM strats are better, they aren’t, especially those older ones, but this specific one just might be the best strat fender ever built. I’ve played a preCBS strat but couldn’t shoot the two out but honestly, I still put my MiM way on top.
Do some videos on that mim. We want to see 🙈
What year is the Mexican strat? I have a 2006 Fender Classic 50s Strat (MiM) that plays way above its weight class. I have a AVRII 61' in Fiesta Red on the way from FedEx as we speak and I would be surprised if it's better than my Mexican strat.
Got a bunch of american strats and a fender player series .......I love my mim strat
@@NintenDub I'll upload something but this is a song I recorded on it. music.ruclips.net/video/Sx1nHPJ_LF4/видео.html&feature=share
My favourite strats are an '82 Ibanez Blazer and a '95 Tokai. I got a custom shop Strat for my 50th and flogged it to buy a Maton Mastersound. Having said all that, love me a good Jag and no one but Fender have recaptured that particular magic. Great playing BTW.
I’ve owned Strats, or S style guitars, with both types of fretboards, and have used one with the bigger size for years when I was younger, but the Strat I’ve used for 12 years now, has a neck like you describe liking better.
It’s a 1998 American Standard, all factory specs.
It felt like the guitar I’d always looked for, the first time I played it. I bought it from my buddy, and have been able to play several different styles of music easily.
Your tone is who you are. Be you. No matter that I totally dig your sound. But, for a demo, I do like to hear what a guitar sounds like clean.
I just bought a new Fender Pro ii strat last night and still amazes me how cool a guitar it is !
I'm getting an 🇺🇸 professional 2 telecaster Miami Blue 🎸... love it...
So good I bought 2 of em.
I love the 7.25 radius. It makes a strat feel just right to me. Every time I’ve bought a 9.5” radius strat I end up selling it or swapping the neck.
One thing they can change is the dark clay dots. I just don’t like them because they blend in to the fretboard in a dim room.
I JUST GOT ON MY LUNCH BREAK AND THIS VID JUST DROPPED WHAT A FANTASTIC WEDNESDAY
I love the 7.25 and 9.5. To me, the compound radius is the best. Perhaps fender knows that bc those are only available in the custom shop. I previously owned an AVRI ‘65 and found the 7.25 to be great but it did fret out a bit in the higher frets. No big deal, I just played slightly differently and refined my technique. In all, all radius are great and neck shapes too and the differences make me a more well-rounded player (pun intended). I also never judge others for their preferences. All styles and preferences welcome! The more variety the better.
Fender american ultra series has compound radius fret boards
You turned the Reverb off completely, a little reverb is part of that Fender tone that we love. I still have the 60s American Original with the 9.5 radius neck and I play it every day(almost), best version so far of a 60s Fender. I put handwound pickups on it with staggered pole-pieces that matched the 9.5 radius but it is'nt necessary , the Grey bottom pickups they came with are excellent.I would play any Fender Strat that felt right (and have) I had a sb 65 for years and this newer version is more inspiring to play( maybe cos I am doing all the playing in and wear)? Great video, thanks.
Clean sounds of this guitars are amazing.