Hey Justin, Jen here. I loved this video, so heartfelt, and I'm honoured that it's coming to me. No plans of thrashing it yet or just keeping it in storage! I like to be minimal and I'm a one Strat person--one went as this one comes in and is here to stay. I love JM, obviously, but I don't even own a Silver Sky because I don't necessarily want something instantly screams Mayer (to the non-JM obsessed eye, anyway). He's a huge influence so I'd like how this guitar will serve as a base of how I grew and will continue to grow as a guitarist, like how he played his SRV Strat, and how he said he signed it on the back of the headstock so whoever plays it can have their own name all over it. You'll definitely see this guitar again! I'll send you clips and truly do reach out to say hi and/or jam if you are ever visiting out here!!!
I bought mine brand new a week before JM left Fender (for $1200.00 + tax) and it was the last new one available at GC. Though I Respect JM as a musician, I have NEVER liked any of his music. So, to say the least I was more than a little apprehensive about playing one of his sig. guitars. However, that feeling dissipated once this guitar was in my hands. Honestly, If he had anything at all to do with the making of this GUITAR then I applaud him. I have been playing guitar on one stage or another for over 40 years and have been teaching guitar/vocal for 13 years, and in this current price range... I have yet to find this guitars equal. Perhaps I got LUCKY, but for me this is the BEST Fender out of the 20 I own. I have many different types of guitars as well, and still this is my go to guitar for the stage (as well as one other modified 26 year old custom strat). These last few years I have rarely sold any musical equipment I own. BECAUSE 90% OF THE TIME, I WIND UP REGRETTING IT. IMO...I BELIEVE ONE DAY YOU WILL TO! I only wish Fender would keep this level of quality on all there made in the U.S. guitars under 2k. Though many might disagree with me, IMO this guitar has perfect weight, nice pups, an excellent feeling fret board and though it uses many of the same vintage style hardware, mine rarely goes out of tune even with tremolo dive bombs. I have owned and played dozens of custom shop Strats, and I find this guitar to be equal to them in playability, fit and finish. Just my 2 cents worth. Peace.
We've all been there, it was nice to hear your thought process. Your playing sounds really, really good too! Happy to hear you're going to rediscover the joys of playing and practicing too. Good luck and thanks for sharing as always!
It really does seem like you're at peace with the decision, and that's what matters. I got into a JM sig after I purchased a 2019 gloss moc sand brand new. To me, I think the SS has a better sound, but I like the feel of the neck on the JM sig better. I plan to keep both from here on out! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I owned a sunburst JM sig for about 10yrs too. Absolutely loved that guitar. Was my first all American made strat. Such a dream to play. Then left band and didn’t play it for months and months so decided to sell for the cash. Still miss it today and in some ways regret the sale. We make decisions the best we can at the time and I’m believing that better things are coming. All the best for your continuing adventure in guitar playing Justin.
Up to you, but I'm not sure about the logic. I bought a Schecter Strat in the mid-80s for around $500, influenced by Mark Knopfler. It was never my favorite. Too pop sounding. I bought a used Les Paul Custom and Tele, and a new American Standard Strat a little later. Years went buy. During the pandemic, I dive back in to guitar and gear mania. I bought two SS (Rosewood and Maple) and an SE, among other guitars. Over the last month I wanted a guitar I could leave on the sofa in a cold and humid old house to play during football games. I was stunned at how good the Schecter is. Hard to believe it changed. And I've definitely improved. But somehow, the tone is perfect for working on Dead tunes. I'm glad I kept it. I'm old enough to have actually owned vintage instruments before they became vintage. As you say, you can't keep everything. But man, I wish I still had them. Hope you don't regret it. *** I can recommend the Fender Vintage II series enough, based on the mahogany 63 Tele. Can't wait for the 61 and 57 Strats to show up. Though I do agree that playing is more important than gear.
I owned the sunburst model for several years. It had a great sound and just beautiful to look at. I also was hoping to get a white but couldn't pass up on the sunburst as they were out of production. Ultimately I let us go because I found a 62 reissue that had a smaller neck which I preferred. If I every run into a white, I will probably buy and keep for collectors purpose.
my favorite gear channel on youtube. so glad you’ve been able to move on from a piece of your past. it’s about more than the money you get from it. it’s letting go of who you once were. i love that for you. p.s. this is the best playing i’ve seen from you man. you sound fantastic !!!
I’m big on minimalism and only keeping what you need so I understand feeling the need to let stuff go, but damn a former #1 in the arsenal is hard to let go of. I don’t think I’d have pulled the trigger on that when it looks like there are other choices to sell…
I got my white JM start in early 2007. Still have it! But for the last couple of years I’ve been thinking about selling it. Earlier this week i pulled it out of the closet and I’m digging it again!
This is actually my main guitar! It’s such a beautiful instrument, I can imagine it’s really difficult to get rid of it. But at least it’s going to a good home!
Cool getting to see the Sig been played well! Sounding really good. Looking forward to seeing what gear you acquire in the continuing hunt for your sound!
Man! I still have mine. It was my main guitar for a long time. I don’t think I can sell it yet. I’ve connected with the JM SE’s more than SS American versions. Great vid!
Two things Justin 1)A signature guitar is just a guitar with a name on it, like Les Paul or Chet Atkins. When you play it you are still producing your own sound. If I recorded you and John Mayer playing the same riff on the same guitar people would still know who was who or at least would know there was a difference. I look at it this way, unless I want to contact Fender and completely have a guitar built from the ground up, any guitar I get was someones idea of what that guitar should be, even the custom shop. Wasn't that what Mayer did with the Black 1? Spec'd it from the ground up? All the signatures are for the most part, is an artist playing it and saying "Ok, sounds good, slap my name on it" or "Nah, still needs x, change it and send it back to me". If the Mayer signature didn't say "John Mayer" on it and you picked it up off the rack, would it be more your guitar with your sound? Would you have not been as keen to get it if it was just an Olympic White Strat that sounded and played like it did? 2)You will feel it about a week or two after the guitar has been shipped off and it sinks in its not coming back. I've had that happen with a few guitars and a few basses that like you with the Mayer, were just sitting not being played. After awhile it stopped gnawing at me that I didn't have the choice to pick them up and play them, but at first it was a bit unsettling. I never use just time unplayed as a real motivator to move on. I use that plus how it makes me feel when I DO go back and pick it up. For instance, I had this one Schecter that I loved when I got it. The more time went on, the more I realized I had moved on from it because when I did go to play it, I was more interested in putting it down and picking up what replaced it. It just didn't motivate me to play it when I tried. If I had the Mayer signature and it sounded like it did when you picked it up to say goodbye...I would be dreading packing it up. I would have been like "No...there is still something here. We have more to say together". But that's just me. Honestly, I envy your resolve and I look forward to seeing what you come up with that fits in more with your own sound and journey!
I had a first production year shoreline gold w/stripe JM sig, and while it was a great strat for the first few years of my guitar playing, I quickly realized a fatal flaw with those things: the poly finish on so many of them seem super thick. After I'd branched out and played a lot of vintage strats or really just a variety of guitars with different finishes on them, I could really tell how the thick poly finish held back the JM sigs. That said, I have no idea how the production changed or varied over the years, but outside of that, I remember how well the thing played and how great the satin neck felt. A great axe, but damn that finish held it back, IMO.
Hey Justin, sad to see it go I'm sure..but always good to get more into "your" tone chase. I wanted to ask since you're a big John Frusciante fan. Are you big into his solo albums or just strictly RHCP? Was wondering if maybe you'd planned on doing any deep dives within those albums in the future, if so?
It Is alway hard to say goodbye to a old friend. The worst is when you end up regretting it. At least you know you can always get another John Mayer Silver Sky.
I have a the sunburst one and although I don’t play it every week, I hesitate to ever get rid of it because they just don’t make them anymore. That being said, the Silver Sky is great but it’s not the same as a guitar you saved up for and have had for years…
I've sold quite a few guitars over the years, mostly to fund other gear purchases. I always regret selling the sentimental guitars though. I hope Jen is good to it! 😂 I regret selling a DW Craviotto snare drum from the early 2000's, and a super nice Takamine acoustic guitar.
Same thing with me. I regret selling my Black1 1/500 over 10 years ago and only marked it up for $100. Biggest mistake I made. I just bought a JM Signature Strat Sunburst today for $2.7K and I’m keeping it likely forever.
I understand how Justin felt. I have an Olympic White 2017 American Professional I used for the past four years that I considered trading to buy the JM strat but then decided to keep both since they have different vibes. The sunburst has an hard rock look while the olympic white has a more chill vibe.
Nothing personal! But man you have got all this gear and great guitars! Just grab one and play the damn think and make music. Hunting all the magic gear never ends. No one at the campfire cares about all the crazy gear you have at home!
Nothing wrong with gear hunting if you have the money. This type of person informs the rest of us. Some guitarists know exactly what they're looking for, and that's great. Other don't know what their looking for, but listening to someone that has vast experience with different gear helps us figure that out. I can see how some people can get caught up in looking for the holy grail, even if it doesn't exist. The journey is fun and you discover things along the way. And because of that, they don't stop and just appreciate the treasure right in front of them. But, sometimes the treasure is in the hunt, they don't ever want to find that perfect piece of gear, because they'd have to stop looking.
Some guys just go through guitars like they do women. They play them, use them up, and then kick them to the curb when they find something better. No commitment. Sad.
You didn't know a guitar could sound like that!? Until Mayer?!! What about SRV, or Jimi Hendrix!! Jesus u younger kids need help or maybe it's your younger parents who don't know music🤦♂️
Sorry dude… but you’ve made a big mistake!! You should not part with that. Not only are they super rare, worth far more every year, & they sound and feel better than any other strat I own, or have ever played. I’ll never sell mine. It’s in my will that it’ll be cared for in the family forever, and go to whoever is musically inclined, as I was.
@@tunglinchien sorry, but speaking as a luthier, you’re wrong. ‘Sounding like’ John Mayer costs more than the price of his signature strat (which he used in exact configuration to the model sold almost religiously for 6+ years). It costs about $200k to sound like him, because that’s the level of production that he invests in his studio. Your problem with it from what I can see is solved with a setup from someone knows what they’re doing, and can match what you want out of it.
Hey Justin, Jen here. I loved this video, so heartfelt, and I'm honoured that it's coming to me. No plans of thrashing it yet or just keeping it in storage! I like to be minimal and I'm a one Strat person--one went as this one comes in and is here to stay. I love JM, obviously, but I don't even own a Silver Sky because I don't necessarily want something instantly screams Mayer (to the non-JM obsessed eye, anyway). He's a huge influence so I'd like how this guitar will serve as a base of how I grew and will continue to grow as a guitarist, like how he played his SRV Strat, and how he said he signed it on the back of the headstock so whoever plays it can have their own name all over it. You'll definitely see this guitar again! I'll send you clips and truly do reach out to say hi and/or jam if you are ever visiting out here!!!
🙏🏻 I know you will love and and appreciate it just as I did! Super excited for you to get it in your hands!
I have one of those in the vintage sunburst. Your going to love it!!!
I bought mine brand new a week before JM left Fender (for $1200.00 + tax) and it was the last new one available at GC.
Though I Respect JM as a musician, I have NEVER liked any of his music.
So, to say the least I was more than a little apprehensive about playing one of his sig. guitars.
However, that feeling dissipated once this guitar was in my hands. Honestly, If he had anything at all to do with the making of this GUITAR then I applaud him.
I have been playing guitar on one stage or another for over 40 years and have been teaching guitar/vocal for 13 years, and in this current price range... I have yet to find this guitars equal.
Perhaps I got LUCKY, but for me this is the BEST Fender out of the 20 I own.
I have many different types of guitars as well, and still this is my go to guitar for the stage (as well as one other modified 26 year old custom strat).
These last few years I have rarely sold any musical equipment I own.
BECAUSE 90% OF THE TIME, I WIND UP REGRETTING IT. IMO...I BELIEVE ONE DAY YOU WILL TO!
I only wish Fender would keep this level of quality on all there made in the U.S. guitars under 2k.
Though many might disagree with me, IMO this guitar has perfect weight, nice pups, an excellent feeling fret board and though it uses many of the same vintage style hardware, mine rarely goes out of tune even with tremolo dive bombs.
I have owned and played dozens of custom shop Strats, and I find this guitar to be equal to them in playability, fit and finish. Just my 2 cents worth. Peace.
We've all been there, it was nice to hear your thought process. Your playing sounds really, really good too! Happy to hear you're going to rediscover the joys of playing and practicing too. Good luck and thanks for sharing as always!
It really does seem like you're at peace with the decision, and that's what matters. I got into a JM sig after I purchased a 2019 gloss moc sand brand new. To me, I think the SS has a better sound, but I like the feel of the neck on the JM sig better. I plan to keep both from here on out! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Very interesting to hear you elaborate on your guitar journey. :)
surprising to see a John connoisseur to another John connoisseur interaction
I owned a sunburst JM sig for about 10yrs too. Absolutely loved that guitar. Was my first all American made strat. Such a dream to play. Then left band and didn’t play it for months and months so decided to sell for the cash. Still miss it today and in some ways regret the sale. We make decisions the best we can at the time and I’m believing that better things are coming. All the best for your continuing adventure in guitar playing Justin.
Up to you, but I'm not sure about the logic. I bought a Schecter Strat in the mid-80s for around $500, influenced by Mark Knopfler. It was never my favorite. Too pop sounding. I bought a used Les Paul Custom and Tele, and a new American Standard Strat a little later. Years went buy. During the pandemic, I dive back in to guitar and gear mania. I bought two SS (Rosewood and Maple) and an SE, among other guitars. Over the last month I wanted a guitar I could leave on the sofa in a cold and humid old house to play during football games. I was stunned at how good the Schecter is. Hard to believe it changed. And I've definitely improved. But somehow, the tone is perfect for working on Dead tunes. I'm glad I kept it. I'm old enough to have actually owned vintage instruments before they became vintage. As you say, you can't keep everything. But man, I wish I still had them. Hope you don't regret it.
***
I can recommend the Fender Vintage II series enough, based on the mahogany 63 Tele. Can't wait for the 61 and 57 Strats to show up. Though I do agree that playing is more important than gear.
That's an awesome tribute Justin. Strat looks great and you have lots of love for it!
Excited to see what you get and how you grow man!
Thanks brotha 🙏🏻
Your guitar playing has improved so much. That intro sounded great!
The song was "Good love is on the way"
I owned the sunburst model for several years. It had a great sound and just beautiful to look at. I also was hoping to get a white but couldn't pass up on the sunburst as they were out of production. Ultimately I let us go because I found a 62 reissue that had a smaller neck which I preferred. If I every run into a white, I will probably buy and keep for collectors purpose.
my favorite gear channel on youtube. so glad you’ve been able to move on from a piece of your past. it’s about more than the money you get from it. it’s letting go of who you once were. i love that for you.
p.s. this is the best playing i’ve seen from you man. you sound fantastic !!!
Thanks Ethan, thank means a lot 🙏🏻
@@JustinJeske can’t wait to see what’s next my friend❤️
I’m big on minimalism and only keeping what you need so I understand feeling the need to let stuff go, but damn a former #1 in the arsenal is hard to let go of. I don’t think I’d have pulled the trigger on that when it looks like there are other choices to sell…
I got my white JM start in early 2007. Still have it! But for the last couple of years I’ve been thinking about selling it. Earlier this week i pulled it out of the closet and I’m digging it again!
Great vid and great tribute to an important strat! I love my Olympic white jm - my number 1 forever. Good luck on the journey…
Almost sold mine about a year or two ago. So glad I didn't. I sold my SS instead.
Just found your channel recently. Your breakdowns are appreciated! Glad it’s found a good home. You were getting great tones! 🤘
Thank you Jose!!
my first real stratocaster was the ultra I picked up in 2020. love it so much.
This is actually my main guitar! It’s such a beautiful instrument, I can imagine it’s really difficult to get rid of it. But at least it’s going to a good home!
Cool getting to see the Sig been played well! Sounding really good. Looking forward to seeing what gear you acquire in the continuing hunt for your sound!
Man! I still have mine. It was my main guitar for a long time. I don’t think I can sell it yet. I’ve connected with the JM SE’s more than SS American versions. Great vid!
Two things Justin
1)A signature guitar is just a guitar with a name on it, like Les Paul or Chet Atkins. When you play it you are still producing your own sound. If I recorded you and John Mayer playing the same riff on the same guitar people would still know who was who or at least would know there was a difference.
I look at it this way, unless I want to contact Fender and completely have a guitar built from the ground up, any guitar I get was someones idea of what that guitar should be, even the custom shop. Wasn't that what Mayer did with the Black 1? Spec'd it from the ground up? All the signatures are for the most part, is an artist playing it and saying "Ok, sounds good, slap my name on it" or "Nah, still needs x, change it and send it back to me". If the Mayer signature didn't say "John Mayer" on it and you picked it up off the rack, would it be more your guitar with your sound? Would you have not been as keen to get it if it was just an Olympic White Strat that sounded and played like it did?
2)You will feel it about a week or two after the guitar has been shipped off and it sinks in its not coming back. I've had that happen with a few guitars and a few basses that like you with the Mayer, were just sitting not being played. After awhile it stopped gnawing at me that I didn't have the choice to pick them up and play them, but at first it was a bit unsettling.
I never use just time unplayed as a real motivator to move on. I use that plus how it makes me feel when I DO go back and pick it up. For instance, I had this one Schecter that I loved when I got it. The more time went on, the more I realized I had moved on from it because when I did go to play it, I was more interested in putting it down and picking up what replaced it. It just didn't motivate me to play it when I tried.
If I had the Mayer signature and it sounded like it did when you picked it up to say goodbye...I would be dreading packing it up. I would have been like "No...there is still something here. We have more to say together". But that's just me. Honestly, I envy your resolve and I look forward to seeing what you come up with that fits in more with your own sound and journey!
I had a first production year shoreline gold w/stripe JM sig, and while it was a great strat for the first few years of my guitar playing, I quickly realized a fatal flaw with those things: the poly finish on so many of them seem super thick. After I'd branched out and played a lot of vintage strats or really just a variety of guitars with different finishes on them, I could really tell how the thick poly finish held back the JM sigs. That said, I have no idea how the production changed or varied over the years, but outside of that, I remember how well the thing played and how great the satin neck felt. A great axe, but damn that finish held it back, IMO.
Looking forward to seeing what you get next!
The moment you play the A chord I heard John yell "GOOD LOVE"
Man sad to see that one go. Some real good continuum and trio era tones over the years.
For the John Mayer fender Stratocaster does the last tone knob on the guitar control the tone for the bridge pick up?
Hey Justin, sad to see it go I'm sure..but always good to get more into "your" tone chase.
I wanted to ask since you're a big John Frusciante fan. Are you big into his solo albums or just strictly RHCP? Was wondering if maybe you'd planned on doing any deep dives within those albums in the future, if so?
It Is alway hard to say goodbye to a old friend. The worst is when you end up regretting it.
At least you know you can always get another John Mayer Silver Sky.
I have a the sunburst one and although I don’t play it every week, I hesitate to ever get rid of it because they just don’t make them anymore. That being said, the Silver Sky is great but it’s not the same as a guitar you saved up for and have had for years…
Knowing about the chunky neck, will be a problem with small hands?
JJ, Late to the party, but sorry for your loss! 😉
Off topic, how do you find that DC-7, quiet? have you gigged with it? TTM
I only watch your channel for JM stuff but I'd be interested to see you finding what your own sound will be!
How do you have your action set up on your Silver Sky ? Any idea how he uses it?
I've sold quite a few guitars over the years, mostly to fund other gear purchases. I always regret selling the sentimental guitars though. I hope Jen is good to it! 😂
I regret selling a DW Craviotto snare drum from the early 2000's, and a super nice Takamine acoustic guitar.
I just sold a Les Paul Standard that I owned for a lot of years, it hurts, but the reality is that I don’t play it enough.
Damn man, can’t believe you let that Strat go…
Movin on and getting over 😎
My favorite john mayer strat of all time has to be the ‘64 strat. This one is beautiful too. I’m sure it’s going to a great home.
Can you please do a video explaining how Ariel used your rig :-)
I’m saving mine to sell years from now
If you are selling it due to money. Yes, sell it. If not, don’t sell it. Sentimental value is more important.
I’m the fella he sold the nebula to. She is my child and she’s in good hands over here
Love that 🙏🏻
You are crazy to get rid of a guitar that’s not even in production any more.
guitar players are guitarded
Don’t underestimate rate yourself, Justin. You are an amazing playing and I think we all want to see you play more!
Thank you Klay 🙏🏻
i regret selling my 1/500 black1 for what i paid for it over 10 years ago
Same thing with me. I regret selling my Black1 1/500 over 10 years ago and only marked it up for $100. Biggest mistake I made. I just bought a JM Signature Strat Sunburst today for $2.7K and I’m keeping it likely forever.
I understand how Justin felt. I have an Olympic White 2017 American Professional I used for the past four years that I considered trading to buy the JM strat but then decided to keep both since they have different vibes. The sunburst has an hard rock look while the olympic white has a more chill vibe.
@@melaserranoI just bought a Olympic white Mayer for 2.8 😅😅. I've sworn to never sell another guitar again. But yeah the black1 stings 😢
I'm 2:00:00 in and can guarantee he'll call it iconic.....
Ahhh, I lost....
Nothing personal! But man you have got all this gear and great guitars! Just grab one and play the damn think and make music. Hunting all the magic gear never ends. No one at the campfire cares about all the crazy gear you have at home!
Being a gear head is a addiction, I’ve been there
Nothing wrong with gear hunting if you have the money. This type of person informs the rest of us. Some guitarists know exactly what they're looking for, and that's great. Other don't know what their looking for, but listening to someone that has vast experience with different gear helps us figure that out.
I can see how some people can get caught up in looking for the holy grail, even if it doesn't exist. The journey is fun and you discover things along the way. And because of that, they don't stop and just appreciate the treasure right in front of them. But, sometimes the treasure is in the hunt, they don't ever want to find that perfect piece of gear, because they'd have to stop looking.
better him than me 😂
@@itsalwayssomething7490 Very well said.
Some guys just go through guitars like they do women. They play them, use them up, and then kick them to the curb when they find something better. No commitment. Sad.
WpW! You had hair
DONT SELL IT!!!!! YOULL REGRET IT!
Silver sky's are lame lol it's like the Tesla of guitar world🤢 wouldn't take one for free
You didn't know a guitar could sound like that!? Until Mayer?!! What about SRV, or Jimi Hendrix!! Jesus u younger kids need help or maybe it's your younger parents who don't know music🤦♂️
Sorry dude… but you’ve made a big mistake!! You should not part with that. Not only are they super rare, worth far more every year, & they sound and feel better than any other strat I own, or have ever played.
I’ll never sell mine. It’s in my will that it’ll be cared for in the family forever, and go to whoever is musically inclined, as I was.
@@tunglinchien sorry, but speaking as a luthier, you’re wrong. ‘Sounding like’ John Mayer costs more than the price of his signature strat (which he used in exact configuration to the model sold almost religiously for 6+ years). It costs about $200k to sound like him, because that’s the level of production that he invests in his studio.
Your problem with it from what I can see is solved with a setup from someone knows what they’re doing, and can match what you want out of it.
Yeah….get rid of it….John Mayer? Nope.
Oh yes, this guy is back! Whatever you say boss 🫡