Listening to your fab playing through my ipad...i honestly cannot hear any difference. Now... My hearing isn't great due to decades of ridiculously loud gigs and also I'm listening to it through the tiny speaker on this computer. So maybe if I was there hearing it as you played I may be able to hear anything different. But... I can only speak as I hear. They both sound fantastic and your playing is great.
@@bodyblow ; Hmmmmm..., weird! Every time I pick up a guitar with a JB humbucker in the bridge position I miraculously sound like Jeff Beck! Isn’t it amaaaazing?!?!
I have an 03 Highway One. Love the look of it. NEVER loved the pickups and the entire bridge/trem went to hell a couple of years ago. But it is my guitar and it is the only one that FEELS like mine.
Forget about 62 strat. I just compered all your jam's with most famous guitar solos, and guitar players and came to 1 conclusion. You are my favorite guitar player that ever walked on this planet. D. Gilmoure is close second. If you have Radio and TV time that was available to musicians before you, 20 years from now , people would talk about you as they talk today about, Clapton, Gilmoure, Handrix .etc.
Funny you mention David Gilmour. I always hear something from Gilmour when I listen Chris Buck playing. Chris has developed his own “voice” as a guitarist (what is the ultimate goal for those who play), but there is always some “Gilmourism” in his playing. A very good influence, btw.
The Highway One sounds great, but yeah, there is just something about that '62. It's somehow more subtle. It's a rounder sound but still has a sparkle. It is like magic.
The AV poles were a softer/weaker formula until I believe '74 when they started making flat pole pickups. That's all it is. I doubt the FB is Braz RW. It was banned in '59, but Fender still had some stock. It would generally produce a brighter tone like Pau Ferro.
They sound pretty much exactly the same... both sound amazing with Chris playing..yet another shootout that proves yet again, its 95% fingers 5% guitar.
I found the difference to be quite noticeable but both are good. As for "the tone is in your hands" that's only part of the equation. The guitar (and all it's components) and amp (as well as cables, pedals, components, etc) are just as significant, and the amp is probably the most important. A good guitar player can sound great on a Squier through a good amp but a crap amp is going to be a crap amp.
@@18hot30 it’s easy to dismiss but I do think that the lion’s share of tone is in the player not the gear. A decent player will still sound like themselves on cheaper or different gear, whereas a poor player isn’t really all that enhanced by decent gear.
@@mattflickinger8151 low mids are more present making the 62 sound warmer. It sounds a little more resonant than the hwy one. Not sure it’s worth the difference in price...
When I get home from work every Friday, without fail, I watch Friday Fretworks before anything else. I'm always entertained but honestly, I look forward to what you play the most.
I know what you mean when you say there's a 'complexity' in the 62's sound. It's slightly darker at first listen but there's all sorts of lovely overtones floating around. That said, I absolutely love your ID:CB pickups in my 2006 Standard. They transformed that guitar. Also, that outro 'JAM' is mindblowing.
62 has a warmth and slight natural compression that only vintage strats seem to have - yours reminded me of my Dads 63 strat. They both sound great tho!
Every Friday about 10AM US Mountain time, I remember, "Hey, its time to hear me some Friday Fretworks!!" Congrats on the #5 landing, we were pulling for ya. Have a great weekend. Merry Christmas to you, your family, to all the FF team and all your subscribers and supporters. May you all live to strum another power chord.
I get the Highway One sound, The clarity and crispness without being harsh is def killer.The slightly "thinner" tone really comes through with the softer notes and still has an awesome bluesy depth. (both of which you seem to like) And yet that '62 on the detailed stuff is outstanding. I thought it tended to be a little muddy on some of the heavy chords you played at the beginning of the vid. Other than that though, '62's a winner.
Chris, I've owned a bunch of old Strats -- I'm 77 and played for a living for many years. I have never had a problem owning a veneer board Strat or Tele. When I was your age, an old hand told me the veneers sounded better because it was the maple neck that generated the tone and the slabs tended to muffle the tone and the sustain. You can believe as you wish but I think the old guy was onto something. Always a big thanks for your shows and your chops. Tommy Quinn, Celt through and through, Irish, Welsh and Scots...
Yes, they both sound great. But when the video started I didn't know which was which and the 62 was my clear favorite. The attack is sharper, the sustain is clearly better, and I just find it more engaging all around. The Highway One sounds sterile and flat by comparison. Awesome outro, BTW! I just discovered you through the Paul Davids challenge thing and am very impressed and now a subscriber.
the 62 is clearer. You particularly hear it when Chris hits those fat chords clusters, the 62 keeps definition and harmony whereas the highway one starts to cave a bit. The highway one is still killer but you can definitely notice it and thats a small thing that makes a difference imo
I was most interested in the way you felt about playing them and how you felt about they way they responded to you physically and sonically. THAT'S the part that's intriguing, not the tones which you can just A/B and take your pick what you like as a listener. I like to hear what the player likes and why they like to play this guitar over that one.
To a 55 yr old man who putts around trying to learn tunes off YT , I like the highway..It sounds crisper , sharper..The 62 has that great blended sound but I have to give to the highway..I love your stuff , and enjoy watching your vids and hearing you play.. Peace
The highway one is indeed great but there’s something special about that ‘62. Vintage guitars seem to have a certain resonance that only comes with age.
The 62 has that throaty woody bite that makes it sit in the mix so perfectly. Wow what a guitar. On the other side... that Highway One is crazy good and will nog limit in player in the real guitar playing world. Cool video!
I'm honestly a little shocked at how good that 62 sounds. They both sound great for sure and the diff can be subtle, however the subtleties are what differentiate a good/great guitar from the cream of the crop rare elite guitars. This 62 example is, for me a cream of the crop example. That's one for the greatest guitar tone examples I have heard. It takes a truly great player to be able to reveal those subtleties, so thanks so much for doing this. Love this video!
Fender used a softer/weaker AV formula for the poles until I believe '74 when they started making flat radius pickups. That's why players don't like late 70s Strat tone as much. Same is true of the Radiolab CB signature set. They have a harder attack sound and a more nasal quality due to how increased string pull affects the string harmonics. They claim the unpotted core somehow affects dynamics. No, but there might be some random resonances that slightly add or subtract freqs depending on the phase relationship with the string vibrations. Not sure that's a desirable thing, but it can be used to rationalize excess cost. Dynamics is determined by coil density and pickup height. Thinner wire coils have increased dynamic sensitivity.
@@kennyp2531 '74 is a calculated guess of when Fender got different AV. Maybe it coincided with a later change, but I don't think it was b4 then. Fender may not have record or admit to it.
This is not a testament to how good these guitars are, but how good a player you are. I hope you're not tired of hearing/seeing this, but you've earned it time and again. I've owned a May '62 Strat for a few decades. The fingerboard is the short-lived thick curve, a transition from the slab board and the "veneer" board. I've also owned six other Strats, none of them older than 1990. When I got them, they were all carefully and painfully selected from many dozens of others and were/are all very good. I still have three of them, but the '62... well, like your's, it's just magic. I don't know why or how this is, but it definitely is both in feel and sound. Both guitars sounded great but I attribute that to your playing more than to anything else. I'm very interested in purchasing your signature pickups and, damn' it, I will!
Thankfully I can't tell the difference. I've got enough OCD issues in my life without having to deal with my love of music. Another great Friday evening thanks to Chris.
Their small differences in tone don't matter too much, it's how it feels in the players hands and if one guitar gives the player a little more back then we as the audience get that little extra in return. Chris Buck can make anything sound great.
They both sound great, they both sound like a strat, seem to have a comparable output, yet each one with its own character. Most importantly, Chris sure knows how to make them both sing beautifully. Congrats on your achievements Chris!
Standing here, having just written that modern guitars have to be better,the '62 is way warmer, fuller sounding and more expressive than the Highway One....(busy eating Humble Pie, if not jamming with them)
Enjoyed your video as always. Both sound terrific. I'm currently playing a Les Paul but throughout my career I've played three American made Strats. The first one was a 72 sunburst maple fretboard and I hated it however I acquired a 64 Olympic white Strat through a friend of mine for 125 dollars, this was in 1975. It needed a refretting and I found a guy in York, Pennsylvania that refretted it with Les Paul Jr frets and a new nut. Played through a blackface Fender pro reverb bought shortly after. Best rig ever. I also had a 1984 Fender Strat that I swapped the pickups for Seymour Duncan alnico pro ll's that sounded terrific through my 83 Mesa Boogie mark ll. All and all I personally like the 62 once again. Im not familiar with the neck profile on a 62 but the necks on a 63 and 64 were the best for me.
Cracking channel and playing and you are so elaborate. The level of language you display is a pure joy to listen to. As a non native speaker I frequently recommend your channel to others as a ressource for learning. Now on topic: '62 wins for me. That increased bass resonance is just what I like in a Strat tone. Doesn't sound like something you couldn't dial in for the Highway though.
I felt the 62' had a twinge of a deep whistling resonance that I didn't hear in the 2004 - but they both sounded wonderful - I just wish I could play like you.
@@ModManJam My MIM is a 2015 model, so it already have a big trem block. I replaced the standard pickups for a Pure Vintage 59 set and put a set of 5 vintage springs on the trem. Sound good.
Damn you! I always thought my 2002 Highway One was nitro :-O Lovely playing mate, doesn't matter what guitar you're playing, it all sounds sublime, rarely have I been so moved by another player...I have a stock '64 Strat, a Highway One and a whole bunch of others, and your videos prove to me (a player of 43 years) that it's in your fingers!
Chris! I am a massive fan, and have been for so long, would love to find out more about a signature model or something similar? Please say more in the next video so I can start saving my pennies :) Thank you and congrats on 5th place! You had my vote!
I believe the tones are very similar. The 62 has an edge in timbres and the ring of sustain. The bridge pickup seems to have a tiny bit more treble, could be the wiring. It is so little that it could just be the broken pot on the Hiway 1 - ha! :)
The 62 seems to have a bit more clarity and note definition, but I can see that the pickups are adjusted higher than on the Hwy 1, so that may have something to do with it.
I bought a ticket to the show but couldn't catch it live. I watched the replay though and really enjoyed it. I live in the southern USA so I'd probably never get to catch a real live show anyway. P.S. I watched the show while driving to increase my adrenaline and feel the show more. Worked great 👍🏾
The 62 has a slight 'woody' deep mids thst sound lovely, whilst the HW1 has a chime in the top thats beautiful and cut through mix. As much as I would love the 62 for mist of us mere mortals just shows you can use a cheaper Fender and be reasured its bloody good. Thanks for sharing. Diolch o galon Chris. Da iawn. 😎
At first I couldn't hear much difference but as Chris played on, the highway has a bit more spank, it's brighter and the notes are more articulated - sounds great. But the 62 is a more full / complete tone, like it's the perfect vintage tone. Definitely more subtle, not as articulated, but the warmth in contrast to the spankiness is so perfect it just brings it home. Great video
I have an old highway one strat with the Nitro finish that I am planning to update. I think I have found the new pickups that are going into it ! All I need now is the talent that lives in your fingers !
I played for 25 years, mainly strats.. I think that we can say that vintage strats and cs reissues usually sound more open, less compressed and have a wider spectrum oh harmonics then modern strats. Of course with upgrades you can obtain both flavors. This has been said, the magic with strats is that you never play 2 that sound or feel exactly the same.. which is by the way a great commercial argument to push you own and buy and many of them :) . By the way, awesome playing and feel. Keep on rocking ! Cheers
Regarding the Highway One finish, I have a 2003 one. It appears to have a thin satin nitro finish over a clear poly base coat. The thin top coat wears off really easily, it looks more reliced from normal playing than my reliced Custom Shop Strats
Hi Chris, I'm new to the channel. Congratulations on the videos. I started playing strato a short time ago. I'm loving it. I've always played guitar with humbukers pickups.
Both sound beautiful in your hands. Cleans to me are awesome on the 62. The 'Strattiness' in the drive sounds is better to me with the H1. I'm guessing that this is part of the type of warm full drive sound you chose. In the end, if it feels good, then it's all good... Tnx Chris, keep up the Fretworks and stay safe
Oh man... both have a Strat sweetness about them. I think, and maybe it’s just me, but I heard a slightly sweeter sustained ring and warmth out of the 62’. The Highway a more modern twang that many of us look for in a Strat. Both sounded priceless behind your masterful bends though....
Thats mad, about 10 years ago I sold a les paul to a guy, he was really friendly and I ended up playing on his other guitars and he showed me the pickups he'd been making and was going into business selling them, they were good!. Radioshack pickups happened to be the name and now I'm Watching this and see them on your guitar.
Superb as always; both guitars sound amazing, but I think the Radioshop p/ups in the Highway 1 have my vote - they are a little more defined, while the '62 sounds more rounded. Great video.
The fact that there is no clear favorite is a testament to how good your signature pickups are. In this video, your pickups sound livelier and clearer than the 62. That’s why I bought your pickups Chris. 😉
They both have a wonderful tone but different characters - the deep resonance of the Highway one and the forensic highs of the '62 - they are both fantastic instruments. Congratulations on your Music Radar poll result! Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
The sunburst tone is more sparkling clean. Your signature pickups are probably the biggest attribute, if you dropped those pickups into the 62 fiesta red, that would be a nice comparison.
I have a 62 strat Black I have had it since 71 and your right there is something about them maybe the wood that give it that distinctive tone I dont know but I love it .funny enough mine is July 62 as well
Fascinating! This was such a fun comparison. I tell you what, I really notice a big difference in the bridge pickups especially. Probably because of the metal baseplate on your Radioshop pickups, the Highway 1 has more ability to cut and is more punchy in the bridge. I know those are arbitrary terms, but for an all-around workhorse, I’d have to choose the Highway 1 over the ‘62. I will say, though, that the ‘62 had a special harmonic quality to it. Each sustained note, especially, I heard a distinctive harmonic ring that was, as you said, magical. For me, in the end, it came down to: “Which tones gave me Guitar Player Face Winces?” And every time it was the Highway 1. I responded, at a gut level, in my soul, to the sounds out of the in-between positions on the Highway 1. So, again, that’s where I’d put my money. I would be interested to hear the ‘62 with your Radioshop pickups loaded up. That could be something really special. Sacrilegious, maybe, to change the stock pickups, but could be worth it!
I see you deck your tremelos. A man after my own heart! I never really figured out how to get the best from one....and I've tried over the past 50 years. I now have an '85 Japanese Strat with well modded pickguard, I just refretted the skinny end, but left the Gotohs alone. I keep the trem arm in a drawer out of respect to Leo. One day I'll work out what to do with it!
Child please! That 62 is absolutely ridiculous. I couldn't believe the difference in sound when that picture switched quickly. I LOVE the Highway One Strats too though and the neck profile on those were awesome to me.
Honestly, when I'm listening to your playing, I pay more attention to your phrasing and picking technique than to the tonal differences between the guitars... ;) Both sound great to me, anyway... Thanks so much for sharing, and best regards.
Both sound great, just different. I preferred some pickup selections on the 62 and some on the highway one. As you alluded to, often what sounds great plugged into an amp at home doesn’t sit well dynamically in a live band mix or on a recording in the studio. So it’s nice to have the option of different guitars with different pickups.
Both sounds absolutely fantastic in my opinion, Thinking the creamy warmth of '62 comes with the pups. U have a great copy of the highway one and your signature pickups sounds awesome. Footnote: they were played by one of the best GP ever... And I've seen/heard many...
Played a '62 sunburst rosewood board Strat a few years back, and it sounded surprisingly warmer than the guy's early 2000s Custom Shop version he also had.
I have a refinished 62 Fiesta Red Strat too, with a similarly butchered pickguard. I'm not sure what it is about it... whether it's in my ears, my fingers or my mind... but whatever, it's on a different level for me. After nearly 60 years it has decades of playing and improvement behind it... and with that comes a personality all of its own. I have a reverence for that and it definitely influences me when I pick it up.
‘62 all the way! It has a warmer tone with rich harmonic overtones. As much as I love your 04 I have to say it sounded harsh side-by-side with the 62. As always, great video!
So...my ‘62 or my Highway One? Which do you prefer? 🤔
The Highway 1, by a whisker. I wouldn't kick either out of bed though!
I honestly couldn't pick a favorite. I was too distracted by your amazing playing.
Hwy 1
62 clearly, but they are surprisingly similar, esp. with the double stops.
Listening to your fab playing through my ipad...i honestly cannot hear any difference. Now... My hearing isn't great due to decades of ridiculously loud gigs and also I'm listening to it through the tiny speaker on this computer. So maybe if I was there hearing it as you played I may be able to hear anything different. But... I can only speak as I hear.
They both sound fantastic and your playing is great.
important to note that this guy could make a shoe box with rubber bands sound better than I could make a 62 strat sound. great playing sir.
Chris, you could literally make a triangle sound like a 62 Strat.
Yep !
*Little wing plays*
Golfers have their handicaps, guitar players too. Playing your best is good enough, don’t have to bow down to better players, it chokes your style..
This very funny
Don't encourage him. Although Dave Simpson pretty much done it already.
If anything, I'd say this video is just a testament to how good Fender still is.
Having said that, I have the slightest preference for the 62
I'd give more credit to Radioshop pickups than Fender for his HWY1's tone.
If anything, I'd say this video is a testament to how good Radioshop pickups are.
Ive got those pickups! But they don't sound like that YET🤣
@@bodyblow ; Hmmmmm..., weird! Every time I pick up a guitar with a JB humbucker in the bridge position I miraculously sound like Jeff Beck!
Isn’t it amaaaazing?!?!
Congrats on 5th in the Music Radar poll. Your channel is my favourite discovery of 2020. Your playing is absolutely incredible!
God, that Highway One sounds fantastic.
Came across a forum thread a few days ago blaming you for the price of Highway 1 Strats going up. I think they were right 😂
Definetely him and Cory Wong are both the reason for this
Just shows that it's the player, Highway 1s didn't suddenly improve.🤐
@@markknight6445 People are just realising how good they are. So many snobs have dismissed them in the past.
They actually did. Two years before you could find a mint one on the price range 500-650€ and now they re about 650 -850€
I have an 03 Highway One. Love the look of it. NEVER loved the pickups and the entire bridge/trem went to hell a couple of years ago. But it is my guitar and it is the only one that FEELS like mine.
Forget about 62 strat. I just compered all your jam's with most famous guitar solos, and guitar players and came to 1 conclusion. You are my favorite guitar player that ever walked on this planet. D. Gilmoure is close second. If you have Radio and TV time that was available to musicians before you, 20 years from now , people would talk about you as they talk today about, Clapton, Gilmoure, Handrix .etc.
Agree with every word. I hope i am around in 20 years time with his 'best of' album............
Oh get a life...
And if the popular genres hadn't shifted away from rock and blues into pop and hip hop
Funny you mention David Gilmour. I always hear something from Gilmour when I listen Chris Buck playing. Chris has developed his own “voice” as a guitarist (what is the ultimate goal for those who play), but there is always some “Gilmourism” in his playing. A very good influence, btw.
The Highway One sounds great, but yeah, there is just something about that '62. It's somehow more subtle. It's a rounder sound but still has a sparkle. It is like magic.
Its magic
The AV poles were a softer/weaker formula until I believe '74 when they started making flat pole pickups. That's all it is. I doubt the FB is Braz RW. It was banned in '59, but Fender still had some stock. It would generally produce a brighter tone like Pau Ferro.
They sound pretty much exactly the same... both sound amazing with Chris playing..yet another shootout that proves yet again, its 95% fingers 5% guitar.
I dare say 95% fingers, 4% amp, 1% guitar.
@@ruybal34 fair point
Yes I thought so too, no huge differences, I guess the 62 would feel different to play with the different neck radius.
I found the difference to be quite noticeable but both are good. As for "the tone is in your hands" that's only part of the equation. The guitar (and all it's components) and amp (as well as cables, pedals, components, etc) are just as significant, and the amp is probably the most important. A good guitar player can sound great on a Squier through a good amp but a crap amp is going to be a crap amp.
As its often said tone is in the fingers. Friday Fretworks is the best.
Cheers Chris
and it's said wrong tbh. part of the tone sure, the attack and some nuances otherwise when distortion kicks in... it's the gear
@@18hot30 Agreed 100% good gear absolutely makes a difference, but a shit guitarist will always sounds shit no matter the kit.
@@18hot30 it’s easy to dismiss but I do think that the lion’s share of tone is in the player not the gear. A decent player will still sound like themselves on cheaper or different gear, whereas a poor player isn’t really all that enhanced by decent gear.
The red strat is my fave here..sounded warmer ..seriously Chris..every guitars you touch will sound amazingly lol...cheers
Possibly more mid-range in the H1?
@@mattflickinger8151 low mids are more present making the 62 sound warmer. It sounds a little more resonant than the hwy one. Not sure it’s worth the difference in price...
@@jonbalmer probably not worth the price difference but reddefinitely seems to have more sustain and less harshness, maybe a pickup difference?
@@jonbalmer probably not worth the price difference but reddefinitely seems to have more sustain and less harshness, maybe a pickup difference?
That "warmth" you can get by rolling the tone back a quarter turn. Seriously.
This is the perfect showing of what a great guitar player can do with any guitar regardless of value, pickups, or amplifier. Truly spectacular.
The playing is just mesmerising. Insane.
The 62 is warm and cozy sounding!
When I get home from work every Friday, without fail, I watch Friday Fretworks before anything else. I'm always entertained but honestly, I look forward to what you play the most.
I know what you mean when you say there's a 'complexity' in the 62's sound. It's slightly darker at first listen but there's all sorts of lovely overtones floating around. That said, I absolutely love your ID:CB pickups in my 2006 Standard. They transformed that guitar. Also, that outro 'JAM' is mindblowing.
62 has a warmth and slight natural compression that only vintage strats seem to have - yours reminded me of my Dads 63 strat. They both sound great tho!
Every Friday about 10AM US Mountain time, I remember, "Hey, its time to hear me some Friday Fretworks!!" Congrats on the #5 landing, we were pulling for ya. Have a great weekend. Merry Christmas to you, your family, to all the FF team and all your subscribers and supporters. May you all live to strum another power chord.
I get the Highway One sound, The clarity and crispness without being harsh is def killer.The slightly "thinner" tone really comes through with the softer notes and still has an awesome bluesy depth. (both of which you seem to like) And yet that '62 on the detailed stuff is outstanding. I thought it tended to be a little muddy on some of the heavy chords you played at the beginning of the vid. Other than that though, '62's a winner.
The best dynamic and feel of Guitar player! Awesome chris buck!
Can't wait until all these amazing intro jams make it to an album I can buy 😉
Chris, I've owned a bunch of old Strats -- I'm 77 and played for a living for many years. I have never had a problem owning a veneer board Strat or Tele. When I was your age, an old hand told me the veneers sounded better because it was the maple neck that generated the tone and the slabs tended to muffle the tone and the sustain. You can believe as you wish but I think the old guy was onto something. Always a big thanks for your shows and your chops. Tommy Quinn, Celt through and through, Irish, Welsh and Scots...
Yes, they both sound great. But when the video started I didn't know which was which and the 62 was my clear favorite. The attack is sharper, the sustain is clearly better, and I just find it more engaging all around. The Highway One sounds sterile and flat by comparison. Awesome outro, BTW! I just discovered you through the Paul Davids challenge thing and am very impressed and now a subscriber.
Must come down to feel - cause soundwise they are very close. And feel and inspiration is important 😎
the 62 is clearer. You particularly hear it when Chris hits those fat chords clusters, the 62 keeps definition and harmony whereas the highway one starts to cave a bit. The highway one is still killer but you can definitely notice it and thats a small thing that makes a difference imo
That opening solo was/is so incredibly inspiring to watch. Ty
I was most interested in the way you felt about playing them and how you felt about they way they responded to you physically and sonically. THAT'S the part that's intriguing, not the tones which you can just A/B and take your pick what you like as a listener. I like to hear what the player likes and why they like to play this guitar over that one.
To a 55 yr old man who putts around trying to learn tunes off YT , I like the highway..It sounds crisper , sharper..The 62 has that great blended sound but I have to give to the highway..I love your stuff , and enjoy watching your vids and hearing you play.. Peace
The highway one is indeed great but there’s something special about that ‘62. Vintage guitars seem to have a certain resonance that only comes with age.
Just sounded a little darker overall to my ears.
The 62 has that throaty woody bite that makes it sit in the mix so perfectly. Wow what a guitar. On the other side... that Highway One is crazy good and will nog limit in player in the real guitar playing world. Cool video!
I'm honestly a little shocked at how good that 62 sounds. They both sound great for sure and the diff can be subtle, however the subtleties are what differentiate a good/great guitar from the cream of the crop rare elite guitars. This 62 example is, for me a cream of the crop example. That's one for the greatest guitar tone examples I have heard. It takes a truly great player to be able to reveal those subtleties, so thanks so much for doing this. Love this video!
Fender used a softer/weaker AV formula for the poles until I believe '74 when they started making flat radius pickups. That's why players don't like late 70s Strat tone as much. Same is true of the Radiolab CB signature set. They have a harder attack sound and a more nasal quality due to how increased string pull affects the string harmonics. They claim the unpotted core somehow affects dynamics. No, but there might be some random resonances that slightly add or subtract freqs depending on the phase relationship with the string vibrations. Not sure that's a desirable thing, but it can be used to rationalize excess cost. Dynamics is determined by coil density and pickup height. Thinner wire coils have increased dynamic sensitivity.
@@GCKelloch Thx for the great info!
@@kennyp2531 '74 is a calculated guess of when Fender got different AV. Maybe it coincided with a later change, but I don't think it was b4 then. Fender may not have record or admit to it.
That outro was cherry Chris, keep it up and happy holidays!
Yea, that outro was something. No wonder he played it on the fiesta.
This is not a testament to how good these guitars are, but how good a player you are. I hope you're not tired of hearing/seeing this, but you've earned it time and again.
I've owned a May '62 Strat for a few decades. The fingerboard is the short-lived thick curve, a transition from the slab board and the "veneer" board. I've also owned six other Strats, none of them older than 1990. When I got them, they were all carefully and painfully selected from many dozens of others and were/are all very good. I still have three of them, but the '62... well, like your's, it's just magic. I don't know why or how this is, but it definitely is both in feel and sound.
Both guitars sounded great but I attribute that to your playing more than to anything else. I'm very interested in purchasing your signature pickups and, damn' it, I will!
Thanks for the video. Please keep me coming. It food for thought and a inspiration for us all.
You just proved that indeed, it’s in the fingers!
hopefully the chris buck Christmas means the announcement of his signature revstar model with yamaha 😁
Signature reissue of the Highway One and a Relic '62 reissue.
Where do I place my order?!?
Will it have P90s?
@@Bob.W. his does so I sure hope so!
Thankfully I can't tell the difference. I've got enough OCD issues in my life without having to deal with my love of music. Another great Friday evening thanks to Chris.
I really enjoyed that, cheers Chris!
Their small differences in tone don't matter too much, it's how it feels in the players hands and if one guitar gives the player a little more back then we as the audience get that little extra in return. Chris Buck can make anything sound great.
one of the best solos I've ever heard in my life. Awesome!
They both sound great, they both sound like a strat, seem to have a comparable output, yet each one with its own character.
Most importantly, Chris sure knows how to make them both sing beautifully.
Congrats on your achievements Chris!
What a cool sound and tone dude, amazing.
Sorry if it’s sacrilegious, but I prefer the tone of the highway one.
How dare you discredit the vintage market.
They sound the same
Deen Ween's been playing his red '62 Strat forever; that is one loved instrument.
I agree that they both sound really good!
The clarity and tone on that '62 is unparalleled, and as Paul Davids has proven... if you want a million subs, you gotta have a red strat! =]
Standing here, having just written that modern guitars have to be better,the '62 is way warmer, fuller sounding and more expressive than the Highway One....(busy eating Humble Pie, if not jamming with them)
Enjoyed your video as always. Both sound terrific. I'm currently playing a Les Paul but throughout my career I've played three American made Strats. The first one was a 72 sunburst maple fretboard and I hated it however I acquired a 64 Olympic white Strat through a friend of mine for 125 dollars, this was in 1975. It needed a refretting and I found a guy in York, Pennsylvania that refretted it with Les Paul Jr frets and a new nut. Played through a blackface Fender pro reverb bought shortly after. Best rig ever. I also had a 1984 Fender Strat that I swapped the pickups for Seymour Duncan alnico pro ll's that sounded terrific through my 83 Mesa Boogie mark ll. All and all I personally like the 62 once again. Im not familiar with the neck profile on a 62 but the necks on a 63 and 64 were the best for me.
Cracking channel and playing and you are so elaborate. The level of language you display is a pure joy to listen to. As a non native speaker I frequently recommend your channel to others as a ressource for learning.
Now on topic: '62 wins for me. That increased bass resonance is just what I like in a Strat tone. Doesn't sound like something you couldn't dial in for the Highway though.
That was amazing Chris. Thanks so much!
I felt the 62' had a twinge of a deep whistling resonance that I didn't hear in the 2004 - but they both sounded wonderful - I just wish I could play like you.
A cheap fender with some upgrades sounding like a Custom Shop has no price. I love my modified MIM like you love your Highway One.
Played a 100 gigs on an upgraded mim jazz. No one in the audience seemed to care. :)
What upgrades have you made?
@@ModManJam My MIM is a 2015 model, so it already have a big trem block. I replaced the standard pickups for a Pure Vintage 59 set and put a set of 5 vintage springs on the trem. Sound good.
Same here I bought mine for $200 but bought some sick pickups and sure enough Fender still sells the same thing for $1200
@@viniciusgusmao796 thank you mate
Damn you! I always thought my 2002 Highway One was nitro :-O Lovely playing mate, doesn't matter what guitar you're playing, it all sounds sublime, rarely have I been so moved by another player...I have a stock '64 Strat, a Highway One and a whole bunch of others, and your videos prove to me (a player of 43 years) that it's in your fingers!
Chris! I am a massive fan, and have been for so long, would love to find out more about a signature model or something similar? Please say more in the next video so I can start saving my pennies :) Thank you and congrats on 5th place! You had my vote!
I believe the tones are very similar. The 62 has an edge in timbres and the ring of sustain. The bridge pickup seems to have a tiny bit more treble, could be the wiring. It is so little that it could just be the broken pot on the Hiway 1 - ha! :)
I’ve got those radio shop CB’s in my American standard and it sounds absolutely INCREDIBLE
The 62 seems to have a bit more clarity and note definition, but I can see that the pickups are adjusted higher than on the Hwy 1, so that may have something to do with it.
Probably my favorite you've done.
I bought a ticket to the show but couldn't catch it live. I watched the replay though and really enjoyed it. I live in the southern USA so I'd probably never get to catch a real live show anyway.
P.S. I watched the show while driving to increase my adrenaline and feel the show more. Worked great 👍🏾
When somebody plays like that, it doesn't matter what guitar it is...
The 62 has a slight 'woody' deep mids thst sound lovely, whilst the HW1 has a chime in the top thats beautiful and cut through mix. As much as I would love the 62 for mist of us mere mortals just shows you can use a cheaper Fender and be reasured its bloody good. Thanks for sharing. Diolch o galon Chris. Da iawn. 😎
The Highway One totally held its own. Well done!
At first I couldn't hear much difference but as Chris played on, the highway has a bit more spank, it's brighter and the notes are more articulated - sounds great. But the 62 is a more full / complete tone, like it's the perfect vintage tone. Definitely more subtle, not as articulated, but the warmth in contrast to the spankiness is so perfect it just brings it home. Great video
I have an old highway one strat with the Nitro finish that I am planning to update. I think I have found the new pickups that are going into it ! All I need now is the talent that lives in your fingers !
I played for 25 years, mainly strats.. I think that we can say that vintage strats and cs reissues usually sound more open, less compressed and have a wider spectrum oh harmonics then modern strats. Of course with upgrades you can obtain both flavors. This has been said, the magic with strats is that you never play 2 that sound or feel exactly the same.. which is by the way a great commercial argument to push you own and buy and many of them :) . By the way, awesome playing and feel. Keep on rocking ! Cheers
Love your playing!🎸🔥🎸🔥🎸🔥🎸
both sound great and maybe in a blind test you couldn't tell. just goes to show. great vid mate.
My favorite time of the week! Great video Chris!
Regarding the Highway One finish, I have a 2003 one. It appears to have a thin satin nitro finish over a clear poly base coat. The thin top coat wears off really easily, it looks more reliced from normal playing than my reliced Custom Shop Strats
It could be the setup or strings but the 62 had that warmer buzzy vintage sound I love
You have a slippery style of playing that reminds me a lot of Derek Trucks. I really enjoy your style
Hi Chris, I'm new to the channel. Congratulations on the videos. I started playing strato a short time ago. I'm loving it. I've always played guitar with humbukers pickups.
Both sound beautiful in your hands. Cleans to me are awesome on the 62. The 'Strattiness' in the drive sounds is better to me with the H1. I'm guessing that this is part of the type of warm full drive sound you chose.
In the end, if it feels good, then it's all good...
Tnx Chris, keep up the Fretworks and stay safe
YAYYYYY Chris Buck and a Stratocaster video!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Oh man... both have a Strat sweetness about them. I think, and maybe it’s just me, but I heard a slightly sweeter sustained ring and warmth out of the 62’. The Highway a more modern twang that many of us look for in a Strat. Both sounded priceless behind your masterful bends though....
Your show last week was great!
The orange one is a tad warmer. The sunburst is a bit more articulated. Just preference.
I could hardly hear a difference. Both sounded fantastic. My compliments on your playing. 😊
Thats mad, about 10 years ago I sold a les paul to a guy, he was really friendly and I ended up playing on his other guitars and he showed me the pickups he'd been making and was going into business selling them, they were good!. Radioshack pickups happened to be the name and now I'm Watching this and see them on your guitar.
I do think you are a fantastic guitarist.❤
Superb as always; both guitars sound amazing, but I think the Radioshop p/ups in the Highway 1 have my vote - they are a little more defined, while the '62 sounds more rounded. Great video.
The fact that there is no clear favorite is a testament to how good your signature pickups are. In this video, your pickups sound livelier and clearer than the 62. That’s why I bought your pickups Chris. 😉
They both have a wonderful tone but different characters - the deep resonance of the Highway one and the forensic highs of the '62 - they are both fantastic instruments. Congratulations on your Music Radar poll result! Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
The sunburst tone is more sparkling clean. Your signature pickups are probably the biggest attribute, if you dropped those pickups into the 62 fiesta red, that would be a nice comparison.
Btw you sounded awesome on your online gig other day!! I had a great time :)
I have a 62 strat Black I have had it since 71 and your right there is something about them maybe the wood that give it that distinctive tone I dont know but I love it .funny enough mine is July 62 as well
Fascinating! This was such a fun comparison. I tell you what, I really notice a big difference in the bridge pickups especially. Probably because of the metal baseplate on your Radioshop pickups, the Highway 1 has more ability to cut and is more punchy in the bridge. I know those are arbitrary terms, but for an all-around workhorse, I’d have to choose the Highway 1 over the ‘62. I will say, though, that the ‘62 had a special harmonic quality to it. Each sustained note, especially, I heard a distinctive harmonic ring that was, as you said, magical. For me, in the end, it came down to: “Which tones gave me Guitar Player Face Winces?” And every time it was the Highway 1. I responded, at a gut level, in my soul, to the sounds out of the in-between positions on the Highway 1. So, again, that’s where I’d put my money.
I would be interested to hear the ‘62 with your Radioshop pickups loaded up. That could be something really special. Sacrilegious, maybe, to change the stock pickups, but could be worth it!
I miss the highway one, my favourite iteration of the series was the last with the large headstock, thin nitro finish and alnico 3 pickups. So good.
I see you deck your tremelos. A man after my own heart! I never really figured out how to get the best from one....and I've tried over the past 50 years. I now have an '85 Japanese Strat with well modded pickguard, I just refretted the skinny end, but left the Gotohs alone. I keep the trem arm in a drawer out of respect to Leo.
One day I'll work out what to do with it!
Child please! That 62 is absolutely ridiculous. I couldn't believe the difference in sound when that picture switched quickly. I LOVE the Highway One Strats too though and the neck profile on those were awesome to me.
Honestly, when I'm listening to your playing, I pay more attention to your phrasing and picking technique than to the tonal differences between the guitars... ;) Both sound great to me, anyway... Thanks so much for sharing, and best regards.
They both sound good but that 62 is just on another level.
Both sounds amazing, couldn’t choose between them...
Both sound great, just different. I preferred some pickup selections on the 62 and some on the highway one. As you alluded to, often what sounds great plugged into an amp at home doesn’t sit well dynamically in a live band mix or on a recording in the studio. So it’s nice to have the option of different guitars with different pickups.
Both sounds absolutely fantastic in my opinion, Thinking the creamy warmth of '62 comes with the pups. U have a great copy of the highway one and your signature pickups sounds awesome. Footnote: they were played by one of the best GP ever... And I've seen/heard many...
Played a '62 sunburst rosewood board Strat a few years back, and it sounded surprisingly warmer than the guy's early 2000s Custom Shop version he also had.
Part of the magic a great guitar is the effect on its owner. The way the player feels about the instrument will come through pretty clearly.
I have a refinished 62 Fiesta Red Strat too, with a similarly butchered pickguard. I'm not sure what it is about it... whether it's in my ears, my fingers or my mind... but whatever, it's on a different level for me. After nearly 60 years it has decades of playing and improvement behind it... and with that comes a personality all of its own. I have a reverence for that and it definitely influences me when I pick it up.
Red one has more chime and lets the notes bloom a little more with more top end definition.
I'm agree, and for the same reason.
‘62 all the way! It has a warmer tone with rich harmonic overtones. As much as I love your 04 I have to say it sounded harsh side-by-side with the 62. As always, great video!