Can the MC5 Fender Stratocaster Kick Out my Prejudices? - Independence Day Guitar Review
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- Опубликовано: 20 июл 2024
- Filming on 4th July provided a perfect excuse to show off the 'Stars & Stripes' Stratocaster but will this one sound all whiny and be difficult to play? I have a long held dislike of Strat's but decide to have another go in public.... join me for a close up look and to find out what happened!
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00:00 play in & coming up
00:59 what's happening today
02:45 background info
06:11 all about the guitar specs etc
09:00 let's weigh it
09:31 a closer look
10:49 neck profile & measurements
11:20 knob bashing & volume control
12:53 under the hood
15:16 pickup readings
16:50 todays rig & settings
18:45 it sounds like this
23:10 let's play something part 1
24:22 an extra spark needed
25:39 let's play something part 2
29:11 it's difficult to play
30:40 let's play something else
33:54 what just happened?
36:17 an independent channel
40:34 wrap up
41:10 kick out jam
Signal Chain Info:
TC Polytune / Boss CS3
Drive Pedals: TC Spark / Big Muff
Boss DD7 / Boss RC5 Looper
Amp: Fender Deluxe Reverb II
Two Nots Torpedo Captor 8
Mics AKG C414 & SM57
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 into Protools
I AM NOT AN EXPERT. Some things I do know and some things I don't know but think I know and sometimes I say things that are not entirely correct. Once I have said things it's too late to correct them so please check any 'so called facts' with an adult, google, wikipedia, or someone else that knows.
We run this channel to provide therapy for our gear addiction and for an excuse to buy more. Please like and subscribe and keep coming back to watch our films if you would like to support the channel!
#fender #electricguitar #stratocaster #guitaraddict #theguitaristas #guitarist #mc5 #kickoutthejams 
Развлечения
Cool video! Like you, I’m not a huge Strat fan, although I do own one. Several years ago, the guy who taught me how to play guitar fell on hard times and had to sell his guitars. I was in a position to help him out and so I bought him a new squire strat. He was completely surprised and blown away when the guitar showed up. Fast forward to last year and my buddy passed away from throat cancer. Before he passed, he sent the strat back to me so that I could keep rocking out for him when he was no longer around. I play the guitar regularly to keep my friends memory alive. That’s my strat story!!
Nice one man.... that one's a keeper and needs to be played! 😎👍
What a lovely thing to do for your guitar buddy, im sure hes smilin. cheers Steve
as Colin wrote, agreed 100%, it is a keeper, that when played, reminds, yours and his kind gesture and friendship, take care.
A wonderful story. Rock on.
I'm not a strat aficionado, but I must say they do come alive with a fuzz pedal, most guitars do, but especially a strat. Thanks for showing this Stratocaster, it's beautiful, and I love the MC5 as well. Cool video.
I just keep smiling when I see you hesitating to say you liked the strat. Sir, you could play a ukulele with 2 broken strings and make it an inspiring performance...I simply love you sound! Thanks!
I think the muddiness of the middle humbucker could depend from the fact it's linked to 250K pots, instead of the 500k pots utilized in Gibson guitars.
Good point! 😎👍
Or does it sound muddy because it's a Shawbucker 2 -- which many would describe as muddy to begin with?
BTW, the Fender Shawbucker is designed (voiced) for 250K pots which can be found on Fender's wiring diagrams included with them. They presumably do this so it could be more easily paired with single coil pickups as it often is.
I started on a Strat. Went through every guitar I could afford and am now back to the Strat. They are just so versatile. Thanks Mr. Leo Fender!
I am so glad the channel keeps growing. This is definitely my fav guitar show. Keep it going !
Cheers man, all down to your support! 😎👍
DITTO 😎👍
Nice guitar, and nice to see your channel growing so quickly. You always do a great job, and you produce such great films. Thank you for yet another great episode! Great amp too. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the Rivera era hand-wired Fender amps.
Can i just express my love for this channel here? Youre analytic, very expressive player, interesting, funny, down to earth etc. I watch every video since discovering this channel and it never disappoints. I think you have better content than for example darrel brown guitars, which is a huge channel. You're on a great track man! Thanks for the videos!
Cheers man that’s really appreciated 🙏😊 thanks for the support!! And of course we love ‘Darrel’ 😜 and if we can gain just 10% of his following will be very happy! 😎👍👍
My fix for the "whiny" strat sound is...HSS Strat, with a splittable humbucker in the bridge, and a Gilmore mod on a mini toggle , for when I want to get a little more twangy, closer to a Tele....I LOVE THAT GUITAR, it's the first SHS strat I've ever seen. Sounds beautiful!
Happy Friday Brother Colin! Didn't take you long to adjust to the Strat! I have an old Mexican made Squire Strat that I've carried around with me since the '90s. I had modded it with an HSS pickguard years ago, then fairly recently swapped the single coils out for some Seymour Duncan clone hot rail humbuckers. It still sounds like a Strat, but without the single coil hum!
Hey mate. Cool vid. I bought one of the Wayne Kramer strats about 10 years ago and had the same issues, after only ever playing Gibsons. What worked for me was taking off the volume knob for about 6 months of playing it. After that I put it back on, and haven't had an issue since. Easy way of weaning yourself into playing a strat. Haven't accidentally hit the volume knob since.
Really enjoyed this vid . You really captured that old sixties psychedelic vibe straight outta' San Fran . It's good to change it up sometimes from Gibbys to Strats . Phil McKnight has a vid on Strat hacks where he puts a little piece of foam under the volume knob which acts as a movement stopper . ( less hassle than rewiring ) . Bravo ( from Canada ) my friend !
Always had a love/hate relationship with Strats. I have liked a few of the older ones I had (1973 & 1978) but did not like the ones from the early 2000s. I do prefer the hard tails....I have never like relic-ing. I would rather beat them up myself with normal wear and stupidity (leaving them on stands when you have kids and dogs). Keep on keeping on!
The volume knob location never seemed to bother me...never thought about it.....
The volume knob is perfect where it is. Perfect for manual swell... weird to be musically limited to the point that a strat could be a problem. I prefer strats to gibson's but i do really like SG's. They have different uses...les paul have an amazing sound but so hard to be in tune and the worse... its weight, that is part of the sound. But not worth back issues to me.
Like you I started off playing guitars with Tuneomatic bridges and Stop tails and found the Strat style bridges slightly awkward and uncomfortable to play!
I’ve subsequently found that replacing the small saddle Allen screws with shorter ones that are flush with the top of the bridge makes them much more comfortable.
They are available in different lengths quite cheaply and you will need slightly longer ones for the centre strings to compensate for fingerboard radius.
If your happy with the current setup and string height, take some measurements and order some, I think you will be pleasantly surprised how much it helps!
To avoid altering you current setup, replace one screw at a time and check tuning!
As to the control knob positioning, you can buy pickguards without control knob holes so you can drill yourself and reposition to suit your requirements!
I bought one recently for my Eart Suhr Super Strat copy which has only 2 control knobs, volume and master tone!
Agree with you though about the general feel of a Strat. The knob problem, the neck feels strange if you're a Gibson or Epi guy. Kind of like driving a friend's car. They sorta work the same but you'd rather be in yours. You still got some cool music out of this thing though.
USA here …Mississippi Gulf coast, love the show and appreciate the Happy 4th 🇺🇸
Cheers Christy! 😎👍
I absolutely love the editing of your show. It’s feels like I’m watching an actual TV show.
Thanks Andrew that’s really appreciated… a lot of time goes into the edit but most people don’t even notice stuff like that! 😎👍
I really needed this video. Had a hard time with my 59 Epiphone as I really didn't bond with it at all and it just kept sitting in its stand. I think I got it cause I got caught up in the hype around it. After selling it I was wondering what to get instead, ideally something with humbuckers or P90s as my other guitars are all variations of single coils. Eventually after looking through many reviews I came back to this one and knew immediately what I wanted. Got myself a beautiful 2010 Mexican Blacktop Strat, not quite the Wayne Kramer model but close enough for me and I just love playing it. Basically I wanted to say thank you for all the inspiring content you put out every week and I still can see a Tokai gold top in my future (also thanks to your videos). All the best 👍
Cheers Thomas, there's a perfect guitar out there for all of us and I am delighted you found yours!! 😁👍
First I want to start off by saying that as a lifelong citizen of the good ol' U.S. of A., I think after the way we behaved as a country this year, we should've all been sent to bed with no fireworks!!!
Now on to the important stuff.
Great video as always. I was a Stratocaster player for about 35yrs. I would still be playing them if the arthritis in my hands wasn't so bad. Luckily I started out playing Les Pauls so switching back was a no brainer. This video really made me miss my Strats... 😢😢😢 It was nice to see you show one some love finally!!! They're ain't for everyone. But if you can out wrestle them they're VERY rewarding guitars.
I guess next week we're gonna do some Harley Benton stuff huh??? I'm looking forward to your take on them. I've never even seen one from a distance so I'm clueless as to just how good they are. If they're even good at all!!!
It'll be interesting to see how they hold up against the other mid level brands.
I don't know if I just got lucky and hit the mail order guitar lottery or if they're all this good but since I got my Epi '59 Les Paul I really haven't had the desire to buy or even play anything else.
It's been over a year and I still "perv" on it too!!!lol.
I really want to join the subscription $$$ channel when my money situation gets a little better. Hopefully in a week or three!!! Then I can post a pic or two...
I find myself looking forward to Friday morning more and more now. I really enjoy what you do man.
Another great one!!! See ya' next week!!!
Cheers Joe, I still think SG's are the perfect guitar and then probably Tele's second?... but of course I love them all! 😁👍 Yes HB package has arrived I wonder what model that could be? 😜 See you next week mate have a great weekend! 😎
@@theguitaristas I've heard a lot of negativity about SGs and neck dive. I guess a three pickup model might fix that!!!😉😁 I'm not a fan of Bigsby vibratos so that's not an option, and I'm too proud to play a Les Paul with weight relief so I guess I'll have to do the Robert Fripp thing and grab a stool when I start getting woozy from the strap cutting off the blood flow to my brain...lol.
I didn't even know this guitar existed. As far as strats go, that's a really cool one. Thanks for the film as always, Colin!
Hey Colin! Another fun one! Interesting pickup configuration. You don't often see "S-H-S" , which had me thinking up different wiring/switching setups and ideas for partscasters!
Sounds great!
Cheers Peter, yes could offer some interesting options! 😎👍
I've always wanted one absolutely love the look...thank you for another fantastic schooling... really enjoyed it.
The best 40 minutes of the week. EVERY WEEK. Many many thanks.
Thanks Antonio that's appreciated! 🙏😊
I know what you mean about the volume knob on a Strat, I had the same problem with the switch, knocking it out of position, but I overcame it and I really really love my Strat, it’s by far the most musical and expressive guitar that I own. Great video again and looking forward to seeing what HB guitars you’ve bought!
Cheers Paul, yes the 'shipment' arrived today.... 😜
That is a really cool guitar! As a certified Les Paul addict I do own a couple of Strats. Both are HSS pickup configs. I enjoy playing them as well. Again, very cool Strat you have there. Cheers, man!
Must admit, always found Strats a bit of a head scratcher & the fact that I don't like them. You may have partly explained it. Not a fan of the sound or comfortable if you mainly play Les Pauls, 335s & accoustic guitars, but love all the videos you do. Kind of on that note, the Fender Tele that just hung on the wall un loved has finally gone. Pretty sure the guys in the shop thought I was mad, but in exchange I happily walked out with an Epiphone inspired by Gibson 335 in raspberry tea burst with the figured top & back. I am sure someone will finally appreciate the Tele, but this 335 is just lovely. Thanks for the nudge.
Cheers Paul, a trade really makes sense if your not using something... well done mate! 😎👍
No Strats for me, but I love Tele sounds. The problem is my hands are really too big for Tele necks. I just can’t win with a Fender, but I have tried lol
Been caning The Stooges this week so great to hear some MC5. They did a show for German TV 'Beat Club' I think it is. Worth checking out, should still be on RUclips. Off the hook. Would recommend Manassas from Beat Club too. Big up the Crocs! Your playing is off the hook Colin. I think it's Colin. Made me dig out my Strat and though it's just a 90s Chinese Squire I've been impressed enough to take it off the for sale section. Viva The Guitaristas!
Cheers man, yes it's Colin and I'm a lifelong Stooges and MC5 fan....definitely seen that Best Club stuff! 🔥😎
I got an Epiphone Wilshire '66 Reissue to channel my inner Wayne Kramer. I don't care for Strats.
Usually 1st tone is for neck pup, 2nd tone is middle & bridge tone. My Strats I like 2nd tone control for the bridge pup. I like the middle pup with no tone control. Yes you can go master tone & volume, there are strat style guitars made the way you like the controls. You can make up several pickguards with different pup & control setups, get battery plugs from the R/C hobby, add to the jack wires for interchangeability. This way I can return the guitar to stock if I want to sell it.
A suggestion for Fenders that ned neck removal for truss bar adjustment: If you need to adjust often, internet search for woodworking screw inserts & machine screw (kits for guitar necks available). This eliminates wood deformation of the neck. This makes a true bolt on neck. My son overtightened the screws on one guitar & this was a nice fix. Why he parted the guitar is still a mystery. I did this to all my bolt on necks.
adjusting polepieces on humbucker is a must on that thing lol.... thoroughly enjoyed this video.
And further more...
Kramer modded the guitar with the humbucker to better compete with Fred Smith especially the RIC 450 with humbuckers. Not the only Fender he dropped humbuckers into as a tele got it also. Note back in the day those guys used all sorts of guitars like both Firebirds, various Kazoo Epiphones etc. Post MC5 I've heard Wayne use Gibson 335, Reverse Firebirds, Strats..
Cheers Chris, and not forgetting there were the batwing Epiphone Wilshires... they had some cool stuff!
I ordered a Mod Shop Stratocaster last year and I went with the hardtail option. Then I replaced the bent steel Fender saddles with some stainless steel block saddles. It will hold a note for about as long as you care to.
That bridge pickup sounded a lot like some of what Matthew Scott gets out of his old Strats! The tones were lovely on this beauty!! Another great vid, Colin!! Cheers man!!
Cheers mate, I’ve discovered these seem to be bog standard MIM ceramic pickups but they sound pretty good! 😎👍
awesome playing yet again Colin. I too think it was sounding really good. well done on giving us another entertaining show. Cheers Wes
Thanks Wes! 😎👍
2020, i got a left handed mod shop hardtail Stratocaster, with roasted maple neck, noiseless HSS, locking tuners, and i LOVE the tone so much more than a floating bridge Stratocaster. I used to “deck” all my trems, but it still sounds different than a proper hardtail. Cannot recommend the fender mod shop enough. So many options, made in Mexico, set up in ‘USA, flight case, still under 2k. Great experience having it made for me
Cool video mate 👍 I swing more towards Gibson & Epiphones when I think of guitars but I really digged the sounds that you got of that Strat especially with the Spark & Fuzz pedals 👌
Hi Colin. I too am not a Strat guy - so it was very interesting to watch you slowly come round to its charms! Gotta say, there were moments when you just strummed it through that Fender amp where it sounded gorgeous and warm, and even a little “massive”, in a Hendrix sort of way. Overall, I really liked it. It could be your “guilty secret” 🤣😊
Hey Paul, I do often wonder how much of a part the guitar plays and I think that in spite of my reservations this one played me! 😆 I found a groove and it made some decent noises so I think I have found 'my Strat' and with little bit of modding we can have some more fun together. Cheers man have a great weekend. 😎👍
I agree with your summary. my favourite of your videos that I have seen, you looked and sounded great.
Cheers Davey!
Colin my man thank you for informing us about your TV channel, I'm going to support you annually because your content is worth every penny and more! Here in Katy Texas every Friday I wake up waiting for your weekly video while enjoying breakfast! 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
Feel the same way up here in Magnolia, TX. Always start my Friday with Colin. Need some rain! Colin, send some over.
Cheers Ruben, hope you to see you over there! 😎👍
Heatwave heading to the UK next week... so maybe the rain is coming to you? 🤞
That is some seriously good guitar tones mate! Really enjoyed it!!!
Cheers man!
I just did some checking in the old Charvel/Jackson catalogs (I used them from 1985-1993....Model 5 and 6) and the volume knob is about the same. I think because the trem bar was there I never noticed it or had an issue.
I absolutely enjoy your videos... Thank you for such interesting content.
Cheers Joe that’s appreciated!
As my first real guitar was a Tele, I also have trouble playing a Strat in the same way... The solution? I play differently and different songs on the Strat! :)
For ages I've been planning to build a telecaster with an Alnico II humbucker bang in the middle - the usual telecaster set up for bridge and neck but a hummer right in the middle - I don't know why, but in my bones I just know it will be brilliant (ish). Can't agree with your abivalance toward strats as I have 15 of 'em (3 real ones and 12 partscasters of my own contrivance). I don't use a trem either, but only two of mine are hard-tailed (by shoving a lump of something hard and nasty behind the block) because I feel that even if you don't use a trem you still need that bridge to float and be sprung to get that proper quacky strat tone - otherwise it sounds like a telecaster. Anyway, another entertaining review - you were getting some fabulous tones from that strat, mate, so that's remarkable for a fella who says he doesn't like them. The guitar itself, too gaudy for my liking. Humbucker in the middle, yes. Stars and strips and fake wear and tear, no thank you. Whatever will you come up with next week?
Totally understand. I've never held onto a Stratocaster for very long for the same reasons. One too many tone knobs... When I use "strat tones" they are generally saturated (dripping) in delay and reverb, so I don't fret not having a Fender Strat around. I picked up one of the SE Silver Sky guitars (moon white) a few weeks ago. Nice price point, great build quality, and more than enough "strat" for what I do. The Nick Johnston models from Schecter get it right with the vol/tone configuration.
I thought the guitar looked and sounded great, Colin and offers something a bit different from the standard strat which cant be a bad thing, variety being the spice of life! I also agreed with you about 1969 Being a great musical year and I dig the relicking on the guitar as well.
You might want to think about swapping pots to 500k and swapping the singles to Fender vintage noiseless which also use 500k pots. That should help to add clarity to the humbucker….just a thought. Love the channel!
Since I didn't know about MC5, I at first thought you were channeling Easy Rider. The Stratocaster is a classic, like the Les Paul, SG, etc. You've got to have one of each in your collection or it isn't really a collection. I'd like to think that the people in most countries are good folks; it's their leaders who cause all the problems. Thanks for another great video!
Loved your face while you were playing. You were solid gone man. Excellent👍
Hi Collin! Pretty cosmic playing this week. Nice! Eric Johnson wiring specs with Tone controls for neck and bridge, Middle pickup has no Tone control, would be a good option. The single coils on your guitar have ceramic magnets and look typical for that era. I do not believe they are Texas Specials tho. Cheers!
Cheers Wayne!
Another great vid! Nice guitar and fun playing. I like Strats . . . I have what I think is a Japanese made (possibly Ibanez) for Roland to go with their GR 300 guitar synth. Used it all thru the 80's. A few years ago I bought the Roland GR 55 which came with a Mexican made Fender. Both Maple necks - nice instruments. I do think a Rosewood fretboard would be nice - they just feel good whenever I try them out - slightly darker contrast to maple but still Fenderish.
Cheers Morton, I definitely prefer rosewood boards on Fenders for some reason.
I really enjoy your channel Colin, this is a sweet guitar.
Cant believe you played a strat! At least its a beauty! Loved it, highly entertaining, great hearing about the amp. Would love to watch a video about it. Till next week, thanks as always for great entertainment. 👍
Always had the same problem with the volume control, just feels like it's in the way so I've never bonded with any Strat I've owned and sold them on, great video Colin....
Cheers Henry, it's definitely in the way! 😆👍
I had a 335 when I was 13, the other kid had a beat up old 60's strat this was 1981. I grabbed his strat when he wasn't there, and I made it scream. From then on guys, no bias. I have an LP a Strat and a tele they all sound like different guitars.strats-teles are for digging into. LP's are for taking it easy, if you can lift it.Tone for bridge p.u. is a VERY useful mod. Yes, my buddy can play light and clean like you. I grab it and scrape and dig , it qwacks and screams you, gotta dig in. Gilmour used a big muff to great effect. My right hand is never in one place long enough to anchor, And I mute with both hands constantly.
You can consider 4 things to do when you don't like a floating tremolo on a Stratocaster:
1. Buy a hartail Strat (At least if you like Robert Cray)
2. Put in all 5 springs and increase the tension so that the tremolo does not move at all any more (the springs indeed affect the tone)
3. Just like #2 but then stick a piece of wood into the gap between the trem block and the body. Then release the spring tension so that the block presses the wood against the body (so it would not fall out and this also makes the instrument resonate better. This is what EC does and also features the EC Stratocaster signature model as far as I know).
4. Buy a Nashville Telecaster instead.
A tone comparison would be of interest I think.
@Colin: Thanks again for another interesting and entertaining video!
I deck all of my Strats as in item 2.
Cheers Lars... 1, 3, and 4 work for me! 😆👍
@@theguitaristas I like 4 best 😎
Nice to see a review of a Strat - I had the feeling you're not a big fan , especially after I saw a very early Guitaristas vid where you were still a disembodied voice in the background. I have a love hate relationship with a beat up old Strat that I bought used. It's super comfortable and has a great, naturally acquired patina. After many years of messing with it, I finally realized how versatile a Strat is. I find the bridge pickup tough to tame - it's like a knife going through my head but the other positions open up endless possibilites. I can understand why so many great players play Strats. I can't get anywhere near the potential out the guitar but it sure is fun to try.
Cheers Bruce, I definitely got a bit closer with this one!
@@theguitaristas Your playing seemed really inspired with this one! That is a very cool guitar. I'm not a big fan of replica guitars but I do like that one.
@@BruceGoett Thanks mate... got there eventually I think!😆👍
Another fantastic video never seen a bad one from you
I have always like Strats, because of the Hendrix, Beck, Blackmore, and Gilmour sounds. One issue I have always had is bumping the selector switch, which as you said you had with the volume knobs. I also like the Humbuckers on the Les Paul or PRS, even a Telecaster, but I have never played a Strat with a Humbucker, but somehow it just seems wrong…lol.
I agree, I’m not much of a Strat player myself. The closest I have found that I really enjoy playing is a Reverend Warhawk 390, so three P90s and a ptb circuit that can get Strat thin out Gibson thick…great guitar. I really like the one your playing buy would probably have the same issue as you with the volume knob.
Wow the subscriptions has really jumped up there. Congrats!
Thanks for supporting 👍👍 but keep watching the videos if you can that’s what counts!
F'kin awesome Col man 😎✌️ massive adoration and Motor City lovinz! Jaime xx
Cheers Brother Jaime! 😎✌️
That is one of the coolest strats I’ve seen, I had no idea about these. Also trying the accent had me laughing pretty good 😂. Cheers!
Brother Colin! A testimonial! Never been a strat fan either but always thought Brother Waynes one looked super cool (and sounded great too) The MC5, what a band!
😎👍
You guys are so friggen great, I love you guys. Thanks for bringing us along with the best addiction on the planet! The love of music. This channel makes my life a little better!!
Thanks man that’s great to hear! 😎👍
Sounded righteous with the muff like only a good Strat can, good stuff! 👌
Lovely that guitar mate and great sounds. I also went to the darkside this year and bought a US Performer Strat...and bloody love it. QC knocks Gibson into a cocked hat, lovely neck and the Yosemite p/ups are superb. Slippery slope...The Amp sounded superb too mate. I'll have a nose at that TV channel when I get a mo. Cheers Colin for another great video
Cheers Mark! 😎👍
Those Performers are fantastic guitars . I just sold one to thin the heard but , they are probably the best bang for buck in the Fender lineup .
@@wcjohnny1absolutely mate. I'm a Gibson Humbucker fan but wanted a Strat for the herd. It's heading close to being one of my favourites if I'm honest. The quality is excellent and the pups are superb.
Thank you for yet another brilliant video. Take care, best wishes. Rodge David kidderminster uk 🇬🇧
Man that's awesome looking strat of great tones and nice pickups with quality pots I should've pick one up from Musician's Friend years ago at a affordable price now the reasale costs have gone way up
Love that strat colin. I know you love your gibsons but that strat was up there a lovely tone. You a rearly good guitarist and im sure you actually smiled and enjoyed playing a strat. We enjoyed it as well.
Colin, a Strat? what a surprise! 😄
Nice, sounds amazing and only needs minor changes to make fully enjoyable for you. Hope to see more strats here (and SGs, of course!). Cheers! ✌🏼
Cheers man! 😎👍
He does it again - Really good vid and a guitar that LOOKS like the DOG's IMNSHO:).....Not usually a fan of painted headstocks but this guitar has times and places to come out often enough if you can play it well enough and you can. Slight shame on the vintage truss rod adjustment for me but no biggie. Personally, I would not change the pickups at all. Start getting into pot resistances and all sorts and it's already a fudge with singles and HB. If it gets you in that zone good enough that's where I would leave it or get another guitar if not...Each to their own though..Done that once. It's what I consider a rabbit hole, with the pickup thing, and gained some and lost a bit I wanted back (old Mex Strat with ceramics originally swapped to SSL1s and JB....something Yamaha still offers stock I think and frankly if I did it again that's what I would buy and the Mex Strat left alone to have its own place)....Personal I appreciate......We share very musical tastes LOL.....EDIT: Oh not at GBP2k though for me. 1300 euros was a good buy and a lot of stuff starting to float on the used market and a lot of "affordable" options if close enough is good enough on something that does not need to be special.
I have the same problems with strats but I do love them. You sound great on this guitar! Maybe try modding it by doing single volume, single tone and deleting the upper pot as you just said as I'm typing. Modded strats are awesome. I've got a vintage mij lawsuit one with a Gibson 498t in the bridge and it's crazy good. Great video and thank you!
Cheers Bradley yes that's the plan... and I've discovered the pickups are to original so more excuses to play with it!
That's a super cool Strat 😎 Every Strat I've owned has had the Clapton mid-boost circuit and TBX control fitted. Super fat tones similar (but not the same as) to a Les Paul with it turned up and classic Strat tones when turned down so very versatile.
Here’s Pete, I’m a bit green when it comes to Strats so will check that out! 👍
I have two Strats and love them. My favourite Strat is a Mod Shop Strat that I designed. Natural Mahogany body with a toasted maple neck. It also has the re-issued Josephina's Hand Wound Fat 50's for pickups. Slightly growley tone to it. I am left handed so I have to have my guitars made for me. I love my Strat and play it much more than my Les Paul Traditional, a burst as they call it.
I forgot to add, I added the extra springs to the tail piece, so it is much more like a hard tail. It does help the sound on a Strat. The springs are fairly cheap from Fender.
Yup. I threw an overwound humbucker on the bridge of a Carvin Bolt and, voila', I had a Stratocruiser. Great playing Colin. Wayne Kramer defined the outdoor concert performance in the Midwest.
Cheers Brian, did you ever catch them live?
@@theguitaristas Twice. Kramer was running an Orange amp. Fricking loud, even in an open venue.
I knew it... you are the GOAT for live gigs Brian! 😆🙌
@@theguitaristas It was all we had! MC5 was universally called "ugly rock" by all my girlfriends.
@@theguitaristas Kramer also had some strange off-brand like a Teisco when I saw them in Ann Arbor. The tone was single coils but it looked like mini humbuckers.
Another great video under your belt, Colin! Thats is a very cool Strat. As an American i approve. That strat seems to have a good bit of sustain. For some reason whenever i play a strat it seems to lack that. Maybe because i'm used to Les Pauls? I don't know. Maybe i just need to crank the amp 😂😂😂
Another fun episode! I've been thinking about putting together a hard tail Strat lately. I'm considering buying a Robert Cray body and neck from The Stratosphere and chucking my pick guard that's loaded w/American Texas Special pups. I just bought a different guitar, so that project will have to wait a bit.
Got an interesting Strat project film coming this Friday that will be right up your street!
@@theguitaristas Great! Looking forward to it!
Wow all the reasons not to play a Strat but what a cool guitar … not a Strat lover either and totally agree issues … spiky bridge, volume pot easily turned down .. to many unusable positions… but some of these are easy to sort with wiring mods .. luv the Gilmore mod a 5min fix …as most strat players uses the neck pickup that’s the one to focus on and dial in … that humbucker is in a great position … think you need to get that wiring sorted.. and few mods to include some tension on the volume pot … the strat gives wonderful clean clear crisp tones that’s worth putting some time into finding … the neck can be adjusted by loosing the strings, removing the two back screws a slacking both front screws then carefully push the neck end up … might need to remove the scratch plate.. on a 50 tele just push down the neck pick up down to get the screwdriver in but watch you paint work … luv to see more of this guitar.. have two Fender strats here and I only play the ESP LTD strat !
Hello Colin and everyone, joining you from Dallas in near real-time so it's coffee hour here. Always look forward to your show every week, this should be fun. On the subject, I'd like Strats (and Teles) more if they were available in a shorter scale length and flatter fingerboard radius- more like Gib/Epi. Makes a difference to me.
Morning Mark!... try the Mexican hardtail Duo Sonic if you get chance that was a pretty sweet 24" single coil alternative 👍
The long scale was giving my arthritis a fit. Switched to Les Pauls now my hands are fine but my back is going out!!! LOL
Nice comments from Colin and Joe Hahn. COLIN I did get a nice used example of the Squier Mustang HH, has the 24" scale. Very playable, I can go faster and reach farther than on my tele. JOE HAHN That's funny, know exactly what you mean. I've even added those fold-over velcro flapped strap pads to my heavier LPs. Like you can buy at auto stores for the shoulder belt in your car. Pretty cheap, help a lot with preventing shoulder pain. Oh what we go through to play a Les.
@@markpell8979 Damn, and I paid $64 for a padded leather strap...lol.
I don't usually think about Auto Zone for music gear... 🤣🤣🤣 Hats off to you on that one!!!
@@joehahn8817 Yeah I shopped all the different wide guitar and camera straps and one day I needed a new car battery and found the seat belt pads. At Auto Zone, I'm sure at the other parts places too. The ones I got are from Body Glove, priced about $10-12. I keep 'em located on my strap with self-stick tape. A nice inexpensive but professional-looking hack, give it a try!
Really interesting and nice video- the knob location would be a deal breaker for me. You really got some great tones out of that guitar! Ah Woodstock August 69. The home screen on my phone is the logo with guitar headstock and the white dove. I’ll be 69 in August (ugh)….peace.
Cheers Madison, some great times to remember eh? 😎✌️
I just ran across this , and it about blew my mind , I am 71 years old and from the Detroit area I attended many MC5 concerts when they were playing many small local clubs in 1968 - 70s.
I hold " Kick Out The Jams Mother Fu____" personally responsible for my hearing loss , i was always as close as I could get I saw so many great Detroit area bands in those days.
Cheers William, great memories man I bet that was something else! 😎👍
Going over your back videos I came across this. I was just about to tell you I have one of my Strats wired with one master tone when you said you might rewire that one 😁
Laughed out loud at the Jeff Beck joke around the 12 minute mark!
Hey Colin! Thanks for another great video, I'm actually so positively biased by your content that I press Like to your videos before I see them!!! Anyway, I'd like to ask if there is a chance that you will have and review at some point a PRS. I mean we've seen very different kinds of Gibsons (Epiphones) and Fenders (Squiers) in the past, so what about getting your opinion on something in-between like a PRS SE for instance (or some other PRS model if you fancy another...)?
Cheers Nick, thanks for the support! I really don't know about PRS's I have a real problem with the birds... I expect I will get one eventually but I worry that my general ambivalence towards some of their design features may alienate some viewers! 🤣
@@theguitaristas Now that I remember from one of your previous videos, you can also use it as decoration next to your flying ducks :-) In any case, they are great guitars imho and you should try one at some point. Also regarding the birds, there are versions of PRS's with no birds decorating the neck (only classic dots if I remember properly). So thanks for replying back and I will be waiting for your next review. Thank you :-)
Very unique guitar, thank you for sharing 😀
That is one very cool guitar, that would be my gigging guitar, great weight and tone. Would love a hard tail, my strat is blocked off best mod I ever done. Great video.
I knew about the MC5, but I did not know about this❗️ CHEERS 🍻
A bridge strat pickup is for lead Playing. Particular lead in a band setting. Instant treble boost. The middle and neck are for rhythm. Sure rules can be broken but that's that's what the intended use is.
I feel ya.I'm always rested on bridge palm mute style.Strata are strange to me because of that.Just foreign.great bids mate Oi!
Sounds like you know what you're doing with a strat. I enjoyed the jamming too.
Great video! You could put a bit of felt under the knob so it would be less easy to turn. Just bought my first fender yesterday, a strat. The 75th anniversary one. Not a expensive one but I have to start somewhere. 😃Cheers
Nice one! 👍 I think this volume pot position is history...
Hello Colin, I'm late to comment on this video as I've just watched it!
I bought - and still have - a Fender Wayne Kramer MC5 Strat. I bought it new from GuitarGuitar back in 2011, I think it cost me £711 or thereabouts and I'm surprised at the current re-sale prices some folks are asking on Reverb.
Like the example you have, I've had it re-fretted with jumbo frets. The factory supplied frets were skinny, to go with the vintage vibe that Brother Wayne wanted. I also had an Earvana nut installed and I had it all set up (by the chaps at Feline Guitars in Croydon) so that it plays like a guitar that has a compound radius fretboard and it does indeed play superb.
I'm a fan of hardtail Strats (I have three in my possession all factory fitted with humbuckers).
Thanks for the excellent videos.
Cheers brother!... still got to fix the wiring on mine when I get chance its a bit of a mess! 😁👍
@@theguitaristas And just like that, Brother Wayne has rambled off from this mortal coil. R.I.P.
Hi Colin!.
First time for me to see this strat model.
I had two stats, a USA with maple neck and a made in Japan with rosewood fingerboard.
Like your self I didn't get on with strats the trem was unstable and,when a string snaped the whole guitar whent out of tune.
I sold both of them and got a ibanez hard tail with low wind humbackers
Maby if I find a hard tail strat I might buy one.
Anyway thanks for bringing some thing new to your channel
It was really interesting.
Cheers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐👍
Cheers Michael!
Colin, you've outdone yourself ....again! Great video and topic.
Thanks mate, have a good weekend 😎👍
Hi Colin, nice playing 23:40, patriotic looking strat, my first electric was a strat, and now, I have a great sounding and playing HSS, but as you, I'm not particularly inclined to it, that volume knob is the culprit, prefer LPs and SGs, but nonetheless, it's home. There is something special in the twang and the neck's single coil sound. "Pafness"🤣🤣🤣, Oh I need that pedal to remove the muddier sound of the humbuckers 🙄 in my SG.Cheers mate.
I love this channel so good. Your british accent is brillant.
Cheers mate! 😆👍
Great playing!
To achieve perfect harmonious tone, plug that guitar into the Union Jack Mini Beetle ❤️ Great playing as always, my friend 🤘🏻
😁👍👍
Having grown up one state west of where MC5 hailed, Kicking out the Jams was right there with Cactus on the radio and personal turntable 😉😎👍
Late '60's and the '70's definitely had the most interesting music going down 😁😎👍
Colin, that Deluxe Reverb 2 is too cool mate 😃😎👍
Definitely would love to play through that one😃
Which speaker is in that...EV, JBL, Pyle...?👍
Yep, Stratocasters don't seem to be everybody's cup o' tea...
But you have managed to get some very cool tones out of it...and if I may be so bold, to say...you got into the zone😉😃😎👍
And... that's why there are many different guitars to choose from, and why I dig your place here in this otherwise crazy world of ours😎👍
😎👍❤🖖
Love Brother
Cheers Richard, this is the EV speaker.... I did a little research and it's the one that folk either totally rave about or say it's crap 🤣 sounds pretty good anyway, its got a really nice compression, takes pedals well, and sound like this did on 10! The drive channel still sucks like most Fender amps though. Have a good weekend brother Richard! 😎👍
@@theguitaristas
With the USFX Dream, my favorite speaker cab is the EV12...So yes, gotta agree with you on its sonic capabilities 😃😎👍
Just acquired a NUX BumbleBee pedalboard to house the Dream and other pedals that made obsolete my previous handmade board...
Forgot what a chore building a pedalboard is...🤣
Three of the pedals have a wall wart, so on top of the power brick, a surge protection power strip was also incorporated. YIKES...!!!
A labor of love...and hopefully only need to do it once...?
No...no, no, no...wah-wah...!...?
Have a groovyful weekend 😉😎👍
😎👍❤🖖
Love Brother
6:01 "This tool kills hate" 👍