10 Weird Things About the Fender HM Strat
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- In this video I discuss some odd things about the short lived Fender HM Strat.
The HM (Heavy Metal) Strat was a short lived attempt from Fender to compete with superstrats like Jackson and Ibanez. At first glance it seems to be a normal Stratocaster with a few additional features, however when you look at it in depth it is very different from your run of the mill Strat. In this video, I discuss 10 things that differs this Strat, from yours! What do you think of the HM Strat? Let me know down below!
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Extra likes for the divebombs between each fact
No Doubt the BEST Fender Strat they've Ever Made
Just bought a new HM Strat in ice blue last month and I already love it as much as my 6 Ibanez RG guitars. The bridge humbucker is actually pretty decent, but I'm eventually gonna replace all the pups with a set of DiMarzios. Both single coils will be replaced with rails/minihumbucker style pups.
I like the idea of the shorter scale length and flatter radius. Do you notice the difference? Cheers from London.
@@iainholmes2735 The neck makes a big difference between playing an HM Strat and a "regular" Strat. Although I don't notice a difference in the scale lengths, the flatter/thinner smooth neck makes the HM Strat feel so much like an Ibanez RG style guitar that if I close my eyes and you handed me the HM Strat, I would think that I'm playing my Ibanez RG550. The HM Strat is definitely a shredder guitar and IMO competes well with other shred guitar brands like Ibanez, Jackson, etc.
@@martinafan64 Thanks for that. They do look great guitars.
11. Fender thought it should remind people of what a strat looks like so they put "strat" on the headstock
Lol. I love that logo so much.
Lol
@@jaketanis3069the best logo I have ever seen in my life
This is probably the only Strat I've ever seen that I'd actually like to play and own
Always heard Greg Howe was the guy who helped with the design on them.
they should never have stopped making these!
I don't think they sold that well.
it was released too late and grunge was on the rise...
it was designed for hair metal bands
+theater of souls The model was built until '92, grunge broke in '91-'92. So I don't think that gradually killed off the model. Also, Ibanez, ESP, Charvel, Jackson etc kept building superstrats..
Maybe Fender thought it would hurt their brand to be associated with hair metal? They bought Jackson in '02 though.
They're currently back in stock.
@@MrTubularBalls You weren't there, kid. MTV went overnight from showing 80s hair-band metal to all-Grunge, all the time. Yes, Kurt killed the HM Strat, as well as Charvel, Jackson, etc. Only Ibanez survived.
Most important thing with these. @4:42 you see the serial. You want one with an E8xxxxxx serial . These will feel, sound, respond and play like a custom shop Charvel whereas E9xxxx and N0xxxxx will feel, sound and play like a budget ibanez. And the ones with E8 serials are usually the same money. I've owned probably a dozen of these over the years and only kept the E8 ones. If you find an E8 , grab it and you'll likely sell yours. And yes Greg Howe had these in his home studio. I was there many times around 1996 right when he came off the "Bad" tour. The red brick house in outside bethlehem. Nice video and thanks !
Mines an E9, better throw it in the trash now. Thanks!
Bought mine new in 91. Still have it and still my favorite guitar. I really wish they still made these...
Rob W there was a prototype at Summer Namm to reissue them. I have my fingers crossed they go into production.
Rob W they just re released them I’m pretty sure.. but they won’t be the quality of your original
This is a very cool instrument. I knew Fender came out with a contemporary series but never knew they made something like this before that. I’m dying to play one now lol
The Absolute BEST and most musical style variety obtainable electric guitar on the planet since playing since 1968.Yes.I knew and met Greg Howe while residing in the past in Allentown which he lived nearby at that time in Easton Pa.Another great guy and virtuoso.
Yes indeed you did a great job covering this thing. I just got one of these in to my shop for restoration. I wasnt 100% it was a real Fender at first due to the particularities. Now I know that it is an extremely cool and special thing. I look forward to returning it to its full sound and beauty. Thank You so much for this precise information
I recently bought a Peavey Vandenberg which was without the trem. I found an unopened Kahler trem still in the box with fully original packaging. The instruction manual was unreadable because the ink had faded so much and the cellophane had dried out on the little bags of parts but the trem is untouched. Best find I could of imagined because I thought I would have to buy many parts and slowly build out of good parts a good trem. The Kahler trem floats like air and the arm is heavy guage and can be fully adjusted to any height. Now I just need to have her repainted to either red or hot pink....can't make up my mind but the sound is beautiful.
I wish I wouldn't have sold mine. I thought I could restore an old charvel and it would be better but after pickups, OFR, pickups, plek job, i still miss the HM. It may be the best guitar I ever owned. You never had to tune it, it was in tune every time you picked it up. I've been through a ton of guitars in the last 35 years and this is the one that got away.
Sometimes one of the old HM Strats will show up on Reverb in very good condition, so check there once in a while. Most of the ones I see are only in Fair to Good condition with lots of scratches, paint chipped off the body, and tarnished hardware though. Some are even missing all 3 of the locking nut clamps & bolts lol. Never had a guitar with a Kahler trem, so I can't say if that's better than the FR Special on the newer HM Strats.
I took my strat again after 23 years while I didn't play the guitar. only now I can realize how fantastic my Fender is
These were great. I had one exactly like that. The super 3 Dimarzio came with it and I've loved that pickup every since. Plus, that scale length is cool as well as the really flat neck fretboard radius. Too bad they didn't keep making them. The new ones will be interesting.
Hm strat reissue will be presented in limited Edition at namm 2020 🤟🏻
Alex AOR I know! It’s a bit of a downer that they are going with Fender humbuckers and a Floyd Special, but still very cool!
@@jaketanis3069 completely agree!
@@jaketanis3069 I would be fine with it being a Special and Fender pups if it weren't $1200. You can get a nice used original for $7-800 with Dimarzio and USA Kahler. The choice is obvious. Get an original. I'd still like to have one of these to go with my original black one, but only if the specs were better or the price was lower. If these ever went into normal production again, I'd expect them to be quite a bit cheaper, but this is Fender we're talking about... always tending toward overpricing compared to the competition.
BTW... subbed!
@@72dodge340 well I mean, it's a limited run, so the pricing will be a bit steep here
@@RandomPotatoProductions I heard 300 total, so they may sell out quickly at $1200. The reissues are built at the original Fujigen plant in Japan apparently.
I have one of these fine guitars. Mine is the Electric Blue in HSH configuration. Absolutely love it!!!
Love the 80s style playing. Awesome 🤘Nice looking and sounding guitar too. Would love to own one!
I definitely recommend them!
Honestly this new strat has me feeling like a boy at xmas i love em
I had one of these bought it back in '90 I believe. Was a cool guitar. Wish I still had it unfortunately I had to pawn it off for some quick cash, and never got it back :(...
ibzstratcat dope habit? I wish I had all the guitars and CDs and vinyl I pawned in the 90s too ughhhhh
My co-guitarist's main guitar is a USA HM Strat. It's definitely my favorite "non-standard" Fender model.
Love them best guitars ever made I have ten of these little beauties in my collections
Holy crap! 10? That's insane. In a good way, of course. I'm just jealous. I have a chrome red American made with the H/S config and the tele pickguard. I've only seen a few others. In pictures. I've never seen another HM in person. Well, except for my white 2020 re-issue HM. I would love to have all the different pickup configurations. With 10 HM's, do you have every pickup config?
@@jozjonlin3170 BRO! I AM GETTING A WHITE FENDER SUPER STRAT HM IN WHITE ALSO!
@@crustcrusader8611 Are you getting the new HM or one of the original? I have an original in chrome red with the HS config and it's amazing. Then, I bought the new HM in white with the HSS config. I haven't seen them offer any other configuration. I love both guitars. You're going to love it!
@@jozjonlin3170 I'm getting the Limited Edition New Fender HM Super Strat in white. Might do some modifications with the Floyd Rose Special though. For $1200, not bad.
I've got a black hm Strat, must be from japan with the black and white wires from the single pick ups. Have owned it over 25 years, love it, so easy and intuitive to play.
Andy k I have that one to.Gave 800 for it back then.
Nice whistle-stop tour of the quirks of the guitar. One thing I would note is that Kahler 2720 Spyder is a "Licensed Floyd Rose" double locking trem, NOT "a Floyd knockoff". I've used Kahler Spyders on HM Strats, Peavey Tracers, Peavey Vandenberg and couple of other models by various manufacturers (including Robin) and it's a rock solid locking trem that potentially upstages an OFR. As to the Kahler Locknut, it's actually much more advanced than an ordinary Floyd Locking Nut, since it incorporates a string guide function as part of its "String Director" design, eliminating a need for a string retainer bar. Gary Kahler is a well-versed engineer and a machinist and people needlessly gave/give him and his products a hard time.
I understand that the new 2020 Reissue Fender HM Strats are equipped with Floyd Rose Special instead, but can't say that a Floyd Rose Special is somehow a decent derivative of the OG OFR, since I've used an FR Special on a couple of guitars and had to swap it out with either a Schaller OFR or a Gotoh GE1996T (Gotoh Floyd).
I sold a Stratocaster silver anniversary and a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe and bought an HM Strat! I'm happy with that guitar 😉... if the Custom Shop will make a and, it's an 89 with a Super Distortion, probably made in Japan but assembled in USA and in a strange pink color that is changing time after time to salmon ❣️
I have the black one with the Rosewood finger board. And oh yes I was a teenager when those things came out, 18 or 19 years of age.
I just ordered one of the reissues yesterday from Sweetwater. same color.
Congrats! Let us know how you like it.
Hit it with a black light and see what happens. Mine is black with that aqua accent under the “strat” logo, and sure enough over time the black paint has chipped to reveal an aqua base coat. It looks like Fender might just taken a bunch of them and slapped a black coat of paint over the top.
Yeah same as my 89 hm strat, has grey metallic over top of 'razzberry' finish peeling off the back.
It’s so weird. I owned one of these for a couple weeks (sold it quick because it wasn’t suited for my purposes).
The weird thing I speak of is that I bought it NOS, USA Super 3. It had an OFR, screw posts. Screwed into the wood, that’s it. I use heavy strings so it was putting too much pressure there.
I can’t find one online like it.
How the hell did you keep that in such good shape?! That Ice Blue beauty looks like it just came off the wall. My '89 (Pinky) is still in my rotation (in my google photo and all over my channel). I replaced the Kahler with a Floyd a week after I bought it but kept the Kahler nut since the dimensions were the same. I also put a Lace Sensor Blue in the neck and a Silver in the mid. Kept the DiMarzio Super 3 in the bridge. Sound guys used to hate it 'cause I'd check with my American Standards, then Pinky would come out for the heavy stuff the sound guy couldn't keep up. I dig the maple neck but I would want a better Floyd than a Special for a grand in the reissues.
Thanks for the vid!
Much love from the S.F. Bay Area and keep rockin'.
MK
Thank you! I was amazed with its shape when I got it. I definitely put some bumps and bruises into it though...
@@jaketanis3069 Mine has a few bullet holes, a couple of stab wounds and the pink has faded a bit since 1989. It still shreds.
MK
I have a blue lace pickup in the neck and a silver in the middle of my Fender HM Strat Ultra, sounds really great. I also have the same model as in this video, mine has faded from Ice Blue to a green though, seems to look different in different lighting. There's a quick video of my HM Strat Ultra from 1990, it's the only one I've ever seen in the flesh and I bought it last year - it's amazing.
I had a late 80s model (dark metallic blue) in the early 90s. I found it to be better all around than a stock Strat, from the improved tremolo, to the locking nut, to the amazing wide neck, to the pickups. It couldn't get the thin single coil tone of a stock Strat, but that was the only tradeoff. It's one I wish I had kept.
You have a nice guitar. I played one about thirty-two years ago and I liked it. It was a white one with only a bridge humbucking. They have a PRS scale. I wish the reissues had an original Floyd Rose on them.
TL; DR:
It's basically a Charvel/Jackson/Ibanez/ESP, with the "Fender" logo written on the headstock
DimiLeventis exactly what I thought... but I’d love to have that bad bitch🎸💥🪓
And a worse tremolo system
I always liked how they looked. I tried one out at a music store and it was nice. I should have bought it. That was about thirty years ago.
Love the color on that one!
I would love to hear your comparison of the original model vs the new ones. I owned an 89 japan model like the one you are holding! Curious how the new ones stack up against the old ones.
What’s the neck shape like? They say it’s “narrow c” on the new model. That sounds very comfy with the shorter scale.
Very comfortable for me! It has a 17" radius which is super flat, but just feels right with this guitar. It isn't a compound radius, its 17" the whole way up the neck. I much prefer this, but some people might prefer a compound.
That is one sweet guitar my dude. The reissues can't possibly top yours.
I wonder what it would sound like if Eric Clapton played an HnM ...Layla with divebombs 😆 ...would be killer
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
😂😂
It's just a bad ass guitar period! I have a couple of Peavey Tracers 1989 custom and a 1994 deluxe with them exact Kahler Spider trem's I'm used to them and love em. They seem very similar to the HM strats..? I recommend checking them out..? I also have to admit I'm kinda jealous... I want one of them! I don't even think i need to try one out before buying either?
I still love it! If you dig a incredibly flat radius you will love it.
My old American HM has the H/S setup with the DiMarzio Super 3 and the Fender Lace single coil. My new 2020 re-issue sounds amazing with really hot pickups. Unless Fender decides to tell us who made them, we won't know. There's nothing written anywhere on the outside of the pickups. If someone wanted to dissect the new pickups to see if anything can be gleaned by looking inside, that might help. No, I'm not volunteering my new HM. I have thought about slowly trying to purchase replacement parts for the new HM when and if they become available. Because it's going to be such a limited run of these guitars, it might be nice to have some pristine parts lying around for the future. I didn't do that with my old HM, which is why I think I'll try to do this with my new HM.
Can we call that Makita blue?
The Kahler is in no way a copy of the Floyd Rose. It is a completely different design. If you had taken a better look at the Kahler bridge, it would have been obvious. The Kahler was not a "100% rip off" or copy, or even remotely related to the Floyd Rose, aside from both being floating trems. The Kahler was a competitor, or alternative, to the Floyd Rose not a copy. At one time, there were multiple Kahler models, including top load, and standard Fender Bridge replacements. As well, the Kahlers DO NOT REQUIRE THAT THE STRING BALL ENDS BE CUT.
Did you notice that the HM Strat doesn't use a pickguard, and that the pickups screw directly to the body?
so much of this is false.
On my 1988 it says
The Strat on the head stock and the bridge says Kahler Floyd Rose
Licensed on the saddles.
Also the only way you can string it without cutting the ball end is to string it through the tuner first But you would still have to cut the other end away up to the winding to insert it into the saddles to lock it.
It looks a lot like the 1985 BC Rich Japanese NJ Series. Same pickups, Tremelo & body.
Funny you say that, I actually have a NJ series BC Rich from 87’
Tony V. I have an all black NJ Strat that i painted to look like Bruce Kulicks pink/yellow/red/black esp. Great guitar! I didnt realize how close the HM strat was to the NJ but its really similar
It's actually a pretty good superstrat. I would just add that the body is smaller - more like a dinky. At least I'm pretty sure it is by looking. You should be able to tell for sure by putting it up against a normal Strat.
When you do, can you tell if it's the same thickness? Being that they've shrunk it on both x and y planes (i.e. scale length aswell), it stands to reason they would follow suit on the z plane...to keep it in scale.
If so, this thing looks like a good contender in the superstrat market. But the competition is fierce...
Once owners, honking for the nostalgia of owning an original, realize how much they overpaid for the newbie with bin shelf pickups and the entry level Floyd, you'll see 'em on reverb for $800.
wow I knew about the lower bridge but didn't even notice they put whatever no-name pickup on it. Aren't period accurate pickups really common, I'm sure 80s model Seymour Duncans and Dimarzios are pretty easy to come by.
They've omitted the TBX tone controls on the reissues as well. Personally i'd buy an original over a reissue, probably a better guitar for less money.
I have an original. Thought it was a fake fender for 20 years before I realized what I had. I treated it like crap the whole time now it's missing original parts and has rusty screws. 😥
I believe the difference in colors is due to a pearlescent clear coat I have a drum kit that was clear coated with pearlescent White and if you have blue lights green lights or any other colored lights the kit changes color
It must have been the fab fashion at the time for that style of Trem system (Spyder) and the body cut as I have an old MIA1989 Peavy Tracker with the exception of it being 21 frets and of course different headstock and having a STD heal/neck joint, in all other respects, it looks identical to the HM Fender. Maybe some parts for both companies were all sources from Nippon.
Pretty strat,wished the head stock matched in color. I did not like the Floyd rose bridge cause you have a tendency to loose tuning.
i have an original HM. these new ones don't have the TVX pots like mine does, and the humbucker should have been replaced with a PAF Pro. makes a big difference in sound.
How do you remove strings from the bridge section of this guitar. I can't seem to find how to pull them out. Not like my regular non HM Strat? Any help would be appreciated.
So in theory, if anything were to happen to the kahler, you could swap to a floyd rose? I've got an 89 hm on the way and it's in great shape, but I know parts are drying up for the kahlers.
Thanks for breaking it down. I enjoyed your attention to detail and opinion. Liked and subscribed
I have played a few of these at my local Guitar Center, the price is a turn off. They just do not look like a 1k guitar. The EVH 5150 line is similarly priced, but just looks so much nicer. Even though both are made by Fender.
Gimme 59 anytime! It sounds good...
I never understood why couldn't Fender ever make the Stratocaster body with a 24 fret board.
I remembered the, being more greedy/turquoise . Yours is in amazing shape for an original.
kool , thanx
RJ
I had a Fended prodigy, anyone remember those? The spyder was ok.
Yea ! Did some have flame tops?
Lance Hoffman
Mine was black body with black pickgaurd.
I have the hm all white and a black prodigy,love em both.
I have 2 MIJ Jackson Fusions from the same era which are basically the same thing. Original Floyd Rose trem on the Jacksons though and the PU's are meh so I replaced them. Also notice my DiMarzio pink 'cellophane' neck on my custom built Strat in my profile pic!
Does look and sound amazing, Jake.
I have a 1989 HM Strat with 2 humbuckers. I think it's a USA model but not 100% sure. It seems like it's more rare than the HSS models. I guess I may need to take out the bridge humbucker to see which one it is. Any other suggestions that would help me identify it?
Thats probably the best way to tell
I took the guitar apart and they are both Dimarzo pickups but there are no other markings to tell me which ones they are. Is there any way I could send you some pics?
What is that colour man...I just need to own it. Can't stop admiring that colour...damn it's fine:)
Ice Blue!
Thanks for the video this was cool!
How do you do to use floy rose and not get out of tune, I have one and always gets untuned by using Floyd rose
I’m about to restore and mod an old body hm2 strat and I’m excited to do it. Any advice on colors?
I like this HM Stratocaster
It’s back dude , but the spec for the trem is lower with a FR special and no Dimarzio pickups 😢 I’m still lusting for one though ,but charvel pro mod is better value. I just can’t find them in pink at the mo 🤘🏻🎸🤘🏻🕶
The original HM series was originally only going to be released in Japan. All the necks came from Japan because they had no set up to make them. Even the bodies were coming from Japan. Originally the guitar was only going to be released in Japan.
#11: they made 300 Budweiser editions and I have one :)
Good playing Jake.
Thanks Steven!
Cool Video!! I have one of these HM strats. I subscribed to you. I'll check out more of your videos.
Thanks a ton!
Do you know the watt number of the pots? Are they 500k?
You forgot to say that there is a model that has HS pickups and a tele like pickguard. I have one.
I've got an HS as well...Redstone finish. Super 3 in the bridge, Lace Silver in the neck. Been my #1 for many years...nothing plays better.
I have a chrome red HS with the DiMarzio Super 3 and Fender Lace single coil. Mine is an American made, based on the DiMarzio. I bought mine new around 90. I've always liked the Tele pick guard but understand why people think it looks odd on this guitar. From what I can tell, the HS config is the rarest of the HM variations. I believe it.
@@academyofshem My HM is the HS config with the Tele pick guard. I also have the Super 3 with the Lace Silver single coil. I understand the HS config is the rarest of the variations. I have the reissue and I love it but I haven't done a comparison of the humbuckers, side by side. I need to do that.
@@jozjonlin3170 Yeah, mine has the Tele pickguard as well.
Will Original floyd rose swap out easily?
I have owned an 88 since 92.
My 2020 hm reissued strat has a Floyd rose and no push pull
What I find weird is why a FR special instead of a real one
Briansgate For what they are charging for a reissue I would expect at least a 1000 series.
Funny color!
That’s what’s so great about it!
Love mine!!! All original!!!
Is this now available fr buying. Pl reply
Nope ;)
Yo tengo una desde el 92 .que calibre de cuerdas utilizas
Surely the back of the headstock tells you where it was made?
lewis morrison 🤣🤣🤣
That is my dream guitar
It's a killer axe!
The reason it appears green in natural light is because sunlight and incandescent lightbulbs are yellow. When you mix yellow light with a blue surface you get a sort of teal. The more "white" the light source via LED bulbs or other white interior lights, the more the original turquoise blue color will show. It's a color theory thing.
That is super interesting! Thanks for the knowledge!
Look awesome👍
At 2:15 you mention the single coil wire colours, most people seem to prefer the singles with the coloured (red and blue wires (US version)) but I own 4 of these guitars and have the coloured wire versions and black and white versions of the single coils (just sold a 5th one I had) and I prefer the sound of the single coils with the black and white wires (Japanese) somehow, I also prefer the lower output Super Distortion pickup in the Japanese version. I'm hosting a website for these guitars along with content from a guy in the US who used to host the site www.heavymetalstrat.com
By the way, I love this guitar, just so good to play.
Is the body smaller that a regular strat?
I hate to tell you this, the only US made models, had an actual Floyd, not a Kahler. Also, they were the 25.5" scale versions, not the 25.1". Best example is the version with the hockey stick headstock. Also, the Japan models had the Super 3 as well. It was made for Fender before it was called the Super 3. It then became a standard make Dimarzio pickup.
DiMarzio pickups in the early versions had 2 styles. One had all hex poles. The other had half slotted and half solid poles. The hex pole models were not apparently available in Japan and was installed in USA assembled models. Lots of Kahler Spyders were assembled in USA models.
@@casquehunters-treasurehunt4501 i had an all hex pole single humbucker only. It was made in Japan as stated on the sticker and serial database.
Also scale length on USA models are 25.15 inch and Japanese models were a straight 25.00 inch
@@casquehunters-treasurehunt4501do you have anything other than anecdotal sayings to support what you're saying?
Alan Woodwind yes. The single H model looks like it had the super 3 in first series as well. However, first series HSS models had Super Distortions. I had an original HSS in Razzberry back in the day. One of the first four colors available in first series
Funny I have a HM strat and my single coil pick-ups have the supposed blue/white and red/white USA made distinction but my humbucker is not of the hex head variety? However the scale on mine is 25.15 not 25" which the latter is the Japanese model..go figure
Dude we have the same exact haircut
Wicked!
Yeah if you can find one, KEEP IT!!!
Agreed. Mine is not going anywhere!
Mines made in Korea just two khob’s Jackson style head stock same color 🎸
I ordered a original HM made in California strat. It needs adjusting. How much will you charge me to adjust it if I ship it to you?
Send it over 😂
Jake Tanis not kidding. Will you do it for a decent price?
Actually none of those things are weir or even unexpected on a SUPERstrat that originated in the 80’s. Comparable to other SUPErstrats, which are usually regarded as a comparison to the standard stratocaster
Tfw you forget to key your greenscreen sub animation
You mean something with a radius that is big enough can be ultra flat? [sound of flat earther's heads exploding]
You forgot about the micro tilt