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And I have hardly been able to put it down for the past 9 hours.
Lately I've bought alot of stellar guitars. A couple Les Pauls, a McCarty, a Firebird,and I've raved about all of them on here, and all of them deserved it.. The McCarty played so easy and had such a glorious singing lead tone. The Firebird is so ergonomic to my body, plays well, and totally does the Michael Schenker/Mathis Jabs thing. The Black Standard has THE classic Les Paul sound and also is hell of a player.

But this thing has SERIOUS Mojo, and I was NOT expecting it.

It's def *NOT* a shred-axe. I'm sure people are put off by Yngwies name on it, but this basically feels like any quot;vintage reissuequot; Strat barring the scalloped board. I dare say, that I don't find it any better or worse that the NOS Custom Shop 65 I played about a week ago, at least in any major category.

TONE MONSTER. I've never played a bolt on neck with this much sustain. Guitar resonates like crazy. And the tone is EXTREMELY clear and full.

I know there are alot of DiMarzio haters here, but the HS3 amp; YJM are damn good Strat pickups. They are actually quite warm and far from sterile (been many years since I've fooled around with an HS3). I'm getting tones out of this thing I NEVER could get before. Yes, It DO sound like Yngwie through the Rivera goosed with a pedal. It also NAILS Ritchie Blackmores tone (A tone that has eluded me on 4 or 5 other strats over the years). Uli Roth? No prob. Early 80's Gary Moore? not an issue. It also does a damn fine Hendrix/Trower or country twang. This is a VERY stratty sounding guitar. Not a metalhead axe.

Of course the BIG thing is the scalloped board. I immediately warmed up to it. It def does require a light touch (which I wanted since I'm too agressive and sloppy). My first few open chords were so out of tune it scared the crap out of me The added control in bending and using vibrato is HUGE. It WILL show off your mistakes in fretting (especially chords..and again a feature I wanted). But already it's helping me with the sloppiness and fretting mistakes. I'm really surprised that scalloped boards aren't more popular regardless of playing style/music style...maybe because they ARE less forgiving of mistakes?

My only major gripe is the tuners. I've had a devil of a time getting it in tune. They are just not sensitive enough, and I seem to overshoot the proper pitch no matter how little I turn the key. I thought it may be an issue with the nut, string trees or the saddles , so I nut sauced them all (heh). That helped some, but unless these things just need to break in, I may need to get some replacements.

Selector switch tip keeps coming off, but a dab of superglue or something should take care of that.

Also the Vintage Tweed case, is kinda flimsy, and does not hold the guitar that securely...there is quite a bit of space for it to move back and forth at the neck as well as the body.

I know we all get giddy like a schoolgirl about new toys, and I'm worse than anyone.....but I think this could be *THE* Strat ...the one that has eluded me all these years. Here's some more pics
I like it!

Im glad you got one...I though you were gonna go crazy looking for the right Strat...I know it's a tough call, I went crazy last year on a hunt for the perfect strat!

ive always wanted to try a scalloped fretboard...


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireI like it!

Im glad you got one...I though you were gonna go crazy looking for the right Strat...I know it's a tough call, I went crazy last year on a hunt for the perfect strat!

That was the thing. Fender has like 50 million Strats, and I couldn't find exactly what I wanted in the price I was willing to pay. The Custom NOS 65 was super sweet, I liked everything but I just didn't feel it was a $2100 guitar. The MIM's didn't do it for me either. I do like the American Series guitars but wanted a vintage trem, and bigger neck.

When my first malmsteen fell through, I was really disappointed, as I've always wanted one of these and it met all my criteria barring 22 frets.

I'm a huge strat fan.... I love these YM signature guitars and oneday would love to buy one myself..... I only have one USA strat so far and it is an American Standard... I have played a few Signature models and i do have to say they are so much more solid for tone compaired to some of the cheaper strats i own... Well worth the expense i think.. I'm going to try to trade in my 3 Mexican strats for some cash towards another American model....

I have a few USA Vintage reissue cases that i bought used and it does not hold my TEX MEX strats that well either... That crazy angle they make you put the guitar on in the case is not designed that great...

WhoFan

Beautiful Strat. And congrats on finding one that quot;fitquot;.


Originally Posted by WhoFanI'm a huge strat fan.... I love these YM signature guitars and oneday would love to buy one myself..... I only have one USA strat so far and it is an American Standard... I have played a few Signature models and i do have to say they are so much more solid for tone compaired to some of the cheaper strats i own... Well worth the expense i think.. I'm going to try to trade in my 3 Mexican strats for some cash towards another American model....

I thought my recent American Series was a fine guitar. It had good tone. And it was put together well. But this YJM is def at another level. Tone-wise in particular, and build quality too (for example, the neck joint alone). I really don't think the Custom shop NOS 65 I played sounded any better (different yes, by the nature of it's pickups), and I don't think it was put together any better either. It was a a fine instrument for sure, but I can't see, feel or hear where the extra $700 is going to.

Artie: Thank You I'm having a difficult time putting this thing down. It's one of those guitars that just gets you motivated to play and learn new stuff/experiment.

Now don't be lighting it on fire like YM and smash it to pieces..... Just kidding.... Ya i have noticed with some of the Artists guitars that there is an overall feel of quality to them that is not on the cheaper guitars.. The wood and chaftsmanship are just better. The feel of a solid guitar. I have felt that quality in the Claptons and the Becks among others... Now if i could have a Beck guitar with Clapton neck shape that would be something!!!! After playing the Signature type Strats and going home and playing a Mexican strat you can feel and hear such a huge difference.. The Mexicans are great for the money but the USA Strats are much better to me... My 1988 USA Standard strat has a feel of quality to it that my other strats do not have... That 88 Standard will be with me to the day i die...

WhoFan

Wow, nice. I'd never really thought about the YM strat before, but I'm thinking I'd like to try playing one now. That scalloped board sounds really interesting too...

Is that a mint green guard on candy apple red? Whatever it is, it looks great.

I played one of those at my local shop. I was thinking I would hate it, since I have a heavy attack, and like to dig in like hell to bend a string. But I found myself hardly bending at all, but throwing in alot more vibrato that I usually do. And it was alot more melodic than the blues rock stuff I play alot. I didnt get a chance to plug it in, but if I were to have to buy a for the type of music I was belting out, that'd be the one. great score bro.

the action looks crazy high on that neck, or is is it just the pic? I love the scalloped neck on my ernie ball...try some locking tuners and your tuning problems are over.


Originally Posted by St_GenesiusIs that a mint green guard on candy apple red? Whatever it is, it looks great.

Yup. Thought I would hate it. Actually love it now that I see it in person

That's a great looking guitar, bro. I've always wanted to try one of them. Now you're getting me GASed up again to try one.


Originally Posted by Mincerthe action looks crazy high on that neck, or is is it just the pic? I love the scalloped neck on my ernie ball...try some locking tuners and your tuning problems are over.

I think it's just the pic. It does seem maybe a tad high compared to what I'm used to, but it also has the super jumbo frets and the scalloped board so that may be affecting my perceptions. I'm leaving it alone for now 'til I get better aquainted with it.

Anyone know what locking tuners retro with the Fender/Schaller vintage ones on the guitar now?


Originally Posted by JacksonMIAThat's a great looking guitar, bro. I've always wanted to try one of them. Now you're getting me GASed up again to try one.

Don't do it...if ya don't have the cash...


Originally Posted by beandipI played one of those at my local shop. I was thinking I would hate it, since I have a heavy attack, and like to dig in like hell to bend a string. But I found myself hardly bending at all, but throwing in alot more vibrato that I usually do. And it was alot more melodic than the blues rock stuff I play alot. I didnt get a chance to plug it in, but if I were to have to buy a for the type of music I was belting out, that'd be the one. great score bro.

Yeah, it really does facillitate vibrato, and a smoother more legato style. I find myself sliding up and down the neck alot more...or ascending/descending runs on a single string...that kind of thing.

Last night I think I was possessed by the spirit of Hendrix for a bit...I got into the neck pickup, and was layin out some heavy psychadelic blues (well what I'm capabale of anyways) for over an hour straight...and I don't even care for Jimi, really (I'd rather hear Uli, or Yngwie do the Hendrix thing than Jimi himself) :shrug: This is a way cool Strat. Serious Mojo. even made it my avatar. Never had any of my guitars as an avatar before!

Like him or not...Yngwie knows how to quot;designquot; a good Strat.

I've always wanted to try one of those. Like you, I would probably play everything out of tune at first, because I tend to squeeze the strings pretty hard.

It's amazing how much sustain some of these Fenders have, isn't it? My new USA Strat rings like a church bell every time I hit a note. I love it!

Cool! Congrats on your new baby! That scalloped board really adds to the mojo of that Strat. I've been thinking about having my axe refretted with Dunlop 6000's lately to get a little bit of that scalloped feel. I was a bit afraid of the idea, but having read your review now I'm sure as hell. Tomorrow I'll have that extra mass put on the neck...

Ahhhhhhhh no fair. I would cut off my big toe for one of those.