2022. 61 years since I was born in October of 61.... this 61 strat would make a great birthday present.

@bretthart2949

4 ай бұрын

Hey ho,...also born in October '61😊

My AVII 61 Strat just came in yesterday and she is absolutely perfect. Frets are crowned and leveled, no sprouts, finish on the neck and body are perfect, rosewood board is dark and beautiful and the pick ups sound amazing. I love this guitar.

@teodelnorte

4 ай бұрын

For two grand you'd expect nothing less

Super demo Nev. You show a guitar like a player and not a salesman. Excellent stuff. Thank you.

@djleapwarren2716

Жыл бұрын

well said.

Like the instruments, this review from Neville is pure joy. Wonderfully warm. Looks like Fender finally got to where us fender fans wanted the instruments. Almost out of reach financially but totally worth the waiting and saving to grab one. Thank you.

The playing at the end always gets me, love your playing and demos, and the passion you have for some instruments.

I am beyond excited Fender brought the American Vintage series back. I have a woody for the '61 Strat and the Telecaster Deluxe. 👌

I’m drooling over that Tele

@steveturner6770

Жыл бұрын

Me too...!

Great video, thank you! I have the reissue 52 Tele, which is almost identical to the review model, it’s such a lovely guitar. These new releases look and sound beautiful.

Thanks for the comments. I had asked Fender what the body finish was (on the brief blurb we got it said nitro for the necks but nothing for the bodies) and I had not yet received their answer on the day of filming. But it's all nitro on the years that would be nitro, and poly when it was poly, obviously 70s, etc). Funnily enough, in the room the two Custom Shop guitars were surprisingly brighter, which I wasn't expecting. And when you consider that CS guitars start at around 3500 these are very fair value for money. I may well end up with a sunburst 61...!

@123eitle

Жыл бұрын

I thought the Vintage II Strat sounded a bit muffled even before hearing the CS. I did notice the pickups on the CS looked slightly more raised on the treble side... could that be a factor?

@johnsmith-sm6mh

Жыл бұрын

Hi Nev , pleased you are going for the Sunburst , i have a 2017 CS Sunburst 62 , so opted for the Olympic White 61 Strat and love it , oddly unlike the review one , mine is brighter than the CS ?? Guess wood and the sum of the parts can make the difference. I love both of mine and they are keepers

@paulcartwright2810

Жыл бұрын

Man alive...neville Martin...i remember you from when pre Internet days when I avidly Bought guitarist magazine in the 80s and early 90s...you were like THE BIBLE...you were like Jesus...to me you were as important an influence as all my guitar heros..i.e EVH Clapton page beck and johnny marr paul simon...paul weller..Richard Thompson..billy bragg ...and others..i remember in guitarist letters pages (remember those guys who sent in letters and demos..i wonder if they are still playing?)..a guy wondering why (you put CD on cover so we heard your playing) why as you were as good as any famous players..you yourselves .were not famous...im like thinking...well to me these guys are guitar heroes...along with if i remember. Steve hillbourn..Jamie humphies..he wrote an ace book on the brianmayredspecial...which i keep in my brianmayredspecialcase... ...steve hillbourn...who i mail ordered his guitar solos transcription book.....based on your reviews I bought my first Gordon Smith... (sadly sold on)...graduating to a "real " les paul junior...a review you gave in the 80s on a yellow TV junior sparked my lust ..mines a junior singlecut sunburst though.....marriage and life ensured that I stopped buying guitar magazines...but still played as a hobby and in a couple of amateur club bands.....do they still sell guitar magazines..?? I've Not been to my nearest town barnsley/Doncaster in 20 years (I don't get out much apart from go to work lol)...as a teenager is was like on with M65 usa army fishtail parka (im still these days rocking M65 feild jackets ) on my trusty vespa scooter off to the library music department.. (one of my most treasured books is a USA 1970s guitar player hard back compilation of article's that I used to borrow regularly that I spotted for sale in the Barnsley library get Rid of old books dept...how it found its way to Barnsley is a mystery..lol....along with a rather informative and useful Russ Shipton guitar tuition course book..and some 70s jazz and a bert Jansch guitar book with tab and explainion on the songs that I've never seen anywhere else )....any way .thanks for all you have done to promote guitar and the article's and editorials...I have to relate one editorial that sticks in my mind...you talked about how in guitarist magazine office you and other work mate's used to perv on a couple across the road having sex in clear view and how your eye would wander to looking at a custom shop les Paul in the room....rather than the free sex show on offer..it .reminded me of a time when..in the early 90s..me and my wife were having sex and the Rickenbacker 330 I'd saved 2 years for was propped against the bedroom wall and I glanced upon it ..got kind of distracted and ahem...lost my errection...lol..too much information ....anyways..don't suppose you will read this but as much as those guys we all revered in the 80s you were just as important and influencential...and great review of this really nice Fender strat...as.ive got a really nice 1998 fender strat deluxe (before the S1 stuff) and my all time favourite strat better than any usa "real" strat I've played a early 80s ibanez roadstar ll......im ok for strats and a rather good Mexican baja does my tele duties ..i can see why it was discontinued as apart from the thick poly finish...which i can live with as it doesn't affect to tone IMHO...its as good as it gets without paying for a custom shop...which lets be fair..all usa fender and gibson should be custom shop quality ...and in any case 12 years of tory government's destruction of the economy and working classes and the cost of living crisis and by their wicked evil policies forcing our mortgage and simply buying enough food to live to rise..and them allowing the energy companies to take all our hard earned spare cash ...any spare cash for a holiday..a guitar...a fucking new pair of shoes has gone...we need to get these brextit flag shagging (yet still so unpatriotic and un Christian by their actions) cunts out of power ASAP...so I won't be sadly buying one...its a fucking shame...as they look really nice....

@davidhatton9618

Жыл бұрын

Eu

@davidhatton9618

Жыл бұрын

🌅🌅🌅🌅

@11:29 you can clearly see that the dots are not centred between the frets. It actually looks like the fret slots are cut a bit backward. Check the space left at the last fret. You'd say that the last portion of wood before the pickguard it's deeper than it should.

Great review. Fantastic playing as always. Always comes across as a throughly bloody nice bloke!

I appreciate so much this rewiew from a really expert guitarist like you,as one can find very few at today's times. Thank you a lot!

Beautiful guitars and excellent demo of them. I cannot wait to play one. 🎸❤

Best proper demo of this model on youtube . Neville has the touch.

That was an excellent review. Also, I really enjoyed your book, Giants Of Blues. Cheers from Texas!

Quite amazing that there's such a big market for new Vintage Correct specced guitars.

Thanks Nev. Great review as always.

I want both of them, they are just beautiful, and sound fantastic. I was a Gibson player for years, then a PRS player, now I mainly use my Fenders!

I ordered one of these over a year ago and just received it. It's is the best Strat I've played, including Custom Shop. Very light with impeccable workmanship.

Thanks for another great review Neville, I always enjoy your stuff. You inspired me in picking up my fender original 50’s series telecaster that I absolutely adore. I’d love you guys to review the Taylor 814CE builders addition at some stage. Love to hear your thoughts on that. Cheers

Great presenstation, enjoyed watching 👌🏻

cool video! have the 61 in 3tsb ...incredible guitar ...the pickup's are awesome and i like the tone control on the bridge pu... 👌😉

Both guitars sound and look amazing. I own 2 strats, one with a rosewood fretboard and one with a maple fretboard ( MIJ ) Love them both

@morrisonmcqueen1364

Жыл бұрын

And yet now you NEED a third!

@ranman58635

Ай бұрын

Ditto! Squier for me tho

Nice demo and great playing!!! :) I like your feel and sound a lot. I have a AV I Tele which I love and use as my main Guitar. But now I’m thinking about adding an AV 2 Strat to the arsenal. But man, the 51 Tele sounds sooooo good as well! 🎸🎸🎸

Thanks Nev. I think the new Vintage II Strat sounds even better than your Custom Shop. Almost nothing to choose between the teles, although I might prefer the bottom end on your Custom Shop. And I want the tele!

Definitely keen to try the 61 strat

I have just ordered by Strat 61 Fiesta Red few hours back and still watching reviews :-) , I have not played in person the 61, I did play the 57 but was not to my taste. Thank you for great playing & comparison, I guess the Pure Vintage pickups they have nailed it.

Man that 61 is nice that what a strat support to sound like , love it thanks for the post,

9 months later and I have an American Vintage II ‘61 Stratocaster in three tone sunburst on order. 😅😊❤

Oh! The holy grail! The pie in the sky! I love Strats and Teles. I love guitars. I've had a couple of Japanese reissue ones and I own a 1960 CS Strat and a CS Custom Classic. Superb guitars. I also own a Tagima made in Brazil which I also find great even when paired with my Custom Shop guitars. Guitars are guitars. Some are good, some are bad. Fender always annoys me when they come with a new reissue series and say that this time they got it right! Is it so damn hard to get it right making their own product? When I got my 1960 in 2009 it was supposed to be right, but now I know better. A guitar is just a guitar and making a fine Strat or Tele is possible for makers other than Fender. Still love their stuff, though. Can't say the same about their prices.

Best looking neck and board I’ve ever seen

Just got the vintage II Tele and it is awesome!

Great demo, thanks.

Nev - Great licks and vivid reviews.

That amp looked amazing 🤩 Beautiful guitar 🎸

That color 🤩

Lovely guitars. Wish the had made a mid-late 50’s white guard tele as well. Maybe next year 🙏

Love that strat.

Hola amigo , les sigo desde los años 90 por la revista Guitarrista. Gran trabajo especialista . Sobre esta guitarra tengo que estar totalmente de acuerdo en esta ocasión con el instrumento del cual soy un afortunado propietario . Lógicamente en aspectos de sonido desde aquí te das cuenta que cuando la tienes entre las manos y tocas ,muestra este instrumento un tono maravilloso difícil de comparar con el audio de You tube . Pero es gran trabajo de muestra . En la realidad suena increíble también . Adquirí esta guitarra sin estar sugestionado por algoritmos , la probé en tienda física y se me quedó pegada , adhesiva . NO TENÍA PREVISTO COMPRAR GUITARRA ALGUNA 😂, solo quería cuerdas y salí de la tienda con la guitarra super enamorado , y me está dando lo que ninguna guitarra propia me ofrecía. Gracias por las lecciones en la revista Guitarrista de la cual tengo muchas unidades en inglés y en español.❤ . Saludos director . Gracias.

An instabuy guitar for me would be that 61 strat in a light shell pink. I know that shell pink is popular right now, but IMO, only the Custom Shop Fenders nail the look. I love the heavy relics and all, but I do want a brand new looking one so I can ding it up myself through normal playing.

dudeeee!!! that tone is perfect!!!!

OMG! Newest AM reissue! the 61 pickups I like

Thank you. Very helpful.

Love me some Rosewood fingerboard strats.

That Strat is my dream guitar. Sounds great but your custom shop is even better.

@soofitnsexy

Жыл бұрын

yeah and its only 2 thousand dollars more...cmon

@book3100

Жыл бұрын

Play it a couple years, I bet it'll sound better. And if you adjust for inflation, they're about the same price as when they first came out. Roughly. It's all in what you're after :)

The necks on these vary a bit which I think is really neat. They really did try to get this line as close to vintage as possible. And the variable neck shapes are proof. What a cool detail for a vintage reissue line.

They sound phenomenal! There was a negligible difference between the Vintage II and the CS on both of them. Both are absolutely gorgeous as well! Thanks, my man, and you sure can burn up those strings!

@vyvynylification

Жыл бұрын

Im thinking of getting both the tele 51 and 61 strat. I could also opt for the pro II versions of these which are cheaper, more versatile and easier to play most likely but these just seem that little extra special, that little closer to CS level! They attract me more.

@mysticsailor9

Жыл бұрын

the CS strat had a much sweeter top end across the board.. then i did notice that the CS pups had been adjusted a bit.. so perhaps it may be closer than i think

@user-tx1ec9wb1z

10 ай бұрын

I'd go used custom shop

@vyvynylification

9 ай бұрын

@@user-tx1ec9wb1z 11 months since my comment and I tried alot of guitars. Brand new these are 2100-2200 euro whilst the cheapest CS i've seen so far sits around 2800 so I get it. Anyway, for me, used US reissue is the sweetspot. Can score AO guitars for 1500-1700 easily.

finally a review great and normal ,thanks!!!

Incredible

Glad that the 51 Tele bridge pickup sounds broadcaster-ish (i.e., dark, compressed and midrangey) as those guitars were originally in 1950-51.

Great review. But are the frets on these really the same as on the originals? My understanding is that Fender's use of "vintage tall" indicates a slightly taller fret wire than on the originals. Which I think is actually somewhat better because you get more mileage before you need a refret job.

Great demo! How is the neck profile on the 61? I’d love to see a thick neck with a nice vintage taper!

I just picked up an American Original 1960s Strat in shell pink and absolutely love it. I’ve owned many Strats over the years but this one wins in terms of playing comfort and tone. The Pure 65 pickups sound incredible - warm, articulate, and very raw sounding. The guitar resonates exceptionally well, even unplugged. I read somewhere that the American Originals, and I presume American Vintage II, are painted in the custom shop.

I would trade everything I own for these 2 guitars. I’m not typically a fan of brand loyalty but, I’ve come to realize that I’m a Fender guy. That’s what a guitar should sound like to me.

Urethane base with lacquer top, I believe. And I LOVE that amp!! And Fender IS doing a better job at this level with their pickup building. With all due respect, the 7.25 and narrow "tall" frets IS a problem. Fender had it right with the American Original, and even that guitar needs a higher bridge for upper neck string bends (I know, I have one!). I also have a 2000 American Series with 9.5 and big fat frets, and that is a JOY to play on. By the way ... I have been playing Fenders since 1961.

I'd love that tele 🎸🎸🎸

I make partscaster guitar's. I cant afford the expensive price tags so i just piece them together over time. My latest is a dream now. 2018 50s stratocaster body and 2000's Squier stratocaster standard neck with reverse headstock. I've installed new wiring and capacitors. The 70s headstock is neat and plays nice witht the new tuners. Poly body bit oh well. I could compare it to a Jimmy Hendrix tribute. Rosewood fretboard.

These guitars look wonderful. To be honest, I like the American Original range, and may just opt for a used one of those. I’ve been looking for a great strat, so this is a really intriguing offering from Fender. I’ve played several of the AVRI models from back in the day and liked them. I’ll give these a try next chance I get….who knows, I may end up liking these new ones better.

@ericmojave6061

Жыл бұрын

@RD History yeah, they’re pretty similar. The biggest difference is the fretboard radius. It’s subtle, but everyone has their preferences.

@mikeyorange1048

Жыл бұрын

I’ll sell you my original so I can buy one of these!

@Kleyguy7

Жыл бұрын

@@mikeyorange1048 why though? 9.5 radius should be more comfortable. Also to me those yellow necks on the AV II makes them look no different than a squire CV.

Can we please get the back track !? I loved the beginning back track

Guy reminds me of Phil Collins. Good video Thanks 😎👍👌💯🎸🎸

Can't wait to get mine. 😅

Al lovely review Neville. I don’t like the strange orangey pumpkin 😮butterscotch colour they’ve gone back to on the Telecaster. They were blonde when new back in the day when they were new.

Thanks for the overview. How does the 61 Strat compare to the AVRI 65 Strat from 2014-2017 ?

Is the g string louder than the d string on the Vintage II guitars?

tele vintage ii comes with fender pure vintage 51 pickup??

thanks for this. can you play funk on this? how high is the best pickup height for these guitars?

Ahh! Just ordered the Strat today! 61 Olympic White! Ughhh. The painful wait now!

The body on the '61 Strat is nitrocellulose lacquer! Also, you have to appreciate the fact that the Custom Shop instruments of yesterday are the production models of today---just like in the automotive industry. The options in the S-Class Mercedes of 2004 are now the standard features in the standard line of 2024. Likewise, what somebody paid $6k for back in 2002 at the Fender Custom Shop is now $2k in 2024 from the regular Fender production line. Just because you have a "Custom Shop" guitar from 10 or 20 years ago doesn't mean s**t. Everything they learned from making that they've now put into their regular line.

I remember first picking up Guitar Mag in '98 and seeing Neville martin's articles, he's very knowledgeable about stratocasters. I own an American original strat and love it.

There only difference I hear between these and the CS variants is that the later have more articulation... And a little bit more rounder/less edgy sound. But all of them sound fantastic!

stupid question: will the white body eventually becomea bit yellowish or does this only happen to plastic parts when they get older?

The American Vintage II '61 Strat here has more honk and the CS more warmth, but that could just be the pickups. I prefer the CS here, but I think the '61 will age beautifully.

2022 technology 21 frets and a six screw bridge will go great with my new/old Desoto.

Just ordered the 61 strat in Olympic white .

I just hate taking the neck off to adjust!!!

Bevelled pole pieces on the strat?

Any thoughts on how these compare to the 2012-2016 "Pure Vintage" AV's?

@guitarist

Жыл бұрын

As much as we liked the 2012 AVs, we felt the standard of finish, hardware and general vibe of these stood out. Several people at Guitarist remarked on it when they opened the case and played them and that was borne out by full review testing. Not a giant leap better but palpably classier. Very serious guitars for the money.

@Teletex82

Жыл бұрын

@@guitarist Thank you so much, and that is lofty praise indeed. If I hadn't just purchased a CS 57 I would be all over these!

Weight of Strat in details?

I am thrilled that they did these because I really don't care for modern stuff very much. A nitro lacquer Strat with a 7.25" radius board?! Yes, please 🥺

I'd prefer you didn't cut the volume knob for the clean tones... I rarely like the effect that has on my own.

I wish the nitro wasn't over poly so the necks would actually wear like they used to

Beautiful guitars. The ‘61 is an Olympic white, not optic white. The 50s and 60s have nitro finish body according to all the websites.

FYI, drop those pickups and learn that your guitar will have a new tone all together. Itll sweeten up big time. Moat hqve them too chose. When they were high, i wanted to rip them out. You can still crank it, actually it'll be wasy cleaner.

honestly your CS models are better but damnnn for 2k the new AV are fantastic!!

Volume not full?Guitar a have treble bleed?...

What do they go for it would be great investment

@vyvynylification

Жыл бұрын

Their prices rival those of the ultras. Same money for less options but definitly special in their own way.

To add to your ending note: "If you don't like reliced guitars", I really don't liked how they color aged neck and plastic element. I wish that they would look like new ones... To me this is a thing that relic fans like and not people who want to buy a reissue guitar that is supposed to bring you back in time.

Those gaps in between the neck and body joint is scary.

Augh, truss rod buried in the pocket. If you live in Tallahassee or New Orleans or San Bernardino, no worry. But up at latitude 45 N, around the same times you switch your tires, you are (or your repair tech is) gonna be disassembling that model .

i would go for custom. sounds warmer than amerian vintage to me.

I traded an unplayable old guitar (a 1975 Tele Thinline) that I could not afford to fix for what was supposed to be a Fender American Vintage II '63 Tele in red. It's supposed to have a mahogany body, white, seven screw pickguard and steel saddles. I don't know about the body wood but my guitar has a five screw black pickguard and brass saddles. There's no serial number on the neck plate and Fender doesn't recognise the supposed serial number that's on the tag that was in the case. In other words, I don't know quite what I've got. What I DO know is that it's a damned fine guitar, probably the best instrument I'll ever be able to afford to own. It's a keeper. What's the deal with the five-way pickup selector switches on the reproductions of old Strats? Weren't those introduced much later than 1961?

It sort of feels they are competing against PRS’s Silver Sky’s range. I still think you get a lot of guitar with the AM pro II, although I get this is Amore vintage spec. I don’t get why purists won’t accept the Ultra’s neck heel. Anyway, it seems the right guitar for someone looking for a vintage spec. At this level, you’re paying the same as the Ultra, but the specs are totally different.

@markuyehara7880

Жыл бұрын

I like the contoured heel on the Ultras. The noiseless coils and block saddles are the problems

@pepeowen

Жыл бұрын

@@markuyehara7880 the block saddles thing is a very contested point. I personally like them. Many do as well. Easy and cheap to change. About the pickups, very personal too. But changeable.

@attrition0

Жыл бұрын

@@markuyehara7880 I like the heel and saddles on the ultra -- I would like those with the nitro, but without going custom you can seemingly either go 'very modern' or 'very vintage'. I lean vintage in that case, these look great.

@vyvynylification

Жыл бұрын

I'm currently debating the tele 51 vintage II, tele american original 60s, tele pro II and tele ultra. They're all top tier production models and roughly in the same price range (ranging from 1800-2300 here) but VERY different. I'm not a purist so I don't care too much for tradition. I do love the pro II necks though... But the 60s american original seem stellar! And so does this. But the ultra is the most comfortable with all them contours and cut-outs and noiseless pups might come in handy!!.... Oh, how to decide? :( I think the vintage II might be a skip due to 7.25 radius and the ultra because I'm not a huge fan of the D shaped neck

@pepeowen

Жыл бұрын

@@vyvynylification The D-shape neck is amazing, but so is the deep-C neck. Very different playing styles. If you're not a purist, the Am pro II will probably hit the perfect balance.

The 54 P Bass is just as good too.

Oh ! Fantastic ! Just another butterscotch blonde tele lookalike squier's standard, squier's classic vibe 50s, Fender Vintera series, MIM Standard series, USA Standard, AVRI... not mentioning a decades of MIJ/CIJ Fenders. How much more fascinating would be a AVRI II series - 1960 Telecaster Custom in Two tone sunburst ? ;)

61 strat sounds better than the custom shop. Hands down. Sweet, more bite and fuller

How is it to play vrs a 9.5 radius?

@vyvynylification

Жыл бұрын

I own both and was terrified to receive my vintage II tele because of all the people on forums and comments saying it's bad. I hoped that I wouldn't notice the difference but I do. I can tell the fretboard is very rounded. HOWEVER: not in a bad way! it's very comfortable and I can bend just fine. Maybe if you're an extremely fast shredder or rely on bends ALOT it's not ideal. Otherwise no issues.

Amazing guitars and amazing reviews? But yet at beginning of 2023 they are really hard to find!!!

I got the strat at 7 lbs 12oz. Couldn’t be happier.

"Nitrocellulose lacquer" ~ Fender website.

@Kleyguy7

Жыл бұрын

"Nitrocellulose lacquer over urethane base coat" ~ what should be written on Fender website. It's bad that they are not honest about it.

The pickups seem hotter on the vintage than the custom.