I'm a bit surprised that you were surprised at the MIJ quality. It's been no secret that, even going back to the CIJ days, these instruments are extraordinary.

Would love to see you cover one of the original 80s JV Squiers with the old Fullerton USA pickups.

As a lifelong Fender fan and player, I can confidently say that this Strat is the first Fender I've ever seen with an opaque grey finish on it. I kinda like it!

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

I've a friend with a Journeyman Series in faded sonic blue, it is gray like this guitar! Only from certain angles and in just the right light you can tell there is blue in the finish, however 90% of the time its just gray. It looks great, really different!

@catdaddy57

2 жыл бұрын

I like this color alot

@adrianr2312

2 жыл бұрын

Kinda looks like the white blonde Eric Johnson signature strat

@CCovers1

2 жыл бұрын

The classic vibe strats in white blonde look very similar although they aren’t as thick grey. I prefer the CV strat look than this - check it out

@jolu1621

2 жыл бұрын

I would prefer a red pickguard

I have one of these in Modena red and a rosewood board. Really love the colour and how it sounds. Its my first time using narrow tall frets so it was a bit jarring playing with it at first, but you'll get used to it eventually

That bridge pick up really reminds me of a Telecaster bridge pick up tone and I really like that, especially when driven

I'd suggest you to test the tremolo, when the guitar had one, and check if it stays in tune after using it.

I just picked up a 2013 MIJ Fender ltd edition 1 of 25 apparently, 62 vintage "dragon" strat. Believe me when I say I have had them all from American standards to deluxe to the custom shop Eric Clapton strat for 4500 bucks as well as Mexican made ones galore! I have never played a better guitar ever and that includes all the Gibson vintage originals or reissues or custom shop versions I've had too. The fit and finish and the neck shape on this beautiful strat is stunning! And the sound of these pickups are the nicest I've heard on anything! I play fingerstyle guitar including all styles like jazz, Chet Atkins, Classical, fusion, blues and rock and whatever else is out there, and the clarity of each note on every string on any fret is indescribable! The separation of each note is so distinctive especially when I play complicated quick tunes like Classical Gas, for example...yes I know....ON A STRAT ...your asking? Yes, even on this strat the clarity of each note is just exceptional! I just can't say enough about these MIJ Fenders. This one will never leave me!!! If you are thinking about picking an MIJ up, don't hesitate! You will never regret it.

@smmyers5956

4 ай бұрын

I think the reissue CuNiFe magnet pickups Fender now has are superior to anything I've heard in ages. Hope Fender keeps making the magnets. Maybe someday I can afford them. The clarity of tone on them across the whole range is to my ears phenomenal. I'd say the most usable position 3 sound I've ever heard. Anderton's did an interview with Tim Shaw if I remember correctly. With playing demos of the various new (2020-21) pickups.

This is one of the brightest, clearest sounding Strats I've ever heard, I love it

So do you order from the Japan Fender website using a browser translator for and have it shipped to your door? What was the shipping cost and experience like?

We get a lot of Japanese fenders in stores here in Australia, and I've tested quite a few! And they really are a cut above any Mexican model's.

@landonbailey

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with that :)

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

I would agree. My experience with Japanese manufactured guitars has always been really positive.

@heavybrett-al4082

2 жыл бұрын

@@landonbailey hey Landon👍big fan of your channel man.

@inebriationnz5941

2 жыл бұрын

The Mexicans should stick to tequila

@LLSicilia

Жыл бұрын

id go so far as say the QA is above MIA

that bridge pickup sounds really really good with some dirt on it

I saw one of these in a store today, in vintage natural and I'm totally smitten. It just looks beautiful. Even with a tortoise shell pick guard which I usually don't like. I'm watching this to see if it's as good as it looks.

I wonder if these pickups are suited for vintage strat sounds? I really like the Hybrid II strat but i want to have the old school strat sounds like SRV, Hendrix etc... anybody knows if this guitar is good for that kind of tone?

Man, this is rreeaallyy nice! I love the look of it. Kind of a dark "egg shell" vibe happening. And...it certainly looked easy to play...you are tearing it up in this video!! I rewinded a couple of times just to listen again. Thanks for this.

Absolutely love locking tuners like this! As if straight from my youth... It is difficult on average to explain to the overnext generation that there is no urgent need to unbalance the head with additional bolts to lock the strings.

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

100% agree A set of Grover for a 3x3 weigh almost twice as much as the vintage Kluson, on a Les Paul ounces count, especially at the end of the neck!

@joermnyc

2 жыл бұрын

@@hkguitar1984 I sold my Reverend 12-string for a Danelectro 12-string because having 12 thumb-wheel style locking tuners on an otherwise lightweight semi-hollow was neck dive galore! It’s not that bad on the Jetstream though. My pretty much partscaster ‘93 SG Special I put these type lockers on, but I also put a Bigsby on it too, balances out nicely. 😂

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

@@joermnyc Agreed, and of course it all depends on the guitar and its use. Sometimes heavier isn't as big a concern (as long as you have multiple guitars).

@MDN1505

2 жыл бұрын

The Gotoh locking vintage tuners are not that good. Swapped them out for the non locking ones although the Fender original locking tuners are seriously good enough but more work to redrill the holes to line them up.

Which string gauge in the guitar , sound very nice.

I have that style locking tuner on my ‘93 SG, just to help with tuning stability since I also slapped a Vibramate/Bigsby on it. (It’s pretty much a partscaster now, it was players grade when I bought it (back of the neck has a sizable dent, some of the headstock corners aren’t corners anymore, checking (it’s Ebony finish), at least the face of the headstock hasn’t melted like some other ‘90s Gibsons). Plus, some parts that weren’t original already (Pearly Gates neck pickup, roller bridge), so I figured not much value left, may as well make it my own, added in a Duncan Custom-5 in the bridge and one of those 6-way switches for coil-tap (I think the last Jimmy Page signature used one of those?) I think the next thing is will be a fret replacement, it’s not feeling the same after all these years. (It’s a Special, no worries about fret nibs!)

I'm trying to find a strat I like and this is one I've wanted to check out.

I dig the guitar and the sound. Should check out the Gun Metal Blue colour for the Tele Hybrid ii, I think its a special colour edition but boy its really good. I noticed MIJ metallic colour have this different touch. Love the review.

The Japanese Fender's realy are superb and this is a beauty. At first glance they register as Mexican but i think that's because of the black Truss rod plug. Maybe Fujigen Gaki can look into a Truss rod plug that makes them unique to Japanese built Fenders. It sure is pretty.

@fongy200

2 жыл бұрын

@@noComeDown I had noticed that.

What is the neck radius? That striped one the other day was a 7.25 radius neck. I really need one. My shoulder and arm grew back crooked. I can’t even play my 12 in radius ones

What pedals/fx/setup are you using for the dirty tones?

I have a 2004 CIJ Tele in a similar translucent color, but it’s an ash body. Not sure what they called it back then. It was a musicians friend exclusive I think.

Great in depth review! I got the HSS version and it plays superb! Can you do a review on Aerodyne ii as well?

So if I've done the conversion right (pre import tax, shipping etc) these are only around £650. Has the yen gone down recently? I always remember with Japanese guitars moving the comma to the right one place and making it a decimal to get the conversion price

@muinarc0

2 жыл бұрын

The yen is pretty weak right now. The shipping fees have gone up considerably but there's still a little bit of savings to be had importing things.

@talaris-uk

2 жыл бұрын

I’m returning to the UK soon from living in Japan, gonna bring a bunch of guitars in my suitcase (necks separated)

@samuelkb2964

2 жыл бұрын

@@talaris-uk nice what have you got

@talaris-uk

2 жыл бұрын

@@samuelkb2964 1988 American Std. Telecaster in sunburst 1990 MIJ ST62 Stratocaster in sunburst 1992 MIJ ST57 Precision Bass in sunburst 2015 MIJ Classic 60s Stratocaster in surf green

@samuelkb2964

2 жыл бұрын

@@talaris-uk wow really nice selection

Love the color of this one!

I want to see Trogly start a band or do some open mic nights! This Channel needs live concert footage!

Hey, your playing is so much better than it was a year or two ago! Nice work! Nice demo!

I have 2 made in japan fenders and they play the best out of anything in my collection

Austin, your finger picking sounded great. The more you practice finger picking the more you'll start to notice the different bridge string spacing(s) between Fender's different country of origin(s).

I have one of these in forest blue, damn nice guitar. They filed down the height adjusters on the bridge, no pokey pokey when palm muting. Nice attention to details. I think i prefer the American Pro II, but these are damn good guitars.

@smugbiz

3 ай бұрын

i wanted to love the Am Pro 2, got 6 examples and they all had some issues that my hybrid 2 doesn’t. bridge and vibrato felt better on the mia but necks on all of them had really bad frets, one example even had a whole fret where the finish was chipped lol. i must be unlucky cause everyone on internet loves em haha

I was about to get this model, but then saw the '50s Heritage series in white blonde

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

White Blond on a '50s style guitar is always very attractive.

@landonbailey

2 жыл бұрын

@@hkguitar1984 it's amazing looking. gold anodized pickguard and maple neck

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

@@landonbailey Excellent. One of these days I want to check out in person either the sonic blue or surf green translucent finishes Fender's offering. The gold hardware on the translucent blond is as classic as Gibson's Gold Top.

This, prs se silversky, or a MIJ Tokai TST/AST?

Fantastic guitar. Needs a little less overdrive and a touch more distortion. The clean sound is amazing. What is the hybrid part?

@PaulCooksStuff

2 жыл бұрын

The japanglish translation says it's a hybrid of vintage looks and modern specs.

My fav from MIJ at the moment. I got Aztec gold a Japan shop exclusive for Hybrid II.

How hard is it to order one of these?

Cool guitar. Great gift!

all about fender and Japanese fenders seem to be great. do they contend with American strats?

One thing you missed is the trem block is clearly cast (zink?). Either way that would need to be replaced.

@RTGuitar73

8 ай бұрын

"Bridge - 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Vintage-Style Stamped Steel Saddles"

I have a ten yr old carbonita tele with the same finish. Mexican made with TV Jones p/u’s in it I upgraded from the fender filtertron style pups. It’s my fav tele. Peace

Does this colour give anyone else Moc Sand vibes like the silver sky finish?

What amp are you using these days?

Beautiful Strat.

Just a question, what's the Fender American equivalent to the Hybrid II series?

@smugbiz

5 ай бұрын

am pro 2 i would say

That's a winner of a strat Japanese quality can't go wrong sounds excellent 👌 congrats Manuel and daughter 👏

idk if its just me but your playing got alot better in this video! great guitar also, japanese strats seems to be the truth

Well I'm not a strat fan but I've bought my son a couple of Japanese strats and I think they are better than American strats for less money but I'm a Gibson player but this one looks pretty nice

Happy Independence everyone from Ohio. Nice looking strat.Can you reveiw and demo one of the new Gibson acoustics please!

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

Thank You, happy 4th to you too from your neighbor in Michigan. Hope its a quiet night for you there.

Never ceases to amaze me how much that bridge pickup comes to life with a little dirt.

I'm satifisfied with my first Fender JP. Mine is forest blue strat with maple neck and no regret. I don't need another sss guitar.

The only gripe are those locking tuners...hard to use as it wouldn't release the string....it's the only thing I would replace...I would turn and turn and the string just stayed in there...I was worried I had broken it!!

yes

There are no surprise that Japaneese guitar often are high quality. I have three of them , fenders, and they are fantastic high grade of guitars.

that sounds amazing.

pickups sound really full clean. Surprising for single coils!

This guitar sounds great, sweet piece!

Japanese fenders all day long 😎

@rocknrolla2426

2 жыл бұрын

I have an Ibanez Prestige bass made in Japan and can say they know how to build guitars.

@eddiejr540

2 жыл бұрын

@@rocknrolla2426 ….agreed!!!!!

Happy 4th of July

@sgt.grinch3299

2 жыл бұрын

Randy in the house

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

Greetings Randy Happy 4th to You as well

Super interested in the Hybrid Jazz bass in black with the maple neck, but I’m not sure it would be worth all of the fees and import cost. Bummer.

@smugbiz

3 ай бұрын

if you live in the us then shipping would be around 100 usd plus 50 in import fees, for me in europe its still more than that but still comes lower than buying a mexican lol

That’s a beauty! They’ve really set up the heights of the pickups perfectly. As to USA vs Japan, I actually think Japanese Fenders are at LEAST as well-made as their USA-made cousins.

@sh4rkbyt3

2 жыл бұрын

The MIJ Fenders I've had were superior to the U.S. made versions!

I enjoyed tonight's video. I do have a question or two for trogly or anyone here who can tell me. There's a Japanese telecaster i saw online that i want. How do i find out what amount i would pay for import duties, taxes, shipping?

Reminds me of a John Mayer style finish.

You should do a video on the B.C. Rich Stranger Things "Eddie's" Limited-Edition Replica and Inspired NJ Warlock Electric Guitar Black

one of these days i’m gonna own a sakuraburst strat absolutely gorgeous and probably one of the only guitars i’ll keep stock

Nice pickup tones. POS 3 seems better than normal. Nice ringing chime from 2 and 4. All in all I'd say that was a VERY good choice for a present.

Japanese Fenders are top notch what comes to quality! These guitars are above others!

Nice looking Strat.

Fortunately in Australia they are little easier to get your hands on. I have the telecaster which I like a lot.

Sweet strat.

I wonder if the alder is the only reason the guitar has that slight pink hue or is it paint and clear that gets it. Would love to see some other colors like blue used if it's the latter reason. One thing I saw in a finish on a bike was that Harley Davidson's paints are made by them not outsourced. That being said what ever name they apply to the paint if it's a metal or a jewel and others they finely ground that actual material till it's a super fine dust. Then they mix it in with the paint and finish to give it its look. I had three bikes that were black cherry pearl gloss finishes and you could see the glow of a pearl in light at certain angles they also used that clear pearl finish on other colors like a canary yellow. If you haven't seen how the pearl changes and highlights the colors you wouldn't believe it . I'd love to finish a guitar in that manor but it wouldn't really be able to show off wood grain. I think this example having gloss on the fret board looks pretty good. I've seen some that looked like someone kept applying gloss with out sanding or drying between coats. When you started playing each position it started to sound a little muddy in all positions some more than others. Your run through you did before hand sounded somewhat clearer even in dirty tones. It wasn't terribly bad I just noticed that. Maybe it was a difference in your tone level on the guitar or something to do with an effect your using. A flanger is what it sounds like your using on some parts.

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

Really cool. Yeah, tough call on the guitar as the wood grain/figuring is part of the many reason's I love guitars. Maybe just the top finished in the HD paint and the back and sides natural!

The whammy bar is a pop in model?

It'd be cool to see you react to some guitars on pawn stars or similar shows

rosewood vs maple ? Which one is better? with us blonde body

@viniciuseduardobomfim

Ай бұрын

You have to sit down and try guitars with both necks to see what you prefer. Some people will like the feel of maple over rosewood better, and vice-versa. Tone wise, most people say Maple sounds brighter and snappier. Whilst Rosewood sounds darker and warmer. But nowadays, with modern pedals and audio interfaces... you can make your guitar sound like quacking ducks if you want 😂

How do we get in contact with you? I had a question to ask and the only option was to send you money for your services when I don’t even know if you can find what I’m looking for.

Yes, a nice modern / classic reissue.

MIJ baby!!!.. a lovely example and sounds sweet!!

I had a MIJ thinline tele Nylon string from the 90s. It did not have bridge pins or a electric pickup. Apparently this is in my imagination. Anyone hear of or ever seen one.

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

I do remember seeing one of those, not in person but in an advertisement. I think it had an early Piezo setup.

@charlesbolton8471

2 жыл бұрын

I never saw one in person, but I remember it. I think I saw it an issue of Fender Frontline.

@charlesbolton8471

2 жыл бұрын

@@Krullmatic I remember that one too, but I never saw one of them in person either.

@zeusapollo8688

2 жыл бұрын

I could really get into that

Sounds great, the new owner should be very happy.

I just got the exact same guitar

平均的な日本人の掌(とりわけ指が短い)にはトラディショナルなVシェイプよりも本機の様な薄目のCシェイプの方が演奏が容易になるのでしょうね。

That is one very sweet sounding Stratocaster.

The Les Paul guitars will always be my first love, but I have always loved the Stratocaster nearly as much. So I have 3 Les Pauls' and 3 Strats. A life in balance.

@zeusapollo8688

2 жыл бұрын

Time for some Paul Reed smiths

That looks like Mary Kay White strat minus the gold hardware.

I’m a sucker for blonde maple fret board! Nice axe!

It sounds incredible! Tasty

I know you’re a Gibson fan but you sound way better on Fenders, especially strats!

It looks a little like the Moc Sand on the Silver Sky. Ironic that PRS made a strat then Fender copied the PRS colour 😀

That's a great sounding Strat. Each position is very unique sounding to my ears. I like it a lot. Some Strats just don't have a good range imo...this....is not one of those.

It really is too bad that wasn't the Sakura burst version.

I used to be a Gibson fan forever...but honestly, since Fender made the Player Series at a price point I could afford, I haven't even looked back. I wonder if we've begun the conversion for Trogly? Will he be a Fender man?

Its no surprise that Japanese strats are as good or better than the American stuff.

Nice looker but didn't like the pups at all. Bet it's damn expensive lol - those Japanese strats are really getting pricey !

@A_Noid

2 жыл бұрын

It's significantly less expensive than an American Professional ii Strat and is of better quality than the American Performer Strat. Seems like a good deal to me.

Keep the fenders coming

Looks like a Mary k strat minus the gold hardware

the previous hybrid series have even better specs IMHO. I have two; 50s in US Blonde / 60s in Candy Tangerine. best bang for buck high end strat - no brainer on the QA side either. I went for these after MIM & MIA had the usual QA gremlins, 3 returns👎🏻

Not clear why it’s a Hybrid strat, seems like a very common yet nice Japanese strat.

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

I think the vintage inspired with modern hardware. The body was shaped very much like an early '50s Stratocaster. The difference in shape and comfort cuts are considerable when comparing a '70s, '80s and modern body to an actual vintage '50s shape. Also, this had a modern 2-Point Tremolo Bridge with vintage saddles. The tuners were vintage looking but included a locking function. Overall a pretty cool guitar.

@landonbailey

2 жыл бұрын

runs on gas and electricity

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

@@landonbailey LOL

@lazvt8469

2 жыл бұрын

@@landonbailey hey I love your channel too…

@paddysmyth90

2 жыл бұрын

I believe it is because they have US pick ups.

Those pickups sound surprisingly good. I have an 80's MIJ strat and the pickups are just so-so.

yours is the first pickup routes are "dirty"....everyone elses.have been clean

Z is for late. Happy birthday America!

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

Indeed yes, pretty darn good condition for 246 years old. Nobody else has been able to better us in that respect.

According to Alexz, 113,000 yen is about $831. That price seems like a steal to me!

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. Last month I purchased a Tokai custom shop R4 from a Japan Music Store. The guitar was a crazy smoke-in deal. getting it to my house cost about $400 w/Taxes and Shipping. The cost of the guitar was about $2000.

@leviathan_is_me

2 жыл бұрын

@@hkguitar1984 smoke-in? It's smokin' as in smoking with a bit of slang to it. (Not trying to be rude, just letting you know, apologies if it sounds that way.) Like some people hear "straight and narrow" as "straightened arrow".

@hkguitar1984

2 жыл бұрын

@@leviathan_is_me LOL, sharp eyes there Leviathan! I noticed the incorrect spelling before hitting send. Normally I would have corrected the statement, I must be tired! My day job finds me as a Sr. Technical Writer, I should know better. LOL "straightened arrow", I know, many once common cliché are simply lost. I turned 60 last month and just realized how much I miss the 1970s and '80s! Thank You, and be well Leviathan