I don't think there is any real substitute for the sound of a Tele bridge pickup, so there's that. And I love the "cluck" of a Strat. But one of the things that disappoints me about 3 pickup guitars with 5-way switches is that there is no neck+bridge combination available. A mod I like to do - which is most appropriate on "Nashville" Teles, but also on Strats, is to simply flip the leads for the middle and bridge pickups at the selector switch. Instead of N / N+M / M / M+B / B, you get N / N+B / B / B+M / M. So you forfeit one of the "cluck" positions but regain the Tele-like N+B setting. Of course, some folks like one cluck position more than the other. So, for them, you flip the middle and neck pickup leads at the selector switch. That gets you M / M+N / N / N+B / B. It takes a little getting used to, but not all that much. I don't think I could ever be without a neck+bridge tone!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

One of my favorite places, John Leventhal, does that mod. I was watching him play a 3-pickup Tele, and was confused as I watched his selector switch. Afterwards, he told me the wiring mod that he did, just like you explained. I am tempted to flip those connections right now. Another pinned comment, Mark!

@fossilmatic

4 жыл бұрын

Yep. My Strat has this mod, but simply because I swapped the middle and bridge pickups around in the pick guard!

@AZFunk

4 жыл бұрын

Emerson has a great wiring harness for Strats that turns the bottom tone into a blender circuit, allowing you to blend the bridge in when on the neck, and vice versa, and in the 2 and 4 position, blend in to have all 3 pickups active.

@thethesaxman23

4 жыл бұрын

Mark Hammer something I did as a mod on a friend’s strat was wiring the neck and middle pickups to a toggle switch. The mod allows home to toggle between the standard 5 way and the M/NM/N/NB/B configuration. It actually works really well and it’s become one of his favorite guitars!

@markhammer643

4 жыл бұрын

@@thethesaxman23 There's certainly no end to the creative mods one can do with a Strat or other 3-pickup guitar. I generally recommend the lead-swap as an offering to the more timid, who may be justifiably reluctant to start popping holes into their guitar, or reluctant to embark on push-pull switches. Simply flipping two leads around at the switch get you a new guitar without having to add anything, buy new pickups, drill holes or follow arcane wiring diagrams. Old course, no wiring mod on a Strat, no matter how simple, gets you past the frustration and nuisance that could have been avoided if Fender had used the same two-piece pickguard and control plate found on the Tele, the Jaguar, and Jazz Bass. Yet one more reason to love Teles!

Great point about not just playing a “different” guitar not for a different tone or to do different things in a song-but also so that you play it differently.

I'm a Tele player because it gives me the sounds I want and love. But I love Strats too, for the amazing history of the great players who have shown us how incredibly versatile they can be. From Buddy Holly to Hank Marvin to the greatest Strat player of them all----- Jimi Hendrix---- it's another example of the amazing genius mind of Leo Fender. There aren't enough words to truly describe how brilliant and inventive Leo was.

@dirkdiggler6230

2 жыл бұрын

im pretty sure it was an accident

@powbobs

Жыл бұрын

David Gilmour.

Personally I really dig the sound of positions 2 and 4, but I think that’s what’s great about Strats. There’s so many tonal options for any style or any player. That’s probably why it’s regarded as “the” electric guitar!

Love the touch and sensibility of the clean tone playing with country, r&b, americana sensibilities. My kind of thing. This channel has become one of my favorites on YT.

One of my favorite things about Fender guitars is that they can have SUCH different voices in different players' hands. Especially Strats. Sure, this is true for all guitars, but I really feel like Strats and Teles are the epitome of the sentiment.

@notbraindead7298

3 жыл бұрын

Very astute observation.

@PageandPlant4Life

2 жыл бұрын

Compare Claptons strat tone to Richie Blackmore... drastically different sounds. Astute observation

@sichuancowboy

2 жыл бұрын

@@PageandPlant4Life that's because amps matter way more than guitars in the signal chain. they used different amps.

I was a Tele guy until it was stolen. My other guitar was a Strat and by the time I found another Tele that I liked, the Strat had seduced me. The Strat is my voice but when I need to crank up a guitar with some attitude, the Tele can't be beaten. The more refined nature of the Strat drew me in and I felt like it was much easier to play. Playing the Tele is a little more like work to me, but my Tele buddies, of course, disagree. All my Strats (except for the EJ) have 6100 frets (12" radius), Fralin pickups, and upgraded hardware - especially the Trem block. Anybody looking to toughen up the tone of a Strat should consider looking at upgrading the trem block and adding a Fralin steele pole 43 to the bridge position. Great video Zac. Thanks.

Nice one Zac. You make a Strat sound 'Nashville' like nobody else I've heard. 👍

Noticed the Waterloo in the background. I love mine. Feels so perfect. Living in Europe i never had the chance to find vintage Gibsons so getting this thing now feels like the first "real" acoustic in my life (after 30 years of trying all kinds of stuff i could get my hands on here).

Zac, of my 55 years worth of playing, I've never owned a Strat! Always Telecasters! I met Phil Kubicki when he was making a Tele for Don Mclean.

I'm really hoping this channel grows, you have so much information to share and I love the laid back/calm feeling and delivery. Keep it up and I'll keep watching!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

Yesterday I was rigging lights at a venue. I was working at the back of the stage a band came in for sound check. I couldn’t see the band properly but I was struck by the guitarists skill and tone. It sounded like the best Tele tone I’ve ever heard - except there was a trem being used. When I checked I was amazed to see he was playing a Strat! Turns out it was a well worn 89 Strat with Lace pickups! He was playing thru twin amps with slight stereo , Deluxe Reverb and Trace Elliott. Anyhow, he played almost exclusively on the bridge pickup and, as I said , he had it sounding like the best Tele you ever heard!

No guitar has ever been more fun to play for me than my Strat. So versatile and melodic It's my only guitar (besides my SG that is also a great axe) I take my Strat to almost every Gig and it's pure heaven! That neck pickup is so creamy and smooth and paired with my tone king imperial it's my dream come true setup 😍

Strats were made to get the Richard Thompson- tone😊🎶🎸😉

@scotthutchens1556

Ай бұрын

@randalclarke5487 I love Thompson’s Strat tone and playing on Bonnie Raitt’s “Luck Of The Draw”. That’s the only song I’ve ever heard his Strat on.

I can’t believe you mentioned raw vintage springs. They are absolutely a great “mod” and no one ever talks about this

I love the talk sections but love even more when you play - so laid back melodic and full of natural tone Thanks Zac and keep on keeping on !

I have 2 Tele's. One black, one white. One hot rodded, one traditional. Love 'em both. I have 2 Strats, one black, one white. One hot rodded, one traditional. Love 'em both. It's a yin and yang thang!

I myself am glad there are many different types of guitars. Even the shredders like Jackson and Charvel have their place

There's a device called the tremol-no that allows you to easily disable and re-enable the tremelo. It replaces one of the springs in the back.

@dorielementary

4 жыл бұрын

www.tremol-no.com/

My first pick, a strat, as always My second pick, another colour of strat. My third pick, maybe a tele... or a strat

@jupitermoongauge4055

3 жыл бұрын

I like your first 2 picks, the 3rd not so much.

I just found this channel from Five Watt World, and I'm liking it very much! I like channels like this that are more conversational and aren't hammering us constantly with the 'sell, sell, sell...shill, shill, shill' mentality that is so common with many guitar channels on KZread. Thanks for doing what you do for the guitar community. I'll be back!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoy it! And thanks to Keith!

you killed it on Tennessee waltz, soulful

finally figured out what was so different about your playing ... super light touch

I think that the Telecaster has a natural sound that fits most music universally and the Strat is good for particular applications.

Ha! I learned the "Eric Johnson mod" as the "Jimmy Vaughan mod." In any event, I HIGHLY recommend players check it out, especially if you play with a hotter PUP or even humbucker in the bridge. Gives you a way to tame it a little if need be. The second aspect to the mod is to have a middle pup that is well balanced and plays nicely in the 2 and 4 positions awhile also delivering the that classic Strat quack in the middle position, running wide open. Good stuff.

I went to school at Texas A&M-Kingsville for a little bit years ago. Had a ton of fun down there. Thanks for a great channel!

Great demo, fantastic playing! I love all the sounds of the strat and I even love the middle pickup by itself.

So enjoyable are your videos Zac. It's like you are just talking to me and a couple of mates. Picked up a few good tips too.

I clicked like before even watching. I find most videos a rehash of obvious content, but I always learn something new and in-depth in these videos and consider Zac THE expert. No wonder he’s gathered such a following in a short time.

Another great video, Zac, thank you! Ive been a died-in-the-wool tele player since 1992 when I put my Les Pauls away. I've owned many strats, and today I still own one - an MIJ Fernandes strat, tobacco sunburst with maple board. Best strat I've ever played. I think of teles as an extension of me and my creativity - MY voice. I think of my strat as utilitarian - a tool needed to accomplish certain sounds and style just not available to me on my teles. After 25 years, though, I still struggle badly with my right hand constantly hitting the strat's volume knob and turning it down! For whatever reason I CANNOT rid myself of that tendency!

I played this at 1.25 speed...good channel!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

I read your comments at 1.25 speed

@kevinseversonandhisvizslas8287

4 жыл бұрын

Ask Zac witty retort, sir. Keep keepin on.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

@@kevinseversonandhisvizslas8287 You too!

@Pdbottleneck

3 жыл бұрын

Great tip and great comeback as well. Props all around

I really like Your show. I'm 87 years old playing guitars and harmonica for 70 years. I still play with an old buddy who has a 1956 Strat with flat wound strings. With 1956 twin speaker amp, I think 90 amp?

Great video Zac. It bought back memories of when I was a teen and I saved all my money because one day I would finally buy my dream guitar, a US Stratocaster. That day finally came and before I purchased the Strat, the dealer asked me if I would try out a Tele.........well the rest is history ! 3 decades later that Tele has never left me and I play Teles 99% of the time !

Great clip! In the mind of Leo Fender, the Stratocaster was intended to address all the feedback that players provided Leo from playing his Tele. They wanted something that was more comfortable (comfort carved), a vibrato (to compete with the Bigsby product that people liked), more pickups and sounds. Fender was assuming the Tele would be retired, but demand remained strong with introduction of the Strat. Once Buddy Holly and Dick Dale started using Strats, their popularity exploded. Tele's remained a favorite with the Country players.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

The Strat almost went away before Hendrix. The Tele stayed strong because of Country and Soul players

@thelion27

6 ай бұрын

And funk, and blues.... and rnb and rock....

As a teenager in the mid to late 60’s I wanted a Strat the most of any other guitar because of Jimi Hendrix then Ritchie Blackmore. I did want a Gibson SG at the same time (and started to want a Les Paul around 1971-‘72 upon hearing Page and Mick Box from Uriah Heep). In ‘73 I bought a ‘67 Tele that I sold to help save for a 1973 Olympic White Strat. I love my two Tele’s tones and consider Tele’s to be unique but like Strats more in general.

I just switched from an Ibanez 7 string to an American standard strat. I couldn't be any happier.

Thanks Zac, love how you're covering the rockabilly to psychadelic to 80's sound territory.

Great video! I worked for years as a hired gun lead guitarist in mostly the southern Ohio area. Im primarily a tele guy, but always had what I called my trinity with me. That consisted of a tele, strat and Les Paul. I felt like I could pretty much cover all my bases with those. I worked with Whey Jennings for a while. People sure loved when I'd bring out my leather covered clone of Waylon's telecaster.

After 40 years of playing Gibsons and Fenders, Strats and Teles are the only guitars I play now and I go back and forth which one is my favorite. They are both such great guitar designs.

@TommySG1

3 жыл бұрын

I love them both, Fenders & Gibsons. As my playing matures though I do find myself reaching for that Tele more often.

I also spent a few years in Kingsville. Thanks for all the guitar info videos , keep them coming.

Another great video. I've played Teles since right after I started in the early 70s but have always had a Strat or two around since the early 80s. I never used the bridge pickup for years until I wired it to the tone pot. I deck the trem and use five springs so I can do that 50s Ike Turner/ Johnny Guitar Watson thing. I usually only play a Strat on a couple of songs and the rest on a Tele but awhile back I got called to do a festival with some old friends. The other guitar player always plays a Les Paul, planned on playing a Tele until I saw the set list, they were all Strat songs. So my beloved 52 AVRI sat in the stand as a backup. Sometimes a mans got to do what a mans got to do. Thanks Zac, looking forward to the next one.

I always associated the Strat as more of a rock guitar than a country guitar. Some of the all time greats have played strats. Hendrix, Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Ry Cooder, Lowell George of Little Feat, just to name a few.

@kaiserthegreat

Жыл бұрын

Eddy Shaver. Unshaven album. There’s your Strat country.

@Mistertbones

Жыл бұрын

​@@kaiserthegreat Eddy was amazing. RIP Eddy.

@jimmy5634

Жыл бұрын

One of the best country tones I ever heard was a guy playing a Strat in a Nashville bar years ago. Blindfolded, you would have never known he was playing a Strat.

I,m an old man now but all the guitar players used to say,,, to play pro you need a strat, a tele and something with humbuckers then you can cover everything.

Good video Zac....always going back and forth between my Tele and Strat!!

Great insights Zac.This is a great channel. I find myself going back-and-forth between you and Buk for Guitar alchemy/tonal tips! Thanks.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

I'm in great company!

I stopped by to hear how inferior the strat was, and end up wanting another one! Man! That thing sounds good!

Everyone should color coordinate their shirts with their guitars, don't ya think?

@kevdean9967

4 жыл бұрын

Or like Guitar Slim used to do and dye your hair the color of your guitar!

I want those pickups. I love a bright tone on the wound strings but the unwound strings are usually too bright. Love the idea of blending the magnets to balance the tone out

Great vid Zac. Your playing style definitely suites the Tele much more than the Strat so I can see why it is your weapon of choice. Strat man myself but love a Tele as my alternate.

Great video Zac. I agree about the tremolo block. I bought a Highway 1 Upgrade Strat about ten years ago in my home town of Liverpool and didn't like the particular tremolo bar so ordered a new American one and when I installed it the threads crossed so I had to replace the whole assembly as the Highway Ones had metric parts apparently and not imperial sizes. I installed a Callaham cast iron block and set it all up again and it sounds and plays great! I like the action a little higher than some people might like as I like the strings to have some room to "bounce" when playing a run. Keep up the good work mate.

Interesting video! Love how honest you are about everything... I first started out with a L.P. Custom, it's actually on my thumbnail photo right now. I sold my car to purchase it!!! Being a lefty I had to wait a long time before receiving it. a band member hit the stand, fell over and broke at the top of the neck, broke my heart!!!!! To make up for the disaster at hand my friend lent me a Stratocaster, this was some time ago and oddly enough I have been playing that Stratocaster guitar ever since, it is so exciting and good sounding, and versatile! It did not even come close to my L.P. sound, but I actually liked that, because I came across another complete world of sounds... Though telecaster guitars are incredible, especially when played by someone who's been playing a telecaster all their life. I bonded better with a Stratocaster. There's something special about a great Stratocaster that just blows my mind, I can play for hours on end. The Stratocaster was made to fit my mind, my body, and my fingers, it's just perfect, and the volume knob is in the perfect place lol :-) :-) :-) :-) I have played many types of guitars in the past but there's just something mystical about a good ol' Stratocaster :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) That's why as a guitarist you have to try difference guitars until you find your better half :-)

I never liked the quack sound on a strat. The tremolo system also psyches me out too much; I'm paranoid about slipping out of tune during a perfect take. It's more versatile than a tele, because it has more knobs and pickups, but I find that the pickups don't have enough contrast between them to get interesting tones as readily as a tele. My favorite part about a tele is the contrast between the neck and bridge pickups. They're really different on their own, but then they blend so well together in the middle position, creating a humbucking option with a cool glassy character.

@Dreyno

2 жыл бұрын

My Strat came with the bridge locked down and I left it there. I have an old Yamaha superstrat with a trem if I absolutely need to use one (which is never). In fairness, it holds tune perfectly as long as you don’t dive bomb it so maybe it’s nothing to be scared of.

@bluwng

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting, luckily most people don’t agree with you

@uncoiledfish2561

2 жыл бұрын

Someone’s got a Tele bias….

@g.k.dickenson9259

2 жыл бұрын

If your Strat goes out of tune, it's because of a lack of knowledge on how to setup & balance spring tension, nut height, Trem. Block,etc. My stock tremolo stays in tune.

@aobyungcp4330

2 жыл бұрын

I play Tele’s and Strats and i have no tuning issues Like buddy guy once said” I was doing 100 mph with two woman and Strat with no case and the strat flew out of the car he went back picked it up and not only was it not broken but it was still in tune” ive had the same situations as him good setup proper nut and strings it will stay in tune just fine….unless u do dive bombs 🤷‍♂️

Tele fan here and I’m so happy I found your channel! I’ve been Rona-GASing lately and was thinking about trying a Strat again since I already have my LP and Gretsch bases covered and definitely don’t need another T. The vibrato and middle pickup always annoy me, but damn nothing else sounds like a Strat. Loved the Vince Gill vibes you were getting.

Damn it's good to have someone who can actually play to listen to. Also Zac's content is the best. One thing I done different is, I ALWAYS put roller saddles on the bridge. That just seems to help keep it in tune better, and I put brass or bone nuts on everything. May or may not help sustain, but it's my little mojo.

You hit all my points accept I love the in between settings 2&4 with a little drive!! I’m really diggin on these Dunlop hand polished picks right now. ~cheers.

I played a friend's Jazzmaster years ago, and couldn't come to grips with anything about the guitar other than how comfortable it felt against my body. I'd veered back and forth between Teles and Strats, never quite being satified with either, until I had a custom body made: a Jazzcaster with a Tele neck, top mounting Tele bridge, a P-Bass control plate, and three noiseless pickups, strung 0.013-0.058. It has a four way Tele pickup with a phase switch for the neck PU(P/P pot) and a series/off/parallel for the middle PU. It wouldn't be everybody's cup of tea, but this one makes me happy.

I really like the “popcorn “ reference. You and I see things differently at times, but I get your take. You help me to evolve!

It's funny that the Stratocaster was designed for country players using input from several of them, as Leo was a big fan of c&w. Yet they all used Teles, lol. Any I liked them initially due to Hendrix but it was Clapton's "Brownie" on the Derek & the Dominos album and then Ritchie Blackmore on Machine Head that made me really want one. Real country players, all three. Glen Campbell wielded a mean Strat in any case. Speaking of Vaughans, how about that Kenny? Now there's a Tele man.

I looooove Telecasters but Strats are just so damn comfortable, especially if I’m playing while sitting on my couch

@jeremythornton433

4 жыл бұрын

My favorite "couch" guitar is my strat. Or my Ibanez RG. Both because of the contours. Funny thing is, they're also my go to guitars in my home studio and I own 11 including some acoustics. For me, comfort is a huge deal. Sound is important too, of course. But if you're not comfortable, it shows in your playing.

@ioodyssey3740

4 жыл бұрын

I put off getting a tele for years because of that idea and always thought if I did get a tele it better have the comfort contours...well.... A few months ago I got a standard shaped tele and it is the most comfortable to play guitar I've ever owned and just yesterday I played it for hours while in my comfy chair --- That never happens with my Strat, PRS, Gretch, or others. Go figure. Took me only 40 years to find out I'm a Tele guy! Edit -- just realized how this coincides with my relationships...LOL

Great video, Zac. Informative, well presented, and great playing.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly!

Zac ... another beautiful video - I enjoy them as much as your column in Vintage Guitar magazine. Your playing here reminds me of the wonderful Eldon Shamblin ... a beautiful tribute to his memory.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Very kind, Bob! Thank you

Excellent vid as always. My two favourite guitars. Both are untouchable at what they do. Some guitars/pickup configurations come close but are never quite right.

I don’t use the trem but don’t like the way hardtail Strats sound. The trem definitely an essential part of the classic bluesy Strat tone.

@soysaucehairdye7869

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I always float my bridge like Carl Verheyen even if I don't always have the trem in, I still occassionally hit the bridge with my hand for a little vibrato. Hardtail strats are alright if it is like a Billy Corgan setup; however, I do see them as rather pointless for a single coil guitar setup.

@kimmolingonheimo

4 жыл бұрын

i have my three Yamaha Pacifica 112Vs floated with two screws, no trem anymore bridges edge to body can be raised with a pick two springs one strong one light tuned to E but a n octave low, no string trees ( they bend the strings and rattle and affect the tension anyway), what else? yeah the strings: Daddario 009-0115-015-024-032-042........(( i dond dig Dads low tension 042, but the 044 is ahair too much especially with my low tuning..., maybe aye 022 d-string would be good if they make one...), seeya, K : )

This channel has begun my understanding of the Tele, now I’ve got my eye on the new MIM Nocaster. Would love to see you put one of those through the paces and see if you approve of what Fender has come up with for this specific era Tele.

I have both . Country pickers have played Strats as well as Teles , Steve Wariner , Vince Gill for example . Strats do make me play different too and I do like that . My Strat is a hardtail though. Nice video Zac and nice playing.

That is was a very appreciated relaxing opening, good for that green olive strat personality.

The proof is in the playing. And it seems like it really works for you. You sound great, felt playing. Keep 'em comin'.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

This has only the SECOND Strat Middle Pickup I’ve ever liked!

I love guitars, all of them, Strats, Super Strats, Tele's, LP's, 335's....If it has strings and I see it, I want to play it.

Hey Zac, love your show. The mention of the Ovation reminded me of Wyatt Rice, who frequently teaches at a flatpick camp I go to over in Ridgetop TN a couple times a year. His brother Tony got him into these and loves them now, though it looks kind of incongruous among the herringbones and so on. Of course, he would sound good on a cigar box...! Keep up the great work!

I always do those things you do to every strat I have too, move second tone control to bridge pickup, raw vintage springs always a must together with their saddles plus a cold steel block and also floating the trem.. I don't think it's best for everyone but after 3 strats and many other options/mods that I've tried, this has become my recipe. Another thing that I've found very useful is the baseplate for bridge pickup in a vintage style set to give it some body/mass. I was aware of this mod for a while but just too lazy to try and didn't think it would help much - I was wrong, it balances it out with the rest of the set nicely. Highly recommend this mod (for a vintage style bridge pickup).

I cannot believe watching this for 7 minutes so far and you tell me it's Inca silver when I thought it was a drab Green lmao! That's nuts

Floating is the way to go! I like mine so the back is lifted around 3/32” off the guitar’s body.

Being a strat guy, I loved this so much! I have 3 strats and a tele, so I get it. I should note that one strat is actually a "Hello Kitty" strat. Make your own jokes here, it plays well and the humbucker sounds great when I need that (hardly ever). Here's why I hit you up on this old vid: if you want to maintain a floating strat trem, use your palm to gently hold things in place while you do bends & steel player stunts. I can't remember if I got this from Tim Pierce or Littly Tommy from Cleveland, but it works. Also, one of my strats has that hip shot thing in the center. I have gone through periods w/ and w/o it. It does really help. It feels different, but is not really impacting tone or anything else. Hope that helps you!

I just love the strat's ergonomics. Looks like a spaceship and is so comfortable i often fall asleep with it on

I might be one of a handful of players who find the Tele more comfortable than a Strat. The contours and rounded edges cause a Strat to slip if I'm playing sitting down. But Strats are my second favorite after Teles. Add a treble bleed and mini switch for the bridge/neck combo and I do love a good Strat....especially hardtails.

@iagobroxado

4 жыл бұрын

I also find the Tele more comfortable. With the slipping thing, however, I found that I have to hold the Strat differently if I'm playing while sitting down. It's more of a "hug" thing that I do, where my right forearm is more in contact with the body of the guitar. Helps to keep it stable on your lap.

In fact, being a strat guy, I feel exactly the same when I play a tele... But this neck pickup is magic...

A little trick some techs use is to screw the outside bridge screws all the way in and leave the inside four up a bit Good sounding strat Second time watching 4-22 Love the RE pups

Excellent playing. This video just proves why I love strats so much. I haven’t bonded with Teles but it’s cool to see you explain what you like about them. I have to agree with you for the most part. Ironically, the in between sounds are what I think make Strats wonderful. Exhibit A: slow dancing in a burning room. My favorite thing you said: you don’t want it to sound like a Tele, and I appreciate this. It’s not a direct comparison, let them be what they are and enjoy them for their own innate qualities! Thanks for all of your work on these videos.

@cass2771

4 жыл бұрын

Kyle Smith I took your challenge and watched/listened to John Mayer playing Exhibit A. Beautiful playing, beautiful sound. Thank you!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Great track. Sold lots of Strats!

My 1984 Strat (Butterball) that everyone loves, stays in the case since I bought a used SG. I'm a big fan of 12 string guitars also, so perhaps I just like to tune a lot! Great perspective videos. Thanks.

I love all of your videos but this is my favorite to date. You impart beautiful emotions with the "Tennessee waltz ". Absolutely beautiful. Thank you sir

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you!

@dannytriplett8625

4 жыл бұрын

I totally understand your childhood as I too was raised in a holiness AOG home. I loved the music but couldn't listen to anything other than gospel. One time a church friend gave me a kiss album cuz his parents caught him with it. Then I got in trouble for having it. Lol Good times man..

My theory on why they had no tone control wired to the bridge pickup originally is that the three identical pickups give a naturally quieter bridge pickup so if you have no tone control it has 250k across it instead of 125k (two parallel pots) which pushes up the resonant frequency of the bridge pickup making it seem louder: compensating for it's position but it makes it pretty bright of course...having an overwound bridge pickup solves the problem much more effectively of course! Thanks for the videos!!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

I think you are right

@valcoman5593

4 жыл бұрын

Forgot to say I finished a Tele build about a month ago with a Strat neck pickup and a Bigsby. Problem solved.

@trevorgwelch7412

4 жыл бұрын

Nick Benjamin What ?

Raw Vintage. Yep, Love the springs use em’ in all my strats.

Clapton said he likes the middle pickup best.so does Mayer. Only the Edge likes position 2. Lol!

Hardtail strats all day long, I have two of them..my neighbor calls them wimpy telecasters...but, I can play me some sweet slow blues on a strat, through a super...

@kevdean9967

4 жыл бұрын

Show your neighbor the video of Lloyd Jones playing "Treat me like the dog I am" the version of him with a white suit on. If that's whimpy grits ain't groceries!!!

@danielstoddart

2 жыл бұрын

I also prefer the hardtail Strat because I don't like the Strat vibrato and how you have to choose between decking and floating, neither of which are that appealing to me. Sadly, Fender currently does not offer an American-made hardtail Strat. The closest you can get off the rack and not CS is the Robert Cray Strat, which is MIM but still a great guitar. I wish Fender would make a similar American Strat with almost the exact same specs as the Robert Cray (vintage pickups, but with 6105 frets instead of medium jumbos).

@markmcdonald5711

Жыл бұрын

@@danielstoddart G&L makes hardtail strats, they call it the Saddle Lock Bridge.

I have a black 1995 Fender Stratocaster Special I bought brand new in '96. The HSS configuration was a challenge soundwise because I could never get that clean bright quack with a split bridge humbucker paired with a middle single coil on 2 so I decided to swap the single coil positions putting the middle pickup in the neck position and I got a different sound that really moved me. Over 20 years I've been sounding like a Tele but never knew it until one day I walked into a Guitar Center and played a Telecaster for the second time ever in life and it was a Fender Classic 50s Telecaster with both pickups in parallel, realizing my Strat sounded similar to this Tele; at that point I really fell in love with the Telecaster more because of my reconfigured Strat. A pickguard swap took out the RWRP pickup when the pickup cover came off so I decided to convert it into a traditional SSS configuration with a new loaded pickguard I rewired with CTS 250K pots and a CRL 5-way switch w/pushcloth wiring but that Tele bridge/neck sound was missing so i swapped the bridge & middle pickups as a true Tele homage to 1st reconfiguration and all positions are bright especially the 2nd position quack that defines a Strat as much as the twang of the Telecaster bridge pickup and I've acquired two Teles (a Tradition CAB10 & a used DIY kit i Esquired!) and two Strats (Squier Affinity & Bullet) since then.

Great video Zac; your tones with the Strat are incredible! I love my Danocaster Strat, and I agree with you about the quality of the Raw Vintage springs. I use 3 on my guitar (it was bought used and only came with 3) and use a 10-46 set. Mine is wired so that the tone control works on the bridge pickup only, and the middle is wide open at all times.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Will. You have the EJ wiring

I enjoy your Gear knowledge and your playing,great gear you have your opinion is valued.

@AskZac

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Carl!

Zac,you have made a very good clip here. Straight-up.👍

"..actually a vibrato..." I love technical accuracy. You got a like for that alone.

I still have a cassette recording of the 80's when I lived in an apartment next to Warner Boat sales. In the daytime Warner would run those boat engines and since I sold TV/STEREOS for a living I had a high wattage system -best money could buy. I could run the radio and play my strat along to the music. One time after drinking beer all day a Stevie Nicks came on and I knew it was time to test my 75 watt black faced fender amp. Strats don't normally feed back but when cranked the Fender equipment completely buried the nicks song with a wailing power chord progression, that had squeaks of feedback between strums. Otherworldly demonic power was unleashed. The apartment manger came. thats what its for.

I was the opposite, Strats first but I always wanted a Tele, which I eventually got. I deck my trem though. Probably from having Floyds on guitars before, just got tired of it. 🤷‍♂️ I ought to try floating it on one of mine. Enjoyed it, thanks Zac!

@lastofthe4horsemen279

3 жыл бұрын

I tried blocking my floating bridge and was sad.

I knew once you started on the Blue Chips you wouldn’t stop. HaHa! I got my first one 11 years ago and now I have 3. One for Mandolin, one for the Martin, and one for my electrics.

I totally agree with out of phase being not a great sound live at least. I disappear in the mix switching. I think the thing about the Strat is learning to use that middle pickup for variation. I love me a Strat. But I’m biased towards ‘70s headstocks 🤪

Great to hear you doing some country soul on the strat Zac...btw that Strat with the Ron Ellis pups sounds wonderful..keep the posts coming brother..tks!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Will do!

First time watching your channel and Kingsville came up. I’m in Austin now, but I grew up in Corpus and got my first real guitar, an 81 Strat at Sound Vibrations. I’m sure you remember that shop. Anyway, I’m a tele guy as well. I’ve two American standards and a USA special with a b-bender installed. Otherwise I mostly play Les Pauls…Keep up the good work

I own a Tele and love it, but I miss my Strat for that R&B tone you just can’t get without one.

@jimmy5634

Жыл бұрын

I agree. I just bought a Squier CV 50. These are excellent guitars and the pickups are very good. For around $400, you can get your R&B fix.

That guitar sounds amazing. Looks really nice, too.

Beautiful guitar, beautiful playing, great video. Thanks Zac. I’m off to look for old springs...

@AskZac

3 жыл бұрын

Here they are rawvintage.com/eng/item_springs.php

@rickkup

3 жыл бұрын

@@AskZac Thanks again Zac, already ordered!

Strats are great, they are just not as great as a Tele. They look great, have very cool sounds and the one true advantage is the strat does provide some additional access to the heel area of the fret board. Their "pretty shape" however is not a comfortable in the lap as a Tele. Once you have played your self out, the guitar you will pick up and play unplugged when sitting quietly alone is your Tele. And that is how your Tele becomes your best friend.