Exploring the Mike McCready Stratocaster | Artist Signature Series | Fender

Introducing the Mike McCready Stratocaster, created in partnership with Pearl Jam's founding member Mike McCready. Inspired by his cherished 1960 Stratocaster, it features custom pickups voiced to emulate McCready's signature tone, a six-point tremolo, alder body with a Road Worn finish and more. Watch as Mike McCready walks us through it and takes it for a test drive.
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Exploring the Mike McCready Stratocaster | Artist Signature Series | Fender
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[@charliecrackers4643]

Mike has laid down some epic riffs for majority of the 90s that doesn’t get talked about enough.

[@gabrieleloreti8096]

Cool! Now we want the John Frusciante Stratocaster as well 😁

[@pan6367]

It's already really close to Frusciante's 62 imo. I bet you that Fender had that in mind too, they'll sell a big percentage of these to Frusciante fans !

[@soeren_guitar]

​@@pan6367I agree with you. I'm afraid there's no need to make a JF signature now. But the guitar is really cool and Mike as well! 🤘🏽

[@mag_space473yt3]

Lwk looks like Johns strat

[@Paul-D]

@@pan6367 yeh they will. Ill be one of them probably 😅

[@julianjaspers7763]

Yah the JF strat and the red Jaguar ❤

[@Mr.Steve-O]

McCready is a legend, I lived in Seattle for 7 years in the 90's and lucky to have seen PJ several times. He's the real deal as far as guitarists go. He was great in Mad Season as well

[@bryanspencer4856]

My favorite guitarist of all time! I’ve been a fan since’91. You have to see him live to appreciate how great he really is!!!

[@frankswildyear]

I remember back in the day I was saying how great he was. A friend said, Danny Newcomb is much better…he was friends with both of them

[@JimVincent]

I just saw him in Fort Worth 9.13.23 and he was fantastic!

[@mike8610]

Mike makes the absolute most out of the pentatonic scale. He playing is not complicated but he does it so well with the perfect guitar, effects, vibe and feel that it has always sounded incredible and fit Pearl Jam absolutely perfectly. I was always drawn to and inspired by his playing since I first bought a guitar in 1998.

[@lukelarsson]

I love how down to earth Mike and the rest of the guys in Pearl Jam are.

[@alanross2876]

So down to earth they had covid shot mandates at their shows.

[@lukelarsson]

@@alanross2876 I don’t think that means what you think it means. You’re making my point for me. 🤣

[@alanross2876]

What does it mean?@@lukelarsson

[@ThomDust]

The clean tones especially, are glorious. Mike is easily in the pantheon of players he mentioned here. ✌️

[@Unity1975]

I love that you said that…as recognized as he is, I feel he’s still “underrated” in a way and doesn’t get included enough in the all-time greatest discussion. He truly is, in my humble opinion. 🎶

[@brucecall1595]

This man has logged massive quality stage time. Ironically he sounded and played as great when he was a wee young lad. Power is the one word I use to describe mike mcready

[@yoniyampolsky2597]

Most underrated, versatile lead guitarist of any band, ever

[@corey412]

Facts

[@gui-texzan7477]

Love Mike, but right off the top of my head I'll go with Don Felder (70's), Mike Campbell (80's) and Marc Ford (90's).

[@danw5785]

Get off the ice pony dude. Competent, sure. Alltime anything? Not even close.

[@hammill444]

@@danw5785 Definitely agree.

[@ListedMia-sm4xm]

I’ve been thinking this

[@ivanmay7890]

Mike McCready has a very beautiful tone. He started playing Les Pauls and a Flying V originally, but it’s the 1960 Strat that he is forever associated with.

[@UR_Right24]

He has always been my favorite guitar player out of those Seattle/grunge bands of the 90s.

[@JimmyLeeMusic]

I’ve been playing this guitar for 3 days and it is the best Stratocaster I’ve ever played so far. Don’t let the little high price tag fool you. It is worth every penny.

[@Anan-qq7fg]

How much did u get it for?

[@elecengineer46]

Thanks for allowing us the opportunity to have this replica Mike.

[@JotaMcCready]

I feel so lucky to be able to see my greatest musical mentor alive, and to see recognition from such important brands in the history of music giving him recognition in his lifetime. Well deserved master Mike! ❤🤘🏻🎸.

[@rogercardenas111]

MAD SEASON!!!!!!!! Amazing record. For a minute there I thought it was Neil Geraldo.

[@shawnstarks1743]

The song he did with Ozzy was killer. There has been many great guitar duo’s throughout history Richards/Wood, Perry/Whitford, Harrison/Lennon. However, knowbody mentions the great weaving of Mccready and Gossard. Underrated Duo!.

[@canyonproductions7683]

Great comment! Mad Season too

[@slowwwwBurnnnn813]

No doubt!! 🤙🏼

[@ladyluckdrums]

I love pearl jam and Mike's playing. Great to see he's getting a signature model, he totally deserves it!! $1900 for a MIM strat is a lot of money!!

[@H_Oscarsson]

You can always pay $14000 for the US one...

[@chrishammonds72]

$3500 here in Australia 😬

[@schof1212]

$25k for the custom McCready on Reverb. They only made like 300 of them.

[@danw5785]

Custom shop strats are a rip off. Two pieces of wood and 4 screws. Alder is the chicken of tone woods. Throw in some mass produced pickups and over pay from what you get.

[@schof1212]

@@danw5785 I also don't get the appeal of relic'd guitars either. Who wants a guitar that looks beat up that's actually new? I understand getting a guitar that's been played for years and is actually road worn, but getting an artificially beat up guitar seems false to me.

[@mikepj1025]

Got one the day they were released. AWESOME guitar. The shop I got it from does a full set up with every purchase and they did a wonderful job setting it up. Out of the box I was able to play the bell out of it. The feel of the neck is the BEST neck I’ve ever felt. Including my Custom Shop. This was long overdue.

[@fender]

Rock on! Appreciate the kind words

[@FearfulEarful]

Just saw PJ live for the first time last week and had a mind-blowing view of the band - Mike especially. His energy and playing, just off the charts. I couldn't believe it. Interesting timing on this, and that I'm looking to replace my Ed O'Brien Strat (great for recording, not super practical for gigging). This will do VERY nicely, I think!

[@fender]

We like the sound of that! Nothing wrong with adding another gem to your collection!

[@marvean2519]

Love the artist but $1900 for a MIM roadworn strat?

[@Matt-rk3de]

Kids, you can get all these sounds with a Squier Sonic

[@outofstep90272]

Fan of PJ since 92' - have seen many shows and always a rocking time!

[@ehmmmjay9907]

You have to be a HUGE McCready fan to spend that kind of money on a MIM Strat. That's like American Vintage/Ultra money for a guitar made in Mexico... Still want one tho!

[@JarickL]

Guitar looks awesome. Just saw Mike and the band last week and he absolutely ripped. Great to see more recognition for a legend!

[@dingleberry6486]

Well, Mike - you’ve come a long way from Mr. Hass’s 2nd period guitar class @RHS. Congrats on your Fender repro!

[@elliotthall5543]

I've seen him, them so many times. This was awesome. I already own my dream Strat, but if I didn't, this would be high on my list.

[@mike.4444]

Now we just need a JOHN FRUSCIANTE signature stratocaster!

[@alphatrion100]

The one with the broken neck 😂

[@bengunn6571]

Man both Mike and Kim's signature guitars came out within like a week from each other. Coincidence?

[@zambot3325]

You can never have too many Stratocasters

[@totalsellout822]

Wrecker riffs at the start?

[@kevind3094]

Cool! Now we need a John Frusciante sig!

[@kidwajagstang]

It’s crazy to me that Fender took this long to make a McCready signature model. Majority of the time, it’s a Strat Mike is playing.

[@czechplastik]

This is the 2nd or 3rd they've done now.

[@JDAfrica]

Had to look up who the hell he was. His name is not synonymous with tone or playing. He’s got some cool riffs - but, I guess signature models are given out these days like participation trophies

[@ChristopherLightfoot-zu3kb]

Well the Custom Shop version has been available for a few years so this is now an affordable Mexican made version?

[@ThierryLerond]

​@@czechplastikit's mexican relic guitar ?

[@ThierryLerond]

What IS this ? Mexican relic guitar?

[@Laxew]

Looks and sounds awesome. I'd love to hear Dave Simpson review. Love Pearl Jam

[@abhulineokonofua8677]

One of the Greatest Underrated Guitarist of all time. Mike McCready is a Legend.

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

Without a band it seems that he can barely play two chords.

[@JDAfrica]

Had to look up who the hell he was. His name is not synonymous with tone or playing. He’s got some cool riffs - but, I guess signature models are given out these days like participation trophies

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

@@JDAfrica absolutely 💯 You can see how bad he is without a band. In every video by himself not just this.👍

[@taunokekkonen5733]

"That sounds very Hendrix-y" Like everything Mike does.

[@s.a.2317]

I got one, last one at the shop and already set up with decent action. Just recently saw this was out. Very good pickups! E string placement is a bit tricky. Love it!!!

[@john15333]

A MEXICAN fender for this price???? Wow. I'll stick to an American Vintage II for the same price. Looks awesome though!

[@antipsychosoup6709]

Cool fact, this video also documents Mike unknowingly falling in love with Fender's Tone Master line of amps, his first foray into digital modeling/non-tube amps. He ended up touring with a Deluxe Reverb and a Twin Reverb right after this.

[@RandDCustoms2]

One of the most underrated guitarist of all time! When I heard Black I was hooked!

[@emrahu1327]

McCready is a Strat God! I will purchase it as soon as possible.

[@Florida_Boi_333]

Who cares where it’s made. I have a Squier Jazzmaster that plays better than almost all of my other guitars, some of which are US made. There is nothing wrong with and MIM Strat. Great job!

[@gui-texzan7477]

Absolutely nothing wrong with a Mexican or Japanese built Strat. Only downside is they will never be as desirable if you choose to sell or trade. Personally, I love the relic'd look on this one. Well deserved signature model.✌️

[@fchampd4512]

​@@gui-texzan7477squier always sells faster than fender on 2nd hand market, its the best guitar if you wanna sell it, usually take 10-15 after you put it out and its sold

[@Ottophil]

I care about where its made. My squiers are all nice. My mexicans are great for the price. But every american guitar I have, currently I have 5, are all far better quality

[@donmccann2885]

Been a fan from 91’ as well….great job Fender! Well done! We love your tone Mike :)

[@mikec3454]

It’s a beautiful guitar - I’ve always loved a relic’d 3 sunburst Strat. Not going to lie though, I find the price of $2700 CAD hard to swallow. I paid that for my American Original 1960s Strat last year.

[@marcosmossi3920]

Yess!!..Love this model and much love for a fender mim!

[@The_Obvious_Solution]

One of my heroes right there.

[@sbdrummer615]

such a thick and juicy tone, damn. Could listen to him rip for hours!!! O wait I already have Hope to see Pearl Jam live in 2024🤘🏼

[@canyonproductions7683]

This looks AWESOME! Mad Season 4ever!

[@ustheserfs]

mad season was an eclectic collage of what mike can do

[@TheBallsbreakers]

The reason I play lead! Will always love you Mike!

[@TheGoutMan1000]

I love his work from Mad Season

[@azt3ca]

I own one of these and it’s a lovely guitar. It’s a fun guitar to play and nails the Strat tone beautifully.

[@BGuitar]

MM is a legend. Great looking guitar

[@guilleags6599]

amo amo amo, amo que los focos se esten posicionando sobre el de la manera que se lo merece, que tenga un instrumento que se ve y se escucha genial, sin costos exorbitantes, empece a aveturarme en los solos de guitarra mas serios cuando me meti en el mundo de pearl jam hace ya unos 25/26 años y... tiene una pizca de romanticismo saber que puedo tener una recreacion de un instrumento tan importante para el que sin querer fue mi maestro en la guitarra.

[@BenCoombs]

Was Mike's original guitar modded to have the five way switch and 9.5" radius?

[@Brandon-q2y6m]

A relic'd signature series guitar for less than $2K?! Good job showing Gibson / Epiphone how its done and made attainable.

[@rodrigoperez3672]

Not being USA made surely helps keeping the price under $2K

[@johnf.r6658]

​@@rodrigoperez3672 it's Mexican made ?

[@enriquemorenojimenez4455]

​@@johnf.r6658yep

[@marvean2519]

@@johnf.r6658 Yes

[@lazotashev8232]

@@johnf.r6658Yes

[@ryanwalker3015]

If anyone else but Mike walked into a music store, plugged in and started playing those intro riffs that he does, they would get kicked out, or shut off.

[@_Teo__]

Dear Fender, please also release an Eddie Vedder Signature Tele in the future.

[@bryanspencer4856]

Yes!!!

[@nickmaybes]

😅

[@palehorace100]

And all this can be yours for just two grand! Thanks, Fender!

[@paulcartwright2810]

I not into relics....BUT...did i not already own a 1998 fender deluxe strat and and old 84 ibanez roadstar ll strat copy...id be tempted...my fenders a sunburst with rosewood neck....i like how they've got the neck fingerboard nice and dark ...mine was relatively light coloured but over the last 25 years of sweaty hands and the odd lemon oil treatment has gone a lovely dark hue....to me the fender strat its the greatest guitar ever...i do use a Gibson les Paul junior....but when i pick up a strat...it just feels right...im 55 and my strat is always out...ready for action...never in its case...and i sometimes sit listening to music and just find myself just looking at it in wonderment..it looks so space ship like with its curves....and even though mine has a roland gr-55 hex pickup kinda spoiling its vintage vibe...it still looks good....and hey if your going to go for the versatility of a synthesizer.....why not use the world's most versatile guitar...if there wasn't a cost of living crises in great Britain and i wasn't already skint id be seriously looking at this signature model...

[@QS-si3cq]

We're not reading all of that.

[@ConcezioPellegrini]

Just a BEAUTIFUL guitar.

[@matiasdelpueblo]

Te amo Mike viva Pearl Jam por siempre ❤

[@jrswam]

I love LOVE Mike (F'n) McCready!!

[@RichardFriendartist]

excited to see him break these on stage. ;)

[@faroutmayt]

Love it. John Frusciante stratocaster, when?!

[@HeyJettRink]

Drop SSL1’s in a Strat and you’re 99% there.

[@MaxTovstyiMusic]

I got one today, indeed it feels like a American made guitar, great quality and comfort! And I have a lot of guitars so trust me :)

[@KfirOchaion]

That's a Yes from me! ❤

[@fender]

We like the sound of that! 🙌

[@dustinmcfarland2441]

People are talking badly about the price point of this guitar. Maybe they're right as far as parts for the money goes, but this guitar makes up for it in mojo, playability, and sound. I bought one I was so impressed by it. Never felt a guitar more perfectly broken in. If you have played for as long as I have, you know how hard it is to find single coils that take distortion well. Look no further. This is a fantastic guitar.

[@LouSassles]

I was just thinking to myself the other day “when will Mike mccready get a sig strat?”. Great that it happened!!

[@mattaguirre447]

i got a two American deluxe strats. both have very different sounds. I love them both..

[@dennishaney7224]

Congrats, Mike. That's awesome!

[@malcolmadams2105]

I’m so glad they made one we could afford. 😃

[@seanmarshallmusic]

Totally defined that 90s garage-version-of-Stevie guitar sound.

[@davidvallo7714]

Ordered mine yesterday

[@robertgarcia1163]

Got one reserved, it's coming in two weeks 😊

[@fender]

We know you'll make every note count!

[@redmosq4197]

I just bought a vintage ii 61’ Strat, I might’ve considered this. 🤷‍♂️

[@nolarocks]

I did too - but you get an Americam made one and you get to wear it in personally. Enjoy!

[@redmosq4197]

Agreed 🤙

[@JDELOU]

Mike is one of the most awesome guitar players ever! A guitar god definitely!!!

[@brandon90888]

Mike McCready and Jerry Cantrell are my favorite guitarists!

[@jgb2923]

ohhh the great mike mcready because of him my desire to play the guitar was born! the best with jerry cantrell of aic

[@joshmackinnon6941]

Almost 2k for it…decade ago you could get a 60s roadworn that’s basically identical to this for 799

[@QS-si3cq]

I hear that. RW Strats are now north of $1000 new, and Mike gets his cut on this one on top of that, of course. My RW Cobain Jag was only $1250 back in 2012. Inflation is a bitch.

[@drgnslyr221]

These companies are greedy.

[@marykeiks2602]

TE AMO MIKE ERES GENIAL

[@Tcrunk365]

Man I want one

[@ginadarcangelorusso3519]

Very cool. Mike is my favorite guitar player. ❤pj

[@christophervincent8420]

Awesome guy. And he is rocking the Blonde Twin Tone Master amps! Love it

[@nolarocks]

Only $400 more than a Road Worn MIM Strat! Love it!

[@3rdmm]

SRV was deceptive about his #1 Strat; it was a '63 body with a '62 or '64 neck. Supposedly he put a set of pups from a '59 in it later. A hella lot of guys thought a '59 Strat was the thing to have because of SRV lying about having a '59.

[@Stereostupid]

Yes 👍 that's true! and now come to find out that the 60-64 strats a ton of players like every more than the 59's ...I have a 61 replica and it's pretty amazing ! vintage brand makes really nice guitars for the price I bought the Thomas blug signature model amd they're under a grand with all Wilkinson parts

[@rockturtleneck]

Not a fan of the fake wear and tear but the guitar sounds fantastic and hearing MM's approach to music is fascinating.

[@Ottophil]

Its not fake if its supposed to look like that

[@waltuhhimself]

​@@OttophilIt's fake. The real one comes out of the factory brand new

[@chrishammonds72]

Fender please explain how these can be $3500 AUD for a made in Mexico Fender in Australia

[@rocanrola]

Muy guapa, me encanta ésta guitarra! Pienso que es la mejor Stratocaster que ha hecho Fender México!

[@acecomet]

One of the best guitarist ever🎸👌

[@pascale-annedesaulniers9780]

LOOOOVE this one !!! Can I imagine my chocolate burst strat Aerodyne special like this ??? !!! Just do it special custom shop.

[@jonmarbach1]

I love Pearl Jam and Fender and this guitar sounds great. But is it me or is the editing on this video way off?

[@UpliftingRiffs]

Thanks looks amazing and sounds great! Would love to get my hands on one and try it out!

[@tazador793]

Mike is really good. Underrated. Really cool guy! Nice strat

[@marianoarnaiz]

Is he using a distortion pedal? Overdrive? That tone is killer!

[@gabrielafreitas9579]

❤ Mike McCready 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@agentlemensport]

What kind of pedal gives that effect at 4:50?

[@benjamingilmore825]

Sounds like a wah pedal with fuzz

[@BtR76]

How I wish this was available as a lefty version! 😢

[@thegoodguy44]

Yep. It’s 2023 and they can’t even do them even for a limited run. Ridiculous.

[@andyleotell]

God and fender hate lefties! Sorry bro…

[@johnf.r6658]

​@@DirtySocksstop spreading that BS, if you are left handed, play left handed, if you play the other way it's really hard to learn and develop as a musician, for people that starts with the guitar that's a terrible advice

[@MrSiddartha1]

I’m lefthanded and play Guitar righthanded (luckily)… drums on the other hand (sorry for the pun) I play lefthanded….

[@RolandOttewell]

It's a tricky thing. Learn to play whatever way seems the most logical to you. Righties don't have to deal with this dilemma, but lefties (like myself) do!

[@wyldeslash2003]

Wow! Sounds just like a 59 les Paul !

[@christopher-miles]

dude! like, wait? far-out! wait, what? NO WAY! thank you fender.

[@WoodyBlueberry]

Want This one !!!