Fender American Original vs Vintera 60s Strat Part 1 - Can A Mex Beat A USA?

[@mikec3454]

Played a shell pink American Original Strat today at my local shop.. probably going back tomorrow to buy it. Might be the best Strat I’ve ever played and currently on the market. Total “Strat” tones, perfectly balanced, responsive, warm, and full of character.

[@jerryking7772]

Had an original 64 L series and these vintage reissues are the closest thing Ive ever found to it. I just bought one in the olympic white and I'm in love. Cranking it through a Rivera era hand wired Fender concert 4x10 its sound amazing. This is the best feeling and playing strat Ive ever come across apart from my 64. As far as the smell goes NOTHING smells better than a cooking valve amp and the nitro finish. I dont know what it is but my amps and guitars do have a unique smell and I love it.

[@GearGasms]

Picking my pink 60s Original on Saturday! The pickups are based on 1965 so this is a make believe birth year guitar for me. The US list price is $1979 which is the year that I started playing guitar. So it was meant to be! Great vid.

[@sergiomozdzenskijr.9246]

How are you feeling? Im about to pick a 60s 3ts

[@Tonetwisters]

I have been playing Fenders for 59 years and own an American Original '50s Stratocaster. While it is not a perfect guitar, it IS the most resonant Fender I have ever played. PLUS ... the finish will age on the AO guitars, while it will not age on the Vintera series. IF you like a really new guitar, and want one to stay new, the Vintera is a great choice.

[@bubbafang4510]

waiting for a Vintera modified 60's Strat, ty Oli for the info on these, stay safe friend.

[@chippsterstephens6800]

The bridge differences are pretty big between these two, actually, the pat pend saddles on the AO, are made on the same machines that made them back in the day, also the trem block is very similar to the old vintage trem block, the area that the ball end of the strings sit is much more shallow on the AO, like the real pre cbs fenders were. Also the weight of the block some have found to make a pretty significant issue , that effects overall tone, It’s a small thing, but many small things make the end product more like the original, I love the AO line, it’s the best value in a nitro vintage spec guitar outside the custom shop and thousands less, one area I think the AO is lacking is pickups, if you find a nice sounding light AO, and drop some great hand wound picks in it, you have one hell of a guitar, that will hold its own against a custom shop fender…. I have been hearing the AO line is discontinued? A real bummer if true, the Eric Johnson Strat is another shop floor jewel. Many of these small issues are larger issues the cleaner you play, a AO is not what I would play for metal, or heavy tones, I have a few 80s Ibanez 540R, that fill that roll. But for blues, jazz or country tones the AO line both 60s, and the 50s , in both Strat and tele excel. My number one guitar is an AO 50s tele, it’s 6 pounds 11oz, is loaded with don mare hot bake-light, pickups, and anything from clean county, or fake lap steel tones, to Led Zeppelin that guitar kills it. And I actually am not All that fond of the way a tele looks, but it has won my heart with its tone, and clarity, in the studio tracking, or a bar live….the AOs I own are stellar guitars….

[@nowonderimconfused]

Thanks for the rundown, really great demo of both guitars!

[@sixbladeknife44]

Definitely agree re: the smell, great point! It’s part of the whole playing experience, we as players are a visceral bunch and it’s the little things that make a lot of difference...poly has its benefits too, but the smell and organic feel/vibe of nitro really adds to the whole experience. I agree that the Original sounds better, warmer/fuller, but the Vintera is still an excellent buy and gets pretty close...but I’ll still be paying the premium to eventually purchase an Original. I had the 50’s Original Strat, great guitar too, but the specs weren’t exactly what I needed...a little sluggish for my style. Thanks for the demo! ✌️

[@jessesmith2906]

You think the 50’s is more sluggish or slow playing than the 60’s?

[@sixbladeknife44]

@@jessesmith2906 Yes, I’ve owned both the 50’s and 60’s (still have the 60’s). The 50’s had a very big neck and I found it sluggish to get around on, the 60’s is def. a faster neck for how I play.

[@jessesmith2906]

@@sixbladeknife44 awesome thanks for the reply man. Have you done any upgrades to it or left it stock

[@sixbladeknife44]

@@jessesmith2906 No problem and mine is 100% stock.

[@sharpeye83]

Completely agree about the truss rod adjustment at the body. Vintage spec is great but this detail is just a headache. Is there some functional benefit to the adjustment at the body instead of the headstock?

[@josephliptak]

I've got both but the original not only looks and feels better , it sounds better as well. My vote goes to the original series.

[@wengjai]

You are paying the price difference for the body paint, tuners, rosewood neck etc. The original 60s will age very well and the vintera on the other hand if you drop it get ready for a big chip in the guitar. My opinion is that body with nitro paint tends to age better , which means the tonality will get better as the year goes by.

[@FenderStrat1975]

I have this Vintera and its amazing

[@benallmark9671]

Vintera’s are nitro to , correct me if I’m wrong.

[@cosmicrevival7105]

@@benallmark9671 they are poly not nitro guitars

[@braulionovas8461]

The 60s stratocaster in candy apple red omg

[@musiquesdereve188]

Excellent vidéo with accuracy in informations just what I search . I like your comment on the différents neck, I like to know the différences between a Soft V neck and the Modern médium of the Vintera 50's It's a little bit complicated ;) Thank you for sharing your knowledge.)

[@tyrantstomper]

The new-ish Vintera Road Worn guitars are nitro finished, but they're only relic guitars so folks who don't like relic guitars won't want one.

[@bandawhat33]

Didn't know Jason Mewes played guitar

[@AndyFarrell66]

Ha ha I love it, you are right about the guitar smell, my black SG standard smells awesome

[@hatemmegaly9613]

Thanks a lot

[@youtubechannel153]

the Stratocaster vintera mex 60s guitars have the decal on the headstock? Like the American original? I have this doubt because on American guitars I see the edge of the decal and on Mexican guitars I don't see the edge, it looks like a print on the wood. Sorry for my english but I'm italian boy :-)

[@Bearschoice]

I’m considering the pink original 60’s. Is the instrument USA quality?

[@justinchurch7675]

Jon Oz sounds like a great strat. Has the finish shown any wear or chips/checking?

[@edmondgebara6163]

It's unreal. I'm picky as hell and have been looking for a proper 60s sounding strat and I tried the exact one he's playing and I'm picking it up in 2 hours. It plays incredibly well and the sound is absolutely amazing. The perfect strat 'quack' and you'll get t by at perfect little wing, Stevie ray sound. I prefer and suggest it over the modified one. Its not as authentic and sounds a bit more mechanical. This one just oozes soul. I've had a ridiculous number of strats over the years and this is honest to God at least 80% as good as a good chsrom shop, better than a standard American, comparable to a reissue American (better than a mediocre reissue). Its a no brainer for me. Find a used one for around 750 and its the best 750 you can spend

[@400_billion_suns]

@@edmondgebara6163 Are you referring to the Vintera or the Amer Orig?

[@straight2helll]

I wish the American came with larger frets.

[@hugotyson308]

Yes Nitro finishes smell great!

[@shelo0828]

Hey Bro, Just to ask have you check the pickups of your original 60s? I've check mine but I find the sticker on the body says AM classic 60s. Also, the pickups bottom is black not grey bottoms. However, sound the same as pure vintage 65. Hope you help me on this, Thanks in advance!

[@BobK5]

Being Strats I assume they both go out of tune as quickly as each other?

[@BobK5]

@Richard Moore somebody on here obviously has not tried playing a Strat…….

[@BobK5]

@Richard Moore hahaha I’ve got three PRS electrics, a custom 24, custom 22 and an Anniversary custom 22 with Brazilian fretboard and they all stay in tune and intonate up the fret board unlike the Strat and the Les Paul. I’ve had a Japanese Strat in the 80’s with a locking nut, an American Anniversary Strat with 3 Texas Specials, an American Lonestar Strat and an American Strat deluxe. They’ve all gone and I’ve now got the PRS’s thank the Lord for Mr Smith!

[@BobK5]

@Richard Moore I’m not rich or anything but I didn’t go on holidays, fancy clothes and all that were out just guitars,, I might still get another Strat just to look at sometimes as they’re great, or might go on holiday for a change…..🤔

[@28469]

Still got these in stock?

[@nimitz1739]

The Mexican Vintera now come with Nitrocellulose paint jobs. And the reason people like that paint is because they want them to wear like the old fenders.

[@nimitz1739]

@@OliRoyer Oh, I did not know that. I just got the road worn version. I thought they quit making the standards.

[@sublyme2157]

So what you're saying is..... Silver Sky :D

[@ahmetayaz41]

No it can not

[@Fogertian]

MIM .... not Mex, MIM please.

[@ItsJustRyan89]

Why?

[@ItsJustRyan89]

@Richard Moore aaah. Should it be MIX then?