Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster. Is this Fender's finest Strat?

[@mjb1308]

🤣"If you're a right handed player, don't worry Fender have you covered also"🤣🤣🤣🤣. Very Funny!! I'm not sure if that was dripping with sarcasm, but as a lefty, I loved it.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Yeah, it was sarcasm. But it felt good to say it! Thanks for watching.

[@mjb1308]

@@pearlandGUITARIST No thank you. I have the Fiesta Red Lefty coming in a few weeks, down here in Australia. I'm bursting. It was my dream guitar, but couldn't/wouldn't pay AU$7500+ for a CS one. When these were announced last year, I ordered one right away. About time us Lefties got a decent colour option. Never understood that, we always seemed to get Black, White or Sunburst. I do love the Sunburst, but I already got a US Standard in that. I'm just hoping the Rosewood is Dark. Cheers

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@mjb1308 That's awesome! The Fiesta Red is cool. I hope you get a good one. ;) I lived in Australia for 7 1/2 years when I was a kid. Good times. Great country.

[@thisistimwoods]

​@pearlandGUITARIST personally, I love having to explain when I'm being sarcastic. I'm being sarcastic

[@gazaprice217]

I am a luthier from New Zealand and I bought one of these guitars 4 weeks ago. This is the 5th strat I have owned and I too traded 2 other strats to buy this one, it is the first strat I have owned with a rosewood fretboard as well. When I pt this guitar on my workbench next to a modern strat it is easy to say a modern strat would be much easier to play. But for me, that notion is completely wrong, as soon as I pick the 61 vintage strat up and plug it in I find there is almost something magic in the guitar, serious mojo or something. A bit like tales of the unexplained. This just might be the best fender stratocaster I have owned, might even be the last

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Congrats on the new guitar. Glad you like it so much!

[@dbvetter7485]

I bought a 1977 brand new in 1977 for $350. It was great, I loved the tilt neck feature, made it easy to adjust the string height. The 3 bolt neck was no problem, I don’t know why people say that. The best feature was the bullet truss rod.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

That's great. I paid something like $595 in 1980. It was a little over $600 with tax as I remember.

[@TREVORJB101]

I want one in Sunburst and one in Fiesta Red. Throw some medium jumbo frets and raise them strings a tad, and she'll scream all night. These are gorgeous guitars. So glad Fender went back to the American Vintage formula. They did this in 2012 (and slightly more accurate) before going to the American Original Series.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Sunburst and Fiesta Red. You'll pass on the white one, right? Couldn't agree more. 😁

[@TREVORJB101]

@PearlandGuitarist white is too sterile for me..give it 10 years of regular exposure and she'll fade into a creamy white..just not willing to wait that long!

[@nickpatsios407]

I’m loving the white one with rosewood neck but would like to have all three

[@chiefline7084]

My dad bought me a 74 strat when I was 14 and starting high school. The 3 bolt neck is a GREAT idea and is perfect for adjusting neck angle. If you ever used it as I have it is a perfect way to adjust neck angle and Leo Fender knew that. I ‘m 64 yrs old now and still have that strat and play it regularly. It is a great guitar. I am amused at peoples stupidity when I hear them say 70’s guitars are bad guitars. I think the 3 bolt neck was a step above the average guitar players intellect and I include you in that group. Also the ease of adjusting neck relief with the bullet truss rod was another genius idea. Now you don’t have to remove the neck for adjustments and you can easily insert your allen key in the exposed bullet. 70’s guitars are so underrated. Just listen to the tone on Sweet Home Alabama. That’s a 70’s Strat

[@bradyhogan6366]

I have the same guitar three tone sunburst in right handed. Just awesome. Wonderful guitar. Nice video!

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Thanks! You have good taste in guitars. 😁

[@josephvega3763]

I just bought mine yesterday

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@josephvega3763 Awesome. Happy for you!

[@josephvega3763]

@@pearlandGUITARIST thanks!! I'm freakin stoked!!

[@bradyhogan6366]

@@josephvega3763 It is so much fun to play. Enjoy!

[@gunjabeans]

Something about the pots/knobs that I did not hear you say is Fender Musical Instruments Corporation continues to use right-handed logarithmic potentiometers aka audio pots, on left-handed instruments. The result is an unnaturally fast volume fade in as you rotate the knob counter-clockwise. Also as you mentioned, the knobs are 1 on maximum volume and 10 on minimum.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I'm dying for the 3 tone burst AVII 61 strat. I played a red one somebody sold used to a GC here in town and I fell in love. But I need that sunburst. This is basically the exact thing I was going to spec on a Custom Shop in a few years for my 50th birthday. Now I can have my dream guitar sooner and for half the price!

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

It's funny you mention that. I was hoping to find it in fiesta red, but they only had the sunburst. Not disappointed though. The sunburst is classic and I might have tired of a red one after a while.

[@allenmichaelmusic]

I have an AVRI ‘59 wildwood spec thin skin nitro 3 tone sunburst rosewood I just listed on Reverb if you’re interested

[@jmo1366]

I too wanted a fiesta red, and ended up w a 3 tone.. I'm so glad I did now. The 3 tone is so beautiful on these.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@jmo1366 So true.

[@MPNNag]

Good choice, i purchased the Fiesta Red one my self. And I Love it!

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Oh, the Fiesta Red. I wanted one so bad! But they only had the Sunburst. Still, I'm happy. 😁

[@CraigBranscum]

Great review got the Fiesta red one I love it

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@CraigBranscum Thanks. The fiesta red is a beauty!

[@hkphooey2132]

I bought one and received it earlier today. I love it. I also have a 2001 Fat Strat with a maple fretboard which never felt right to me. The Vintage 2 is much better for me. I like it slightly narrower at the nut and a tighter radius, so I can now get my thumb round to hold down the E string a la Hendrix. The rosewood also feels better than maple - smoother bends. It also makes it slightly mellower sounding.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

That's great. Congratulations! Different fretboard woods and neck profiles make a difference, right? I like your observation about getting your thumb over the top on the tighter radius, though it's not my style it's a good point. Enjoy!

[@kneebitten1]

The tilt adjustment on the back of the neck plate are brilliant you can have your neck setup perfect and just need a slight adjustment you losen the bottom two screws and pull your Allen wrench in and tighten the the screw about 1/4 turn this will lower the strings on your fretboard making your action perfectly! They have the tilt adjustment on all their guitars can save you from taking off the neck to adjust the neck!😊

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Can’t disagree with you. It just seems that doing that makes the neck attachment less secure. Am I wrong?

[@kneebitten1]

@@pearlandGUITARIST you’re only slightly adjusting if you more than a 64” of inch you should probably use a shim adjusting your truss rod repeatedly you’re bowing your neck one way or another if your neck is true and you want keep it that way leaving your neck bowed will warp your neck it’s usually the weather that has your out of adjustment you should be able to get what you need out of adjusting your saddles if the screws are poking out to high you should add a shim start by folding a piece of masking tape over about 3/16”wide place it under the neck at the heel reset your neck when you have installed back in it’s place see if that gets you what you need if that get you what you need fold the tape 3 times until you’re satisfied that will keep your neck fixed to the body your neck is still true and you can leave safely secured we’re only taking about vintage guitars where the adjustment is at the heel if I’m at a gig I’m not gonna be playing a vintage guitar mostly because of the pickups but if you were to do that installing a tilt adjustment is big help just change the neck plate to one that made for a tilt adjustment you can get it done by any authorized dealer cheap and you’re neck will still be fixed to the body I have 3 vintage guitars with shims under the neck and they ring loud very resonant guitars keep adjusting your truss rod and your neck will bow! don’t take my word you shouldn’t you should ask a luthier that you trust you know Fender has very good engineers that have been installing tilt adjustments on professional guitars years after the CBS 70’s guitars when they were first released on their 3 screw bolt on necks!

[@thisistimwoods]

Great video and stories about your guitars!

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@donegan2comcast]

I have an '84 made-in-Japan '62 reissue -- exact same specs. including the slab rosewood. The 9.25 radius did take some gettin' used to. Still have to futz with the high E action, and it'll still fret out if not fretted exactly right. But that is my ONLY very minor complaint.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

That's cool. Didn't know there was such a thing as a MIJ '62.

[@boynamedsuew]

I want this strat so bad, and could probably get it if I traded in my American pro II, but…I love that guitar so much and don’t think I could ever part with it. Great video!!

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Thanks. Be happy with the Pro II. Those are great guitars. I fall into the trap of wanting something I don't have all too often.

[@JamieIanAaronsDad]

Nice looking guitar. Congrats!

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Thanks!

[@jwiegand1022]

Mine should be delivered today or tomorrow. I'm hoping fender fixed the neck joint issue on these. I played a Fiesta red one and a 50s at a store and fell in love with both. I was born in Pasadena aka stinkadena lol

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

I'm sure you'll love it. Pasadena was a long time ago for me. 😁

[@gregriddle3042]

Mine delivered last week (sun burst) I arrived as I was flying out to manhattan! I wanted to cry, I was supposed to fly back yesterday, fight cancelled, so my guitar is waiting for me In Fayetteville ark at my brothers house, I’m still stuck in manhattan! Leave out Thursday hopefully, cannot wait to grab it!!!

[@jassieblue]

Hi, they gave you the wrong flight case for the guitar. You got a tweed case which would be correct for a 57 avri. The 61 has a brownface case.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

The story behind the tweed case is that it came with the guitar I brought in for trade. That one was a relatively new Original 50's Strat. The store owner asked if I wanted to keep the tweed case. I said yes and he did find the corresponding 'case candy' for the AVii 61 and swapped it for the items I had. I prefer the tweed, they are the same case anyway, just different colors.

[@johng9123]

That’s interesting that your AVII came with the tweed case and poodle red interior, I just picked up a new AVII 1961 sunburst Strat and it came in the brown Tolex type case with gold interior. The rosewood fretboard on mine is fantastic, perfect how I like them and such a refreshing change from the lately typical Pao Ferro or other type woods used (likely due to material shortages or the ban on endangered woods etc.) I also temporarily had choking out high E but raising the action slightly helped solve that. Funny I never thought about the pots being backward for lefties, and that will likely never be fixed as they don’t require pots to work the opposite way, I can see how that would be annoying. Maybe someone will make reverse pots some day? Nice guitars though, I like mine so far 😁👍🏻

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Actually the tweed case came with the guitar I traded in (Original '50s). The store owner suggested I keep it as he was having trouble locating the brown case. It's the same case, just a different color. Thanks for your comment!

[@johng9123]

Ah I had a feeling that was the ‘case’ there lol. I too had an original 60’s Tele and had the black case with red interior, it was beautiful, the new one (brown with orange) is nice, more how it would have originally came with in 1961 I guess. But the poodle type material is my favourite, especially in gold with brown tolex, or red.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@johng9123 They are nice cases. Oh, I have raised the action again ever so slightly and now high E string bends are no problem.

[@mikecrean8849]

Some good stories. Really interesting. 🙋‍♂️🇬🇧

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Thanks Mike! It's nice to know someone finds me interesting. 😁

[@kellygotell1179]

This was very helpful. I have a 2009 rosewood fretboard American standard. I’m selling it and want either this 61 or the 57 ll. I like the vintage look with correct appointments and imo, I think fender guitars wth the truss rod adjustment NOT in the headstock are better, they seem to have better necks.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

The neck is excellent. Good luck with your guitar hunting.

[@MBRMrblueroads]

My only issue is the truss rod adjustment. I am lefty as well.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Yeah, any adjustment will be a pain. Some improvements over the years really were improvements...

[@marfg12345]

I used the minwax ebony pen on my AVII 1961 and the fretboard basically looks like ebony now

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Haven't heard of that one. Doesn't rub off on your fingers?

[@pharmerdavid1432]

I have the same stratocaster preferences as you it seems, although I'm flexible and like a variety of guitars, neck profiles/sizes, fretboard-neck-body woods, etc. But I like the traditional 1960's strat design the best, with a chunky C neck all the way down, but not TOO chunky. I used to prefer flatter fretboard radius and jumbo frets, but the Vintera original 60's Jazzmaster I just scored has vintage medium frets, and the 7 1/4" radius I used to dislike, but now I love them. Getting back to strats, that IS a beautiful strat, and if I got another Fender strat (got a couple Robert Cray hardtails and a 1997 Hendrix tribute), that would be the model for me. But I've been a "Shijie" fiend since getting one of their TLV classic telecasters last year, which led to getting a STE classic strat. These are under $900USD with a beautiful soft-case worth $100USD itself. I like it more than Fender models costing twice as much, including the Vintage II and Pro II. While they don't use nitrocellulose lacquer, they finish them with a thin coat of poly on the body, and thinner coat of satin urethane on the neck. The necks are quarter-sawn and roasted, a carbon fiber rod added for stability, which helps keep them in tune better. The pickups sound so good I can't imagine changing them. You might want to check them out, but you have to have faith and just buy one online, you can return it IF you don't like it, but you'll love it. You rarely see them used, very rarely. There is a cult following for a reason, and I'd be embarrassed to tell you how many I have now! They also make a TLV classic P-90 model, and those are awesome sounding pickups with 500k pots, which they also use on the HSS strat bridge pickup, which is wired to the tone pot. I got a couple extra, and put TV Jones T'Armond (dynasonic type) pickups in one, and Lollar Firebird pickups in the other, both sound wonderful, you get the Gretch vibe in one, the Firebird vibe in the other, but the tele comes through too. Their wonderful sounding P-90's that came out will go into my Epiphone guitars with P-90 pickups. I sound like a Shijie commercial, but I'm just a cult member. Getting back to your strat: the nitro finish they use now is not like the old nitro, they add plasticizers, making it soft and sticky, and it won't age the same either, people say they don't craze when they give it the cold-hot treatment to cause crazing, or just getting old causes real nitro to craze as it dries and shrinks, and sinks into the wood. People talking about letting the guitar "breath", but until the old finish starts crazing the nitrocellulose lacquer keeps it water-proof and blocks the air too. That's why necks that are finished don't warp from absorbing environmental humidity, and neck sellers say won't warranty against warping on unfinished necks. I''ve found the Fender "road worn" strats and telecasters are the best way to go, although I only have a road worn Vintera telecaster now it's already crazed-up naturally. Those Vintage II ARE beautiful stratocasters, and I wouldn't mind having one, but I'd always be playing my Shijie anyways, so it seems pointless - variety?

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Shijie - I've heard about them. I'm not looking for the best guitar in the world, just something to make me happy. The Fender does that well enough. Thanks for all of your insight here. Much appreciated!

[@falconscott4942]

Love it! Cheers

[@jeffrey7663]

I have the same...but american pro ll series. Pickups are vintage modified. Dont have a preferance other than the nitro finish on the vintage.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

That's a good guitar. How do you like the push - push knob? Do you use it much?

[@nigelsmith721]

I bought one last October (Olympic White)...not my first Strat but I hadn't had one for a while. In the store it was obviously in need of a setup but I felt confident I could sort it myself (playing-for-40-years-worth of self confidence). I couldn't. Spent weeks fucking about with neck relief, action and string gauges to no avail. It buzzed, it had dead notes (the G string sounded like it had palm mute almost everywhere), it choked on bends - you name it...a total dog. Still, I decided I owed it the best chance to earn its £2,000 price tag so I did some asking around about who the pros use for guitar setup in Glasgow and the same name kept coming up. So I made an appointment to let him have a look. His first reaction was "What the fuck?" but assured me it was saveable. The setup wasn't cheap but, like I said, I wanted to give it the best chance. Long story shortened a little...it now plays like butter with 10s. No chokes, no dead notes, nice action (within the boundaries of the 7.25" radius...1961, remember?). And it sounds beautiful. It needed a full fret dress and high spots removed in several places (oh, and the nut recut). Pickup heights set to Fender's '61 specs is also a revelation....rings like a bell now. I'm very glad I toughed it out - it's everything I hoped for now and the more I play it the better it gets. Should we expect perfection out of the box? Is that a little unrealistic? I think the answer to both is "it depends". Fender definitely have some QC issues with this model (YT has many videos along the same lines) but they sold out in weeks and the back order is lengthy so there's "something" about them.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Wow. What a horror story. Glad it worked out for you. Mine is far from perfect, but not that bad. I'll let it age a while and see how it goes. May give it some professional attention in the future.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I don't think a $2100 guitar should need THAT much of a severe set up (fret dressing!? On an American made $2k Fender!?) but I can't say I'm surprised.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@ryangunwitch-black I agree with you. Something doesn't seem right. Still, I guess even fender can let a bad one slip through.🤔

[@nigelsmith721]

@@ryangunwitch-black I agree, it definitely shouldn’t need this kind of work but I’ve now got possibly the best playing Strat I’ve ever owned. The QC issues are still a sore point though.

[@jamespeacock7202]

Fine presentation

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@jamespeacock7202 Thanks! Working on another video right now: American Original 60's Strat. Stay tuned.

[@jamespeacock7202]

Will do

[@TheGui3000-v4t]

Did you experience any low E string buzzing Dow the fretboard ?

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Unplugged the whole guitar is a little rattly. It's nothing that would get through to the amp. A slightly higher action may eliminate that also. No issues with the low E string even with a good bend anywhere on the neck.

[@PatrickDrummond-h1v]

I love Fender products, I am a lefty too. Hope they can address their Quality Control issues, I'm sure they will! Also please leave Controls as righty because virtually all guitars a lefty will play are righty wired pots, most of us are completely familiar and used to it!

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Thanks for your comment. I'm a big Fender fan too. I think they do a pretty good job.

[@russellgordon5114]

what????? Only Gibson doesnt wire a lefty to suit a lefty...ie...CCW for volume up, CW for volume down.....just the opposite of a right handed guitar. I have owned lefty Fenders since the mid 60's (yea I'm old) and every single one was wired the opposite of a righty but totally correct in theory......volume knob rolled to the floor increases volume, just like a right handed guitar.

[@KevinHallSurfing]

Very nice. Unbelievable my 73 Brazilian acoustic (Giannini) has a rosewood fretboard with lovely shades streaking through and the bottom is also rosewood. Got a bit "darker" I admit from greasy fingers over the last 50 years but complaining about rosewood streaky and not dark enough? Buy a brand with ebony fretboard.😂 The rosewood on my 1980's E series MIJ Strat '62 re-issue has a similar rosewood shading has served me for 40 years and still plays perfectly ... unlike me. 😂 Yours looks almost identical to mine (except Candy Apple).! Very nice. 😍 The "ashtray" stays put on mine , quite a firm hold, so maybe just luck of the draw though apparently the E series were mainly assembled from US parts back then? 🤔

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Each piece of wood has a unique appearance and can be appreciated for what it is. Thanks for your post!

[@beefyburt]

Hey fellow lefty! . Very interesting review. I have a 2017 Professional 1, which has proper lefty wiring so the tone fully works and lefty knobs, which is just perfect. I don't understand why they cant fit lefty knobs as standard on all their models, its no extra cost. Ive added Fender locking tuners and a set of Lace Hot Gold pickups and now its nearly perfect for me. One thing that bothers me is the ill fitting tremelo arm. Its a bit clacky, so very tempted to replace the whole unit with a Gotoh 510T one which I have used on other guitars. Its super smooth and silent. Cheers.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

So they do put lefty knobs on some of their guitars. Oh well, it's a minor thing for me as I really don't look closely at them while playing. Sounds like you've got a nice setup there.

[@beefyburt]

hi. Only the Professional models for some crazy reason. @@pearlandGUITARIST

[@predigr]

Great review!! I didn't know the issue of rounded necks with bending. But this guitar seems to me the guitar of my teacher long time ago, which I loved. I don't know if this has the same level, but that strato was superb. You felt the wood, the rosewood with the frets seemed to me amazing in that curved neck. I don't know. I am confused :D But I would like to find a guitar like that one.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Yeah, it’s a great guitar. I raised the 1st string again ever so slightly to relieve the bending issue. Not a guitar for those who demand a super low action.

[@lyndatomlins3448]

Great review. The '50s vintage era re issue Strat is the best looking....stick with it. Never had a US Strat, but had 2 Mexicans from '90s, one a rare ' Squier Series' but with Fender logo + lefty. Nice sounding & no issues, wish I still had it. Fender is too expensive now [even some Squiers] but your new one looks & sounds the business.. Cheers from NZ also.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Thanks so much! Yeah, guitar prices are crazy these days. And just keep going up.

[@K1C2]

Strangely similar history. My first strat was a lefty black '78, then a 2000 American Deluxe in translucent red, now a sunburst '61 AVRII. I could live with the numbers on the volume running backwards, but they used right-handed pots so the taper is all wrong. I wonder if its a vintage thing. Out of 5 Fenders, the AVRII and an AO 50's tele were the only 2 that had righty pots. I rewired them right-handed more to match the Epiphone than any other reason. None of the Strats were from Southpaw, but 2 other guitars are. I don't think righties understand the feeling of walking into a store and seeing more than 1 Squier with rusty strings.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

That's too funny - having owned similar guitars over the years. The quest for the perfect one is unending. You're right about the one lefty Squier with rusty strings - they often only have 5 strings at that.

[@bryancollins6796]

I'm currently waiting for one on order. I hope it is what I think it should be. Keep in mind it's not a dead-on replica. A 5-way switch and bridge tone control are added. There is no aluminum pickguard sheilding plate.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Yeah, all that is true. I wouldn't have minded a 9.5" radius fretboard as a deviation from the original. Enjoy your new guitar!

[@bryancollins6796]

@PearlandGuitarist I should've added that changing out of the modernized or missing parts to make it dead-on accurate is easy enough. Various models in the AMVII series are historically correct. Others drift in a few areas like this.

[@laurent1678]

@@bryancollins6796have you got it yet? 🥂

[@nickpatsios407]

@@pearlandGUITARIST in 2008 got my first used cs 56 relic 2006 came with the three-way switch. And had nines on it first thing I did was put in a five way switch and change to 10’s and decked the tremolo it has a 7 1/4 radius went to a gig. It definitely was not set up right for tens which was my fault because I change things and didn’t take off the neck to adjust truss rod once I had it set up by a great tech. It is still mybest playing guitar still. And the tremolo is so comfortable stays in tune, vantage, toners. Meanwhile I have a strat ultra with all the locking tuners and two point tremolo always find myself going back to the 7 1/4 cs or fender performer strat

[@tomusic8887]

As if that is important! One cannot here those (cork sniffing) issues, it makes me sad and the guitars are getting more expensive due to those issues

[@jmo1366]

These are great guitars. I have the exact same lefty..

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Awesome!!! Where did you get yours?

[@jmo1366]

@@pearlandGUITARIST ordered mine from Sweetwater... Had it for around a year now, and I love it. I got a good one.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@jmo1366 Great. I think there are more good ones than bad, but you never know until you get your hands on it.

[@niclasfinnander9088]

Nice to know about left Strats ...

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Yes. Personally I can’t get enough of them. Thanks for your comment.

[@Ro-Bucks]

I tried every guitar in the world, always said I would never buy a Strat, do to a money issues I ended up with an old start and now it's all i like. First guiutar I ever played as a kid and I guess it was in my mem and I didn't know it, the feel and sound is my favorite.

[@Ro-Bucks]

I was windering why I couldn't get a PinkFloyd bend lol I'm on a 9.5r

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

A Strat was my first 'real' electric guitar and have been my favorite since. But lately I'm really liking my Les Paul. 🤩

[@Ro-Bucks]

@@pearlandGUITARIST I started with a strat too, then it feels like I spent 20 years trying everything but and said I didn't like them only to find out I kinda only like strats lol But I do wish I had an LP for things and I would love an SG for when in the AC/DC mood

[@gregthompson9434]

I ordered one in Olympic white , and with Seymour Duncan Custom Staggers pick ups

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Where can you order it with those pickups?

[@gregthompson9434]

@@pearlandGUITARIST I purchased guitar and pickups from Sweetwater music they will install pickups and ship to me , I wanted a punchy fender for blues

[@vautrain]

I'm surprised the neck profile on the American Original 50s wasn't to your liking, because it can't have been chunkier than the Les Paul you have. Or the classical, either, although I understand you might use different technique with that guitar! I'm trying out an American Original 60s Stratocaster this weekend and if I don't care for it, I might spring for the American Vintage II.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

I would say the '50s Strat neck was thicker than my '50s Les Paul. I thought I would like it - being used to the classical and the LP, but it was just too much for an electric, imo. Classical guitar is a totally different animal - wide fretboard and string spacing and virtually no radius. The technique is different there.

[@vautrain]

@@pearlandGUITARIST For sure. I started with a student classical guitar more than 40 years ago. Didn’t take too long before I got my first electric, a Japanese Fender Strat. It felt amazing in comparison. That classical got destroyed a la Pete Townshend one especially careless day in my teens.

[@johnscott2566]

Strange question.... I may have purchased your original 50s from Southpaw a few months back. It did not have a certificate of authenticity in the case. Is there a chance that may be something you would still have? I know that's a long shot.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@johnscott2566 I gave them everything that was in the case. Having said that, he let me keep the tweed case as he couldn't locate the brown case for the AVII 61. He did, however, give me the leather pouch with all of the goodies for the 61 Strat... I just looked in the case... I have it! 😳 Just to be sure, what is the serial number of your guitar?

[@johnscott2566]

​@@pearlandGUITARISTV2203237

[@johnscott2566]

Hey , buddy , did you get my cereal number??V2203237 ​@@pearlandGUITARIST

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

So I actually do have the certificate for the 50s Original. Let me know the serial # of yours just to be sure it is the same guitar. email me at: [e-mail]

[@Tonetwisters]

Had Fender NOT developed all the other iterations of the Stratocaster over the years, THIS would represent Fender as a "Stratocaster." Just under the Custom Shop series, these days. My wife and I bought the right version, for our grown son, who loves his. My opinion as a guitarist of 63 years ... radius is too round and frets are too small. I do, however, own the preceding version, an American Original '50s model in Blonde, that is really a darn fine Stratocaster with 9.5. I would actually prefer 11 radius or a compound version.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I'm too impatient to wait for the end of the video and the possible answer to my question😂. Did they sell you that tweed case with the Strat?

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

I didn't mention it in the video. The tweed case came with the Original 50's Strat. When I made the trade the store owner asked me I wanted to keep it. He did give me all of the 'case candy' that belonged with the '61. It was just a fluke. These guitars ship with a brown case (orange interior)

[@tomusic8887]

I had an ultra so small, like a child's guitar and the pickups were very sterile. I got a 61 custom shop but the sound is so bland, not outspoken and very much low end I am putting oftrading it in scared of my next mistake with stratocasters.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Have you ever had one you liked? Do you prefer Telecasters, Gibsons???

[@tomusic8887]

@@pearlandGUITARIST not really I do prefer gibbons, the longer neck, single coils it all makes me uninspired somehow and I did try to love my 4k custom shop & still own it though...

[@michaelbuckner9846]

Nice video

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Thanks! I can't imagine anyone wants to listen to me talk about my guitars, but apparently a few people do. I appreciate the comment. 😃

[@DS-nw4eq]

The 1st string always requires more lift on a 7.25 radius neck… if your bending a whole step or more. If you your the type to not bend when playing, then you could set it lower.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

I like to bend! I never liked a super low action anyway so I'm good with that. I find the notes sing out with a slightly higher action when there is no rattle from adjacent frets. Thanks for your comment.

[@nickpatsios407]

I prefer the vintage style guitars. I went through the whole modern guitar. Rabbit hole I have a Strat ultra. Haven’t touched it in months feel of the six screw vintage tremolo just feels right. I think Leo got it right the first time.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

He really did!

[@identifiesas65.wheresmyche95]

The lacquer on the frets thing is just how most lacquered fretboards are, maybe some nicer brands clean it off but its not really a knock on general quality... I wouldnt be surprised is the 50s version of your strat is the same way. I used to pass by south paw guitars every day omw to 610. I should have stopped by.

[@bassinblue]

Omg I was loving this video, till I heard that bend choking out 🤣I was trying to gather intel before making a decision, but I'll stick with the 9.5".

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Yeah, that's really the only drawback. If you want low action with bluesy string bending this isn't the guitar for you.

[@Pannemat]

Loved the bit of "lefty sarcasm" you put in. I don't mind the numbers on the turning knobs as long as they turn the right way. Good thing you didn't mention the case! If there is one thing that infuriates me, it's the righty guitar case these come in. Frankly, it's a total insult to us lefties but nobody seems to care. I feel like that hypothetical guy standing in the desert alone, shouting at the thin air. Just tell me how many more decades I have to wait ...

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

I'm sure that day will never come. But it does seem reasonable that case manufacturers could adjust their design so that left handed guitars fit better. A little more space in the headstock cavity. Sort of a righty/universal case is what I'm thinking.

[@twintriode]

I did close to what you did. I had at one point a '77 strat...got rid of it, junk! From there on I had 90's strats, and they all left me. I never really jelled with any of them. Now i have a sunburst American Professional II that's OK, but I'm probably going to sell Fender market over saturation willing. I also have a 1961 American Vintage II in Fiesta Red that I found out is NOT true lacquer, and is now finished in Lake Placid Blue. Almost went Sherwood Green. Anyhow, Lake Placid Blue American Vintage II in pure lacquer and left handed is rare enough.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

Interesting story. I've heard about the Vintage II's not having a true lacquer finish. Don't know how they do that. How did you get yours refinished? Who did it?

[@twintriode]

@@pearlandGUITARIST What I did to give it a somewhat vintage look. I used an upside-down can of compressed air to get the paint cold, and a distanced heat gun to quick warm it to cause the checking. While it did check in some area's, others it caused this rhino texture that was somewhat like tolex texture. I then read that its not true 100% lacquer. I sent the body to MJT, which after I did that I started reading that their quality was going south. Anyhow, long story. They did an acceptable job, and I figured that with doing Lake Placid Blue or Sherwood green (two vintage colors I love that Fender will probably never do outside Mod Shop or CS for left players) I would have a nice one off. Plus if I ever want Fiesta Red again (because I do love it too) I will have several to pick from due to Fender market over saturation. I've already seen them at $1,600 left handed. I bought mine in the original Fiesta from Sweetwater as a defect guitar because there was an ever so small chip in the paint at the neck joint. I paid $1,600 for it, and with the Lake Placid Blue I'm all in for the OLD list price of the American Vintage which was $2,099.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@twintriode Cool story. Glad it worked out for you. You definitely have a unique instrument now and for the price of one of the standard offerings. Excellent.

[@LarryDepontes]

I am still on the fence about this guitar. I will say this. the Eric Johnson signature strats are awesome quality at about the same price

[@xalk311x]

I love southpaw! Jim and Co. Are the best!

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

They are good people it's true!

[@Hbomb731]

Yesterday I tried the AVR2…57 Strat and did a side-by-side comparison to the American ultra both have maple necks. I really like the vintage sound from the 57 but I found the ultra to be much easier to play. I am considering getting the ultra. I guess I could switch out the pick ups but they didn’t sound that bad pretty good actually but not as good as the 57 in my opinion.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

A combination of modern and vintage features would be ideal.

[@DS-nw4eq]

One of those made in 1961 would have cost $289… which is about $3k in today’s money. So I’d say, at least in price, the AVII 61 Stratocaster is a bargain at $2k. Though it obviously doesn’t feel like it because $2k is a lot of money.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

In today's market I think it's a fair price. Everything just keeps going up.

[@MrSepulveda13]

As a left handed player and a strat, and tele owner they’re both wired that way (volume and tone) also own a Les Paul which is the same

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

That's interesting. I have Gibson and Epiphone Les Pauls. The Gibson is wired right handed (knobs rotate clockwise). The Epiphone is left-handed all the way - even the knobs are printed with 1-10 going the opposite direction. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXfFoqyjgNOjkLc

[@fredfloyd68]

Good guitar...

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

That's all you can really ask for. Thanks for watching.

[@deqwannash1849]

Wow

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

You said it. Thanks!

[@citizenpatriot1791]

Brutally Honest Review of the AVII Stratocaster: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r322i5-ki5WXmZosi=iHT3WbqKtIIDm9PN

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

American Original 50s and 60s beat all.

[@gregwolf5695]

Absolutely not the best Strat and 50 years I own one , neck buzzes rosewood is cheap pickups are just adequate not a $2300 guitar

[@demiansims728]

Perhaps not 2099 guitar but when you walk into a store and the AVII of the wall and it sounds better than all the other strats, it’s hard not to walk out of the store with it.

[@GuitarMav]

Yeah I agree, so many QC issues I would be taking the same money and buy one of the old American vintage reissues pre 2017. Even the American originals seemed better quality. Hopefully fender sort it out.

[@eglide73]

I saw a video of a new one that had the high E COMPLETELY off the fretboard!!

[@russellgordon5114]

Left handed Fenders are wired for lefties...always have been....in fact only snobby Gibson will not nor ever have or had wired their lefties for lefties. Hence the reason I don't and never will own a Gibson..I did however recently purchased a lefty 50's Gold Top Epiphone that is wired correctly. Why Gibson can't do this but their sister company can is just baffling to me.

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

It's just the price we lefties have to pay. I'm willing to forgive Gibson - they don't understand.

[@patrickmckay6621]

damn fender doesn t want to spent 2 bucks on left hand vol and tone pots? Get out...

[@pearlandGUITARIST]

@@patrickmckay6621 Yeah, sometimes it sucks to be a lefty.

[@user-jb4um9tl8d]

One more piece of food for thought, Fender goofed with those pickups in the Ammerican Vintage 2's. It would have been closer to vintage sounding if they had equiped them with the're 57/62's.

[@user-jb4um9tl8d]

Sorry my friend, but the best so far, are the original Fender Classic 60's, and it's newer rendition (the Vintera 2 60's) models. Both, unlike the American Vintage 2 models, have a ONE PIECE ALDER BODY! The only other difference would be the clay dots in the 61. The Classic 60's models are actually 1962 models that DID have the pearloid dots. Compare the 2, and if You're truly a tone snob, the difference is OBVIOUS!