Fender Vintera Stratocasters | Nile Rodgers First Impressions

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The Fender Vintera Series is a line of guitars and basses built to specs from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. We invited Stratocaster legend Nile Rodgers to check out the new Vintera Strats, and we chatted with him about his band Chic, his signature techniques, and how the Stratocaster has remained an important tool for him as an artist and producer throughout his decades-long career. He plays familiar grooves on the new Vinteras, and even breaks out his original “Hitmaker” to give us a listen.
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Keep up with Nile Rodgers at nilerodgers.com.

[@mika1367]

I’m glad Nile is finally getting recognized as the great player he has always been. He always plays exactly what a song needs nothing more nothing less

[@diegomendivil7101]

Bunch of bedroom guitarist here complaining about the sound. He said it himself he likes the sound to cut trough the mix, a guitar soloed doesn’t always sound great or full but in a mix, boy it sit perfectly! I agree the sound could be turned up a bit but there was nothing wrong with the tone. This is Nile Rodgers a living legend and professional we’re talking about.

[@peehaha9742]

you're right

[@heaventhegreat2751]

exactly. how can people complain when a legend comes back and gives us HIS take? He doesn't have to buy another guitar ever again. The rest of us do.

[@allthingsclassicrock]

You are absolutely correct. I think a lot of folks don’t understand the concept of “in the mix.” A lot of great bedroom tones fly out the window in a band setting.

[@samquitkin338]

Nile’s playing is freaking amazing, the rhythm stuff he does always fascinates me

[@owlsonik37]

It doesn’t matter if it’s a crappy guitar or a great one, someone like Nile’s is going make it sound amazing.

[@MiketheNerdRanger]

This guitar actually sounds good, tho

[@SurfingSerpent]

People are trashing the sound, and maybe it’s true that the direct sound makes the guitar sound bare, but honestly it sounds like what he’s describing. The low end doesn’t cause any breakup by overwhelming the amp, so the guitar works for the kind of style he’s doing. It plays very direct and transparent while staying completely clean.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Nile my man. So glad you are still Doing your Thing. Nile is so cool & down-to-earth. Hung out with him 3x's in NYC ( clubs ) He is Exactly like that = so Passionate about The Music., and a hell-of-a Guitar Player. Chord Inversions for days . . . "The Hitmaker" One Love brother from NYC.

[@dreamcoma2213]

Leo Fender was a genius, he changed the world with the Stratocaster.

[@michaelballard4095]

Amen.

[@NuZTheRockerOFFICIAL]

Yeah. Totally. Greatest invention after electricity, I may say.

[@SuperEdge67]

Prefer teles myself.

[@Jiri_yolo]

were so lucky too to be able to experience and listen to such a great invention. I cannot imagine a world without a Stratocaster.

[@PAULPINBALL]

Niles contributions and influence have been mega, this guy is a legend!!!

[@ezekielthemack]

A guitar legend and one of my major influences on the guitar.

[@itsAdriannn]

Nile Rodgers is a LEGEND!

[@PlayaflyJoe27]

Hey Hey right. He's a guitar God and people have the nerve to come on here and critique the sound of the guitar. Like they've made hit records with multiple legends smh

[@tomaburque]

When you are done watching this, go watch some live Chic concerts on KZbin. They are fantastic because Chic recent years is one of the best bands around and they really rock those old songs and it all sounds new and current. Nile is awesome. So good to see him still doing it.

[@revolutionday1]

Well, we can definitely hear a whole lot of the pick......

[@scottnathanphoto]

Guitars sound like their players. No exceptions. If you want great tone, practice and have something to say.

[@p6x2]

This is peculiar to his style of playing. He mutes almost all the strings when he plays the chords. Very percussive. I would not have expected Nile to endorse a Fender Vintera. Niles' "hit machine" is THE guitar that his completely representative of him!

[@TheZooropaBaby]

Nile also uses fairly thin picks and you can probably hear that flap

[@p6x2]

@@TheZooropaBaby it is very much built into his tone, that percussion sound that you hear on all this sound. Its his signature! when I was learning his style, I had so much trouble doing the muting on time, like he does. It is really a prowess to be able to master it.

[@jips123]

probably because the sound is mostly acoustic.

[@TomoFujitaMusic]

Funk master!!

[@blueser100]

Thank you Nile for all the classic riffs and great production, arrangements, and Fender tone. 👍

[@John-xe5kr]

This is the series I’ve been praying for under my Hendrix poster

[@froag4003]

Love how he says “we” while talking about guitar players.

[@photobouph]

This video was a huge factor why I purchased this exact guitar at Guitar Center. It’s used and came over in such great condition I’m loving it!

[@drothberg3]

Those who are complaining about the sound of the guitars don’t get it. The thin sound that you don’t like by itself is what sits well in a mix for the kind of rhythm guitar Nile Rogers does. The kind of sounds that we’re used to hearing on You Tube that sound beautiful solo don’t work well in a mix for funk.

A great guitarist. That sound...chucking and rhythm with that beat!! Love Nile Rodgers!!

[@pCeLobster]

Probably the coolest rhythm guitar player ever.

[@ZillaCabs]

I love his style, every time I her him play I just want to pick up a strat.

[@jacktaylor1516]

NR...total music legend, icon, hero 👍🤘. Respect ✊

[@trickyfingers]

Guitar Center should put a little more into production. Nile Rodgers is great - guitar sounds like crapola.

[@Nghilifa]

Turn the volume up for christ´s sake!

[@MaddesG1]

Thats a crisp clean tone

[@zebravox]

Why?

[@skumtaurica2782]

He's obviously not one of those retired rockstars, who lost their thing somewhere in the 80s! Just look at him! He looks so fresh from head to toe! Only the body is getting old, not the mind! Bravo!

[@modestoney1577]

"that´s a cool sound" *klink* *kloink* *klink* i really dig Strats and have a lot of respect for Nile, but i couldn´t help it :) nice decent chain around his neck btw.

[@Lysdexia]

My all-time favourite guitarist.

[@duppykitoon]

I love Nile Rodgers, but that guitar sounds kind of tinny and thin to me.

[@RobvandenBoogaard]

I agree, but It probably should be heard in the mix with other instruments. Bet it cuts through pretty well.

[@mrredritehand]

Sounds like every other strat to me

[@CentaurusRelax314]

I think he tends to plug straight into a desk when recording. All of his demos and such sound like this. You can't, though, argue with the results. He's been a major component on/architect of a ton of hits for 30+ years.

[@mhmoretti]

yea. I hate to say it, but it sounded REALLY thin

[@potterman83]

Absolutely

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

To those saying they didn’t like the sound of these guitars, I can assure you they sound really great. Tried them recently at the local shop and they were absolute buttery good in my hands. The amp settings and picking style in this video definitely don’t show off the full sound these guitars have. Cheers. Hope that helps

[@michaelnedoshytko6920]

Love the 70s strat even though it gets a lot of hate

[@TLW4118]

I just actually played one of these last week. Let me tell you, the guitar sounds amazing. Up there with any USA Strat I’ve played. With that being said they sound nothing like what he was playing in the video. Sounds like bad mic placement and the bass and mids rolled waaay down.

[@Particle67]

I'm from rock planet but i have huge respect for this guy.

[@greenvelvet]

The greatest endorsement Fender could ever hope to get. I mean this guitar built music history thanks to Nile Rodgers

Thanks for that video love you Nile

[@bazZzment]

The problem with this video is that most of the time we hear the clip-on mic for his voice way too loud. Much louder than the amp, that's why the guitar sounds thin and the pick is overwhelmingly loud. You can hear the difference on some parts where he doesn't talk. They seem to have been recorded without the voice's mic. Sadly, it is a very common mistake in production and a lot of demos suffer from that.

[@thescatman5029]

Why isn't there a Nile Rodgers Signature Guitar?

[@corkleijn4493]

There is

[@TheZooropaBaby]

there is but it was limited to......limited edition replica of his guitar rather than "guitar in his spec" kinda thing

[@clintwilson6380]

Yeah, no shit

[@alexgarza9548]

I wish they re launch the hitmaker replica

[@mika1367]

I think you gave them your identity . Thanks for all the lessons!

[@hodaridaniels8786]

Love that guitar sound of Chic

[@anchitsengupta9480]

For some reason I loved the tone

[@RockOfGreece]

That hitmaker strat though... Sweet instrument

[@grantgre]

Rodgers, an icon!

[@redbrown7355]

My Disco-Funk guitar Idol. He's the reason I play. I wanted to make hits like Nile Rodgers.

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

I love the fender players Stratocasters they are what a true Standard Strat should be absolutely incredible Strats

[@TheBbtlegit]

Nile is the man.

[@waitin4winter]

Love strats, but did not like this tone

[@44scoots]

Sounds like Nile Rodgers

[@ryanlittleton5615]

Go try one.

[@charel5614]

Glad to know

[@danzimawan8231]

This good for me idk why, twang clean like this

[@vaughnmiller3896]

Funk rhythm master... Mr Rogers neighborhood.

[@dkstryker]

Absolutely Love Nile!

[@romfordmobbsy]

When Niles, a genius by the way, though all of us don't like disco - peace! - shows us his interpretation of Freddie King, we all have to listen. It's his style, his phrasing. That's all. It just so happens than billions of people like his ear. Or, if you like, his phrasing. I happen to prefer other guitarists, but I still love Nile. He's a musician, and a guitarist. And that's all there is.

[@mayibuye2908]

Freddie Green, he said; the Jazz guy - Count Basie's guitarist.

[@TMillsMusic]

Classic funk rhythm! Love it!

[@philg6757]

Good hint drop Nile,I think you might find one of these in your Christmas stocking from Fender.

[@DANYALLAYNAD]

For all the experts in the comments: The tone you play in your room and the tone you record in the studio are COMPLETELY different

[@khabriel]

"that's a good sound" ... chikichikichikichikichiki and the pick is on!

[@yaxization]

This guy right here can make a 100$squire bullet sound like a 4500$ 54’ Stratocaster.

[@Adam-th2ws]

Imagine to have like 100 original songs to play when trying out a new G.

[@Hot80s]

3:02 oh my lord yes

[@StratsRUs]

The truss rod should be easier ' gettable'.

[@user-io7oh8kk1b]

I have one. Awesome guitar

[@joshualoveless20]

Looks and sounds like my MIM 2006 frosted Blues Strat. But probably feels and responds a thousand times better.

[@KBK286]

Cool guy...legend..

[@pmay222]

strats are made for funk and disco....... perfect

[@quoimagueule628]

this vintera range is a real success i buy a fender vintera stratocaster 50's it is better than my fender pro it's incredible. sincerely dark buy it

[@Opticillusion160]

gloss finish feels terrible playing for long periods of time and 21 frets is kind of a dealbreaker these days. Good value but there’s other strats out there

[@matthewc.234]

There's no comparison between the hitmaker & vintera series. Goes to show there ain't no skool like the old skool.

[@AndreaAustoni]

Nonsense. The one Vintera he plays in 5th position sounds like his Hitmaker in 5th position. All the other guitars are played in 1st and 2nd position, which are all thinner.

[@tonys518]

An lo the the utube followed the Nile to it's mouth (quite a big mouth) and out flowed the greatness of the Nile to enlighten the masses . Unfortunately the masses are perfectly capable of making their own minds up . Here endeth the lesson

[@martinheath5947]

Saying a Strat is great is not the same thing as saying THIS particular Strat is great though. Poor sound on this video and no excuse for that on a promo featuring this great man!

[@danielgarcet1130]

greatest guitarist Nile Rodgers .

[@Durberville1]

Nile could make any guitar sound amazing

[@drk1825]

What could be the best alternative from the current lineup to the 2014 Hitmaker Strat that is no longer available?

[@sundayiris6302]

Niles is THE MAN.

[@mytbeats]

did you blend all the specs from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s into one guitar???

[@connordix1859]

If Nile Rogers says it’s a good guitar then it’s a good guitar

[@James-fu9ml]

Does that intro remind anyone else of Get up and Jump?

[@emcg.9655]

The hitmaker crushed the others😂 literally crushed them

[@brooklynboy1000]

sounds like hes going directly into the console.. compared to other videos online , the daphne blue one here - sounds quite thin.

[@fujigg9612]

If I want to get Nile’s tone should I buy the 70’s Vintera??

[@mitchellbenham]

You know you've made it when you get interviewed wearing a hat with your own name on it

[@fightmodernism7532]

That's a cool Strat.

[@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040]

Nice review, rasta.

[@RyanJohnsonD]

what neck size does he like? Doe he user ernie ball strings?

[@xxPanteraxxx]

I for one prefer the *Classic Players* series Strats over the new Vintera ones.

[@Van020280]

I'd give up playing the guitar if I had to play with that clean tone forever.

[@audioandybaker]

Do I like funk?? Not really.... do I think this guy is incredible? YES!

[@darwin_j]

What amp is he playing ?

[@ebeep]

Is this the "Shreds" version of this video?

[@wokeupdead3428]

I thought this man was dead good to see you still alive bruh

[@artprince9163]

This exemplifies to me the thin sound of the Strat. Why I much prefer the Tele. Nuff said.

[@markdunbar799]

Its cool he sounds like hes not using an amp even though I think he is

[@TheGlobalKickerz]

Anyone know what shoes he’s wearing

[@NigelCharlesworth]

That'll do for me.

[@daviddalziel884]

With the prices of these Mexican Vintera things I’m sure you could buy a good second hand USA Strat for the same money . Oh and I’m from the UK !👍

[@chrisj1602]

David Dalziel true, but it does depend what spec you want. If you want vintage specs, these are up against American Vintage and American Original so probably half the price.

[@daviddalziel884]

Chris Johnson I agree Chris , never really considered that as the Custom shop and vintage models are beyond what I would be looking at . Just got my first ever Strat a 2001 HSS deluxe with noiseless pickups and a humbucker on the bridge. The humbucker is astonishing, go on try one !

[@AndreaAustoni]

Horrible sound on all guitars, including the Hitmaker. Come on, Fender. If you can't do it, hire the guy from Tiny Desk.

[@actionarnie78]

Is the amp on?

[@Ktallica]

Cool enough video. Just not really seeing the extended hype for these particular models. The American Specials were the deal of the century, I’m beyond happy with that guitar.

[@ModernFactsDaily]

Ktallica cause they are the closest to vintage at a reasonable price. American specials are cool but that headstock is a deal breaker for me. To each its own.

[@josephwalsh1375]

@@ModernFactsDaily you have to have really stubby or wide digits to justify getting an " American Special ". , otherwise it's too far for digits to have to stretch to play wide-fingering chords..they are great for the price, though.

[@daviddalziel884]

Don’t understand why these models have the six screw terms when the two point ones on the player series are in line with American models.

[@alanneves7825]

Compressor from hell?

[@glennaustin9467]

I dunno, but his 59 sounds a whole lot better than that new one, even on my phone

[@leesagomez6615]

My squire Deluxe w Duncan designed pickups and a very Nice neck.... Same Blue color........ these vinteras are like Squire vintage mod series.. I have Japanese, American and Mexican Strats and my Squires would stack up against them All...

[@TheSlandis]

Music God.

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

If I never see a pao ferro fretboard ever again I'll be happy.

[@artamussumatra6286]

Imho, the best substitute for rosewood is indian laurel, it has a very similar texture, and that nice dark chocolate look. I have an American Professional Tele with rosewood, and a Squier Bullet Tele with indian laurel, if I hadn’t known otherwise, I would have assumed the Squier’s fingerboard was rosewood.

[@MrKite_]

He see the guitar as a percussive instrument,and everyone is crying about the picking and the clean. You sure you like Nile? Or strats?

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

Wouldn’t mind having more amp sound and less unplugged sound.

[@xx_me0w_xx3]

What song is that at 2:14? Wonderful chord progression, I n e e d

[@tabidots]

Matteronio OwO pretty sure he’s just randomly improvising.

[@xx_me0w_xx3]

@@tabidots Aw dang ok