FENDER vs PRS! - Is The Strat Still King?

American Professional Stratocaster or PRS Custom 24?
Let's dig in and take a closeup look at these very popular guitars!
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VIDEO SECTIONS:
Part 1 - The Guitars 1:20
Part 2 - The Tones 6:37
Part 3 - One Minute Solos 10:27
Part 4 - Final Thoughts and Recommendations 12:25
SOLI DEO GLORIA!

[@Lucas55987]

Either way, I just don't have the money 😂

[@jpribeiro4706]

Me too 😂💔

[@FlexingtonSquare]

The Korean PRS depreciate pretty well.

[@FlexingtonSquare]

@Ben Hackett I meant the are cheap to buy used

[@jonthehermit8082]

I've got an se which has upgrades on pickups and bridge, it's so close to my friends 3000 dollar guitar that it makes him angry, mine sounds better to my taste as well.

[@jonthehermit8082]

Cole Burnett yep, even the expensive prs depreciate a lot for some reason

[@stevenpape2021]

BIG DIFFERENCE: PRS, I'd be scared to scratch it. Fender: The closer it looks to Rory's Strat the cooler it looks.

[@BaronVonQuiply]

One night at a gig I walked into a subwoofer with my Standard 24. I think I dented the speaker cabinet.

[@KaninTuzi]

True, never seen a road worn PRS

[@ryanlittleton5615]

Or SRV

[@thedrunkbrit5857]

I found a pic of a relic prs it looked awful

[@mjmorden]

This is truest statement I ever read. All Fenders just look more badass as they get relic'd and road Worn. Where Gibson and PRS look better pristine. IMO.

[@scotthellier7576]

Me: Mom can we have thunderstruck? Mom: we have thunderstruck at home Thunderstruck at home: 8:29

[@gloriousforever3451]

Its called, Electrified

[@pmcm-ih1ep]

Har ha! Very funny, very funny indeed.

[@aztecwhistle9122]

Static electricity

[@peterxd3558]

Lmao

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Which guitar was your favorite and why? :) Part 1 - The Guitars 1:20 Part 2 - The Tones 6:37 Part 3 - One Minute Solos 10:27 Part 4 - Final Thoughts and Recommendations 12:25 Guitars: Fender: imp.i114863.net/xM2Qy PRS: imp.i114863.net/ezrgQ Enjoy!

[@therangersinger]

PRS hands down. I love Strats but the PRS build quality is second to just about none. With that being said I have sold all my high end fenders and PRS guitars and bought a Suhr. Never looking back.

[@HIH1013]

fender is the best, there are many reasons, it is a timeless design that always looks good, with or without stickers, super resistant, versatile, well built, ergonomic, comfortable, prone to hundreds of modifications, and the truth is the guitar that finished relic or aged natural is the best, it is a fact :)...another great video Mr. Braun lml

[@barrelburger]

My favorite would be to get both, sort of. For the price of the American Professional Strat you can get a MIM Strat & PRS SE. That way you can have it all. Or another way of looking at it, for the price of a Core PRS you can get both of the lower priced models and have $1000 left over for a nice amp. The differences between the higher end models of each of these brands and the lower priced models is MINUSCULE. With a little fret dressing and maybe swapping out tuners you probably wouldn't be able to tell any difference at all.

[@MLoPeZ23805]

I preferred the strat. Right now I'm stuck on my EBMM Cutlass though..I think if I'm going to get an instrument with humbuckers, I'll go with a Les Paul. I think the PRS is great looking but for the money, I'd hold out and go for something with more resale value...I love your guitar collection and room arrangement! Great review as always!

[@Tech-xm8vg]

Got to be the Strat - just the tones and the design is awesome. I went to buy a Les Paul or PRS last year but came home with a Strat.

[@spamspamentertainmentcentr3710]

darrell: "you do notice that 90° lip there" also darrell: *owns a hundred telecasters*

[@markrup6369]

One of my most uncomfortable guitars is my double bound reissue '65 Tele. After a decent session with that one, I have lines depressed in my forearm from the sharp edge. I love her to death, but my Strats are soooo much easier ergonomically.

[@dominikruhrig7282]

But he is comparing it to strat and not the tele ;)

[@TheDarkestPaladin]

@@markrup6369 did the newer telecasters fix that?

[@markrup6369]

@@TheDarkestPaladin If there is no binding, it is definitely more comfortable.

[@TheDarkestPaladin]

@@markrup6369 oh okay thanks but do you recommend any model I'm about to buy my first guitar in a week or 2 and I don't know which one to get Tele seems really interesting if I install a 4 way switch on it

[@jonesy13091]

1. I wish I could set my PRS down with that level of confidence. 2. I wish I had a PRS.

[@mmmshuddup]

Hahahahaah

[@mickey2036]

PRS just seems like a lot of value these days.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Mickey it is. It really is. I've got a Fender Strat, a Gibson LP tribute and a PRS SE.....and the SE outshines both in nearly every category....cept, you can't beat Gibson in a tone off! But it came respectively close! Everything else, slam dunk! Quality, price etc...

[@mickey2036]

@@lueysixty-six7300 Yeah, the Strat was my first love, but looking at the quality of guitar you can get from PRS at the SE level at that price point, it’s kind of hard to beat. MIM Strats compared to the SE sound a little thin to my ear.

[@j_freed]

PRS offer quality to compete with brand recognition. Any piece of junk heavy Gibson sells purely on brand, not always quality. If you want a Fender Custom Shop playing experience for low USA prices, find a used Bill Nash. These can play and sound great, and you don't lose a chunk of money in depreciation from buying them new. You can sell and buy used Nash all day . If you have a light relic and someone scratches it, it doesn't harm the value.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

i will only add that there are many great guitars ...new, used MIA, MIJ. MIK, in fact made all over world. If it responses to your playing go for it. I have a PRS a Custom Shop Strat, a 59 LP Special reissue , Ibanez, Martin etc. Even a Harmony H88 Stratotone Dublet lol ...do not laugh it will out sustain your LP! At present my 1990 Fernandez with a body style half Fender Jazz and half Gibson non- reverse Firebird is the all around winner!

[@j_freed]

Paul Ewing Philip midnight keep saying his Mexico Stratocaster is his favorite, and he has one or two of everything from every country. A used Mexican Stratocaster from the last 10 or 15 years is a no brainer. If it plays well! And you can even tweak the fret and set up work very nicely yourself.

[@empireentertainmentevents1353]

DARRELL .... people often overlooked how much time and effort you spent making these videos. You faded out the music in perfect sync with the fading scene, made sure the lightings are at the optimum positions, tweaked each guitar to the best that you can and many more! You are insane, dude! Keep it up.

[@dobypilgrim6160]

For his high school graduation, my son wanted a Gibson or a Strat. I got him a PRS. It's an absolutely gorgeous flametop. I could tell he was so disappointed. But he was gracious about it. Then he started playing it. He now (14 years later) almost exclusively plays that PRS. It's his favorite out of all his many guitars. Except sometimes when he plays his pre-lawsuit PRS " Gibson" lookalike. Which is superior to any of his Gibsons. PRS is truly a great guitar.

[@natesenft5376]

I hope I get a prs for my graduation lmao. 😂 What model was it?

[@frantisca]

A PRS at 14 ? Your son is a lucky boy. To tell the truth, I would have been disappointed too... ;-)

[@blackie75]

When your young, it's about the name and the look. I would have been heartbroken, lol.

[@fendi85fendi]

i'm your son too....

[@JBD0909]

My dad bought me a Fender Starcaster, he knew that I was a strat guy before I started. Now, 4 years later, I bought myself a beautiful 1996 MIM Strat SSS

[@JD-ey8hw]

Liked the video alone for calling out fender for not putting locking tuner on their American guitars.

[@dansands6363]

J D locking tuners cost what, an extra $30!? They seriously can’t just put them on.

[@boggeshzahim3713]

There weren't locking tuners in 1954 so they kind of have their hands tied. I think honestly the only real problem with fender is their extreme reluctance to upgrade their main model lineup. Even gibson has done more

[@Alex19II]

And players can buy them too. They can buy any color of tuners, any new pickups. Manufacturer cannot predict it, so they put standard option, which will be replaced anyways.

[@kimbarsegyan]

Vintage tuners are sexier and hold up tune as well as the locking tuners. I'm glad they don't copy everyone else and stick with vintage tuners. :)

[@JD-ey8hw]

Kim those they dont put vintage tuners on the american professional guitars and its not about tuning stability its about making it much easier to change strings. And they already do copy everyone else because they offer locking tuners on some of their models.

[@MrMcShifty]

I wonder if I could secretly finance that PRS and a nice amp without my wife knowing. 🤔🤫

[@mikemooney1757]

Haha that's every guitarist's challenge. I financed a kemper amp through Zsounds and it was easy and she doesn't even know. Bwahahahaha

[@rdpatterson2682]

Kajacool you get the PRS and a nice amp, she gets the house, the car and the kids. Seems like a fair trade.

[@MrMcShifty]

RD Patterson Sounding pretty good to me!

[@strategicthinker8899]

Can't upset the boss, girly man.

[@SophisticatedxLlama]

Life's short bruh go for it

[@tyrssen1]

I've no doubt that PRS is wonderful, but yeah man, Strat is still King. Sounds just as terrific, costs a lot less, and still looks great. That said, I have to admit there were times I thought the PRS sound quality walked all over the Strat -- and I'm a Strat-lover. Remember, we're also comparing singles vs. humbuckers, and a very different set of 5-way switching accordingly.

[@ooviedoc]

But as far as I understand PRS Custom 24 can be set in single-coil modes and that's when the comparison vs Strat becomes in similar conditions

[@TheEchelon]

That's why you get both, if you can.

[@tyrssen1]

@@ooviedoc I definitely like the switching mode on the PRS and the results it gets; I just have to wonder if we couldn't achieve the same thing with dual humbuckers and a 5-way switch on a Strat. (Which then makes it less "Strat" in my opinion, but, just a thought.)

[@blue-tb2fd]

IMO coil-split/tap never sounds as good as an actual single-coil.

[@dmoore0079]

@@blue-tb2fd i agree. Big part of it is losing half the output of the pickup when tapped. If you have a clean boost in front of the amp, you can make up for it, but it just isn't the same as a true honest single coil with double the effective winding than a tapped humbucker.

[@newgunguy4176]

2nd on that locking tuners on the American guitars idea.

[@MrRoybob]

17:32 I'll go with any guitar that magically hangs itself up!

[@newgunguy4176]

I think the PRS's carve actually beats the Les Paul's.

[@Steven_SK]

NewGunGuy I have a Les Paul. The PRS is beautiful.

[@j_freed]

I think a good Les Paul carve is more like a violin arch top, however many Les Pauls don't have a very good carve. The really good Gibson dish edge carves from the 1950s are not CNC, they are all the careful hand work of luthiers, finishing the shape on a sander. ! Today's PRS are totally CNC consistent, Machine cut. It has its own look which you either take or leave.

[@bob733333]

'Carve' as in cut with a CNC

[@newgunguy4176]

@@bob733333 Yes. Because it really doesn't matter.

[@DeanPachano]

I do think the PRS is a beautiful guitar (and it is on my bucket list) but the carve is not my favorite - almost a little over done for my taste - looks like it was molded rather than carved.

[@tonymilam206]

I was surprised how decent the sound is on the Schecter I just bought. I have always been a Strat guy, but I would love to have the PRS. Great comparison

[@Ale2065Tate]

PRS are souless to me, well made but with no tonal personality.

[@kimbarsegyan]

So true.

[@Jeremyisbrown]

Seems almost criminal to make a gold top PRS.. especially when you see some of the flame top finishes that you get from them. 🤤

[@xF1revolution]

Solid finish PRS are hot af.

[@matthewsheffer]

Very very true. My two 10 tops are gorgeous

[@taz_trader]

The laurel burl prs finishes are insane

[@richfiryn]

I celebrated watching this video by purchasing the new Squier Classic Vibe 50's Strat in Fiesta Red and saved a TON of money.

[@hesherfitz]

Me too!!! I dig the squire! But a PRS would be cool.

[@GeorgeVazquez]

Thought this was gonna be a strat to silver sky comparison

[@Michael-so2mh]

That would have been the better comparison but even at that, A Music Man would have been a better comparison. Having both PRS and Music Man, IMO, you can get tones closer to a Strat with the MM

[@bhouse92101]

Agree that a Silver Sky vs. Strat would be a better "apples to apples" comparison, but why even a 24 Custom when they have a Custom 22????

[@liedgitarrist]

That would have been useful. This is comparing apples to pears

[@KaninTuzi]

@@bhouse92101 As he said - flagship vs flagship

[@MaTTheWish]

Should have been.

[@stevelandress]

I play PRS for the versatility. Great single coil tones plus great humbucker tones. I play in a classic rock cover band and appreciate not having to swap guitars between songs for different sounds. I sold my American Professional Strat to get a S2 Custom 24 and don’t regret it for a second.

[@Mang213]

Just my humble opinion here. I love everything PRS touches. They really are probably the best off the shelf guitar you can get. But they have smoothed out all the rough edges of Gibson and Fender, removing the distinctive characteristics that make those two brands so different and unique. There is just something about PRS that makes me feel like its a robot or a computer, compared to the incredible individuality and nuances of the LPs and Strats which seem more human to me. I am prepared to be hated for this, so come on with your bad selves

[@ss_avsmt]

That's why I only own a squier and mod it to whatever I want it to be. It's true that tone and the feel of the guitar matter a lot, but my mood fluctuates even more :D

[@narq5099]

I think of my PRS as a jack of all trades... master of none.

[@diegomedel1359]

I have a similar opinion of Ibanez, they make awesome guitars, flawless, I owned a couple I still do, but they can't make me feel like my fender strats... I have an american special and and an american pro II, and that unique sound, and the feel they have it's just something else. But in tastes nothing is written! That's one of many beautiful things that music, and different instrument builds or companies have. PRS sounds awesome though... Someday I hope I can get one.

[@johnwelsh4750]

@@ss_avsmt Polish with CBD Oil much ? 🤔 🍄

[@DjazzStyle]

You should do more videos on the Shijie! Maybe Shijie vs. Select Strat

[@ludwiglanestudios]

I'm a PRS man but no guitar comes close to that strat "chime". That's why you need both a PRS with humbuckers and a traditional strat.

[@mrbelur]

David Gilmour bought a strat from Manny’s and created some of the most melodic and greatest solos ever. I think more than the guitar, the magic lies in your fingers. That’s what I’ve learnt listening to the legend that is Gilmour. 🙏🏻 peace

[@lolobuggah2670]

I agree. Gilmour knows how to follow chord progressions in his solos. That's why he's melodic. His tone is also outstanding and sets him apart from others.

[@earltbird8642]

Beck mostly played a 50 buck sawdust and glue gitter... and he's not too shabby

[@lolobuggah2670]

@@earltbird8642 Jeff Beck?

[@petewellman5356]

seriously, I've seen guys rocking 300$ mexi strats mop the floor with guys playing 2000$ custom shop strats. it boils down to skill.

[@concernedliberal4453]

Considering Gilmour had reflexes that would make the Tin Man stick his nose in the air, he certainly did something right!

[@pickledparsleyparty]

I've never been more on-the-fence than I am about PRS. I keep looking for reasons to get one since I learned that Akerfeldt played a Custom 24 on Ghost Reveries and Blackwater Park. But I keep listening to these side-by-sides and I've always been more into the competitor's sound.

[@pickledparsleyparty]

@Knavery Yeah but GR and BP are the two sounds that juice my loins :)

[@peterkakouris6298]

Please do a comparison beetween prs se and made in mexico strat Its gonna be really helpful for me and for a lot of people i think...

[@gil5956]

Buy a higher end SE it's a amazing guitar and at least from my experience they sound better than the S2 Custom 24

[@emossg]

@@gil5956 What are higher end SE?

[@gil5956]

@@emossg the anniversary limited edition, Paul's guitar, the custom 24 line

[@emossg]

@@gil5956 Thanks! I have been looking SE 24 and Paul's Guitar until I realized Paul's doesn't have tremelo. It will be my first electric after 1 year of acoustic so I am not sure if I need it so it would be nice to have it. Anniversary was also on my radar, but I don't really like the color options of SE line. Core anniversary colors tho

[@gil5956]

@@emossg I bought a anniversary SE and I'm getting it this week it's a really good guitar

[@eigenvector77]

Hi Darryl, I'm a big fan of Strats & Strat styles. I used to be a fan of PRS as well, but the comfortability & weight really bugged me. After I got a Kiesel Aries, I sold all my PRSi. The workmanship, playability, & specs like stainless steel frets, contoured heel joint just blew the PRS away. Doesn't cost a bomb either. Try one out. Highly recommended.

[@blue-tb2fd]

Huh, PRS guitars don't seem to have a reputation for being heavy (cough... Gibson... cough).

[@kjemradio]

Maybe I'm just a Fender fan boy, but that Strat's where it's at!

[@iDrraaaK]

Well, you are. I love strat bodies, but fender these days, meh.

[@danyeo]

Single coil pickups for dirty tones 🤮

[@sugarlife485]

not in this case

[@scotthellier7576]

@@danyeo have you ever played an overdriven tele??

[@nathanjones2447]

I have an American Professional/Standard Stratocaster from 2019 and it *has* locking tuners.. The same as my Stratocaster 'elite' from 2016. The 'Pro' is a limited edition FSR with a roasted maple one-piece neck and an ash body though.

[@Bramble451]

PRS manufacturing quality can't be beat. But give me a Strat for sound. Hell, I'll take a Squier for sound.

[@nazmoking3171]

I have one of each and agree with your assessment with one exception. I feel my strat has a more organic tone that harkens back to all the records I love from the past. Not PRS"s fault - simply a tone that cannot be duplicated by humbuckers with a different scale length - though they can get close.

[@whwh7339]

Completely agree.

[@retiresoon5639]

I have always admired PRS for their quality. I have just never played one that spoke to me and made me want to play it. The HSS American Deluxe Fender Strat I own with its flaws and all have a bond.

[@liamwagner9160]

Play a Hollow Body two McCarty and then apologize to your wife for me as I’m sure you’ll be leaving the guitar shop with it haha!

[@smwallace2368]

The PRS looks and sounds fantastic. However, I love my Stratocaster.

[@jeremiahalvarez5361]

I love strats also but man the PRS is just so sexy

[@tanukiman3855]

Clearly, you need one of each... ;-)

[@shaft9000]

different animals, would never buy one to sub for the other anyways

[@stephentyree9296]

Fender, PRS, Schecter, ESP, Dean, Ibanez, I’ll take em’ all over Gibson on any day that ends in y.

[@heyou429]

Why? I'm honestly curious, I have two Fender electrics and one Gibson acoustic and love them all, wondering why a Gibson electric would automatically be the wrong choice.

[@stephentyree9296]

@@heyou429 See his video on his SG and Double Cut. That's just one example of thousands of Gibson's QC being more than questionable.

[@wallywanker7435]

Stephen Tyree how many have you owned and bought ?

[@stephentyree9296]

@@wallywanker7435 None because of the horror stories I've heard/ read about them. I'm not saying that they are all poorly built, but enough of them are for me to know that I personally will not buy one. If you like them/ own them, that's great. My buddy that I jam with on a regular basis LOVES them. It's basically all he will play. Different strokes.

[@wallywanker7435]

Stephen Tyree well with any guitar , I would think you would try it and check it out first. If you buy it and it’s crappy who’s fault is that. Just saying. I see the videos too and I think , why would you buy or keep it if it is so bad ? Just to make a video ? I have never heard of Gibson not standing behind something even years later.

[@davidrpriest]

I am a Strat guy but I would also never buy a guitar with birds on the fretboard.

[@clonetrooper9015]

David Priest aye those birds are badass

[@SeanFication]

They sounded surprisingly similar, considering the difference in pickups. I favor the Strat's looks, though some of that is the particular finish used. Not a fan of the gold on the PRS. For the money, I'd definitely go with the Strat. It's half the money.

[@SabastianDuke]

I just sold both of my PRS to buy a fender ultra denim with an ebony fretboard. I’ve played the PRS for years and honestly fell out of love with them the more I recorded music with them. They are just bland in a mix. I don’t know what it is. Tried different pickups. Tried using them just for layering. Even the way they play feels subpar. The fender I bought was just undeniably better. There is a vibe and a feel that just makes you want to write music.

[@PANICBLADE]

The strat is still just one of the most expressive and dynamic instruments ever created, despite its relative simplicity. Given how many variations there are of the strat, there's one out there for everybody now. Plus it was so ahead of its time when it came out compared to other competitors; every guitar maker needed some kind of strat equivalent after it came out. Since it was so easily assembled and repaired, which also kept the price down, it was so much more accessible too, especially since they were damn hard to break in the first place. It can't do everything perfectly, and there are a number of things you can look at with the typical strat and say, "Well, that's a headache" like the noise or lack of output from the single coils or the whammy bridge not staying in tune as much as you'd like, but it's still SUCH a complete package that has stood the test of time for 65 years in the sphere of popular music. Hail the Stratocaster.

[@PANICBLADE]

@longrider Here here. I have a metallic red USA one with a black pickguard I've had for over a decade and I'm currently building a hardtail one in metallic purple with a white guard out of parts from GFS and Guitar Center as well as some second hand stuff I got off Reverb. You can chop down a small tree with a strat and play a gig with it later that day.

[@Michael-so2mh]

@longrider Did you know there is a Strat hanging in the museum of modern art in New York city. ? Match that..PRS or any other trendy upstart !! ....... PRS Dragon in the National Museum of American History. Yes, American History, not just a museum in NYC. Sorry, couldn't resist. Give PRS the time that Fender has been around and you may see it. Many musicians of today and past the play on a PRS. I never realized how many were out there until I started looking at them.

[@CC-ks3tj]

longrider If the point of the argument was to say which was a more influential instrument, the Stratocaster makes more sense due to its availability to more musicians. However, that doesn’t directly mean it was the “best” instrument at the time. Lots of influential hard rock was made on Les Pauls and super strats, too. I personally prefer a wider fingerboard radius, 24 frets, a smooth neck joint, having splittable humbuckers, and a carved top. To me, that is the ideal guitar, and Fender just doesn’t tick any of my boxes. I played a PRS SE in a beautiful purple-blue burst the other week, and it had all of the features I just described. I could get all of that for ~$900, while I would be wasting my own money if I bought a Stratocaster at that price point. TLDR: Strats have plenty of history, but might not be the absolute best guitar.

[@heyou429]

@longrider was "Battle Hymn of the Republic" playing in the background when you wrote this?

[@JonathanCooperGB]

The real winner here is those 59/09 pickups. Wow. I was floored by the comparison to the strat's single coils for both dirty and clean. I'd only ever played 57/08s and now I'm thinking I need a doublecut with 59/09s in my life!

[@jackstrap82]

If only Fender had more interesting colors and top woods. Love my PRS SE and my MIM strat (the electron blue paint is very nice), although the trem on my strat detunes the guitar so much, it's unusable, and the coil split on my PRS is nowhere near a strat sounding single coil. Both great guitars for different applications.

[@jackstrap82]

@@davidburke2132 Thanks for that. I was unaware that this line was named rarities and will know what to look for. However scrolling through their rarities catalogue and I was still dissapointed. They just don't get it, whereas browsing through Warmoth's catalogue makes me wonder how come they don't combine forces to make the best looking most playable instruments. I'm just fantasizing though, no point in arguing the business aspect of a merger that only happens in my mind. What I'm saying is when you walk into a music store and guitars are sorted by brands, you usually see strats and teles in off-white, black and bland colors with a white or black pickguard, and PRS will showcase a majority of stunningly good looking guitars that draw you in (even though the price tag would make some turn away), and I would argue that to me, they are as good sounding and well made as they are good looking, so it's not a style over substance issue. Those guitars speak to me even though I have read that it is not a unanimous opinion. I would not want a gorgeous unplayable instrument, but I don't want a perfectly playable one that doesn't draw me in either.

[@jackstrap82]

@@davidburke2132 Oh yeah, for sure candy apple red, and my electron blue. There are a few fantastic finishes but they are in an overwhelming minority. I have an epi SG pro deluxe that has a gorgeous subtle flame top and dark to light blue fade. I probably never would have even picked an SG up were it not for that one. Gibson does nail the silverburst though. We do disagree about the figured maple tops, and I'm not fond of natural wood colors on a guitar body. If money was no object, then sure, a core model would be great, but I would want to complete my collection with guitars that I don't have like a tele and a hollowbody among others first.

[@jackstrap82]

@@davidburke2132 Just had a look. It's fantastic with the tortoiseshell pickguard. I had a look at the custom shop website a few months back and was frankly disappointed. Maybe they've made it better since then. I'll have another look. Hopefully there are not less options for Canadians.

[@jackstrap82]

@@davidburke2132 Yeah mod shop. Didn't have the name right but we're talking about the same thing. Had a look. They have silverburst finish now. Maybe 5-6 other good looking finishes, but shell pink, antique olive, walnut (finish color, not wood) is what I am talking about, so lacklustre. They could have gone without colors reminiscent of kitchen appliances in the 1970s.

[@400_billion_suns]

I have a strat exactly like the one in this vid except with maple fingerboard, and I also have a PRS SE with dual humbuckers. My opinion is the best guitar is both! The strat absolutely sings and chimes for low gain and crunch stuff. It has a beautiful, lush, clear, bell-like singing tone that humbuckers just can't match. BUT, the PRS is built so well, everything about it feels great, and it has a dark but very rich, round, and full tone that just sounds beautiful. For high gain, it's the tool for the job. Love them both and wouldn't give either one up for the other.

[@vicferrari89]

The bottom line is "what guitar feels better in your hands".

[@melvynobrien6193]

The Strat wins by a mile; it's cheaper, it has more sounds; it's clearer, and those humbuckers are muddy, as usual; As the leader of the house band here for four years, I've seen lots of bands come in, and the humbucker guitars don't sound too great fifty feet from the stage; most players don't realize you've got to compensate and set the amp with more high end onstage or you lose it in the crowd. And these guys coming in here with Les Pauls all sound the same.

[@JTroskaTV]

In this video, I like the sound of the PRS better. But I have very similar guitars and have better luck dialing in the Strat-style guitar through my rig. So it just goes to show you that one guitar isn’t necessarily better than the other. It’s all about matching the components and finding the magic combination. Love your videos!

[@dmv3373]

as time goes i start to enjoying hearing that wet distortion from Fender single coils :D great vid! i have USA Strat, a Gibson Explorer, an Epi Les Paul 1960s tribute with the Gibson 57 pup and next is a PRS Custom 24 SE hehe all great and different tones!!!

[@wriglarzzz]

I honestly like them both they both sound great

[@riverbard8287]

PRS Position Four: Neck singlecoil with bridge singlecoil, in parallel.

[@rijosigns]

just a note here the strat never needed to do fancey birds or any thing . it's tried tested and true best guitar ever...well except the tele

[@empireentertainmentevents1353]

yup. the TELE is still KING :-)

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

My first good guitar was a s/h Strat bought in 1969. In the '90s I owned 4 PRS of different types (s/h all mahogany 1986 PRS aka the standard, a s/h CE24, a s/h CE24 maple top and a new Custom 22). I still own 3 Stratocasters but no PRS guitars with no hankering to buy one.

[@aayushshrivastava8216]

Darrell please do a review on Brian May's Red Special!!!!🙏🙏🤘

[@kristoferroe1532]

I was literally looking at these 2 brands but PRS as beautiful as they are are way pricey for a "good" one , and I'm a fender guy at heart , so I ended up with a 2013 the tobacco-burst fender deluxe strat maple neck and the s1 switch..super happy with it

[@chadbouterse8617]

It’s about finding the right one... I had a custom 24 core model that was my goto... just recently found a limited run SE with an ebony neck that blew me away so much, I sold the Core and now my goto axe is the $800 SE!

[@Atttuner]

PRS = 2.5x the cash for quality that does not beat the strat by anything near 2.5x (if at all ;-)

[@brianthompson2089]

Concerning single coil vs humbucker: it's easy to reduce tone but more difficult to add tone. Therefore I prefer single coils.

[@b_a_fps1569]

I'm actually going to buy a PRS SE Custom 24 soon. I thought about a Fender Strat. Fender Strats sound great, but the PRS is more versatile. The SE Custom has coil splitting by the way. And I like the looks of a PRS more than a Strat.

[@lueysixty-six7300]

B_A_FPS Great choice, Man! I bought a Strat MIM first...then realised I should've gotten Humbuckers. So I got a Les Paul . The LP is great - a tone monster - but not that practical. I'm scared to take it out to a gig...and it's heavy & bulky to have slung on your shoulder all new night. So, this year I got an SE - I went with a Custom22, semihollow. It spoke to me. Anyway... I realised this was the guitar I should've gotten from the get-go! Just....pffff! Right on!! Such quality. Just...an insanely well-made, well designed, incredibly priced instrument. You will be stoked, Man. And if you choose your model well.... you may have a chance of avoiding the GAS trap most of us (me incl.) fall for. A PRS SE is a great candidate for a "One-guitar."

[@Roo_730]

@@lueysixty-six7300 The new SE Hollowbody Standard and SE Hollowbody II have me very interested. I have an SE 245 and an SE Custom 24 already, Both are great but I think 24 could do with some electronics upgrades as they seem a little "thin" (the switches and pots, not the pups).

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Richard Brilus I haven't glimpsed the new SEhollow..it doesn't appeal to me..to me, it's gotta at least have a centre block of mahogany for sustain..in fact, I'm not entirely convinced I'm happy I got a semihollow SE. Just that little bit carved out of the top quadrant..makes me wonder if it cost me any sustain. Even a little..? Probably, yes - but noticeable? Idk... I'm picking at straws, though cos honestly, that's the only tiny thing I can find that I have any second thoughts about. It's a real winner

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Richard Brilus The most I've gotten into "modding" is trying to change the pickguard on my lake placid blue Strat. (Naturally, it must be changed to pearloid white.... I mean, right!??!). I say trying cos it was a failure, the one I ordered didn't fit...and ever since, it has been finicky with p/up heights and stuff. Point is, modding is not for me!! ..as much as the odd left field idea seems like...well, a good idea. Like going HSS..or HSH.. ... NO! My guitars are fine as they are, I'll buy a Charvel with all the mods I could want on a Strat, and then, after $1-2000 , give or take... I'll still have two guitars. Better logic, for me anyway! I'm thinking of that army drab green HSH Dinky Charvel. That thing is perfect for me in every way. Man.....GAS ATTACK!!

[@ky9999]

Now is a great time to buy! Especially the limited edition sandblasted version. The GAS is real

[@briandesjardins728]

I absolutely love my PRS but there's something about a strat... I LOVE that color strat. Both are absolutely amazing but, thankfully totally different so owning both is warranted lol

[@bradrielly7031]

Overdriven-PRS, clean-strat. I was actually surprised how close the prs clean tone was to the strat but the strat just has that extra twang that can't be beat. Of course you can't expect them to be the same given the different scale length and pickups. I can't afford either so.....

[@ShaneStoneOfficial]

Your answer would be yes... The strat is and always will be king. Would like to hear a hss strat bridge vs a prs bridge. I'm beginning to think I'm just stuck on the warmth of single coils

[@GetawaysandGuitars]

My Strat again! (except mine has the Maple fingerboard)

[@joeneibacher6767]

Me too!

[@timdoog42]

Im a strat guy but love PRS's. They make them only an 1 1/2 hours away from me in Stevensville Maryland.Great tours there

[@lemlem35]

I know this came out a while ago, but I genuinely think a PRS is has a much more aesthetic carve top then a Les Paul

[@bearwithbeer1518]

Prs is just not for me, i have tried 3 or 4 and i feel nothing (besides its best quality). So i would take fender (my actual guitar is strat and i love it, even if it is worse made :D)

[@batuksri]

That crisp leading edge to the notes played on the Strat. Its distinctive and you can’t get that from splitting a humbucker.

[@BJ-fj6jw]

Batuksri... Yep. I agree. A split humbucking always sounds like a weak shrill humbucker, not the nasal live animal sounds of a single coil. My ear hears that the tone changes as the notes ascend or descends with a single coil. There is change of pitch, but I can hear a change of timbre as well (with that same given single coil pickup.)

[@BJ-fj6jw]

I'm not saying I'm in love with the Strat sound, as I favor the Les Paul tone -- BUT.... you can't fake that iconic highly recognizable and patent sound of a single coil Fender. I absolutely respect Fender for their established role and place in guitar history. I would not split a humbucker, I would use a real single coil.

[@dave64k]

Owned and liked both but my PRS IMcCarty) was built to a higher standard of finish and consistency. One point not picked up in the comparison is that in my experience as well as costing more PRS don't hold their resale value as well as Fender so that maybe a factor for folks that change guitars.

[@Bloosee]

To my ear the Strat sounded better in all the comparisons. PRS sounded great of course but I thought the Strat had a more musical tone.

[@shannonthomas8894]

I 100% agree.. i have both and know others whi have both and the strat always has a multi dimensional voice to it where the prs is kinda single focused voice especially through a good tube amp. Prs has its place as well as the strat. It's Whatever speaks to you the best at the time.

[@shaft9000]

PRS = better build and QC Fender = better design. 7 decades of sales and the musical results are the proof.

[@TylerLL2112]

We’re just so used to that sound. So it just sounds “right” With that said, I’m still a PRS guy.

[@davidohara6515]

Had a prs mccarty, which was good and have tried custom 22 /24 models. Can't fault the build , attention to detail etc , but , none sounded like a good strat and even less like a les Paul. Can't beat em .

[@teepannu1234]

A truly awesome review! Felt really comfortable listening to your opinions on both guitars 'cause I agree on just about everything. Good and honest points right from the start. I'm normally a PRS type of player but this made me consider getting myself a mid-range Fender just to get that sweet breezy and bright vintage sound. Love your content!

[@Djozer]

I have an American Professional, myself. LOVE it! I haven't personally tried the PRS, but from this comparison, I prefer the Strat over the PRS. I play more Blues on a clean channel, with just a touch of gain for a little more "bite", though. The PRS I could definitely see myself using it more for metal than Blues, but that's just my personal opinion. BOTH sounded great, and I wouldn't shy away from the PRS if I could warrant spending that much for one. Still paying on the Strat!

[@DanCouncil]

Fender isn’t perfect but I swear by them. In my experience, best guitars I’ve owned. Love my HSS strat especially. Get the best of both worlds there.

[@TelecasterLPGTop]

Just traded my Historic 1956 Goldtop for a Custom Shop Strat. I loved the Les Paul but It didn't have that "come play me" thing while this Strat will be my go to guitar without a doubt .

[@bertpainter8385]

Felix Burke Please say that wasn't an original 56 Goldtop

[@douglasnisbet1189]

Always Fender. The PRS is of course very high quality, but the Fender body shape is the best that's ever been designed. Same with the headstock design. In terms of pickups, tuners, bridge etc they can be customised on any guitar to anyone's preference.

[@dlewtweentorla1210]

The PRS is like a Jack of all trades and master of none. Does most thing well but not quite perfect. Not quite a Strat in tone and not quite a Les Paul. PRS in theory is a guitar that shoud be Fantastic!! Love the build quality, looks and tone is very versitile. Still every time I've ever tried one out it just doesn't give that LP or Strat Tone which IMO IS Rock & Roll and The Blues. Guess if I had to have only one guitar it would be a PRS, luckily we have options. For the price you can get a LP and a Strat for close to the same $$$ as ONE PRS. Like all Guitars it's personal preference. They are pretty and well made. Yet most of my Guitar hero's that can afford any guitar and price is no object, play Fender's and Gibson's. For the price I's take a Les Paul Standard and an AM Strat for a few more bucks than one PRS Custom 24.

[@dunlop7rush]

I actually liked the strat sound better, but that PRS is dead sexy. I actually own both of these guitars and on any given day I like the Custom 24 the most but I play my strats more...go figure. I can always dial in the strat no matter what. There is a major comfort level there.

[@butterflysrage]

Hey man, could you do a review of the various learning apps? Yousician and the like? Which are good, which are a scam?

[@tharealsmurf2537]

The prediction of the result: Spend enough money and you will be happy with you get.

[@bobtheyob]

Lots of high end Gibsons have build quality issues, so not always unfortunately.

[@flashaxl]

PRS is high quality guitar, no doubt about that. Its quality on par or sometimes better than Fender or Gibson. But if everything is the same, I would take Fender, there is just the historical factor, the legendary players associated with it like Hendrix, it was used in many historical songs, the recognizable tones it is still associated with and others that PRS doesn't have, at least currently.

[@davidaragon2399]

You never answered the question. Is the strat still king?

[@TheEchelon]

That's for you to decide since it's subjective

[@sugarlife485]

not here!

[@shaft9000]

top seller, sure... ....but anyone and everyone that has a proper ES-335-type thinline knows that a proper ES-335-type thinline is king :)

[@thedude7726]

I built a partscaster with all the fancy electronics and parts i want and its pretty much my dream guitar from a functional standpoint but its not super fancy wood

[@craigwatson4460]

The PRS almost sounds too perfect, like cold - it's lacking warmth and personality to me. The Strat sounded like it had more character on every test,

[@jim.mcintosh]

I was considering a PRS but this reassured me that my Strat has what I need. Maybe I'll pick up a 24 SE. Great review.

[@THEQueeferSutherland]

PRSs are cool, if you're like a dentist or something.

[@MrJireh09]

No dentist here......PRS are top notch the ONLY problem i always find..is that sometimes i find myself taking care of it like a pair of new shoes, my other guitars have dings and dangs, but i dont want my prs get a scratch....and THAT annoys me!!

[@wschwisow]

Yeah, like Santana and tremonti and John Mayer. Those famous dentists,,

[@frs2112]

I must admit PRS is a great instrument. As you mentioned before, details and craftmanship are unique. But regarding Stratocasters, they have been reigning from 1954. Shape, confort, carvings, tremolo, three pickups, etc. Leo Fender´s outstanding design was revolutionary. Even now. Several clones were introduced since, but the legacy remains intact. Besides, it is a 3 single array vs. 2 Humbuckers array comparison. Always differencies are debatable. Prices too. I suggest you rephrase the comparison using, perhaps, a Dave Murray Stratocaster HSH. Two humbuckers vs. two PRS humbuckers. That would be interesting. Excellent both instruments indeed! Great video, Darrell, as you always do. Have a nice weekend! Like!👍

[@davethestratman]

For me, the strat wins every time! The ease of adjusting/repairing/modding on the road is a massive plus for me. Additionally, PRS QC is nowhere near perfect, especially on the SE series here in the uk.

[@BoomerLicks]

The bridge on a Strat can be made to sound fat very easily. Get a little hair on the amp, add in an EP Booster and an Xotic AC Comp pedal. It will be fat like a HB but more cutting.

[@newgunguy4176]

I love these flagship vs flagship theme. I'm a flagship guy.

[@MrEric622]

I still believe it's still a price point. The PRS is more aesthetically attractive. YMMV. EDIT- And to be clear, I think chasing names is a thing of the past. I bought an Agile over a Gibson- no regrets. Bought a Solo tele kit over a Fender- made it myself. Be your own guitarist.

[@KeystoneProdsPA]

Personally not a fan of the PRS volume/tone knob location, and even the most beautiful flame maple burst finish top can't fix that for me

[@costalongajp]

I like the position of the tone and volume, but the selection key is blocked by the whammy bar

[@sinnertrain7405]

I own one PRS McCarty and 11 Fender Strats (and a bunch of other guitars). I ultimately didn't care for the American Pro Series and sold mine recently. That model has the narrow-tall frets which I don't care for, nor do I care for the neck profile. You should have compared the PRS to a Fender Elite HSS, otherwise this is sort of an apples to oranges comparison. Actually comparing a 22-fret, three single coil guitar to a 24-fret dual humbucker guitar doesn't really make much sense, particularly considering that PRS now makes its own S-Trat in the John Mayer signature mode.

[@Lazy_eye_blobFish]

Hi everyone! I do hope you guys have a wonderful evening. Please sleep well and enjoy whatever Endeavors you go on. Be safe and what you're doing and take care and God bless, peace out everyone! 💚

[@hottamanful]

Gabriel FSP and you brother 🤘🏻

[@aniquinstark4347]

Lol is this even a serious question? The PRS is a modern guitar with everything that comes with that. The strat is an antiquated design with a multitude of annoying flaws and 70 year old tech. I still like my strats but they're objectively worse than modern guitars like PRS.

[@michaelc2528]

As always, I come here to watch and listen to you play Darrell! Having had both, I still have to give the nod to the Strat. PRS however, makes some stunning guitars, but as you say, you really pay for them. You quickly mentioned that Tele's are harder to play than Strats. Having had three Tele's and a Strat, I have to agree. In fact, I even returned a new American Professional Tele. The compound radius neck gave me so much trouble with setting action that I just couldn't bond with the guitar. Even the guitar techs. couldn't get it right for me! And John5 (who loves Tele's), and others, readily admit that they are harder to play than the Strat. What Im trying to figure out, is why? Is it just plain design differences or what? Your thoughts Darrell?

[@BAMozzy69]

Have you modded your Custom 24? The standard for the 5 way would be both humbuckers split into single coils in position 4 - not the bridge single, neck full as you stated in this video. I do think PRS headstock is better designed as it doesn't need a string tree which is another point of potential friction to affect tuning stability but these are two very different guitars and I don't think you can compare one with the other. Its much easier to make a case for needing both in a collection because they differ more than they have in common. I can see the reason to compare with a Gibson because the PRS shares much more in common or maybe picking a Suhr, Music Man or Friedman to compare with the strat instead for the same reason.

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Man! That rosewood fretboard on that PRS is dark. It looks more like ebony. Do they dye the wood?

[@Wargasm644]

TheAxe4Ever I was thinking the same thing. And for the price, you would think it would be ebony. On the closeups it does appear to have a rosewood grain to it.

[@pieterjansenvanrensburg7322]

Great comparison. Are you using amp modeling software?

[@chzzyg2698]

My PRS gets more play time than any of my strat's. I guess I just like the bolder sound and more solid feel better. They do gloss the heck out of their neck's though. I sanded mine down, works just fine after that.

[@Trev0r98]

unfair comparison, with the 1 minute solo section: He has the PRS switched to a Humbucker pickup. '54 Strat didn't have one.

[@marceloa997]

Why don't you do a Fender vs G&L comparison?

[@Simplycoburn]

Much prefer the sounds of the strat on this one. The prs does have more power behind it’s sound but it can’t beat the strat sound.

[@unclelelax8341]

Ibanez vs prs

[@metalheadblues]

Which Ibanez vs which prs?

[@unclelelax8341]

@@metalheadblues S prestige Ibanez and Prs24

[@jamiew4851]

Henry Agcaoili same here. Would like to know Ibanez AZ vs PRS CU24 vs Fender strat

Please, compare the PRS with a fat strat with similar price, like the Elite series... I think it is the only one can beat the PRS! Very good video! Congrats!