Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Custom Shop Stratocaster vs Regular YJM

An intense and in-depth review & comparison between the Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Custom Shop Stratocaster and the Regular YJM Strat!!
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[@ordaz3264]

Nice Video! I bought the 1700.00 dollar guitar. I bought it to Yngwie to get him to autograph it. When I pulled it out of the case the first thing Yngwie said to me was "Let me see if you have the right one". Yngwie looked it over and said "This is the same guitar as the guitars I use.

[@hermanodejesus7264]

What year is yours?

[@thomhagan8297]

No no no. Lots of 5k copium here. Resonant woods this, dense grained glued on fretboard neck that. There.is.no.way this "custom shop" Strat is worth 5k. The wholesale price differentiation that Fender gets for a flat sawn piece of a maple neck blank to a quarter or rift sawn one is probably like $10. Many of the old desirable vintage strats got flatsawn anyway. A few yrs ago I bought a minty 2006ish YJM, has Dimarzios, 3 way bullet truss rod (way easier), 1 piece flame figured lacquer finished neck, 4 bolt plate, light weight etc...for $1300. Thats exactly the price point these guitars should be at.

[@ActivateBeastMode1]

But sadly your deal is now a unicorn. I'm seeing older YJM sell for 2k flat all day long

[@thomhagan8297]

@@ActivateBeastMode1 Who my guitar? I'll have to look at market it's been awhile.

[@romzen]

Noone is trying to justify the 5k price tag. This is about showing off the clear and apparent differences. Imo, the custom should be 2k and the normal one should be not higher than 1.5k. You get a Richie Blackmore signature für 1.3k brandnew. There is absolutely no justification for the YJM sig to cost almost double. I do not even like the Furys and ffs it is just a strat. I can buy a really solid high end acoustic guitar for 3k. The production costs of a strat is nowhere near to that of a decent acoustic. But then again, you can get some crazy copies of YJM's strat from China for less than 1/5th of the price. Labor cost in Cali is through the roof and so will also be the products.

[@Graham-mu1ul]

It's because it's a friggin malsteen Strat, isn't malsteen the Guy who has stacks of marshalls onstage but only a few of them are actually working, and the rest of them might As well be cardboard boxes As they are just a cabinet with nothing in there,you can see how There is no Power going to them heads Or cabinets because of no red Power lights on the Amps,buy a Blackmore Or Gilmour Strat before purchasing malmsteens garbage

[@theshapeexists]

Agreed. I have a 1999 USA made YJM i bought from the original owner a month after he bought it. He couldn't get used to the scalloped board so i bought it from him for $1000. Still have it 25 years later. Mines the sonic blue one with a rosewood board and bullet rod

[@TAAF619]

40:10 bridge YJM 40:17 neck YJM 40:37 bridge custom 41:16 neck custom

[@enterprisesoftwarearchitect]

Thank you!!!!

[@projectmonk9673]

Thank you for this video. You broke everything down perfectly and I greatly appreciate how you really took the time to show us the tiniest details. Thank you!

[@douglasnisbet1189]

For those that don't know, Yngwie has used his favourite 68s many times live and in the studio. You can see many videos and photos of him playing the 68 models. No skunk stripe or bullet. The only thing I'm surprised at is the 5 way switch. Doesn't make sense for an Yngwie model.

[@sommerssamantha]

totally agree 'bout 5-way blade switch, but I think it's a result of using YJM Fury STK-S10N single coil pickup version to get humbucker using conjunction of middle pickup with a neck and bridge ones (pos 2 and 4), but I'm not sure I understood it in a right way - perhaps in both guitars were used just the same YJM Fury STK-S10B single coil sized humbuckers (not the sinlges in customshop guitar with 5-way switch), but using standard wirings for 3-way and 5-way switches, however in this case I can't understand why wasnt shown of using pull/push volume function to split coils???

[@douglasnisbet1189]

@@sommerssamantha the YJM fury pickups are stacked humbuckers. They are NOT single coils. What you're saying would only be applicable to true single coils. Yngwie hasn't used single coil pickups since around 1985.

[@sommerssamantha]

@@douglasnisbet1189 Thank You, Douglas! Hope You are right, but ... my assumptions are based on the knowledges that customshop guitar is a replica of 1968's Stratocaster, and on what I see in the comparizon table here kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5XJmWaObZZ_iqc - can You explain why pickups models for both guitar were pointed with a small difference - "Single-coil" (not a "single-coil sized")?

[@douglasnisbet1189]

@@sommerssamantha both pickups are stacked humbuckers. Yngwie never uses single coils. His YJM fury pickups are NOT single coils. They have two coils stacked on top of each other. Regardless of what any particular spreadsheet or product info page says, that is the reality. The 5 way switch is just there to give access to positions two and four. Presumably just a marketing thing from Fender to make the custom shop model slightly different.

[@PetersRockinTheWorld]

Absolutely amazing job! Outstanding! This is the video I didn't know I needed! Keep it up!

[@reverb508]

19:05 Maybe it's the lighting, but that looks like a pretty big gap in the neck pocket for a 5 thousand dollar instrument.

[@andrichristian8976]

Aggree

[@benoitfleury8487]

Indeed, it's quite strange. It has to be with the lighting, Fender would never ship a custom shop instrument with such a gap

[@ernielight]

Great review! Where are you from? I noticed the accent.

[@twillbanks]

Very keen observation.

[@rockcastlemusic]

@@benoitfleury8487 i've seen several custom shop guitars in stores that have gaps between the neck pocket and neck. That is how it is with fender.

[@brutus6328]

GREAT video! Just found your channel a few days ago. I'm a big fan of these USA vs. Custom Shop video comparisons and what you do on your channel in general...please keep doing it!!!

[@ruicarreiro7539]

Hey Marko, great review and thank you for doing it. You’ve eased my curiosity about the difference. Play it in good health :-)

[@KurisuTheElder]

And here we are, 2 years later, with a 500 USD price increase on the Regular YJM....Dang.....

[@Chillnote]

Its is so frustrating

[@michaelneppel1748]

We must save ourselves from inflation.

[@NahtzeeDice]

@michaelneppel1748 gotta get rid of a certain tribe to do that

[@hayabusariders]

the most detailed introduction I have ever seen. Congratulation & Thank's.

[@KenobiStark1]

One of the best in depth reviews of the guitar I’ve ever seen, thank you bro!! Sounds amazing also

[@THEVATICANTS]

Thank you, brother! ;)

[@KenobiStark1]

THE VATICANTS hey dude mine just came in this morning!! I can’t believe how amazing it plays! Bought it from Sweetwater! Thanks again! \m/

[@jdubbs9655]

Thank you for this in depth review and comparison.

[@drkaplin98]

Great comparison video. Super deep dive. Thanks and kudos!

[@TheCrappyGuitarist]

Great and informative video... I learned alot!! Appreciate you!!

[@cassiomurillo]

Great review, great tone and great playing mate!

[@beeps123]

I really enjoyed watching this. Thank u. So much detail. Great work.

[@ThatOneRyanGuy]

I emailed Seymour Duncan and asked if they wound the YJM pickups that go in the 68 model in their custom shop. They told me that both of these model guitars are using the exact same standard Fury pickups. I did notice that the Custom Shop 68 guitar's pickups were raised up a bit higher closer to the strings, so that may be a contributing factor.

[@conradovai]

Woooow love your videos man! You are one of the few reviewers that get so deep!! I have a regular malmsteen, saw your video and went to buy the custom shop but in blue! You rock man! Love your channel!

[@SheenaGao]

Always insightful partner ;)

[@vinnyjamea96]

Great examination of the strats I'm really digging your channel there dude

[@mksounds6326]

Thank you for this vid it was a really cool review. I've been playing Strats for 30 years and though I'll likely never get my hands on a custom shop instrument, I can relate to that feeling when you wrap your hands around that Strat neck tone. There's nothing else like it. It makes you play things, like the way you played "Lenny". Thanks again and much respect from the Bay Area. MK

[@timbailey7590]

I would just like to say I think you have given one he of the most accurate descriptions of this guitar. I’ve had everything over the years and this guitar is covering ever situation for me. It does so much good at everything I play on it it is unbelievable your description is very accurate and spot on

[@humblegeorge]

Great review Thank God I waited ! Wonderful Video Indeed :>)

[@StefanoScarlataDuranGuitar]

Very very interesting 👍🏻 I just learned a lot of things with your video. Thank you 👍🏻

[@MrZeevhadar]

Very very nice comparison , well done!

[@mghvmi]

You did a great job dude!

[@landajimmy]

Dude, that hour flew by. Awesome vid. I was waiting for something like this since I am thinking of buying this Strat.

[@THEVATICANTS]

Thnx Jimmy. I listed this one on reverb and bought the Candy Apple Red ;)

[@landajimmy]

@@THEVATICANTS thats the one im looking at! Gorgeous.

[@theking0fstrings907]

I watched this video from start to finish. Loved every comparison and example. Most excellent video thank you sir. Subscribed!

[@chrislee6914]

Love your videos. So honest and straight. Thank you keep going. Rock N Roll

[@rommelladiao7741]

Best honest reviews . thanks Marko

[@deant.6793]

I owned the Fender Yngwie regular USA strat for a year and a half and owned 2 Fender Custom Shop strats: 57 heavy relic and 65 relic and just a few days ago tried the Fender Yngwie Custom Shop strat and was completely, utterly blown away. It's 10 to 20 times better of a guitar than the regular Yngwie USA strat. The Fender Yngwie Custom Shop has the best sounding pickups and best wood tones, sustain and resonance I've ever heard, even with the 1/64 inch neck pocket gap. Just holding the neck with my thumb and index finger at the nut, the Fender CS felt perfectly balanced and the Fender regular Artist USA strat felt like a imbalanced big lump of dog poop in a trash bag.

[@albertgarciaguitar5306]

I needed to read this comment, exactly what I wanted to know. Custom shop it is

[@deant.6793]

@@albertgarciaguitar5306 Yeah, I don't know how and why the pickups sounded about 3-5 better than supposedly the same ones as the US model. Probably dipped in wax and better wiring and soldering skills. And to clarify, I was holding the Custom shop vertically with just my thumb and index finger behind the nut like everybody does, and was so surprised how balanced and centered it felt, and the US model just felt literally lopsided. I always thought 2 piece maple cap necks wouldn't sound as good as 1 piece necks but I now think that doesn't matter. It's how old or aged(torrefied) the wood is. Newer, fresher, and wetter wood blanks are cheaper to buy and are never used on Custom Shops I'm sure.

[@suzukisentinel9570]

Where is the truss rod adjustment on the custom shop? Did I miss that part?

[@donciseau]

Great video!

[@smartrn1]

Appreciate your attention to detail and passion Brotha. 🤘🏻

[@rickyhipsher2896]

Just bought the regular one new. It arrives Wednesday. It will be displayed on the wall next to the Dime Dean Razerback.

[@FuriousMess]

cool video, thanks for posting. Really appreciate yiu're enthusiasm

[@ZARAZAG]

Very informative...Beautiful Strats ..You have a nice recording setup too..

[@smy2d269]

cool video - not many around on the custom shops malmsteens. happy for you that you can start out on amazing gear , i remember when i first started out it was on a costco guitar pack

[@TheVintage1935]

Awesome!! Thanks!!

[@dancandersen]

The custom shop strat has a tinted neck, so the colour difference is NOT because of the wood, but the finish. The production model will have the same colour after 2 days in the sun 👍🙂

[@julp8728]

It wont have the same colour after only 2 days in the sun lol. Maybe 10-15 years yes

[@milanm2605]

Do you find it more difficult to play chords on the custom because of the smaller width of the nut? Does it feel cramped to you?

[@isaacfayman]

Thanks for this incredibly helpful video. I'm definitely gonna buy the non-custom shop one!

[@jamescarlucci9867]

I watched the whole thing, Now that was a great review.

[@BobK5]

The top E string looks too close to the edge of the fretboard on both models, is that an accurate perspective?

[@PanosArvanitis]

I was prepared to listen to some YJM stuff.I have many YJM strats and now i got my own signature guitar based on Malmsteen's first axes. Sound incredible .Check em if you want!!!Nice review .

[@bigsauce1116]

Panos you are an absolute God of a player. Incredible.

[@GuitarNewz]

Very cool video, thx!

[@sherifelgesr]

amazing review and comparing 👏 .. I Hope that i can get the custom one some day 🙏❤

[@michellemarin7842]

This just makes me want it even more

[@luckylicks3497]

23:45 is that visible glue we have on the custum shop's nut?

[@MrDinoWodini]

The review is great. Marko, you are very honest in your deliberations. i like.

[@zetranama]

Wow amazing deep dive into these guitars. The signature in red is a dream studio guitar. Would love to play with the clean tone on all 5 switches!

[@GaryMcNeill]

whats with the massive gap in the neck pocket in the custom shop on the bass end?

[@fadlyhans82]

Is it ok to get YJM’s US strat if I don’t play his songs?I listen to his songs but only jam to DIO, Sabbath and Purple. Occasionally I play Santana and Clapton for the wife. I’m just intrigued by the scalloped fretboard and the output of the pickups. TIA

[@maxmustardman298]

Interesting to see that there is such a difference in body contour, probably bc they did have more belly carve in the 60s

[@TheDarkmore]

Very cool and through review, thank you! I just brought the cheapest cream strat on ebay and scalloped it myself, I love to play on it, maybe I will buy an original Malmsteen strat one day!

[@tubular2times]

Can you review the YJM 100 Marshall with the same scrutiny? This was a TERRIFIC review. Thank you!

[@primeDecomposition]

I mean, how much of the acoustic sound difference is actually down to poly vs nitro finish though? If the wood is really that much denser on the CS as you claim wouldn’t it weigh quite a bit more? These things are hard to pinpoint and acoustic resonance isn’t always everything. I have a couple EJ strats that are very lightweight and resonant, but sound airy and thin plugged in (which some people desire in a strat); whereas my CS ‘57 reissue is around 8lbs and not as resonant unplugged, but a MUCH thicker tone plugged in.

[@danielsgrunge]

You look like 15 years younger without the beard damn dude

[@StringBanger]

I have a 2019 YJM strat and it's an okay guitar. I really don't like how they did away with the vintage tint on the neck. I modded the heck out of it to get it the way I wanted. I sent the neck to a guy to have it tinted to that golden amber color. I had a custom pickguard made so I was able to delete the middle pickup. I installed a Fishman universal charging pack, eliminated one of the tone pots, and use it for an EMG AB which is almost like having a YJM 308 in your guitar with the extra gain. Finally I swapped the bridge to a callaham vintage s. This was a great video, I would really like to try a YJM custom shop. thank you for the review

[@TheMack]

Lovely video! The custom shop sounds heavenly, like a sweet sugar candy drop! I want one now... =)

[@michaelgallegos8811]

Man I miss my76 hardtail black with maple board Ugh great Vid thanks Marco!

[@chriswinchester6268]

Great video and lovely kitten :D

[@RutchanonWongsang]

beautiful bro, i have one Fender YJM made in Japan they look amazing

[@gpapa31]

The reason behind the difference in body shape is purely down to the fact that one (the custom shop) is based on a 60s Strat which by default is slimmer and with more curves and the other one is based on a 70s Strat which is slightly more less contoured on the edges and thicker in places. Both instruments are incredible the CS version more so, minus the hidden adjusting rod.

[@itsthenicolas]

yup. i have a real 74 strat and it’s body is much thicker in certain places than my 54 reissue. i like the 70’s bodies more. the rounded appearance is more visually pleasing to me.

[@gpapa31]

SloppyButler I agree. The reason Yngwie prefers the more “blocky” body of the 71 due to its beefyness it is more “suitable” for hard rock metal tones. At lest that’s what he says.

[@anthonyfinch550]

I looked at my old RG550.. now I understand the grain and how it was sawn. DAMN!!!! Great vid.

[@Strato13]

Hey, btw, how can I get that clean, reverbs tone you’re using? If you reply to this, can you give me an idea in settings? Clean, reverb,and what delay setting are you using? Thanks

[@THEVATICANTS]

I use a mxr carbon copy delay they’re really good!!! I kinda dial it in by feel for the day depending on what I’m doing. The boss rv6 is my reverb and also sounds great :)

[@jonlbarry]

THE VATICANTS sounds like there’s some chorus on that clean sound

[@IvoEddieNuno]

Marko you are awesome. I am watching your reviews All the time cause I am also guitar maniac and I agree with you in everything. It’s insane :D your opinions are right. Take care 👍

[@lebethonii6683]

Excellent video

[@deraldossaurus]

Great! Thanks, man. I've been looking for comparison videos between Jeff Beck / Eric Clapton CS vs regular and now I have a very good reference. Is the volume control knob a YJM "speed" model?

[@THEVATICANTS]

Yep speed knob ;)

[@heathfinnie]

The non custom shop one has a three way switch, but you can still get the five positions out if it very easy by putting the switch midway between 1 & 2 and then 2 & 3.

[@julp8728]

Heel-adjust truss-rod is garbage on a Strat because you have to take the neck off in order to adjust the rod

[@user-hs4uv1fv1o]

Songs like your sister.

[@ddean8395]

Don't know if you now know differently, but you just loosen the 4 screws only half way without taking the neck out of the neck pocket of the strat body, and just tilt the neck about 30 degrees and you can easily access the truss rod with a philips screwdriver to adjust.

[@calvinfreeman2112]

Is the sphynx cat included with the custom shop order?

[@danwguitar8651]

Damn man, I’m not even all the way through but I could hear the difference on the custom shop as soon as you played it. That’s insane.

[@skald98]

Yeah, my jaw dropped for a second. That quality jump is real. Not that I have that kind of money, but damn.

[@christophermannmanno6318]

What difference does the wood make between these two guitars?

[@Tatted-ne7tu]

I enjoyed all the tech talk. Does anyone know if Fender corrected the "High E String slipping off the neck issue?" Ive seen so many reviews talking about it but not sure if they are still sending them out like that.

[@seanmiller7889]

Bought a used 2019 and yes it did suffer from this. It's beyond me how you could sell guitars like that? It's an incredible guitar and to not switch the nut and bridge to correct this is beyond me.

[@mylogify]

I can already see from the video, that American one's high e is very close to edge, it'd slip off.

[@AndrewAHayes]

Coming through YT into some flat response cans I can't tell any difference at all in the acoustic sound

[@rrguitar1]

IMO. The lack of a bullet truss rod adjustment on the CS, is a bad move. That's a huge pain in the ass if you want to adjust neck relief. I owned the regular USA model and it was a great guitar

[@ayoluca1]

It is not needed in that type of wood.

[@vladzubac5360]

finally someone who gets it!!! better to record guitar playing with a brillian ambient mic, than putting it through processing, etc through a program. If a guitar sounds great perceived through a room mic - and you can hear through your audio device that, then it will sound great through pro-tools or whatever as well. Better hear it like this!!!

[@lucasbittar]

Amazing review and comparison man! Really appreciate the passion and patience to go through all of those details! I'd be great to have timestamps so we can reference to certain bits later easily. Cheers from Brazil!

[@CM-id3gg]

Great comparison. Anyone who is in the market for either one needs to watch this.

[@Wagoo]

Great comparison, cheers. Have you tried the current ST-YJM model being sold by Fender Japan?

[@pokescrotes2755]

Does the custom shop version have the usual issue with the High E string sliding off the edge of the neck during playing?

[@user-el5mg4it9t]

Those are the scallops. You should try to master the scallops.

[@pokescrotes2755]

@@user-el5mg4it9t I mastered scallops since 2007.

[@delaatkevin7236]

Thank you for your reviews Mario as I appreciate the honest opinions. I am relatively new to playing guitar and own an EVH signature guitar. In your opinion, what guitar would you recommend in the $2.5 -$5k price range?

[@tanshaomala]

$2.5 - $5k guitar for a beginner?

[@Ric_guitar]

Amazing video

[@wendelllanders8439]

Great review!I hear the difference!I own the production Yngwie and love it!!!!Would love a custom shop too!!!

[@Guitarmike]

Excellent video, thank you for taking the time to clarify the difference in these two guitars. I have been playing for many years and understand the concept of getting what you pay for. I also very much enjoyed your video at the end, thanks for including it. It is the first I have heard of your music and am very excited to explore it more! Godspeed sir.

[@bigman12583]

One thing i noticed is the custom shop neck looks thinner than the regular one? when you had them laying on top of each other. Can you tell me if they are the same thickness? thanks and i love your demos because of the passion in the reviews no one else talks about the feel and wood quality.

[@johncaci4130]

I've got a 1987 japan custom shop on the way. Does anyone know much about it? No guesses please 🤦‍♂️

[@thefam9179]

Is it really the difference in wood your hearing or is it the difference in construction and materials used

[@esharpferdinand]

Hi. Great review as always. Maybe you mentioned this in the video, at least I didnt catch it up. But does the custom shop model has the same problem with the high E string slipping off the fretboard like the regular model often has? Cheers!

[@Danila-rl3oj]

I have the same problem with high E string. Why???

[@drkaplin98]

I understand his annoyance about the misinformation about the glued on fretboard vs the one piece neck- but, most of the best guitars ever created had a glued on fretboard...

[@Inspector-71]

68' had a 4 bolt. Cool guitars

[@guitarcover4326]

I ordered a Custom Shop, it should arrive in march-april

[@aliffdzulhailie4599]

Thats custom one really have a crystal clear sound..damnn

[@chrispeeler2758]

Hi Marko, thanks for the vid..Could you please address the issue concerning the high E string falling off the neck..This is a major issue that a lot of players including myself have a problem with..So what im asking is, does this problem exist on the custom shop as well..Cause i actually sold my 2019 model YJM because it drove me crazy..

[@THEVATICANTS]

So far it’s been pretty good to be honest.

[@seanmiller7889]

Yeah I bought a used 2019 and the same thing. Great guitar but I just couldn't get over this issue. I sold i t and bought a Joe Stump ESP. I'm happy as hell.

[@THEVATICANTS]

Sean Miller I’m gonna get a stump esp too, love that guy!!!

[@seanmiller7889]

@@THEVATICANTSThe scalloping is not quite as deep but I like the feel better. The pearl white body and pick guard make it a beautiful guitar.

[@jasonmicklewright899]

Thanks for much for this. I had been trying for ages to find out the differences but only ever came up with those uninformative comparisons. Finally, here are the differences laid out. I own the USA production model (which is great, especially for blues) and looked into the custom but could not find a reason to justify the price difference. Thing is, now I know, will I be tempted? I dunno, there's a lot I could do with $5,500 to upgrade elsewhere. I do like the sonic blue CS one though!

[@ramlankamal7030]

That custom shop neck tone is heavenly!

[@myriad860]

how and where do i call music sue?

[@pennyh.e.packer611]

Looks like they raised the price again on the regular ones :(