History of The Most Dangerous Guitar: Kurt Cobain's Vandalism Strat | Nirvana Guitar History Ep 8

[@--thatbih]

One of the most iconic rock guitars of all time yet only lasted about 6 months. The lore behind this guitar alone is insane Edit: I know I'm 2 months late but and this maybe unnecessary but I believe Vandy returned the second time a few days earlier in Texas on Oct 21st 91. Although there isn't many pictures or any video of that show, there is an audience recording on KZbin. If you listen closely after Teen Spirit he switches to another guitar for About A Girl. I am almost 100% sure it's Vandy as it sounds very similar to Paramount. It couldn't be the mustang as it was smashed two days prior and not the Tom strat as that was smashed in Chicago a week prior.

[@theshadowgovernment_]

its like every new kurt guitar replica of yours is better than the last

[@KadeKain]

Just bought a Japan 84-86 E Fender Strat that has is literally almost identical to the VMA Strat. (Besides it being a lil old) And I gotta say those necks make so much of a difference. It’s being so skinny and smooth; it felt like I was playing a whole brand compared to new strats. They truly are the best necks

[@NirvanaGuitars]

YES so you know!! These two MIJs have completely changed my perspective on strats, especially their necks

[@bbq4126]

@@NirvanaGuitars the 80's E Series MIJ/MIK Fender/Squier's have the same neck I think. Good bit cheaper aswell.

[@KadeKain]

@@NirvanaGuitars yeah I use to hate Strats tbh, never really liked the look; the feel on the neck was decent… but getting this one changed my opinion completely. Literally became my favorite guitar to play overnight. Which is hard cause I love my double humbuckers mustang. So I completely feel you on the feel of it

[@Eric-r6r]

I got an 87 E series Squire for Christmas in 1992 and it was the best stratocaster I've ever owned/played. It was stolen in 2007. I still miss that guitar. That particular model is pretty sought after these days. They aren't your typical Squire. Mine was black and it came with a white triple ply pick guard.

[@KadeKain]

@@Eric-r6r mines a Fender, its needs some work on it as it’s definitely been used a lot. But ever with all that. It handles great; made me think about strats in a new light. I definitely understand the hype now. Best decision I made.

[@jamesmcbride7621]

Your attention to detail is absolutely insane. Mad respect. Love the channel!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so so much! 😀🙏🏻

[@shnsltr6853]

I used to own a lefty 86' Squier ST-362 Strat that was pretty much identical to Kurt's VMA Strat. Excellent guitar! Those old Fujigen made Fenders are hard to beat.

[@Garbageguitarist]

YES!!! Finally a history video of my favourite Kurt strat can’t wait!!!!😮 Edit: After watching the premiere WOW just WOW I love the amount of research and effort that goes into these videos is amazing I’ll always stand by the live at the paramount look of this guitar but the 91 reading look is very nice also, love your new vandalism strat I love how you’re starting to use the vintage parts to make these guitars accurate, only thing I wish was in this video is a sound demo but I think it deserves a full video for that keep it up!

[@JackyBuddy]

same here bro

[@thenugographer]

Wow! The history of the sticker’s origin is as rad as the sticker itself! Excellent work

[@djcj424]

I think one of my favorite things about watching your videos is looking at your collection while you talk about your newest addition!

[@MilesTippett]

Billy Corgan's bat strat is pretty Iconic as well.

[@magraretsbane6274]

My favorite of Corgan’s guitars, I’ve been building a replica recently

[@cameronsharpe6647]

i was thinking of McCready as well personally hes who i immediately think of as a 90s strat player

[@MilesTippett]

@@cameronsharpe6647 I think of him as a strat player, but I wouldn't be able to pick his guitar out of a lineup

[@MrBikboi]

The GOAT Corgan is such a stud.

[@cassieeatscockroaches999]

how about the gish strat?

[@spidermanfan.3161]

A WHOLE VIDEO OF MY FAV GUITAR VANDY? hohohohoh Eric man I could hug you! you know well that I love vandy and that you did a video all about her after my b-day man You’re the man bro!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

I'd hug you back brother! Thank you so much for your continued support, I don't take it for granted! I hope you enjoy this video and have a great birthday 🥳

[@spidermanfan.3161]

@@NirvanaGuitars im a bit late but yeah I had a pretty good Birthday 🥳 and your welcome and thanks bro!

[@FriendlyNirvanaToneChaser]

Bro has the better productions than Hollywood, keep up the work man, ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!!! I guarantee give it about 2 months and your channel will BLOW UP!

[@LEADERYELIAN]

Bro I remember 2 years ago I used to watch your vids on the way to school keep up the good work🎸

[@Hahahahadavee]

Man i love your videos ! You should try getting nirvana tones using multi effects and compare it to authentic Kurt’s pedals

[@Jeebuz]

Yeah i had the same thought about multi effects . Don’t know if it can replicate nirvana tones

[@monkist]

Thank you so much for doing these in-depth videos about Kurt’s guitars! They are really priceless! During the mid- to late 90s I tried to reproduce this guitar for myself and all I could base my observations and assumptions upon were VHS tapes, actual printed media and low quality images found on the current-day Internet, a far cry from the vast resource it is now. The guitar I made was kind of okay and I treasured for decades before I finally sold it - but the one you put together, including all the info surrounding it, is a masterpiece! Great job!

[@chadotto6275]

I am 19 miles away from Aberdeen Washington 💯

[@JackyBuddy]

OMG BRO!! THE VANDALISM STRAT IS SOOOO UNDERRATED. IM WATCHING THIS THE MILLISECOND IT COMES OUT

[@angutimmm]

Dawg I don’t think it’s underrated it’s like his most overrated guitar😭🙏

[@ZarahandNirvana]

@@angutimmm I think the most overrated are the mustangs, specially skystang and the comp mustang

[@angutimmm]

@@ZarahandNirvana idk like 1, comp, 2 vandalism strat or jaguar, 3 skystang, vandalism is overrated af

[@ZarahandNirvana]

@@angutimmm I think his jaguar is WAY overrated

[@Sabhoh]

@@angutimmmfound the cop!👮

[@Justin-hb6cg]

If he played that Strat anywhere in England today, he would be arrested and processed in record time.

[@Sabhoh]

These days if you say you’re English, you’ll be arrested and thrown in jail

[@Justin-hb6cg]

@@SabhohProclaim it loudly in the wrong place, and you could be. Seriously.

[@Sabhoh]

@@Justin-hb6cg when did this come in?

[@Sabhoh]

@@Justin-hb6cg to be fair, I doubt it. They’ve bigger problems to deal with, rioting Nazis, pogroms and whatnot

[@AutisticVaxtard]

Bankers

[@PrettyboyAshtun]

this the one i’ve been waiting for

[@musicalmiscellany]

Man. I would've loved to have this research back in 1995. I remember my friend Scott and I sitting in his mom's basement pouring over photos and videos fro Nirvana performances trying to figure out if the Vandalism strat was a Fernandes with a Fender neck or a Fender with a Fernandes neck. This video clarified a 30 year old question. Thanks.

[@GothCthulhu]

Great vid as always. Keep em coming.

[@Novax4053]

IM SO EXCITED YOU ROCK ERIC!

[@Zad_Anzaloone]

I can already imagine how much research he had to do to tell us the whole story of this great Kurt guitar. This guy is incredible

[@rutger51]

Yes!❤ A video about the vandelism guitar one of my favorite guitars!

[@tomas23769]

“Teachers In Space” that’s soooo fucked lmao. That Billie Joe nod gave me a bad case of false hope that there’ll be a video on Blue at some point where we get to see you play some awesome old school Green Day riffs

[@naeromagus]

I have an I serial number st62. With a 90s 59n also. Black with the paper vandalism sticker. The quality of this guitar is amazing the wood and the neck shape make it among my favorite guitars that i own

[@digglydonk]

vandalism strat is a personal fave, super hyped for this

[@DocterFweedy]

We definitely need a Jaguar history video even though there are a couple on KZbin, the way you explained the history of a guitar is unmatched.

[@fuzzcous]

'Vandalism as beautiful as a rock in a cops face' is a verse from Feederz song Gut Rage. Interesting video

[@NateMcCannon]

love this, these videos have become a real treat to watch, always exited for a new one

[@SuperStrik9]

Got a 79 Strat that I bought in the late 90s for $700. Killer guitar. Ash body that's heavy as hell, white pickguard/pickup covers with a maple neck. I love it. I'm a massive Ritchie Blackmore fan and it looks exactly like the Strat he played at Cal Jam (obviously the guitar he used was a different year than mine since Cal Jam was in 74).

[@locked_tactical1809]

This has been my favorite guitar since I got into nirvana like a year ago with your videos! And it's so cool to see this accurate build in your hands! Much love to you keep going(it was also cool to see a reference to blue as I know you also recently seen green day live)

[@smiley3637]

When I saw Billie Joe's blue I realized how much I'd start a channel like yours but instead for green day stuff

[@NWOWCW4Life1]

I knew this guitar had history but never figured it had THAT much of history. Thats awesome. Your kid self would be screaming and probably a fan of your actual channel following it I bet haha. Keep up the great work.

[@DesiredH]

Yes! Vandalism is getting it's own video now!...Do you think you'll be able to do a hands on like the Mustangs and VMA Strat? 👀

[@mistopraro666]

I have this exact guitar, and mine is also left handed! I like it so much that I dont even dare to modify it, even tho it would be cool to have an 1:1 replica

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Wow that is amazing! As accurate as it can possibly get especially since it's left handed!!

[@mycawild]

I’m happy you got the vandalism strat it’s my favorite Stratocaster ❤❤

[@dnlv1094]

Are you gonna make a jaguar history video?

[@tsg_frank]

Absolutely iconic guitar, easily the most visually striking stratocaster I've ever seen. I always think about the Endless Nameless Paramount '91 destruction when i look at it, it's a guitar that makes you wanna play it as hard as possible!

[@mikerobbins4138]

Awsome I really enjoyed how you laid out the info on this guitar thank you

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@mikerobbins4138]

@NirvanaGuitars now if I can find an orig small clone to go with my 69 orig mustang ir s.l.t.s guitar been looking since the 90's

[@jadenlittlerocker315]

Watched you video already couple of times, SO COOL Looking at the photos of the Vandalism Strat in June 10 with the original Fender neck has made me so happy my build has the truss rod adjuster at the heel too. I'm only 8 and Kurt has influenced me greatly.

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Thank you so much for the support and kind words! I definitely prefer heel adjust truss rods, even though it's a pain when time to adjust them 😂 but it's worth it! I discovered Nirvana when I was 14, so you've got me beat! Thank you for the kind comment Jaden!

[@jadenlittlerocker315]

@@NirvanaGuitars I been playing drums since 3 and always had guitars around me but not till I really discovered Kurt and Nirvana did I teach myself to play guitar. I have a channel too showing my music journey with so many Nirvana songs.on drums and guitar. Kurt is so influential. Your channel has been so helpful to me too. Thank you for your Videos.

[@PulseXP-yo8wu]

Watching this at a hotel after getting back from an indoor festival. I’ve been looking forward to a video on the Vandalism Strat! Going to enjoy watching this while eating chocolate out of a coffee mug.

[@rutger51]

Love❤ Good video!

[@MichaelsMusic193]

So exited Eric! You’re the best!

[@j_c_93]

I'm sorry I have to break it to you, but the sticker isn't 100% accurate. Your sticker is using Arial as its font but the original uses Helvetica. You can tell by comparing the Arial R with the Helvetica R. I also don't think Arial was invented yet back then.

[@popfortyfive]

Yeah, "most realistic sticker" goes out the window if it's in Arial... DOH!

[@willstevenson6699]

I can’t wait that long 😢

Cobain is mostly know for his Jaguar and Mustangs, but this Strat has always been my favorite Nirvana guitar by far. He also used it during the period when the band was actually happy, before the fame and addictions drama

[@GuitarMigi73]

For even more accuracy: the sticker's lettering is Helvetica, not Arial. Keep on the good job, anyway ;-)

[@exclamationanimation3416]

You should do a guitar history video about Kurt’s jag

[@Silverfan97]

Most iconic Kurt Strat. Ever

[@hankyharry]

I love all the videos of this channel!

[@NirvanaGuitars]

😭 🙏 I cannot thank you enough!!

[@Georgeisjawa]

YES ITS FINALLY HAPPENING!!!

[@stephenpage5687]

I like the custom or order only yellow Strat featured as the lead guitar on the Official Music Video of Pearl Jam's Even Flow song from the band's seminal Ten album.

[@ameuluvs]

Vandalism strat is my fav kurt guitar next to phis phase 4 univoxes

[@tymime]

Always happy to see people mention Buddy Holly

[@kylehunter2012]

Kurt’s one of the main reasons I like strats, him and Billy Corgan, Kurt’s the reason I stick with rosewood boards and bridge humbuckers. Strats are just it man, it’s Leo Fender stumbled onto the perfect guitar with it

[@prof.aggrospeed4315]

Hey! I did a lot of research on these and i can confirm that appart from the « i » serial run, they pretty much all come with the black plastic string trees, from « e » to « h ». So it would confirm that Kurt was an « i » serial. They don’t come by often and practically never in black.

[@monkeytomars8770]

I bought a replica of this one yesterday! I am so hyped!

[@JamesTopham-t4y]

How. Much?

[@tomstone4877]

Thanks eric this is a great birthday present

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Happy birthday!! Hope you have a great day 🥳

[@destructproduct14]

I love that guitar so much

[@MarkGarcia-ji4ix]

1991 live at reading tone reveal? Liked how the clean tone sounds

[@andoros.7017]

It was made 1984-1987. The E9 ≠ Eighty-Nine as US serial #s signify. I looked into it quite a bit because I also have an ST-362V (Lake Placid Blue) with E9 serial number that I got as a Craigslist score for $300 about 5 years ago. I knew Kurt was fond of Japanese Fenders but wasn’t aware his Vandalism strat was a ST-362 - cool to learn this, thanks for the videos!

[@haribalsac1]

I'm so glad you mentioned billie Joe's strat from green day, this is probably my favourite guitar of all time

[@Frank_Kimono]

I got a good replica of Vandalism Strat myself, bought it as a relic to hang on the wall, but I actually use it for practice

[@dathorndike4908]

One of the things that made Kurt so special is how no matter how much he liked a guitar, if he was in a certain mood he had no qualms about smashing it to pieces. That kind of uninhibited emotion you just never see in musicians today. Everyone is so calculated in their image and actions. Its not rock n roll. Kurt was one of the few last great true rock stars.

[@AxelZer0YT]

Favorite strat OAT

[@Themoonmainmoon]

Gnarly guitar. Defo one of my favourites of his

[@aut_ism3]

Fav kurt guitar

[@ScottEvans-vk7hse]

I had a 1988 MiJ strat that had those roller string guides. I thought that they were not standard so I removed them for the vintage type!

[@nirvanaupscaled]

Awesome Video Man :) 😍😎

[@Freeman009]

hey how about the "hybrid mustang" guitar that kurt had in 1990 and in the "in bloom" video, in an alternate version?

[@Gabriel_335cda]

One of my fav kurt guitars 🔥

[@SOAMLE]

I love that Kurt had almost no care about his guitars if it had a humbucker in the bridge (okay, sometimes a single coil), he was good. Point being, he didnt get hung up on instruments. They were disposable.

[@Nirvana_Guitarist91]

I know I'm a bit late to comment but this was so good! Finally we have the most iconic strat's history video! Can't wait for the TOM one! It would be cool if you made a Jaguar history video plus a most accurate build of the Jag, but that would take a lot of time... and money. Keep it up!

[@PrettyboyAshtun]

i’m a simple man i see nirvana guitars uploaded and i click.

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

If you wanna see some amazing live Nirvana from this time check out the Sonic Youth film The Year Punk Broke. Best concert film ever, footage from several European festival dates and some club appearances. All brilliant performances and footage + a bunch of backstage antics.

[@slimkickens]

Blue is more iconic. And my argument is simple. As you said, Kurt is mostly associated with mustangs and jaguars, but Blue is the guitar Billie is most associated with. It's also in over a half dozen music videos

[@dimmestgold16]

Would love to see a Jag-Stang history video !

[@DaveWire]

good job like always ! a video about the jaguar would be very fine ! thx

[@mrNobody100]

guitar center website rules, i once got a $150 value reverb pedal for like, 80 bucks, because someone either didn't know what the fuck they were doing, or didn't care. either way, gotta love those guitar center used gear finds

[@thrillvilled111]

Would love to see Kurt's Ferrington Custom Guitar in this series! 🎸

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Those black, plastic, "roller" style string trees are what likely threw off Guitar Center. Those are what came stock on all the earlier, E-series, mid-80's "Contemporary" Strats. They actually are _not_ stock on the 362's and Kurt's - with the typical vintage style string trees - was. I'm sure, knowing Fender, that it's likely some 362's came from the factory with the black, plastic, "roller" style string trees just because they - as taught by Leo Fender himself - let nothing go to waste. So any extras laying around would definitely get used. Situations like that are one of several reasons why Guitar Center is one of the last places where you can score good deals on used gear. They buy used gear in large quantities, don't pay top dollar for it or take it in on trades and obviously, not every GC employee is an expert on every piece of used gear that walks through the door. Whereas pretty much everywhere else today - everyone knows what everything's worth and what the highest price someone paid for a similar model was. So now everybody - stores or private sellers - price all their used gear more or less the same. Which has substantially diminished the opportunities to score a deal. Also, I never knew the "Vandalism" Strat was mahogany. Mahogany Strats have a tone uniquely their own. There are very rare instances of vintage Strats (mostly early 1060's) made from mahogany and they are some of the best sounding Strats I've ever heard in my life. Cool video, keep up the great work.

[@danybr1]

6:42 the low tone was purposely disconnected for sound reasons and the knob was removed as it was no longer needed

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Source?

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Would still like a source for this

[@Tiibero]

Peacefully waiting for Ruisrock 1992 tone recreation🌝

[@Brannington]

HAH i see you threw in my volcanic analogy ;D

[@chadholmes]

Appreciate all the detail on the Japanese Strats! I see you have a Tone master Twin Reverb. It would be awesome to see what that sounded like with twin Celestion green back speakers, with the Pre Rola Pulsonic cones! The Pulsonic cones is apparently where much of the tone comes from. Would love to see if those played well in the Tone Master, which I don’t believe has been done before. Thanks again!

[@Eoghan_guitar11]

Is the paramount vid coming soon??

[@NirvanaGuitars]

Yes! An updated Paramount tone video is long overdue

[@Eoghan_guitar11]

Yayy thank u, and also what about a full del mar vid???​@@NirvanaGuitars

[@luiluke_]

The body is made out of Mahagony? That's unusual and really cool for a strat! :)

[@gabrielmendes9715]

11:35 what is the concert that appears in the video?

[@TokiWartooth14]

Maple leaf Gardens 11/4/93

[@SupaTNT_OG]

33 years ago today was the best Nirvana concert of all time… wow lol

[@James__________________]

We need to see a history video on the Jaguar and Competition mustang

[@HivezGaming]

Hey Eric, great video! I was wondering if you can recreate the studio version of Come as you are and the exact tones for your next video. Thanks!

[@honestlyliam]

I can’t wait a whole day for this😢

[@condon1738]

try recreating the live at paramount show again!

[@arigershon8872]

I’m building a new Strat for my nirvana cover band and I already have a mustang for the in utero era now i want a Strat for the never mind and as we talk about before I’m putting a 59 in the bridge but what should I use for single coils

[@c.a.k.comedy692]

The super strat style was my first guitar I’ve owned and I now own like over 10 super strats and like 1 explorer lol

[@MarlonEdwards86]

Im making a vandalism strat rn i bought a load of cheap parts to make it cant wait for it to be finished

[@Maybeprobablynot]

Bro had a Duncan 59-N, a *neck* pickup, in the bridge. Crazy lol

[@jiplugpumelonnai9199]

I know you're a Nirvana focused channel, but, YOU GOTTA DO A VIDEO ON BLUE

[@dfgvjnkjdsnbkjsbdvjkhdsb]

i love matchin pickguards. why fender can't make all colors with matching pickguards?

[@Kevinized100]

Fantastic video