I Bought Walter Becker's Steely Dan Strat?

[@beneunson]

💥 THE BGC BUNDLE (all masterclasses): www.bensguitarclub.com/p/the-bgc-bundle 💥 The Modern Soloing BUNDLE: www.bensguitarclub.com/p/modern-soloing-bundle 💥 Mini-Lesson BUNDLE: bensguitarclub.teachable.com/p/mini-lesson-bundle

[@christopherdavis8248]

subscribed. excellent playing!

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much, Christopher! I really appreciate it

[@bulkrivero]

Love the tone, Ben!

[@beneunson]

So glad you liked it!

[@thisissparta-music6875]

Maybe the best sounding Strat I have ever encountered! Such a sweet sounding Strat but of course your brilliant playing and your fingers are part of the whole sound experience! I must get them SD Antiquity 2 pick ups, thanks for the upload!

[@beneunson]

I really appreciate that, thanks so much for listening! Yes, I love these pickups!

[@andreasjonsson5823]

Great story, Ben - fascinating to hear these stories, especially since I've been listening to you play that guitar for as long as I've known about you. Also shocking is how I noticed all these places you were talking about have closed down in NY, very odd sign of the times perhaps...

[@beneunson]

Thanks Andreas - yes much has changed in recent times, you're right!

[@slavmeister73]

Geez, that sounds nice. Lucky fellow having found such a gem of a guitar.

[@beneunson]

So glad you liked how it sounds, thanks for watching!

[@bobjanetmart506]

Brilliant playing Ben, I hope this becomes an album at some point...

[@beneunson]

Absolutely!

[@jackcarrolton12]

Beautiful sounds here Ben. I have always loved your sound on this instrument. Love the WB story... what happened when he walked up to you? Thank you for sharing your stories and your wisdom

[@beneunson]

Thanks Jack! I'll have to get to that in another video, or perhaps a blog post!

[@jinjxmusic]

Love your videos and sending care. Also, if you're having intonation issues I'd say get that nut checked. I've been playing for years and, typically, I take for granted that the strats/teles/hollowbodiy guitars need a new nut. Typically I've had no issues... but I've noticed on both of my 335 style guitars things always sound really out of tune in the higher registers. I'd always try and play through it - though I sent one back to the guy that did the nut replacement and while he swore he just did a few adjustments the axe came back really sounding right in all registers. So I'm wondering if that nut needs to be reworked to get things closer. All the best.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much, and great suggestions here! I think you're right about getting the nut checked. At times, I'm superstitious about doing anything to this guitar because I love the sound, but I'll get it looked at. Thanks again!

[@denbodg9311]

I too have a 1982, ‘57 reissue, (2 TSB.) bought in 2008. It’s my No1 & always will be. I’ll never sell it. I have other Strats, but nothing compares.

[@beneunson]

I feel the same way! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@LearnWithStephen]

Love your new music...always emotive, precise and delightful. Thank you!!

[@beneunson]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@TorsteinJN]

You know Gilmours famous red strat is the same model, early 80s '57 reissue. And why not refret it? :) The radius can also be flattened if that's your thing!

[@beneunson]

I love that red Strat. Most definitely going to refret at some point!

[@alvarolblanco]

That strat is lovely, do you have any upcoming gigs? I feel you should share that info, so that people can go see you play live!

[@beneunson]

I do! Keep an eye on beneunson.com - I'll be updating it soon!

[@leomilani_gtr]

Dude, some Steely Dan harmonic analysis would be great!!

[@beneunson]

New Steely Dan-related video coming within the next day!

[@Joe-dj6sz]

Sweet man ! Really nice.

[@beneunson]

Thanks!

[@richardreyes9604]

Nice playing. 👍

[@beneunson]

Thanks!

[@thormusique]

Great video and wonderful story, thank you! I completely understand your moving away from this Strat, despite its history and obvious importance to you. I have several instruments in particular that I really love and have been very special to me, both in terms of work as a guitarist and as milestones in my musical life. My one instrument I keep going back to is relatively new to me. It's my PRS 40th Anniversary S2 with bespoke hand-wound humbuckers, and with the ability to split coils, etc. It's become my main working instrument, in that it allows me to play in any style and has a wonderful neck that fits my hand beautifully. Although I have a few other instruments I play fairly frequently and also love, this PRS (aka 'Cherry Flame') is the 'no-brainer' do-anything go-to instrument for me. Cheers, mate!

[@beneunson]

So glad you enjoyed this, thank you for watching! The PRS 40th Anniversary S2 is a beautiful guitar, I have only played one once but I bet it's a brilliant workhorse guitar.

[@jeremyversusjazz]

Man your playing is killllin brother…cool guitar and its story…

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@victormahtapene2573]

YEAH LETS GOOOO The Blue Strat! Such cool tones! Has an old school 50s/60s/80s to me 🎸 Super cool you got to meet one of your heros! One more question! Do you know if it has a soft “V” or hard “V” neck profile? I tried a Fender Vintera 50s HSS Road Worn strat (similar looks to yours actually) and it had a Soft V profile slightly reliced neck. I thought it was weird but it felt so cool after testing jazzy lines and stuff like that.

[@beneunson]

Thanks Victor! So glad you liked it. This guitar has the same type of soft "V" neck you described, with much of the finish worn off the back of the neck. I do find it to be quite comfortable!

[@victormahtapene2573]

@@beneunson that’s so cool man. I find your guitar collection fascinating. Relic guitars (whether it’s real wear and tear or mimicked) is actually very cool for the neck especially for the unique comfort in my opinion! Great video and playing!

[@michaelsargeant7454]

Hey Ben. This is an amazing sounding guitar. How good?!The Walter connection is something else. He is also one of my heroes. He lives on.

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching, Michael! I really appreciate it. Yes, the Walter connection is still surprising to me...he lives on!

[@michaelsargeant7454]

@@beneunson And I’d love to hear the story of you checking out an acoustic in Sam Ash and you looking up and seeing Walter checking you out.

[@WickBeavers]

There’s just something about a great player using a Strat… anybody can run a hard Joe Pass jazz riff on a 335. I miss it.

[@beneunson]

I think you're right, Wick! Thanks for watching!

[@Guitar-free]

I grew up listening to Walter Becker and Steely Dan so many great guitar solo's that I can sing along with.

[@beneunson]

Absolutely, me as well! Thanks for watching!

[@matthiasscheffler548]

This instrument's mega quacky sound on ACE is iconic and surely it's one that no one else has ever conceived before. A delight!

[@beneunson]

Thanks Matthias! I really appreciate that!

[@OscarWILD-mq1jv]

Haha great video Ben, thanks.

[@beneunson]

Thanks Oscar!

[@Stemma3]

"I accidentally bough..." Classic quote from us (musicians) to our wives/girlfriends. Don't worry, man. You don't have to lie to us.

[@beneunson]

😂😂😂 I should've just admitted it! Thanks for watching!

[@fusionfan6883]

Man you duetting with U.K. guitarist John Nathan Cordy would be awesome, your styles are very compatible 🎸🤘🏻

[@beneunson]

He's great! I would love that!

[@zThisPlay]

6:15 wut? u can do that?

[@beneunson]

Yes you can! The BPNCS has been a lifesaver on recordings. Helps considerably, in my experience

[@zThisPlay]

@@beneunson awesome🙂

[@davidespinosa1910]

What year is the strat ? Thanks...

[@beneunson]

'57 reissue from 1982 ✨

[@bluwng]

Jumbo frets are not factory…did you re- fret.

[@beneunson]

Would've been a mod by one of the previous owners

[@jasonkeaton5140]

I have 3 great guitars but I really can't play. I'm looking for a lucky tambourine

[@beneunson]

Haha thanks for sharing!

[@seanquinlan6887]

I'm surprised Walter didn't offer you a session with "The Dan"?

[@beneunson]

Thanks Sean - I wish!

[@Guitar-free]

Do they still use the word sick when describing awesome playing because that was sick!

[@beneunson]

You can use that word! 😀 Thanks for watching!

[@TXLogic]

Damn that is some tasty playing….chops + musicality. Why have I never heard of you?

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@rodleaverton]

Isn’t it funny? Every good guitar that I’ve owned, I knew in the first five minutes of playing that it was for me.

[@beneunson]

Absolutely, Rod. Exactly the same for me!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Why is it that we make our own luck? Really interested to know

[@beneunson]

My statement at 08:03 is dichotomous: on one hand, 'making your own luck' is essentially forging your own path against all odds, but it's contrasted by the many positive occurrences that mysteriously and inexplicably emerged after I picked up the blue strat in 2015...

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@beneunson Thanks so much Ben for the reply, I am very interested in this more "philosophical" side of things, thanks for taking the time. Really appreciate your playing and music.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@jamiemorgan4146]

I’ve never heard of you. I’d drop the runs that you play before each melodic solo..🤙🏻

[@beneunson]

Thanks for watching!