Japan's alternative to the American Professional line, the Hybrid ii.

[@Markleford]

Neck feel being so varied across makers (and even countries) and yet so important, I've imagined a store that has an entire wall of just necks, where you could pick them up in quick order to get a grip (so to speak) and find the one that's right for you. (I see we're putting more Japanese pop culture easter eggs in the shot now! Totoro, Sailor Moon...)

[@AudiomoMusic]

They've always been there, you just haven't been looking closely enough haha... dragonite for example was in videos for about a month and a half at one point and nobody said a thing

[@tomasodriziola]

I like the song you played with the 2nd position nice modulating

[@AudiomoMusic]

That was a fun one that kinda just came out on the spot, don’t know why I did the double key change haha

[@bciecko1]

Finish isn't my cup of tea, either. That's the general statement. But here, especially on the closer shots, I really like it. The more the video went on the more it grew on me. The sound was good. Definitely more output, for better or worse as a Strat, but those looking at this aren't looking for a classic Strat anyway so that's okay. Nice guitar. Nice demo.

[@johnnyboywonder]

Subscribed! Thanks for the entertainment!

[@AudiomoMusic]

Thanks Johnny appreciate it!

[@MoF247]

Love these recent Fender Japan models, I bought a used 2020 HSS Strat from the first line of Hybrids in Graffiti Yellow with the racing stripe a few weeks ago. The original owner even replaced the stock Shawbucker with a DiMarzio pickup and overall the quality of the instrument kinda blew me away. I love my Mexican Fenders but it feels like the Japanese ones just get that little extra touch of attention to detail at the factory.

[@AudiomoMusic]

I prefer these to the US guitars too at this point, it all has to do with quality control and consistency. As you said this is stuff that's done at the factory and when the workers aren't only focused on quantity and allowed to make sure the quality is up to standard everybody wins. Graffiti yellows is amazing, great color man

[@evanisme138]

I have had one of the normal Hybrid 2 strats since early last year. I got the US Blonde which looks amazing in person. I sold my American Professional II Strat within a month of getting the Hybrid II and have never regretted it. For the price you pay for one of these, there is no other strat even close in my opinion. I prefer it over both the American Pro II and the American Deluxe I had in the past.

[@AudiomoMusic]

Only ones that I rate more for the value are used Momose, but they are not easy to come by and nowhere near mass produced. These are as good as you can get for widely available modern strats

[@evanisme138]

@@AudiomoMusic I have one of those too. Momose is my favorite for more vintage spec Fender-style guitars. I do wish they would work on their model numbers though. It is pretty hard to conversationally bring up my MC-BC-TOCHI WSE’22/NJ - LBL-MH

[@GianfrancoTorrisiguitar]

Nice review man, thanks ;-)

[@AudiomoMusic]

Glad you liked it!

[@ereimul1444]

always dig your playing. i sticked with my previous Hybrid ii. however the HSS in pearl white were superb tho. i starting to noticed your New Yorkers accent a bit rn.

[@AudiomoMusic]

I will never fully get rid of the NY accent but I haven't lived there in ages haha

[@alanshawn3058]

Great review! I have one question about the fret. I own an AM Pro II Tele and once played a Squier classic vibe. To me, the frets on CV are noticeably shorter and wider than AM Pro II, despite they both have "narrow tall" frets. Could you please tell me which "narrow tall" we are talking about on this Hybrid ii? Thank you!

[@wlkalong]

I am not really into bright red finishes, I prefer more of a mat finish solid color, but a different color in that finish would look great to me. Very nice instrument. I would love to see a video on exactly how you buy guitars from Japan, what to expect in terms of shipping cost, unexpected costs, best places to buy and maybe some tricks and tips to get the best price. I know you have a number of vids on different buying experiences, but not one end to end video -at least that I could find. It would be worth pinning to a number of places, so easy to find. I find the whole buying from Japan process a little confusing/scary. Also, I noticed Jakarri Music in Indonesia also sells a lot of Japanese guitars, but I know nothing about their service. Just my thoughts about it.

[@Jimmy4Thumbs]

I purchased this guitar's twin from Kinko Music in Japan in June. I'd post the link, but I think YT doesn't like that. Search Kinko Music Japan, and you will find them. I paid 137,000JPY for the guitar, 18,200JPY for DHL shipping, and 5,800JPY PayPal fee (the only method of payment Kinko's accepts for foreign orders). Based on the exchange rate for the day I paid $1,077 all in to Kinko's. I also had to pay $30 something to PayPal to convert my dollars to Yen, so call it $1,100 total. It arrived 5 days after I placed my order. US Customs must have been sleeping that day because I wasn't charged any import duties, tariffs, etc. YMMV. Kinko's has instructions for ordering in English at the bottom of their home page. HTH As far as the guitar itself... I echo what this guy said. Fit and Finish is a 10! It makes my MIM Player LTD Edition look like a pile of kindling. BTW... the main reason I bought it? Red is my favorite color (not just for guitars), and I fell in love with the quilted maple veneer with which they topped it! In other words, the heart not the head bought this one.

[@wlkalong]

@@Jimmy4Thumbs I was able to find them and took a look at what they offer. Lots to choose from and pricing is excellent- pretty similar to US, though the quality of Japanese guitars is top notch - you would not get the same level of quality for the price in the US. I have owned 4 MIJ guitars, all were flawless. I am really interested in a Tokai LP, with the nitro finish. I would also consider a MIJ Fender or a G&L US. I have a G&L Tribute, and it also was flawless. Thanks for the link.

[@ectoplasm]

Rad Sailor Moon shirt, man.

[@AudiomoMusic]

i thought i lost it in the move haha

[@debhart4302]

Love the dark rosewood fretboard. Not a fan of the body color finish, spots. I'd prefer a transparent crimson red, or a transparent blue. Still is a cool guitar though.

[@AudiomoMusic]

Deb I'll e-mail you some of the blue finishes - they are wild

[@debhart4302]

​@AudiomoMusic remember the correct email, lol....

[@6bender]

I own a Super Deluxe Thinline like the one in the background. It has my favorite feeling and playing neck of all of the guitars I own. Do other MIJ Fenders have a similar feel?

[@AudiomoMusic]

That one is a unique case, they really did some cool specs with the neck on it to give it a great combination of feel and the fretsize was perfect. The MG-HO and JG-HO are the two most similar guitars to it neck feel wise and were made right around the same time period, however are both uncommon and sometimes extremely expensive due to the scarcity of them.

[@6bender]

@@AudiomoMusic Thanks! Yeah, it has the "just right" feel to it, for me at least.

[@dimitrisgergis1172]

The body are the same?? On the American pro and the hybrid

[@AudiomoMusic]

they are made of the same wood yes

[@maxwellfan55]

Are these the "road bump" frets that push up the action unplayably?

[@AudiomoMusic]

narrow talls, for some reason fender love them and even put them on Japanese guitars ( they used to come with medium jumbos in the hybrid 1 )

[@maxwellfan55]

@@AudiomoMusic Correct. I just tried a hybrid 1 after posting comment. Frets were awful, like tank traps.

[@mbihgemink]

have you tried the player II yet? if so i would love to know how it feels compared to this hybrid II

[@AudiomoMusic]

The player ii is not bad but I’d price in a full fret level and dress into it to get it to play well. The Japanese stuff is just far better quality wise but both will get you where you need to go at the end of the day

[@sickboy511]

You should also consider the weight. Some Player II Strat that i've heard are quite heavy, around 3.7-3.9 kg.

[@robinfawcett7973]

Love the finish and the 'toilet seat' scratchplate. Sounded great and the way you played

[@AudiomoMusic]

Glad you liked it!

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

Is it just the angle you're holding that strat, or is the neck just a tad out of alignment? Probably just me.

[@AudiomoMusic]

It's probably the angle, I actually just double checked thinking maybe I didn't 'notice it either but it's all good!

[@seanzinger]

Very flashy. Not exactly my cup of tea either, but it sounded amazing through your rig, dude.

[@AudiomoMusic]

I wasn't sure if my ears are just shot lately, but toward the end of filming I wasn't happy at all with how basically anything sounded hahaha

[@JBM_71]

I have to be honest Jim and say I don't like the finish on the guitar. I have never got on with bling finishes on Fender guitars. Or any others for that matter. Keep 'em for your PRS's etc! Just my own preferences of course. 🎸🎸🙂🙂

[@SearchingForTone]

I hate special runs cause you feel like you need to get them or they are gone….but I guess that’s the idea behind it😂 GAS inducing

[@503punxoioioi9]

I'm in Portland Oregon, yet this guy's in Miami, why is he wearing a. beanie when I haven't for months??? Very suspicious / WTF.

[@AudiomoMusic]

Fun fact - I also don't wear shorts and I wear a hoodie outside regardless of the time of year even at the beach. I'm just very cold blooded apparently.

[@oceantree5000]

Fellow Portlander here and former Freshwater Conch: that’s just Florida. 😂