Why I Never Play My John Mayer Stratocaster

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I've owned my John Mayer signature Stratocaster since 2012 and I that time I've never really connected with it, and as a result I never really play this guitar. But why? And why do we sometimes hold onto guitars even though we don't play them that often?
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[@elusivelectron]

3:20 The Reveal: you and your dog have the same hair cut.

[@Christian-ew4eg]

You beat me to it . 😢

[@GxBxN]

😂

[@NintenDub]

😂😂😂😂😂😆😆😂😂😂

[@raydowley1038]

woof!! woof!!

[@LuisEduardoBraschi]

HAHAHAHA

[@brandongagnon9362]

Rhett, the reason why you don’t like that Mayer strat is because it needs a tube screamer and you refuse to use one. Haha!

[@tomaslopez2940]

He needs to try the Boss Super Overdrive since he likes the DS-1

[@jasondorsey7110]

The tube screamer is outdated, there are many well-made clones that bring much more to the table...I never bonded with the ts808 I had, but a fulldrive2 instantly found a place on my board

[@matt926uk1]

lol, yeah it should come with one built into the circuit 😅

[@chrish4858]

Comment of the century

[@AnjektusStudio]

​@@matt926uk1Or you make a guutar that sound great as it is.

[@AndyA1234]

I've seen Tim Pierce play Fenders, Gibsons, PRS, etc, semi-solid body, acoustic, through many different amplifiers and he sounds great with every combination. The gearhead mentality is destructive. No one listening to a song, apart from another guitarist maybe, cares what guitar you're playing as long as its played well.

[@SergiOrtiz]

This and the rig! Pedals and amp might be more important to get the sound you find pleasing. Now with dsp it may be even easier

[@Dirnkus_Ginish]

Not strictly true. Different guitars and amps contribute massively to the over sound / feel of a track. Talk to any producer that is responsible for crafting the sound of a track and they'll tell you exactly how important gear is.

[@francesco0185]

Very funny if you are saying this as a guitarist. Cause you're focusing of what you hear, as you were the audience. Well, you are the player! You have to connect with your gear, cause YOU have the guitar in your hands, you are touching the neck, the wood, the frets, the strings, you are feeling the action, the radius, the neck profile, and most probably you are hearing something the audience is not hearing cause they don't have a clue about neck pickup etc. Your guitar can inspire you as well as obstacle your inspiration. Pierce chose his gear very carefully and this is what every pro does and what we should learn to do.

[@jrpipik]

I agree. You can get a great sound with a minimal amount of gear, as long as you have the skill in your hands. Of course gearheads and producers will tell you the reason something was a hit because of their sound skills, as if the player isn't the key.

[@Mikey__R]

Often, the producer is trying to pull a performance from the player, a certain guitar might inspire the player more than another, or push them towards a different direction. It's actually got very little to do with the tone at mixdown and everything to do with how the part was played, and the guitar might be an aspect of that.

[@georgedickson1410]

This guy gives me youth pastor vibes

[@angeloftheabyss5265]

That there is funny, I don’t care who you are

[@robmcd]

Virginity is COOL

[@darbygorman2206]

😂😂😂😂😂 ☝️

[@SterlingBauerMusic]

Rhett, I am a massive fan of your channel and have been following you along with this BLK1 for years. I have been searching for one for a decade now and it's actually the only dream guitar I hope to own one day. I have actually had dreams of owning one. If you ever decide you want to part with yours, please keep me in mind. Sincerely, Sterling

[@loganmcnitt9298]

I recently bought one. Absolutely hands down the best decision I’ve made. Plays like a monster and looks so classy

[@SterlingBauerMusic]

You must be over the moon brother 🙌🏼. Congrats, you will have and cherish it forever!

[@stupidthefish1979]

Have you ever considered just building your own? I imagine finding the specs wouldn’t be too hard

[@SterlingBauerMusic]

@@stupidthefish1979 Funny you say that! I actually built my own replica a few years back. I love it very much but it still does not fill the same hole as owning a real one someday 🙌🏼.

[@stupidthefish1979]

@@SterlingBauerMusic fair enough

[@scottkidwell3601]

I wasn't much of a Strat guy for most of my guitar-playing days. Then, about 6 years ago, my niece said she wanted to play guitar. I went out and found a sweet Squier Strat that I really liked. It was hard to put down. Happy birthday present for sure. Shortly after that, I picked up an MIM Fender Strat at a pawn shop, and ended up walking out with it. A good setup, and it felt (still feels) great to play. Ive played others, but for some reason, that pawn shop find is my go-to... Pawn shop is also how I found my workhorse Tele

[@nissehult6768]

Those Pawn shops with their sometimes reasonable prices are dangerous man, a real trap. Years and years ago we (people I play with) couldn't pass up bidding on a local HSS MIM Late 90s Strat, said and done, we got it for $170 with a soft case. Just saying.

[@RockWonder210]

​@@nissehult6768I wish I had your pawnshops around here. All the ones around me price higher than Reverb. Sheesh

[@nissehult6768]

@@RockWonder210 Ohh wow, this was in 2006/2007 before I went to Epping Forest in London and bought a 67' Tele.

[@usagi2988]

Real talk, that Harry Potter analogy ("The wand finds the wizard") is actually spot-on... sometimes a specific guitar just clicks with you (the danger is in trying to force that click or expect to find that click).

[@erianersitetras7172]

Thinking of the story of Andy Summers Tele when I read this comment. Sometimes, it's like destiny. I think Frampton had it too, but it kinda went downhill too after he lost Phenix. Only to be found decades later.

[@YoLaBenicio]

Yep, I was in a music store trying to pick a fuzz. I had no plans to buy a guitar. But, I asked if they had a Strat with low output pickups because that's what I like to hear going into a fuzz. So, they handed me this used, faded Fiesta Red Strat made by a small company in Nashville. I had about 5 fuzz pedals set out going into a Fender amp. I proceeded to check them out, but after a while I was just playing this guitar for fun with the clean sound. It had the perfect feel (for me) and had a beautiful singing voice to it. Anyway, I chose the Hendrix fuzz and went on my way. But, after leaving the store I couldn't stop thinking about that Strat. About an hour later I called the store, letting them know I was on my way to buy the Strat. It was maybe my only chance since they were about to close and I was leaving to go home 4 hours away. I just so happen to have the money (and that never happens). So, I do believe this guitar chose me in a way, and at the right time. When I got it home I realized why it sounded so good. The pickups were Lollars with 50s style wiring. Pickups do make a difference, but also the feel, and the wood, the shape, the neck joint, etc. It's the total package.

[@jamesc2545]

This speaks too me

[@couthlazer]

Funny thing is that happened to me, I started out wanting a red special replica, got it and it was great and all but it didn't feel right, a few months later I took my 1st guitar ( a black beginner strat ) to the shop to get the neck sorted out cause it was a cheap guitar, the shop owner said he couldn't do much and I was sad but a sunburst strat caught my eye, a week later I had enough to get a new guitar, I went back to the shop and tried a les paul gold top, an SG and a strat with a humbucker in the bridge, I asked the owner to pull down the sunburst, it was a revelation rts 57, it looked like eric clapton's brownie strat, I played it and it just felt right, I only had £167 and the retail price was £200 but the owner lwt me buy it with the amount I had, a year later and I've nicknamed the guitar ginger, put 9 gauge strings on it, took to guitar shows and played it at school, on the 18th I saw eric clapton at the CO-OP live in Manchester, it reinvigorated my love of the guitar and my love of playing in general.

[@raoulduke8382]

The set-up of the pickup heights on those two guitars look like polar opposites. The JM Strat pups are set way low, and the other guitar pups are cranked way high. That one difference will dramatically affect the tone of the guitars.

[@ischi8368]

But... But... Mojo!

[@planej6315]

I guarantee if you swapped the pickups from the white Strat into the black JM Strat, it would be a big big difference too.

[@antoinelablanquie3827]

Yeah they do! But keep in mind you have staggered pole pieces on the Mayer and flat poles on the boutique

[@pjincho]

I thought u was the only person using Raoul Duke as a handle with the Gonzo peyote button fist profile pic.

[@bladeoflucatiel]

On the JM strat the lows are set too low and the highs too high, the bridge sounds terrible LMAO, just by looking at the shabat strat you can see the pickups are set almost "flat"

[@GScott50]

2:58 That dog is definitely copping your Hendrix licks!

[@Angel-fz8dr]

lol so true 😂

[@Christian-ew4eg]

And hairstyle , lol ?

[@clemkelly2159]

Dogs name is angel

[@josh_baymee]

I love a Strat middle pickup! That’s why I put one in my Tele. So underrated!

[@HomoChomsky]

I intend to build a Tele and do the same thing. Best of both worlds for me.

[@vayabroder729]

Ask the great Jimmie Lee Vaughan!

[@ricardorodriguez5549]

My go to pickup setting for crisp funk breaks

[@SPMinerva]

Didnt Fender that line of guitar Nashville Tele i think the name. Stuart from Mogwai probably my favorite with that guitar

[@Christian-ew4eg]

The only Tele I have ever bought is a 2012 Nashville , MIM . Would not have picked up anything with 25.5" scale length at that time , but curiosity killed this cat . Still love the 5-way ...

[@ryanhalliwell6671]

You’re absolutely right .My taste in guitar gear has grown and evolved as I have In my playing, you’ve always been a great inspiration to me in guitar tone and making good decisions in my gear choices. Thanks man

[@carsongreen3181]

😂”I don’t like $1,200 strats, I like $4,000 Strats”. Same…

[@dalecoffing8655]

Great vid. I'm 71 years old and played since I was 10 years old. I have connected with several guitars, un-connected and re-connected over the years. I was a 12-string play for many years and have in the past few years not so much. Ric 660-12 Tak acoustic 12. and others. Now it's Tele, Martin and 335 style. Partly because how my gigs have changed, partly because of who I play with, The only thing constant in life is change. L

[@revolead]

To be honest, Rhett, I've never seen you get excited over a Strat-like guitar, even when you've done the custom shop and hot-rodded MIM comparisons. Probably just not your style of guitar. Nothing wrong with that. I have never been excited by Teles, and the one Tele I own doesn't get used as often as it should (though I don't want to get rid of it because it's the only Tele I've ever liked).

[@alexsagert7609]

The only one that I've seen him play which he adores was a Shabat S-style guitar that he bought. Looks and sounds phenomenal.

[@bladeoflucatiel]

He said the MIM player series was the worst strat but its by far the most sold strat on reverb and probably everywhere else.

[@forester057]

He sure sounds good with a strat in hand. Everyone sounds better with a strat.

[@lorman1993]

Love the message!! Thank you for the stream of consciousness, really spoke to me today.

[@Mr.Pringle-iv5mz]

Rhett , love your videos, always informative and seemingly unbiased. Also , your dog is awesome. Thanks for your insights.

[@mitchcottew1379]

Something similar happened to me. Walked into a shop and saw a used MIJ strat before I even knew what MIJ meant, picked it up and started playing and it was like a strike of lightning. i just instantly connected with THAT one, and it had me playing in a new way. I've tried others, but that one just vibes different for me

[@jerrystephenson1172]

Even w/CNC & digital bla, bla, A guitar is still hand made & all are different.( as are ppl.) Some just fit & feel better & you have found one for you. Matters not brand or price, but the vibe that makes you want to play.

[@neal_laugman]

The neck pickup playing Hendrix is an acid test for sure.

[@fredsaintfelix6828]

In the last two minutes of your video, the first word that came out of my mouth was Amen!!!! That was right on time and I needed to hear that message of it’s not about the most expensive but how it speaks to you and how it makes you feel when you play it and does it do the job that you needed to do in that season of your life!

[@diggdugg2169]

Great video, Rhett. One of my favorites.

[@martinclayton7260]

I bought my first Strat new in 1994, it was a Fender Strat plus, with those gold Lace Sencor pickups, I just didn't get on with it, as I'd been using an Ibanez RG550 for a few years, but I struggled on with it. It eventually ended up living in it's case, which was a shame, as it's a beautiful guitar. I had the pickups replaced for Seymour Duncan's, but that didn't really change the amount I used it, so it carried on in it's case, as I'd bought a few Gibson's buy then, and then a couple of core PRS guitars. But I'd been missing using a Strat, as I just love them, so I bought another Strat that had a humbucker in the bridge, and that woke me up! So I had a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates put in the bridge, and what made a big difference was having the trem blocked off, now it gets played a lot, and I've had stainless steel frets fitted.

[@missingremote4388]

Good stratocaster tale

[@jeremyjohnston592]

HSS with a blocked trem is the only way man

[@orion681]

Strat Plus was a great guitar. The hardware was very forward thinking and they had a cool tone. I have a 96 Clapton with gold lace sensors and I love the sound. And like Rhett, I didn't get it because Clapton I got it because it was there.

[@guitarplayer5932]

suhr teles and strats are near perfection

[@larryshields2302]

Sounds like you are talking about the silver sky haha'

[@guitarplayer5932]

@@larryshields2302 you clearly never played a suhr

[@humanbeing2420]

I should hope so given their price point

[@guitarplayer5932]

@@humanbeing2420 you get what you pay for with a suhr, unlike a “relic” or “signature series” over priced fender thats not half as good for the same price

[@Rygo-wk3jm]

@@guitarplayer5932just curious…what makes them near perfect and not perfect?! (I’ve never played one.)

[@ntcowing]

Love the life growth, man! Glad you found the Strat that had the alchemy to match your hands to what your ears always heard in them

[@averyokamura7499]

I've always been a Fender guy, and after playing a Les Paul for a few years, I made the switch back to Fender, pretty much just my Jazzmasters and Mustang. I've gone back and forth considering selling it, as I had left it in the case to take up room in the closet for a couple of years. I needed the money and almost pulled the trigger on selling it last month, but after spending time with it and playing it for a good week, I will absolutely not be selling it. The Les Paul makes me write differently, play differently, and express differently, and those changes are helping me get out of a musical rut that I didn't even realize I had been in! This video came at the perfect time, thanks Rhett!

[@isaiahdiekhoff3763]

I love my Stratocaster! I bought my 75th anniversary commemorative Stratocaster. I did not want it but I went and played and I just knew it and I went and bought it that is my all time favorite guitar it does the SRV and Hendrix thing perfectly. I will never part with it.

[@SeanOHanlon]

Do you mean the 70th anniversary Stratocaster? - because Fender isn't 75 years old yet.

[@dragonhealingarts8993]

​@@SeanOHanlonThe Strat is 70 but there are Strats that commemorate 75 years of Fender as a company.

[@SeanOHanlon]

@@dragonhealingarts8993 You are right. I stand corrected. 👍

[@pierrerime1131]

I can completely relate to your experierence. Strats didn't do it for me for years. I've owned several strats that I sold and a custom shop G&L that is objectively a very good guitar. But I just could't connect with any of these guitars. It changed when I first tried my Macmull S-Classic. It just had the sound and feeling that inspired me (on all 5 positions). I had a great experience with Shabat guitars too : I own a Korina Lion deluxe, not exactly the typical T-Style guitar but an incredible instrument on its own. Thanks for the great work with your channel and music !

[@reilly890]

Great video and really well said about the whole philosophy of musically evolving as you evolve as a person in general too, very true! Love it 😎

[@tmmuscics2753]

If you want a Mayer strat, try out the Stevie ray Vaughn signature, it’s basically a Mayer strat, it has the sound, and it has the neck shape. Mayer was a srv fan, so he had an srv signature strat that he based his signature off of

[@NewHopeAudio]

Yes but that has Texas specials which are hot. John’s allegedly had pickups that were not “right” and lower output. No idea how truthful that is. The fretboard radius on the SRV & Mayer are different as well. You’re definitely correct though- early John Mayer stuff was him using his 90s SRV signature.

[@francesco0185]

You are right. I have the same Mayer black 1 Strat that Rhett owns and its heavily based on the SRV Strat. But the pickups are really different and the neck is thinner. I think they are two interesting guitars.

[@SeanOHanlon]

I just want to remind everyone that SRV's Number One was essentially a partscaster. It had a '62 neck on a '63 body with pickups taken from a '59. Not to mention the left handed tremolo that his guitar tech put on it because that's what was handy when he needed it.

[@francesco0185]

​@@SeanOHanlonyes, but the guitar JM played when he was a kid was SRV Fender artist Stratocaster, not the exact guitar SRV built.

[@gregs8685]

I’ve owned both and the necks and pickups are different. The SRV neck has a Pau Ferro fingerboard, 12” radius and 1.65” nut. JM has rosewood, 9.5” radius and 1.6875” nut. Frets are the same, and profile is similar. The SRV has Texas Specials, a hot single coil set. JM has big dippers which are very mid scooped with vintage output.

[@TheOpinionatedGuitarist]

I can’t get past 21 fret guitars. I love the Strat ultra, killer compound neck radius, 22 frets, cutdown neck heel and the trem stays in tune.

[@gbharris]

How often are you using the 22nd fret lmao

[@paulhopper1630]

You obviously don't play in B minor.

[@chetcalhoun613]

I get where you’re coming from Rhett. I had two Les Paul Studio guitars, and really didn’t feel comfortable with either one of them. I started migrating back to my Godin SDXT…. 2 humbuckers and a middle single coil pickup, with Fender switching, and the neck and headstock look like a Strat. The body is shaped like a Les Paul. Nice guitar that I feel comfortable playing. My other guitar is an Epiphone double cut with two humbuckers that are coil tapped and also has a phase switch on one of the tone knobs…again, I feel comfortable playing it, and get all the tones I’m looking for in a guitar. Thanks for the video.

[@user-tk7es7zd2f]

Great video Rhett, I have an HSS strat that is firmly 3rd under my tele and SG for very similar reasons. the strat was my first excellent guitar, and I was certain it would be the only one because of how much I loved JM's music at the time. Hundreds of videos, product demos to live at nokia confirmed that i was a Strat-Man™. It was my best guitar for a long time, so I was strat man, until I bought my tele, and the shift was immediate. It's been years, and the strat still didnt do *IT* for me the way the tele did, or the SG with 14's on it in C# tuning. I took a nearly year long guitar break, and just picked up my acoustic again a few months ago, and have very recently just started to hear the melodies again in my head, and I think they're strat-voiced, so once i'm ready to plug in again I think that is where I will start.

[@WoodyBlueberry]

Well, just change the pickups, that's what I do !

[@AndyRehfeldt]

My strat is Mexican👍🏼💪🏼🎸

[@PaulBradley-qi9ss]

I've had a MIM strat since 96, and I've never looked back. Never needed Work done on it, still sounds great. I love it.

[@pauljrogersmusic]

So much good wisdom in this video. Thank you. I started on Strats then moved to Teles. I regret selling an Ibanez Les Paul and I haven't connected with another since.

[@davesenergyguide]

Wow, amazing guitars. I have been thinking about getting a Strat and this video helps. Thanks!

[@AJvsEverything]

So, I've been struggling to actually learn to play guitar for 30 years, I never really put the time into learning and memorizing things beyond power chords...I've always been addicted to how guitars feel, sound, look, and the whole aura around them, so I've been collecting and buying/selling guitars for years off and on... 2 years ago I bought an early 90's Fender Squier SE "strat pack" guitar as the basis for a modded Strat project, as I'd gotten into luthier work and wanted to tinker...it looked nearly perfect in the photos online and it was cheap...what showed up on my doorstep was missing chunks of finish in places that hadn't been photographed and had been obviously worn down and gigged with for years that way...I was pissed, because it was meant to be a clean guitar body and neck that I could do some mods on and find "my tone" with...and here was this battered and beaten cheapo guitar that was worth less than I'd paid for it and would never have resale value... And then I plugged it in...as far as I know it's 100% stock, but I never opened it up to confirm...from the first 2 minutes of strumming and playing this pile of shit I immediately went "Oh no, I can never get rid of this thing now"...whether it's due to someone else replacing the pickups, or the stock pickups just aging a certain way from what appears to be years of abuse and gigging, it is one of the creamiest and sweetest sounding Strats I've ever owned...the irony being that I'd bought it to make it sound that way, and it showed up looking horrible and sounding amazing...I am now the caretaker of that sweet pile of shit for as long as I'm still alive, and I couldn't be happier about it...

[@deadmozs]

You are spot on with the point you are trying to make. Prime example - Cobain played crappy guitars for the most part... and yet he managed to figure out how to get the sound HE wanted out of them. It really isn't about the price of an instrument...it's about the "feel". I personally own some crappy guitars myself, but there's something about how they feel and how they make ME feel when I play them, and that totally makes it worth having them. Very cool video, Rhett.

[@JaredR-gk6rx]

damn is almost like the guitar itself doesn't really make that much of a difference in the tone isn't it?

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@JaredR-gk6rxWhatever rig you use, you're gonna try to dial it in as close as you can to the sound you hear in your head...and if you're handy with an eq pedal you can get there with pretty much anything

[@Irg1570]

I've been playing for over forty years. I've had the same struggle as you. I loved the idea of a Strat. But, finding the right one for me seemed like a hopeless quest. I finally did find the ONE about two years ago. Finally!

[@thebh8016]

Rhett, love your videos and I'm a big fan... One thing I have to comment on. When you do demos, particularly guitars and amps the tone is often modified and difficult to determine what the actual gear sounds like. For some of the tones on this video, it sounds pretty clean, then at other times it sounds very layered. It would be nice to have a comparison between clean and with effects (with an explanation of the signal chain that creates your gear tone). Just an observation... Keep up the good work...

[@edgeofeternity101]

Your pup had a front row seat.

[@TeleTonemonkey]

Guess it was a front pup then. 😂 … (I’ll get my coat.)

[@ValWillKay]

Rhett really made an entire video to convince his wife he needs a new guitar 😂

[@matthewdavis473]

I see you with the digitakt in the background. Love it

[@andreasfetzer7559]

Very nice playing,man!

[@RobertNolan]

Penny adores you, clearly. Her carefully watching you play, that's a good dog.

[@RhettShull]

She’s the best

[@madmick78]

@rhettshull The Shabat comes with one of three Lollar options. Do you know what yours is stuffed with? Thanks!

[@TheFreeman4955]

⁠@@madmick78 I like the sound of that Shabat and looked that up myself. I’d like to know what set is in there.

[@cbarrett34]

If you needed a strat so bad, why didn't you just go to Guitar Center?

[@NewHopeAudio]

Because if he wanted a premium lifelong Strat, why not?

[@francesco0185]

I don't understand what you mean.

[@bellsclubsbarsandbows76]

Because he probably didn’t want to overpay

[@KimmyJimmel69]

I will never purchase anything from guitar center for the remainder of my life. They are the worst.

[@The11eleven]

@@KimmyJimmel69how so?

[@cliftongardner4367]

Great video, great thoughts! I hated playing strats for the longest time, but I always loved some of the sounds they could make. So about a year and a half ago, I bought a Squier 40th anniversary Strat with the express purpose of pushing through it and “understanding” the Strat. Not only am I beginning to be comfortable with it, it’s slowly becoming the guitar I reach for first when I just want to noodle around for a bit. I think I still want a humbucker in that bridge position, but maybe, just maybe, I’ve been a “strat guy” all along.

[@oliviercastello4093]

Hi Rhett, completely right about things that change and where you are as a musician, as a person. Also the state of mind, the place, feelings,… It is not cheesy. I recently rediscovered some of my guitars I was not using and thinking to sell. I am even looking at other guitars now. It is just like life. Music is a quest. Cheers from France, Hungary and wherever I may roam 😉

[@steveeckert8396]

Besides the player, two things effect the tone of a start, the pickups and tremolo. My 92 Strat bought new was a dog. Five years ago I swapped pups and got halfway there. Put a bell steel trem block in it and now it finally sounds like a classic strat.🥰🥰🥰

[@GCKelloch]

I agree the trem block makes a difference, but no more so than the pieces of wood in the guitar, and probably less so than the saddle type and alloy. Every S-type I have ever owned or played over the last 4+ decades with an Indian RW FB has had less "glassy" sparkle than a neck with a thickly lacquered Maple FB, but can also have less punch and midrange cut. It's all about how whatever is under the frets damps string vibrations, just as true with the saddles and trem block. The body also has some affect via the neck pocket. Even removing the rear trem cover can allow the wood from the neck pocket to the bridge to absorb more midrange. Assuming you stick with the neck and body you have, there is one more factor. An Aluminum pickguard or pickguard shield, as came standard in the early 60s, creates eddy currents in the pickup coils that reduce the upper-mids. That's probably a key reason those Strats are so coveted.

[@aaronwinter1092]

What pickups did you put in it?

[@steveeckert8396]

@@aaronwinter1092Before I started this process I was well on my way to selling the guitar. I put a set of 57/62's in it. That really helped. I then swapped out the saddles for vintage. And yes I heard a slight difference. In a mix the difference was negligible. About a month or so later I heard a guy playing this $5K custom shop Stat at Guitar Center. It had the sound I was looking for. When he put it back on the rack I saw the huge stainless trem block. That was my aha moment. I bought a Calaham trem block and problem solved. Guitar has all the chime I could ever image. A few more things to note. A good EQ can solve alot of problems and if you can get the mfg pickup spec Seymour Duncan, Dimarrzio and Guitar Fetish in most cases sell pretty much the same thing.

[@kevinvandenberg5548]

In my opinion the Eric Johnson Rosewood stratocaster in lucerne aqua firemist is the best looking strat Fender put into production.

[@Clayphish]

Damn right. I bought a used one with tropical turquoise. I wish it was the firemist colour. With this said, I will say it’s one of the better strats I’ve played. The neck is very nice!

[@kevinvandenberg5548]

@@Clayphish the tropical one is beautiful as well! The neck on those models are amazing. Nice and thick, but not too much. Just right.

[@mattmanley7118]

It’s gorgeous I’m glad you got enjoyment from it Rhett. Sometimes you just wanna play something different or even just noodle on something else. Sure it’s a very expensive piece and collectors will drool over it but I’m glad yours has been played❤

[@Nugmania1]

Rhett, you are nailing it on the head, Firstly, how it feels and how it sounds. Most hobbyists get hung up on the features ie: pickups, bridge, wood , finish etc. I have a friend, Paul Richl out of Winnipeg, phenomenal player, who is currently using a Squier Infinity Tele, he is out gigging all the time with this as his main.

[@costabotes9107]

You don’t like the 2 and 4 positions? Jeez, that’s like saying you don’t like popcorn or icecream. Ah well.

[@chiefline7084]

I can deal with position 2 but position 4 is just ugh……..horrible.

[@iagobroxado]

Whaaaat, that's probably one of my favorito things about a Strat!😂​@@chiefline7084

[@ryanlittleton5615]

8:55 Now that's a lick I didn't think I'd ever hear on this channel.

[@MetaCometa335]

what is it?

[@Andy-ri1ns]

@@MetaCometa335 Lenny by SRV.

[@thestradiosmiles]

Why?

[@buckkylem]

I absolutely love the Strat sound. I have such a hard time branching out stylistically because of how much I love that 2 and 4 position

[@NewHopeAudio]

It’s magic.

[@DaveMorrisonMusic]

It's so 'human' sounding.

[@keithzuccolo6729]

Try a Les Paul Jr. With a P90. You'll fall in love.

[@DaveMorrisonMusic]

@@keithzuccolo6729 I actually have a Strat with two P90s in it. I like it a lot. Strats are amazing in the hands of a Strat player, but I've never been able to make them sing. My current favorite is a Tele. So simple and reliable.

[@dvs6121]

Position 4. 😊

[@TraneFrancks]

Well said. For me, the shift was from the Tele that was my #1 for 15 years to suddenly only really ever wanting to play a Les Paul Special. It's been pretty much everything for the last few years.

[@electrofuzz7396]

Warm, dynamic and very expressive = love

[@thermalegoogle]

I'm sure the John Mayer strat is technically just as good as your Shabat but you do sound way better on the Shabat, probably because of how much more it inspires you.

[@jamesjudd6577]

I think a lot of players get guitars and geek out because they simply play guitar... Idk. Dont buy it. Best guitar players ive personally known have just a few

[@Aspkkr]

Maybe the ones you know personally but as far as actual pro's they all have huge collections.

[@erianersitetras7172]

(coughing in Joe Bonamassa) 😅🤭

[@mikecarbone828]

Salutations Rhett! I’m happy for you that you have finally found the particular Stratocaster that suits you! While it is true that you could have built a Stratocaster from scratch, or from parts that might have suited you, instead you found one when you were not even looking for one, and it just so happened to meet the criteria that suited your playing style. Guitars are tools for the musician, and a well stocked collection of guitars can provide the musician with a wide variety of sound options, had you more than just the one Stratocaster in your collection, you may have potentially found out sooner, the features you prefer most in a Stratocaster to suit your playing style, frequenting guitar shops and sampling many instruments is a great way to help one find what they like most about particular instruments. I found out many years ago, that instruments that come from an assembly line can vary widely from instrument to instrument, and that you could potentially play one-hundred examples of the same instrument, and possibly only find one or a small fraction of them suitable. Nowadays, with the advent of CNC machines, there is a greater percentage of suitable instruments in the same number of control group, but the same principles apply. When you are a beginner, you tend to pick up and play what you can get your hands on, and then you expand from there, sometimes settling on a particular model, or like me and yourself, you select several key instruments in your collection, and then expand from there. Every once in a while, you find an instrument that just speaks to you, that you connect with in such a way that it makes a profound difference in how you see that instrument. There are a lot of great guitar designs, and some are ubiquitous, such as the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Les Paul, SG, and the 335, a well equipped collection should have at least some of these guitars within it, however, there are some guitarists who use essentially one kind of guitar for their entire career, others however, have made changes over the years, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck both didn’t start out playing the Stratocaster, but they both transitioned to eventually playing the Stratocaster and being known for doing so. Enjoy playing your new Stratocaster! Thanks for sharing your personal experience! Please have an excellent and awesome day! ☀️✨🎸

[@eddieholmes3236]

I may have missed it, but I’d love to see a deep dive on that Shabat - sounds awesome

[@tooruoikawa8985]

Instructions Unclear, I still sound nothing like John Mayer after purchase.

[@thebassrogue]

Gotta get o one o of those 100k dollar dumble amps friend

[@skinny0ne]

you gotta curl your lip a bit and jut your head out awkwardly. that’s how you tap into this guitar’s soul

[@brianh4625]

"Why I never play my John Mayer Stratocaster,"

[@kentucker7921]

Hi Rhett...really enjoy your channel...I really understand the thing about" not really connecting with a guitar at this time"...I have become more patient with myself and realize that as we develop (that goes for most everything in life) our perspective change. I have had a few good guitars that I "let go of" that I have missed. I remember a session with you and Dave O on Beato and you mentioned that G&L guitars were definitely worth a look at...neither Rick or Dave reacted, responded , or said anything. I love my G&L's...perhaps you will mention them again!

[@golaguy]

I completely understand where you’re coming from. I have a Carvin CT6. I had it custom made, pickups, woods, fretwire, electronics, tuners, everything. It is a beautiful piece of kit. I played it for a couple of years, and it just doesn’t do it for me. It should, it was everything I wanted in a guitar. And, it sucks I don’t love it. However, I picked up a gently used Squire Strat at a local music store in Delaware. It just felt great. For a cheap guitar, the neck just felt right. I bought it just to test pickups, and I dropped in a set of no name humbuckers and a EMG select in the middle position. Split the coils with a push/pull, as well as added a Gilmour switch to play the bridge and neck. This has turned into my “go to” guitar. Set up was easy, action is super low and it is a breeze to play. Mostly playing acid jazz and funk. So the sounds totally fit my current tastes. I really don’t want to get rid of the Carvin. Especially, since I will never get back what I put into it. And I could by 10 Squires for what I paid for the Carvin, including the pickups and wiring… It goes to show, nothing is written in stone. Inspiration comes out of nowhere sometimes. You just have to let it happen. Your video resonates with me. Thanks.

[@JDStone20]

That bridge pickup sounds awesome!! Nice guitar!!

[@jeremyjohnston592]

I agree! I know Rhett said he didnt like the bridge pickup on this guitar at all, but I thought it sounded great!

[@forester057]

Yeah it’s the pickup not the $5000 two rock 🙄

[@AncientGranules]

You have taken the words out of my mouth... As soon as you played it, I actually heard Jimi Hendrix sound, straight away! ❤🎸😎

[@joannalewis5279]

Such good points about what makes a good instrument

[@PaulAmlin]

As a drummer of 40 years, I can say that “the sound” is true with drum sets and cymbals as well. Three ride cymbals of the same make and model can have different tone. Drum shells are unique as well. Really enjoyed your video today! Thanks.

[@chrisrussoroos6091]

Nice discussion about something we all encounter - just had this experience last week so very relevant👍🏼 Shabbat is a beaut

[@RegieFilho]

Certain guitars simply appear to find their way to you. I was never a strat guy growing up. In my 40s I went into a shop to get a revstar and ended up leaving with a pro 2 strat. Like you put, it reshaped my playing completely and brought me a renewed sense of joy on the discovery side. I hope we can hear you strat more here in the future.

[@jsalmons84]

My fav things to do to make a Strat bridge more usable is to move the middle pickup tone control to the bridge pickup. I also add a steel baseplate to it, which ups the bass and lower mids and gives it more body, similar to a Tele bridge.

[@81ghale]

I’ve never wanted anything to do with any of the 70’s style strats, but I saw online my closest GC had a perfect 3 tone burst with rosewood fretboard that I’ve always wanted but could never find, and I had never tried Fender’s U shape neck, so went to check it out. It ended up being a 2001 MIM Classic Series Reissue 70’s someone had put custom shop pickups in (I think Texas Specials by the pole pieces, rwrp, and enamel wire) that were probably from around that time from the looks of them. I fell in love with it and it came home with me. I think it’s the best sounding Strat I’ve ever owned and I’ve had most of the American Vintage/Original and lacquer reissue road worn and classic series, I’m a vintage spec guy mainly the radius. But it beats all the more expensive ones I’ve had and I NEVER would have guessed it would’ve been a fat headstock 3 bolt neck 70’s Strat if you had told me that just a few months ago lol.

[@lisan_al-ghaib]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who doesn't like the strat single coil bridge sound. Changed mine to a mini humbucker and it's way more usable.

[@painter08]

Great essay about guitars, I had a fender mustang in teal..still miss it.

[@stickmanmusic5840]

Great tones, especially on the Hendrix bits. I'll watch again just for those parts. It really shined!

[@stickmanmusic5840]

I've played guitar 50 years. I just got my first telecaster, a cheap Squier that just had "that" sound. I'm still surprised.

[@jasonbaines3371]

The big dipper pickups are awesome too. I like my Strats but this is a great one

[@dxdelafu]

2 months ago I bought my first strat. Not just any, but one that was “my” strat. Way down in South Texas (McAllen) I went into a Guitar Center to destress from work and stuff. Inside a glass cabinet they had a Fender American Pro 2 in Olympic white, with a maple fretboard. SSS pickups. No intention of buying this one until I played it. Went back to Dallas where I live and tried the identical model and color. None even felt close to the one in south Texas. A month later the two guys (Randy and Tony) that attended to me in McAllen somehow still remembered me and remembered the guitar I played. Bought it and they shipped it. It’s amazing how when a guitar speaks to you, you can’t get it out of your mind. So I get you Rhett.

[@madmick78]

@RhettShull The Shabat comes with one of three Lollar options. Do you know what yours is stuffed with? Thanks!

[@JulesFox]

The pull back and the dog looking adoringly at you playing was priceless.

[@-Pol-]

I did wonder what was going on down there for a moment...

[@carlkerkman7028]

I hear you, my favorite guitar is one that I picked up and played without being on a guitar buying search - it talked to me and I bought it and that seems to be the best way for me to find "the" instrument.

[@thejakefromstatefarm6768]

That thing sounds amazing! That’s one of the best sounding strat style guitars I’ve ever heard in the half century that I’ve been playing guitar.

[@EJBGuitar]

After you missing out on that Julian Lage guitar, the lesson learned is I now jump on anything that gives me that "oh man" feeling! Not gonna miss out on something if I can help it.

[@chrisaaron7755]

One of my dream guitars. Absolutely love it

[@dejavoodoo7204]

Super Mid-Scooped Pick-ups on a Strat are certainly a good platform for adding tube screamers etc. to fatten things up when required. As far as a "plug straight into the amp" kinda strat, some fatty ol' A5 magnets with Formvar wire seem to suit me best (to generalise), particularly on middle and bridge positions,...with 2 and 4 positions with plenty of meat on the bones if possible

[@JoshSher_]

Very interesting video! I had a similar experience with a strat. My first electric guitar was a 3 color sunburst Fender American Standard. I mainly went for this one, cause like you I loved John Mayer and SRV and for some reason the strat was THE GUITAR. But just like you, I never really connected with it. I then grew more into a singer/songwriter and less into a guitar player. But then I saw all these singer/songwriters also using a strat, soI told myself that I'm just looking for excuses and that this guitar does everything I need (and it technically does). But then one day I discovered the guitar brand Baum and I fell in love. I knew I wanted their Conquer 59. So I sold my Strat (strangely it wasn't so easy for me, but did it anyway). Now I have a beautiful vintage Conquer 59 and I just feel at home when I play it. It was then that I learned that it's ok to want an instrument that "feels right". Just because technically it's a good instrument and players you like use it to play/write things that you like, doesn't mean it's the right instrument for you. btw Baum just released their new S Model called the Celestor, I think you might like that one... would be interesting to see you trying it out 😊

[@TheMegsie1]

I've had a similar journey with Strats. When I first started playing in the 90s, I never knew about scale length and how it affects the feel of an instrument. I was always a Gibson player and could never get on with Strats. It wasn't until years later that a luthier told me that a Strat being 25.5 inch scale length and a Gibson being 24.75, the Strat requires more tension in the strings to bring it up to pitch and the strings will feel tighter under the fingers at the same tuning with the same gauge strings. That was a game changer for me cause after that, I tuned down half a step on a Strat and it felt like a Les Paul in terms of string tension.

[@atguitar.ca.]

Right on. Very few people get that. I'm pretty sure that is also a big part of the difference in sound between Gibson and Fender, beside the obvious humbucker vs single coil dynamic.

[@jakobmorningstar]

It took me 3 years to finally connect with my Silver Sky… even listed it for sale a few times. Something finally clicked in 2022 and now I can’t imagine getting rid of it.

[@alphadogstudio]

I had a similar experience with the Telecaster. Never liked them, other than the sunburst double bound custom, I never even liked the way they looked. I'm sitting around a local music store one day and some guy was trying to sell an amp, the owner says, "you mind playing thru this amp, I just need to see if it works." A Danny Gatton custom shop Telecaster , a guitar I never would have normally picked up, even though I like Danny Gatton, just happened to be the nearest guitar to me so I picked it up and just instantly fell in love with it! It became my main guitar for about 10 years. It's still my go to guitar for studio work. You just never know...

[@b5846967b]

funny looking relic job especially on the neck. the headstock shape is cool

[@Jeffy2n]

Hi Rhett, I too longed for a strat I could bond too, I even bought a SRV signature, since I love his tone, and like you It just wasn't what I thought I would be. I ended up selling as it was just collecting dust, funny thing is, I was at the music store, and they got is this limited run Mexican made strat that was the most gaudy color I have ever seen on a guitar (Sunshine sparkle Orange). played it for 1 minute, and bought it, as it played amazing. I ended up replacing the pick guard, pickups, and a brass block and claw for the tremolo and it is the only strat I have now.

[@derekspring8462]

If you're not liking 2 and 4, I'd tweak the pickups, maybe reverse wound middle. That JM strat sounds really harsh, I'd dial back the presence on the amp.

[@chrisredman9500]

What you played on that strat was magical

[@BarisTosunTurkey]

Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think you could definitely do another video about the importance of connecting with an instrument (or was this that video?). Just one question: which pickups does the Shabat have? I checked the site for what I think was your guitar and there is a choice of one of: Lollar Sixty-Four, Lollar Special S, Lollar Vintage Blonde. Would appreciate it if you found the time to respond, since the pickups DO sound very nice in your video. Thanks again.

[@josdurkstraful]

It's funny that you do this video just now: it is exactly my experience of the last two weeks! I have an American Standard STrat for almost 20 years because I needed a Strat. The sound never clicked with me the same way that you explain it here. Two weeks ago I had it modified to a vintage '63 with Van Zandt true Vintage pickups et voila: there were the chimes that I want to hear from a strat, it sounds similar to the one you nought at Namm.

[@rondelio8562]

I can so relate about Strats. But looking at your collection, Rhett, I would say you're more a Gibson instrument type guitarist - your NoBo, 335, LP, etc. MY faves are my LP, a HH Tele, a custom built L-5, and a Tele with a HB in the neck - all of which I've built. I have built a Strat, but it is, like you, only a go to when a Strat sound is needed. Great video, and great sharing. Btw, awesome studio buddy! (your dog). :-)

[@Zakkrifice]

To me, the Mayer Strat sounds like modelled after a 65 or 69 strat with the later-date pickups which provide less quack and aggressiveness compared to the early-60ies models. In my opinion this tendency is added to by the rosewood board on the Mayer one compared to the full maple neck on the Shabat.

[@stephencowan139]

Hi Rhett, very enjoyable and honest video. I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes a guitar just "clicks" I recently purchased a Cort 250g se, very reasonably priced but fantastic guitar! I've been

[@the-creech4790]

I bought a Gibson 335 new off the wall in 1997. Plays and sounds beautiful, but I never bonded with it. I still have it and take good care of it.

[@Chadman_aye]

Great video bro

[@geraldponce8336]

It is warmer thicker sounding. I do like that to a degree. The classic alder rosewood set up. The light resonant ones just sort of pull me in a little more. Then I'll miss the heavier deeper sounding ones. The trick is trying to find one that is in the middle just on the edge chime and fat sounding. Or adding elements that tilt the balance to the middle. like over wound pickups will flatten up the sound as well bone and brass. The opposite direction would be vintage output pickups, tusk XL nuts, say like stainless steel or aluminum bridges.