Squier Mini Strat vs PRS Silver Sky vs Gibson R9 - Which Sounds Best?

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Wow.. so this comparison was something special... that's all bye!

[@babahias]

Not surprised. Also, people should have understood by now that there are no huge TONAL differences between electric guitars of different price ranges. You can even that out by replacing pickups (depending on what you play this makes more or less difference). The differences lie somewhere else (playability, stuning stability, and so on... of course the overall build quality). Beyond a certain price point there are no big differences there either. 🙃 After all it just depends on the body being made of swamp ash. ... 😜

[@mlsoundlab]

Actually the main reason why these sound so different must be the wood.

[@babahias]

@@mlsoundlab Absolutely! I mean it's called TONEwood for a reason. ☝

[@mlsoundlab]

​@@babahias I sincerely hope that we're both being sarcastic. 😂

[@babahias]

@@mlsoundlab 😈

[@peterstephen1562]

Such valid methodolgy. Drive them into flat top distortion and try to tell the difference.

[@mlsoundlab]

This is ML800 with settings at noon. Djent kids call this a clean amp. 😂

[@PluginAlley]

It's a Pink Squier mini, it is better. Swap pick ups and throw on an evertune bridge and you're in business hahaha. Fun video Mikko!

[@mlsoundlab]

I think because of the scale length it will always be fatter but maybe with some super bright pickups or 500kohm pots?

[@LimitlessPotential12]

Great video, even though I know that the biggest problem with cheap guitars is playability, tuning etc etc. not the sound that much. Even though I have realized that when it comes to high gain, cheap single coils have a unique sound that you can immediately tell its a single coil strat.

[@mlsoundlab]

Oh definitely - you can tell that with expensive guitars too. Silver Sky vs that Gibson is a very clear comparison. I mean the Squier sounds closer to the Gibson than the Silver Sky. 🤣

[@LimitlessPotential12]

@@mlsoundlab let's just say I am happy with my PRS Holcomb 🤣

[@mlsoundlab]

@@LimitlessPotential12 I actually got to play all of Mark's main guitars when they were tracking Periphery 3 in Washington DC. At the time the 7-string US PRS one was a new thing and I got to try that one too. I then openly in front of Misha, Nolly and Jake told that Mark has the best signature guitar and there's no debate. 😂 Obviously Nolly said he's got a Modern Eagle so he wins.

[@LimitlessPotential12]

@@mlsoundlab Room filled with legends...wow...Nolly always wins 🐐

[@Wizzerman95]

And now PRS are changing their tuners for better “tone transfer” 🙃

[@mlsoundlab]

Really? I bet those tuners would make the Silver Sky sound as good as the Mini Squier! 😅

[@CrushingAxes]

Man I'm a Les Paul guy, but the pink guitar actually sounds very cool!!!

[@fabiomoreira1751]

Nice video Mikko! Dude, I bought a Squier HH Squier Affinitty Strat (new models) in order to replace almost everything. Then I record some takes (all distoted - no clean) wih ML Roots, Oracle, Neural Nolly ... and it sounded great and better than some of my Fenders Hss!! Really good pick ups!

[@mlsoundlab]

Oh yeah there's amazing value to be had!!

[@mtguitar5150]

A really expensive guitar is like buying an expensive after market steering wheel for your Lambo, while its nice and it feels good, it isn't necessary to get the job done if you know how to "drive"

[@mlsoundlab]

Good comparison! 😅

[@Skizane]

Well, damn. That is one kickass pink mini-strat. I think your daughter wins this round.

[@mlsoundlab]

Nooooooooooooo!! 😢

[@BecomingProductions]

That Squire sounds awesome. It certainly sounds different to the others but I'd struggle to objectively say one was "better" than the other. Goes to show your production knowledge (and your awesome plugin) are the most valuable assets in this experiment.

[@mlsoundlab]

I suppose I'll have to make a mix breakdown of this soon because it's really just the default preset of ML800. 😆 You can definitely hear the difference especially once you've learned how all these guitars sound. The thing is - without that comparison I don't think any of the guitars sounded bad apart from the Squier not staying in tune.

[@kimseniorb]

tune the guitar down a 2-3 semitones then take a capo to the fret which corresponds with E that would approximate the scale shift of the shortscale instrument and pickups will have even closer overtones to the small guitar

[@mlsoundlab]

​@@kimseniorbString tension matters so much! Really need to talk about this too. 😊

[@MassanBeats]

@@mlsoundlab not tension exactly, more like scale length relative to string thickness and pickup placement-positioning relative to the scale

the chords get a bit wonky on the mini Strat though in general, very often, a simple bolt on guitar sounds best The R9 or the Silver Sky surely feel like playing a Ferrari.

[@mlsoundlab]

It's so easy to add too much pressure on the Squier and have it go out of tune. Not sure if thicker strings would help.... I'm still not sure if I like by basic strats more than the Silver Sky - it's SO BRIGHT!

@@mlsoundlaba bright Strat makes us metal players realise what the tone knob is for ;)

[@lllazarrr]

Awesome comparison. I made plenty mistakes. I learned this the hard way, thinking that the expensive guitars will make me play better. I play Harley Benton 200€ guitar now :))

[@mlsoundlab]

I'd much rather play a 200€ guitar that stays in tune than a 20000€ guitar that goes out of tune all the time. That's just the reality of things.

[@myyt4382]

Another interesting concept would be to add prs pups to that squier and compare 😉

[@mlsoundlab]

Pickup tests coming soon, don't worry! 🙏 -Kai

[@mlsoundlab]

Mikko here! Contrary to what most people say.. even John Mayer.. I find the Silver Sky to be much harsher in the high end when compared to any of my Fender Strats and I have seven of them so I have a good reference point. I'm not sure the pickups are necessarily the problem. It might be more to do with the pot values or something. Does the Silver Sky have 250kohm pots or what? Maybe it's vintage correct that it's super bright in comparison but honestly I have a Suhr loaded pickguard on my #1 strat that made me fall in love with strats to begin with and there's no question I prefer that sound to the Silver Sky. 😊

[@CJ_Wolesz]

So did your daughter say "I told you so"...😂

[@mlsoundlab]

It's frustrating that all the women in my life are always right! 😂

[@ericolson326]

Yeah, I was going to ask which needed to be tuned more often: the Squier or the Gibson. 😄

[@mlsoundlab]

I actually set the Squier up quite well but tiny things like pressing on the strings too much will go out of tune fast.

[@aplanebagel]

Your daughter is right, her squier has a rounder sound, the pink prs had a pinging sound which doesn't sit well in my ear. 😅 Also, the squier is "oâ" sounding to me while the R9 was more "oye" sounding , if that makes sense. She's got good taste, in my opinion! :)

[@ac8704]

Nice! So play what feels good and inspires your :)

[@mlsoundlab]

Exactly!

[@Aldorelaxingguitar]

😆Cool comparison video! So true on the meaning of this video, it does take a few years to finally figure out there are slight differences in guitars and drastic differences based mechanics, but in the end, your tone has so much to do with your physical hands as demonstrated in this video. I have to say that I bought the ML800 and GNR amp sims even though I own two other popular amp sim programs that cover those amps because I found ML versions sounded very true to my 50-watt JCM 800 with 1960 cab. Wishing you all the best in 2024! Ciao, Aldo

[@mlsoundlab]

Thanks for stopping by Aldo! Glad you're digging the ML800 and GNR plugins 💪 There's definitely a level of diminishing returns with this stuff - tone is one thing, but playability, general experience, and tuning stability are pretty important too, outside of watching a demo like this of course -Kai

[@aldrinsereno]

What drum plugin did you use for this? Sounds sick man!

[@mlsoundlab]

Unreleased new ML Drums expansion. 😅

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Haha!! Awesome!

[@mlsoundlab]

You too buddy!

[@TudorAdrian]

Squiers are at a point where if you change the electronics on them, they're kick ass guitars. Maybe the flagship products have better feeling frets etc but the Squiers that I have are all amazing guitars.

[@mlsoundlab]

Electronics are likely the last thing to swap really - a fret dress and setup will do far more to the overall experience of the guitar, and typically cost a similar price as a "good" set of pickups. -Kai

[@mlsoundlab]

Mikko here! Everything matters but surprisingly some of the things that really matter are things we're not talking about. Bridge and saddles are a big part but in the case of the Squier there's nothing you can do to that scale length. Because it's so small there will never be a lot of string tension on it unless I tune it up to like... G standard. And for that reason it's darker.

[@dfgvjnkjdsnbkjsbdvjkhdsb]

try harley benton))

[@IcedForce]

I don't think it's that frightening, frightening is that pretty much all it takes is just little time to make those cheap guitars into great ones. Treat the fret ends, polish the frets, check the wiring, setup it correctly and the only thing that really often sucks in it anymore are the tuners which often get better when you just tighten the screws at the knobs. Long are gone the days when the Bullet Strat had neck like a corkscrew, the electronics were just complete trash and getting it into tune was next to impossible.

[@mlsoundlab]

WELL SAID! I treated my daughter's Squier like my own guitars and made it play really well - right now she can't put it down 😂

[@blueswede74]

Your daughter definitely have a point here :-)

[@curtisnewton895]

tried the squier ministrat couple of years ago, it is just horrible, the neck is a pure piece of shit

[@mlsoundlab]

Yeah, there's definitely a level where playability, reliability, and stability become a factor - the video is here to show that any guitar can sound good. You'll struggle to find a 70EUR guitar that's also a great player -Kai