Superstrat Comparison - Ibanez, Hamer, Shrödder, EVH & More

[@LeonTodd]

Super-Strats are superb aren't they? A few extra things I should have mentioned in the video; - The Wolfie was recorded on the middle position. I didn't notice that until I was editing the video but I really liked the way it sounded so I left it. Well done to the eagle eyed viewers who noticed that! - The main takes of "Lay it Down" are doubled. The isolated guitars you hear are just a single take. - To everyone who owns and loves their Jackson/Charvel axes, they definitely belong in this conversation. Ditto Kramer. Have a great week!

[@jake-gk1jy]

I thought the green one your dad built sounded really good.

[@andyoc]

Very cool, the Hamer and the homemade green beast sounded the best for me

[@joshvcrawford]

Agreed. Dads, then Hamer. Good job Dad!

[@richardgarcia406]

@@joshvcrawford I concur.

[@scottop1972]

that green one is pretty killer sounding. very cool your dad made it for you!

[@leftyriffs]

That RG550 just had “the thing”! Btw very cool editing on the quick change montage, I really liked that!

[@azharkhan8796]

The custom 5 suits it super well.

[@iloveitall]

Agreed.

[@JeffHendricks]

This video is like asking "Which supermodel wife would you choose?" Dude, I'd take any of them. Guitars, I mean... I don't need another supermodel wife!

[@mkilner]

Lol! 👏🏻👏🏻😎🎸

[@wolfsdenmusic9404]

As a fellow RG550 owner, I thought I'd have to go with the Ibby...but it actually comes in 2nd to that custom green machine. That is fantastic sounding.

[@Highcastle_of_Tone]

Hamer and the Greenie for me. Both sounded like they had a bit more girth/low end to me.

[@rickr7361]

..they all sound great!, I'm an Ibanez guy and having a RG550 myself Im biased towards that. I gotta say that green guitar sounded really good at the end there...could be the attachment you have to it, but may just be a very well put together unique one of a kind sounding instrument 😉

[@LeonTodd]

Pos 2 and 4 on the Rg is so underrated too!

[@bobach6083]

Neck tap with middle is amazing. Sounds just like a strat. Then grab the boosted strat preset off ax change and you can't go wrong.

[@DeathMetalGuitar]

loved the Ibanez as well (and am a self confessed Ibanez fanboi as well❤️🔥)

[@jake-gk1jy]

I agree on the green guitar, great tone

[@outzie6182]

this video was absolutely awesome, the jump cuts between the guitars was very eye opening

[@LeonTodd]

As i was editing it I was really surprised at the different textures each guitar was bringing. It's one thing to hear them one at a time but way different back to back

I loved the ibanez and the hammer! And the strat being a strat

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah it's easy to forget how well strats work for just about anything

[@flyonwall360]

I'm partial to the Hamer. I once owned a Hamer Chaparral Custom (the one that got away). I almost bought a Hamer Soloist with 32 frets, scalloped from the 12th fret up. My brother talked me out of it. I'd love to hear a review on the Soloist, if you can find one. They only made around 30 of them.

[@MrSpike7590]

THE SUPER STRAT!!! I love all the different iterations of super strats. My Personal Favorite Super Strats are HSS Strats with Floyds!! As far as your guitars, Your Dads Guitar, the Fender Strat, and the Peavey Wolfgang. Your Dad's Guitar is my favorite sounding of the bunch!!

[@LeonTodd]

You get that authentic strat neck/middle pairing on HSS guitars which I love.

[@beornthebear.8220]

Almost 30 years ago, my wife gave me a Kramer 3000 when they were $450 and made in South Korea. It's set is a Floyd Rose, HSS with Seymore Dunkins, and is other wise very much like a Strat. I love that humbucker. I have a few other guitars, but this was my first good one, and it still whistles and screams.

[@implayingsomebass4753]

Man the Hamer sounded awesome, but the Shrodder and Ibanez sounded sick! The Ibanez had a Petrucci/Images and Words vibe, I suppose with the Liquifire.

[@DigitalViperGaming]

Schecter Nick Johnston HSS for the win! You need to try one of those if you haven’t. Best feeling neck around. Wes

[@LeonTodd]

Those are awesome guitars, probably my favourite thing schecter have ever made

[@StayClassy635]

Now THAT is a comparison video. Keeps up the awesome work. Love your vids man!

[@michaelangeles33]

Yeah, never underestimate the power of some of those biases! I sound of the Hamer, Todorovich, Wolfgang, and then the strat in that order. I think I would grab the hamer to be most inspired to rock out in front of an audience. Each one is certainly special in its own way though. Hate to say it but the shredder-shredder sounded kind of anemic compared to the others. You make them all sound great though 😀

[@DeathMetalGuitar]

so IMHO your dad's Green poplar body was the best "all around".... i also gotta say that in the clean comparison that the neck p/up placement (e.g. its physical proximity or distance frm the base of the neck) plays a huge role in the spank, the thickness or the thinness... your purple shredder with the "neck" pup sounded almost like a middle pup to my ears YMMV.... insanely GREAT as always!👏👏thank you LT

[@travisrusselldc]

Fantastic video! Loved seeing each of those guitars featured. I had a Duncan Distortion in the bridge of the ‘88 Californian I used to own as well. Killer pickup in that style of guitar. I got rid of mine during my great Floyd purge of 2006-7. I’m with you in not favoring that style of bridge. Sold my Wolfgang Standard (identical to yours) because of the neck. My brother had an original DSY RG550 in the early-mid 90’s. I never could get along with that Wizard neck…. 🤮 I agree that the green guitar your dad built sounded amazing. And it’s even better that it’s got the sentimental connection. That’s the one I would grab first… Thanks for sharing!

[@troyking694]

Ok man I was drawn to the tv in the background while your talking, what was the video game being played, I was trying to figure it out. Your feeling toward the green guitar your dad made is the feeling of home no matter where you are the green guitar will alway take you home when playing

[@LeonTodd]

Assassins Creed Valhalla, my wife is playing it atm. Absolutely killer game!

[@BRO77TX]

Glad I wasn’t the only one!! 😊

[@BS-gj5ot]

You sounded great on all of them. Guess it just comes down to what you like and how it "feels" to you.

[@ptkelly80]

I’m happy with my 1992 Yamaha Pacifica 821-R with the total access neck joint.

[@irishRocker1]

My thoughts were Hamer and Green Tode (🤣🤣) and I see a lot of comments agreeing. I think it's because in the mids and treble they're all similar enough but on those two you get great dynamics with the chunky low notes. The low note pedal wasn't as punchy on the others and almost lost on the shródder. Would be cool to have a Jackson soloist in there too with a jb4. Classic combo

[@brandonproctor3639]

Absolutely love the Peavey Wolfgang man, great playing guitars! Awesome video brother, cheers!

[@greekfreak1980]

A video about Superstrats and no Charvel San Dimas/ So-Cal & Jackson Soloist or Dinky?! SERIOUSLY?! Yeah o.k. the green one your dad build, is essentially a Charvel So-Cal, so that counts. Sounds pretty great actually. Personally, my favorite Superstrat is the ESP Horizon, specially the Horizon II. I wish they would bring back the trans blue aqua with the Duncans & quilt top, that thing was amazing.

[@joemusicman64]

The Hamer and your dad's both sounded the best to me. That sweet compressed crunch just did it for my ears. It would be hard to chose between those. So close. Hamer are awesome guitars so that's really saying a lot.

[@raymondsurace2575]

Awesome video! What a line up...hard to rank but here goes...: 1) The Tordorovich ...sounded great, what a guitar your Dad crafted for you! 2) The Wolfgang ...very, very thick sounding 3) The Hamer ...surprisingly versatile 4) The Strat ...your Strat sounds great, not thin with distortion, very, very cool! 5) The RG550 ...solid 6) The Shrodder ...sounded very thin to me, even the bridge 'bucker

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

I love them all, but that Schroeder shredder really has my attention because it just looks rad, and it has a short scale. Love that. I love Schaller terms since having such a good experience with the same on my mighty reverse pointy 90 or 91 Charvel lava crackle with reverse headstock, pointy of course and one humbucker and one slanted single coil. That Ibanez is killer too. You could use that as a signaling device on boats on the ocean you can see that yellow so far away. 🤣 I guess if I could only pick one it would be the Hamburg shredder just because it looks killer and the scale length, or the yellow Ibanez, but I think I would take all of them on at least one big gig and play them all !! 🤣 Hope you're doing well my brother, and I hope hour family and friends are as well. !! Is it cool weather there now? Isn't it winter in Perth? It's like vacationing on the beaches of hell here, or in the Panamanian jungles it's so steamy and hot. Today is supposed to be 93 f. Yikes 🤣 ♥️🤟🤟♥️

[@peterharvin2775]

Option paralysis for me usually applies to modelers and their parameters. You may have found a totally different kind.

[@picksalot1]

Some time ago, I noticed I have a decided preference for guitars with a Poplar body and Maple neck. They always sound right to me, and combine the tonal qualities I like. Thanks

[@Dee-KV3]

Amazing video!! I think the best Humbucker according to my taste it's on the ibby, the coolest looking is definitely the Shrödder Marksman followed by the Hamer and last but not least the classic Strat is timeless

[@bestboy897]

i cant believe how good the hamer sounds so open and loud, but the most 80s sounding is definitely the shredder marksman, and the ibanez comes right in between them imo, sounds like a perfect balance of the hamer and shredder

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah Shrodder definitely nailed what they set out to do, both in terms of sound and in terms of aesthetics.

[@mickbuffalo]

I’m a bit biased as i have a RG550DX from new and the split pickup sound is the clincher for me. Love the trem and rock solid build. 26 years of fun!

[@Scott__C]

Fortunately, you can wire any guitar that way. DiMarzio has the wiring diagram on their site.

[@mickbuffalo]

@@Scott__C yes i know as i have experimented for years doing just this on many guitars but something unique with the RG sound. It’s one guitar i love exactly as stock.

[@zvlhelme]

The Shrodder truly looks and sounds like the 80s. What an axe.

[@gabrielebarbaraci3161]

i always rewatch this video over and over, never change the opinion, the green and the fender are explosive, ibanez looks more like the purple one along with hamer and EVH. but the riff is amazing!!!!!!

[@glennpacheco575]

It's the hamer and the green beast killing it

[@robtalos4561]

IMHO, the Guitar your dad made sounded the best, I liked the Hamer second best, but they were all amazing!

[@jameskershaw2998]

I usually reach for my 550 and I love it, but that Hamer sounded the best of the lot. It has some subtle extra filth going on that the others don't have.

[@VioletSerenade]

That custom “Greenie” Sounded absolutely incredible, so ballsy. That one was definitely my favourite sounding out of the bunch.

[@sonicaids]

makes sense since the first "super strats" were exactly that. pieced together with random bits

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah that guitar feels like home. My Dad originally made that guitar to house a Roland GK pickup which he used it with for a while. The GK broke down and this sat around in a corner for a while until I "borrowed it" and slapped these pickups in there in my early 20's :D

[@seventhsealhere]

Super Strats rock! I'd take any one those but my Wolfgang bond would be hard to break. Great example of how different guitars do inspire in different ways. I play totally different on my Les Paul than my Wolfgang or Ibanez strat. 👍

[@mortenroedfrederiksen3393]

Did you ever try an early Valley Arts Pro?

[@anthonytumia]

Best value for super-strat is, in my opinion, is made in Korea Ibanez and Cort guitars. I’ve had so many of these and have just loved every single one I have owned.

[@guitarragypsy]

Thanks for this awesome video.. Dad's green strat is my favorite !

[@LeonTodd]

Those Dimarzios cut like a knife

[@BackingTracksByTim]

Awesome! 🤘I love me some Superstrats!

[@typenjw]

I have a set of the og suhr Fletcher/Landau in my 96 strat. Never found anything better. Nice comparison man 🤘🏽

[@LeonTodd]

Definitely my fave strat pickups, MAGIC

[@FabrizioPeretti]

I actually loved the wolfgang neck pu clean!

[@kylegrossi8175]

The Hamer when riffing was head and shoulders over the others too my ears. Clean, prob the strat

[@MeTuLHeD]

Hamer and Ibanez take the show here! Change my mind... Homemade Frankenstrat a close third.

[@stratoscorp7]

Hi Leon, I know I'm late to the party... but anyway, what's your take on the Fender HM Strat reissue? I bought one in bright white 2.5 years ago, upgraded the FR Special tremolo to a FR Original - and now it's a killer beast!!!

[@sebrura]

Your father’s axe sounds killa! Just ordered a Tone Zone for my HM Stat.

[@LeonTodd]

great choice!

[@micklawrence2630]

All great guitars and stunning “80s” sounds 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Checking out this vid again. Great vid. Man, all of these are great. That Shroeder guitar is killer. Love that it has stainless frets and I love the reverse headstock that reminds me of an ESP m series. That all said that Green strat is bad ass. ♥️🤘 That Yellow Strat is too cool and even the color is cool. Those pickups sound too cool. ♥️🤘 My fav with distortion after listening closely is that your Green strat. Man, that Tone Zone sounds great with distortion. The yellow Strat had the best cleans I think. To me. I really love them all, but if you said I could have only one and you were going to give me one it would be the green strat your father and you built. I just dig that guitar. ♥️🤘 Be safe my friend ♥️🤘

[@TheCyberMantis]

Welcome to the 80's! Yeah, my main guitar is a 90's MiJ Ibanez RG520. X2N in the bridge. Bought it new from a local music store back in the 90's. I think I paid $700 for it. ( Nice RATT riff. Everyone likes that riff. )

[@deanlunn1969]

Hi Leon great playing what effect do you have on the first riff other than distortion cheers buddy

[@jeremylamb1060]

My thoughts are the Green homemade sounded the best for the dirty stuff, definitely the fender for the cleans but also thought the fender sounded great with the grease.

[@andrewfrazier1182]

Ok after listening 🎶 to all the comparisons, I like your Dad's guitar 🎸 the best. Very unique sounding.

[@LeonTodd]

Wow, thanks!

[@michaelmiller2171]

I like the sound of the Hamer, the Wolfgang and the Green Custom Strat (in that order) the best. I miss my Hamer Californian.

[@ExpatZ266]

It may be confirmation bias (I usually always return to the RG570's from '90 - '92) but I thought the Ibanez sounded the best. Like I said, probably biased.

[@courtney2018]

I'd have to go with Ibanez, FTW! Wish PRS made a super to compete with Ibanez. They all sounded great though. Personally I'm not a big fan of that single coil sound in the bridge.

[@LeonTodd]

The new Fiore has a bit of a superstrat aesthetic IMO. Needs more desert yellow tho :p

[@donsmith5385]

It’s really hard to beat a Dimarzio Tone Zone, those pickups Peavey made were really good too!, I had. Hamer Californian, I sold it because I didn’t like how the neck position sounded, changed out a lot of pickups, I should have just kept it and used the bridge pickup only, stuff you do when you are learning.

[@Danthehorse]

Tone Zone just have that sound, love them!

[@Pier88ita]

Can't decide between Todorovich and Wolfgang. Both really good!

[@stevenmgyori3826]

A Very Good Morning to you Brother! Well done Leon! The 77 stands up to the rest of your Super Strat choices! Thank you so much for sharing Sonic Bliss! Love your Dad's Guitar! Be Well All!

[@LeonTodd]

Amazing guitar isn't it?

[@stevenmgyori3826]

@@LeonTodd Indeed! Superb instruments and Expert Musicianship! Thanks to Leo for creating an inspiring legendary Guitar! Be Well All!

[@nicktrierweiler3690]

Great video comparison.... Really considering a Jackson Adrian Smith sdx

[@LeonTodd]

Jackson/Charvel are definitely some of the best superstrats out there.

[@mattewmackes]

Mr Todd, Love your Videos- Your Wolfgang is a funny Animal. It is has a Special labeled head stock, and only a single Knob (Special), and I think a flat top (Special) BUT, it has binding. They did make a few "Special Deluxe" with pretty maple tops and binding, but I have never seen a "black" special deluxe. So, The binding on a Black Special is unusual. Any ideas?

[@fernandes5986]

Hi Leon great video, and amazing array of shred machines. To bad you didn't have a Jackson or a Steinberger. For me the the 77 strat is the winner. On the Ratt stuff it can keep the pace with the others and on the clean sounds it's the king. I would say that the Ibanez and the Hamer are close seconds.

[@LeonTodd]

The Strat just works no matter what you throw at it!

[@fernandes5986]

@@LeonTodd You bet.

[@syntaxs4342]

I love how every one of those isolated pieces is played slightly differently. It is hard to ignore how guitar makes you play because some things feels more "right" when there is nothing else around it.. so none of them is the best, they just are different in lovely ways.

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah you're spot on. Different bridges, string spacing, frets, necks, scale - it all pushes you in different ways

[@mbreinin]

You are the only other person I have ever seen play "Lay it Down" like I do. I just cheated like that because I have small hands and playing the full bar-chord like Warren is not possible for me. I had a Californian and it was the best Super Strat I have ever owned, and I have owned a metric shit ton of them. Very cool video, I really like that Shroedder, there is an obvious Rand influence there which is unique. My favorite would be the Hamer or the guitar your dad made in terms of tone. I am curious about the Shroedder though, I was searching for a video of someone playing one and did not know you had one.

[@LeonTodd]

The Shroedder is really fun. Chunky neck and a Gibson scale on a superstrat is a nice change from something like the RG

[@carlosrocha9550]

Amazing quality video!! The sound is great!!

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks a lot!

[@gabrielebarbaraci3161]

The green one is also a killer, congrats to your Dad

[@makmcqueen8634]

No Charvel but I guess your Aussie Charvel made up for it. that Hamer is lovely BTW.

[@Sodacake]

Your dad's one sounded the best to my ears.

[@philsb9388]

The strat, wolfgang and the green one were great.

[@heaf11]

Cool vid! In the play through of RATT, you're on the middle PU selection on the wolfgang, was that how it was recorded? I assume bridge for all the rest? I have a similar taste in axes and a wolfgang and sometimes it's as is the wolfie has a little TS loaded into it it can be so bright and hot! Still with a great spectrum of tone, but I can see why you may have recorded it in position 2? cheers :) \m/

[@LeonTodd]

I was hoping no-one was going to notice that! I didn't notice that myself until the edit but it sounded good so I left it. Totally agree about the bridge having that "boosted" quality.

[@roboravitz5572]

A ton of effects can make any sound great.like a Makeover on a " Plain Jane"

[@cliftonwright7081]

I’m here to fight in the comments! I love when people complain they can’t HEAR the guitar because of the tiniest bit of ambience. It’s like: OK, you’re screaming to the world from a mountain top that your ears are trash. If you can’t hear the difference between a Squire and a Custom Shop then please help yourself to the savings with all of our blessings and encouragement.

[@j.w.5485]

Really surprised how good your old Strat's single coils sounded with distortion. They held their ground pretty well.

[@trendpimp1]

I suppose I'm biased, being that I've used one for 30 years, but the Hamer sounded the best to my ears. Or I suppose it's more fair to say that it had the tone that I prefer. Back when they were a true custom shop in Chicago, Hamer really were the best of the best.

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah when they closed their last shop a few years back it made me sad. Great American craftsmanship.

[@trendpimp1]

@@LeonTodd Have you tried a Suhr Modern? That's my go-to these days.

[@carlinleneker-frisch976]

I just picked up a 80s squire japanese guitar yesterday, what are your opinions on them, it has the tremolo too. Any upgrades i should do or just leave it as it is?

[@jessenicholson1777]

Certified Ibanez nut here (have both an RG550 and a Floral Jem) but that Hamer sounds sooo thick. That one was tops for me. Is it mahogany?

[@LeonTodd]

I believe so!

[@Dingbotz]

Hamer all the way for me. Had a lovely Californian. Sold it cheaply and then they started to rise in value.

[@joseabelperez9103]

awesome collection my friend ..sheers from spain

[@matthewearl9824]

Aww you didn't have Charvel pro mods.....I really like the "green" guitar. It sounded so thick.

[@gabrielebarbaraci3161]

Excellent Video, hey Legend, can you please tell me in your setup for stat what string action do you use?

[@LeonTodd]

A pretty generic "low" action. I set most of them up by hand until they feel good.

[@gabrielebarbaraci3161]

@@LeonTodd so basically if you bend the E will it buzz?

[@spodey8484]

Hey Leon - thanks for this great video :) You've got to keep USA Hamers off the radar of the general public - can't have everyone finding out how great they are! Shhhh! ;)

[@Scott__C]

He says with a Watson as his profile pic.....

[@spodey8484]

@@Scott__C no one else knows what that is ;) they especially don’t know it’s one of 3 with a floyd!

[@Scott__C]

@@spodey8484 Good times! Mum's the word.

[@RabihSaadguitars]

The Green home made guitar and the Hammer Californian sounded the best.

[@alexandredunkelsonja8217]

I don't knew the guitar brand Schroeder .It give me a good impression and make me some curious about it. Hamer Californian is a dream bussiness . Since I see one of kind in the hands of Wolf Hoffmann by Accept. Very looked guitars. Keepin' Rockin'.

[@LeonTodd]

Love me some Accewpt, Wolf rules!

[@jason7524]

I do like me some super strats!

[@marcobiolcati]

HAMER wins! Peavey, Ibanez, Greenie. 2nd place. Schroedder 3rd. The Strat, is good for other things. Well done Leon, as usual!

[@TheTulioChannel]

Dude, this Hammer is phenomenal, sexiest look and coolest sound imho

[@LeviBulger]

Gotta be honest, the Fender sounded the most tonally complex to me, even gained up. I also really liked the Ibanez with gain and the Hamer cleans neck tone.

[@charthers8903]

Why so many people dislike the thin Super Wizard neck of the Ibanez RG?

[@stefmanzi5843]

the best one is the hamer ! I own a chaparral, it s an awesome guitar with great sounds and mojo.

[@Scott__C]

They're all good, man, but if I have to vote, I am partial to the Hamers, so I'm voting for the Californian, though the one your dad built sounds really good too.

[@matthewearl9824]

I love how the nut caps on the locking nut is removed on the Hamer. lol! sooo 80's

[@LeonTodd]

Well spotted. I don't use the bar much so they're not really needed

[@edwinstovall3334]

No offense meant to you, Leon, but at my stage of the game, if I had a chance to take a stage I would really want to carry the most reliable and ready gear with me. That means I would take my Ibanez RG22B modified "cracked neck special," my Bullfighter neck-through, my Donner DST-400 and my Schecter C-1 Élite. Two fully-floating Floyds, one non-locking two-point, and one hard TOM-style bridge with stringing through the body. In my opinion, this is a small-but-worthy guitarsenal.😎

[@tommywilliamsjr.697]

I love Greenie! It really does sound a lot like that Jackson...thick, rich, and glazed with harmonics. Wait, are we talking guitars or doughnuts? Has anyone seen my ADD meds???

[@LeonTodd]

Why not both?!

[@jenshollesen3467]

Nice. Actually, I think they sounded surprisingly similar. More than I'd expect from a batch so relatively different in specs. But, of course, it's the small things that makes all the difference.

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah the core tone is more or less there but when you listen a few times and hone in those little things certainly add up

[@galingit]

Good job, as always :) Todorovich ? Is that family name serbian or croatian? I'm from Bulgaria and here Todor is a common name, or Todorov as family name :)

[@looney3574]

Great video sir!!! 👍🏻

[@ukguitarnoodle]

blimey, Wolfgang !

[@donlee5722]

Ibanez for the win, however, the Hamer is a very close second.