Surely the BEST $400 Strat to buy in 2024 ? - JET Guitars JS380 Review

[@rafaelzengo5534]

I would surely consider one of these. Sounds great. There couldn’t have been a better demonstration of it 😉

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Hey Rafa ! Not sure if these are available in Brazil actually ? If yes did you ever try one yet ? Thanks man that's so sweet 😘❤

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@JohanJoosLaur no they’re not available here yet. I think jet guitars would find a good market here, but I don’t know if the costs would make it worthwhile for them considering importation, taxes etc. We have tagima guitars here which fill this gap of “good affordable guitars” and are pretty popular, even though they’re made in china as well, so maybe it it worthwhile after all. But in a second thought I see that jet guitars offers a few things that tagima doesn’t like roasted maple, locking tuners and nice alnico pickups, so maybe they’re a step above. Anyway I think they could sell a ton here if prices were kept reasonable.

[@JohanJoosLaur]

@@rafaelzengo5534 Ah ! I'm not so surprised actually, but yeah I hope they're gonna make it there, like you I'm pretty sure the market would be great...but sure not easy at all. Yeah I remember we talked about Tagima ! Hopefully you'll be able to try one of these JET sometime soon, it really is impressive for the money and this JS380 just shows how serious this brand is getting. They truly get better and better each time at making these it's quite crazy ahaha

[@nordin1975]

Really nice playing, thanks 🙏🏼

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Thanks so much Nordin ! Very kind ❤

[@michakoper527]

Loved the review, especially great respect for your playing skills, feeling and style, remarkable!

[@lepoloo]

If many more people come and watch your video, talking about Jet guitars and playing them like you do, Jet guitars will not produce enough regarding the sales to come ! You are a great guitarist and overall you know how to talk to a guitar. I discovered your channel about ten days ago and I'm watching every video you upload these days plus some of older ones ! It's a real pleasure to follow you. Thanks.

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Man these are such kind words, thank you so much ! Means a lot, really :) If you have any advice on making these videos better, I'm takin' ! I know I'm way too slow talking, must be quite boring to watch really. But I'll work on it definitely. Thanks again !

[@lepoloo]

@@JohanJoosLaur Kind words... I hope they were because they're fully deserved by you and your guitar feeling. About the way you talk, I hope you don't aim to be one of those youtubers that speak loud and fast to look "positive" with no particulary interesting contents. You can talk as slow as you want until your contents are so rich and interesting. More, you speak about guitars like you speak to your guitars! This is a blast to witness your videos!

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Oh god no I couldn't talk super loud and fast and basically yelling for minutes ahaha ! I'm too much of a calm guy for that ahaha. But I know there's lot of space for improvement in these talking bits when it comes to pace, pronunciation, phrasing and everything basically ;) Thanks again for the support man, appreciate it !

[@lepoloo]

@@JohanJoosLaur Keep being a calm guy, this seems to help a lot to be a good guitarist 😉👍

[@thenovicenoisemaker]

Great to see you back !

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Thanks Rich' ! Hugs your way man !

[@germanlungwitz528]

Man your playing is just outstanding. You are one of my favorite players on KZbin. I have a jet tele too and its amazing, i honestly like it better than my fender player. Cheers

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Thanks man ! That is so so kind of you, thanks so much ❤ I'm glad to hear about your Jet Tele ! What model do you have ? The 350 ? Cheers ! 😘

[@germanlungwitz528]

​@@JohanJoosLaura modded jt300, just fender tex mex pickups and the string through body mod, it's killer

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Niiiice ! Must be killer indeed ! The 300 series is so so great

[@thelolguy007]

Great review mate and great guitars. I have four myself and counting

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Thanks mate very kind ! Oh my you have four ? Awesome ! What models do you have ?

[@thelolguy007]

@ I started with a Js400, then another. Very impressed with them. Then a Js600 and then another. And they have become my main gigging guitars. Love them

[@jaunianise4172]

Salut Johan, le guitariste des bois ! Toujours ce jeu si plaisant ! Au sujet de ta section "let's talk about Jet guitars'. Je pense que le roasted c'est l'avenir du low cost. En fait, les bois sont en général étuvés pendant des mois pour accélérer le séchage. La cuisson, le rôtissage doit se faire en moins d'une journée (à vérifier). Ce qui passe pour un traitement premium est en fait une réduction des couts, me semble-t-il... Vivant non loin de la Bretagne, une région relativement humide comme on le sait, à l'usage, j'ai remarqué qu'effectivement les guitares roasted bougent moins que les autres. Mais finalement quand tu prends une guitare que tu n'as pas touchée depuis quelques jours, quoi qu'il arrive, tu passes par l'accordage, ça ne change pas grand-chose finalement. Dommage pour moi, en JS400 White + Rosewood neck, je prenais la seconde... J'ai pris la rose il y a 2 ans, c'était la seule avec le manche rosewood. Depuis j'ai trouvé une Squier CV 60 d'occase qui avait toutes les spé recherchées, ma 1ʳᵉ guitare bleue, je ne regrette pas !

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Coucou mister ! Merci beaucoup !

[@philippevallet9798]

Excellente vidéo Johan ! Je suis d’accord avec toi...niveau qualité prix ces JET c’est imbattable... Toujours un plaisir d’écouter ton jeu incroyable...un régal cette vidéo plus longue que d’habitude 😉

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Merci beaucoup le Philou !

[@outermarker5801]

Thank you for the great demo as I'm interested in the 380 - subbed. Your playing is just as amazing as John Cordy imho, whom I also follow. Love my JS400 - like you I don't use the trem so it's blocked. Properly strung and stretched I have zero tuning stability issues even with non locking tuners. These roasted necks and fretwork are incredible for the money 💯

[@__Anton__]

Great video. Sounds and looks great. Love the THR amp too.

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Thank you Anton ! Yeah the THR is such a great lil' amp, I'm considering the version II wireless now actually (mainly for the internal battery, and bluetooth would be nice even though not necessary), but I do prefer the look of the first gen ? Aha !

[@poguie]

Nice to see the matching Yamaha THR amp on the seat!! Did anyone walk by while you were playing? I'd imagine a crowd might have sourrounded the car, ha ha... your playing was that good!!

[@Wadey1960CS]

Absolute LEGEND! ❤️🙌🏼❤️

[@JohanJoosLaur]

YOU are, Mr Wadey ! ❤😘

[@dvoryadkinpavel]

nice guitar and playing! thnx for sharing

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Hey man ! Thank you for the kind words and for watching !

[@ericvirely4978]

very nice groove french fan

[@JohanJoosLaur]

@@ericvirely4978 Ahaha ! Merci beaucoup Eric ! 😉❤

[@titi64230]

Superbe vidéo Johan , et content de revoir du contenu ! Question piège : à prix à peu près égal , et vu les points communs , comment tu positionnes cette jet 380 par rapport à ta squier vm ?

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Coucou Titi ! Merci beaucoup ! Ahaha j'adore ta question ! Pas vraiment piège, et la réponse à mes yeux est assez évidente. Si on parle de MA Squier VM, alors je positionne cette dernière largement au dessus. De meme que je la positionnerais largement au dessus de n'importe quelle Fender American Pro/Vintage etc...parce que la valeur sentimentale/émotionnelle de cette gratte pour moi n'a juste pas d'égal ! Par contre si on parle des Squier VM Strat en général (meme modèles que la mienne), là je te répondrais que la JET JS380 est tout de meme un bon cran au dessus ;) ...bien qu'une Squier VM "lambda" soit encore aujourd'hui un choix excellentissime en occaze pour pas cher, ça reste toujours mon modèle coup de coeur chez Squier. J'avais eu une sunburst config 3 simples comme la mienne qui était très, très bonne éalement. Une autre sunburst en HSS qui l'était beaucoup moins...d'ailleurs je lorgne depuis quelques temps sur une VM Surf Stratocaster, avec 3 lipsticks Duncan Designed d'origine. Ca fait 10 piges que j'ai trop envie d'en tester une, ce sera sans doute pour "bientot" ! ;) Bises et merci pour ton commentaire !!

[@titi64230]

@JohanJoosLaur à mince , si j avais su .... j ai revendu ma lipstick , celle que tu cherchais...j’aurais préféré te la vendre . très bon son , mais mon problème était le manche vraiment très très fin. Celui de la strat 70 est d un compromis parfait lui. Oui je l ai aussi à cause d un certain youtubeur. Mais très intéressante guitare cette surf .

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Ahhh tu en avais une !! Quelle couleur ? Etonnant pour le manche, je pensais qu'il s'agissait exactement des meme manches sur toutes ces Strat VM (après ça dépend des années...ma 2012 a un manche plus épais que ce que n'avait la 2016). Cette Surf j'en étais toujours été très curieux, niveau caractéristiques sonores ça doit etre assez différent non ? Si tu as vendu la tienne au cours de l'année derniere sur LeboncCoinCoin, j'ai du la voir passer ahaha

[@titi64230]

@JohanJoosLaur oui elle est partie sur leboncoin y a 2 mois . Le manche n était pas le même en effet , c était la classique en surf green avec le beau pickguard. J ai pas trouvé le son si’différent. Le problème c était que j ai pris pas mal de guitare squier , une jazzmaster , une mustang , un jaguar... Le manche et la couleur ( et oui au final , j ai toujours revendu les verte et sonic blue ...) ont conduits à la vente .

[@titi64230]

Elle se démarquait pas assez du reste de la collection pour rester .

[@fishmonkey74]

Hmm should i sell my mexican standard strat for this one. If im honest the jet js380 seems to be a bether choice? Nice playing as always and i like the fact that you play trough the THR 10 1st mode. I m still playing the THR10x and love it crazy little practice amp. 👌🏼

[@robertbrown2728]

I have a js300 which I bought after watching Johan's videos. It's a really good guitar though I felt the need to swap the pickups for Tone Riders. The original ceramic pickups sound very nice when playing solo but in a band mix I think that they get a bit lost. I have two Fender Strats which I certainly don't want to sell . All these guitars have their own personality and feel. In the past people have criticised the js300 for having inferior tuners and electronics. I think the tuners and electronics are fine though I have modified my wiring to suit my own taste for having the second tone knob function as a blender control.

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Where are you from man ? The best move would be to try and find a store where you could actually compare ? Not sure what model is your Mex, but this JS380 sure is a wonderful choice, especially for that kind of money (around 350-380€).

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Ahhh you do have a THR as well ! Yeah couldn't agree more, bought mine used few weeks ago but I'm already addicted ! 😂🤣

[@mark_greening_gtr]

Excellent review Johan. How does the neck compare to the JS300 ?

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Hey Mark ! Thanks so much man

[@sousajerome]

Salut Johan et bravo pour ton jeux fabuleux et hyper inspirant! Je voulais savoir si l'accès aux aigus est amélioré sur cette 380 par rapport à la 300 ou si il est identique? Au niveau du talon..... J'avais une 300 puis je suis passé à une 400 (talon arrondi et meilleur accès aux aigus). Sur la 380 le poids m'intéresse! (pour le dos!) mais j'ai vu que le talon est carré comme sur la 300, d'ou ma question...D'avance merci.

[@fyg0064]

nice video! what else can you say in detail about alnico microphones?

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Thank you so much ! Honestly the pickups are really great, absolutely love these. They do suit the guitar very well. It's not like the JS300 for example where you could tell all their money went to everything except the pickups & electronics (which I really liked about the JS300 actually because it made it the perfect mod platform if that's something you were into). Here, on this JS380, you can tell they really cared about the pickups...but not only the pickups, the electronics in general, which is even better ! The pots are very surprising as they are super responsive. The 5 way switch do feel firm and very good quality. The pickups are a bit hotter than classic vintage style pickups I guess, which is something I like. But as they are very dynamic, it's a joy to play. Perfect for blues, pop, rock, funk, and more. I feel like the rosewood fretboard helps taming them perfectly, they're not too bright or spicky sounding at all...the only issue doin' a sound test with the THR is that the THR has a loooot of SAG. So it's quite hard to find more "mellow tones" with it aha. I'll sure do a little tone test with my old Fender Stage Lead solid state, the JS380 really really shines plugged in that old thing. A last thing I could say about these pickups is about the balance between all 3 pickups, both tonal characteristics and output level are very well thought. I really struggle to play on guitars when every time you use the 3/5 way switch : your tone dratically change. It's not something I enjoy at all. Here even when you go from neck pickup to bridge pickup, of course there's a tonal difference, but it's a homogeneous. Really dig that. I'd actually not even think about a pickups & electronics upgrade on this guitar. Hope this answers your question a bit more ! Thanks again man !

[@fyg0064]

@@JohanJoosLaur Thank you so much for taking the time to give such a good answer! I have the same Jet js300 as you and I bought it because I learned about the brand through one of your unboxings and found your channel because I also have the Zoom G3X pedalboard. You helped me a lot to have good patches and to configure it. With respect to what you were telling me, over time I learned to calibrate and change the strings on the guitar and as a project to learn I plan to change the mics, electronics and shield everything by doing it myself, since as you told me, it is the perfect modification platform. Of the new Jets that came out, my attention was caught by the JS400 Kairon limited edition that has hot rails, locking tuners and alnico mics that I can be sure are the same as those of the js 380 or js480 so I will be attentive to see if I can buy it. Greetings from Argentina!! Hugs.

[@JohanJoosLaur]

Ahh that's awesome ! Thanks so much for the support mate, means a freakin' lot :) I still have my G3X around aha, what a great unit ! Quite frustrating to see what Zoom did after this one, I wouldn't mind a reborn of the G3X with "more-to-date" tones inside. Oh yeah that JS400 looks beautiful ! Let me know if you ever get your hands on one ;) Have a nice day in Argentina, hugs back from France !

[@luispedro3702]

I want a strat to look like a strat, but I don't know if I'll got to JET JS-380; Squier CV 60's or Sire S5... I just don't know, for the look I like more the CV 60 but the neck and the narrow frets don't seems so good, the JS-380 looks perfect but I prefer chrome hardware. The Sire looks good but is not like a fender design, the jack location.

[@FJBL243-X51]

Perso, j'ai joué sur des Fender Telecaster et Mustang. J'ai revendu la mustang pour le son dégeulasse et la télé pour le manche et les frettes qui te coupaient les doigts. Ma question reste toute simple : sur un modèle JT300 ou JT350, comment est le manche ? comment sont les frettes ? Merci.

[@bluwng]

Beard looks sharp.

[@Nagatopubg]

I’m new to this but jet guitar requires catologue or amplifier to play sound?

[@JohanJoosLaur]

I'm sorry man I don't understand what you mean here ? :)

[@Nagatopubg]

@@JohanJoosLaur !!!

[@JohanJoosLaur]

@@Nagatopubg Ah I see you edited your comment :) Any electric guitar (such as these JETs or any other brand really) do require an amp to play and have fun basically. If you play it without any amplifier (like you'd play an acoustic guitar for example), you will still hear what you play of course (if you're in a very calm room) but very very quietly and not in a satisfying way ? So an amplifier is needed, or a little multi fx (to plug to speakers you'd already have or to play with headphones on). I hope I answered your question ? :)

[@sousajerome]

Et si tu peux me donner le poids, c'est top, merci.