The Best Stratocaster Guitar Tone From Each Decade

[@MusicisWin]

What do you think is the best Strat tone ever?

[@idkLime1]

Idk tbh

[@FloridaManRacer]

I think you need to film an entire video on the most influential 80's strat sound. One you yourself might not like the most, but one that defined the era. The Tri-Stereo Chorus sound of session players like Dan Huff. It used to cost $15,000 just to build the studio rack that those guys were using back then. That chorus laden clean tone was EVERYWHERE in pop and rock music and is MUCH more easily attainable on modern equipment than it was back then. Definitely a sound worth showcasing.

[@arjanhurkmans9190]

Ritchie Blackmore during Rainbow... 200w Marshalls major helps too :-)

[@garrettmancuso4417]

The knockoff strat I can afford to play. We can't all be sponsored by Sweetwater...

[@reubenrozeyt5716]

David Gilmour big muff tone John Mayer's Where The Light Is

[@DownEastSaw]

If you listen to Stevie’s version of little wing in headphones turned up real loud, you can hear his amp buzzing in the background because he was sitting on his super reverb in the studio. Just Stevie, his #1, a cord, and super reverb. No pedals, no recording tricks, just pure tone and mastery of the Stratocaster.

[@gibsonfan159]

Pretty sure he used effects but I may be wrong

[@LiveByTheSword]

I doubt he used no pedals at all but if I could be wrong. He used various Tube Screamers and he used a Texas Square Face Fuzz by Cesar Diaz.. he used one or the other for the majority of his lead work.

[@REHBMBand]

stevie used a few pedals

[@joshuagibson2520]

He was known to use a Leslie or Fender 16 too. (Vibratone \ rotating speaker)

[@sabpac459]

too bad he couldnt write a song to save his life. evidentially so.

[@macdabrows]

Ritchie Blackmore and Uli Roth - definitely deserve to be mentioned.

[@TommyRobertsHD]

Agreed, Ritchie not getting a mention is ridiculous

[@R3R3T]

@@TommyRobertsHD Yea, wtf

[@nippe1538]

@@TommyRobertsHD This music is win dude does not seem to know anything about rock n roll apart from the obvious.

[@JoshuaPlaysMusic]

Bro, Uli Jon Roth is BRILLIANT!!!

[@EthanWilkinss]

And flipping jeff beck!!!!

[@mk_2121]

Cliffs of Dover live…….

[@Chickenwingsinthedings]

Cant believe that didnt come up, top 3 strat tones ever

[@casssieboy]

Comment baiting

[@nicolasparedes3]

Heck yeah!!!!

[@mk_2121]

@@casssieboy wdym?

[@casssieboy]

@@mk_2121 Tyler not mentioning tones like Cliffs of Dover, YJM, Ritchie Blackmore, Rory Gallagher etc. so people are going to make comments about it, thus boosting the algorithm. But yeah don't hate the player, hate the game I guess

[@Sonny-08]

We def need a series of this with other guitars also. Nice one man!

[@calebfisher7345]

Tele next? or maybe Les Paul

[@coetroy]

I'm a big fan of Yngwie's tones from the 80's and now.

[@jperryfan]

Ritchie Blackmore, Robin Trower (Bridge Of Sighs), Uli Roth, Rory Gallagher, Jerry Garcia., And some guy named Jeff Beck who played a Strat better than just about everyone in all of those decades! Those 70's Strat Guys

[@jamesjeager129]

Yup I agree

[@EthanWilkinss]

Jeff smokes all the guitarist's in the list!!

[@rayquo6464]

I don’t think you realize how legendary you are in this era Tyler. You inspire people like me to play in front of people one day and to strive the become one of the next greats!

[@kitsune_7_451]

Bro the timing of this video is insane. I just got a 1987 fender Strat made in Japan and I’ve been looking for videos on iconic Strat tones.

[@nob8503]

Just got a 1986 same model last week :) enjoy it

[@alexpadillalopez9326]

The solo of "comfortably numb" played with gibson LP with P90. Great video

[@dennisneo1608]

I think you're mistaking Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 with C Numb. Does a Les Paul have a tremolo????

[@alexpadillalopez9326]

@@dennisneo1608 some . sorry for my english.

[@Bat_Dad_116]

For modern guys, I love the sound of Chris Buck. Yeah yeah I know he’s on Yamaha now, but he was on Strat for a long time before he decided he wanted to be more unique.

[@masonwright754]

This!!

[@kooleyandmac]

Where's rory! The irish hurricane is a strat legend...

[@gibsonfan159]

For whatever reason he flies under the radar in the states.

[@benestein4655]

So true

[@jamesjeager129]

Yup true I discovered Rory Gallagher from KZbin. He’s is the one who got me interested to buy myself a Stratocaster because I love his tone, sound, & playing. My favorite is Cradle Rock (1974).

[@TribalGuitars]

Great to see Kenny Wayne Sheppard on that list! Those two guitar solos on "Blue on Black" give one goosebumps. I know a lot of players give him short shrift but they "forget" he had one of the only 2 blues songs that went to #1 on the pop charts, the other being BB King's "The Thrill is Gone". If KWS wasn't the real deal BB wouldn't have had him open for him on multiple occasions or invited him to sit in with him at BB's annual juke joint birthday gig in Indianola, MS.

[@Gunbloke1911]

I've watched your videos for years, and never bothered to comment on any of them. But this one was different. Outstanding! Well done!

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[@samlawrence7141]

Bryan adams/keith scott has to be two of my favourite strat players. The tones they achieve on albums like Reckless and Waking up the neighbours and songs like Its only love and Run to you always perk up my ears 🤘

[@realestquotesforyou]

i will say, john mayer’s tone on “wheel” is so poppy. i love it.

[@weets69]

Eric Johnson has to be mentioned. I think he was born with a Strat attached to his arms.🤘 Awesome vid.

[@StingrayMk1]

Jeff Beck Guitar Shop, and his work on Amused To Death. Tone Heaven.

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[@anomalouswoof2554]

Robin Trower on Bridge of Sighs

[@onecandan4221]

Always think of Hank Marvin when I think of best Strat tones

[@Drewbydoobydooo]

As someone who has only been able to afford two guitars in his life and the Fender Strat being my first, this video really meant alot to me! Keep killing it man! ROCK ON!!

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[@justinfredericks2786]

Im so glad you put Lenny on this list!! Great pick!

[@kylejustice3422]

sweet video Tyler! I enjoyed it!

[@00_MyBestAdvice_00]

WTF Tyler. When you played Slow Dancing you literally made my eyes tear up. That is the power of a Strat in the right hands. Too powerful bro. ❤

[@thomaswagner6495]

Nice video. One quick note, Eldon Shamblin received the first Stratocaster and he played that until he died decades later. It's on a lot of Bob Wills tunes.

[@Achillez716]

These are my favorite types of videos!

[@jamesromanoski7292]

That rendition of Purple Haze was sweet! Nicely done Tyler.

[@Uroste]

I would also include rory Gallagher, blackmore, fast Eddie clarke, Eddie hazel, SRV , yngwie malmsteen, dave Murray, mike Rutherford, ron asheton and eric johnson

[@InTheWasteland101]

I love Mike Rutherford. He switched to a Squire strat in recent years. Lol

[@InTheWasteland101]

I love Mike Rutherford. He switched to a Squire strat in recent years. Lol

[@casssieboy]

Yes

[@RickyVonPooper]

Great video! Really enjoyed this format. Great playing too!

[@andrewpappas9311]

Some of my picks because it was really hard to narrow it down to just one lol 1950s: Ritchie Valens - La Bamba (1957) (Ritchie Valens) 1960s: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze (1967), All Along the Watchtower (1968) (Jimi Hendrix)/The Beatles - Nowhere Man (1965) (George Harrison/John Lennon) 1970s: Pink Floyd - Money (1973), Shine On You Crazy Diamond (1975), Echoes (1971), Another Brick in the Wall (rhythm tone) (1979), Breathe (1973), Pigs (Three Different Ones) (1977) (David Gilmour)/Eric Clapton - Cocaine (1977), Wonderful Tonight (1977), I Shot the Sheriff (1974) (Eric Clapton)/Jeff Beck - 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers (1975) (Jeff Beck)/Deep Purple - Highway Star (1972), Smoke On the Water (1972), Burn (1974) (Ritchie Blackmore)/ZZ Top - La Grange (1973) (Billy Gibbons)/Chic - Le Freak (1978) (Nile Rodgers)/Aerosmith - Walk This Way (1975) (Joe Perry) 1980s: Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Pride & Joy (1983) (Stevie Ray Vaughan)/U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday (1983) (The Edge)/Yngwie Malmsteen - Black Star (1984) (Yngwie Malmsteen)/Iron Maiden - The Trooper (1983), Run to the Hills (1982), Hallowed Be Thy Name (1982), The Number of the Beast (1982), Aces High (1984), Two Minutes to Midnight (1984) (Dave Murray)/Mötorhead - Ace of Spades (1980) ("Fast" Eddie Clarke)/Pink Floyd - Learning to Fly (1987) (David Gilmour)/INXS - Need You Tonight (1987) (Tim Farriss) 1990s: Nirvana - Lithium (1991), Endless, Nameless (1991) (Kurt Cobain)/Pearl Jam - Alive (1991) (Mike McCready)/RHCP - Under the Bridge (1991) (John Frusciante)/Green Day - Basket Case (Billie Joe Armstrong) (1994)/Eric Johnson - Cliffs of Dover (1990) (Eric Johnson)/Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock (1993), Today (1993), Bullet With Butterfly Wings (1995) (Billy Corgan)/Blink-182 - What's My Age Again? (1999) (Tom DeLonge)/Pink Floyd - Keep Talking (1994) (David Gilmour)/Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark (1990) (Dave Murray) 2000s: Linkin Park - What I've Done (2007) (Brad Delson)/RHCP - Can't Stop (2002) (John Frusciante)/John Mayer - Slow Dancing In A Burning Room (2006)/Audioslave - Like A Stone (2002) (Tom Morello) 2010s: RHCP - Dark Necessities (2016) (Josh Klinghoffer)/Daft Punk - Get Lucky (2013) (Nile Rodgers)/Iron Maiden - Empire of the Clouds (2015) (Dave Murray) 2020s: Måneskin - Zitti E Buoni (2021) (Thomas Raggi)/RHCP - Black Summer (2022)/Patient Number Nine - Ozzy Osbourne (2022) (Jeff Beck)/Call Me Little Sunshine - Ghost (Nameless Ghoul)

[@bravo4adventure988]

Most of the artists you mentioned are why I bought a Strat in the first place. Got the American Pro 2 70th Anniversary Strat earlier this year...worth it.

[@BluGuitar]

Hey Tyler, great video…. …I felt I needed to ado a few more (mostly my heroes): Hank Marvin Richie Blackmore Yngwie Malmsteen Jeff Beck Eric Johnson Rory Gallagher Robin Trower Btw: I’m a super Strat nerd myself with a 1961 Strat-also awarded “StratKing of Europe” in 2004 when the Stratocaster turned 50… Greetings from Germany 😊

[@TejoAgus]

I have to say that you are a very good story teller, this was a very delightful video to watch

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[@mirkojovanovic3216]

great video.blackmore and eric johnson.looking forward to seeing your collection of guitars.

[@flonsdg]

Blue on Black definitely fits in this list, the solo tone is awesome

[@Dustinscustoms]

Really like watching all your videos love the cool guitars

[@jacomia1015]

Can't leave out Robert Cray with that killer 4th position tone!

[@PedroRibeiro1]

Well, small mistake at 0:09, it's the 70th anniversary of the Stratocaster model, Fender (brand) celebrated the 75th anniversary in 2021, making it 78 now.

[@sveablu]

It is indeed the 70th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster this year. But of course they had lap steels, amps and the Telecaster before that. Fender likes to come up with reasons to sell more guitars. So just wait for the 80th anniversary models in just two years.....same stuff all over again.

[@nine9whitepony526]

I have that exact same guitar you're playing. The push push tone knob is to add your neck pickup to your bridge pickup, selector position 2 activates all 3 pickups. P.S. im not crazy about the tone of the V mods in an edge of breakup setting.

[@Splandrocity]

Knopfler made the 2nd single coil pickup position cool

[@bobmccaslin2040]

Well done- this was very thoughtful in your choices here…

[@curtvona4891]

Great playing! I love my Strat.

[@LiveByTheSword]

Modern Strat player certainly worth the mention-- Matthew Scott. His debut album was great!

[@andreasjohansson1990]

Take a listen to Blackmore’s tone on Made in Japan and remake this video. Best strat tone of all time.

[@spacegoat77]

Chris Buck - Dreams to Remember. Best Strat playing I’ve heard since Gilmour

[@kapstersmusic]

I'm biased because I own one, but I really like that Amercian Pro II, especially with the rosewood fingerboard. That amber burst is so classic IHMO. Nails classic and modern tones, and the sculpted heel is way better than that square corner with metal and screws jamming into your palm!

[@martinreid1740]

No mention of Hank Marvin of the Shadows, first guy in the UK with a 1958 red gold plated strat.

[@zoid226]

Steve Rothery of Marillion absolutely love his tone, so spacey, atmospheric and emotive for me! Love to know your thoughts Love your videos, keep rocking 🙂🤘

[@StingrayMk1]

Agree, but did he use a strat? I think he was Musicman, then Ibanez. In any case, yup, Steve Rothery is in Gilmour territory.

[@zoid226]

@@StingrayMk1 there's an interview with Steve on "That pedal show" you tube channel where Steve demonstrates his pedal board. His first guitar was a Japanese Squier Strat which was deemed to be better than Fender at the time. he states that the guitar was on albums that sold about 8 million copies and cost him very little. glad there's more Steve fans out there🙂

[@markdavis8532]

Good video, Tyler. Not nerdy at all(well,I mean no more than usual). I think your theory is correct.👍🏻✌🏻

[@rainpain3655]

George never played a strat on day tripper, he played his gretch Tennessee

[@theshimmeringcarnelians]

great analysis

[@Roy_Gaber]

It would have been nice if Sweetwater sent you an anniversary '54 model. Anyway, it is hard for me to pinpoint a single tone, I have too many favorites to name one above the rest. Thanks for the video Tyler.

[@elnyoutube123]

Doug Martsch and Bret Netson from Built to Spill had the best Strat tones from the 90s. It was totally different to what anyone else was doing.

[@knutroadie]

Great nomination. I completely agree. I was stunned to learn recently to learn that DM uses mostly the middle position on his strat plus. The only other player I can think of that does this is Clapton.

[@machito53]

@@knutroadie Albert Hammond Jr from The Strokes also uses almost exclusively the middle position.

[@elnyoutube123]

@@knutroadie That's funny, I've used the neck position on my Strat all my life, then I recorded some stuff on the middle position and I was like "Hey, this sounds like Built to Spill!"

[@knutroadie]

@@elnyoutube123 That's so cool. I love when moments like that happen!

[@knutroadie]

@@machito53 That makes a TON of sense. So cool to know!

[@TheUlesifah701]

Cool shirt !! Hello from North Dakota ! 🤘🏼

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[@dannylaurence8089]

Great video! You should do ones like this for the Tele and Les Paul. One of my favourites is 90’s Clapton. Gold Lace Sensors on the middle pickup.

[@tnovail]

Great video! Good of you to include KWS. I would have said Nile Rogers rather than Daft Punk. How about a metal player like Fast Eddie Clarke of Motorhead? Keep up the great work!

[@No1414body]

Great video really enjoyed the retrospective

[@Kenneth_R]

Man you have a very interesting time feel and also picking style. Its like controlled restrain. Very unique.

[@andrewbecker3700]

I'd fancy me some Dave Murray or the almighty Ritchie Blackmore. Style is everything. Uli is a beast too. Peace

[@joermnyc]

Flashback to 1995 and my dad surprised me with my first electric at the local father-son owned shop. I had to chose between a tele, or strat (Washburn copies). I figured the contoured body and 3 pickups was better.

[@cosasDEguitarra]

missed blackmore and johnson here but nice list... great tones, well chosen!!

[@coltonhopkins4558]

I like to see this get turn into a series , meaning your the same with telacasters and les Pauls

[@shabott45]

Great video bud! Maybe best one yet!

[@SkydiverJoeyBeth]

You're a damn good guitar player! Awesome video!!

[@SkydiverJoeyBeth]

Awesome ledbetter! That's the only one on your list I can play!

[@YanYeiDei]

Am I wrong? Curt played a jaguar, not a strat, and Frusciante played under the bridge on a Jaguar as well. so, technically not strat tones.

[@frederikbekaert9496]

Im pretty sure he did record it on a strat but just used the jaguar in the video :) have a good day!

[@spooky3120]

Mark Knopfler Sultans of Swing

[@gibsonfan159]

Wasn't that a Suhr?

[@dennisneo1608]

@@gibsonfan159 They weren't invented then! It was a Strat!

[@ejom5547]

I always thought it was a tele.

[@bulldogavenue]

You left off Eric Johnson - Cliffs of Dover and also Yngwie Malmsteen - Black Star, but the tones you covered were great.

[@em001868]

Dude... Philip Sayce. Let's not forget!!

[@LandOffConfusion]

Love this vid…makes me meant to pick up my strat and learn all these songs

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[@bpabustan]

For me here are some of the best Strat tones per decade not mentioned in this video 50's Ritchie Valens' riff on La Bamba 60's Hank Marvin of The Shadows - almost all of their early 60s hits, but I choose "Shindig" George Harrison of The Beatles - the solo on "Nowhere Man" 70's Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple - "Smoke On The Water" Nile Rodgers of Chic - any of the group's hits but I choose "Le Freak" amazing tones - no amp! Ulit Jon Roth then of Scoprions - the riff and solo on "The Sails of Charon" 80's Dann Huff - his rhythm playing on Amy Grant's "Wise Up" Yngwie J. Malmsteen - "I'll See The Light, Tonight" 90's Mike McCready of Pearl Jam - his solo on "Alive" Richie Sambora then of Bon Jovi - "Bed Of Roses" Eric Johnson - a toss with "Manhattan" or "East Wes"

[@jimibrown2043]

Maybe I missed it, but no mention of Jeff Beck? And how about Robin Trower?

[@spider15hl]

Stevie Ray Vaughan. Pride and Joy. Such an amazing sound

[@zoid226]

Gary cain, Canadian blues man, lives on the neck pick up and sounds AMAZING

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[@jayrex4889]

jeff becks strat tone is unmatched imo :))

[@idkLime1]

Strat ghost is crazy

[@mboyer68]

It's funny, i bought a used made in India Squier Strat sss a few years ago and swapped in an hss setup. Just a few weeks ago I put it back to stock and been loving the tones. If i had to choose one guitar, i could only own or play one guitar for the rest of my days, it would be my Strat. I play it clean on a Boss Katana 100 and love it so much that i look for solos played on a strat...and there's A LOT to choose from!

[@daysleeper3910]

Nice... Yellow Leadbetter was a nice touch!.... I think the middle PU was used on Daytripper tho!... ;)

[@ziggy4465]

Strat tones are awesome, but I might be just a little biased.😁 Some others that I would add in there would be Dave Murray, Ritchie Blackmore, and Yngwie Malmsteen. You probably would have gotten copyright strikes from all though.😁

[@andrewsorensen2316]

Favorite strat sound of the 80s is Texas Flood

[@brianice9846]

No Eric Johnson 🙄

[@mk_2121]

How dare he

[@beans-eating-beans]

He doesn’t have the jacket to add to the tone

[@mk_2121]

@@beans-eating-beans lmao true

[@vaibanez17]

EJ stuff gets copyrighted a lot on KZbin

[@santiagosombra5622]

Things like this make John Frusciante the best player for the past 3 decades

[@omarabz4129]

Frusciante ain’t better than Mayer 😂

[@Vivi_9]

What has he done since Snow? The Chilis were better with Josh than they are now..

[@rickdaniels1000]

@@omarabz4129he isn’t but his music is better haha

[@dartreyu5480]

That Drekker shirt dude! Yes!!! My favorite brewery!

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[@kylejustice3422]

Live: Kenny Wayne Shephard Album: John Mayer (Continuum)

[@billyclub9863]

Well done. Thanks. Nice trip down the M. lane!

[@mboyer68]

The solo from Al Stewart, 'The year of the cat' is a strat. That solo is so good. 1978.

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[@pradiptobhagaskoro7101]

A lot of things missing. Why not mention Ritchie Blackmore, Uli Jon Roth, Eric Johnson. They are more worth mentioning.

[@VayaVosi]

Did I feel a certain way because you prompted me or is that riff just that fantastic. Theses are these are the questions that haunt me.

[@ashleyfieldsmusic]

Great video however, you should 100% do a video on the strat tones of Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro. Seriously unreal how he gets such a heavy sound out of a strat. Simon was on That Pedal Show a while back.

[@metalhead7181]

I have that exact pro 2. Strat. It's a great guitar. Plus I have 3 players 2. One of them is the 70 anniversary.

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[@dude_crush_]

You should do a Part 2. Eric Johnson Cliffs Of Dover from Austin City Limits, Jeff Beck, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tom DeLonge, Dave Murray.

[@grahamtinkler4562]

I liked the way Rory Gallagher used to wring his strats neck back in the day, I really miss him..............Listen to Bad Penny again sometime

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[@user-abcxyz-xr2eg]

You should check out Marcus Deml on his 63 strat. He's one of my favorite modern strat players with dynamics and feel I can't hear anywhere else.

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[@boogerz]

These are some bangers 🎸😎

[@jimcrabtree5205]

I've got a 70th anniversary American Pro ii, the pickups are vmod ii "anniversary edition" they are slightly different and fender won't say how. Also the tone nob push switch activates the neck pickup in positions 1 and 2

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[@tabushcamp]

Quite surprised to not see Dave Murray from Iron Maiden on this list who has played a one since the early 80's.. great vid btw.

[@benestein4655]

For me the best strat sound is from Rory Gallagher !!

[@MrFabriziolapiana]

great video!!

[@EdHeinzelman]

according to the Fender site: Auxillary Switching: Push-Push Tone Control Adds Neck Pickup

[@Ace8Three]

My favourite strat tone of the 70's is Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow 🌈

[@matthewwilson9749]

Knopfler is the Chet Atkins of the rock 'n' roll era.