The Ultimate HSS "STRAT" Comparison! - Fender, Yamaha, Schecter, and Vola!

Looking for an HSS guitar? If not, maybe you should be! They are one of the most versatile pickup configurations around, and offer a ton of tones!
Today I demo and compare 4 awesome choices!
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[@wriglarzzz]

Love your videos Darrel. Thank you for getting me into building guitars and playing again. I almost gave up.

[@tammycoates7816]

One of my favorite guitar channels! Darrell needs to write a couple of his own songs in my opinion.

[@Armando1228]

I agree and share the same sentiments I haven't played in almost 12 years with the hustle and everyday life as a dad and husband I fell out of love for playing. But sometimes an inspiring video just makes the heart yearn and this just did it for me .

[@caseylee12]

In the words of Captain Peter Quincy Taggart, ''Never give up! Never surrender! ''

[@kevinsullivanTCR]

Darrell when are you going to do a video review of the Nick Johnston Schecter? You’ve done every other schecter please do that one next! 🎸🔥

[@arn999]

My first electric guitar, in the 90s, was an HSS Pacifica like this one, but in a natural finish with a black pickguard. Solid guitar!

[@calumjohnson6012]

Bought a nick Johnston a few months ago and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The thing plays like a dream!

[@stevegardiner8473]

I have a Pacifica, but I think Fender always comes out on top for me. I was hearing the Fender as being fuller and warmer. Definitely the Fender for me in this shootout.

[@WarrenPostma]

I love my Pacifica. Inexpensive and it rocks.

[@wilma7612]

Me too

[@jeshurancalistus6966]

Yes buddy me too

[@benrimmington3519]

Same here loving out so far. I thought they all coil split though?

[@aldahirlopez3757]

my first guitar was a Pacifica and it rocked, sadly it doesn't work anymore but I really fant to revive it

[@marksemeja179]

Agreed! Its so well made and sounds so good!

[@aaronurdapilleta]

I own a NJ Signature Traditional SSS and is unbelievably good!! I love it!!

[@nordicomsystems8841]

How do those Diamond single coils sound? I really want the HSS version, just waiting for the Atomic Frost model to come into stock at my home store.

[@rodrigogouveia6368]

That fender hits different, yamaha looks nice tho

[@neilh4729]

To my ears I would rank them: 1. Yamaha 2. Fender 3. Schecter 4. Vola I almost bought a Pacifica, but the feel of it put me off. It definitely felt a bit rough.

[@silverbrada9735]

Yamaha 112V!!!

[@DatBoi-mo9vc]

Always check back with those brands every couple of years, qc usually catches up after a while, hell look at squier

[@wilkinsos]

I would rank them upside down : )

[@rockdonzamond3998]

Today was a good day, I totally lucked into a 2005 mex strat hss for $200. It looks and plays and sounds awesome, a big upgrade from my Stagg L400 and my old Bullet strat. Now I'm in love and can't put Fendora down.

[@marc8vino]

My best HSS is a Strat Elite with Burstbucker 3 pickup 4 wire that splits. S1 switching that does 5 additional tones + the coil splitting Humbucker and a blow push/push button. That's 14 basic pickup selections but I really only use 7. It's white with white pearl pickup guard, maple neck. It needed a fret end dressing 2 times before it finally stabilized. Now it plays great but it was one of the worst fret sprouting I had out of 40 guitars. A couple of charvels were even worse. Yamaha Pacifica PAC612 run $650 and are very nice. I have the 611 with trem and a P90 pleked and set up by Sweetwater and plays perfect. I never needed to address any fret sprouting on the Yamaha 611. I sanded the back of the neck on the pacifica to take some of the lacquer off and I like it even more.

[@marc8vino]

OH I almost overlooked my moded Fender parallel universe tele HSS with a Thornbucker, kept the middle pickup that's a tele bridge pickup, and put a P-90 in the neck. special control plate that splits the humbucker and a toggle switch to add in the neck in any position. 5 way switch. No load tone pots and 500K all pots. I just roll back tone and volume when wanting a more 250K tone. I put med jumbo SS frets so I had to put on a new nut and longer saddle bolts to get them high enough. Custom pickguard. This one just needed a touch up on the fret ends. Very cool and unique tones. It was a lot to finally have my luthier finish. I had to take it back 4 times before it was all done.

[@caseylee12]

Until yesterday (8-7-21) the only hss strat I had was a Squier Affinity, and it was surprising pretty good. I've been looking for an upgrade, playing guitars ranging in price from $600-$2500. And what did I buy? The Schecter Nick Johnston hss in atomic coral. FANTASTIC guitar! It outplayed almost every other guitar I played, with the exception of one, and at ONE QUARTER the price, it was a no brainer. Plus, I always wanted a pink guitar. Thanks for the review, D!

[@teddoucet7323]

I had a Pacifica a few years ago, and with a couple of upgrades and fret work, it played as good if not better than any strat. Love your stuff, Darrell

[@peterthanasse1321]

It has been mentioned a few times, but I will add my voice to the “You need to demo a Godin Session HT” (new model with no trem). I own a 2015 Session and it is better than any MIM Fender Strat I have ever played. Dollar for dollar, the Godin Session is very hard to beat. You need to contact Godin to get one to try & show to your viewers. It’s you duty as a Canadian!

[@malcolmreed3742]

Fantastic guitar. I've owned a Session since 2012

[@sweetchiliyeet]

I'm convinced for the price godins can't be beat. Godin core CT was my first real guitar

[@turntablesrockmyworld9315]

Godin's are awesome! But I've played a few side by side to Yamahas and Yams win the day, especially for price. But Godin is the "undiscovered" gem!

[@greghobbs1728]

He don't do Godin. I wonder what's up.

[@srvlama]

This is more of a request, really. I would really like to see a review of the Yamaha Pacifica 612V (Mark II) in a similar HSS guitar comparison video. Thank you Darrel! Your videos are really amazing.

[@jirapatthaenphromrat2910]

Ibanez: Am I a joke to you?

[@bluepedalsrock9271]

Love Ibanez very much, but they don’t seem to explore the HSS world as much as I’d like.

[@paupuvaiphei2366]

@@bluepedalsrock9271 the az series are very enchanting

[@marchelele]

The talman series does, but more like sss and telecaster type

[@DrErickLopez]

The Ibanez that compares to these fall under the $1,1000+ range unfortunately

[@generalawareness101]

@@bluepedalsrock9271 A lot of players I know despise that middle pickup because that is where their palm goes. I am brand new so beats me but what makes them so special if they are going to get in the way?

[@austinledley]

Darrel I have never learned about guitars from anyone else more than you. Your videos have inspired me to build my own tele deluxe-style guitar. I’ll let you know how it goes!

[@derekhurteau1602]

I play an Ibanez AZ premium HSS guitar. It's really an incredible guitar. Best neck I have ever played.

[@ransi_07]

Thass my dream guitar right there...

[@passenger128]

That Schecter wins it for me, gotta have one!

[@9unslin9er]

Get your ears checked.

[@antonioacosta8583]

Cletus Kasady news flash! Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion😘

[@patriclus83]

@@9unslin9er I think you need to get your ears checked.

[@alanshadyvally]

I love the feel of the schec but the pick ups suck.

[@Lowtech14]

@@9unslin9er I think they all sound the same

[@thesullivanstreetproject]

I totally agree with you on the sounds of each guitar. I was floored by how much I liked the sound of the Yamaha. I'll stick with my Fender for sure, but if a friend wants a guitar to start learning, I might just recommend the Pacifica.

[@Allguitarinfo]

Great guitars

[@brentparks3669]

Fender, Shec, Vola, Yamaha in that order to me. But they all sounded good and performed well, not a whole lot of difference between them. So this just shows that with a good amp, you can get great sounds out of the cheapest guitars.

[@sasunmontu]

Had a HSS Japanese Contemporary Strat back in the late 80's. Loved the tones I could get out of it. Didn't like the flat fret board, and thin neck, at first, but I persisted with it because the sounds that it made. Unfortunately it got stolen. Well maybe it was my fault for advertising it so much, I was young and liked it loud.

[@mattaffliction]

I feel like G&L should've been in this comparison.

[@TomMilleyMusic]

I've been pretty happy with my Godin Session HSS. I have a few Godin HSH guitars as well, and I kinda turn them into HSS in a way. I remove the slug pole pieces from the neck humbucker, and leave the screw pieces. That way I can still adjust the screws for better string balance, and it sounds closer to a single coil, but a bit fatter/darker, and quieter still, and still has decent output and compression. Personally I'd like them all the pickups to be hum canceling, but I like the single in the middle looks wise over 3 buckers, and I like the tone of a single coil in the middle for the in between positions, and I happen to really like the tone of a middle single coil. I also made a no load pot for a blend knob so when I'm on the bridge or bridge/middle, I can blend the neck. If I'm on the neck or neck and middle, then I can add the bridge. And I can take the blend out of the circuit too. Smaller value cap on the tone control so it acts almost like a mid boost when rolled down (due to the resonant peak shift) and a treble bleed on the volume so it still sounds nice rolled down and cleans up better(for my taste anyway). It's the most versatile setup I've come across, with minimal/passive mods that pretty much anyone can do.

[@stephenshoihet2590]

My first electric guitar was a Pacifica 112J that i ended up getting for free because it was missing the pickup selector and the guy had just twisted the wires together and was using it to play rocksmith. I've since replaced the bridge and middle pickup with fender tex mex pups and might replace the bridge with a pearly gates some time.

[@robbyatmaja6896]

Yamaha's entry level HSS guitaras always amazed me... Yamaha first, Fender second. That's it. And that's enough for me.

[@sigitbacok6135]

Robby Atmaja, But Fender the first product in Stratocaster and other is the copy from Fender. Fender have 2 tone.

[@Yuel_YT]

I'm curious about the trem system will it like mess up the tone bigtime when it comes to using the whammy bar?

[@harrychiekoishikawa1150]

@@Yuel_YT I have a Yamaha Pacifica 012, and it's the only guitar other than my fender strat with a floyd rose that stays in tune with the trem

[@robbyatmaja6896]

@@sigitbacok6135 yep, i know. But in this comparison, Yamaha's Pacifica, the 112j, is the cheapest while it has the best sound for me. That's why I'm putting it as the first of my option. While the Fender... Because i like the sound as my second best

[@robbyatmaja6896]

@@Yuel_YT I'm sorry i can't give you the answer because i never had that kind of problem. My Indonesian made entry level Pacifica 112j always stays in tune

[@ransombaggins9301]

I'd love to see a comparison of the Yamaha Pacifica 612 HSS and the Schecter Nick Johnston you have there. Two GREAT guitars and great values.

[@lolRoffel3]

I have modded my HSH Ibanez RG series to a HSS - it now has a P90 in the neck position and it really rocks!

[@rafaelbaffinidecastro7305]

My recommendation for HSS guitars: Godin Session. Incredible good value, USA/Canada made, awesome finishing and coil split. I love Yamahas, I have one, but it needs some fret finishing and upgrades to feel great.

[@Valkanry]

Godin guitars are great, they feel like underdogs.

[@PhillipAlcock]

My son has a Godin. Great guitar. You’d think a Canadian would test one!

[@whichadrian]

I played a Godin Session Ltd at the guitar store a few weeks ago, and holy moly what a sensual guitar!!

[@Joshua-xm1hk]

what about the godin progression

[@wildlifereferencephotos3760]

I have a Godin Freeway Classic. Sold my US Fender Strat when I realised the Godin was better

[@sohamsengupta6470]

I love the warmth of the Yamaha and the Fender, and I prefer the styling of the Yamaha, so I'd say that is very good value for money indeed

[@OneCornerstone]

My go-to is an HSH, the Godin SDxt and it is the smoothest, most versatile guitar I’ve played. All North American made, super tone, and amazing trem system.

[@vanshankguitars]

I purchased a gently used Pacifica last year a gifted it to my son for Christmas. After a good cleaning and full setup, it sounded just great for the 85$ I paid for it.

[@droliver]

Schecter has the whole far east manufacturing thing nailed. They make a fantastic guitar, and that Nick Johnston signature model is a ridiculous value at around $600-700

[@butteredbiskit3497]

I was about to say! The Vola is a close second.

[@electropentatonic]

Except they're 900 dollars

[@ghsf1234]

​@@electropentatonic yeah right now. Have you missed what happened over the last few months? The OP commented 2 years ago.

[@spiral-m]

I've got a schecter hss (orange - it cost € 1059 and has just gone up but there are some new in other colours for about 900) right now and it is great. I love the neck. The volume pot crackles and have heard other reports of this. Did you have this? Only downside. Shouldn't be the case at this price point!! I guess Thomann would get it sorted under guarantee. It is more balanced than the 2 pacifica 612v2 I tried, I assume because of the SD pickup and staggering arrangement. The G was too loud and BE far too quiet for me

[@fernieboy6195]

Was about to say the same thing 😝

[@gagemcdonald9393]

I LOVE my Nick Johnston HSS sig model. The neck single coil is the best neck pickup I've ever played. Great demos Darrell! Love watching your videos bro!

[@gaile2845]

I mostly come here just to listen to you play. And, occasionally, I learn something.

[@SingleMaltMac]

I have an HSS Fender Strat Customer Shop. It was one of the MLB All-Star guitars they made two years ago when the All-Star Game was in Cleveland. It is painted to commemorate my beloved Milwaukee Brewers! Shawbucker in the bridge and Gen 3 Noiseless for singles and I love it. It is my pride and joy!

[@Thaumanaut]

Dude, your videos are the most engaging, informative, entertaining and personable I've ever seen. Thank you so much for what you do and the way you do it. Would love to see you review maybe a couple Michael Kelly 1960's Series HSS's with the Epic Eleven Mod switching system to see and hear what you think. On it's way to me now is one of their Mod Shop 67 Duncan models. Hope you are well and long may you run!!

[@FishersofMen68]

I am a beginner, and I chose the Fender Stratocaster HSS Performer series guitar for it's versatility of sounds. Having the ability to split the Humbucker into two single pickups is a bonus. I subscribe to your channel for videos like this. Maybe someday I will play like you!

[@seanbarker6478]

My hss guitar used to be a Washburn superstrat, but after nearly 30 years of gigging etcetera . I Only Have one back plate of the original guitar. What it is now is completely custom made due to accidents and wear and tear. I had the headstock break behind the nut first, then a new neck made, about 10 years ago the body cracked at the vibrato post holes so it has a new body. Replacement tuners vibrato, pickups wiring etcetera.

[@cjgrasser759]

I finally sprung for a Fender Elite HSS that I love. It has more options than you can shack a stick at but i love playing it. I can't say I every used every option but I look forward to trying them all in the future. I love your videos.

[@dpajc056]

To my ear the fender sounds the best. Vola is very good too though. The schecter looks damn good too. Yamaha great value guitar no doubt

[@JimmyMitchell-Lucky]

The Fender sounded the best to me also, buys it subjective I guess!!! I’m guessing that is a Mexican Strat????

[@guitarequalsawesome5667]

@@JimmyMitchell-Lucky i think its a 1700 dollar American guitar

[@adwitatherealadwita]

Never thought you'd review the Johnston Traditional model. Very cool!

[@cosasDEguitarra]

A versatile HSS strat is the ESP SNAPPER AS Burner 20 different sounds without counting on the tone wheel... you have to test it!!!!!

[@adamconnor3002]

The Vola is super impressive! (Only watched the intro so far) ;]

[@foggyblues13]

I totally want one!

[@sethmurphy3374]

I have the Yamaha and I love it I’ve had it for a year and it’s still my favorite

[@Marta1Buck]

correction: pacifica is made in Indonesia, just read the back of the headstock.

[@rifqiandmarychain]

Yep

[@EdCoombesDogs]

Yep I did think mines not made in china

[@jeshurancalistus6966]

Yep it says it in the back of the headstock

[@Bagledog5000]

I've got two, both are from Indonesia. One of the reasons I bought them was they weren't, made in China. Their higher end instruments are still made in Japan. Humbucker bridge and P90 neck, and single humbucker for my guitars. They're further up the cost scale than the one Darrell was playing, great guitars for the money at any stage IMO.

[@Marta1Buck]

and they're likely to be made in cort factory lol

[@TheBigtrev1234]

I have had my Yamaha Pacifica (violin sunburst - looks INCREDIBLE) for a few months. As an entry level electric player, I have absolutely LOVED how playable it is, how it feels to hold, and, of course, how it sounds!! Thank you for another absolutely AMAZING video!

[@jonhornbeck4324]

Peavey Predator has been my main guitar for over 10 years. HSS, in position 2, full-on humbucker w/center pickup. Still very quickly sounding. Neck has some figuring, with a Rosewood fingerboard. Great guitar.

[@MrBeblis]

The most important factor is playability and feel

[@sicario7738]

...why did I like the Yamaha sound more? I also liked how you just skipped the middle pickup

[@pastorkev777]

I use the middle pickup a ton. For me it is great, my main strats have a lipstick tube in the middle.

[@matibrandrock]

Yamaha guitars are pretty great most of the time. I have the Yamaha revstar and it's awesome, although I wish I could add the coil split on it to make it more versatile

[@dogfalcon]

Darrell should use a 612VII Pacifica for a fair comparison.

[@MrBouledecul]

I have two of them and I prefer them to 1200$ guitars I had and sold

[@MrBouledecul]

@@pastorkev777 I have lowered the middle pick up on my main pacifica to kinda emulate an acoustic guitar sound. I also use this pick up a lot for teaching since it's very clear sounding.

[@countblue]

I got 2 HSS guitars one is my Ibanez SA 260FM which I bought because of one of your videos, I am very happy with it. The other one is an Aria "Legend" Strat which I modified with Pickups from Ultrassonic. This one is actually a HHH because the Single coils are humbuckers in singlecoil shape and the bridge humbucker is a true humbucker. This one is of course completly silent and humfree. Both sound totally different.

[@jeremiahcastillo4609]

I sold my Ibanez RG and PRS SE semi-hollow to pay for some college expenses awhile back. Jumped back into building a rig and picked a hss guitar because of your other video on the differences in guitars and have been learning so much from this channel.

[@picksalot1]

My favorite tones were from the Yamaha, hands down. Next was the Fender, then the Schecter and Vola tied. I had no idea that I preferred Ceramic pickups by that much. Thanks

[@aaronlouis2049]

A high end pacifica (the 612 vii) would honestly beat all the other guitars. And it retails for half the price of the other guitars, only 649 USD!!! It is such an underrated guitar imo, considering that it offers high end specs for that price. I would love to see Darrell do a review on it.

[@Mamo878]

Yes, and he should also compare the 612 to the Fender Deluxe Stratocaster HSS ($825) and Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS ($1150), they all have a coil split switch and 22 frets. That would be a cool comparison review.

[@troyspencer712]

Im currently considering it. Locking tuners, Seymour duncan pickups, nice flame top and matching headstock, for about 300 dollars less than a player series fender. Just have to look past the Yamaha pacifica on the headstock as the cheaper models seem to be much more commonly represented. Not that it sounded or looked bad as seen here.

[@aaronlouis2049]

@@troyspencer712 you should really consider buying it. It's almost perfect for me, the only thing that's missing is stainless steel frets. But you can always take it to a luthier to replace the nickel frets with stainless steel frets once they wear out.

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

The 1980s Japanese Pacificas are the ones to get. There was even a USA model from their custom shop but that would command big bucks !!

[@greekfreak1980]

Yes, I´m telling this for ages that people are sleeping on the 612 and the 611 (the model with the P-90 neck pickup) Yamahas. These guitars give you amazing value for money.

[@AsgLog]

I've got a Fender S American deLuxe. It's got a Shawbucker, and I love the whole package : Compound neck, locking tuners,roller nut, noiseless pups, rounded neck heel , more options w pup configuration, and one knob for going straight to the bucker without going into tone/volumecontrol

[@adammichaelchannel]

Very impressed with the Pacifica at 6:42. The gain seems more saturated by comparison.

[@norberto0217]

You should compare a 612 yamaha that is in the same price range of the others

[@mctech4783]

Yet still the 112 can hold his own against expensive guitars. I mean it doesnt even has AlNiCo. I guess he use it cus is about HSS. Should have been a 112V or a 212VFM or a 312

[@LesAventuresDeTigRRe]

I have a Yam 212VM and I am soooo happy with it. Still a beginner on the electric but man! What a great instrument for the price!

[@zafferooni]

Four years after shipping only 100 to the USA (in 2016), Yamaha are now sending more 612VIIs over. I happen to know GC has 14 of them on the way this month, and one of them has my name on it! Looking forward to a Yamaha 612vii in black, with all the essential upgrades, including three Seymour Duncan pickups (SSL-1, SSL-1, and a Custom 5 humbucker in the bridge that's splittable), Grover locking tuners, Graph Tech Black TUSQ nut, Wilkinson trem... I can't wait to hold that baby in my hands and plug it in! GC screwed up an earlier order of mine, so they knocked a hundo off the sticker price, down from $650 to $550, plus tax. I bet you it would hold its ground against the Schecter and Fenders (non-Custom Shop).

[@moldypj]

@@zafferooni I have a yamaha 611 here in Australia. It is stunning with split/tap coils it is very versatile. Tone is amazing with the Seymor Duncan pickups and you can adjust pole heights if you want warm/bright which you can not do easily on alot of these strats. To me the yamaha 611 is more like a super strat it makes strats look like old junk.

[@Chewee394]

While the pacificas are great guitars, i've got my eye on the revstar 520 before i get a pacifica

[@Lloyd_Christmas11]

The fender sounds the best. Especially on the single coil position 5

[@layonsalas5046]

I’m was thinking about to get the Yamaha as my first e-guitar. Perfect timing for this video :)

[@captaintony1227]

For the money you can't go wrong .

[@Lloyd_Christmas11]

get a better guitar, you'll thank yourself in the long run

[@Marta1Buck]

112j is what's in this video, you can get 112v for coil split like Schecter. A little bit more expensive. I haven't seen any complaints in the long run.

[@Don_Kinho]

Go for it bro! I chose once a Pacifica 112j as my second guitar, and after a little love I gave to her (pickups and locking tuner basically) it became an awesome guitar!

[@rizkyansyahaditya6726]

If you want to spend a bit more, you can get 612vfm. it comes with SD custom 5 on the bridge, 2 SD ssl-1 on neck and middle, graphtech nut, willkinson bridge, and grover locking tuner, all in 1 package

[@Lucasadamrau]

Did you do a dedicated review of the Schecter? If not, PLEASE PLEASE do one. Love your channel, Darrell.

[@dougreid1951]

The High end Yam Pacificas - 3, 6 and 8 series are well worth checking out - genuine top end kit

I used one which I borrowed it's good but not the strat feel not enough twang which is famous for strat

[@zafferooni]

@ not sure what pickups you've used on strats, and what sounds you've heard from them, but generally the word "twang" is associated with telecasters- but you can use twangy pickups on strats and Yamaha Pacificas.

@@zafferooni I don't know man I used to play my friends strata he is kind of the strat dude but the sound was quite twangy not as much of a tele but reminesent

[@josephwilson5951]

I’ve got a Michael Kelly 1960CC HSS and I love it so much, it plays like butter and wasn’t too expensive, (only $1000 Australian)

[@steves12strings]

Great job as usual! I just bought a Yamaha 112V and updated the wiring and pickups. 59/Custom hybrid bridge, hot vintage middle and cool rails neck. Fully planned to sell it but....yeah...it's staying here.

[@hotjamsm07]

I live in Thailand and i bought a Paramount Strat HSS. It cost around $200 US. It's a functional guitar that fits my functional playing. Sounds ok, plays nice, overall an ok value. I don't know where it's made.

[@debiach9241]

China 😄

[@lucagambetta5842]

The video I was searching for, great! A more fair comparison would be with the Yamaha Pacifica 612, with Seymour Duncan pickups and locking tuners.

[@stanguest7327]

The others are ok and maybe I'm just old school but its Fender all the way with me. I have a Fender Elite Strat and it plays and sounds great.

[@sv1201]

Agreed. My Elite HSS is the best sounding (and most versatile) guitar in my collection.

[@9MAYHEM6]

Nah, my charvel pro mod dk24 Hss smokes those fenders in every way possible if we're being honest here.

[@neilbaldacchino3524]

Great video as always. However, the pacifica actually goes up to around 700 bucks for the high end version with seymour duncans, wilkinson trem and grover lockers. Would love to see a review of that one.

[@thewhiskeycowboy-official]

I liked the Pacifica and the Fender the best. But I tend to run my electric with tone all the way down, and I play with my fingers and not a pick. That shows my preference in sound. What is my current guitar? A Pacifica. It should also be said that most guitars can end up sounding the same if you adjust your amps accordingly. Cheers!

[@deezee8508]

This would have been a golden opportunity to demo the godin session... 😆

[@bluematrix5001]

The Pacifica and the Fender sound the best by far!

[@sexyguitarboy69]

Yamaha used to make a lot of different Pacifica models, from el cheapo to upmarket. The Pacifica 921 is the top of the line model - not just another HSS guitar. It's really great in every aspect and was still more affordable than a US Fender. It cannot be compared in the least with the entry level 112 model. It's much more expensive, but also so much better.

[@fredbloggs42]

I have a Godin Progression Plus, made in Canada - HSS - mini-Seymour Duncan humbucker. Also has Godin's active voicing button (they call it HDR) so you can switch from passive to active to get more bite - on any of the five switch settings. Beautiful workmanship, nice flat neck (I think it's 12" radius) . Awesome guitar. Under $1,000 Canadian .

[@daveyponderosa9549]

Hey buddy, do you still LOVE your Godin? I ask because I’ve been looking at that guitar as well. I do love Godin. I’ve got a Godin 5th Ave ii and I LOVE IT, they are fantastic guitars

[@RC32Smiths01]

Man, all of these brands are insanely awesome, it's genuinely hard to choose! Really amazing and worthwhile comparison here man!

[@daveyponderosa9549]

Agreed Buddy, I want them all! 🤣🤷🏼‍♂️

[@NoUploadJustComment]

Why does the Yamaha sound the best? Fender is a close second.

[@larryfleming7295]

i was thinking it sounded better myself...those Yamahas' are nice

[@Ronno4691]

Daz, your playing gets more and more slick, melodic and pleasing to the ear with each new video.

[@jeremyacton4569]

My first ever electric guitar, bought at age 48, was a second hand Cort G110 HSS Strat, black finish, white pick guard, and its a player,. I only had to sort the loose wobble in the trem bar with a nut and rubber washer, to get it how I prefer it.

[@grene1955]

The Strat and the Pacifica both sounded great, especially in position 2. The other 2 fell really short for me...whimpy sounding when clean. Didn't work at all for me...

[@jazzcat1056]

I’d go Vola. Looks amazing

[@VictorscherrerBrasil]

I also have a Strat Select HSS. The reason why its single-coils sound dark is because the poles are made of AlNiCo 2 (kind of uncommon for Strats). Bridge pickup is AlNiCo 5. Few weeks ago I sent my strat for a fret leveling, and because I had no money to buy new pickups but I was missing the "chimeness", my tech suggested me to replace the pots from 250k to 500k. I got no chime, however the guitar brought some mid-high/high freqs (I believe something around 3-5KHz), so that tip can be useful if other Select Strat owners want to get a more cutting sound from those PUs.

[@danyeo]

I played an Indonesian made Schecter NJ strat today and I couldn’t believe how well put together it is. It played better than USA strats they had in the store. For me at least I like the big frets, ebony board, and flatter radius.

[@curefan28]

I agree. I have a Schecter Demon 6 and the neck is absolutely perfect to me. By far the most playable guitar I own. This Schecter looks like the same neck specs, but roasted maple. Unless the Fender blew me away in person, I'm going Schecter all the way here.

[@besirnakiboglu6037]

Damn loved that schecter, i was planning on buying a US made hss from schecter

[@dennisapplegate7553]

Cant go wrong with that

[@physiciansplaza6557]

I'm surprised at the comments here as a player of 35 years and I own a custom shop strat and I thought the Schecter smoked them all in this video.

[@timwhite5562]

Man, even though these are all pretty much the same design, I can hear the Fender right away, after the first few notes I can tell right away.

[@Stoffendous]

Fender is just magic

[@ralex3697]

Fender is it for me

[@nordicomsystems8841]

The Kramer Focus VT-211S is only $129.00 and it's actually not bad at all. It even has a treble bleed circuit. Cool video man, I stopped by to check out the Nick Johnston signature. I've been scoping that one out for a while now but it's never in stock where I buy my guitars.

[@sinisterj73]

I just bought the Schecter NJ (atomic green) and it is now my favorite guitar.

[@willtato8778]

I'd consider the Yamaha the most OG out of the 4. My pick goes to it.

[@tomaslopez2940]

5:05 I thought the HSS trend was started by the superstrat (Jackson, Charvel, Kramer, etc)

[@TacoInvader69]

They were mostly just a bucker in the bridge nothing else no?

[@kristianwensaas5384]

Proud owner of a Music Man Cutlass HSS. Pickups sucked big time with our 230V /50Hz supply - replaced them with DiMarzio's Area58, Area67 and PAF PRO. Huge improvement, totally quiet from hum. PAF pro also got a 3 way switch to toggle serial humbucker, single coil and parallel humbucker.

[@gordonperry763]

hi I built my own a $20.00 casino strat copy badly modded. I fitted generic locking tuners and bridge, a HSS pick guard assembly which I added dimazio super distortion and in middle spot a sd hot for strat , neck pick up is orig chinese one, also plit coiled the dimazio, custom paint job and it rocks

[@Steven_SK]

I wouldn’t kick any of them out of bed.... but I’d marry the Fender!

[@edwinstovall3334]

Darrell, I noticed something during your tones showcase: Some of the single coil positions sounded brighter than others, but I noticed some fret buzz along with the additional brightness. Since starting to set up and work on my own guitars, I've noticed that the setup really influences the eventual tone. I wonder if the additional brightness of those guitars would fade if the action was raised or the relief increased. Such small adjustments would not affect the feel of the guitars very much -- probably not enough to feel. I'd like to know some of those details, but I understand that this sort of thing is too "techy" to do a vid on, and I'm only mildly curious at most. Just sayin'!😎❤️️🎸‼️

[@50Something]

I noticed the fret buzz too!

[@adey_baby]

I've modded a MIC Fender Telecaster (modern player) from its standard HSS configuration to now have neck-on, series/parallel SD HB, a splitable middle hot rail so I get heaps of tones and also a rock monster. Only guitar I need.

[@timphillips9874]

I own the 2013 Fender Select. When I first picked it up I knew I was going to buy it. It looks and sounds so good that I feel lucky to own it. Bought it new for $1,800. I also own a 2010 Schecter Solo Special made in Korea. I bought it new on close-out for $375. It feels and sounds equally as good as the Fender. My first electric guitar was an Ibanez I purchased in 1986 with the speed neck. Amazing guitar that I recently gave to my brother in law. Made in Japan and I paid around $600 for it. Buy the guitar that you can afford that sounds and feels the way you want it to, regardless of where it is made.

[@Bloosee]

The Fender crushed it in all positions. Not a fair fight. Amazing that the Pacifica sounded so good.

[@toemasmeems]

my heart is saying "WHERE'S THE CUTLASS BRO!?"

[@lordmanshaft1112]

It's tough to have EBMMs in these types of shootouts since the ergonomics are so drastically different to basically every other brand. Amazing guitars though

[@toemasmeems]

@@lordmanshaft1112 the cutlass was Leo fenders take on the newer and improved strat after he left Fender. I think that EBMMs are hard to include for shootouts because they are like 2.5K! Lol

[@irka8298]

@@toemasmeems nah. It was kinda experimental still. He came back to the original body shape with a few tweaks for modern playability when he founded g&l with fullerton. Nothing beats a classic 😉

[@georgel2519]

Yep, the Schecter does it for me on cleans. And it also sounds huge on dirt as well. Nice comparison

[@betterbsure]

I have two fender elites, an SSS and an HSS both 2016 models and both sound, feel and play amazing with an infinite amount of tonal variety.

[@daggercatz7297]

Idk why I'm watching this Video, I already know what guitar I'm gonna get

[@trashpigeon1164]

What guitar did you get?

[@daggercatz7297]

@@trashpigeon1164 I didnt get it yet but in a few months Ill probably get myself a nice Tokai Strat

[@pierrepaul7342]

It's seems to me that Fender is far above the others concerning the sound, except maybe for the humbucker. The Pacifica sounds great for a low budget guitar. The Schecter is well made but the sound of the single coils is too narrow, too shy... The Vola ? Too expensive for the very poor sound of the single coils, without any deepness,IMOO. Great video anyway, always very interesting. Hi from France, Darrel !

[@gregolson5089]

I have an HSS 1996 lone star fender strat... 2 Texas special singlecoils and pearly gates humbucker.... absolutely love it!

[@stevefoster707]

Hi I have a Vintage V6 hss I bought it as back up to my fender hss but now use it in preference. It was under £300 but the finish, hardware and pickups sons and feel better and better quality. Love the show keep up the good work Steve