Why I STOPPED Playing A Strat...

Many have asked why I stopped playing my Fender Stratocaster ... here's why.
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#Strat #Stratocaster #BenEunson #GuitarSolo #Shred #ShredGuitar #Fender

[@beneunson]

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[@hankevans7890]

Completely abandoning all strats just because the one you happen to own isn’t any good is very illogical. I’ve owned many strats in my lifetime and some were great and some weren’t. The same with the gibsons, Ibanezes, charvels, etc that I’ve owned. I currently own 1 Strat, 1 les Paul and 1 charvel. These are the ones that were amazing. All the others I got rid of.

[@oldgoattheantichrist3468]

Fenders are massively overrated, as bad as Gibson these days. Schecter and ESP put out better guitars with more features and less $$$.

[@flyonwall360]

The best Strat I ever owned was actually a "Super Strat". It was a Hamer Chaparral Custom. It was the one that got away.

[@e7thstar]

The best strat I own is an ibanez prestige

[@e7thstar]

Fender strats are pretty shit

[@MajorDook1]

Yeah, what a silly-billy.

[@jonathanromero5292]

At 4:38 you mention sound being the most important thing but I think the feel of a neck is more important then sound when you can switch out any of the electrical factors after the neck and playing the instrument itself. Love your work, love your videos Ben.

[@AlexJordanzeit]

I absolutely agree

[@jayrobb9]

I'm a total hack player, borderline incompetent, but I feel the same way. Sound (tone) can be chased and found, feel can not. It's either there in an instrument or it ain't.

[@lesterpaul9657]

I think you can get used to any neck shape. What you need is a proper adjustment.

[@michaelwilson2340]

I'm a bass guy but years ago I wanted to be well rounded so I traded a Crate P- Bass copy for a Schecter SGR guitar. It never FELT right to me and I didn't like those humbuckers for my more simplstic style of playing. Last year I finally got fed up with it and bought a simple Epiphone Les Paul copy for a whopping $140.00. Not expensive but I love the short scale neck. It's so comfortable to me and despite being inexpensive it just feels right. And I love those odd single coil pickups as well.

[@Gregorypeckory]

Whatever you think is most important is correct for you. Whatever Ben or anyone else thinks is important is also correct for them.

[@DoctorDave5]

I’ve had a Strat for 33 years and it feels like part of my body. It’s not perfect and I do have other electric guitars but I can’t lie, I always come back to the Strat. It’s the one.

[@DoctorDave5]

@Baldspot yeah exactly

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

I understand, my only gripe is that it always sounds exactly like a strat.

[@zeromath20]

For me it's my Jazzmaster. Even tho it's got it's fair share of problems it's the only guitar that I feel is the one for me

[@DoctorDave5]

@@zeromath20 I like my Jazzmaster too, I just wish it would stay in tune!🤣👍

[@Teachering]

"...no other guitar in the universe actually does what the strat can do. I think we all agree on that." Jeff Beck: Esquire Fender Interview.

[@verycalmgamer4090]

You being able to hold a light smile while talking is both creepy and comforting.

[@chrise.3814]

Kind of a trademark of the LGBTQIA2S community

[@mongooseman6717]

Strats are like a difficult good looking woman, aggravating at times but you just can’t let them go.

[@davidpenwell3432]

The whole point of a bolt on neck is so you can change the neck... so change the neck and move on

[@danielswaim5566]

"The Strat is an odd choice for improvisational playing," said literally only this person

[@washywashie]

I’m in an alternative/punk band and I have an HSS strat with the bridge humbucker. It’s so god damn versatile I love it

[@wilfredmcgillicuddy7902]

I'll be burried with my favourite black strat in my arms! :)

[@basildog007]

To me it's the opposite. So much so that I know it's no use buying anything else than a strat... I recently bought my first Les Paul Custom Shop and it's great, I got a Metheny Ibanez, a Semihollow AS2000, Yamaha Revstar, Gibson SG, Ibanez RG, whatever guitar, the strat always end up being the one. Yet it's not the most comfortable or easy to setup (especially with the vintage truss rod in the neck pocket...), but still, it's the most addictive guitar. Second is Telecasters.

[@eddaymusic]

Agreed bud 😎

[@e7thstar]

The fk? The strat is a horrible instrument. Go play a real guitar...that is an ibanez prestige

[@e7thstar]

I have 1 indonesian 99 squier fat strat with 60s neck/head I have a Mexican candy green apple strat. And I have an American showcase quilted maple strat....they're all shit.

[@e7thstar]

Also, I have a custom Nashville telecaster...that sht is even worse than the strat, like I said , go buy a Prestige or 4

[@jayfender4486]

@@e7thstar 🤣🤣🤣🤣🙄ok

[@daveschellenberg5894]

this is silly. you don't have to break up with a guitar. play what u want when u want to.

[@phillipholt6005]

What is your point?

[@snappy-strat-snacks1551]

Everyone embarks on their own journey. A Strat will always accompany me on mine.

[@davejohnsonmusic]

I think the chimey Strat tone suits your style and adds more character and grit to your lines honestly, compared to your current axe. I mean you're a phenomenal player regardless, so really it just comes down to which degree of badass you want to be.

[@romeou4965]

Agreed tone-wise, but to wear a semi-hollow you have to be virtuoso like John scofield and Julian Lage…and Ben E. is just that!

[@djizzah]

Just sounds like scales this guy should try some melodic lines

[@slimsantilli4476]

My G&L Legacy makes me happy.

[@jrockofages5413]

S500 deluxe

[@kevindean1327]

I have an old 3 bolt legacy special G&l are top tier guitars!!!!

[@SonicVirtualizer]

I have to mention that for someone who is completely new to this channel the title is clickbate. It should really be, "The end of MY strat?" and not "The end of THE strat?" Yes, that one small word makes a big difference.

[@TSmith911]

You don’t have to play one, it’s not mandatory.

[@adrianbottomley3146]

each to his own, thank god

[@abrigospardos]

I still believe the Strat is a masterpiece of guitar design. Then of course there's the characteristic nasal tone, which I love. But I understand the beauty of humbucker pickup sounds too. One thing I know for sure is that I'll never get rid of my Strat, it's really comfortable to play, with its low action and contoured body, and it sounds fantastic. But then again, you may run into Strats (and any other guitars, in fact) that don't feel the same. Every guitar is unique, even those which are (or should be) theoretically identical.

[@LS-335]

Yeah that bell chime sound you get from a bridge single coil is hard to beat

[@robertdiehl1281]

@@LS-335 …agreed

[@verycalmgamer4090]

using the same logic. what is the telecaster like? (genuine question)

[@abrigospardos]

@@verycalmgamer4090 Unfortunately I've never owned a Telecaster, so I can't give an informed opinion. But it seems like a simpler, yet still extremely versatile guitar. I'd like to get myself a Tele one day.

[@TomDantzig]

I disagree, you cannot play hard rock on a Strat in the volume knob is way too high

[@santiagoruiz2289]

Thanks for sharing such a genuine and insightful story, It's your search for sound and melody what makes your music so interesting and expanding. its also cool to hear how you went for what felt right at the time and how you also let it go when it's time. I found it very "valitating" in the ever changing/evolving path of making art.

[@beneunson]

Thanks so much, Santiago!

[@spacebarbus]

Once you go Strat you never go back...I used to detest them...Now they are all I use...along with a Tele.

[@BIGBOPPER41]

I'm not a big fan of strats, but when I play a good one i can appreciate it. I hate the limiting knobs, the lack of power in the bridge pickup,and the neck joint, but I see why people use them and some good ones do have redeeming qualities. But this seams like odd reasoning for hating a strat.

[@chrisvanderwalt790]

@big bopper - have you considered lowering the middle & neck pickups, to even out the volumes? Also less effect of magnet pull on the strings & many prefer the tone difference. Have noticed many great players have the neck pickup almost level with the pickguard & the middle pickup about half the height from there to the bridge pickup.

[@BIGBOPPER41]

@@chrisvanderwalt790 that might be why. I'll take a look into that. Thank you

[@toddheimbuch5429]

Now, first of all, you say, " I am retiring the Strat, but I will always keep it"....So, I say, don't you think the Strat would be happier in a proper 'Retirement home?....I offer my home to it...it will be loved, cared for, kept clean, and offered daily, fun activities...instead of living some lonely existence, watching all the other guitars being appreciated, while it languishes, immoraly, I might add, unplayed. Contact me, and let's make this happen...for the good of that instrument, for the good of humanity. Thank you.

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

With all due respect, this is confusing. You never made a case for you stopping to "play a Strat". You merely told us why you stopped playing that one particular Strat that YOU own.

[@jonathansheeder5153]

Love my strat. To each his own.

[@robertdiehl1281]

For me it’s what’s in my head. Which guitar has the tone that will serve the song I’m trying to write. Every guitar is always available.

[@MattLong101]

You're a bad husband, you played and worked the shit outta your wife. Then you wanted to point out all her flaws after that many years of marriage and willing to trade her in for the first spicy blonde you see.

[@funkster007]

The strat was always a workhorse guitar for me through the years gigging in bands, but mainly because they are so comfortable to play....the kicker was I struggled to make them sound good in a live situation. Eventually I got the PRS bug and that replaced the strat for awhile. It's weird but I've done a complete 180 in recent years and I can't put the strat down now. It's like a rekindled love affair. lol It's part of being a musician I guess.

[@midiman5045]

I find this interesting. When I first got my good guitar I went for a Les Paul, I learned to play it with a great teacher, then I got a strat in fact it a 1973 one, He was a big Strat fan. I replaced / upgraded the pickups and had it re fretted with stainless steel medium frets. I can honestly say it's my go to guitar. I have not touched the Les Paul in about 20 years except top put new strings on it once. I have not had any issues with it as far as intonation or humidity and the neck, but I don't gig with it. I can say I will not stop playing it. I purchased 3 other strats along the years. They are just great guitars. They can do anything and any sound you need.

[@waltzguy14151]

That's funny. My guitar player in a blues band I played with changed his Strat for a PRS. We berated him forever for it. The paint job was so pretty it made us want to smash it to pieces. His PRS sounded and looked so pretty", we called it the "Britney Spears" guitar. Technologically an amazing axe that can cover a wide array of tones that somehow manages to do that while being completely bereft of any character. I don't know if it was the constant berating or his own comfort, but eventually he put that pos down and went back to his Strat and his Tele. I think the PRS in many ways is a perfectly built axe, solving many problem found in Gibsons and Fenders. But like my Ma always said, "when it comes to art, Perfection is the enemy of Beauty." Cheers!

[@funkster007]

@@waltzguy14151 I always thought of PRS as yuppie guitars. They are beautifully made indeed, but like you said, too pretty. 😁

[@demokraatti]

You could also change the neck. Just get a quarter sawn and maybe also heat treated neck with the frets of your choice. One piece maple can be stable. My Eric Johnson signature Strat has a healthy sized one piece maple neck which is the most stable neck I’ve ever had a pleasure to play. It’s just strange how unsensitive it is to the climate changes. The neck wood is ideally quarter sawn and the grain structure is dead straight and dense.

[@leonarddaneman810]

First thing I thought of. And, the Elite neck (I scored one for $400, Ebony with locking tuners, bone nut) has the Tonka-Toy truss adjust which you can mode the Fender body and guard pretty easily to accommodate access. That makes truss relief adjustments a quick job.

[@lesterpaul9657]

I never was a big strat fan as a user, I' m more into telecasters and gibson P90 guitars. But some of my favorite players played them, Rory Gallagher and SRV. And the design of the strat is still incredible.

[@beneunson]

I agree!

[@cooldebt]

Ben being taken with the Strat is how I felt the first time I heard Ben play (with Pat Bartley). I was immediately taken with the incredible sound of the solo 🎶💖

[@beneunson]

So glad you liked it

[@jackgriffith9229]

That’s to bad because Fenders are serviceable. You can buy another neck with proper finish. You can get the correct sized frets . You can get after market saddles such as Callaham you can get stacked double coil pickups. There are plenty of ways to keep a strat out on the scene. I of course prefer a Telecaster.

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

Hello Jack Is the style of music that makes you prefer the Tele?

[@jackgriffith9229]

@@dimitrisaivaliotis5616 No I like the sound and versatility.

[@amiblu1505]

i stopped playing the strat a thousand times 😂

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

Buy the most expensive Fender Strat & you won't regret it.

[@davidjohnston4240]

I stopped playing a strat about 3 milliseconds after I found the strings were too close together for my fingers. Salvation came in the form of a Warmoth superwide neck and acoustics of various forms.

[@ToddSauve]

Yes, you chose an excellent remedy for the closeness of the strings on a regular Stratocaster. 👌

[@djhoneylove5710]

That is a legitimate decision. You will sound like you no matter what guitar you play.

[@sacredgeometry]

Love all sorts of guitars but the best neck pickup is a single coil. Humbuckers do nothing for me in the neck position. That said I am not a massive fan of the 2nd and 4th positions on most stats so that probably aligns with why our tastes are almost opposites.

[@LS-335]

Yeah single coils just sounds better imo. I also got a les paul and another guitar with humbucker but i very rarely play them and pretty much only plays my Strats.

[@roebuckmckinney]

You just haven't found the right neck humbucker yet. I generally go neck and bridge or bridge alone for playing chords because they are generally too muddy all by themselves, but that big fat neck PAF sound is absolutely killer for solos. Get them dialed in right and they basically sound like a fatter version of Brian May's solo tone without having to mess around with all the added gear. And if you can split your bridge, then you can get something like that 70's Tele Custom sound (Neck and Bridge together) without having to switch guitars.

[@flyonwall360]

@@roebuckmckinney I wired my Stratocaster so I can have the bridge and fingerboard pickups together and get that Richie Blackmore tone.

[@roebuckmckinney]

@@flyonwall360 Cool. Is that series or parallel?

[@sacredgeometry]

@@roebuckmckinney I have played guitar for over 30 years most of that on electric. I have played literally thousands of guitars with humbuckers, I have owned 25+. I have owned 3 les pauls with PAFs (I still own two of them), my RGA has a AT-1 which is quite a nice PAF style humbucker (albeit in the bridge, it has an air norton in the neck, which is a fantastic neck humbucker). It isnt a lack of knowing what humbuckers of PAFs sound like. Its not that I dont like humbuckers. Most of the guitars I own have humbuckers it is that neck pickups are much better if they are single coils (including p-90s) The spank you get when you roll off humbuckers is not as nice as the spank you get at full volume on most single coils. The warmness is less round, glassy and frankly pretty and more dull and saturated. Yes I have played with the pickup height, yes I have tried with different wiring configurations its an inherent characteristic of almost all humbuckers. They either sound thick and saturated or brittle and harsh. None of them do that full, present glassy tone well at all. It is just not what most people are even looking for in a humbucker.

[@charleshuguley9903]

It sounds as if you bought an old, beat-up Strat because you liked the tone even though it had numerous characteristics you didn't like. You didn't play others to determine if one in better condition, with features you preferred, might have had the same sound. Then you abandoned Strat's altogether because this old, broken guitar didn't play well. That doesn't sound like a very reasonable purchase. It seems that you just prefer arch-tops with humbuckers. Buying the Strat because you liked the tone then trying to force it to sound like a jazz guitar seems like a hopeless endeavor.

[@Winterfell1066]

Gosh I have vintage Strats, 80 and 90s Strats. Once set up, they play great and don't need too much work at all. how do you store you guitar? Love Les Pauls and 335s too. Seems like you had small issues.

[@MisterTMH]

I played a strat for 20 years.Then I got into Telecasters. I play a 335 and a Les Paul more these days but know that after 33 years of playing guitar and e.bass that Strats, good ones are keepers!

[@jinr3d]

Since you are not using it.. can i have it? :P

[@mccloysong]

Those idiosyncrasies like the jumbo frets, neck, etc. are for that one specific Strat. I have four Strats (one Squier) and they all play differently, from sustain, tone, intonation, playability. To dismiss a whole design because of one guitar is cheating yourself, especially for how well you play it and the tones you get with it. To me, it's part of the holy four: Tele, Strat, 335 and Les Paul.

[@jrockofages5413]

I 75% there. Yet to get 335...

[@Macmax7077]

I love Strats, not all of them, but they do have something other guitars are missing, each one of them have their own character, some are fuzzy, some are lovely, some are mad and some are loyal. I love mine!

[@michaelaiello9525]

My first video of yours and I’ve come away from it rooting for your Strat. Here’s to you remedying the intonation issues and keeping it in the rotation.

[@frankpfau9054]

you’re still young… tastes can change…

[@tbone2451]

There’s only two guitars. Stratocaster and Telecaster.

[@tbone2451]

@@markuselipka right, I left out the jaguar.

[@GundogJake]

And 335’s

[@Ryan_Haydon84]

Ok boomer. Yep, I’m bringing it back.

[@IvorMutch]

How do you keep your home recording studio behind you so neat and tidy?

[@beneunson]

Haha thanks, I do the best I can! 😀

[@latrace1986]

Man, I can really relate to this... I've been a Gibson purist since 2002 (so 20 years) and while I absolutely love the neck and feel of Les Pauls, I've had the same issue with constant adjustments and intonation and neck warping due to weather. I live in Chicago and we have extreme hot and cold -- extreme humidity and then very, very dry winters. It's obviously not good on guitars. I'm more and more tempted to get something like an Ibanez Prestige with a reinforced neck where it won't be so fickle in change in temps and humidity. But there's something very special about the heritage, look, and feel of a Les Paul.

[@e7thstar]

Once you go prestige you never go back. I have 5 now. Had another, but returned it (used) ..too many blemishes for price...but it played great. Still hunting for my next one

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

I get the lure of a les Paul. I got rid of mine though, too heavy to wear for four hours, and not as versatile as my fenders. I played probably at most one quarter of the time on stage with a Paul, the rest of the time that heavy expensive beast just used up a spot in my stands.

[@Truthinshredding1]

I wonder how many cool solos have been played on that guitar? I bet George Bellas would like that guitar too.

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

I sometimes convince myself that whichever Gibson I own that I'm playing, be it a Les Paul, Firebird or SG, sounds as great as my strats. Then I pick up my Strat and the Gibson sounds dead in comparison. I only own these Gibson's because I know il forget that they are pretty one dimensional compared to a strat and start looking to buy one again. I don't know why but that's pretty much the only use I have for owning anything other than a strat

[@Henry-pj1td]

Try a 50s wiring

[@andreapasillas5803]

Yeah, I have two strats and two teles. Love 'em all. I had four Gibson USA made Les Pauls. Just couldn't get into them. I've sold two of them but with the current economic conditions, I haven't been able to sell the other two that just stay in their cases. Hopefully, when things get better, I'll be able to get rid of, er, sell the two Gibsons.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Did you get a "Custom shop" 335? I was in the same boat, ditched the strat and got a 335 and Telecaster..now I need them both all the time.

[@lgv3051]

I do not like jumbo frets. I love playing 80's shred. But never liked the jumbo thing. 😝

[@inquisitor4635]

I have one inexpensive basic Mexi-Strat from the mind-nineties. Maple neck and 9 gauge strings with the action set just right. I love it. And to mellow it out, sweeten and thicken it up, I have a decent "humbucker" feature on my effects processor that is quite convincing.

[@gitarmats]

The good news is that you make any guitar sound great!😂

[@RJW14]

A friend of mine has a highway 1 strat he modded with the EMG single coil set and a red tortoise pickguard. That was a real nice guitar. As for frets I've grown to like medium jumbos, not too fat but still a bit higher off the fretboard.

[@rogerwilliams2629]

I hate Strats. LOL But I keep coming back to them. And you never know when you will find a great one, right now I'm playing a Mexican Strat and I swear it's just...me.

[@bintang_sakti]

I’m used to play strat , but i got my hands on telecaster , i rarely play my strat now LOL

[@TheSproox]

I played a '96 Fender Strat for 22 years, bought it brand new in New Orleans in 1996. I stopped playing it because it's not with me anymore. I play my 2008 Tele now, just because I can't find a Strat for me yet.

[@jakekeys88music]

If you were to find a Strat which was in better condition and maybe modified with some humbuckers, do you think you'd buy it and use it?

[@Malcolm701]

We don't care why...

[@lalilalulu]

dude thank you for sharing. thats quite sentimental and i enjoyed the way you did the story telling. quite insightful also.

[@robertw1871]

Just bought another, now have 5…. Leo’s instrument is still perfect… everything else is just a bad copy….

[@Thomas-pq4ys]

You told me yours, I'll tell you mine. I'm an American roots player, and work on how the music feels more than playing fast or knowing tons of theory.... I'm a visceral listener and player. I started acoustic flat top, found the old 1920's & 30's Blues, fascinated with fingerstyle. Studied. I got into electric by default. A coworker's friend passed with no warning. His friend had no relatives or significant others. They were roommates, and this guy's old Tele was there. He kept it as a memento, didn't play, at all. He knew I played. He handed me a very beat up case, and said, "put some mojo in this thing." I had a borrowed amp for some reason. I plugged it in, and a while new world emerged. I realized electric and acoustics are completely different instruments. They share a lot in common, but I've seen acoustic players clueless about electric, and vice versa. I still play both, never expecting one to cover for the other. So I hit open mics with this thing. I just learned entry points for the blues scale, and for Country major scale. Humble beginnings. 5 years later he asked for his guitar back. I'd had it refretted, with jumbos, high crown. I hated to give it up since it played so well. I went out and bought a '52 reissue. Oh well, it was a loaner. The guy turned into a best friend. He passed early this year. I was there. Aging sucks. He willed the guitar to me. I did mods to the reissue that I was clueless about, just something I read. I was experimenting, learning the ropes so to say. My band had just broke up. I went back to acoustic, did it full-time from there for the next 15 years.. I got drawn back into band work. Now I'm on electric. I was learning how to make sense of the guitar/amp interface. It took a few more years but things are starting to make sense. That Tele I modded, turned out perfectly, pure dumb luck if ya ask me. I can do anything on it, except high gain Metal... which I don't play. I saw a Strat build on KZbin. The sounds he got, even going through a phone, had me smitten. So I started gathering parts and pieces. It turned out very well. It plays so well its scary. It just draws you in. Then the sound. I built it for clean playing. It sparkles. We still need to become better friends.... Meanwhile, I'm stuck on my Tele, and my acoustic. I'll be back.

[@beneunson]

Great story! Thanks so much for sharing

[@alchemysticgoldmind4164]

We grow and change as Artist... perfect

[@flyonwall360]

Guitar choice is such a personal choice. I picked up a like new 2004 Stratocaster from a friend that had a picky son. An ash Stratocaster was just to boring for the kid, he wanted something that screamed metal. It had a tendency to break strings so I put new saddles, string trees and a roller nut on it. The single coil pickups were way too noisy so I put some nice Seymour Duncan single space humbuckers in it. Still had some tuning issues so I put locking tuners on it. The neck angle wasn't right so I put a maple shim in. So, hundreds of dollars later I had a Stratocaster that was acceptable to play. I essentially rebuild the guitar. Then one day I was browsing the local used guitar shop and noticed a 2005 Les Paul Studio Faded T. As soon as I grabbed it I knew that it was coming home with me. Like my Stratocaster, it was a one owner guitar. It looked as if someone bought it for their kid and it never got played. The combination lock on the case was still set to all zeros. It came stock with Burstbucker Pro pickups. It plays and sounds as good as any Les Paul Standard without the fancy finish. The Stratocaster comes out of the case once in a blue moon and the Les Paul has become my main guitar. The only thing I've ever done to the Les Paul is change the strings.

[@ToddSauve]

How much does the Les Paul weigh compared to your Strat?

[@flyonwall360]

@@ToddSauve About the same, they both are heavy. I use a nice wide, padded leather Franklin strap.

[@moogsmiley4157]

Try a 24 inch strat so much fun and a thicker dirtier sound!

[@AdrianFarrell]

Noticed you took the volume knob off. I've recently done the same. Been playing Charvels for a while & when I picked up my Strat it just felt in the way.

[@beneunson]

The knob actually fell off! Ended up being fine though 😆

[@A.pisces1989]

I only play a Stratocaster when it comes to electric guitars, one has two humbuckers, and the other has three rails (cool rail neck, lil 59' middle and hot rail bridge), I had to alter the guitars to make the sound perfect for me, but I don't think I'd choose another style of guitar

[@vze2gsgr]

What kind of overdrive are you using on the intro? Sounds great.

[@AndyNyle]

looks like you have played the shit out of it. congrats man. time to get a new guitar!

[@mevebarr713]

Had 2 strats (62/63) sold them after a couple years, the buyer sold them again to another guy after less than a year. Sold several Les Pauls and kept a Héritage 80 élite and a 335 es 1969. These are the best i prooved in 40 years

[@ivanpillado]

Hello… I just love the way you sound. Really amazing.

[@beneunson]

thanks!

[@phyfts]

What is your signal chain on that tone?

[@56davidwright]

I used to play a broom handle till I discovered hickory shovel handles Never looked back.

[@nekkon1989]

After all those years of playing the Strat, it was just time to move on. It was time. This is why it is not my main guitar anymore. Dude, spare me the teenage drama, this is not a Hollywood film

[@jayrobb9]

Would you prefer it if he lied? Some crap about how an amp fell on it and snapped the neck midway through a gig during a lightning storm in Turkmenistan? It happens, people get tired of things, they move on.

[@AP-ui7oi]

Who cares what guitar you play. I love my Strat.

[@pandorski35000]

I'd rather be crucified than subscribe to a guy who gives up on a strat

[@costabotes9107]

So? I just started. And it’s the bomb. Almost perfect guitar. Whatever works for you, go for it. We are all different.

[@MRPERFECT_79]

THE END OF THE STRAT??? LOL NOT A CHANCE BUDDY

[@alonso21100]

Anyone know what scale or mode he's using at the intro of the video ???

[@Livelaughlimpbizkit]

Is that it's original finish or has it been refinished?

[@beneunson]

It was refinished by a previous owner

[@hanskung3278]

Well if you bought a new Strat you would have had all those problems.

[@RBC2_]

Ben, Maybe I am biased, but I always loved your semi acoustic sound more than the strat. Have you ever thought about trying boutique guitars such as Moffa, Schottmuller etc?

[@beneunson]

Thanks! These days I prefer my playing on semi-acoustic more so... I'm very taken with the new Ibanez AM153QA as well as my old Ibanez AS-50. Moffa guitars look incredible, though I've never tried one

[@michaelheller8841]

I for many years have always loved Strats. I’ve owned some in the past but always ended up selling them. There were problems with the intonation and hard to play at times. No matter what you try and do in the set up never worked like it’s supposed too. It was hard to sell because I’ve always loved the sound. Fast forward towards the end of last year, I wanted to check out some more Strats. Same problem, I can’t get along with any. I went to a Sam Ash and picked up a new Fender American Ultra Luxe. Was it all good? The one for me? No. I thought it would be, the steel frets and the modern changes. It wasn’t for me. Loved the plasma red color though lol. I was tried of the going back n forth. I decided to have one custom built for me. So happy I did! I got the same plasma red body, put in a different tremolo with a Musikraft neck. The electronics was hand wired and the pickups as well. I’m so happy that I took the time to do this. The Strat is now my #1 and I can’t put it down. So for those who can’t get along with a Strat? Keep trying because the rewards are endless.

[@waltzguy14151]

This is bizarre bro. I've owned 8 Strats and never had any problems with them that couldn't be fixed by a decent tech. The American Ultra Luxe is an awesome waste of money. If you can afford to have one custom built for you, good for you. But my best Strats are all MIM, upgraded tuners, upgraded trem, new pickguard with 59 Fender Vintage pups and a Kiesel on the bridge for my rock Strat. My Strats will absolute keep up with if not absolutely kick the SH out of any Strats out there. People constantly ask me how old are your guitars? My reply: "Just Mexi Strats with some upgrades that's all.". Point being, people are asking me how old they are because they sound like the old Strats. That's thanks to the pups obviously. Dollars to doughnuts your custom Strat cost you north of $2500. Mine, with setups, upgraded electronics, etc.. $1080.00. Can't beat that. And I'm not afraid of their getting hurt or the finish getting scratched or whatever and I'm definitely not afraid when some cat shows up with his 60's Strat. They're actually kinda ugly.. one's black and the other brown.. but who cares. As soon as they go into an amp, I'm not afraid of anything anyone might show up with. Cheers

[@michaelheller8841]

@@waltzguy14151 that’s awesome you took the time to make the Strats you. I haven’t thought about having one built for me till recently lol. I just never had any luck with ones played off a rack or a friends. The only one that ever agreed with me is my Guitar Teachers he had since the 80’s in cherry red. He won’t part with it lol. I’n reality, it took me a long time to pay off my custom Strat. But I wanted to put everything I can to make it a part of me. It worked out and I can’t put the thing down. Guitars in general are all personal, I’m very happy that it took the amount I put into it. But hey, are we ever done? No, I like your idea with MIM partcasters and I’m thinking of doing the next one your way maybe in a nice placid blue or a white one. The journey never ends right?

[@ANIMLFIRE]

Nothing can compete with a Strat, nothing

[@deepwater2652]

Dude! Find one that that fits your groove and trade in your current Strat!

[@donmunson4802]

The minute you mentioned you were a HB guy, I; knew you had made a mistake. And your tone is an example of someone tryng to get LP tones ot of a Strat. The real mystery here is why it took you 5 years to catch on.

[@bazza852]

he's a hollow body guy who wants lp tones? huh? those two types of guitars sound completely different as it is...so it makes no sense. and then how is he trying to get LP tones from a strat? the neck+middle setting sounds nothing like a les paul....

[@chrisflabouris6140]

Hey Ben, I enjoyed watching this video! So is your Ibanez AZ your main guitar now, if so now you'll need to post a followup video with all the in's & out's of why? Cheers!

[@AdamDallas]

Beautiful guitar, I've always had a thing for the daphne blue/sonic blue maple neck combo. Out of interest, do you know what those pickups are? They sound fantastic. I was also wondering are you fading in with a volume pedal on the attack of some of those notes, or is that something to do with the compression? It's a cool variation on timbre.

[@jwallguitar]

Seymour Duncan Antiquity II

[@kevinsmith7841]

Quick, call CNN . Ben has stopped playing strats !!!!! ! Say it isn't so . The world is in mourning .

[@LiamNashMiller]

Tele Team is here!

[@93greenstrat]

Do you......For me, it was the Stratocaster itself that got me into playing guitar.

[@mcdee56]

What's your actual replacement, please?

[@onionbarnabus7410]

Maybe you just have weak hands

[@Bellabaddi]

The Bob Ross of guitar

[@sim0n17]

a 57 reissue with jumbo frets? that's no longer a 57 strat

[@elitesaint9631]

The Strat is alive

[@joeferris5086]

I too dont like jumbo frets. But you can get strats with any kind of frets you want. I have a jaguar with vintage tall frets. You should try a jazz master

[@yestoES355]

I love the sound of strats but I never liked them personally. Always found them ugly and my picking always hit the middle pick up. Semi hollow is the way I go.

[@flyonwall360]

I always hit the volume knob and half way through a song I have to crank it back up.

[@demokraatti]

You are digging too deep if you hit the middle pickup.