Yngwie Custom Shop vs. Standard Production Malmsteen Fender Stratocaster No Play

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Just a comparison between the two current models from the US for the Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Stratocaster! 2020 Custom Shop 1968 Reissue VS. 2014 Standard Production YJM Strat

[@kisschicken]

Thanks for these videos. I didn't know anything about these guitars a few weeks ago but all of your content has made it easy to know which version I wanted.

[@xounlistedxox]

Thank you for watching and commenting! I was exactly the same as you, didn't know much about them, but there was very little info out there about them, so I just bought them all 😂 over the course of many years

[@kisschicken]

@@xounlistedxox Yeah, you're basically the only source. I was debating between an unplayed 2005 and just a brand new one and decided to go with the brand new one based on your assessment of quality control in the 2005 era.

[@xounlistedxox]

@@kisschickenhave you seen my thread on rigtalk? www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=187200

[@kisschicken]

@@xounlistedxox i have, yes. Thank you.

[@xounlistedxox]

@@kisschicken yeah, QC seemed not so good in relation to the finish at that time. The guitars are great, just the finish likes to fall off, potentially in big pieces

[@tomasoprodi9340]

Very cool video. Btw you can easily get 2nd and 4th position on the standard prod by stopping the switch halfway, works just fine

[@StefanoScarlataDuranGuitar]

Waiting for my 1st custom YVM 👍 thanks for the video

[@xounlistedxox]

Congrats! What color did you get?

[@StefanoScarlataDuranGuitar]

@@xounlistedxox sonic blue 👍 I already have a white standard

[@xounlistedxox]

@StefanoScarlataDuranGuitar bad ass! I'm keeping my eyes open for a Burgundy Mist! Literally the only color I don't have at this point

[@barkeater9606]

Me too. I have one on order from Sweetwater in burgundy mist. 👍

[@StefanoScarlataDuranGuitar]

@@barkeater9606 great! I Love the red one but here in Europe is impossibile to have (as a new one)

[@enterprisesoftwarearchitect]

Thank you, Brandon. I have bought a couple of the production models and loved them - after I got used to it - ESPECIALLY THE TONE - treble and less muddy than PRS, Ibanez, Schecter, and Strandberg … but have held back from buying the Custom- so appreciate your analysis. Would like to call Sweetwater to see if Fender would sell me one with a Floyd!

[@enterprisesoftwarearchitect]

It’s true that you sometimes have to adjust your technique to not pull the high E string off the fretboard… but personally I can live with a few mistakes in my playing that it causes for the awesome frequency spectrum its pickups send my way. Hope your in person experience with Yngwie himself was memorable.

[@xounlistedxox]

Absolutely! The difference when playing one of these, then trying something with a traditional humbucker, is insane! They all seem muddy in comparison. If your budget allows, I'd definitely recommend a Custom Shop. They are absolutely next level! As for meeting Yngwie it definitely is/was memorable, and just to ensure I didn't forget the nuances I made that video! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Not sure if I would get on with the scalloped neck. Would like to try one though, but they don't hold them in stores here in Wales.

[@xounlistedxox]

Definitely worth trying out! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@doyouluvit]

got my USA production model last year and I was amazed how bad the fret work was toward the body. Horrid quality...not smooth in any way. You could even see the gouges and lines on the crown of some of the frets to the point you could feel them when you bent the strings. So whoever inspected mine didn't do his job, and they sprayed the finish over much of the frets and I could dig my finger nail into them....not rounded well at all. So I had to pay to have all that fixed up and now it's nice. I could not deal with the vintage string spacing on the bridge either because of the high E slipping off the neck so I got a Callaham bridge and dropped that in and what a difference! Agree with what someone else said about CNC work. That neck joint should be perfect and so should the frets! For an expensive made in the USA guitar it should be perfect! I smoothed down the finish on the back of the neck also because it was way too thick and sticky to me. Anyway long rant I know, but after recrowning the frets, smoothing the back of the neck and changing the bridge, I love this guitar!!!

[@parksoo-kim6908]

The finish on the production model neck is also nitro btw. The body is poly.

[@xounlistedxox]

Iirc this depends on the year it was made, I’ll have to check my notes. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@metlguitar02]

Oh shit!! More Yngwie gear baby! 😂🤘🏻

[@xounlistedxox]

Of course! As always, thank you for watching and commenting! If you have any requests for content let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate! There's one other video that is quite long, and I know most folks don't want to watch a super long video just about a guitar comparison, so here's the shorter version!

[@nikkot3559]

Hey Brandon, do you find that the american models require a higher action. I seem to get a lot of string buzz and the tech could only lower it to a certain point before buzz started coming back. I know you play with a slightly higher action but just curious on your opinion. Thanks! Nik

[@xounlistedxox]

Yes, the production models seem to really like higher action, and can get quite buzzy if you try medium to lower action. I've always thought about having on plek'd to see how it would be with ultra low action, but I much prefer higher action for the longer note sustain. The custom shop would definitely handle lower action easier, but it would cost a lot less to have a production model plek'd

[@jasonbell1939]

Thanks for the video! This is very informative! I am waiting for my Custom Shop Yngwie Strat in Vintage White from Sweetwater. It’s scheduled to be ready by January 2025. I can't wait! Just curious do you use .008 strings with high action like Yngwie for your Yngwie Strats? For my other Strats I normally use .009 strings with low action but none of those have scallop necks and was not sure if it mattered. Thanks Again and Yngwie rules!!

[@xounlistedxox]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Crazy they're back ordered, I figured they would have some in stock! As for strings, yes, I use the Fender YJM bullets, absolutely the best strings! They have much more even tension than normal sets. As for action, yes I prefer higher action because it allows the note to sustain longer. Once you're used to it, it's not a big deal

[@jasonbell1939]

@@xounlistedxoxThanks for the info! I will have to get some YJM strings and have it setup for higher action. Apparently the custom shop guitar is something they do not normally keep in stock anymore. It’s considered a special order. I am currently 4th on the list at Sweetwater to get one. The wait is worth it for me. Thanks Again!

[@xounlistedxox]

@@jasonbell1939 of course, any time!

[@acealvarez1038]

Thanks for the video! I own a 69 custom shop Strat that I absolutely love (so I'm not a CS hater by any means), but looking at the Yngwie models in particular it would be hard for me to justify the CS over the standard model. In fact, it looks like the standard model has more in common with Yngwie's "Duck" Strat more than the CS does. It's got the bullet truss rod and the skunk stripe (no maple cap fretboard). It looks like the real "Duck" does have shallower scalloping though (similar to the CS). With that being the case, I wonder if the most accurate production model would be one of the older Japanese ones with the shallower scalloping?

[@xounlistedxox]

Thanks for watching and commenting! The easiest way to find my YJM content in some sort of order is to check here! www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=187200 The YJM Export MIJ model called the Standard is probably the closest to the duck from a scallop perspective, and they're 3 bolt! So you can convert them yourself if you want, haha. From an overall perspective, yes the standard production US model from 2011 and up will be closest overall to the duck besides the Play Loud Custom Shop, but those seem to sell around $20k these days IF you can find one.

[@deanwilliams433]

One thing to add is that the Custom Shop version is specifically replicating a 1968 maple cap Strat that Yngwie used sparingly. The regular USA one is modeled after what he plays all the time. Remember that the Duck was a regular 1972 Strat that he used to record Rising Force. You don't need a custom shop guitar to replicate Yngwie's original setup. Buy the USA model and have it professionally setup and save the money. Just my two cents.

[@xounlistedxox]

You could also get a Squier, scallop it yourself and add a Duncan or DiMarzio loaded pickguard, and save yourself even more money! You could do this realistically with any brand or type of guitar if you really wanted to. What would you be missing? The quality, you aren't going to be able to recreate Master Luthier quality unless you yourself are a master luthier. I've built guitars and modified guitars to make them better for many years. That said, without stripping everything down, so you can handfit everything perfectly, you won't get that type of quality from a production YJM guitar. Do you need a Custom Shop? No, hell you don't even need a regular production YJM guitar. BUT, it would be a lot cooler if you did 😅. Seriously though, the Custom Shop is levels of quality and playability above the standard production models, even with a great setup. I have no skin in the game, Fender doesn't pay me anything or even give me any discounts, I just call it how I see it. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@parksoo-kim6908]

Do you play the Yngwie through the mesa boogie? I'd love to hear how that sounds.

[@xounlistedxox]

Yes I do, it sounds great through anything! I played it through my C+ iirc for my YJM power chords video

[@blakespurlock5322]

Didn’t Ynwie’s strats have the bullet rod? Just curious why the custom shop doesn’t. Thought that would be late 60 very early 70s specs.

[@xounlistedxox]

Some do, some dont. The custom shop is modeled after the 68' strats, which were setup just like the CS! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@gregarcher8177]

For a person like myself that is unsure which to buy, how do you recommend making a good decision? I think I want a custom shop, can you tell me the prices for both? Do you have any experience with an earlier japanese models? I played one in a store that had DiMarzio pups and I think was mij and it ripped, played one with duncans and didnt like it as much, not sure wich one it was either.

[@xounlistedxox]

The easiest way to see all the fine differences is to check out this thread I've been updating for years. It also has most of my videos embedded to make it even easier! I currently own USA models ranging from 1988-2016 Japan models ranging from 1989-2005ish IIRC Most are fantastic guitars. The Custom Shop is absolutely a cut above the rest for fit, finish, qualiand playability. If it's within your budget I'd just get a Custom Shop. The new US Models are around $2,300, and the Custom Shop $5,500 as of this comment! www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=187200

[@gregarcher8177]

@@xounlistedxox awesome thanks 👍, I think I'll shoot for a CS if I can find a used one as I don't want to wait till 2025 or longer on a wait list.

[@xounlistedxox]

@@gregarcher8177 great call! Can't go wrong there!

[@Fuzzybunny-ki1cw]

The production line which runs about 2200.00 us dollars, has been plagued with that high E string slipping off You MUST BUY THE CALLAHAN VINTAGE TREM to fix this issue. NOTHING will work.. (not even the push the neck down then tighten the back side screw gimmick). The reason is that the neck is thinner than the older necks and that is why it slips. The Callahan Vintage corrects that by making it slightly closer ..... it plays perfect now.

[@xounlistedxox]

I have heard this from multiple people, it's unfortunate for sure. My newest model is a 2016, so I have not experienced this problem. I don't think I would buy one if I had to immediately spend money and swap the entire bridge out

[@Baerrock]

At 12.15 you can see that the custom has a much more precise connection between the neck and the body than the regular Strat 11.25... a significantly larger distance and not a really precise fit... I think...

[@xounlistedxox]

Absolutely, the neck pocket is much more precise on the Custom Shop!

[@deanwilliams433]

@@xounlistedxox Which is really sad in my opinion. $2300 is a lot of money. With today's cnc tech the neck pockets should be perfect on any guitar above $500. My 2007 Yngwie has a perfect neck pocket. Maybe quality has declined?

[@xounlistedxox]

@deanwilliams433 definitely agree! The guitars all over the years have a varying degree of quality in this particular area(neck pocket). But, keep in mine, even my 2014 is now 10+ years old at this point and wood does expand/contract over time, so it could have been a better fit when it was made initially.