He said he was gonna play stuff that would accentuate each guitars strengths, when I heard that I said “yeah right he’s just gonna play a bunch of crap and it’s all gonna be amazing anyway”. But shit he ACTUALLY played stuff that accentuated what each guitar does lol!
I’ve had 6 Fender Strats and only one was really good. I let it go about 6 weeks after getting my Silver Sky. With the volume backed off just a bit (around 9) the SS is in full on Fender territory. Run the SS at 10 and you hit another gear that a Fender just doesn’t have. More attack, more cut, more grit. Works great in a band mix. And you get less of a perceived volume drop in positions 2 and 4. Middle pickup is really good for rhythm work with a little gain on it. If you know how to use the volume and tone knobs you get rewarded big time. There’s not much the SS can’t do.
I went round the Fender factory a few years ago and was delighted to see them proudly using the same tooling from the fifties and so much of the guitar building still done by hand...and that was just for the standard guitars! The custom shop and master builder part of the factory was just...erm...more customisation, detail and hand finishing. There was no sense they were a soulless corporate money making machine but rather passionate about building great instruments. Other brands offer a different take on Leo’s genius and Fenders leadership. At the end of the day ‘pick your poison’ as to what inspires you to play but if you want a Fender buy a Fender.
And just my two cents: Fender first, Xotic second, Suhr third, PRS last. Just don't like the harsher, more plasticky tone of the Silver Sky. I own a Fender CS 57 and love it to pieces, and an Xotic XSC-2, which is a different beast and has a humbucker in the bridge position. Formidably versatile. These two I'll never ever sell!
Phenomenal playing does make one want to play more while also wanting to throw their guitars away at the same time! That Fender '57 is just pure. Unlike many of the comments, I think the Silver Sky is solid and requires some dialing in with the tone and volume as it is different than the other three...but it does have great 60's style pick ups.
Outstanding playing, Jack. Loved them all, but the Fender was the winner for me. It just sounded like a really, really good Strat. The Xotic was a close second, followed by Suhr and PRS. I'd happily have any of them though!
Jack, u r a hella player! It ain't demo. It should be called a jam session or a small concert. I would listen to your playing all day long. Came for gear demo but stayed for your playing. Peach should give this guy a big chunk of raise. Wishing u all the best Jack!
I've got both a Suhr Classic S and an Xotic XSC1, both excellent but I concur that the Suhr is the best modern take, they are the only guitar where you want to change nothing apart from strings, everything is top spec already down to the screened cable from the jack to the volume pot. The Xotic necks are something else though with a great feel to them.
Love my Xotic California, the roasted maple neck is simply something else. Vintage looks but all the modern playability.... so much character and feels like I’ve played it for years and years
My Suhr Classic Antique HSS rules. Never felt better and more at home on a guitar. If I buy a SSS I might consider a Xotic, just to have another brand in the stand, but probably a 2nd Suhr strat would do it for me ;-)
I listened with my screen off and went back to find out which was which and for some reason the Xotic really jumped out at me. That's a special instrument! The Fender, oddly enough, was underwhelming. Thank you for a great video. Just great stuff!
Jack said the Fender is "the best example of a custom shop" that he could find and this is a guy who plays a LOT of different guitars. It is unlikely you will find something from Fender that matches what he is playing, especially from a production model. The other makers have better consistency and quality control, IMO, and what you are hearing from Jack is more likely to be what you will get if you buy one of those. Also, if your goal is to get the guitar that sounds best when you are sitting alone on the couch playing, then these types of videos are helpful but that might not be what you want if you perform live. Something that sounds shrill and bright to you while played on its own might be just what you need when playing live with a band, while something that sounds warm and lovely alone might get lost in the mix unless you add on tones that make it sound like the shrill/bright guitar. For me it's more about the neck and playability. The guitar is the start of the signal chain but you can shape the tone to fit pretty much anything you're after. But you can't change the feel/playability of the neck and what works best there is something that is really unique to each player.
Silver Sky is a very solid guitar that is different than the other three. Needs more attention paid to the tone controls for sure...but very solid pick ups in the SS. However...that '57 Fender is crazy good.
So true, picked up a ct50 recently and its the best 'strat' ive come across Sidenote, i felt the silversky was the closest to the cutlass tonally in this vid
Great playing from Jack and I think he's right in saying that if it's a Strat you want, that's what you have to buy, though the others all sounded great in their own way. However good the sound/playability I couldn't spend my money on the Silver Sky. The PRS headstock on an 'S' style guitar just gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Fender is my choice. I would like a Suhr, and the PRS is not something i care for, nor the Xotic. You have a Stratocaster here that is special in my taste. The cream covers and knobs on that white are stunning. I go maple boards... and any blue or green finish will do. Low to mid output PUP's for me. Interesting video.
Picked up a Silver Sky from Peach a few months back - have not been disappointed. Setup to perfection, feel and tone continues to impress. Definitely converted to this as a standout instrument in its own right.
Same here - die hard strat player. Owned several custom shops etc and the irony is in my opinion the best Strat I have ever owned is my silver Sky I got from @peachguitars
@@steveburroughs7343 Nice 👍 don’t blame you. I have a California Xsc-2 and haven’t touched another guitar since. What’s your favourite model? I would love another
@@lewisratford2908 I’ve got 4 XSC2, an XSC1, and an XTC1. I love them all. I’m a gigging guitarist (was) and they just play and sound great! Can’t really pick a fave.
@@steveburroughs7343 That’s lovely mate. I decided to stray away from strats, and so happy I did. I wanted Hss and felt that configuration ( personal preference) looks wrong on a strat. I just love the neck as it’s just incredible. Hope the gigs come back mate. I’m sure they will. We all need to get back out there again.
Great personality. Great knowlege. Great playing. Great tone. Great video idea. Great videography. Great lighting. Great editing. Love me some Strat. Love me some Peach-flavoured videos. Cheers.
What a great summation and demo of the suhr - so sick of the cliched "they are too sterile for me". Those Beckisms through the Dr Z were some of the best tones I’ve heard in years
There is something honest and endearing about the CS warts and all Usually vintage radiuses have have the strings a little higher but that's what I'm used to The Suhr a close second as far as an alternative tone Xotic sure sounded good stratwise Your descriptions were spot on Anything but a Fender seems like a copy Don't know why but headstock matters for some stupid reason
I've had a lot of different brands of Strat. Recently just sold my Suhr Classic and got a Fender Custom Shop. I'm in the camp of if you want the real thing...Fender all the way. The others are fantastic absolutely no doubt about that, but the real thing has that 'thing' about it. The real history and legacy comes through when you have it in your hands. Something 'special'. Maybe it's just all in my mind. I feel the same way about Gibson too. Nothing is as special as the 'real thing' for me.
Had few of Suhr classic strats, sold them almost immediately and got fender CS strats. Suhr is very nicely built instrument but I just couldn’t get the vibe that fender strat has. Tried very hard to like the Suhr, maybe it’s just me but I just couldn’t bond with it. Got 57’ CS, loving it so much.
@@JP-gt8qr Couldn't agree more. Don't get me wrong...I done a TON of gigs with it and it NEVER let me down! It was SOLID! But you hit the nail on the head...VIBE. There's something about a real Fender that just has that X factor.
Last year I installed Ulbrick NRS hum/buzz reducing proprietary system into my Fender CS strat. Now its quiet like Suhr, but still has that vintage tone & feel. Best purchase for me in shitty 2020! Jack, great chops, as usually. Rock on and stay safe!
They all sound and feel great but slightly different to each other. Just play them all and pick the one that works for you. I’ve had Fender Custom Shop, Suhr and the PRS. The one I have now is the Silver Sky and it’s the one I prefer. The only one I haven’t played yet is the Xotic. But I could be happy with any of them.
Anyone bashing the Silver Sky clearly hasn’t played one in real life. I just picked up a maple board version and it’s by and far the best SSS style guitar I’ve ever played. I couldn’t leave without once I played it. Tone is insane. All pick ups and configurations sound great. Neck has an awesome feel. Super light and nice colors. Really quality instrument. PRS makes some great guitars.
for me a strat is always about the neck pickup. Then I would compare just the bridge pickups from various strat-type guitars. Honestly, I have never liked the in between (2&4) positions on a strat...only neck and bridge...and would put one of the tone controls for the bridge pickup.
Jack is such a tasty guitar player. I could listen to Jack's playing all day. For each of these guitars, he manages to play different stuff. Other people have commented on his playing. Absolutely fantastic.
Incredible playing. Best demos out there. Personally, I want to buy everything Jack plays. Guitar companies should pay him for the awesome publicity/marketing/demos he provides...
By far the best most accurate description I’ve heard of each of these guitars and how they fit into the “S” style spectrum. Thank you and well done, Jack! Also amazing playing as always!! 🔥🤘🏻 Cheers from Virginia
Gotta go with that custom shop strat. I think it had the highest note definition and bloom. The others were also amazing. But damn that strat was the sound I hear in my head when I think golden era electric guitar
Let’s be honest the others are just high end rip offs. They choose to start guitar companies and instead of doing their own thing but elected to just copy and modify.
Just love the sound from that JM635 set of single coils in the PRS ~ they retain a lovely chimy-ness and have a breadth and depth of expression without being muddy, thick or too fat -- beats any from-the-factory Fender set of single coils in a SSS Strat in my opinion (and I own one!). Great comparisons. Thank you!
Jack is an absolute world treasure! They're all interesting sounding in their own right; although for some reason the CS Fender Straty speaks to me more
Not a strat expert but will offer up that the best s-style and worst s-style I played were both Fenders, so maybe they have less consistency than the others. The best one was a MIM that had upgraded pickups and nut and the guy had treated the neck with the oil and wax approach that musicman uses, probably less than $800 total spend, and you could probably do something similar with a good Player model today. Not take anything away from the boutique stuff at all, of course, but the more modest priced Fenders are pretty good these days, kinda fits Leo’s original intent with this design.
Wonderful demo. Comparatively, the Fender is not polite, not entirely controlled, and has an untamed voice. Kinda like me. What an animal, what a charmer. Not even close. Great show, thanks.
Great breakdown, of what and how these different models “fit” inside the “Stratosphere”. The Xotic is the one that splits the difference the best in your comparison, and comes the closest to what I’m looking for. I put together a high end Partscaster, incorporating many of these ideas. I am still on the journey! I have tweaked my guitar in many ways. Raw Vintage Springs, locking tuners, polishing out the Nut, graphite or nut lube, and setup have transformed my 6 screw Vintage style bridge into a reliable, functional Vibrato! I have raised, and lowered the action, the pickup height, decked and floated the Bridge. Went from Real ‘54’s (which are really amazing sounding pickups, but not much zing?) to Vintage Hot Lindy Fralin Pickups. Had Treble Bleed installed, and rewired to Push/Pull. Changed out Tone capacitor. Used a Modern type Warmoth Maple Slab Rosewood board neck (10”-16” compound radius), and I have finished, then stripped the finish of the back of the neck, adjusted the profile, and dressed the fret ends & rolled the finger board. May add a different tone cap, and a Jesse Davies KingTone tone gizmo? Getting a Strat dialed-in is a process. How much fight, and give effect the sound. The Strat style sometimes feels like it’s the right guitar to be my main instrument, and other times not what I want? It’s undeniable how good they can sound in the right hands, and for certain sounds, there is no substitute!
Great playing, great vid, as always. I bought the SS after hearing Jack's demo, and Tim Pierce's comparison to a £20k vintage Strat. It sounds better than my Clapton strat IMHO, although some days I just can't get a decent sound out of either of them, but then that's more down to operator error!!
The pickups on that Suhr sound wonderful! Maybe it's me, but the Silver Sky pickups sound slightly hotter than the others, which to me isn't always the best thing. As expected the Xotic looks stunning & you can really hear the effect roasted woods have on the tone (or maybe the Xotic pickups are supposed to have that Lindy Fralin glassiness). Lovely guitar. As for the Fender, not my cup of tea. I love Fender but this relic fashion thing is getting a little old now. It was fun for a while, but if I wanted a worn in vintage strat, I'd rather save up for one than have a new 'reliced' CS strat.
I have a Warmoth strat. It’s the best. Just got to know what you’re doing when you assemble and set it up. I had to learn a lot to get it dialed in. And to Nicola Dolby the roasted maple (my Warmoth has that option) actually sounds a bit warmer rather than more glassy. Just a hair but it’s the bees knees.
After 2 fenders, enough experiences with copy brands, I’ve settled on a silver Sky and if one wants mine from me they will have to pry it from my dead hands !
my Silver Sky with the rosewood board is incredibly percussive as you say that the maple neck one you play is.It's an amazing guitar for the funk chucka chucka.It has some kind of extra percussive overtones when playing no actual notes....I am so glad i bought one.The maple would be even better but I am super happy with what i have
All sound great. The Fender hits the pleasure centres every time one of its tonal nuance triggers a memory of a past favorite performance. That is probably the main difference for those chasing that feeling. That can also influence what you play, so also having one of the others in that feeling of home packaging might be a freeing experience when searching for new inspiration. You are buying the packaging without the baggage even if you don't recognize it as baggage.
Having owned two fender strats, a Roger Giffin S type and now an Xotic Xsc-1, I can honestly say that the Xotic is my favourite. It’s everything I want in a Strat and looks amazing!
Hi Jack... Great video. Having started (S type) with a Fender Roland Strat I fell in love with the new Strat Ultras.... First the colour -- Texas Tea & then the neck, when I played it... A new neck that feels vintage & played in... My fav & to to guitar, despite also having a Few Paul, 335, Tele PRE Custom 24 and Bernie Marsden and one of two others...
Xotic for me, but only thing I have to know is the weight of that instruments. If it's too heavy I have to look for something else, because standing on stage for more than three, four hours is really annoying. Thank you for that amazing demo, I wish we could have that kind of music shop in Poland.
My best Stratocaster is my Fender Stratocaster. It sounds exactly like a Strat is supposed to sound. Especially when I plug into a Marshall style amp (Marshall Origin), and a Tubescreamer style overdrive (an Ibanez Tubescreamer). So much gear that’s supposed to sound like other gear when you can just buy the real thing for a good value and great sounds.
One point forgotten in the video is that these guitars are so similar in construction that when equipped with the same pickups, pots and condensers it would be a challenge to hear much of a difference at all. Tasty playing btw.
Great playing! Of these guitars, my favorite tonally was the PRS Silver Sky, and I wasn’t expecting that! I loved the bridge pickup-it sounded more like a Telecaster than a Stratocaster, and I’m more of a Tele player anyway. In second place was the Suhr. I own a ‘92 Custom Shop Strat that I’ve spent some time and money on, trying to get it more Tele-like, including a grounding plate under the bridge pickup, and rewiring to get the neck and bridge pickups together. It’s nice, but it’s close to a Tele sound, not all the way there. Close, but no cigar!
Great video! Have to say that Gibson fans seem more particular than Strat guys, look at all the hate for any advances/changes Gibson makes to their designs. The Fender sounded far and away the best. The Xotic second, Suhr third and last the Silver Sky. It was like the Olympic 100m final though all were high level but I just think Fender knows what they are doing and have the resources to do it. The PRS is an excellent example of a John Mayer guitar, and that’s what it is, but it’s not a Strat in the sense of the original design. And I think some of the talk about Suhrs and such making it easier to play and stuff is quite exaggerated. Fender make more than one type of Strat and have done so for many years. So think that way instead of turning to other builders. Jack and the boys didn’t give that bit of info. But it’s only guitars so get what you like.
Jack does the tastiest guitar demos on the planet. Incredible touch and musicality!
He's my new favorite gear demo guy!!
Norms rare guitars, lemmo will steal your heart with his guitar of the day demos
He's also got a super clear and fair way of explaining all the subtleties
Take a bow Jack, incredible playing.
He said he was gonna play stuff that would accentuate each guitars strengths, when I heard that I said “yeah right he’s just gonna play a bunch of crap and it’s all gonna be amazing anyway”. But shit he ACTUALLY played stuff that accentuated what each guitar does lol!
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It would have been nice to see a G&L Fullerton Legacy Deluxe included in this. As it was Leo's final design of what he envisioned the strat becoming.
I’ve had 6 Fender Strats and only one was really good. I let it go about 6 weeks after getting my Silver Sky. With the volume backed off just a bit (around 9) the SS is in full on Fender territory. Run the SS at 10 and you hit another gear that a Fender just doesn’t have. More attack, more cut, more grit. Works great in a band mix. And you get less of a perceived volume drop in positions 2 and 4. Middle pickup is really good for rhythm work with a little gain on it. If you know how to use the volume and tone knobs you get rewarded big time. There’s not much the SS can’t do.
I agree.
Jack 1) If this was a different time, you'd be a guitar god
2) The Suhr brought tears to my eyes
Jack you move through chords and their inversions so fluidly. It’s fu**ing amazing.
I went round the Fender factory a few years ago and was delighted to see them proudly using the same tooling from the fifties and so much of the guitar building still done by hand...and that was just for the standard guitars! The custom shop and master builder part of the factory was just...erm...more customisation, detail and hand finishing. There was no sense they were a soulless corporate money making machine but rather passionate about building great instruments. Other brands offer a different take on Leo’s genius and Fenders leadership. At the end of the day ‘pick your poison’ as to what inspires you to play but if you want a Fender buy a Fender.
Meanwhile Gibson has employees working without adequate breaks and flickering, dim lighting. I think it more than reflects in their QC
Nothing better than a peach guitars video, you guys are the best. Greetings from Austria
Wow - I don't know what it is with Jack: he makes me want to play more, AND he makes me want to quit altogether...
And just my two cents: Fender first, Xotic second, Suhr third, PRS last. Just don't like the harsher, more plasticky tone of the Silver Sky. I own a Fender CS 57 and love it to pieces, and an Xotic XSC-2, which is a different beast and has a humbucker in the bridge position. Formidably versatile. These two I'll never ever sell!
Well said. I totally agree!!
Phenomenal playing does make one want to play more while also wanting to throw their guitars away at the same time! That Fender '57 is just pure. Unlike many of the comments, I think the Silver Sky is solid and requires some dialing in with the tone and volume as it is different than the other three...but it does have great 60's style pick ups.
Outstanding playing, Jack. Loved them all, but the Fender was the winner for me. It just sounded like a really, really good Strat. The Xotic was a close second, followed by Suhr and PRS. I'd happily have any of them though!
Jack, u r a hella player! It ain't demo. It should be called a jam session or a small concert. I would listen to your playing all day long. Came for gear demo but stayed for your playing. Peach should give this guy a big chunk of raise. Wishing u all the best Jack!
I've got both a Suhr Classic S and an Xotic XSC1, both excellent but I concur that the Suhr is the best modern take, they are the only guitar where you want to change nothing apart from strings, everything is top spec already down to the screened cable from the jack to the volume pot. The Xotic necks are something else though with a great feel to them.
Fender all the way
Peach guitars. Jack was actually the only reason I spent time on peach videos. Miss ya Jack.
That silver sky sounds really good.
It’s the worst sounding of the bunch in my opinion
@@Atomic1710 Not only does the PRS sound lifeless it looks hideous.
@@nuendo2496 that’s right
Sarcasm?
Just goes to show-if somebody likes something, some other body (to quote Chuck Berry) is going to hate it!
I’m new to Peach Guitars, Jack’s playing gets better every time I hear him. What a player!
Love my Xotic California, the roasted maple neck is simply something else. Vintage looks but all the modern playability.... so much character and feels like I’ve played it for years and years
My Suhr Classic Antique HSS rules. Never felt better and more at home on a guitar. If I buy a SSS I might consider a Xotic, just to have another brand in the stand, but probably a 2nd Suhr strat would do it for me ;-)
On Suhr's pickups do you lose any high end when you turn down the guitar volume?
@@habsfan170 No they keep the top end. Usually that is not an issue of the pickups, but your wiring.
thinking about buying one. What pickups do you have in yours?
@@rz0svp Suhr ML`s and a Asatobucker in the bridge.
I listened with my screen off and went back to find out which was which and for some reason the Xotic really jumped out at me. That's a special instrument! The Fender, oddly enough, was underwhelming.
Thank you for a great video. Just great stuff!
I own a Xotic XS 1 and it has this way about it, it feels alive. I absolutely love it, haven't played a Fender in three years. Since I got my Xotic.
Jack said the Fender is "the best example of a custom shop" that he could find and this is a guy who plays a LOT of different guitars. It is unlikely you will find something from Fender that matches what he is playing, especially from a production model. The other makers have better consistency and quality control, IMO, and what you are hearing from Jack is more likely to be what you will get if you buy one of those. Also, if your goal is to get the guitar that sounds best when you are sitting alone on the couch playing, then these types of videos are helpful but that might not be what you want if you perform live. Something that sounds shrill and bright to you while played on its own might be just what you need when playing live with a band, while something that sounds warm and lovely alone might get lost in the mix unless you add on tones that make it sound like the shrill/bright guitar. For me it's more about the neck and playability. The guitar is the start of the signal chain but you can shape the tone to fit pretty much anything you're after. But you can't change the feel/playability of the neck and what works best there is something that is really unique to each player.
That Silver Sky was crying to have the tone controls turned down.
Silver Sky is a very solid guitar that is different than the other three. Needs more attention paid to the tone controls for sure...but very solid pick ups in the SS. However...that '57 Fender is crazy good.
Music Man Cutlass should be on this list. That’s my pick for the best strat style guitar.
100% agree. Although they may not have had SSS in stock (judging by the Music Man unboxing vid they posted recently).
So true, picked up a ct50 recently and its the best 'strat' ive come across
Sidenote, i felt the silversky was the closest to the cutlass tonally in this vid
@@DrKevGuitar the pickups are so good. I really like the silent circuit too. I think Suhr might do that as well.
Had a cutlass never bonded with it. The aluminum bridge block drove me nuts.Looking at those wildwood 10 strats. God those sound good.
Had to sell my Xotic XSC1 to fund my doggies op. Best strat ever, hands down.
Love your priorities. Bless.
Respekt!
That’s real love brother!
Well, PRS sure made a nice sounding strat. Nice sounding indeed. It's the clear winner for me. I think I'll have to get one.
Yes
Great playing from Jack and I think he's right in saying that if it's a Strat you want, that's what you have to buy, though the others all sounded great in their own way. However good the sound/playability I couldn't spend my money on the Silver Sky. The PRS headstock on an 'S' style guitar just gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Fender is my choice. I would like a Suhr, and the PRS is not something i care for, nor the Xotic. You have a Stratocaster here that is special in my taste. The cream covers and knobs on that white are stunning. I go maple boards... and any blue or green finish will do. Low to mid output PUP's for me. Interesting video.
Picked up a Silver Sky from Peach a few months back - have not been disappointed. Setup to perfection, feel and tone continues to impress. Definitely converted to this as a standout instrument in its own right.
It's an awesome 👌 guitar 🎸 😍.
Same here - die hard strat player. Owned several custom shops etc and the irony is in my opinion the best Strat I have ever owned is my silver Sky I got from @peachguitars
Xotic, every day of the week
They are great aren’t they.
@@lewisratford2908 so great, i have 6
@@steveburroughs7343 Nice 👍 don’t blame you. I have a California Xsc-2 and haven’t touched another guitar since. What’s your favourite model? I would love another
@@lewisratford2908 I’ve got 4 XSC2, an XSC1, and an XTC1. I love them all. I’m a gigging guitarist (was) and they just play and sound great! Can’t really pick a fave.
@@steveburroughs7343 That’s lovely mate. I decided to stray away from strats, and so happy I did. I wanted Hss and felt that configuration ( personal preference) looks wrong on a strat. I just love the neck as it’s just incredible.
Hope the gigs come back mate. I’m sure they will. We all need to get back out there again.
This channel is great. Straight, not pretentious, right to the point. I wish you guys were closer to my home.
Jack you're playing is so inspiring.
Great personality. Great knowlege. Great playing. Great tone. Great video idea. Great videography. Great lighting. Great editing. Love me some Strat. Love me some Peach-flavoured videos. Cheers.
Great comment, thank you! 😁
@@PeachGuitars
Schecter Nick Johnson signature model joins the chat: What am I a joke to you? Lol
Wow that playing with the Silver sky blew me away . 🔥🔥
Only 9 minutes in so far.... just gotta say, this is world class playing! Congratulations Jack. Now I’m going back to watch the rest 👍
Much obliged, Paul! 🙏
What a great summation and demo of the suhr - so sick of the cliched "they are too sterile for me". Those Beckisms through the Dr Z were some of the best tones I’ve heard in years
Beautiful playing btw, 😉👍. The '57 all day for me!
Gotta say the Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass are up there as well!
The PRS seemed to have the most clarity.
Maybe a bit too much..?
@@basheideman Yup...too bright!
One of the best players, anywhere. Just amazing musicianship!
Nothing beats the original!!! Fender all the way for genuine sound. The other guitars give you different things
no matter what topic the videos are about, i just watch them to see jack playing😄
There is something honest and endearing about the CS warts and all Usually vintage radiuses have have the strings a little higher but that's what I'm used to The Suhr a close second as far as an alternative tone Xotic sure sounded good stratwise Your descriptions were spot on Anything but a Fender seems like a copy Don't know why but headstock matters for some stupid reason
I’ve never seen an Xotic Guitar in person, but they look sweet, also anything with a flame maple neck is 🔥
I've had a lot of different brands of Strat. Recently just sold my Suhr Classic and got a Fender Custom Shop. I'm in the camp of if you want the real thing...Fender all the way. The others are fantastic absolutely no doubt about that, but the real thing has that 'thing' about it. The real history and legacy comes through when you have it in your hands. Something 'special'. Maybe it's just all in my mind. I feel the same way about Gibson too. Nothing is as special as the 'real thing' for me.
Had few of Suhr classic strats, sold them almost immediately and got fender CS strats. Suhr is very nicely built instrument but I just couldn’t get the vibe that fender strat has. Tried very hard to like the Suhr, maybe it’s just me but I just couldn’t bond with it. Got 57’ CS, loving it so much.
@@JP-gt8qr Couldn't agree more. Don't get me wrong...I done a TON of gigs with it and it NEVER let me down! It was SOLID! But you hit the nail on the head...VIBE. There's something about a real Fender that just has that X factor.
The Fender sounds frikken amazing !
You always come back to the strat
Give me an American G&L Legacy and I will take my left over $1000 to invest in that amp you are playing. Killer sound
Last year I installed Ulbrick NRS hum/buzz reducing proprietary system into my Fender CS strat. Now its quiet like Suhr, but still has that vintage tone & feel. Best purchase for me in shitty 2020! Jack, great chops, as usually. Rock on and stay safe!
They all sound and feel great but slightly different to each other. Just play them all and pick the one that works for you. I’ve had Fender Custom Shop, Suhr and the PRS. The one I have now is the Silver Sky and it’s the one I prefer. The only one I haven’t played yet is the Xotic. But I could be happy with any of them.
I bought a Nick Johnston Diamond Series Traditional Guitar... It's a great sounding Guitar... I really like it
the PRS sounded a bit too spiky and bright for me, i really liked the other three though. great playing as usual too
Anyone bashing the Silver Sky clearly hasn’t played one in real life. I just picked up a maple board version and it’s by and far the best SSS style guitar I’ve ever played. I couldn’t leave without once I played it. Tone is insane. All pick ups and configurations sound great. Neck has an awesome feel. Super light and nice colors. Really quality instrument. PRS makes some great guitars.
poo
for me a strat is always about the neck pickup. Then I would compare just the bridge pickups from various strat-type guitars. Honestly, I have never liked the in between (2&4) positions on a strat...only neck and bridge...and would put one of the tone controls for the bridge pickup.
Beautiful playing. They all win, I would have either of them if not all.
Jack is such a tasty guitar player. I could listen to Jack's playing all day. For each of these guitars, he manages to play different stuff. Other people have commented on his playing. Absolutely fantastic.
Incredible playing. Best demos out there. Personally, I want to buy everything Jack plays. Guitar companies should pay him for the awesome publicity/marketing/demos he provides...
Xotic for those delightful tones surely
By far the best most accurate description I’ve heard of each of these guitars and how they fit into the “S” style spectrum. Thank you and well done, Jack! Also amazing playing as always!! 🔥🤘🏻 Cheers from Virginia
Gotta go with that custom shop strat. I think it had the highest note definition and bloom. The others were also amazing. But damn that strat was the sound I hear in my head when I think golden era electric guitar
Let’s be honest the others are just high end rip offs. They choose to start guitar companies and instead of doing their own thing but elected to just copy and modify.
Just love the sound from that JM635 set of single coils in the PRS ~ they retain a lovely chimy-ness and have a breadth and depth of expression without being muddy, thick or too fat -- beats any from-the-factory Fender set of single coils in a SSS Strat in my opinion (and I own one!). Great comparisons. Thank you!
Jack is an absolute world treasure! They're all interesting sounding in their own right; although for some reason the CS Fender Straty speaks to me more
Not a strat expert but will offer up that the best s-style and worst s-style I played were both Fenders, so maybe they have less consistency than the others. The best one was a MIM that had upgraded pickups and nut and the guy had treated the neck with the oil and wax approach that musicman uses, probably less than $800 total spend, and you could probably do something similar with a good Player model today. Not take anything away from the boutique stuff at all, of course, but the more modest priced Fenders are pretty good these days, kinda fits Leo’s original intent with this design.
10/10 for the excellent playing AND analysis Jack. Outstanding, as always.
Came here for the comparisons.
Stayed for the incredible playing!
Wonderful demo. Comparatively, the Fender is not polite, not entirely controlled, and has an untamed voice.
Kinda like me. What an animal, what a charmer. Not even close. Great show, thanks.
06:00 in the morning / i hear that lick at 21:49 and i was AWAKE! Amazing skills - thank you for this inspiration!
Really fair and balanced review, stunning playing Jack. I am a Fender fan but the Xotic sounded best in your hands.
Great breakdown, of what and how these different models “fit” inside the “Stratosphere”. The Xotic is the one that splits the difference the best in your comparison, and comes the closest to what I’m looking for.
I put together a high end Partscaster, incorporating many of these ideas. I am still on the journey! I have tweaked my guitar in many ways.
Raw Vintage Springs, locking tuners, polishing out the Nut, graphite or nut lube, and setup have transformed my 6 screw Vintage style bridge into a reliable, functional Vibrato! I have raised, and lowered the action, the pickup height, decked and floated the Bridge.
Went from Real ‘54’s (which are really amazing sounding pickups, but not much zing?) to Vintage Hot Lindy Fralin Pickups. Had Treble Bleed installed, and rewired to Push/Pull. Changed out Tone capacitor.
Used a Modern type Warmoth Maple Slab Rosewood board neck (10”-16” compound radius), and I have finished, then stripped the finish of the back of the neck, adjusted the profile, and dressed the fret ends & rolled the finger board.
May add a different tone cap, and a Jesse Davies KingTone tone gizmo?
Getting a Strat dialed-in is a process. How much fight, and give effect the sound. The Strat style sometimes feels like it’s the right guitar to be my main instrument, and other times not what I want? It’s undeniable how good they can sound in the right hands, and for certain sounds, there is no substitute!
Beauty demo's Jack! But, G&L Legacy...
Good Lord this man can play! Beautiful stuff! Informative as well. Great job!
Just fantastic playing. Jack with that custom shop strat - perfection.
Great playing, great vid, as always. I bought the SS after hearing Jack's demo, and Tim Pierce's comparison to a £20k vintage Strat. It sounds better than my Clapton strat IMHO, although some days I just can't get a decent sound out of either of them, but then that's more down to operator error!!
The one that sounds the best is the one that's in his hands at the moment!
Would love a Tele type video next! Suhr, Xotic, Fender, etc
Great video! i like the suhr beacuse i love ss frets. I also have a music man cutlass which is great!
The pickups on that Suhr sound wonderful! Maybe it's me, but the Silver Sky pickups sound slightly hotter than the others, which to me isn't always the best thing. As expected the Xotic looks stunning & you can really hear the effect roasted woods have on the tone (or maybe the Xotic pickups are supposed to have that Lindy Fralin glassiness). Lovely guitar. As for the Fender, not my cup of tea. I love Fender but this relic fashion thing is getting a little old now. It was fun for a while, but if I wanted a worn in vintage strat, I'd rather save up for one than have a new 'reliced' CS strat.
I have a Warmoth strat. It’s the best. Just got to know what you’re doing when you assemble and set it up. I had to learn a lot to get it dialed in. And to Nicola Dolby the roasted maple (my Warmoth has that option) actually sounds a bit warmer rather than more glassy. Just a hair but it’s the bees knees.
Hard to fault any of these Strat style guitars. Your playing brings out the best in all of them. The Remedy is an amazing amp as well.
After 2 fenders, enough experiences with copy brands, I’ve settled on a silver Sky and if one wants mine from me they will have to pry it from my dead hands !
my Silver Sky with the rosewood board is incredibly percussive as you say that the maple neck one you play is.It's an amazing guitar for the funk chucka chucka.It has some kind of extra percussive overtones when playing no actual notes....I am so glad i bought one.The maple would be even better but I am super happy with what i have
That Suhr sounds amazing!!!!!
Really think you’re finding your feet with the videos. A unique take on the gear and I’m really enjoying them. Great playing as always 👍
Wow, you play beautifully and your playing coveys such depth of emotion. Well done.
All sound great.
The Fender hits the pleasure centres every time one of its tonal nuance triggers a memory of a past favorite performance.
That is probably the main difference for those chasing that feeling.
That can also influence what you play, so also having one of the others in that feeling of home packaging might be a freeing experience when searching for new inspiration.
You are buying the packaging without the baggage even if you don't recognize it as baggage.
Having owned two fender strats, a Roger Giffin S type and now an Xotic Xsc-1, I can honestly say that the Xotic is my favourite. It’s everything I want in a Strat and looks amazing!
The cheapest that still holds quality. Player series strat.
What a player jack !!! Really sweet hands
Hi Jack... Great video.
Having started (S type) with a Fender Roland Strat I fell in love with the new Strat Ultras.... First the colour -- Texas Tea & then the neck, when I played it... A new neck that feels vintage & played in...
My fav & to to guitar, despite also having a Few Paul, 335, Tele PRE Custom 24 and Bernie Marsden and one of two others...
Incredible playing mate!
Xotic for me, but only thing I have to know is the weight of that instruments. If it's too heavy I have to look for something else, because standing on stage for more than three, four hours is really annoying.
Thank you for that amazing demo, I wish we could have that kind of music shop in Poland.
My best Stratocaster is my Fender Stratocaster. It sounds exactly like a Strat is supposed to sound. Especially when I plug into a Marshall style amp (Marshall Origin), and a Tubescreamer style overdrive (an Ibanez Tubescreamer). So much gear that’s supposed to sound like other gear when you can just buy the real thing for a good value and great sounds.
One point forgotten in the video is that these guitars are so similar in construction that when equipped with the same pickups, pots and condensers it would be a challenge to hear much of a difference at all. Tasty playing btw.
Don Grosh, Bill Nash and Peach used to sell a guitar brand that was a great guitar and price and that was 'Revelator' guitars,
beautiful relic work.
Very crafty an skillful man he caught my attention right away the real guitar playee I like his style two thumbs up.say cheez every body.
I have a Strat-Not in the form of a K-Line Springfield; wonderful guitar and the builder is local to me so that is a benefit.
That strat sound so good,wow!
Great playing! Of these guitars, my favorite tonally was the PRS Silver Sky, and I wasn’t expecting that! I loved the bridge pickup-it sounded more like a Telecaster than a Stratocaster, and I’m more of a Tele player anyway. In second place was the Suhr. I own a ‘92 Custom Shop Strat that I’ve spent some time and money on, trying to get it more Tele-like, including a grounding plate under the bridge pickup, and rewiring to get the neck and bridge pickups together. It’s nice, but it’s close to a Tele sound, not all the way there. Close, but no cigar!
Great video! Have to say that Gibson fans seem more particular than Strat guys, look at all the hate for any advances/changes Gibson makes to their designs. The Fender sounded far and away the best. The Xotic second, Suhr third and last the Silver Sky. It was like the Olympic 100m final though all were high level but I just think Fender knows what they are doing and have the resources to do it. The PRS is an excellent example of a John Mayer guitar, and that’s what it is, but it’s not a Strat in the sense of the original design. And I think some of the talk about Suhrs and such making it easier to play and stuff is quite exaggerated. Fender make more than one type of Strat and have done so for many years. So think that way instead of turning to other builders. Jack and the boys didn’t give that bit of info. But it’s only guitars so get what you like.
To clarify my PRS comment. I meant that’s it’s a good example of what John Mayer likes in a strat. It’s not just a strat for all.
Fender for Rawness
PRS for clinical Cleans
Fender and Xotic sounded the best to me through studio monitors. Xotic if you want a more luxurious S style guitar.
Silver Sky for me
Best strat demonstrator ever...