Fender American Vintage II '61 Stratocaster Review
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- This is a detailed review of the Fender American Vintage II '61 Stratocaster guitar. Also included in this video review is a feature on the iconic Fiesta Red color and it's orgin. This is a DEEP DIVE into the components inside of the guitar including the pickups, pickguard shielding, switch, pots and wiring. Music by Brooks Reid
- Hudba
Hi Guys, I have one of these guitars, bought recently and I absolutely LOVE it! Unfortunately when I was an apprentice in 1961 and was 16, I only earnt £4 per week and the guitar was around £150! There was no way I could possible afford one of these at that time. I think it is great and nostalgic that we can now buy one of these. There are some modern features like the rolled edge fingerboard which i love also. I am 81 and still play the Shadows and Spotnicks music in clubs, what a lovely way to live!!!!! Many thanks for a great and honest review! This is a great guitar!
One of the best reviews I have seen, the sound demo with the graphics is great. Keep up the great work :)
Great review as always. You’re one of the most enjoyable to listen to and I love your honesty.
Wow! Thank you!
Fantastic review yet AGAIN!!! Your deep dives are second to none brother. This exact Strat has been on my radar and is really taking over my head lately. I have a custom shop NOS 60 Strat that i bought for a ridiculous price a few years ago. Cant pull the trigger on this just yet but its gonna happen. These new AVii are a good deal i think.
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for the compliment. Much appreciated!
Tbis may be the best review I've ever seen on any subject.. and I watch a lot of reviews.
Thank you so much! I appreciate it.
I love what fender has done with this 61 model especially. Definitely worth every penny.
I just got it yesterday. Fiesta Red. Love it. The early 60s C neck is exactly what I like - it feels slim tapered, getting just ever so slightly thicker as you move down the neck.
cool
I’m pleased with mine. Pretty much perfect 😍 I love the tone of pickups and the controls are very responsive.
Just bought one online, cant wait to play it, thanks for the review!
Hey Paul, you're welcome. Thanks for the comment! Let me know how you like the guitar when you get it.
My Fiesta red just came in and I got lucky. The fretboard on mine has no streaks and is as dark if not darker than any other rosewood board I have ever seen. It is also super light, if it helps anyone else, I ordered mine directly through Fender, (It does though have a small scratch near the bridge). The case is not my favorite either, but man, the guitar is absolutely 100% custom shop NOS level. I am stoked!!
You got lucky! Glad you got a nice one. When did you order and when did you receive it?
@@airtimedesign I ordered on Monday morning after I got the in stock alert, arrived Friday. Yea I did get lucky with the fretboard, everything is top notch too, my complaints would be the finish had a couple tiny scratches in it, and when they screw in the plastic parts it melts it seems and it's not pretty underneath near the screw holes. But it sounds amazing, I might make a quick video of it.
Everything I wished for, light guitar and dark fretboard only other perfect thing would be a thin neck.
Excellent video with all necessary details!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
So far the best review in this guitar. Incluiding the history of the color. Thank you so much.keep it up!
Thank you Manuel! You made my day!
I enjoyed doing the review and I'm glad you liked it. Thank you and please subscribe!
Really the best '61 vintage introduction vedio i've ever seen!
Thank you! That makes all the work worth it for me.
Thank you for this review. This is by far the most detailed review of this particular Strat. Kudos for mentioning how the decal was put over the lacquer and the "aged" tinting on the necks and headstock (I prefer the clear lacquer on the AV '59 and '65 Strats of the last AV series 2012-2017)
Hi Mister Mister and you're welcome! I appreciate the compliment and I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I tried to get the previous AV series but they were sold out at the time. I would be interested in hearing you're impression of the AV series II if you have a chance to play one.
@@airtimedesign I will eventually. They're still too new and my local music stores won't carry them right away. I am willing to bet it won't be as cool experience (IMO) as the previous AVRI. Just based on what I already know about them. Seems Fender cut corners compared to last time, which is unfortunate for a $2k guitar.
@@airtimedesign I had a 2016 thin skin 59 , it was a spectacular vintage spec instrument as close to a pre CBS as possible , kinda feel these new ones are disappointing as I kinda figured they would be a step forward from those American Vintage series great guitars and to me the new ones are a step backwards , not bad instruments but definitely not on par with my 59 , why did I sell it 😭
Those 2012-2017 series was the best. Have a rosewood 59 sunburst, still my favourite, dark rosewood, resonant.
@@limoncr5205 Correct, the AV (or AV1) now are the best, most period correct re-issues ever made, and ever likely to be made. I have all the Strats and Teles from the series. These new ones are halfway betweeen an old AVRI and an AV. The AV1 is still the pinnacle, the case candy tells you that without even playing the Guitars per se. The clay dots will attract a few on the 61 and 63 though...
Great review and video! Best and most direct no-BS sound clips ever! Playing the same phrases in each selector position is the most “honest” approach. And demonstrating chords and single note phrases of different styles was very effective and helpful for those considering this instrument.
Light weight bodies and perfectly dark rosewood…I think that’s what the Custom Shop is for. It was stated in the review that both are becoming harder to come by. That’s where the Custom Shop comes in…at a Custom Shop price point.
…and jumbo frets wouldn’t be authentic, right? Another job for the Custom Shop.
The last thing I need is another guitar. But this new series is kinda cool! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Martin. I glad you enjoyed the review!
great review, just bought mine and cannot wait to play it
So did you get it? How do you like it?
@@airtimedesign yes, and it is amazing. My fav strat I ever played, the build is great, the pickups are a little weak IMO but sound great with the right OD pedal. Neck feels amazing, color and finish is awesome. Really happy with it.
@@airtimedesign Got it and absolutely love it, I had to refit the neck however. It just needed to be loosened and straightened then bolted down with the 4 screws. I found my high e string was offset from the 12th fret down but other than that, it is a great guitar, best Strat I've played.
The red pigment is also subject to UV fading. Red is the most tricky colour to replicate and I have had FR guitars from the same batch with different hues of the FR.
Thanks for reviewing without using pedals! I don't understand why some folks review a new guitar with some many effects you can't hear the guitar. I don't use pedals, nothing wrong with them. But I don't know many players who use the same one as everyone else. It's a personal thing. So good for you! We heard the guitar, now if we want we can add pedals or amp setting to our own tastes.
That's the only way to really tell the tone of the guitar. You have to go to the base level. When I try out a guitar, I don't even plug it in. I want to see how it plays acoustically first. Then I play it clean to hear the tone of the electronics.
What a thorough review, thanks
you're welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
I paired the guitar with a 68' Custom Pro Reverb and I am in love with the setup. I noticed a few people saying they do not like the setup, and I completely understand but setups are also very personal. On my guitar all I did was tighten the springs a bit, its not decked but it is more to my liking. Also I took the back plate off and noticed melted plastic crud around the holes, (my Custom Shop had the same issue), so scraped it off, wet sanded the area and polished it and it looks factory new with perfect looking holes, (NITRO is so easy to work with I love it). Neck pocket on mine is tight with no gap, thankfully I have had no reason to remove the neck, everything was setup pretty much perfect for me out of the box. I sold my Custom Shop because this guitar was just better period all around, fit/finish and sound. This is my first guitar with a 7.25" radius and it feels really good to me. The rosewood on mine is also beautiful and dark with no streaks, looking online at actual pictures of others, it seems this is not as uncommon as I first thought, I think getting one with streaks might be the outlier. I think the best thing I did was pair it with the 68' Custom Pro...what an amazing amp.
Sounds like you're enjoying your new guitar and amp!
Thanks for this great review. I have one of these on reserve from Sweetwater, a white one. I'm getting it, in part, from having played one way back in 1968 when I was 16. It was only briefly, through a Princeton Reverb but the sound was awesome and the experience never left me. I'll be honest, in a way I'm trying to revisit my youth. But there is more to it. I've always been a Gibson fan. I have a Gibson Modern I recently purchased but I want a guitar with real single coil pickups. I can't think of a better way to fulfill that need than with a Fender American Vintage II '61 Stratocaster.
Hello Matchrocket. Everytime I pick up my guitar I feel like I'm 16 again. As close as you can get to a time machine. Hope you enjoy it!
Great video.. have this one (Fiesta Red '61 strat) ordered and can't wait to get it.
Thanks Andrew, when you get it please let me know how you like it.
Thanks Andrew! Please let me know how you like you're guitar when you get it.
Thank you for the honest review.
Great video! I have the same in sunburst (a light one at 3,5kg) and I love it. Only thing is the frets are indeed quite small for my taste.
Hey Bart, thank you I'm glad you enjoyed the review.
It's a common misconception that the neck must be removed to adjust the truss rod. Just slack off the strings and partially loosen the four neck screws enough to tilt the neck up at an angle from the neck pocket so the truss rod nut can be safely accessed and engaged for adjustment. I've been adjust necks on my Fenders this way for decades.
dont even need to do all that
@@soofitnsexy How much you slacken your strings and loosen four neck screws depends how much you want avoid gouging your pickguard.
@@YTPartyTonight pick up pickguard and just use a screwdriver thats it
@@YTPartyTonight dont need to touch the neck at all..I have severalvintage and vin style fenders
@@soofitnsexy Okay, if you don't need to then you don't need to. For all of mine, that's not the case.
Got mine from Sweetwater it was perfect right out of the box. Love the feel of the 71/4 radius neck vintage tall frets feel great
I own the three tone sunburst. Amazing guitar. So fun.
Side note, so to speak: Thanks for the history of Fiesta Red. I suspected the name derived from Fiesta Ware. And I'd long heard rumors about Fiesta Ware using radioactive paint. And the explanation of the various different hues of Fiesta Red clears things up. I believe Ford Motors began using Fiesta Red in the 1950s. I wish my Ford Fiesta was Fiesta Red. I do have on Fiesta Red Strat. All of that said, another excellent review, suh!
Thank you JDKing! I really wasn't that excited about Fiesta Red until I did some research. Now I love the color and the history.
I bit the bullet on the Sunburst. Same thing. The looks are enough. Yes it's expensive, and it's kind of poorly set up, but the smell of the lacquer and THE LOOKS. It just inspires me to play it. Coming from a Mexican Standard from 2008 that wasn't even set up when I bought it, is a huge upgrade; precisely what I wanted. I don't know if a mod shop or an Ultra would've been better for just $50 more. I wanted the truss rod at the heel, for the clean look. I started recording with it and it sounds so much better than my "trainer" Strat... I'm happy with my purchase.
Thank you for the very nice and honest review. We’ll done!
You're welcome Steve!
Got mine today. It's heavenly.
Great video. I’m loving mine.
Thanks Cody, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
Good review. Well done.
Thank you!
Love that the American Original II is based on the 61' and not the 65' like the first gen. Much cooler version and more like the old AVRI models. Great review
Interesting review. I kinda forgot fender made this line up. And I don’t recall seeing them on sale here in Singapore where I live.
Made in Japan fenders are very common here instead. We have the Japanese made Traditional II 50’s/60’s (which I feel is like the American Vintage II series but not having down to the screw vintage specs) and Hybrid II line up of fenders. I own the latter and it’s a really nice instrument. They’re also priced similarly to the player series
What are the Japanese Trad 50's/60's like?
I'm happy to report that the Olympic White version is currently on it's way through the system over at Sweetwater to be delivered to me next week! I paid the extra money for the plek setup just because I wanted to see how that feels. Cheers!
MaaaaaaN an honest review. My toes were curling but I gave a comment on the Vintage II Telecaster on another page . Honestly was not that totally blown away. I would say in my opinion.....
I played it through a Princeton Reverb Reissue. I have 3 Telecaster s. 2 American 1Japan 60s type 7 lbs killer EXCEPT small frets "X" Yuck . Need larger but beautiful
Really thorough review. Thanks. I was surprised when you started taking it apart. I have a beautiful faded sonic blue 1959 from the original vintage series. But even still this red guitar is giving me GAS.
Hello Funkuncle, glad you enjoyed the review.
Thanks for the video. I have ordered mine, but it’s going to arrive in April. I don't understand why it will take so long, but I am sure it is worth the wait.
I heard the same thing Jesus. I actually wanted to get the Jazzmaster of the '57 Strat but I was told the same thing, not available till Spring 2023! Let me know what you think when you get yours.
Did you get it?
I love a resewood board with streaks of orange and red , reminds me of old Brazilian
Really good review
Thank you Robin!
By far the best overview I have seen. I'm not too concerned about steaks in the fretboard, it's still better then Pau Ferro that I have on my Mexican Strat (which has a lot of streaks). I just pulled the trigger on a Fiesta Red one, after weighing it up with a NOS Custom shop option, it's a no brainer at half the cost.
Vintera II line is coming out with Rosewood Fingerboards.
Wow! Thank you!
Srv had a 61 fiesta red. You can see it in the show with Albert king ❤
I have a American original 60s strat ....the build quality is excellent and it has a 9.5 radius fret board . Really nice ax but I actually find my self gravitating more often to my American pro 2 . The playability of the pro 2 is just outstanding .
Nothing wrong with the AM PRO 2. I have one and I love it.
@@airtimedesign I am damn near 60 years old man and I have played alot of fenders through the years and I believe they are makin the best production strats they ever have . Fender is doin some great stuff for the last few years man .
Both awesome Strats! I went in to buy an Am Pro 2 but then started comparing the tone to a shell pink AO 1960s. While the Am Pro get amazing in the hands, I found it more bright and modern sounding. I preferred the AO’s warm, balanced, and vintage sounding tones. The shell pink is a real looker too!
Thank you for your honest review. Another guy who also reviewed a red vintage II 61 Strat, complained about the buzzing on the low e string. On a expensive guitar like this, there should be no issues with it at all. The pickups do sound better than the thinner and brighter 50's Vintage II reissue guitar. But I agree, its hard to bend the strings on this guitar. I choose a PRS Silver Sky over this guitar after I compared the two. And that is not an easy thing to do as most stores do not carry these guitars. Another frustrating issue. The Silver Sky had no issues from the frets which are bigger, whammy bar, nut, or the locking tuners. In addition, my Silver Sky is under 8 pounds, it has the satin neck, and the tone of the pickups is great. Oh yeah, its much easier to bend the notes on the Silver Sky as well. The Silver Sky is based on John Mayer's 1963 Strat so your getting that vintage vibe with some modern improvements.
you're welcome!
I understand the concerns about the rosewood, but the originals used Brazilian rosewood which is banned/protected so they use Indian rosewood. I feel it would be disingenuous for Fender to stain them dark which is possible if done right.
But otherwise I am really happy with my sunburst, though I exchanged one as I could see a wood join line in the finish that I couldn’t un-see. 😂 I ended up getting a replacement that was a bit heavier but still just under 8lbs.
I think the tone of the guitar is awesome personally, very resonant and the neck pickup is glorious.
I too have had to fettle with the setup, I prefer a decked bridge - I also noticed my trem arm wouldn’t easily screw in so I had to disassemble the saddles, loosen the block then screw the arm in before re-tightening the block. It’s not uncommon but really shouldn’t have had to do it.
Heard a lot of people talking about the neck pocket fit and while on some there is a gap, it’s not to worry about - SRV had a huge gap on his No.1, the neck join surface was perfectly flat which matters more.
I think you gave a really good and fair review, though I find these pickups like an amp on the edge of breakup.
I agree on some minor details should have been checked over in QC, but this is a production line guitar and ultimately the originals will have had warts and all.
Hi Yoyoyeomans. I'm glad you found a good one!
I definitely want that one in that color as well!!!!!
Fun guitars and thanks for the excellent review.. as much as I love the old Strats (especially real ones), for my money I prefer current Fenders with the improvements that address the “gripes”. The current Pro II Strat is what I’ll probably buy when the time comes.
Replace the factory bone nut with Graph Tech TUSQ XL pre-slotted and file to perfect height.
Thanks for a honest review
You're more than welcome. Thanks for the comment. I appreciate it!
Great insight, thanks
You're welcome, thank you for commenting.
Got mine couple of months back directly from Fender. The action was crazy high and the neck was a bit crooked to the point where the high E string was nearly hanging off the edge of the neck at the 14th fret. After a local guitar tech got everything straightened out, it's now a joy to play. Still, for a $2K guitar coming direct from the factory to have these issues doesn't exactly speak well of Fender's build/setup quality for one of their "premium" line of guitars.
Hello TH010-I agree. I had the same impression. I love it but I still wish it was the same quality as a custom shop that cost 3 or 4 times more.
I have noticed that most of the American Vintage ii line, not just the Stratocasters have poor geometry with the necks. They are also mounting the neck plates very close to the edge for some reason. Fender must have rehired their assembly workers from the seventies. I would only buy one of these if I saw it in person or pictures online. If you buy direct from Fender you are taking a chance.
Best review ever ❤
Wow! You made my day!
I didn’t love very much the pickups sounds. Think to thin, no warm enough for me. I’m gonna try one this week. Love the vintage specifications. Let’s see how it’s sounds in my hand.
Well did you ever get a chance to try one and did you like it?
You are correct in saying, that for $2,000+ it should be set up way better than it is. I wonder if the Strat or Tele were beautifully set up way back in the 50s and early 60s and gig ready right out of the case ?? Probably not ! Regardless, there is always something to tweak or change according to whoever is playing it, everyone has their own way of setting up a guitar that suits them ! You're also right about the screening though, for that money, that is a detail that would show more level of care and attention. Great Vid, Thanks.
you're welcome!
great review. how do you think this compares to the AVII 57? in terms of pickups
I love the review, and all the info, and the insight of how finish could age. My only insight it would be that maybe 18 mins long is too much for the average duration of what guitar reviews actually are, or maybe need to be. Maybe 10 mins review and some beauty shots while you played the guitar- and add some winky-winky humor bits on the script could boost your channels hits. Along with your particular view on some key specs. I guess what we look in a review is to see how much joy the player can get out of the guitar, first rule for that: show, don't tell. I hope this comment contributes you somehow. Kudos man.
Man, those are some great suggestions! Thank you!
What a fantastic video
Thank you Amin! Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Brooks , great video and informative too .
I pulled the trigger on the Olympic White one and love is , I’m gassing for the Fiesta Red one too but in England 🏴 my country the first delivery country wide have sold out already!!! , as you may have guessed i love Stratocasters .
Only one thing that disappoints me on mine is the neck picket lower horn side is a poor fit , i can get a medium pick between body and neck ??? Odd as modern construction is so tight these days , i wonder if they are taking the original spech to heart ?? As the original did have neck pocket issues.
I’m disappointed but love the feel sound and look .
Cheers John
Hey John, I notice the neck pocket on mine also is not as tight as I would like. And I think all the major stores in the US are sold out too. I'd like to get my hands on the '57 Strat and the '66 Jazzmaster to try also.
SRV’s No.1 had a big gap, don’t worry about it, these guitars are super resonant as you will have found.
@@3rdtonefromthesun
Thanks mate, I’m in conversation with the store to ask Fender what the deal is on these , but guess I’ll swallow my pride and keep it
Fantastic review! For some reason .. the fiesta red is the one that is catching my eye, the other colors are classic and appealing, but the fiesta just seems less predictable. I can’t wait to try one. I think my preference would be for ‘57 pickups on the fiesta and a V neck w rosewood. Obviously that’s not gonna happen. I’ll have to hunt them down and play a few . I hope I can figure a way to own one of these. Is this a limited run ?
Thank you Michael, glad you enjoyed the review. There has been such a demand for these American Vintage guitars that most music stores have sold out but I don't think this is a limited run. I think Fender has a huge hit on it's hands and is making them as fast as they can. I think by the beginning of next year everyone will have plenty of stock. I'm also hoping they will add more colors.
More colors !!!
I also prefer to have Strat bridges completely decked, which means I'd have to adjust this model since it's set up to be floating out of the box (push/pull on the tremolo). It isn't hard to do, though. I'd also get a set of 5 matching springs from Callaham or some other aftermarket manufacturer and install them, which would make the guitar almost like a hardtail and only able to push the tremolo.
Hey Daniel, thank you for posting a comment.
I decked mine with only 3 springs (10 gauge strings). The bridge doesn’t now move at all (and the trem arm is back in the case where it belongs…)
@@airtimedesign Hi again Brooks, I'm hearing some negative things about the 2023 versions of this guitar. I keep hearing people claim that Fender is now *staining* the fretboards on these to make the rosewood look darker. Hard to believe that you can spend over 2K on a Strat and not get both dark rosewood and proper shielding. Is that true or just an urban legend?
Finally!! This is the type
Of video ive been waiting for, I got my fiesta red 61 but didn’t want to open it up myself 🤣
Thank you Emillio!
I suggest you try to get your hands on a Made in Japan traditional 60s . I 've heard these have the best cost benefit from all non-custom shop strats.
Also, thanks for the Fiesta Red history class. I have been a fan of the aesthetics since ever, and never new why there's different hues and the uranium thing.
I own a 61 Vintage II Strat (three tone sunburst). I always wanted to buy and play that kind of "NOS" Instrument. The woods (one piece eldar body and the maple neck with a dark rosewood fingerbord) look and sound great, Craftmanship and weight (3,75 lbs) are also perfect But .. made two mods currently: 6105 frets and new boutique PUs. And now that guy is perfect ! . Still less expensive than a custom shop reissue but same quality, weight and sustain ,,, and it sounds as a 61 should -> Remark: Also changed the PU's in my Custom Shop Strat
Andy Summers has one of these red strats. You can see him playing it on the Police Reunion Tour 2007.
Was looking at this model for a while but ended up going for the Silver Sky. I think you cant really go wrong either way
I would’ve liked to see the read on those pick ups but other than that nice review.
Thanks for the great review. I don’t understand the narrative that (paraphrased) “Fender did a ton of research on these ‘61 pickups to get them just right”. In the year 2022, could there possibly be anything that’s not already known about vintage pickup construction? There are too many companies to count making forensic reproductions of classic year pickup models, and Fender’s been in that game for decades too. Claiming it as special work now seems like hype.
Welcome to marketing.
13:09 it's the plasticizers in the lacquer that makes the neck feel sticky. You can spray some Finger Ease on the back of the neck or if you don't want to wear the neck in naturally, rub a White Scotch Brite Pad on the back of the neck.
I do exactly that. Scotchbrite pad on the back of the neck. Mine feels pretty good now. I also think that it's just not completely dry from the factory.
Fiesta Red was also used on Ford cars and trucks starting in 1956. Leo Fender used the same automotive paint made by DuPont, which had lead in it.
and Duco.
These look great, more disappointed that for the money they don't come with the hang tags, polish cloth, cable like they did in 2012-2017 A lot of us definitely buy these for the nostalgia on top of the quality. Was nice simple touch that I appreciated at a premium price.
The American Pure Vintage was the one to get 2012-17 they were the most accurate production line Fenders ever made.
Yep, those are really nice too!
Mine is coming this week. I saved five hundred bucks with a demo or return.not sure and don't care. the pictures sw sent are great. The rw looks fantastic and really dark. Can't wait to play. I have had some surgeries on fret hand the compound on my deluxe ash is to flat for me now. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the review. Do you find yourself playing your Vintage II or Pro II more often? I like the neck on the Pro II but haven't played the Vintage II.
To me my pro II felt smoother and more versatile. My vintage II feels and sounds purer.
If you want an '1-guitar-to-do-it-all' i´d say pro II. If you want that something extra pure or special... Vintage II
Hi Brooks.
Great review, as ever!
Good to hear you name-check the Shadows when referring to the popularity of the Fiesta Red Strat of the ‘60s and beyond.
- particularly in Europe, Australasia, Japan and, of course, the U.K.
Incidentally, angling the 2 outside springs on a 3 spring trem setup has the effect of relieving the tension provided by the centre spring. This can make it over-loose and introduce a bit of rattle. The 5 (or a 4 - middle slot empty- if the 5 proves too ‘stiff’ for you) spring setup is the better option.
I run both my vintage spec Strats (one strung 10 - 46, the other 11 - 48, both EB Slinky) with 5, although you do need to source the springs as a complete set, rather than add a couple you may have, ‘cos the variation between batches, and brands/manufacturers varies a lot more than you’d think. 👍😉
That's great information about the springs Rob! Thank you, I'm going to take your advice and order a set of Fender springs.
@@airtimedesign No problem, Brooks. Glad to help.
Looking forward to the next video.👍
I just picked up this git in a burst. It plays and sounds absolutely killer! There’s only one glaring prob that I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere online and it’s that it’s a nightmare to play live on a dark stage. Especially if you jump all around the neck when ripping solos. The clay fret markers quickly become invisible on stage. Use the force. Ugh
cover the side markers with glow in the dark tape or use phosphorus paint.
@@christopherfidler3019 Ya. I’ve been using fluorescent gaff tape as side markers. It works but it gets me through one show max. I thought about the paint, but, I don’t want to alter the git. A tech offered to drill out the side markers and replace as well, but, again, I don’t want to mess with the git so….tape it is…lol
I would comment that every guitar you buy, new or used, you have to set up it to your liking first. I mean every guitar, even a custom shop strat or gibson or even a prs. They are usually set up by factory to a relatively high action, to avoid the guitars buzzing or fretting out if they move during shipping, and knowing most store wont do a full setup before hanging the guitar on the wall for the sale. They can also be left hang on a wall in the store, untouched for a while and left not in tune.
When you buy a higher end, more expensive guitar, the shop you are buying it from should offer a full setup. They usually do. Or you could go see your luthier. I learned to do setups so I can do it myself, I usually set it to factory specs, and adjust a bit from there after. On higher price guitars you usually have less work to do to make it play great. Frets, nut, etc have better work and you usually do not have to touch them. I would not expect to buy a guitar perfectly adjusted to my liking directly from the wall, no matter the price.
That being said I like your video/review of the guitar and learned a bit regarding the fiesta red nuclear finish. Hahaha! Fun facts! I like the fiesta red it looks classy. You have got a very nice guitar.
I got an american original 50 (white blonde ash) a couple of weeks ago, just before the new american vintage ii line went out. I believe the american original and vintage ii lines are pretty close specwise. Mine is a bit heavy 8.2 pounds, I wish my guitar would have been a bit lighter. And the pickups ( pure vintage 59) are a little dark to my liking, but they have a lot of body for single coils. I love this guitar it has a very fat soft v neck. I had to get used to the neck fatness it took me 2 weeks and now I prefer this neck over my other guitars. I think you have to play the guitar for a while to see if you really like it.
Hello Jean-Phillippe, good information and thank you for taking time to comment. Some people have said that they like the Am Original better. I have not had a chance to compare them but I'm sure they are both nice. I agree with you about the fatter neck. Although I don't have long fingers I still prefer a neck with a little more girth. Not like a baseball bat but I do think the larger neck adds something to the sound and of course the feel.
I would definitely buy this guitar and in Fiesta Red! I like what you said if we went back in time and played brand new 1961 Strats. Would they all be immaculate, "Holy Grail" guitars. Most likely not! Would I buy this one? Most definitely!!!
That is something that would be interesting if you had a time machine. I think the magic just comes with time and playing.
@@airtimedesign I agree with you on that.
A little 0000 steel wool to the back of the neck will fix the stickiness. I agree with your set up, and I actually prefer to do it myself, so no problem there. Overall such a great revue!
Or better yet, a grey (not green) Scotch-Brite pad.
Wow thank you echoplexi. I appreciate the comment!
@@airtimedesign Even without the steel wool or Scotch-Brite, the stickiness will be gone in a year if you play it enough and wipe the gunk off each time you're done. I have several American Originals which had the same feeling on the necks when new and they all feel like glass now. The reason it feels that way initially is because it's brand-new, factory fresh lacquer, which is still a bit soft. Lacquer takes a long time to really get hard as the trace solvents continue to evaporate out of it.
@@400_billion_sunsI tragically found that out about the softness of the lacquer on a new 2001 Les Paul DC Std which I caused to spend too much time on the guitar stand. Finish on the bottom-lower back side suffered (marred) where the foam legs were--zero tolerance for. By the time I noticed it was too late. While that was on me and my naïvete, still it really opened my eyes up to how long it can take for that stuff to "cure."
@@springertube Yeah man. I discovered the same thing with my own guitars, like the time the fresh Olympic White lacquer on my strat soaked up the dye in a blue t-shirt I was wearing and turned pink! I was annoyed about it at first, but then I realized that this is the whole reason people pay extra for lacquer: because it wears, stains, ages, and develops a unique character. Now I actually enjoy those little imperfections and find a certain freedom in the inevitability of lacquer getting damaged… It means I can just play it and enjoy it as it evolves and not have to worry about it looking “perfect,” whatever that means. :)
I'm a lefty player, and as many of you know finding a lefty custom color Strat is nearly impossible. I always wanted a Fiesta Red, but short of buying it from the Custom Shop I sort of accepted the fact that I would never have one. When these came out near Christmas 2022 I almost freaked out, and stated buying them at any opportunity. I rarely buy new guitars, as used is always the way to go if you're looking to save money. But I went the limit on these, and bought myself 20 of this model, with 12 of those being Fiesta Red. One I put away, in completely original condition including all tags and receipts. The rest are going through my shop, and I am doing Relic work on them. They will be done within a year, and then I will have some of the nicest Fiesta Red Strats you will ever see...still at about half the price from the Custom Shop.
Wow! you bought 20? !
Hi great video. Subbed. I have this same guitar but whenever I roll back the tone on the bridge pick up I lose volume too. I know you should hear the volume difference slightly but it seems excessive. Is this normal? How does yours sound when rolling the tone back on the bridge?
That's a great point that I should have included in the review. Mine does the same thing. The tone control on the bridge pickup really knocks down the volume. It's a very cool guitar but Fender still has some things to work out to make it great.
@@airtimedesign I actually thought it was a fault and was thinking of getting it checked out. Couldn’t find out anywhere online if this was supposed to happen. When I emailed the retailer who sold it me they said they checked out the one in the store and that didn’t appear to have the same issue. Very odd indeed
That’s normal, if you prefer a darker bridge tone you can leave it set and raise the pickup to compensate for the output volume.
for a john mayer/ john frusciante tone would you recommend this or the American professional ii?
Just play your Strat.
Played squier strat for almost 4 years.love it so much.need to upgrade and got extra cash i bought american performer but got many issues with it.first impression my squier come stock with bone nut but the usa for the price come with plastic nut.one of the fret stick out luckly i send it to guitar tech and they hammer it back.i try MIJ hybrid 60s in surf green love it so much even get hyrid 50s.MIJ strat for me is better than the MIA strat.but the pickups MIA is better sounding.
I wish I could find the neck measurements somewhere. Is it a medium C? The small frets is big obstacle for me. They are also all around 8lbs and I wish they could have gotten closer to 7.5lbs
Mine is 7.5lbs, maybe even a little lighter. Lighter ones are harder to find but they are still making them under 8 lbs. I wonder if a guitar looses weight as it dries over 50 plus years?
I’d rather the Strat than the Gibson.
I had a Fender Classic Series version and it was awful. I’ve this new AV2 on order. I’ll have to sell 4 of my guitars to pay for it! It’s okay as I never use them.
Great video. No stone left unturned!
Thank you Krazeeization, glad you enjoyed the video. Please let me know how you like your new guitar when you get it.
I think I’ll order one right now! 61 Olympic White
I need to start working for Fender. Nah, then I'd be like every other CZcams guitar reviewer!
@@airtimedesignnot sure what’s wrong with being a you tube reviewer guy. I’d do it if I could.
Fiesta is my 4th favorite red after Dakota, Torino and Candy Apple. Sonic Blue, black or sunburst would be nice.
I have a question. Have you ever tried any of the Japanese 62 reissue strats that were made in the 90s I believe they were called ST62? I was wondering how the two compare. Thanks for the great work.
Hello Joe, yes I have an early 80's made in Japan Strat. I also did a review on the Fender reissue made in Japan Strat. Please subscribe and check it out. I can tell you I did not like the new Fender JV "Japanese Vintage" as much as I was hoping. I prefer my 1982 MIJ Strat. The American Vintage is not at all like the Made in Japan Starts IMHO. If I had to choose one I'd take the American Vintage. Both are really nice but for my playing the American Vintage is a better fit. Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the review!
I have one of the original vintage series (which seems nearly identical to this, maybe better) and also the 62 American AVRI. The american vintage series feels a little closer to accurate 60s guitar mainly because of clay dots / green scratch plate / faded parts.
Would you rather a vintage 83 MIj strat or this new America Vintage II guitar?
@@tylerwinfield91 for me there's only one way to find out. I need to be able to play them both side by side in a store that doesn't mind me adjusting the pickups and the string height.
I really love the color and the clay dots. I have the ultra and after hearing your review I think I will pass on the guitar. I came to realize that jumbo frets are a must and Ultra neck is the most comfortable to play.
Hello Aziz Aziz, sorry I talked you out of it. That was not my intention to discourage you but the Ultra is a great guitar!
@@airtimedesign Don’t be sorry. A lot of reviews and box openers don’t mention specific details - sometimes details that would make or break the purchase. You’re informative!
Save your money and buy a Suhr Classic S. I love my Ultra but my Suhrs play much better.
excellent and usefull review, thx :D
I think nowadays there are so much low cost guitars that are so good, so... im pretty sure that this guitar are overpriced... but... like u said, its nostalgic. People that buying this guitars its not for his sound and not for how it feels, its for love for strat history or maybe for devotion to Fender brand^^ and for the fact to could get a "true" 1961 strat.
Thanks for the comment. You're absolutely right!
Wow great video!! Thank you ! Fender should thank you im SOLD !
Maybe someday Fender will start sending me stuff but for now I'm really happy that people are subscribing and all the positive comments. Thank you!
Can the American Vintage ii truss rods be adjusted without neck removal? from this video it appears so but I wanted to ask.
Some people loosen up 2 screws and tilt it up to adjust it. Some people use a thin flat screw driver and adjust it without removing the neck. If you do that you might scratch up the pickguard.
I bought my fender strats in the late 1990s and early 2000s and had a 1989 strat also. I played a custom shop relic back then and thought that the 90s standard strats I had were better. I think it's a purist psychological thing that draws people to the 50s 60s guitars rather than being better. Personally I think the best years for American guitars are the late 1980s until 2005ish. Someday guitarists will discover it too
Funny how that goes in and out of style. I have a 1985 Strat with the bullet truss rod, big headstock and the 3 bolt neck. I never thought that guitar would be worth anything. But I do think the guitars built today can be every bit as good as a vintage guitar. The only difference is the old wood.
Great video! About to get my rosewood 1961 vintage 2 strat. In 1:00, I think you meant 20 hundred not 20 thousands. Hate to be that guy 😂
Thank you! I appreciate the comment.
Just ordered mine in burst.
How does this compare with the ST-62 from Japan?
I have one in Fiesta red. Very nice but i like my Amer original 60s better. Thicker neck profile and I like the 64 grey bottom pickups better. I wish they made the american pro in a nitro finish. For their current price point they should be.
One viewer commented that the tone darkens up quite a lot when you roll back the tone. In fact it sounds like it looses volume also. Does that happen on your American Original?
Wish I would have watched this before ordering mine.
What happened?
I really, really can't decide on the 57 vs 61 strat :(
Nice review offering a good insight to what the Fender Vintage II is and has to offer. Gripe: Criticising fender for not putting shielding in the pick-up cavities, knowing full well it would not be year specific and against the whole ethos and principle of the manufacturing and crafting of that guitar is pointless.
Hello @Stringz67, you're right it's pointless. Glad you enjoyed the review!
Great review, & very honest. Personally I wouldn’t pay that amount for one. It’s either period correct or it isn’t. It clearly isn’t. That aside, as a guitar it looks great. I’m lucky enough to own a 1982 AVRI ‘57 & wouldn’t part with it. I recently purchased an Am’ Pro 2 here in the UK for £1475 and that is well worth it. For more than £2000 the quality and finish should be excellent.
Thank you Denbo, glad you enjoyed the review.
"Period correct" is a pretty loaded marketing phrase. To me, period correct means 100% vintage specs which these are not...I mean, this guitar has a 5-way switch and the originals from 1961 had a 3-way. Also, there are a few other things that are not strictly vintage spec like the nitrocellulose finish (I'm pretty sure they use some kind of filler or undercoat, it's not 100% nitro like in 1961) and the frets, which are actually a bit taller than the vintage ones. Also, the slab board is Indian rosewood, not Brazilian which is why the wood isn't as dark. So yes, it is very close to vintage specs but for Fender marketing to call it "period correct" is fudging reality in my view.
@@danielstoddart I think your spot on & said as much on another forum. My 1982 AVRI was marketed at the time as made in Fullerton using the same tools, methods & resources as the originals. Good marketing, however it has date stamped. ‘82 pickups & no mention of the windings or who wound them. Just a small detail but it’s there. IMO it’s about as near to a ‘57 as I’ll ever get. I did buy a Corona built later 1988 AVRI ‘62, supposedly a continuation of the same AVRI range, but the body shape was more “squared” at the edges more like the modern Strats of today.
If the stories about the Fender resurgence of the 80’s are true, it’s likely that body was made in Japan. 😊
@Daniel Stoddart @Brooks Reid Since my first post I had chance to buy a V2 ‘61 in Fiesta Red demo from a store. Regardless of the “period correct or not” issue it plays exceptionally well, has no build issues whatsoever and was an acceptable price. It seems that the first batch of these models have varying QC levels, & as such I’ve been lucky. It’s a great guitar, & certainly on par with QC on my Strat Pro2.
@@danielstoddart Even in 1961, Fenders were not 100% nitro to the wood. They used grain filler (Fullerplast) almost from the very beginning, because otherwise it would take way too many nitro coats to get a flat finish on the body. People get so hung up on this detail but for some reason this myth has propagated for years that old ones didn't have an undercoat. Also, another myth is that vintage ones had much thinner finishes. No, it's just that lacquer continues to shrink and offgas as it ages, so by the time a guitar is 60 years old, there just isn't much finish left.