The Definitive Yngwie Malmsteen Strat Thread, Pix & Video

[Brandon Breeze]

Yep, seen those. Quite cool but the price is insane…

Yup, I had folks reach out to them from the YJM Facebook Page to see if I could get enough folks wanting me to do a review/comparison. Music Zoo, basically said they won't loan me one, but if I wanted to buy one they would sell it to me for the low low price of $5,500 . Needless to say, I never replied.

 

[Jakem]

Yup, I had folks reach out to them from the YJM Facebook Page to see if I could get enough folks wanting me to do a review/comparison. Music Zoo, basically said they won't loan me one, but if I wanted to buy one they would sell it to me for the low low price of $5,500 . Needless to say, I never replied.

That’s a nice discount anyways!

 

[DeathlyFighter]

I know Yngwie is closer to being mainstream than a lot of classic Heavy Metal artists are, but does he really have enough fans that can afford to pay over $6k for a guitar?

 

[Metalhex]

Iif I were rich I'd rather buy a play loud replica for 10k than one of those relics for 6k

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Iif I were rich I'd rather buy a play loud replica for 10k than one of those relics for 6k

Hey, IF you can find an official play loud replica for $10k, please let me know immediately. They haven't sold for that little in well over a decade now.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I know Yngwie is closer to being mainstream than a lot of classic Heavy Metal artists are, but does he really have enough fans that can afford to pay over $6k for a guitar?

I think once you get into that space, you'll run into more collectors than players. My YJM Custom Shop gets played more than any of my other YJM's. It's actually on a guitar stand as we speak and has been there for months.

If I were able to snag a Custom Shop Play Loud Replica, I would do the same. I'd be willing to bet a majority of folks that own them likely don't even play guitar.

 

[GiorgioV]

Hi guys, quick question. I am looking at a 2019 USA JYM strat, no custom shop, with a RW board.

Are RW boards more rare? More sought after? Or perhaps less sought after? I'd prefer maple myself (simply because I like the painted headstock on fenders with a RW board) but the price is right and the conditions are excellent.

Lastly, any significant spec change past 2017 when this thread was started?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

The rosewood boards are less common, moreso because they sell less and are less sought after overall by most folks.

The YJM has remained pretty much unchanged since the thread was started.

You'll enjoy either one!

 

[GiorgioV]

Thanks Brandon! I saw your video on the comparison, personally I could not hear a significant difference between the maple and rosewood board.

2k euros for a mint 2019 USA YJM with the RW board with all tags and goodies seems fair? Keep in mind the asking price is always a few hundred higher in europe than the usa.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Yeah, the difference is subtle, but the rosewood always seems a little darker.

Pricing sounds reasonable, always see if you can snag it for less though!

 

[Jakem]

Thanks Brandon! I saw your video on the comparison, personally I could not hear a significant difference between the maple and rosewood board.

2k euros for a mint 2019 USA YJM with the RW board with all tags and goodies seems fair? Keep in mind the asking price is always a few hundred higher in europe than the usa.

I would try to talk the price down a bit; generally my thinking is that a third comes always off from a new price on used gear. The used gear asking prices are still at covid levels when one could not get new stuff from the factories.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I would try to talk the price down a bit; generally my thinking is that a third comes always off from a new price on used gear. The used gear asking prices are still at covid levels when one could not get new stuff from the factories.

Yeah, some things are still high priced for sure, but remember the older versions are no longer made, so IMO this may add to their value. Obviously it depends on the buyer. I just sold my 97' for example for more than a brand new YJM Strat.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Listed many of these for sale on reverb and have them listed here if anyone if looking!

 

[Jakem]

Listed many of these for sale on reverb and have them listed here if anyone if looking!

Something else in sight? Did You find the duck replica?

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Something else in sight? Did You find the duck replica?

No, my original plan was to buy one, document it on my channel and here, then sell it. I've been sitting on them for years and was hoping to do a collab with Yngwie or Fender on the history of the YJM strat.

I met Yngwie, he's not interested, likely because my channel is too small. Contacted Fender, had a little back and forth with one of their marketing guys, then he ghosted.

Haven't really been making any content for this channel and the few models left that I wanted to snag have been very hard to find and the pricing has went up far beyond what I'm willing to pay. The Duck replica as you mentioned has went to collector only level pricing. I would actually play that guitar as that's what it's meant for, not to sit in some millionaires collection as a "look what I have" type of thing.

 

[Jakem]

No, my original plan was to buy one, document it on my channel and here, then sell it. I've been sitting on them for years and was hoping to do a collab with Yngwie or Fender on the history of the YJM strat.

I met Yngwie, he's not interested, likely because my channel is too small. Contacted Fender, had a little back and forth with one of their marketing guys, then he ghosted.

Haven't really been making any content for this channel and the few models left that I wanted to snag have been very hard to find and the pricing has went up far beyond what I'm willing to pay. The Duck replica as you mentioned has went to collector only level pricing. I would actually play that guitar as that's what it's meant for, not to sit in some millionaires collection as a "look what I have" type of thing.

Sounds reasonable! Any CAR colored ones for sale?

EDIT: Yes, the Duck replica prices are insane. I would pay high price for those but not the insane they are going for. I would also play the s@#t out of those.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Sounds reasonable! Any CAR colored ones for sale?

EDIT: Yes, the Duck replica prices are insane. I would pay high price for those but not the insane they are going for. I would also play the s@#t out of those.

Yes, both of them that I own

 

[abangabang]

Apologies if this has been asked before but why does the FCS version not have the bullet truss rod and 3 way switch (with mid PU disconnected)?

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Apologies if this has been asked before but why does the FCS version not have the bullet truss rod and 3 way switch (with mid PU disconnected)?

I've honestly never asked that question, just assumed since Fender USA wasn't making any Strats with Bullets, they didn't want to go out of their way to do it. Fender Japan on the other hand has YJM inspired Strats all the way back to the mid 80's with Bullets.

Most of the YJM's from USA have 3 way switches, assuming that was closer to YJM's actual setup at the time.

All of them have the mid pickup connected.

Forgive me if I misunderstood.

 

[abangabang]

I've honestly never asked that question, just assumed since Fender USA wasn't making any Strats with Bullets, they didn't want to go out of their way to do it. Fender Japan on the other hand has YJM inspired Strats all the way back to the mid 80's with Bullets.

Most of the YJM's from USA have 3 way switches, assuming that was closer to YJM's actual setup at the time.

All of them have the mid pickup connected.

Forgive me if I misunderstood.

Yea the regular USA ones have those features but not the FCS ones... I wanted a higher quality YJM guitar than the regular USA and cheaper than the Duck tribute. The FCS version is a natural choice but the lack of bullet truss rod is a dealbreaker for me... the 5 way switch and electronics are ok, but I don't think Yngwie himself uses that configuration? I usually see his guitars with mid pickup all the way down, and also from instagram pics, his guitars all have bullet truss rods. Maybe he's just using the regular USA versions?