So i demoed a Yngwie strat - slight review.

through a 5150 III and a marshall cabinet with V30's.

the V30's seem to me to be the best neutral speaker to exist i think. it did alot better at higher volumes than i thought it would. the only thing i cant compliment on it is the low end area, because 5150 III's lack in that department.

articulation wise, great great speaker. im torn on G12M H30 copies or V30's.

as for the strat, the neck was alot chunkier than i thought it was gonna be. the scallopps were alot deeper than i thought they would be too.

it has a brass nut which i could tell added something i had never heard before.... its definately worth mentioning that when i build a strat a brass nut is going on first thing.

the vibrato that is capable on this guitar is just beyond fucking sick. the upper frets being scallopped was so cool to play and was such an awsome feeling, however im not 100% sure i like it yet. to get the most out of this guitar i would need to change my style of playing based in the touch aspect area. its hard to explain.

i thought i played with a light touch until i picked up this guitar, and boy was i given a rude awakening. to get the most from speed and accuracy you have to play STUPID loose, but once you do, its like a whole new door opens up in how you play. its alot different. i think i will scallop a fender neck from the 12th fret up and have a strat with this capability and try it out for a while. the vibrato was simply amazing, like nothing else. it felt alot different than just having super jumbo frets.

i did research on this guitar not too long ago, and the bridge pickup was an HS-3. im determined this is one of my favorite pickups now. it cleaned up great, but sounded like a humbucker, but still had that awsome single coil thing going on. the middle pickup was not as bright as i thought it would be. the neck pickup was the biggest surprise. i didnt like the neck pickup at all. definately didnt have that "quack" that i thought it would have being claimed to be a vintage wound pickup. it also was nowhere near as bright as i thought it would be, it had a dark characteristic that covered every note that you played. didnt really care for it at all.

didnt get to play the trem, however the guys that worked in the store said that guitar really sounded fucking good when someone knew how to actually play it. this made me feel pretty good

overall, i think that i could build a strat with features that i like for alot less, but still non-the-less a great sounding guitar that had its own thing going on. a cool experience. i recommend anyone that can, try one out for a while and get some air moving with it, its quite an experience.

-matt

Good review, although I don't think the bridge pickup sounds like a humbucker. Being a hum cancelling single coil, I think it sounds just like that...single coil tone with a blanket thrown over it
I think it's a cool guitar but not really my thing...it's design attributes are very specific to Yngwie's needs which don't really translate to what I want/need out of a traditional Strat layout.

Nut is brass, not bronze

Cool review
If the scallops were too deep - try a Blackmore and swap the p'ups if needed
I tried an Yngwie strat - evidently I have way too heavy of a left hand...

The only thing I still gas for is a Vintage white/maple board YJM Strat....Doubt i'll ever own one though as I have too many hobbies that require money and a frugal wife that doesn't like me spending

Very cool review. I have a YJM Strat (white w/ maple board) circa 2002 and I understand the new ones have some changes that make a great guitar even better.

The nut is indeed brass and not bronze as others mentioned. Mine has worn too deep and I am having a real hard time finding someone locally that will cut a new brass nut!

JQ

Yes you can build one for far less, mine was around $650 with a YJM loaded pickguard and Allparts scalloped neck.



I do want a real YJM in vintage white though.

Matt have you tried CL80's? I find them much more neutral then the V30 which to me have a upper mid spike.

Cool to play solo's on but I couldn't play cords without sounding out of tune.

thanks for all the replies guys.

there were alot of variables, to try the speakers out and get a great review, i would need to bring in a guitar that i know how it plays and sounds and my own amplifier.

i havent tried out the speakers you mentioned jason, do you have a link on some more info?

as for the guitar its a very very wierd feeling and influence.

the neck is stupid chunky... i almost thought at first holding the guitar in my hands that i would have some really hard times playing this guitar in my usual classical style, as im used to charvel and ibanez wizard necks.

the thicker neck actually allows for more control when you play at a light touch. i dont like the feeling of an entirely scallopped neck because if your style deals AT ALL with sliding down the neck, the frets act like large road bumps and can cause you to slide into the wrong note.

for solos though.... runs and bends were very effortless and it was a very cool experience.

sorry about the nut mis-info, thanks for the corrected outlook.

the bridge pickup was one hot cookie. it sounded great, i guess i should have mentioned that it "played" like a humbucker and less like a weak single coil. the doors that are open for your playing when playing high output humbuckers still exist with this pickup which is more what i meant i guess.

the neck pickup was more of a surprise than anything... its really dark guys. it feels like you are playing under a brown bath somewhat. i almost want to say that it has that vintage cling to it but as a player its probably hard to tell its there.

anyways its not a guitar that most talk about, and its really an experience more than anything else. alot of doors could be opened for anyone looking for something different. i guess the other eye opener was how hard i play, and i thought i play lightly. i mean to play this guitar with the greatest speed you would have to almost not touch the frets at all which seems like a derogitory statement but thats really how i felt in my hands how that guitar was meant to be played.

the greatest aspect was vibrato. i LOVED the vibrato tone. it was great, simply amazing. ive played alot of fretboards and a scallopped neck allows for so much vibrato control and makes it so easy that it just sounds so great on the solo sections. even bent-note sustain vibrato was easy - which - depending on hand strength and string gauge, could be a real bitch.

hey scott that guitar looks great. i was thinking that an all black guitar or vintage white like the yngwie model would look best - nice turnout on yours

Thing that scares me about scalloped necks is that I'd get too used to it and my 'regular' necks would weird me out. That's why I don't play a 7 string much either, going back and forth between 6 and 7 strings is too much for my feeble mind. ;0

stratotone":1on2ela5 said:

Thing that scares me about scalloped necks is that I'd get too used to it and my 'regular' necks would weird me out. That's why I don't play a 7 string much either, going back and forth between 6 and 7 strings is too much for my feeble mind. ;0

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that also was a reason i forgot to mention.

the style of playing a scallopped neck is alot different in the section of playing called "touch"

the way you "touch" the fretboard is alot different... its a more relaxed, effortless, almost feelingless type of playing.

so if someone could harness that looseness and still put feeling into it (playing lightly) then SOOOOOO many doors open up.

but im also affraid that once anyone did this............regular necks wouldnt feel the same.

i do know guys that go back and forth on scallopped necks and regular necks, and a couple guys i spoke too at the store said that it actually benefits their playing on regular necks after a year or 2 of going back and forth on scallopped necks and regular necks.

all i know, is that for some solo's and playing styles, if someone could harness the ability to play both scallopped style and regular necks, that the tone capabilities of the player are doubled. i didnt think i would like the guitar to be honest, but theres more pro's than con's as far as im concerned

i plan to scallop a fender neck and buy an alder body fender and use my own pickups. i was more intrigued at what doors could be opened up in tone and playing, and i think its a tool that any great player could use to an advantage and not a disadvantage.

its wierd though, ill tell you that much. and i also, in no way could play a full scallopped neck all day long. chordes, runs, and certain things are just harder to do without the feeling of wood under your fingers down low. but up high.... its like when you play you feel like your flying. just no end to being able to think and play something so effortlessly.

but the hint is to do it LIGHTLY which would take alot of training. for arpeggios a light touch is nice so thats basically the style i would own one for.

glpg80":qxp8pzq0 said:

stratotone":qxp8pzq0 said:

Thing that scares me about scalloped necks is that I'd get too used to it and my 'regular' necks would weird me out. That's why I don't play a 7 string much either, going back and forth between 6 and 7 strings is too much for my feeble mind. ;0

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that also was a reason i forgot to mention.

the style of playing a scallopped neck is alot different in the section of playing called "touch"

the way you "touch" the fretboard is alot different... its a more relaxed, effortless, almost feelingless type of playing.

so if someone could harness that looseness and still put feeling into it (playing lightly) then SOOOOOO many doors open up.

but im also affraid that once anyone did this............regular necks wouldnt feel the same.

i do know guys that go back and forth on scallopped necks and regular necks, and a couple guys i spoke too at the store said that it actually benefits their playing on regular necks after a year or 2 of going back and forth on scallopped necks and regular necks.

all i know, is that for some solo's and playing styles, if someone could harness the ability to play both scallopped style and regular necks, that the tone capabilities of the player are doubled. i didnt think i would like the guitar to be honest, but theres more pro's than con's as far as im concerned

i plan to scallop a fender neck and buy an alder body fender and use my own pickups. i was more intrigued at what doors could be opened up in tone and playing, and i think its a tool that any great player could use to an advantage and not a disadvantage.

its wierd though, ill tell you that much. and i also, in no way could play a full scallopped neck all day long. chordes, runs, and certain things are just harder to do without the feeling of wood under your fingers down low. but up high.... its like when you play you feel like your flying. just no end to being able to think and play something so effortlessly.

but the hint is to do it LIGHTLY which would take alot of training. for arpeggios a light touch is nice so thats basically the style i would own one for.

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If you think that Yngwie guitar was chuncky, you should've played the very first models in 87'. The necks were modeled after a 56' strat ( A FRICKEN LOG!) which Yngwie actually played during the Leningrad live show ( the red one) . I owned one of those for years then dumped it when the newer models came out which were really model after his 71' strat . I have twoYJM's and a couple early 70's strats that are scalloped now and was into them since 88'. BUT! I practice now with a normal neck 80% of the time and usually when im playing different styles/more chordal stuff but as soon as i get on scalloped neck, i feel its actually easier to play..especially arpeggios. I have a very light touch both left and right hand so i never have pitch issues. The way you can have so much control to bend and shake notes on a scallop neck is really what sold me. The YJM strats are VERY good sounding guitars too, i tried building one with really good quality parts too, and honestly not to discourage you or anything, but it just didnt sound and resonate like the real deal. Same with the Jap models. good luck

A

I had a 2004 YJM that I ordered from Fender. I loved it, the only issue I felt that besides the light touch required, the 9.5" radius for me, was harder to play than the 7.25" vintage radius it should have been, as on the original Duck.
I have arthritis issues, but the chording would have been 100% better with a more curved radius, as the MIM Blackmore has..she's gone now, sold for my beloved SS80 quilt top:
White/maple neck is the one though..
https://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/ ... bye%20YJM/

yngwie308

Have you guys seen the Seymour Duncan site? The YJM Fury pickup is now on there which is apparently what he is now using since he dropped Dimarzio like a bad habit. I wonder when the YJM Strats will start shipping with the Duncans? The site specifically says the Fury's are what's installed on the signature guitars. I wonder if Fender will have to retrofit all of thier inventory?

johnny q":1ja1e755 said:

Have you guys seen the Seymour Duncan site? The YJM Fury pickup is now on there which is apparently what he is now using since he dropped Dimarzio like a bad habit. I wonder when the YJM Strats will start shipping with the Duncans? The site specifically says the Fury's are what's installed on the signature guitars. I wonder if Fender will have to retrofit all of thier inventory?

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i now instantly like that guitar

johnny q":1y970x31 said:

Have you guys seen the Seymour Duncan site? The YJM Fury pickup is now on there which is apparently what he is now using since he dropped Dimarzio like a bad habit. I wonder when the YJM Strats will start shipping with the Duncans? The site specifically says the Fury's are what's installed on the signature guitars. I wonder if Fender will have to retrofit all of thier inventory?

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Just to let you know, they only build these guitars to special orders as they are too hard to sell, trust me I know, and I don't think that's changed. Certainly in the case of GC and they are a major Fender buyer. Even the mail order houses, I don't know if they order a quantity ahead of time, but you'll never find a new one in the rack in a store. I wasn't able to try an example until I recieved my order. Fender will by contract whip out the DiMarzio's and substitute the SD's.
Atomic Playboy

Atomic Playboy":3vp9fktj said:

johnny q":3vp9fktj said:

Have you guys seen the Seymour Duncan site? The YJM Fury pickup is now on there which is apparently what he is now using since he dropped Dimarzio like a bad habit. I wonder when the YJM Strats will start shipping with the Duncans? The site specifically says the Fury's are what's installed on the signature guitars. I wonder if Fender will have to retrofit all of thier inventory?

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Just to let you know, they only build these guitars to special orders as they are too hard to sell, trust me I know, and I don't think that's changed. Certainly in the case of GC and they are a major Fender buyer. Even the mail order houses, I don't know if they order a quantity ahead of time, but you'll never find a new one in the rack in a store. I wasn't able to try an example until I recieved my order. Fender will by contract whip out the DiMarzio's and substitute the SD's.
Atomic Playboy

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I only ran into one new, Sam Ash in New Haven CT and while it got me hooked that guitar was not the best built imo. HUGE gap in the neck pocket put me off in a big way so I built my own.

I agree with Ant, my clone is missing something as it does not sound like that YJM I played. I am going to change the bridge as the one on mine is still the crap mim model.

stonefuzz":2f3ilb8x said:

Readily available thru MF and other online dealers. Got one thru MF, one thru Music Zoo

My white has an uncanny Hendrix vibe, my blue sorta Blackmore

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Exactly how I felt, very Hendrixy vibe to it especially with the two pick up together settings, to me it was a like a Hendrix era Strat, that's why I plan on creating my own style YJM in the future but it will be a hybrid, with machine screw neck mounting, brass inserts, brass nut, bullet truss rod, and 7.25" radius graduated scalloped maple board neck and slightly smaller frets..oh yeah!!
I haven't left this station yet, only waiting..here my train a'comin'..
Atomic Playboy

Here's my YJM's. the Blonde maple neck is a 2000, i removed the mint green pickguard with a classic whiet. the rosewood is the newer version 2007, but i wanted to get a Olympic white w/rosewood vibe, so thats a 60's Custom Shop Relic body which actually fits more snugger than the originals...I also use Stainless Steel Trem bars vs. the chrome standards, they were breaking off for me. Im a whammy abuser

fun playing guitars! and yes Blackmore and Hendrix vibe big time!

70strathead":22x2vqw8 said:

Here's my YJM's. the Blonde maple neck is a 2000, i removed the mint green pickguard with a classic whiet. the rosewood is the newer version 2007, but i wanted to get a Olympic white w/rosewood vibe, so thats a 60's Custom Shop Relic body which actually fits more snugger than the originals...I also use Stainless Steel Trem bars vs. the chrome standards, they were breaking off for me. Im a whammy abuser

fun playing guitars! and yes Blackmore and Hendrix vibe big time!

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Awesome Strats dude....I swear, just looking at those photos, I can hear them.