Trying to pick out which guitar I want by listening to Cooper play doesnt make things any easier. He makes every guitar he plays sound amazing!

Cooper is low key hilarious. Love this guy's deadpan sense of humor.

Man, your reviews/comparison videos are top notch on youtube. Very helpful and enlightening. Tasty playing as well🔥

I am not a fan when folks demonstrating guitars play super fast or complex, most of the time it just gets muddy and the complex stuff loses clarity... but when YOU do it, you keep it clean and the clarity and distinction of notes stays true. Wonderful job!

Cool, one of the top strat comparisons ever on yt!

Loved the honesty in this video!

Cooper I've seen several Alamo music video reviews of gear done by a few of the guys at Alamo but personally, and no disrespect to them, you really know how to do a quality comprehensive reviews of gear and guitars on a very professional level. Mike.

I really like the descending notes that you play, superb stuff!

Thanks, that helped a ton and confirmed my interest for a pro II!

I recently bought my first Strat. I didn’t have the money to go for a Fender, so I settled on a Squier Classic Vibes 60s. It was playable right out of the box, and I’m letting it settle in for 3 weeks before I do the setup. I’m loving it so far.

Great information on the Strats. Thanks!!!!

I have recently got back into the hobby after taking about a 6 year break. I hit a wall and felt like I wasn’t progressing. Fast forward to present day, I’ve been researching a lot of instruments recently and have watched several of y’all’s videos. Thank you for the information and the well put together videos.

Dude you’re my favorite guitar reviewer. Like you have such a calm voice. The outta nowhere you’ll bust out some jokes haha BLUES ever heard of it?! Hshshs love it. Great playing. Thanks for the videos

American Pro II is on the list. If it’s a lifetime purchase, it’s worth it for myself. *edit* that being said, I have a Player MIM Strat. 🎸

Clearly, the right Stratocaster must be cream, with a white pickguard, and a rosewood fretboard and vintage style split-shaft tuners. I thought everybody knew this.

Lol this is one of the few guitar demonstration videos with consistently good playing. Thank you!

I watch all your videos, because I like your voice and attitude, this one is one my favorite top five, you cover alot of cool guitars in one video. Have a fine day in the Alamo Music Shop. San Antonio is a beutiful city in the most awesome state. I have family in Austin and the music scene there when I was at UT was awesome on 6th Street, not sure how it is now! The American Preformer is a good thought too. I appreciate you actually saying what you like in the guitars.

Great playing as usual, Cooper! This is a great video for comparing Fender Stratocaster's. The differences in tones seem to be coming mainly from the pickups. If you have the extra cash, the more expensive models provide the better pickups and some extra features. Neck feel, weight, and better tuners or pickups seem to be some of the worthwhile extras that make the upper level Fenders justify their higher prices. Of course there are other brands outside of Fender that may offer a better value, but that's another story or video.

The Fender American pro ll is all me. Come Christmas of 2022. Play 1 last week at my local music store in Roasted Pine. Loved it.Yes it will be mine.

Great video Cooper, thank you. You made me even more happy with my recent order of a Texas Tea HSS Ultra; can't wait to get it!

Great review. I have a 2008 American Deluxe Strat, which has locking tuners, noiseless SSS , with a push push for 5 extra pickup configurations. I find it almost impossible to remember which position of the switch activates which pickup combinations, with "specail capacitance" , but than again you really don't need to...if you like the tone, thats all you need to know. . I think the evolution of this guitar today is the American Ultra......might pick one up in HSS.

Nice comparison! I bought an American Ultra last week. Ultraburst with a rosewood board. Glad they made lefhanded versions ^^

Very nice playing, my friend. I like your style 🤙🏻

I really like fender. They would Corner the left-handed player market if they would just expand their lefty options a little more. I'm not a Lefty player by choice. I was a Police Officer who was shot 5 times. One round blew off a few knuckles on my left hand. I know there are a lot players out there with disabilities that still were able to play righty. Trust me, the last thing I wanted to do was to learn how to play Lefty, but I did and due to my injuries there is no going back to righty. I would own several more Fender guitars/Strats if Fender would start offering some unique or more interesting lower to mid models or signature series in left handed models and so would many other left handed players. I probably just wasted my time with this comment but maybe someday fender will wake up and make more left-handed models. Anyway, good review and info. I watch your channel all the time. I'm pretty much a Fender/Taylor guy so I appreciate the information you pass on.

Excellent review Thank you!

Owned many Stats over the past, almost 40 years, never really bonded, believe me I tried so many times, with any of them until I got my Ultra. I've had it almost two years now and still play it all the time, loved it so much I bought an ultra Tele in TT. What do I love, the contours are great, pickups are very good but the neck my favorite neck of all time. I have a variety of guitars, some less expensive but some more and the Ultra neck ( on both ) just fits me perfectly.

Thank you, I really appreciate your videos! 🎸🤟😎

great video. Learned a lot, thank you.

Thank you. Great demo.

Amazing review. Thanks!

I went into ‘the store’ in early 2020 to replace my Mexican HSS I had since 2002 with the dark night pro2, left with a tri color burst ultra. Played all of them over a few visits to make sure, just felt so nice and can’t complain about the 0 hum.

I think I will start out with the Player Series. Thanks for this great video........Sal : )

Love Strats, every pickup config too 🤙

Great demo Cooper!

This is a refreshingly honest overview. Great job and thank you.

Bought my first Strat way back in 1990 to celebrate graduating from college (still have it!), and bought an American Ultra from Alamo in red plasma burst w/ash body and rosewood fretboard. I *love* the new strat so much. That neck profile is amazingly comfortable, and I'm used to noiseless pickups (my '90 Strat Plus has Fender Lace Sensor gold pickups), so for me, it's just perfect. Thanks, Alamo Music, for the great guitar! Is spending that much worth it? As my dad was fond of saying, "Money is only good for spending, or wipin' yer ass, so choose wisely." Spending money on quality is worth it to me. A solid video showcasing the difference in the many current Stratocaster variations, so thanks for it!

This guy is a great guitar Player. Cool stuff

I love that custom shop Strat!

The sound of your playing on the Ultra was awesome! Great on the other Strats but the Ultra sounded warmer to me. OK, the custom was magnificent. Thats to be expected, I'd hope. lol

The Vintera was a 60’s. The 50’s have a maple fret board. Love your videos

Great job Mr. Greenberg🤙🏼

Love that Custom Shop!

I love the 64 imitation Strat that you played. I have a real 64 and it amazes me that someone would pay Fender a custom price to imitate my guitar!

Killer playing dude.

BLUES! EVER HEARD OF IT? sorry. I laughed my ass off 🤣 Great playing my friend! Cheers from Canada.

Super duper thorough presentation on the many choices and which Squier for me, due to the neck being nice. I would grab sandpaper on the gloss neck. That AM Pro II is sweet. Did not realize the US factory is carving different on the backs and heel, seems like a gimmic not diong it on the AM Pro II and the Ultra. Do you think the lockinng tuners other than weight and ease of string changing adds tuning stability, and if so why do you think that is. Excellent showing the line video. The choices are vast. I think I could change tuners to locking myself on the AM Pro II for around 50 bucks.

I like that you replicate the rides on each

I currently own 3 Strats - 2 American and one Chinese-made 1997 Squire Affinity. Bought it new for my son for $149 including the formed hard Fender case. Of course, he gave up after a year, so it moved back into my collection. The neck was excellent and teh frets were way above average (for even my American Strats). Tuning stability was fantastic and it had a 6 point bridge/trem. The only let down were the pickups. Fast forward to 2005 and my discovery of Guitar Fetish. $38 later and I had a loaded pickguard with Tex/Mex alnico V magnets. It's still my most grabbed Strat from my rack 17 years later.

man, this is the same riff you used for the SG comparisons. Damn, it's funky!!!

I just bought my first strat! 2021 Fender American Pro II - Miami Blue with the maple neck. I saw it hanging to guitar center and the color sucked me right in - the neck is great on these guitars

If you have a cheapy Strat, and are willing to hardtail it, try using a piece of brass cut to fit tight between the tremolo block and the wood of the body. Cheapys always have a zinc composite tremolo block, which gives a thinner tone. The brass will increase tone and sustain, making the plain G almost talk.

You're dangerous man Cooper! We can't listen honest sound of each guitar because of your awesome playing skill! 🤔😅

Love my Player Strat!

I own two fender stratocasters HSH pickups with humbucker at the bridge and single pickup at the middle position and Humbuckers pickups at neck position! Fender stratocaster HSH pickups has best multi tones Quality from heavy metal to Blues to Rock to country music 🎶 🎵

Well, the most expensive one is best for me. But that darn Cadillac taste and Chevrolet budget are in conflict.

My Dave's Guitar Shop '62 Reissue is the best Strat I have played.

@ 5:50 Just got this HSS Strat - nice guitar. If you really want the ice pick bridge pup change to a free-way 10-way SSS/HSS switch to get an even wider range of tones. :) A possible future mod for me... ;)

If you want the best *Fender* guitar, you should at least check out the G&L Legacy. It's a true Fender and has some improvements over the Fender brand models, notably the PTB (passive treble bass) controls and the dual-fulcrum vibrato.

Just recorded a record with a strat after always using a tele. I do think it sounds more “warm” but used tele’s in a lot different situations (punk, hardcore, postrock, shoegaze, ambient,…) - I feel both bodies are equally able to be used in various genres.

Squier sounds so good .

This dude is awesome

I picked up my first strat from OfferUp. The guy wanted $450 for a polar white player series. When I tried it out it had a bad middle pick up. It wasn’t a problem because i was getting it for the neck pick up. So when I offered him $400 cash, he interrupted and accepted the cash before I finished saying “…and $50 Venmo”. So I only paid $400. I fixed the pick up and turned out to have fender custom shop 69’s! Yes I still have that baby with anondized gold pickguard

the 64 Custom shop sounds like a real guitar... good sound

With a video this long, I was hoping you would have also included the "other" Strats. Ya know.... G&L Legacy guitars. Certainly worthy for consideration when deciding on our first! Versatility is most important when buying a first Strat.

Hey Cooper your a great picker! What’s your opinions on a telecaster and a Stratocaster, maple or rosewood neck? Can you tell me what you prefer and why? Thanks brother and have a blessed day! Bobby

My 04 MIM is simply harder to play than my buddy’s new pro2. Worthwhile upgrade. Love the press to mix pickups too.

I own both the Player series strat and an Ultra. They are both excellent guitars but the Ultra wins hand down on playability, overall feel and sense of quality and detail. The Ultra neck is absolutely superb, particularly if you like lower action. Personally, I like the noiseless pickups but I know there are those who disagree. After getting the Ultra I put the locking tuners on my Player series and I can highly recommend that upgrade.

Love my APII and bought it with intention to keep for life. There are improvements in feel and tone as you move up the range but even down to the classic vibe they all still sound stage and album worthy. I hate the pau ferro on the MIMs now but still would maybe like to get one to have as a cheaper guitar to take out places and not worry about it getting damaged.

Any thoughts on Mod Shop strats? And how they compare with the professionals and ultras?? I really love that solid rosewood neck!

Thanks. 👍👌👏

I have two Stratocasters in my guitar collection: a USA deluxe HSS (£1500), and a Mexican deluxe SSS (£500) which I’ve retrofitted with Lace Sensors (£180). There’s little doubt that the USA is built to higher standards, but my Mexican plays and sounds better and feels “right” in my hands, which is really what it’s all about. My advice is try as many strats as you can, and find the right one for you

4:13 classic vibe 8:26 player series 13:15 vintera 16:34 american pro ii 21:54 american ultra 27:51 Custom Shop

What’s the first some you played? That was amazing

The American Pro II sounds the best to me. Probably best all-round Strat Fender makes.

my god that custom shop sounded tasty

I've never had a single coil guitar so I'm wondering about the infamous hum. Is that always present? What can be done about it? thanks. You guys at Alamo rock.

Big difference with the noiseless pickups. So much cleaner, sharper, and better.

Noventa means 90 in Spanish, great vid!!

"Bluuuuues. Every heard of it?! Sorry." Oof, I felt that.

64 custom shop cool !

Hey buddy, are you using a compressor pedal? The player series sounded too bright too me even on the neck pickup up. Any reason it sounds like that or is it just me?

Is that a standard C neck or the thinner modern C that came with the original CV 50s? Sold mine because the neck was a bit too thin.

I think I'm going with the American Ultra. Cobra Blue.

One thing about the Road Worn series is that the finish is actually nitro. The regular Vintera has poly.

I just ordered an American Ultra Strat HSS in Texas Tea finish about 3 weeks ago. I guess that this is just a standard build in the factory. How does this order compare in quality, etc. to a "team built" Strat? Shall I presume that even at this level and price, which isn't cheap the standard stock build that the quality is still high? About how long does this kind of order take to build and ship? Thank You.

New guy is really good.

Did you say " dig it" ? Next thing you will see is Coop in a Black Oak Arkansas tee shrt.

Owner of a duo-sonic (fantastic for the price), I want to buy my 1st US strat... the more I listen the ultra, the less i love their tone... I think I'll go for am PRO 2... I like the jazzmaster sound too... but I never tried it and i'm afraid to have a bad feeling (no music store near me...)

nice guide on each Cooper, kinda new to the channel. but anyway there was one you left out, well two actually, the American Original Series and the Performer. now im not gonna say much about that one, because i don't see much value in it. even when they had the American Special, the upper Mexican stuff always out performed it. i do think it's a slightly better guitar than the Player series, but the Player series beats the Performer on value. the Player Plus and Vintera easily beats the American Performer, not by much but i do think there better. however the American Originals are great. i noticed that on the Telecaster video, but i noticed it even more on this video lol. i love the Ultra series, but the American Original series is priced in a similar ball park as the Pro 2, but is a take on the classic era. it's like the Classic Vibe, the Originals has the 50's and 60's. it's not exactly custom shop, but it's more vintage correct than the Classic Vibe. think of the Classic Vibe with American Fender quality, that's what you get. if the American Pro 2 is too modern for some people, the American Originals fits that bill. the American Ultra is like a fancier version of the Pro 2. of course you could get the Vintera series which would save someone some money, either way there's so many choices you can go with.

With stratocasters is like with a beer... so much choice and so almost that same taste. Personally I can't find in the blind test any significant different between fender and squier. But maybe I am deaf

14:04 the name of the riff/music you played plz? or is it an imrovision?

I‘d really be interested to know what the general consensus is amongst guitar players about the stainless steel frets. Please let me know if or how they feel differently compared to the non-stainless steel frets. Is it a notable difference or is it rather subtle?

Opinions are like Arseholes everybody got one . Love your playing .

I thought Player series bridge has two screws, not six. Also, the logo on the headstock looks different. Was that a Standard?

Good job Coops. Were you working from a script? 🎸

Light weight, ash or alder, SSS Fat 52, nitro finish, rosewood fingerboard, what else?

Can you help me with how the roadhouse deluxe switch works the v switch?

Wondering your thoughts on the G&L strats?

First, play it Unplugged. If that works, Then Play On. Sorta worked for me. Did that in '76. SB Mn HT '75. Like SRV with Number One, I didn't plug it in. Jams with other players and a bit of sweat, too slippery. wait ;)....It was a good guitar, though. I miss it all the time.

They saw my comment on the Tele Guide owo