This Youtuber is one of us....

[PFDarkside]

Some of you are probably familiar with him. Darrell Braun.

He bought a Chinese monoprice Strat, reviewed it, then upgraded it. Isn’t this a requirement to be a member here, upgrading at least one cheap guitar to decent status for not much money?

Review

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

Upgrade

Nothing revolutionary or groundbreaking, just feels like a very familiar journey.

 

[Gransen]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

I saw the first one last week and was waiting for the rebuild video.

Question: Is that REALLY "$100" worth of upgrades...??? I'm thinking more like $150 used, AT LEAST $125.

The second video is a bit misleading. Darrel can do a video that's like, "Okay, today we're going to find out how many guitars a guy can build for free, just using Fender parts that a guy has lying around." At the end, he's like, "...Yeah, so it's pretty clear that a guy can build 8 Fender Partscasters for free; and, like, maybe 3 of 'em are actually pretty sweet! Thanks for watching!!!"

People who buy those things don't have ANY parts laying around...it's likely their first guitar.

But, I did learn something today. I'm not sure if I would have figured out that the binding in the bridge was caused by "full thread" screws. Maybe. Process of elimination / experimentation might have got me there. And I'm not a huge user of the tremolo, so I'm not afraid to leave a 6 point trem in a guitar instead of upgrading it just to say that I did. The stock one in the Indio Classic had to go, sure, but that's on the extreme end of badness...and I've already owned one "non-tonewood guitar," it was my first, and no reason to go back: "Johnson, by Axl." $125 on ebay with a 10 watt practice amp.

Also, I've never removed a logo from a headstock. Natural finish...??? I would have guessed that a guy would have to hit it with clear coat afterwards, even on a satin finish.

 

[formula73]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

His videos are full of misinformation and his playing is worse than mine.

Yes. He is just like us.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

His videos are full of misinformation and his playing is worse than mine.

Yes. He is just like us.

:chairfall

So I’ve only watched a couple of videos other than these, what misinformation are you talking about?

 

[Adieu]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

Surprisingly decent nobrander... but dude is BLIND, time to go see an optometrist asap

"Strat parts bolt right up"??? His 'matching' pickguard had different screw holes which he didn't even notice

Also second video, lol, Mexistrat costs $400??? Weird, this guy looks and sounds quite American...

PS and his praise for ping tuners is kinda odd

 

[guitartwonk]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

Surprisingly decent nobrander... but dude is BLIND, time to go see an optometrist asap

"Strat parts bolt right up"??? His 'matching' pickguard had different screw holes which he didn't even notice

Also second video, lol, Mexistrat costs $400??? Weird, this guy looks and sounds quite American...

PS and his praise for ping tuners is kinda odd

I always figured he was Canadian. Normally I like his videos, but yeah he's off with a couple of things in there, like the continued praise for the paint job... No mate, it looks freaking terrible! Sorry if anyone likes that blue burst but I really think it looks cheap.

I also think it's a bit of a stretch to claim the guitar in the video is comparable to a Squier Affinity or Bullet. One look at the monkey metal trem block should tell you it's not even at that level.

I mean it's probably a perfectly serviceable instrument and ok for the money but I did think there was a fair amount of hyperbole in this video.

Sent from my Phone using Tapatalk

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

Surprisingly decent nobrander... but dude is BLIND, time to go see an optometrist asap

"Strat parts bolt right up"??? His 'matching' pickguard had different screw holes which he didn't even notice

Also second video, lol, Mexistrat costs $400??? Weird, this guy looks and sounds quite American...

PS and his praise for ping tuners is kinda odd

I saw that on the pickguard. There was at least one new hole needed! The tuners are Ok, I’ve kept them on most MIM guitars. After you get the nut sorted out the tuners usually do their job.

He’s definitely Canadian. I hate it when people say “oh you can get a MIM for $250 all day”. Really? Not in 2019.

 

[Adieu]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

I saw the first one last week and was waiting for the rebuild video.

Question: Is that REALLY "$100" worth of upgrades...??? I'm thinking more like $150 used, AT LEAST $125.

The second video is a bit misleading. Darrel can do a video that's like, "Okay, today we're going to find out how many guitars a guy can build for free, just using Fender parts that a guy has lying around." At the end, he's like, "...Yeah, so it's pretty clear that a guy can build 8 Fender Partscasters for free; and, like, maybe 3 of 'em are actually pretty sweet! Thanks for watching!!!"

People who buy those things don't have ANY parts laying around...it's likely their first guitar.

But, I did learn something today. I'm not sure if I would have figured out that the binding in the bridge was caused by "full thread" screws. Maybe. Process of elimination / experimentation might have got me there. And I'm not a huge user of the tremolo, so I'm not afraid to leave a 6 point trem in a guitar instead of upgrading it just to say that I did. The stock one in the Indio Classic had to go, sure, but that's on the extreme end of badness...and I've already owned one "non-tonewood guitar," it was my first, and no reason to go back: "Johnson, by Axl." $125 on ebay with a 10 watt practice amp.

Also, I've never removed a logo from a headstock. Natural finish...??? I would have guessed that a guy would have to hit it with clear coat afterwards, even on a satin finish.

ACTUALLY... my thoughts were that the $100 cost-of-upgrade estimate seemed excessive

Tuners are used and inferior to $32 Gotohs
Bridge can be had for 25 bucks *new* from Fender via Amazon, all day every day
Mexican pickups... not really worth much

 

[Adieu]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

I saw that on the pickguard. There was at least one new hole needed! The tuners are Ok, I’ve kept them on most MIM guitars. After you get the nut sorted out the tuners usually do their job.

He’s definitely Canadian. I hate it when people say “oh you can get a MIM for $250 all day”. Really? Not in 2019.

Just buy from confused people... the moar confused the better. $250 as requested

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/msg/d/los-angeles-1980s-stratocaster-mexican/6809616164.html

 

[Gransen]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

ACTUALLY... my thoughts were that the $100 cost-of-upgrade estimate seemed excessive

Tuners are used and inferior to $32 Gotohs
Bridge can be had for 25 bucks *new* from Fender via Amazon, all day every day
Mexican pickups... not really worth much

My knowledge of Strats is minimal. I honestly had no idea that the MIM p'ups aren't worth much used. And I've never priced out a 6 point trem, new OR used. You blew my mind when you said $25 new from Fender on Amazon!

I keep on hearing bad things about MIM strats. But my line of thinking was that comparing Fender with Ibanez is like: "Made in America vs the Prestige," then "Made in Mexico vs the Standard," then "Squire vs Gio." What you're saying is that the MIM's are probably somewhere in the Gio ballpark, right..!?! And that means that a Squire is more like those "less than $150 guitars" you find everywhere...and maybe only slightly better.

Is that the way to look at it...???

 

[Adieu]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

My knowledge of Strats is minimal. I honestly had no idea that the MIM p'ups aren't worth much used. And I've never priced out a 6 point trem, new OR used. You blew my mind when you said $25 new from Fender on Amazon!

I keep on hearing bad things about MIM strats. But my line of thinking was that comparing Fender with Ibanez is like: "Made in America vs the Prestige," then "Made in Mexico vs the Standard," then "Squire vs Gio." What you're saying is that the MIM's are probably somewhere in the Gio ballpark, right..!?! And that means that a Squire is more like those "less than $150 guitars" you find everywhere...and maybe only slightly better.

Is that the way to look at it...???

Not quite.... old japanese squiers are quite great for example

Mexicans are all over the place too, from 11 piece bodies to quite nice guitars

 

[Francois]

Re: This Youtuber is one of us....

I prefer upgrading Matsumoku's. They are fascinating. I may score one on monday, twice the price this chinese cheapy, but cheap for what it is