Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Stratocaster

For what I play (Rock/Blues) this thing absolutely rocks. The new deeper scalloped neck is truly one of the world's wonders. I bought mine from ebay. Also the new bullet truss rodd is very cool as is the machine screw neck mounting. Somehow it adds a little sustain and embelishes the overall tone. Paint job was just perfect. The tweed case is also a nice touch for what essentially is a vintage guitar. In comparison to some other guitars, the features on this may be spartan - but thats fine by me - its the sound that counts. It gets an 8 for the scalloped neck. Otherwise in terms of features the score would have been lower.

It really doesnt get any better for my musical taste. I mean does this thing scream or what. Its throaty and soulful in a way my jackson and prs are not. They really sound soulless in comparison. There is just something raw and mean about the JYM ! Elecrtronics are great (silent switching) and the pickups are just marvelous - you really can dial in the Malmsteen sound at the turn of a knob - although it is recommended to use a DOD YJM308 pverdrive pedal. Preferably the ones modded by analag man. (www.analogman.com - they do a truly wonderful version of the original "grey" 250's that Malmsteen prefers and uses himself).

Now - this is my 2nd 07' YJM I have purchased in a month. I had to sell the 1st at a significant loss. When I received the first one, the brass nut was cut totally wrong (how could this get threw QC ???), the nech was not flush in the necj joint and as if that was not enough, the high e string just didnt want to stay on the fretboard. No matter how I played or what I did. It came to a point where I was thinking more about the string than playing freely - not fun. Even my local luthier called it "unplayable". Since I purchased the guitar on ebay from the states and shipped it to London, I lost my warranty. To cut a long story short, I sold it at a significant loss. However, I ordered another one. I hate to say this but it really is an unbelievable piece of equipment - the sound just makes you wanna close your eyes and play until someone rips you away from it..... I finally received my second one last week. I can't describe how let down I feel. On this one, its the low e string that doesn't want to stay on the fretboard. The nut was fine on this one. However, that served me no purpose as it is once again, effectively unplayable. Which is such a pitty. I really feel as though Fender has broken my heart two times ina row. Unfortunately there is no money back guarantee from the store I bought it and Fender does not see the issue as being covered by the warranty. Which angers me because I am now stuck with a guitar that is not playable. You would think that a company like Fender would understand the emotions involved when a musician purchases an instrument. I feel let down by them after these two consecutive negative experiences. I definately think there must be some kind of quality control issue at fender since the introduction of these new 07 models. One thing to keep in mind is that on a Vintage Fender Bridge, the string spacing is much wider than on other makes (Gibson,prs,jackson - I own one of each)and hence the positioning of the bridge on the body really requires a close attention to detail. It is because of this that there is really zero margin for error when mounting the bridge on the body. If its off by even 1mm off the center of the body, you will either have a high e or low e string falling off the neck when played normally. I thought it may have been my playing that was inducing the problem but I tried an 06' model and that was perfectly set up. I played freely without any issues. It is clear that on both my YJMs the bridge may not have been perfectly routed. I cant believe this has happened to me twice in a row.

No opinion. Its unplayable and I have not owned it long enough to give any proper insight.

My rating says it all. I save up, I buy one, Its messed up, I take another leap of faith, and then II am told I am on my own. I could have had a master builder from the custom shop build me one by now. What a money pitt.

I have been playing for 20+ years. I own a 1987 San Dimas SL1, a 10 Top Custom 24 PRS, a 2004 American Strat (HS3 Pickups) and now an unplayable JYM. It really is a pitty that I have been so unlucky with this purchase. Despite not knowing what to do about the JYM now, I still have to be honest and say that none of my other guitars compare tonally to the YJM - everything else (apart from my American Strat) just sounds thin in comparison. So because of my problems with both YJM's I am giving a rating of 1.

2000 YJM fender custom shop USA, vintage trem vintage white(basically a soft yellow) All the rest has already been posted.

This suits my musical style perfectly. I am blues guitarist primiarily and also like to play a lot of nineties alternative and this YJM covers it all well. Very quiet, I own several Strats and this one has a really unique tone. It has a really rich sound when clean, very accurate. No dislikes yet and I do not think I will have any.

I bought this instrument second hand from Music go round in MN, came pretty well set up but I had it adjusted to my specs. Its a 2000 model, flawlesss and effortless to play they should make more of these Strats scalloped. And there is the catch...this is DEFINITELY not a guitar for everyone. It is not the Holy Grail and shit, just a unique take on a vintage Strat design with what I think has the greatest tone I have found yet in an electric guitar.

Its a 2000 model with a few dents and it still has a nice straight neck and all the componenets are well made and fit extremely well. Unlike other people here I would use this guitar without a back-up.

Never dealt with them

I have been playing since 1990. Ive gone through a shitload of strats and various other types but I have to give it to the YJM for sheer tone. Maybe its a one trick pony, but for a blues guitarist I would say this is the diggity and you will definitely bust a fat NUT all over yourself and anyone in proximity when you first play this biatch. Its that good, no shit.

The most unique feature is the scalloped neck. It is just a great old Strat even though it is a new guitar. It's main feature would be the incredible tone and playabilty.

This is the best guitar that I have ever played. I have been playing for 25 years and this beats everything. The guitar is everythingthing a great strat should be. I play guitar at my church which is a Calvary Chapel in the San Diego area. Our music can range from hymms to almost heavy metal at times. The guitar always sounds great. I would recommend the purchase of a DOD YJM 308 overdrive, or a Tube Screamer to realize the guitars full sonic potential. I have a 308 and it is pretty much always on. I can get a great Little Wing tone using my Marshalls clean channel with 308 engaged. This setting works well even on the softest songs though I do back down the guitars volume to between 5 and 7. Switching to the lead channel gives you Hendrix,Jeff Beck, Full on metal and of course Yngwie on a silver platter. This thing is the ultimate blues guitar. Another guitar player a church has a custom strat with EMG David Gilmour pick ups, but he sounds just like Gilmour when he plays my Malmteen strat.

The scalloped neck is amazing and also the best friend any blues guitarist could ever have. The Scalloped neck will take string bending and vibrato, key elements of blues playing to another level of expressiveness and control. This guitar is great for sloppy blues or precission Yngwie type runs. The scallops due facillitae a lighter touch which makes playing easier. I believe that any player would get used to the scallops in no time. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ that I have been blessed to own this guitar now for eight months. I got used to the scallops right away and now it just feels natural, and so much better than any other guitar. I have cought my self thinking " is thing still scalloped " because you don't even notice a different kind of feel any longer. It just feels great in my hands. I read another guys review of the Yngwie strat and he said that it played like baby oil and felt like a third arm. That pretty much nails it. My guitar is Sonic blue with a maple fret board and eveyone comments on what a beautiful guitar it is. Even people who don't play. All the Malmsteens that I have played have been stunning to look at. I would love to have a couple more, but I need to be greatful for the the amazing one that I have. Thank God.

You will need to lube the brass nut with GraphitALL or something else. The guitar is built like a tank and always stays in tune as long as you are not doing a lot of divebombs with the bar. The tuning holds up well even after extreme bends and moderate bar useage. When I play at church I don't even bring a back up.

I dont't know. I have not had a problem with the guitar.

By the grace of GOD I got this for 1300.00 out the door at Guitar Center since someone else had ordered it and their deal fell through. I realize that not all the work is done by hand, but this is a custom shop shop Strat that will beat any guitar on the planet as far as I am concerned. I would not even trade it for Yngwie's 1970 "The Duck" Strat. Not a chance. Most mail order places list it for 1399.99. The guitar is by no means cheap, but it is quite a bargin considering the guitar that you get for that price. I would like to get a Mesa Stiletto Ace 2/12 combo someday, Lord willing. That would truely be a rig to last a lifetime.

Candy-Apple Red,Maple scalloped fretboard,(21 frets),Alder body,brass nut, DiMarzio HS-3 & YJM pups, old-style tremelo bridge & tuners, mint color pickuard and cream controls.Three-position switch,tweed case.

I play Hard Rock,Metal,Acid Jazz. Plugged through a Mesa-Boogie MKIII Blue Stripe.Effects are: Teese Wah>Mojo Vibe>Tech 21 XXXl (or Tube Screamer)>Distortian Box>Dan-Echo

The HS-3 & YJM Pups are voiced like single coils, but without the buzz and the piercing high-end you can get through a hi-gain amp.
Great articulation for lead. Conclusion: these are toneful pups that sound great through a hi-gain amp.

Interestingly, the tone reminds me of Robin Trower.(Lots of nice mids rather than Texas jangle and glass.)

The scalloped neck isn't that difficult to get used to; more like playing a guitar with Jumbo frets.Plus it allows you to do some wild runs and bending.

3-position switch - great:less chance of knocking it out, and I mainly use the neck & bridge pups anyway.

This one is Candy-Apple Red with a maple fretboard. It looks like a 65-70's Strat from a distance.The tweed case is a nice touch, along with strap,cord,polish, and tools.

It stays in tune even with the old-style tremelo bridge.The point being that Strats with this type of bridge WILL stay in tune if you set them up properly.
Unless you really want to go nuts that is.

Received it with the high E falling off the fretboard! But after many years of dealing with Strat quirks,I know the necks are prone to shift in the pocket.This is a very common problem, and not a set-up issue.
Two minutes with a screwdriver and a yank,and viola'! Perfect;no worries,mate.
Note: Ritchie Blackmore used to glue his Strat necks in to prevent this common problem.

Everything else is perfect; no flaws.

Indeed;good Strats are built like tanks and the quality on this Axe is first rate.

Will replace the strap buttons with straplocks.

I ALWAYS have a back-up.

Fender has a "limited life-time warranty." But there's not much that can go wrong with these beasts unless you got a one out of a thousand lemon.

But you have to know about all the Strat quiks: neck shifting in pocket,pups too close to strings(so-called: "Strat-itis"),properly set up tremelo,etc.

I've been playing over 30 years and own a ton of gear.
I like this Strat a lot; it's rather like a jalopy with a hot-rod under the hood.
It's a good,solid,Strat with some modern upgrades for high-gain playing.

MAin features...

Scalloped fretboard, modern "C" neck profile, Vintage White in color, clear coated neck, waxed fretboard, brass nut, aged plastic parts, mint three ply pick guard, origional sycronized tremolo ( three springs ), single ply white trem cover, Maple neck, Rosewood fretboard, Alder body, Domarzio Pick Ups ( 2 of which are signature YJM , jumbo frets, dot inlays, large Fender headstock, YJM signature on headstock, vintage tuners ( covered ) Double cut away bolt on neck.

First off I just purchased a Fender Yngwie J. Malmsteen Stratocaster model 2006. I ordered it from the Fender Custom Shop thru Guitar Works In Calgary.
Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, Alder body.
It suits my musical style just fine... bles Rock, Classic Rock, Classic Metal, Fusion. I use it thru a variety of amps that it compliments very well... Koch Multitone 100, Soldano Hot Rod 50, Marshall Jcm 800, Randal RG80. Effects are DOD YJM308 Overdrive, Visual Sound H2O, Roland C.O.S.M.
This is my second YJM strat my last was a 95 all maple and it was cool but I ended up selling it. This time I changed things up with the woods and voala... excellent tone. Nice full round not too bright exceptional really. I got lucky cuz I've played a tone of strats hanging on the walls of many guitar shops and owned by several players over the past 20 plus years and this one is absolutly the "one" that come along every now and then that sounds better than the rest... BEAUTIFUL. No lie everyone at the shop agrees... this strat has AWSOME TONE.
Not much noise except from the middle single coil whis is the only single coil in the guitar and it is not that bad at all. Dimarzio has done a great job on the Pick Ups and the circuitry is done well also.

Sounds from this guitar are cool jazz/fusion, sprakle clean, chimey clean, glassy clean with a perfect top end,warm clean, awsome barely breaking up tones that are never brittle, gritty blues, smooth strat cluck, classic crunch, exceptional neck PU tones for smooth fluid metal lead... excellent bridge PU tones for searing metal leads, classic american and brit rock tones abound.

Thanks to the Excellent three way toggle the five way cheats are easily had... so as for variety this guitar has got a lot going... add to that the no load tone controls and you have a lot of variables for pro quality tone at your disposal.

Absolulty no dislikes in the TONE category as I said this is an exceptional strat for tone... I am exceedinly pleased.

The action was a little high for me but was to the YJM strat spec as was the PU's... I needed to adjust them to my taste but they were to the YJM strat spec. Neck had good relief about .70mm at the 9th fret.
As for the other construction aspects... neck joint, fret install and dress, clear coat, paint, decals, trm unit, tuners fretboard, pick guard, wiring, routing... Everything and I mean EVERYTHING was perfect except for the nut. It had a poor cut and need to be recut... a quick fix easily done by the shops luthier. That was dissapointing for me however because as I said EVERYTHING was perfect... how could Fender miss such a poorly cut nut... the open low E, B, and High E strings all had nut BUZZ. Man that was a BAD ONE but easily fixed because it was also way to high ( distance from the frets to the nut ). Once that was repaired everything is perfect.
I checked the intonation and it was out on the high E string only but the guitar was in tune when I pulled it out of the Shipping Box.

The scallops are a different profile than the last YJM I had. The 95 had a semetrical half circle whereas the 2006 has a semetrical flat bottomed scallop. I like it way more because it still feels great at the playing surface ( fingertips )... it is everything a scalloped fretboard should be that way. Plus it has a profile that is smoother on the side of the had where the plam meets the edge of the fretboard... it feels more traditional, less obstruction for hand movement. AWSOME scallop design... I was pleasantly surprised.

The trem was set to spec... I changed it to my preferance.

A nut this poorly done gets Fender a 7 in this category.

Strats are classic tough guys... this guitar will serve well in the trenches.
I change all my strap buttons out to Schaller Strap Locks... thats a personal choice. The buttons on this guitar however will do the job but strap locks are far more reliable.
This is a well made professional guitar ofcoarse I could depend on it but a back up is allways the smart choice.

From Fender... I got a call back when I called about the absolutly deplorable nut job... they let the Gutar Shop handle it ofcoarse...
good idea. They were friendly and very helpful and reasuring.
Yes all the work on the nut was under warranty... no problems there.
Lifetime warranty.
A ten for the business I've had so far... but ya never know what the future holds.

I've been playing 20 plus years this is an exceptional Fender Product made very well with excellent detail and scrutiny of woods for tonal characteristics.
I own several other guitars and this one ranks in the top three for quality made guitars.
If it were stolen I'd "CRY" cuz not many strat sound this good... yeah I'd replace it.
I love the tone, the scallop profile the hardware, the finish, the wood, the large Fender headstock, the playability, etc...

I hate that such a terrible nut got thru the Fender QC... that looks bad on Fender in my opinion... but it is a small gripe that was easily fixed.

Yes I compared it to about 30 other strats. Not one sounded as good and the neck wood grain cosmetically is among the best of the best.

This one is a keeper and overal I had a greta experience with the Fender Custon Shop.

Made in USA (so they say), 21 frets (i would like it to have 22), volume, tone, tone, 3 way. Alder body, maple/rosewood neck (scalloped).

I love Yngwies tone and this guitar sounds really good. Im using it with line 6 pod. Or peavey amp with Ibanez 808 or dod 308 overdrive. Great pups..litle noise. Its a joke to cal this a signature model..Yngwie does not use middle pup or tone controls, So why have it on a signature guitar?? I would like to see a jem with stuff that Vai doesent use..

Factory set up was ok.

Dont know..

The tuners are not first class, so i might change them. Why not have locking tuners? Not a big fan of the vintage trem system, but it works. Having said that, its a first class strat! But, if i could have a signature guitar made by Fender, i would definitely ask for better tuners, and better trem system. and the jack output on the side.

OH god! I like my first Malmsteen strat so much I ordered a second. Wish I hadnt. Number 2 is HORRID! Fender shows a complete lack of quality control on this guitar. Its been sent back for refund.

THe nitro on the neck was gooped on. Big globs on the nut and frets. THe frets had not been crowned. They were flat as an old Les Paul. THe scallops were terrible. Hardly scalloped at all. I could feel lots of wood under my fingers. Since all the cost of this guitar is in the neck I am disgusted with what some lazy slob at Fender calls craftsmanship and even more disgusted that it got thru quality control. Thats what Fender thinks of me and my money I guess.

I give it a 1 because its biggest feature, the neck, was a complete mess.

Not only that but it was strung with 2 high E strings. Yup the B string was a .009 Hello? Quality control?

Terrible guitar that so disappointed me. Korea and China has better workmanship on their $200 models.

It sounds OK. Unfortunately the neck is scalloped about as much ans rubbing accross the board with a plastic spoon. THe acoustic tone was OK but rife with noise from teh flat topped frets. Frets were also very uneven. Judging from the gooped laquer all over the frets they did a quick plane and no dressing what so ever. Didnt even clean the laquer of the frets. Just terrible telltale signs that this guitar was pushed thru with no effort or attention. Lots of dead spots and buzz.

Once agan I will mention the B string was a .009

How does someone not notice that at Fender? I noticed in a second. Scallops were so slight that they might as well have not bothered. You could hear my finger rubbing against the nitro when I bent notes unplugged. Obviously the whole point is that finger does not make contact with wood. Just terrible scalloping that was uneven to boot.

Terrible finish on neck. Big goops of laquer everywhere. Fret ends were completely sealed off in thick yellow laquer. The brass nut was completely engulfed in laquer. Just a disgusting display of terrible finish work. Laquer way to thick and all over everything with no effor made to clean up. Frets were uneven when sighting down neck and were not crowned. Tops were totally flat. Looks like they just did a quick plane of the frets as the flat tops were the only part of the frets not completely covered in laquer.

Body was OK except for a rough hump in the contour top back. Final sanding would have taken this out. Pickgaurd was a mess. Half the pickguard screws were screwed in thru the pickguard - yep right into the plaatic and now embedded. Not only that but at an angle! Yes indeed most of the pickguard screws looded like they had been installed by a hand held drill at an angle. The pickguard was ruined because of the screws sunken right into the material. The heads were indeed under the plastic. Terrible workmanship not even chine would accept on a $99 guitar.

Terrible quality. I sent it back. Last Fender I'll ever buy.

I did call Fender. They said since they make them by hand quality varies. uh ... first of all thats a lie. Only details are done by hand the rest is all CNC machines. Also, 4 inspectors signed off on the tags.

Their suggestion was return to vendor and buy another one. Gee thanks. No concern showed whatsoever nor surprise at my comments.

I've been playing for 20 years and hav eowned many great guitars. I have another Malmsteen strat which was very good and rated below. This second one was the worst guitar I have ever had the displeasure of paying over $1000 for.

Japanese made in early 90s-late 80s, 21 fret, maple neck bla bla bla

Sounds like a bat out of hell!!

Always dependable

100% on all catergories!

This baby is like a third arm for me and plays like baby oil:P

definately withstand gigs and its built like a tank!!

If you are thinking of getting one, just do it!!Its the best thing i ever bought

2005 USA model, maple fretboard. The guitar has 21 frets, 22 is more what I'm used to. The guitar has a three way switch instead of five. The pick ups are stacked humbuckers. I've read in an interview that the YJM's and the HS-3's are the same pick-up except for the hieghts of the pole pieces. The trem is the six point vintage style. The tuners are non-locking but feel tight. The fret wire is jumbo. The scallop job on my particular guitar is a medium depth, not quite down to the side dots. The nut is brass. I don't know how to rate for feature content, I think that a trem guitar could use the staggered locking tuners from the deluxe model. Also this year has the Delta tone circuit like some of the other strats.

I play heavy rock/metal. This guitar has low output pickups that need a boost for my style. I use a Marshall DSL201. With my Les Paul (burstbuckers) the amp positively screams needing no signal boosting. Even the clean channel will break up to a nice AC/DC crunch. This strat gets AC/DC on the amps drive channel and won't break up the clean channel at all. As a matter of fact I can run the amp full out and still clean it up well with the guitar's volume knob. I use a BOSS GT-6 multi effect to boost the signal. I also have a DOD distortion pedal that works great. The sound is bright and strat-like despite the pickups being humbuckers. Playing clean I think it sounds very nice, reminds me of Pink Floyd. Add a distortion pedal and a full-tilt Marshall and this guitar sounds very much like Malmsteen's. I guess I was a little surprised but his tone is there. I get excellent results using the GT-6 to model his effects chain. Tube screamer full up into a Plexi model (input 1) add delay, reverb and chorus to taste and you pretty much nail his tone. A real pedal in front of the amp sounds even better. The guitar is quiet enough although with this much gain you may want a noise suppressor. Distorted chords are not as detailed as I would like and the tone is a bit brittle while playing the bridge pick up on the first few frets. Sounds best while shredding. I find the mid pickup works great for rhythm work, a good balanced tone.

I have to say, maybe I don't know any better but I was impressed when I took delivery. I mail ordered from a popular internet company and it was drop-shipped to me house directly from Fender. The guitar arrived set up and nearly in tune with good action that hasn't changed over time. I am surprised because my $2000 Gibson need a $100 set up including a fret level and polish. The Gibby plays mint now with incredibly low action but for what it costs it should have arrived that way. The Fender does not have a low action but plays comfortably right out of the box. I found nothing to dislike concerning the neck pocket. The candy-apple red color is stunning and flawless. The neck has some light flame in it and the frets were polished well. All the controls have a quality feel and the pick up switching is silent.

This guitar is finished in poly and will look good for a long time. The only aspect that needs attention is tuning stability. The nut and tuning tree need lubrication. The tuning was stable when I first got the instrument but as these parts wore in the strings started sticking in the grooves. Not an uncommon problem with any guitar.

All I can say is that the life-time warranty excludes anything that isn't wood and the wood parts (both of them) are not warranted against abuse such as "sudden" changes in humidity/temperature. It doesn't sound like you will enjoy much in the way of coverage. I never had to deal with them.

I've been playing 15 years mostly Les Pauls and Marshalls. This is my first Fender. It is a breath of fresh air. I really like the sound and I like playing the scalloped board. I had no trouble playing the neck and bends are super easy to execute. I agree with Yngwie that scallops don't lend you speed but do offer more control. This fingerboard is 9.5' radius and 25.5" scale length. The 12" radius and 24.75" scale of my Gibson along with its lower action and thinner neck makes the Les Paul a faster playing guitar. Still, I like the absence of the wood under my fingers and I had no problems regarding pulling the strings sharp. Indeed, the guitar encourages a light touch and can be played for hours without fatigue. I'm not a strat guy but this guitar is a nice contrast to a Paul and is a nice change of pace. It plays easily, is lightweight, and has that great violin tone that Malmsteen is famous for. An excellent buy.

2005 YJM strat made in USA. Red with Rosewood board.

I wanted a vintage white one but Fender was completely sold out. I ordered my second choise sight unseen. Its been a pleasant surprize.

I'm not a fender fan and the regular line isnt great in my opinion but they must put more into the signature editions because this is one great strat. Its solid and sounds good acoustically. Neck is very solid. The scallops are way more then I expected. This thing is scalloped almost completely thru the fret board. I hear they vary. It was weird at first but now I like it. For lead work it rocks but I must admit I'm still sloppy with chords. I have to adjust my playing to the scallops.

If you are searchng for a vintage strat then I wouldnt waste money and time. Buy this strat. If you dont like the scallops then just buy the body and pickups from Ebay. THey do show up. Maybe I just got a good one but the guitar has excellent tone.

Some people may feel like a dork with yngwies name on the guitar, me included. He is a cheeseball to some and lets face it; You step out with an Yngwie guitar people are going to expect some Yngwie playing and well ... unless you are Yngwie that aint gonna happen. Some people can memorize the notes but I've never heard anyone else nail his playing. However, yngwie has great tone and that can be nailed with this strat. Basically this is build just like an early 70's strat right down to the low output pickups.

If you are an Yngwie fan you will love it. If you are a vintage strat fan you will love it. If you want to play mettalica or Numetal you will likely hate it.

The best thing about it is you cant find but try to play Yngwie on it. Personally I will never be able to play like Yngwie but trying teaches me new tricks I can apply to my mortal level playing.

Low output pickups mean pure tone. You must put an OD box in front of your tube amp to get the great tone. Direct into my Marshall sound very Jimi Hendrix. With the OD its Yngwie. Back off the volume its clean. Works like it should!

Action is a little high at the nut. Quite a bit of neck relief. Overall the actio on these is high. I dont know why. None of it bothers me though except for the nut. Thats a little too high.

Rest of the build is good. The "candy" red is a little burgundy.

Seems solid to new to tell. Didnt stay in tune at first. I had to oil up all contacts and work the trem for awhile to get any stability.

Dealt with before with a Tele. Was good.

Fantastic Strat. Worth the price. Ended my thirst for a vintage model. Much better sound and feel then the regular American Strats I've played in the last decade.