The Guitar Player's Resource
Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster: The Swedish Virtuoso's Lightning Rod! This guitar captures the same scalloped-fret precision and singing sustain that made Yngwie Malmsteen revolutionize shred guitar, transforming classical arpeggios and scales into full-throttle metal virtuosity.
You've heard those cascading arpeggios that sound like classical music set on fire - that's Yngwie Malmsteen rewriting the rules of what a Stratocaster can do. The man didn't just master neo-classical shred; he practically invented it, and this signature model reveals exactly how he gets those otherworldly sounds that leave other guitarists scratching their heads.
Here's where things get interesting: Malmsteen's secret weapon isn't some exotic wood or mysterious electronics - it's that scalloped fingerboard that makes all the difference. Picture this: instead of your fingers pressing against both strings and wood, they're only touching the strings themselves. It's like the difference between trying to bend a garden hose while it's lying on concrete versus bending it freely in the air. That lighter touch translates directly into the kind of effortless string manipulation that makes Malmsteen's rapid-fire classical runs possible.
Those three Seymour Duncan YJM Fury pickups aren't your typical Strat single-coils either. They're hum-canceling powerhouses designed specifically for the high-gain demands of neo-classical metal, giving you all the clarity you need for those intricate passages without the noise that usually comes with cranked amplifiers. When you're playing Bach-inspired runs at lightning speed, every note needs to ring clear and distinct.
The super jumbo frets work hand-in-hand with that scalloped board to create what can only be described as a completely different playing experience. Bending notes becomes almost telepathic - you think about pitch, and the string responds instantly. It's the kind of setup that rewards technique while making advanced playing feel more intuitive than you'd expect.
Malmsteen keeps things refreshingly simple with old-school three-way switching - bridge, middle, or neck pickup, period. No fancy combinations, no push-pull nonsense. Sometimes the most sophisticated approach is knowing exactly what you need and eliminating everything else. That brass nut adds sustain and brightness that cuts through even the densest mix, ensuring your neo-classical excursions never get lost in the sonic mayhem.
The thin nitrocellulose finish on that maple neck isn't just about vintage aesthetics - it lets the wood breathe and resonate more freely, contributing to the instrument's remarkable tonal character. Every detail serves the larger purpose of creating an instrument capable of both delicate classical nuances and full-throttle metal intensity.
FEATURES
Machine screw-mount maple neck with modern "C" profile and "bullet" truss rod
9.5"-radius scalloped maple or rosewood fingerboard with brass nut and 21 "super jumbo" frets
Three Seymour Duncan® YJM Fury pickups with three-way switching
"No-load" tone control for bridge and middle pickups
Aged plastic control knobs, switch tip and pickup covers
Vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge
BODY MATERIAL: Alder
BODY FINISH: Urethane
BODY SHAPE: Stratocaster®
NECK MATERIAL: Maple
NECK FINISH: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
NECK SHAPE: Modern "C"
SCALE LENGTH: 25.5" (648 mm)
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Maple
FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 9.5" (241 mm)
NUMBER OF FRETS: 21
FRET SIZE: Super Jumbo
NUT MATERIAL: Brass
NUT WIDTH: 1.650" (42 mm)
POSITION INLAYS: Pearloid Dot
TRUSS ROD: Bullet Style
BRIDGE PICKUP: Seymour Duncan® STK-S10B YJM Fury
MIDDLE PICKUP: Seymour Duncan® STK-S10N YJM Fury
NECK PICKUP: Seymour Duncan® STK-S10N YJM Fury
CONTROLS: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. No-Load Tone Control (Middle and Bridge Pickups)
SWITCHING: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Middle Pickup, Position 3. Neck Pickup
CONFIGURATION: SSS
BRIDGE: 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
HARDWARE FINISH: Chrome
TUNING MACHINES: Fender Vintage "F" Stamped
PICKGUARD: 3-Ply White
CONTROL KNOBS: Aged White Plastic
SWITCH TIP: Aged White
NECK PLATE: 4-Bolt Vintage-Style
