None of my local stores has got a YJM strat, so I wanna know. Is the guitar only for those psycho fast pickin dudes? Or can I do blues and chords on it too?

The scalloped fretboard really makes those guitars different. They are meant for shredding but I'm sure you could play just about anything on it. I think I personally would have a hard time with chords beacause it would be so easy to accidently bend it out of pitch. I don't like scalloped fretboards, but that's just my thing...

The scalloped fretboard is outside of what I know how to play. I mean, suppose you're barring an "d" chord with a full bar using your index finger at the 10th fret, other fingers at the 12th etc. I just know how to do it and saying it I'm not so great at. So, how do you bar a "d" chord with the scallops? Must get a lot of rattle and hum.

I used to own a YJM Stratocaster and still own an Ibanez Steve Vai JEM (which has scalloped frets at 21-24). Nothing difficult about it - you just can't crush the strings down onto the fretboard as the notes fret before you would normally hit the fretboard. One good thing about that is that bends are easier because the string isn't being dragged across the fretboard and fret - only the fret. It can also allow a more robust finger tremolo by applying both lateral vibration of the finger tip and a slight variation in pressure on the string - something not possible without scallops unless you have a whopping action (i.e.: string height).

YJM Stratocasters are indeed difficult to find. Mine was purchased via eBay. You could check there or other venues.

the scalloped fingerboard (maybe) help you to bend the strings extra high. I read somewhere that Yngwie love to bend the 1st string until high F (25th fret) About the playability, you need 6-9 months to run with it, and you'll feel more conform.

You will get used to it in about 25 minutes.

He is an awesome guitarist- the only thing I dont like is the way he strikes some open chords- particularly the Amaj chord with distortion... that guitar or the set-up he has makes it sound tinny and its horrible. Played in the mid to upper register it sounds great.. Youtube him at last years NAMM- you will see what I mean..

I made a post about the guitar a little while ago...

Definitely not only for shredding. The pickups are very versatile and respond well tolling the volume off to clean them up a little. It has a really vintage/hot sound. I was playing bluesey type stuff on it for a while and it sounded wonderful.

THE NECK: It took me less than half an hour to become fully comfortable with the scalloped fretboard!! Nothing buzzes.. A lot of people seem to be in the habit of fretting notes as hard as they can- I would advise people to test this out by playing on a scalloped fretboard.

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

Scalloped necks are very comfortable to play anything, I was very pleasantly surprised at how versatile they are, and to be honest, they do not really increase speed ability, but it does make it a hell of a lot more comfortable to play just about anything. Go for it, but you might find the pickups aren't for you, and beware that they only have a three-way pickup selection

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GEAR:
Esquires & Teles --> Tuner --> Wah --> TS-9 --> Reverb --> Bassman

D'Addario 11-52
Who needs more?

Scalloped necks are very comfortable to play anything, I was very pleasantly surprised at how versatile they are, and to be honest, they do not really increase speed ability, but it does make it a hell of a lot more comfortable to play just about anything. Go for it, but you might find the pickups aren't for you, and beware that they only have a three-way pickup selection

_________________
GEAR:
Esquires & Teles --> Tuner --> Wah --> TS-9 --> Reverb --> Bassman

D'Addario 11-52
Who needs more?

I own one as well. Got a great deal as it was the new model with the bullet truss rod had just been released. I didn't have any trouble adjusting to the scalloped neck. It's very versatile and you can play anything with it. It's now my main guitar.