rss

Fender Stratocaster Guitars

Fender Stratocaster guitars are immediately noticeable by their distinctive shape, and can often be seen as the defining form of the electric guitar as we know it today. Simply taking one glance at the double cutaway design of the Fender Stratocaster is enough to bring images of rock n' roll concerts at the biggest of rock arenas to mind. Its reputation is well deserved, as it is the result of feedback, research and development gathered in the earliest days of the electric guitar.

The history behind this iconic instrument stems all the way back to the first prototypes that Leo Fender himself tinkered with in his workshop in the old days, and still remains a staple of many musicians today. Along with other guitars invented at the time, the Fender Stratocaster is one of the most enduring and extremely commonplace shape of guitar available today, and comes in many different configurations to meet the demands of any genre and style of music.

History of the Fender Stratocaster Guitar

The iconic design of the Fender Stratocaster guitar is a result of feedback from previous models available from Fender at the time, namely, the Esquire and Telecaster guitars. The single cutaway design of these guitars was rather uncomfortable and cumbersome to play with at times due in part to the slab-like flat body shape of the Esquire and Telecaster. The Fender Stratocaster features a contoured body design in order to make playing comfortable for longer periods of time.

Tonal variation was also made possible with the addition of a third middle pickup between the bridge and neck pickups. The electronics also received a revamp, adding in the third position for the pickup selector switch to be chosen, as well as an additional knob to further adjust levels to where the player needed to modify the most.

The modular nature of the Fender Stratocaster was also notable in this era; while most electric guitars of the time utilized set-in or neck-through designs, the Fender Stratocaster utilized a bolt-on neck design. This meant if the neck broke, then a replacement could simply be ordered and bolted on again, negating the need for the complete replacement of the guitar. 

Many also consider the Fender Stratocaster guitar to be the first double cutaway design on a guitar. The double cutaway design offers easier access to the upper frets of a guitar, a godsend to more technical players who found the single cutaway on the Telecaster and other guitars at the time uncomfortable. Combined with the tonal variations possible with the added pickup, the contoured body, and the light weight of the alder construction, the Fender Stratocaster guitar was a hit the moment it came out in 1954.

The Many, Many Fender Strats Today

The Fender Stratocaster continues to enjoy widespread popularity today due to its instantly recognizable shape and tonal flexibility. Players of all genres, whether it be surf rock, ambient sound scapes, gut-busting metal, or the most artsy of art-rock bands have all found the Fender Stratocaster more than capable of keeping up with even the most intense gig because of the flexible yet time-proven design.

Fender Stratocasters today are available in a wide variety of configurations to suit any style of music. A common variation of the original Fender Stratocaster design is the pickup configuration the guitar comes in: Players wanting to keep the original Stratocaster sound but want a little more fatness in tone typically opt for a humbucking pickup in the bridge position, with the original single coil pickups still retained in the middle and neck positions. Heavier players prefer that another humbucker in the neck position, with the middle pickup omitted from the guitar entirely.

The electronics can also be varied, as players can opt for 3-way or 5-way pickup selectors as well. The latter offers a combination of 2 pickups in the 2nd and 4th position, further flexing tonal variations. Push-pull potentiometers can also be an option for the person wanting the ultimate in tone flexibility and variation.

In addition to the electronics, the Fender Stratocaster guitar also come in a wide variety of finishes, spanning from the body itself, to the pickguard, neck, fretboard, inlays, and headstock. The customizable nature of the Fender Stratocaster also contributes to why it is one of the most lasting and iconic pieces of design in our time.

Famous Fender Stratocaster Players

The sheer numbers of prominent and famous artists who have used the Fender Stratocaster guitar are mind boggling. The sound of the Stratocaster can be heard in the vast majority of genre-shaping recordings since its inception, and continues to make waves in the recording room and in the arena to this very day.

Perhaps the most prominent player of the Fender Stratocaster was Jimi Hendrix, known for his bombastic and wild playing style which was also intricate and precise. In addition to traditional guitar playing, Hendrix was also well known for his stage antics which often involved pushing the tonal possibilities of his guitar to the limit, and even destroying it outright. One notable performance was his appearance at the 1969 Woodstock festival, where his performance of “Star Spangled Banner” defied the limits of what the guitar was thought to be capable of.

Contemporary artists such as Billy Corgan and John Mayer still recognize the significance of the Stratocaster to this very day, creating music that pays homage to the Fender Stratocaster Guitar players of old while still pushing the boundaries of popular music.

Classified Ads / Just Listed
file1324981822

Fender American Standard Stratocaster Left-ha...

$899.99

About Us Payment Shipping Terms Returns Returns 60 Days for returns on instruments, 30 days on accessories. Non-Returnable Items Copy-protected material such as sheet ...

file1324980024

Fender Artist Jimmie Vaughan Tex-mex Stratoc...

$849.99

About Us Payment Shipping Terms Returns Returns 60 Days for returns on instruments, 30 days on accessories. Non-Returnable Items Copy-protected material such as sheet ...

file1324980033

Fender American Standard Stratocaster Electri...

$899.99

About Us Payment Shipping Terms Returns Returns 60 Days for returns on instruments, 30 days on accessories. Non-Returnable Items Copy-protected material such as sheet ...

file1324809012

Fender Stratocaster Deluxe Series Blonde Elec...

$500.00

silverdog2 Store Fender Stratocaster Deluxe Series Blonde Electric Guitar, Made in Mexico. In overall excellent pr...

file1324807218

Fender Standard Stratocaster Hss W/ Floyd Ros...

$699.99

About Us Payment Shipping Terms Returns Returns 60 Days for returns on instruments, 30 days on accessories. Non-Returnable Items Copy-protected material such as sheet ...

file1324807225

Fender American Standard Stratocaster Electri...

$899.99

About Us Payment Shipping Terms Returns Returns 60 Days for returns on instruments, 30 days on accessories. Non-Returnable Items Copy-protected material such as sheet ...

file1324809007

1999 Fender Strat Am. Standard Usa

$550.00

great sounding guitar, unless you play like me, lol.  only marks belt buckle scratches as seen pic 5 and fret wear as seen pic 8.  just gives it class. strings good. co...

file1324807231

Fender Stratocaster With Roland Vg Electronic...

$990.00

Fender Stratocaster with Roland VG Electronics (2007) Up for Auction: 2007 model Fender VG Stratocaster. This instrument has a small amount of cosmetic blemishes (see pics). Good...

file1324809016

Fender Usa Stratocaster

$650.00

GREAT GUITAR IN GREAT SHAPE...  COMES WITH ORIGINAL HARD CASE...  NEW STRINGS...I CAN SEND YOU ADDITIONAL PICS IF YOU CONTACT ME AT GUITARLESSONSLI @ YAHOO ...

file1324636208

2000 Fender Custom Shop Relic Stratocaster

$1629.00

2000 Custom Shop Relic '56 Stratocaster. This guitar has a nice Clapton "Blackie" vibe. Excellent checking and wear on the body and extremely flame maple neck. Neck is a medium, ...

Classified Ads / Most Popular
file1276149618

Grosh Retro Classic (strat) Guitar — Br...

$1625.00

 Grosh Retro Classic Electric GuitarA beautiful Don Grosh's creation with great playability and tone.All stock except for the bridge pickup -- now a professionally installed...

file1277910026

Fender® Billy Corgan Stratocaster® Usa Stra...

$1499.99

e-mail   1-800-878-8882 -Featured Item- Fender® Billy Corgan Stratocaster® - Olympic White (Includes Vintage Tweed Case)F...

file1273944608

Fender Strat Plus Stratocaster – David ...

$700.00

Up for sale is a unique Inca Silver Sratocaster plus.   The "plus" was the introduction of a few new design advances: 3 Fender Lace Sensor pickups (originally, 3 Gold L...

file1277908213

Warmoth Aaaaa Wild Birdseye Strat Neck W/ Sch...

$390.00

Up for sale is the perfect neck for your Schecter Strat Dream Machine project. A Warmoth vintage style 12" radius Strat neck with wild and beautifull Maple AAAAA Birdseye, no dot...

file1279279812

Fender Squier Blue Strat Guitar Starcaster 15...

$200.00

Furio Store Fender Squier Blue Strat Guitar Starcaster 15G Package Search Description:  ...

file1277686843

Fender Richie Sambora Stratocaster W/floyd Ro...

$155.00

Up for auction is a Fender Richie Sambora (of Bon Jovi) Stratocaster!! It came stock with a Floyd Rose bridge and Dimarzio Humbucker and WOW this guitar ...

file1276884022

Fender Tom Delonge Stratocaster Blink 182 Sig...

$599.00

*LIKE NEW* Fender Tom Delonge Stratocaster - Blink 182 - Autographed GuitarThis is a well kept collectible 2001 Fender Deluxe Tom Delonge Signature Series Stratocaster in exce...

file1277713818

Fender David Gilmour Black Strat Relic + Coll...

$3777.77

This guitar is in the original box that it shipped in from Fender Custom Shop, unopened and untouched (outside of the Fender Custom Shop). If you want to be the lucky owner of th...

file1274875222

Fender Stratocaster Tom Delonge Sea Foam Gree...

$380.00

Tom Delonge Stratocaster -a slice of Blink 182 sound in your hands!This is a Fender artist series guitar made in Mexico. For punk rockers, this is your guitar!The Fender Tom Delo...

file1275573621

Relic Stratocaster John Mayer Vintage Strat G...

$1049.00

*Scroll down for more pictures*   Custom Order for a Mayer Heavy relic Tribute Stratocaster This auction is for a custom order for a John Mayer Black Reli...

file1278966613

Fender/g&g Stratocaster Lefty Alligator H...

$124.95

Fender Stratocaster / Telecaster Left-Hand Hardshell Case Alligator Skin Pattern Handmade In The USA by G&G Quality Case Company, Inc.manufacturer of guitar ...

file1285138837

1994 40th Anniversary Fender Stratocaster 195...

$1550.00

 1994 marked the 40th anniversary of the Fender Strat and to commemorate the event Fender oversaw production of 1,954 replicas of the famed original 1954 Stratocaster. This ...

file1275022833

New Camo Finish Hss Style Fat Strat Electric ...

$119.95

  100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed!    We take Pride in our Musical Instruments @ Musician's Heaven Our Success is Meas...

file1275017410

Fender Starcaster Strat Black Electric Guitar...

$129.95

FENDER STARCASTER STRAT FULL SIZE BLACK EBONY ELECTRIC GUITAR 'BEAUTY' WITH WHAMMY BAR   This Fender Starcaster Strat electric guitar is "Excellent looking" in mint con...

file1288800049

Fender Stratocaster 60th Anniversary W/black ...

$425.00

FENDER STRATOCASTER RARE 60th ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2006, W/BLACK HARD CASE ...

file1281475815

Fender Strat, Mij Scalloped Neck Guitar

$251.99

Another of my Tokai/Fender guitars. A scalloped,  MIJ 2000 Fender neck on an early 80's Tokai loaded  Mohagany body. These are the original Tokai pickups so they a...

file1280152835

Prewired Strat Pickguard, Active S Pups,black...

$116.95

tntguitars Store Brand New Dragonfire DGKC2 Prewired Pickguard for Strats! Features include: Black Active Dragonfire S Pickups,  C...

file1279503018

1996 Fender 50th Anniversary Stratocaster ...

$799.99

Offered For Auction 1996 Fender 50th Anniversary USA Stratocaster This Near Mint Guitar Is In STUNNING Condition!!! This Guitar Was Made To Commemmorate The 50th Anniversary Of F...

file1286946050

Vintage Ri Fender Strat Tele G&g Tweed Ha...

$110.00

 Visit The STRATosphere "Helping you build a better guitar every day" WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Description: 2010 USA Fender Strat/Tele Deluxe Vintage G&G Twee...

From the Blog

Learn About The Eric Clapton Stratocaster

by Fender Strat on March 16, 2010 - 0 Comments

Taking a look over the paragraphs of this piece, I can imagine that you are attempting to learn a little about an impressive model of electric guitar that Fen...