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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
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1997 Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster

$900.00

1997 SRV Strat, very good  condition, some playing wear, dings, and slight patina on the hardware.  Original SRV pick guard included, fender replacement added with no a...

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Olympic White Fender Stratocaster With Vintag...

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1997 Olympic White Fender Stratocaster with Vintage Finish  ...

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2007 Fender Deluxe Lonestar Stratocaster W/ G...

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2007 Fender Deluxe LoneStar Stratocaster w/ Gig Bag  2007 Fender Deluxe LoneStar Stratocaster in excellent condition. Beautiful Artic White finis...

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Fender Artist Series Mark Knopfler Model Stra...

$1400.00

- great tone plugged or unplugged - guitar is in excellent condition - with brown tolex hard shell case - includes all gear in new & unused condition Mark Knopfler’s Strat...

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2004 Fender 50th Anniversary American Standar...

$650.00

Up for auction is my 2004 Fender 50th Anniversary American Standard Stratocaster. I'm looking to pick up a new acoustic so I'm trying to sell off some of my collection. This guit...

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2011 Fender American Standard Strat W/ohsc-ne...

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www.sarasotaguitarcompany.com   Why buy new when you can buy nearly new and save? SGC Nation, the e-commerce division of Sarasota Guitar Company, carries some of the highes...

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Fender Usa Yngwie Malmsteen Yjm Stratocaster ...

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Genuine USA Made Fender stratocaster, Yngwie Malmsteen Signature guitar. This 2006 model guitar is a must-have for any Yngwie fan or anyone who enjoys neo-classical heavy metal p...

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Convertible Electric Guitar Stratocaster Shap...

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 Original process which makes it possible to replace the entire electric parts of the guitar in e few seconds.Pickups and controls are placed on one standard module.One modu...

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Sunburst Fender Stratocaster With Vintage Fin...

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Fender Custom Eric Clapton Blackie Tribute St...

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

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 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...

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

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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...

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

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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...

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Fender Squier Blue Strat Guitar Starcaster 15...

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Fender Richie Sambora Stratocaster W/floyd Ro...

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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 ...

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Fender Tom Delonge Stratocaster Blink 182 Sig...

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*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...

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Fender David Gilmour Black Strat Relic + Coll...

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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...

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Fender Stratocaster Tom Delonge Sea Foam Gree...

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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...

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Relic Stratocaster John Mayer Vintage Strat G...

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*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...

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Relic Telecaster Or Stratocaster W/ Fender Gi...

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Fender Stratocaster – Special Edition

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Fender Starcaster Strat Black Electric Guitar...

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

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2005 American Series Fender Stratocaster Stra...

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Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster Electric ...

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Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

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Up for bid is a 2010 Fender Custom Shop Deluxe Stratocaster with a rare cherry sunburst finish, rosewood fretboard, and a lightly flamed "A" Maple neck and headstock. This i...

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Usa American Deluxe Strat Hss W/ata Case

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This is a Beautiful guitar...only a couple months old...played, but well taken care of here are the detail specs:  Sorry for the lame pictures...phone cam:-(  This thin...

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1984 Fender 57 Reissue Strat Body / Black

$175.00

 This auction is for the guitar body ONLY.It is an official Fender 57 Reissue BLACK Stratocaster Body...Made In Japan / 1984Inside of neck pocket is stamped STD-57Inside pic...

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Burns Marquee Club Series 7-sound Strat W/kil...

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