“Superstrat.” The very word conjures up nostalgic memories of spandex-clad rockers brandishing neon-colored axes. While there is certainly a correlation between the “hair metal” era and superstrats, this is but a limited subset of these awesome, high-performance electric guitars. In the end, it’s all about getting your instrument to do what you want. And, thanks to its modular construction, the Fender Stratocaster makes an outstanding modding platform. In this article, we’re going to explore the history of the superstrat, its rise to mainstream prominence, and its relevance to modern guitarists.
Anatomy of a Stratocaster
Before we can dive into the topic of superstrats, we should first explore the stock Fender Stratocaster, a.k.a. the Strat. Designed by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares, the first Strats rolled off the line in 1954. These early Stratocasters featured a distinctive asymmetric double-cutaway shape, making it one of the first solidbody electric guitars that bore little resemblance to an acoustic instrument. What’s more, the guitar’s offset body and contoured back offered exceptional balance and comfort along with unprecedented upper-fret access whether the player was seated or standing.
The original Stratocasters came loaded with three single-coil pickups, yielding sonic textures that weren’t possible with 1- or 2-pickup electric guitars. A 3-way pickup-selector switch, one volume control, and two tone controls added further tonal flexibility. Fender eventually added 5-way switching, allowing players to access “in-between” tones.
Early Stratocasters included a bolt-on, 21-fret maple neck with a 25.5-inch scale and a 7.25-inch-radius maple fingerboard. By the time the 1960s arrived, rosewood fingerboards were commonplace; 6-in-line, nonlocking tuners were standard. The first Strats also included a floating, spring-tension vibrato system, speciously dubbed the Synchronized Tremolo, which enabled precise sonic texturizing that competing systems couldn’t match.
Definition of “Superstrat”
If you search the internet, you’ll find varying opinions as to what constitutes a superstrat. For this article, we’re going to define “superstrat” as any Stratocaster or Strat-style electric guitar that has been modified beyond the original Stratocaster’s specifications.
Thus, a Strat-style electric guitar with any combination of a nonstandard pickup configuration, an upgraded tremolo system, or an altered neck shape will be considered a superstrat. For example, a Stratocaster with an HSS setup will be considered a superstrat, as will a Strat with a locking tremolo or a flat-radius fingerboard.
Early Player-tailored Mods
While it wasn’t a widespread phenomenon until the 1980s, players have been modding their Strats since, at least, the mid-1970s. As early as 1974, Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore performed his trademark neoclassical fretboard pyrotechnics on a modified Stratocaster with dual humbuckers.
For another early example of a superstrat, check out George Clinton: The Mothership Connection. During this 1976 live performance, guitarist Michael Hampton can be seen wielding a sunburst-colored Stratocaster with a triple-humbucker pickup configuration and a then-rare reverse headstock.
EVH Creates a New Standard
Any discussion about superstrats would be incomplete without highlighting Edward Van Halen’s iconic Frankenstrat. This electric guitar arguably created the template that future superstrats followed. The aim of the Frankenstrat was to meld the high-octane sound of a classic Gibson guitar with the playability and functionality of a Stratocaster. The Frankenstrat was built around a Strat-shaped body. The guitar was outfitted with a direct-mounted PAF humbucker in the bridge position that Edward culled from a Gibson ES-335. He also installed an unfinished, 21-fret maple neck, which was wider and flatter than a standard Stratocaster’s. Edward later upgraded the guitar’s vintage-style Synchronized Tremolo with one of the first Floyd Rose double-locking models.
Soon, other established late-1970s and early-1980s guitarists followed suit, arming themselves with their own humbucker-loaded, Floyd Rose–equipped electric guitars.
High-performance Axes Hit the Mainstream
Edward Van Halen’s meteoric rise pretty much single-handedly created the shred-guitar genre. After giving “Eruption” a spin on their turntables, guitarists far and wide began experimenting with lightning-fast two-handed tapping runs and wearing out their trems with frenetic dive-bombs. Renowned luthiers, such as Grover Jackson, who were already crafting custom-shop models for their clients leveraged this increased demand for high-performance Strat-style instruments to thrust these hot-rodded guitars squarely into the spotlight.
During the early 1980s, manufacturers such as Jackson, Charvel, Kramer, and Ibanez began mass-producing superstrats. These now-coveted classics shared numerous characteristics — the traits that define an ’80s-era superstrat. Common features include an HSS or HH pickup configuration; double-locking tremolos; thin and wide neck profiles; and extended, compound-radius fingerboards. Forward-looking guitarists such as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai helped propel the superstrat to an even higher level with their cutting-edge signature instruments.
A Fixture in the MTV Era
Even though they were played by guitarists of all stripes during the 1980s, from New Wave to jazz fusion to the burgeoning thrash metal scene, superstrats became most identified with the glam metal genre. Whether they were churning out catchy, metal-inflected hard-rock tunes or flick-your-Bic power ballads, these platinum-selling, fleet-fingered rockers made superstrats an inescapable fixture on MTV and in music-related magazines. Consequently, the superstrats of the era began taking on the genre’s most flamboyant qualities, sporting outlandish body shapes, super-pointy headstocks, and outrageous finishes. By the time the late 1980s arrived, if you wanted a zebra-striped electric guitar that you could harpoon a whale with, your local guitar shop could probably hook you up.
Early-1990s Backlash
Unfortunately, the stylistic excess of the late 1980s eclipsed the superstrat’s intended purpose: to create an electric guitar custom-tailored to high-level players that surpassed the performance of a standard factory model. Hence, when music consumers began to tire of glam metal’s over-the-top image, they also grew weary of the superstrat. Then the grunge explosion happened, and pointy guitars fell out of favor.
That said, contrary to popular belief, the 1990s didn’t kill the superstrat. From Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello to Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell, high-caliber guitarists still demanded high-performance instruments. But, in stark contrast to the overblown styling of the 1980s, ’90s players preferred a more subdued look — a trend that continues to this day.
Superstrats in the 21st Century
The superstrat is alive and well in the 21st century, and it’s continuing to evolve. Classic brands — and worthy newcomers alike — continue to innovate, providing today’s technical-minded guitarists with creative tools that previous generations never imagined.
The original superstrat architects, such as Jackson, Charvel, Kramer, and Ibanez, continue to build nostalgia-tinged classics while also delivering contemporary instruments with state-of-the-art features like active and multi-voice pickups, multi-scale necks, and super-high-performance hardware. Beyond that, other established companies like Schecter and ESP offer an endless array of high-performance models that will appeal to superstrat aficionados.
Fender makes their own superstrat-inspired American Ultra Luxe instruments, which include a range of noiseless pickup configurations, augmented neck profiles, compound-radius fingerboards, locking tuners and tremolos, and more. The PRS Fiore is another classic double-cut electric guitar with superstrat-like characteristics. And, for those who prefer to push boundaries, ultra-contemporary designs by brands like Strandberg are just what the doctor ordered.
Every Guitarist Needs at Least One Shredder
No matter how many electric guitars you own, your collection won’t be complete without at least one superstrat. Even if shred techniques aren’t in your personal musical vocabulary, spending time with one of these turbocharged axes is guaranteed to inspire new ideas. So, check out some of the superstrats in our Guitar Gallery, or give your Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700. Whether you want a showy classic for some glam-metal vivacities; a subdued, sophisticated player for high-level jazz fusion; or a leading-edge contemporary model for your arduous math-rock excursions, we’ll find the perfect shredder for you!