The Fender Stratocaster is THE pop-culture icon that people think about when they picture an electric guitar. First released in the early 1950s, it was quickly adopted by the popular genres at the time and remains the standard by which all other solidbody electric guitars are judged. Just think of the names that we relate to the instrument: Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer, and the list goes on and on.
But with so many other guitars available today and so many different styles of playing, you may find yourself asking, “What makes the Strat so great?” Every Strat player will give you a different list of answers. Read on and you’ll understand why Sweetwater loves these 3-pickup legends.
Designed with the Player in Mind
The number one reason the Fender Stratocaster is so great is because it was designed with you, the player, in mind. Leo Fender wasn’t a musician. So he enlisted the help of professional musicians that had experience with his Telecaster to define what they would like to change, add, or remove to craft the “perfect” guitar. Thanks to the input from those players, the Strat now proudly boasts its comfortable forearm and tummy contours, 3-pickup arrangement, more accessible control arrangement, and of course, its groundbreaking tremolo. It’s safe to say that without those appointments, we’d be talking about a different instrument altogether today.
Fundamentally Unchanged for over Fifty Years
More proof that the Strat is every bit as great as its legacy implies is that it has barely changed since day one. Yes, there are a million more options, and slight contours have been reimagined as trends come and go. But when it comes to these main features, what you’ll find on a ’54 is what you’ll find on a 2018:
- Alder/ash body
- Double cutaways
- Forearm/tummy contours
- Maple neck
- Maple/rosewood fingerboard
- 3 single-coil pickups
- Non-locking tremolo
- 25.5“ scale length
- Blade selector switch and 3-knob control layout
In fact, some of the most popular Strat models today are based on the vintage instruments. And vintage Strats are incredibly valuable and sought-after.
Easily Customizable
You may have noticed that many Strats floating around today are customized in some way by their owners. Different pickups to change their sound, a new pickguard to spice up the guitar’s appearance, new tremolo blocks to add sustain, and new locking tuners for added stability are all popular mods.
Because the ways to upgrade a Strat are incredibly simple compared with other designs, it’s a modder’s dream machine. It allows you to tailor any Strat to your unique playing style and tonal preference. And today there is a massive array of aftermarket accessories and parts that will take your Strat from stock to hot rod with ease. Want a shredder? No problem. Would you prefer vintage-correct parts? Done.
You’ll Find Them Being Played in Every Genre
Because the Strat platform is so customizable, you’ll find this guitar in the hands of players of every genre imaginable. From Jim Root of Slipknot to funk masters like Nile Rodgers, the guitar remains the go-to choice no matter where your tastes lie. And many genre-defining blues and rock players regularly sling Strats over their shoulders. Maybe that’s why many players say that if they can only have one guitar on a gig, it would be their Strat.
Personality That Shines Through
A quip you’ll also hear from many Strat devotees is that the guitar’s unique, bell-like tone lets every nuance of a player’s character shine through. Think about it this way: as soon as you hear a note from the biggest names in Strats — SRV, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix — you know it’s them. It’s as if their actual fingerprints come singing from their amplifiers. The rest of the gear becomes all but invisible. Whether thinking about Hendrix’s fuzz face, SRV’s Dumbles, or the direct-to-board-like tones of Nile Rodgers, it always sounds like a Strat, and always sounds like the player who is playing it.
Sparking a New Generation of Guitar Heroes
The Stratocaster’s history is only part of what makes it so special. It’s the future of the model that truly cements its place as an icon. Since the guitar-hero days of the ’60s and ’70s, artists of all stripes have found new sounds waiting inside the Strat. The ’80s had Stevie, the ’90s had Billy Corgan, and the 2000s saw John Mayer established as the model’s vanguard. Today, players such as Cory Wong, Khruangbin’s Mark Speer, and country artist Lindsay Ell are among those pushing the guitar into the future. They all garner the Strat’s trademark chime and warmth while also finding their own unique tonal signature. With artists like these still drawn to the Strat, it’s safe to say this guitar will be responsible for some great music for years to come.
A Plethora of Signature Models
Speaking of artists’ connection to the Strat, since Fender graced Eric Clapton with their first signature model in 1988, there have been loads of signature Strats for players as diverse as punk icon Wayne Kramer of the MC5, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, and Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy. These instruments take full advantage of the platform’s customization options to craft guitars perfectly tailored to their namesakes. Not only are these models fantastic as collectibles, but they’re an easy way to get a Strat already honed into a specific style and sound.
One of the Most Inspiring Designs Ever
You may have heard the saying “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” If that’s true, then it’s concrete proof that the Strat is one of the greatest electric guitar designs in history. Look around and you’ll find lots of guitars that are obviously inspired by the Strat.
For all these reasons, Fender’s second shot at creating the ultimate solidbody electric guitar resulted in an undeniably great instrument. That’s why, when you look in just about any serious guitar player’s collection, there’s sure to be a Stratocaster.
Looking to add one (or another one) to your collection? Give your Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700. They’ll gladly walk you through the huge array of S-style guitars and accessories that are available here at Sweetwater.