Fender’s sophomore follow-up to its hybrid line of guitars is the Acoustasonic Stratocaster. From guns-blazing rock and country leads to a studio's worth of faithfully modeled acoustic tones accessible in a flash, the Acoustasonic Strat is the ideal solution for players who need to furnish a variety of sounds from a single stage instrument. The Acoustasonic’s innovative SIRS hybrid body blends classic Strat comforts with rich acoustic resonance to create an unforgettable playing experience, all without the feedback issues common to traditional stage acoustics. Whether you’re primarily an electric or acoustic picker, the Acoustasonic Strat’s Modern, Deep “C” mahogany neck and 12”-radius ebony fingerboard offer something for everyone.

There are sweet strums and lush leads to be found in the Acoustasonic Strat. We’re talking premier plugged-in acoustic and electric tones, straight into a PA or fed into your favorite stage amp. The secret is Fender and Fishman’s 3-way pickup system. In positions 1–2A, a Fender N4 Noiseless magnetic Strat pickup nets you anything from quacky, country cleans to thick, harmonic crunch — a considerably dirtier tone than we heard in last year’s Acoustasonic Tele. Positions 2B–5 are served by the Fishman Matrix under-saddle pickup system, which comes loaded with six acoustic images to support a wide range of stylings, from folksy fingerpicking to blue-grassy, bottomed-out flatpicking. Position 3A’s bodytop contact pickup is perfect for percussive playing styles and pedal loopers. Still need more sounds? The Acoustasonic Strat’s continuously variable mod control lets you blend “A” and “B” tones in all five positions for a total of 10 distinct tones and endless stages in-between.

As with last year’s Tele, the Acoustasonic Strat features an internal rechargeable 20-hour battery for all-day performance, from the practice room to the performance hall. There are no 9 volts to swap out, no strings to detune; just run a USB cable into the Acoustasonic’s output jack plate, and from a 4-hour charge you’re set for up to 20 hours of stage time. Forget to charge up? No problem. The Acoustasonic Strat supports simultaneous charge and play. Just pack a USB charging brick or mobile battery pack for an emergency kickstart.