About Fender Stratocaster Guitars
The Fender Stratocaster guitar has been breaking musical boundaries and inspiring audiences since its launch in 1954. One of the most recognisable instruments of all time, its incredible versatility has seen it used in a huge variety of genres and bestowed it with an enduring popularity.
Following on from the successful Esquire / Telecaster, the Stratocaster shook things up with a slimmer double cutaway body design, a wide tonal range through three single coil pickups and a revolutionary new tremolo bridge system.
This easy playing feel and powerful sound attracted many famous musicians to the Stratocaster, from as far back as Buddy Holly, on to '60s and '80s virtuoso icons like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix, right on through to modern day trendsetters like Ed Sheeran, Arctic Monkeys and the appropriately named Sam Fender.
It's great for any level of musicians thanks to its lightweight body and variety of neck profiles, which in tandem make for comfortable practice sessions. And with a huge tonal palette provided by three single coil pickups with five-way switching, it's capable of adapting to numerous musical styles just by using the on-board controls.
In addition, the Stratocaster guitar is hugely customisable, and can be easily moulded to fit your preferred playing style. The necks vary from thick and chord friendly for jazz with "U" shaped profiles, to super thin "D" shaped profiles for fast shredders. Another popular pickup layout is swapping the bridge single coil for a humbucker, giving you meaty and punchy tones while preserving the classic middle and neck bright spangle.
For those seeking the finest craftsmanship and vintage accuracy, the Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster range offers masterbuilt and team-built models that capture the essence of Fender’s most iconic designs.