Fender Stratocaster

*Fender Stratocaster*
Fender Stratocaster
	1958 Fender Stratocaster 3 color sunburst
Manufacturer	Fender
Period	1954–present
Construction
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Bolt-on
Scale	25.5 in (648 mm)
Woods
Body	Alder; Ash; Poplar; Basswood; Mahogany
Neck	Maple
Fretboard	Maple; Rosewood; Ebony; Pau Ferro
Hardware
Bridge	proprietary six-screw Tremolo; Floyd Rose locking system; Hardtail
Pickup(s)	three single-coils (SSS). Other pickup configurations (including humbuckers) are also available.
Colors available
	Various 2- or 3-color sunbursts; Black; Daphne Blue, Surf Green, Olympic White, Fiesta Red, Shell Pink

The Fender Stratocaster, also called a Strat, is a type of solidbody electric guitar. The Stratocaster was designed by Leo Fender, Freddie Tavares, and George Fullerton in 1954, and is made by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The Stratocaster has been used by many famous guitarists, such as David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Buddy Holly, and Jeff Beck.

The Stratocaster has been copied as well. A guitar may look the same as a Stratocaster, but if it is not produced by Fender or Squier it is called a strat copy.

Fender Stratocaster copies are mostly very cheap and low quality, but some guitar builders make high quality clones of the Stratocaster. Fender makes Stratocasters made in the United States of America, which are largely thought to be the highest quality. However they also make Stratocasters which are made in Japan, but only sell them to the Japanese. Many people view these guitars comparable and even superior to the American made Fenders.

Stratocasters are also made in Korea and sold as special editions. The cheapest Fenders are made in Mexico, but despite their price, these Stratocasters are very good quality guitars compared to the copies which are usually made in China. Squier makes Stratocasters in China and Indonesia.

Fender Strats made in Japan and Korea are sometimes equal to their American Standard cousin. Limited editions like the Pro Tone series and some early (1982-1986) Japanese models fetch prices from $400 – $800 depending on condition. Korean Strats that have the Fender decal are the desirable ones over the Korean models with Squier on the headstock where Fender should be. There are also American Made Squiers that can be of good quality. Korean Pro Tones are the cream of the Korean Crop.

Fender Stratocaster Media

Early 1950s Stratocaster with ash body, two-tone sunburst finish and single-ply pickguard.
Early 1960s Stratocaster with rosewood fingerboard and three-ply pickguard.
Late 1960s Stratocaster with large "CBS" headstock, played left-handed (upside-down and reverse-strung) by Jimi Hendrix.
1985 "Contemporary" Stratocaster with original (pre-CBS) headstock shape, locking tremolo and humbuckers
George Harrison and Eric Clapton performing in 1987. Harrison is playing a Stratocaster, and Clapton is well known for his use of the guitar model.
Post-1987 "American Standard" Stratocaster with two-point tremolo system and truss-rod adjustment at nut; fingerboard is maple, but rosewood is equally common.
A black Fender Strat Plus from 1989 with Gold Lace Sensors and a rosewood fingerboard
Sienna burst finish
Fender Road Worn 50s Stratocaster
- Fender Stratocaster tremolo bridge.jpg

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