The Fender Stratocaster, like the Gibson Les Paul is a icon in the electric guitar world. The Stratocaster, most guitar folks refer to them as Strat’s, bring images to mind like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton to mention just a few. Strats were or currently are the choice of folks like Eric Johnson (Mr. Cliffs of Dover Fame) and Stevie Ray Vaughn. I own a Strat, the classic black Clapton type. I confess I’m a Gibson guy since the start of my playing days but from time to time the Strat has it’s place even in my world.

   The Strat comes now a days in a multitude of versions and models, to numerous to deal with here. Some brief history on the Stratocaster and then my take on the guitar. The Strat was invented as a practical guitar in the early 50’s by Leo Fender and crew. The more exact version is that it was invented by 3 guys, Leo Fender, Freddie Tavares and George Fullerton. The most famous of those now a days is Leo Fender why I’m not exactly sure. The Strat came to life in 1954, that was long time ago.    The most sought after versions are the pre CBS Strat’s that means about 1965. They “Fender” were taken over by CBS in 1965 and a lot of player thought the guitar quality suffered after that. The Strat varies from the Gibson’s in shape and materials. The Gibson’s employ mahogany wood and various woods for the fret boards including ebony. The Strats are mostly ash a ”set neck” and glued in. This generally makes the Strats a bit more “durable” as you can replace parts easier that the Gibson guitars in general. The Strats are production line creatures not hand mades.

Lets get to my cut on the Strat:  

Things I like:   

• The Strat has a totally unique sound that my Gibson’s can’t make it’s more country feel those single coil pickups versus the Gibson humbuckers I think mostly. 

•  I like the maple neck, it’s a different feel and thicker than the Gibson’s from time to time I like that more meaty feel.  

• It’s durability, I am not nearly as careful with my Strat as I am with my Gibson’s. I get the feeling that the Strat would survive a car crash.   

• I like the tremolo unit. Something the Gibson’s do not generally have. I have never owned a Bigsby Trem Gibson so I can’t compare but I really like the Fender Trem even over the newer locking tremolo systems (actually I hate the floating terms)  

• I like the tuners, mine are the old Kluson type that have the hole in and groove in the top of the tuner. Makes it really easy to string these.  

•  I like the head layout from a practical sense, aesthetically I hate it but functionally it’s better in that the strings come in straight.  

End conclusion:

The Strat is a great guitar for a player looking to upgrade to a first rate instrument.  They do come in both what Fender calls "American Standard" which is a "Made in America Strat" or a Mexican Strat which they currently just list as a Stratocaster.   Recently I have played both and the  Mexican mint Strat is much better than it used to be it's your call though , and price may dicate that decision as the American Strat is VERY spendy.