Best Fender Stratocaster (Strat) Electric Guitars. Fender Stratocaster has a long and illustrious history and is one of most recognizable and sought after solid-body electric guitar. Here we take a look at a wide array of Fender Stratocaster guitars.
Introduction
Launched in 1954 (the same year when Elvis Presley released his first single), the Strat is one of the most popular (solid body) electric guitar of all time.
Before the Strat made its debut, the Telecaster solid-body electric guitar by Fender was already well established in the market. Yet, guitarists wanted more, and the Strat delivered on those fronts – more pickups, usable vibrato, better design.
Today, there are close to a hundred Strat models available on the market, including the Custom Shop editions.
So, here we have reviewed and created a much smaller list of the top best Stratocaster models currently available. And believe me, not all Fender Stratocasters are the same.
- Squier Affinity Stratocaster: A Strat for every budget. See PRICE on Amazon
- Fender Squier Contemporary Active Stratocaster HH: Great for metal. See PRICE on Amazon
- Fender Player Stratocaster: Excellent Stratocaster in the mid-price range. See PRICE on zZounds
- Fender Vintera ’50s Stratocaster: Faithful recreation of the vintage design. See PRICE on zZounds . See PRICE on Amazon
- Fender American Original ’60s Stratocaster: Top-class, American-made instrument. See PRICE on zZounds.
Best Strats: Reviews
Fender Acoustasonic Stratocaster
With the Acoustsonic Stratocaster, Fender has tried to come up with a one-size-fits-all guitar.
The Acoustsonic is one of the best sounding electric guitars, but it produces excellent acoustic guitar tones as well. Ten voices, use an analog A/B knob to dial between different tones. Fender’s patented “Stringed Instrument Resonance System” creates unique acoustic sounds, and it features a Fender and Fishman-designed Acoustic Engine.
Playing with mics or line in and switch to electric on the fly.
You can also play it just like an acoustic (without an amp); however, it is is not as loud or resonant as the best acoustics.
Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar lets you bring the legendary tone and style to your next gig. The overall construction, finish and general craftsmanship are all top notch. It features a maple fretboard, parchment pickguard and control knobs, and ’70s-style logo.
If you want the legendary Fender tone and want an affordable guitar with classic styling that you can get to your next gig or recording session, this is the one to go for.
- PROS: Smooth playability, legendary tone, Affordable
- CONS: Tremolo isn’t very firm, you may change the pickups to suit your style
Doesn’t matter what genre of music you play, you get all the iconic features and qualities of the classic model at an exceptional price. It delivers the legendary tone at an outstanding value. You can choose from several different finishes – including artic white maple, artic white rosewood, black maple, black rosewood, chrome red maple, and chrome red rosewood.
Features
Some of the main features of this guitar include:
- Classic Stratocaster design, tone, and feel
- Modern C-shape neck profile with comfortable maple fingerboard and smooth satin back finish
- Three classic standard single-coil Strat pickups and five-way selector
- Vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge with groovy whammy bar
- Alder body, rosewood or maple fretboard, vintage tremolo, die-cast tuning keys
- 3 single-coil pickups, and a 21-fret maple neck
- Three-ply pickguard and chrome hardware for major vintage appeal
The pickups on this Fender standard strat are modern sounding, and the sound is very similar to the American strats. The only difference is that American strats sustain longer. Also, the lower end strings on an American strat are brighter and more crystalline. The sound of the Fender Standard is rounder.
This is a top quality guitar. The one I have access to comes with a maple neck. The neck is clean. No frets stick out. If you’re on a budget, then you may want to consider this electric guitar.
Where to Buy
Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster Electric Guitar is loaded with American-made Vintage Noiseless pickups, medium-jumbo frets, 12″ neck radius, gold-plated hardware. It comes with Gig Bag.
Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster Electric Guitar: Pros & Cons
- PROS: Almost zero noise, Excellent value, Not many baritone guitars out there
- CONS: Some parts may look a bit garish
Review
This is basically a revised version of the former Super Strat, upgraded with American-made Vintage Noiseless pickups (it has almost no noise). It features an innovative push-button pickup switch (in addition to the usual toggle) for 7 pickup combinations.
The deluxe players Strat is great for shredding, you can also use it for playing rock and blues. You may upgrade the bridge pups to suit your style, in case you gig a lot.
- Its just as good as any american strat
- The wider neck radius is awesome, especially for a larger player with thick fingers
This is a really awesome guitar and you’ll like the fact that Fender has put vintage noiseless pickups on it. If you’re looking for a guitar with a classic Strat sound and feel, this one won’t disappoint. And you really get several high-end features at an affordable price.
Features / Specs
Here are the main features of the Fender Deluxe Players Strat:
- Three Vintage Noiseless Strat pickups wired to a 5-switch
- Further expanded by the inclusion of a 2nd switch that gives the player the added combination of neck and bridge or all three pickups on together!
- 12″ freeboard radius and medium jumbo frets
- Neck has a flatter / faster feel that’s perfect for high-performance playing.
- Deluxe gig bag included
If you’re looking for a versatile & a great-sounding guitar from a reputed brand, look no further than the Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster. Its a beautiful guitar that sounds and plays equally well.
Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster Electric Guitar comes with 3 Duncan pickups, a special ’60s neck, and a heavily scalloped maple fretboard for blistering Phrygian runs.
Pros & Cons
- PROS: Feels solid, looks classy, perfect workmanship. This one really plays, feels (and sounds) like a guitar that costs as much as it does. Easy feel because of the scalloped frets. Looks and feels High Quality. Great Pick Up. Solid Electronics
- CONS: Price (not for beginners). You need to work on the amplification part of the sound chain to get the right Yngwie tone. Smells of lacquer when new. Some users do not like the Nitro Finish
- Best Uses: Recording, Small venues, Jamming, Practicing, Rock concerts, Small Venues
Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Strat: Review
This best-seller has undergone some new revisions and now comes with updated features such as a deeper-scalloped fingerboard, White/Black/White pickguard, bullet truss rod nut and machine-screw neck mounting. It also features a Maple fretboard for slightly brighter tone.
Yngwie Strat is not really for a beginner, but if you love Yngwie, this one is definitely worth a shot. The price alone should give you an indication that its really not for the newbie, and also what to expect. You still have to get the amplification part in the chain right, to get the correct Yngwie tone.
Some sites suggest that the guitar comes with Dimarzio pickups, but it actually comes with Seymour Duncan pickups, and if Yngwie is cool with the tone of the new pickups, then you really shouldn’t bother much about it (incase you were disappointed on seeing the different pickup).
A scalloped fretboard can take some time to get used to, you would need discipline and relaxed playing to adapt to it. If you think you’ve got what it takes, by all means go for it. On the other hand, some players are able to play just as fast and accurately within ten minutes of picking up the Fender Yngwie Malmsteen strat electric guitar. The scalloped neck, however, has several advantages. It makes bends easier, you have more control over vibrato, there’s less tension in the fretting hand, since you don’t need to apply much pressure to fret each note.
Here are the main features of this fender Yngwie Malmsteen strat:
- It comes with a pecial Refined ’60s shape neck
- Has Machine screw neck mounting inserts
- Bullet truss rod nut
- Deeper scalloped fingerboard
- Brass nut
- Large late-’60s styled headstock
- Dunlop 6000 Jumbo Fretwire
- Strap and cable are good to have; you have to use the straplocks (included) to use a strat on the guitar.
- Aged pickup covers & plastic parts
Other features of this Fender electric guitar include mint-green pickguard, medium-jumbo frets, synchronized tremolo, Schaller vintage F machine heads, as well as aged plastic parts.
In terms of fretboard, the options available include candy apple maple, candy apple rosewood, sonic blue maple, sonic blue rosewood, vintage white maple, and vintage white rosewood fretboards.
Here’s a guitar that has all the signature touches: 3 DiMarzio pickups, a special ’60s neck, and a heavily scalloped maple fretboard for blistering runs. Overall, a great guitar with awesome yngwie tones and playability.
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Electric Guitar comes with several of Eric’s own personal features and preferences. The Strat boasts a custom-contoured 2-piece alder body with a thin nitrocellulose finish, and a quarter-sawn maple neck in a soft V shape.
- PROS: Great tone, quality crafted precision musical instrument, cool cosmetics
- CONS: Pricey, chunky V shaped ’57 style neck could feel bigger in smaller hands
Features
Here are the main features of this guitar:
- Series: Artist Series
- Body: ’57 Style Lightweight, 2-Piece, Deep Contoured, Alder Body (Thin Nitro-Cellulose Lacquer)
- Neck: 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple, Soft ‘V’ Shape, (Nitro-Cellulose Lacquer Finish)
- Fingerboard: Maple, 12 in. Radius (305 mm)
- 12″ radius American Series-style frets
- No. of Frets: 21 Highly Polished Medium Jumbo Frets
- Pickups: 3 Special Design Custom Shop Eric Johnson Pickups with Countersunk Mounting Screws (Neck/Middle/Bridge)
- Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
- Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade
- Bridge: American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with Ash Tray Bridge Cover
- Machine Heads: Fender/Gotoh Staggered Vintage Style Tuning Machines
- Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
- Pickguard: 1-Ply Parchment, (8 Hole)
- Scale Length: 25.5 in. (648 mm)
- Width at Nut: 1.650 in. (42 mm)
- Strings: Fender Super Bullets 3250 RH, Nickel Plated Steel
- Gauges: .010, .013, .017, .032, .042, .052
- Accessories: Deluxe Blonde Hardshell Case with Black Ends (Black Interior), Strap, Cable
- Case: Deluxe Blonde Hardshell Case with Black Ends (Black Interior)
- Weight: 24 lbs
- Shipping Dimensions: 45 x 17 x 6 in
Designed with Eric Johnson by Custom Shop guru Michael Frank-Braun, this guitar makes you want to play more, and it plays even better with time. If you’re looking for an electric guitar that combines the best of vintage design with modern electronics technology, this is it.
Your search for the best strat actually ends with this guitar. If you have used inexpensive guitars earlier, the neck and frets may feel a bit bigger (has a chunky V shaped ’57 style neck with a modern compound radius), but that’s really not an issue, you should get used to it in no time. This guitar sings when plugged into a good tube amp, and perform really well when overridden. Great craftsmanship & tone, real beauty, ready to be played right out of the case with virtually no set up what so ever.
Buying Links
Buy Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Electric Guitar on zZounds
Fender Vintage Hot Rod 62 Stratocaster Electric Guitar
With the Fender Vintage Hot Rod 62 Stratocaster Electric Guitar, you get the best of all the worlds – classic looks, modern tone and feel!
Classic vintage styling, American Vintage Strat single-coil pickups, with reverse-wound/polarity middle pickups, makes this one hot Strat. You can use this for jazz, country, rock and blues as well.
- PROS: Clean tone, Intonation is beautiful, great action and feel.
- CONS: Pricey, Large C neck may be hard for players with smaller hands
The guitar feels really good in the hands because of the 9.5″+ radius. Those pickups on this guitar are just incredible. The finish on this guitar is cool and different from the rest of their lines.
Features/specs
Here are the main features of this guitar:
- Thick “C” shape maple neck with satin finish on back of neck
- “Thin-Skin” nitrocellulose lacquer finish
- American Vintage Strat(R) single-coil pickups with reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup
- Medium jumbo frets
- 3-position blade picking switch
- Fender/Gotoh vintage machine heads.
- 9.5 in. fingerboard radius
- 21 vintage frets
- master volume control, neck tone control, and, mid tone control
- White dot position inlays
- Aged knobs and switch tip
The Fender Vintage 62 guitar comes with a number of unique finishes including tinted maple neck, nitro-cellulose lacquer finish, and aged plastic parts. You can choose from a 3-color sunburst, olympic white, ocean turqoise, and black.
Find great deals on the Fender Vintage Hot Rod 62 Stratocaster Electric Guitar here.
Fender Stratocaster: Buying Guide
If you have grown up listening to the likes of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Hendrix, David Gilmore, Stevie Ray Vaughn, then chances are that you’re a big fan of the Fender Strat (the Strat was the guitar of choice for several top guitar players).
These electric guitars are preferred for their warm tone. The amazing sound of the Strat is because of its traditional single coil pickups, two piece body and the tone woods used to make the guitar. The tonal range of a Strat also depends on the tone woods used in the neck and body, besides the configuration of the pickup.
Before buying a Fender Strat, I would suggest that you visit a few local retailers and play a few of them, just to get a feel of the playability.
Fender also offers signature models for Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Robert Cray, Robin Trower, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson and more.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
Leave a Reply