seed · 2025-01-01
Universally praised for comfort, versatility and the quack positions 2/4; common criticism is vintage-style trem tuning stability and crowded control layout.
electric · solidbody · SSS/HSS
Stratocaster
| Maker | Fender |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States |
| Type | electric · solidbody · SSS/HSS |
| Introduced | 1954 |
| Price | USD 1839.99 (2026-09) |
| Maker founded | 1946 |
| Status | current |
The Stratocaster is Fender's contoured double-cut with three single-coils and a synchronised vibrato, and it remains the company's core electric design.
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Why it matters
Fender sells the Stratocaster at every level, from Squier imports to Custom Shop builds, so one outline covers a wide price spread. The American Professional II is the current US production model, listed at $1,839.99 on Fender's site. The pickup layout has been widely copied, which keeps parts and replacements easy to find.
Note
The most influential electric guitar ever made: double-cutaway, contoured body, three single-coils, vibrato bridge. Endless signature versions across every price tier.
Specifications
- Scale length: 648 mm (25.5 in)
- Neck shape: Modern "C"
Before you buy
- SSS and HSS versions behave differently
- The vibrato needs correct setup to stay in tune
- Series names change often, so check the year of a used guitar
Collected notes
Other opinions
One video is one opinion. These are the other videos for this entry, most-viewed first. The order is the view count, not a ranking of ours.
Alamo Music Center · 2019-10 · 314,630 views
“The Fender Stratocaster has been in production continually since 1954.”
Walks through five classic Stratocaster tones on a set of different Strats.
Music is Win · 2024-10 · 101,508 views
Plays a Stratocaster tone from each decade to show how the sound changed.